Maddy’s What to Read Next and Gem of the Week

**What to Read Next: Where’d You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple**

If you have not yet read this 2012 runaway bestseller (no pun intended), make sure you do before the movie, starring Cate Blanchett, hits theaters August 9^th. I am not sure I have ever recommended a book more than this one, or given any book to friends as a gift more. Perhaps Anne of Green Gables, but that is different since I share it with girls and women alike.

Bernadette centers on a teenager who is determined to find her mom an architect-turned-recluse who goes missing after upending her community and family. Eccentric doesn’t do justice to Bernadette and you will wonder how her family endures her foibles and failures. Until you see the stories, emails and gossip about Bernadette from another side.

This book is nothing like Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, with two exceptions – both are brilliant and both teach us to assume nothing. Bernadette is full of laugh out loud humor, cringe-worthy antics, romance, family drama and takes you on a wild you will never forget.

Don’t depend on the movie to do for you what this book can – allow your imagination to explode. Compare descriptions of Bernadette’s house with other readers, or..well I don’t want to give too much away. Just buy a copy for yourself and a friend – you will want to discuss it with someone who loves books as much as you do. Then if you dare spoil your own picture of Bernadette’s world, see the movie too.

You will love this novel, available here.

“There’s a lot to like in Semple’s charming novel, including the vivacious humor and the lesson that when creative forces like Bernadette stop creating, they become ‘a menace to society.’ Even more appealing is the mutually adoring mother-daughter relationship at its warm heart.”

―Heller McAlpin, NPR

Gem of the Week: You Can Be a Pinterest Expert Overnight – Starting Tuesday

As we all know, Pinterest can be a bit… well, moody.

It often makes changes, to its algorithm, advertising requirements and so much more. Still, one thing remains true about improving or maintaining Pinterest engagement and blog traffic. If you want to build an audience for your pins, you must create new content often, including NEW pins DAILY. Yes daily!

If creating 2 pins every day from scratch sounds like a nightmare, then

You are about to hit the Pinterest Pinning jackpot!

I love Pinterest, I love looking at recipes, fashion, gorgeous men, books – OMG so many books – but pinning my stuff is often beyond my comprehension. And to do it repeatedly…well, it’s a lesson in frustration.

So I was delighted to see that my talented friend Nataly of loveandpaperflowers.com has a deal on her fabulous templates for Pinterest users. Starting Tuesday and for four days only she is offering a 30% discount on her Pinterest Template Package including:

30 Pinterest Templates (editable in Canva)
3 different sizes
(10) 600px – 900px
(10) 1,000px – 1,500px
(10) 600px – 1,250px
Downloadable PDF with written instructions and recommendations
Video Instructions (downloading, saving, and editing your Templates in Canva)
BONUS: A 100+ List of Trigger Words to include in your Pin titles for higher click throughs

That is a steal. Last time I looked to purchase templates (that were not even as good as these) they were 10 for $30. This offer is 30 templates – editable templates – for only $27.

If you are interested, save this link on your calendar so that on Tuesday you can use this link to save 30%.

If you are sharing recipes, these will work for you. Selling on Etsy? These will work for you. Blogging your heart out, these templates will save you time and money. If you are an author as I am, you need these. Whatever your reason for pinning, these will boost your results.

You don’t need tech skills either, but just to be sure you succeed Nataly includes step-by-step video instructions on how to access, save, and edit your pins along with the PDF download. I have worked with Nataly before and when she promises me I can do something – that it’s simple, or that her instructions are foolproof – she delivers.

All this for 30% off – but just for four short days! The sale begins Tuesday, May 14th @ 12:01 am EST and ends Friday, May 17 @ 11:50 ES

Maddy’s What to Read Next and Gem of the Week