We are giving away one book today. One copy of The Last Will Of Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh. You may have heard that Therese has a second novel coming out March 2014 called The Moon Sisters. Plenty of time to read Therese’s first novel before the second comes out, if you have not already. Please help me welcome Therese!
Introducing Therese Walsh
Therese Walsh’s debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy (Crown, Random House), was named one of January Magazine’s Best Books of 2009, was nominated for a RITA Award for Best First Book, and was a TARGET Breakout Book in 2010. She co-founded Writer Unboxed with Kathleen Bolton in 2006, a blog about the craft and business of genre fiction that was named as one of the top 100 sites for writers by Writer’s Digest in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and again in 2012. Before turning to fiction, she was a researcher and writer for Prevention magazine, and then a freelance writer. She has a master’s degree in psychology.
Her second novel, The Moon Sisters (Crown, Random House), will be released in March of 2014.
Learn about The Last Will of Moira Leahy
This haunting debut novel explores the intense bond of sisterhood as a grieving twin searches for her own identity in the ruins of her sister’s past.
A LOST SHADOW
Moira Leahy struggled growing up in her prodigious twin’s shadow; Maeve was always more talented, more daring, more fun. In the autumn of the girls’ sixteenth year, a secret love tempted Moira, allowing her to have her own taste of adventure, but it also damaged the intimate, intuitive relationship she’d always shared with her sister. Though Moira’s adolescent struggles came to a tragic end nearly a decade ago, her brief flirtation with independence will haunt her sister for years to come.
A LONE WOMAN
When Maeve Leahy lost her twin, she left home and buried her fun-loving spirit to become a workaholic professor of languages at a small college in upstate New York. She lives a solitary life now, controlling what she can and ignoring the rest–the recurring nightmares, hallucinations about a child with red hair, the unquiet sounds in her mind, her reflection in the mirror. It doesn’t help that her mother avoids her, her best friend questions her sanity, and her not-quite boyfriend has left the country. But at least her life is ordered. Exactly how she wants it.
A SHARED PAST
Until one night at an auction when Maeve wins a keris,a Javanese dagger that reminds her of her lost youth and happier days playing pirates with Moira in their father’s boat. Days later, a book on weaponry is nailed to her office door, followed by the arrival of anonymous notes, including one that invites her to Rome to learn more about the blade and its legendary properties. Opening her heart and mind to possibility, Maeve accepts the invitation and, with it, also opens a window into her past.
Ultimately, she will revisit the tragic November night that shaped her and Moira’s destinies–and learn that nothing can be taken at face value–as one sister emerges whole and the other’s score is finally settled.
The Last Will of Moira Leahyis a mesmerizing and romantic consideration of the bonds of family, the impossibility of forgetting, and the value of forgiveness.
Here’s my video review of The Last Will of Moira Leahy from a while back:
I asked Therese three questions about our giveaway’s theme topic, self-expression:
1. Is self-expression an important part of your life today, why or why not?
It’s extremely important to me. Life is like a bottle of soda, shaken, dropped, rolled around at irregular intervals and almost always without your consent. The result? Chaos. Self-expression is a means of slowly, slowly unscrewing the top and releasing the pressure inside of that bottle—preventing an explosive mess and allowing you to continue onward, drinking life or gulping it down as you wish.
2. What does self-expression mean to you and how do you do it in the world?
Though I have a very public presence, especially as the “blog mama” for the writers’ site, Writer Unboxed, I’m a pretty introverted person. Being able to sit quietly with my thoughts, transmit them to the page, and share them is empowering for me.
Maybe more importantly, writing is therapeutic. Sometimes—often!—I don’t understand what it is that I need to write about until it’s on the page. (I might think I know what I want and need to write about, but really I don’t.) Sitting down to a blank screen is like lying on a therapist’s couch, trusting and hoping that there will be a revelation that will ultimately help me to better understand myself and my world. The process hasn’t failed me yet.
3. How does your self-expression impact the world—your family, your friends, your readers, and everyone else?
I would like to think that my self-expression helps to inspire others, whether it’s via my storytelling or an article, but that’s so hard to say! Here’s what I know for sure: For better and for worse, I tend to be very real with people. I’ve heard from others that I come across as authentic in my correspondence and through my blog, and nothing could make me happier. Because this is it, isn’t it? This is life, and we will not see these minutes again. Don’t we want to be real, be heard, be truly known?
And Now, Your Turn…
You remember how this works right?
Please read the complete rules at least once!
I ask you a question.
You answer in the comments for your chance to win a book each day.
Please just respond once, even if you make a typo. 
Answer in the comments in 50-200 words (no less and no more to qualify to win one of today’s books).
Are you allowed to make mistakes? What about some of the biggest mistakes you have ever made? Have you forgiven yourself? Can you? Will you?
Ready, set, comment! I will hold the drawing tomorrow and post the results here in my blog.
Thanks for participating in the Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway!
And thanks for spreading the word. We will be giving away great books by wonderful women authors all month.
View the complete list of authors and books.
View the giveaway Pinterest board.
