How To Eat A Cupcake Book Release Party and Give-Away

Congratulations to author Meg Donohue on the release of her debut novel, How To Eat A Cupcake!  The book is on sale today and has already received rave reviews.  This book was first brought to my attention by my book-loving friend Emily who offers up book reviews, author Q&A's and fun on her blog, Mrs Mommy Booknerd.  We're long time friends with different kinds of blogs and this book allows us to come together to celebrate.  So, welcome to our online realease party in honor of Meg.  I wish there was a way I could share cupcakes with each of you to celebrate.

Check out Emily's blog to see her review of How To Eat A Cupcake and read the Q&A with author Meg Donohue.  My questions for Meg of course were related to baking and cupcakes.  Check out her answers!

They say not to judge a book by it's cover but obviously having the word cupcake in the title and cupcakes pictured on the cover sucked me right in. As a reader, the story kept me hungry for more from the first chapter.  As a baker, I was instantly drawn to every flavor mentioned, wanting to bake each of them myself.  Meg has a wonderful way of describing everyday things with a sweet or savory reference to food.  I felt myself being hungry while reading this book.  ~"Again, that view: shimmering bay, bridge the color of red velvet cake, sun just beginning to turn the sky a startling shade of peach above the Presidio's gray-green slope of eucalyptus trees." (Donohue, p.11)  Meg also has a fantastic way of describing the characters.  I was obviously drawn to Annie, the baker of the two main characters. ~"....jeans that showed off my hourglass figure--hips made for baking, not birthing, was my line of choice.  Besides, everyone knows that a skinny baker is not to be trusted." (Donohue, p.55)  That's just a taste of what you will enjoy while reading this book.  It's really a great story that will leave you craving more.



Meg offered a special treat to those who pre-ordered her book.  She sent out a recipe for Meyer Lemon Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting.  The recipe was created by pastry chef Alyce Shields just for How To Eat A Cupcake readers.  I gave the recipe a try this weekend.  I may change that familiar saying to, "when life hands you lemons,  make lemon cupcakes".  They make a great accompaniment to this book.  I suggest eating a cupcake while reading the book!

my version of the Meyer Lemon Cupcake

I'm pretty sure there is no right or wrong way to eat a cupcake.  I've found I myself sample just the cake after they are baked and also just the frosting before adding it to the cake.  I feel the need to sample them separately to make sure they are right for each other.  I'm a bit of a cupcake/frosting matchmaker if you will.  Although when served a whole cupcake, there are factors like size and additional toppings to take into consideration, so each cupcake is eaten differently each time.

make sure to check out p. 31 for the character Julia's "how to" of cupcake eating!

Now I bet you are all starving to know how you can get your hands a copy of this book.  It's quiet easy really, just follow these simple steps:

1.  Head over to the Tasty Sweet Cupcakes page on facebook and "like".  If you are already a fan of the page, this step is complete.
2.  Come back here and comment that you "like" me, you really like me!  (The song Popular from Wicked is now playing in my head!)

Would you like a few bonus entries to better your chances to win this book?  Here you go:

1.  "like" How To Eat A Cupcake's author Meg Donohue's facebook page.
2.  "like" Mrs Mommy Booknerd's facebook page.
3.  Come back here and comment each time you like either of these pages.

It's just that easy folks.  So now go and spread the love over on those facebook pages, tell them I sent you!  Give a special sweet congratulations to Meg on her debut novel.  I'm anxious to see what she will give us next.

Here are a few other rules, tid bits and necessities:

~When commenting, be sure to be signed in or be sure to leave your name/email address in the body of the comment.  I need a way to contact you if you win.
~1 copy will be given away here and 1 copy will be given away at Mrs Mommy Booknerd.
~Contest open to US and Canadian residents only.
~Give-away sponsored by Harper Collins and book will be shipped by them.
~This giveaway will close on Tuesday March 20th.
~A winner will be randomly selected via random.org and named here on Wednesday March 21st.