Sunday, May 8, 2011

Guest post & giveaway: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon



Happy Mother's Day all! Today, it is my privilege to introduce Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, to Pudgy Penguin Perusals. Let's see what Gayle had to say about her book:

Stories of war inevitably focus on the men who go off and fight.  Almost never do they talk about the heroines who stay behind and make sure there’s a home to come back to once the fighting is over.

I wanted to change that. And that is why I went to Afghanistan for the first time in December 2005 in search of a story.

As a girl raised by a single mom who worked two jobs to support me, I had grown up around tough women who took hits and got back up because people were counting on them.  And I had seen how hard it was for them to make ends meet and how rarely anyone ever stopped to thank them for their work.  By the time I left ABC News for MBA study at Harvard, I felt determined it was my turn to pay them back.

So I took off from Boston and headed to Kabul with no idea what I had gotten myself into but with every intention of telling a story that mattered so much, though it was so often ignored. The story of women entrepreneurs in war zones.  Because in tough times women who live through war do the same thing that women in the US do every day – they find a way to support their families because they have to – because those they love count on them to provide. 
  
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana is the product of this five-year quest to share untold stories about the power of women to change their world.  The book tells the true story of a teenager who, armed with only a needle and thread, started a dressmaking business under the Taliban that created jobs and hope for women all around her neighborhood. It’s a  war story that talks about family, faith, and the power of inspiring entrepreneurs.  And it is a celebration of unsung heroines -- women who rarely receive thanks for the hard work they do every day to make sure their children have a shot at something better.

I hope this Mother’s Day you join me in celebrating these women who make a difference, and I hope you will enjoy The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Harper Collins is being extremely generous in allowing me to hold a giveaway for up to 5 copies of the book. Let's make it interesting and start with two (2) copies up for grabs if 15 separate people enter. I'll add another copy for every ten people after that up to the 5 copies. Tell your friends to come visit with Gayle and learn about her book. Open to US only and the deadline to enter is May 18th at 5 PM (est). As always, bonus entries available:

+2 for being a new or old follower. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for tweeting or posting about contest (sidebar is preferred)

Be sure to include an e mail address. Good luck!

26 comments:

  1. This sounds like a great read. Thanks for posting.
    Ann
    cozyintexas@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am captivated by this inspiring and fascinating story. Thanks for this great giveaway. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  3. What a wonderful post by an exceptional woman. This book is a treasure to be appreciated. Thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. Thanks for the guest post and giveaway! This sounds like a fascinating book.

    I'm an old GFC follower.

    susanna dot pyatt at student dot rcsnc dot org

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  5. What an intriguing idea for a book - sounds like a must read!

    +2 - GFC follower as Karen B.

    kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

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  6. Great post for Mother's Day - I hope yours has been fantastic! No need to enter me.

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  7. This sounds like an awesome book! I'd love to be entered to win it.

    +2 old follower on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

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  8. I love the back story on this one and it's been on my list to read ever since I started hearing about it!!

    stacijoreads@gmail.com

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  9. I would love to read this book, it sounds really good.
    +2-I am a old gfc follower
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. This book sounds like an interesting book to read.

    I am and have been a GFC follower for sometime now. Love your blog.

    iowagramma.ann@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. must throw my hat in the ring!

    +2 ...and I am a follower on GFC and Google Reader.

    Caitemaire@hotmail.com

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  12. I've read a couple of good reviews regarding this book and would love to win a copy. I'm a follower via google friend connect.
    notenoughbooksblog at gmail dot com

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  13. I've wanted to read this book ever since I heard and interview with the author on The Diane Rehm Show. I'm so excited for the giveaway.

    I'm an old follower

    fforgnayr@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. This sounds like a book I would really enjoy! Please enter me. Thank you!

    +2 for being an old GFC follower - Carol M

    tweet
    http://twitter.com/CarolAnnM/status/68468844431294464

    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I look forward to reading this book.

    Nancy
    stepfordmomto2 at yahoo dot com

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  16. What an awe inspiring book...
    +2 Old follower via Google Friend
    Connect. (windycindy)
    "Tweet!"
    http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/68523743391125504.
    Many thanks to you!
    Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I enjoy world fiction/non-fiction. This sounds like an inspiring read. Thanks :)

    +2 old GFC follower

    monagargATyahooDOTcom

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  18. I find books about the lives of women in the Middle East fascinating. Please count me in. Thanks for the giveaway.
    -old follower
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

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  19. This book is on my to-be-read list, so thanks for the chance to win a copy.

    I follow you through Google.

    sdryburgh@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is a great guest post; I really want to read Gayle's book. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

    I'm also a new GFC follower (as Jessica M.)

    Jessica
    jmartinez0415 [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would love to read this book. I agree with the author that the women who stay behind are important also. I would love to read about these heroines! thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.

    +2 I am also an old follower under bthgordon

    bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  22. would love to read this novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  23. i'm a 'new' follower :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. +2 I'm a new follower

    +3 TWEET

    faithnicely(@)gmail(.)com

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  25. This sounds like a fascinating and inspiring story. I love Gayle's explanation of why she wrote the book and the fact she was so determined she went to Afghanistan in search of the right story. This is definitely a book I'd love to read.

    Thank you for hosting a giveaway, Kaye!
    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm a GFC follower of your blog!

    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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