It has been a fabulous 14 days with Gina taking over and Mavis! I have loved every day, there have been tears and a lot of laughter! Before I recap, share a hot man picture, I just want to remind you that there is a Givaway!
Here it is Giveaway time!
So Gina is kindly giving away such an awesome prize! She is going to give away as a bundle to one lucky person, all 3 Mavis books and a Mavis Bookmark. All you need to do is share, comment on the post/Twitter/Facebook or like the post to be in with a chance!
Ok so what 10 things did we learn?
- Tom Hardy is now always going to be Joe in my head now and yes that is now an excuse to share the Tom picture again and big!
2. Gina is most defintely the most funniest person I have ever had the pleasure to meet virtually!
3. Mavis is just so kick ass with everything she does, albeit not always on the most convential way
4. Petey is and always will be my favourite character and my favourite scene will always be the dead body in the bath – you need to read it!
5. Gina is the Aunt to none other than fellow author Luca Veste!
6. Gina wanted to make her book launch so special for Handcuffs, Truncheon and A Polyester Thong that she had an outing to Primark and bought 50 packets of thongs, safe to say she had to frequent different Primarks for the rest!
7. The title for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot aka WTF came from a exciting breakfast that Gina had with her Dad. Check the post in full here.
8. Gina and Mavis both share a love of pickled onion crisps and wine and I will have to join in here!
9. Pru is being compared to the female verison of Pink Panther – excited much!
10. If you didn’t know….Mavis is Gina *mind blown* (spoiler I knew that!)
Recap of posts :
The Story behind the story Part 1
Excerpt from Handcuffs, Truncheons and a Polyester Thong
Review of Handcuffs, Truncheons and a Polyester Thong
It’s a Grilling TIme – Q&A with Gina
Excerpt Time! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
The Story Behind The Story Part 2
Review of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Guest Post – Is It Really Such A Terrible Drag?
The Story Behind The Story Part 3
Excerpt Time! Blues, Twos And Baby Shoes
Character Interview Time With Mavis Upton
Review of Blues, Twos And Baby Shoes
A few people wanted to say a few words about Gina….
Carole Newton – I’ve known Gina a long time she lived next door to me in Hoylake and I watched her grow up and join the police and I can see Gina in Mavis. Some of the things Mavis does just reminds me of her, just love the way she writes about every day things and makes them funny one minute an makes you cry the next. It’s so lifelike and real one day she was telling me about being in the rapid response vehicle for the first time and saying it was like having a face lift with the g force it was funny the way she said it she hasn’t change since she was little a really nice person.
Sarah Doyle – Gina is an amazing author and her books have had me giggling away to myself they really are funny and just what I needed at this uncertain time. I have just finished the first one and am part way through the second. I find that I can’t put them down. Gina herself is a lovely and very thoughtful and kind person and really hope she brings some more books out.
Jill, Jills Book Cafe – I first ‘met’ Gina it was on Twitter and it would have been late 2016, early 2017. I had just become a member of the Urbane Book Club, (Urbane being the publisher that Gina was signed with) and as a result I’d started following several of their authors including Gina.
Whereas many authors are happy to ‘like’ a comment you make, not all will happily interact, Gina isn’t one of them. Gina is always happy to respond and gradually those replies turned into (usually) late-night chats. We discovered we had a similar take on life and a shared (perhaps warped?) sense of humour.
At the time Gina’s first book had yet to be published and when I discovered it was to be launched in Liverpool I was determined to go. After all our virtual chats I was looking forward to saying ‘hello’ for real. I got that chance in May (18th 2017) when Handcuffs Truncheon and a Polyester Thong was launched to much acclaim. The launch was mobbed and Waterstones actually sold out of books. The fact that so many people wanted to come to Gina’s launch, support her and buy the book is testament to how many people hold her in high regard. The Gina that you see, is the Gina that you get, funny, warm, open and honest.
At the time I hadn’t read the book, but when I did, I could see Gina shining through in it. Her tale of Mavis Upton a married, but now single mum who decides to pursue a life-long ambition of becoming a Police Officer is not a stone’s throw away from Gina’s own life. It offers a wry look at policing in the 1980s set against Mavis’s personal life and struggles. Undoubtedly Mavis is a version of Gina albeit with added comedic disasters and there is always a germ of truth or a twist to a very real tale which means her characters are real and lovable. The book is witty, snort inducingly funny and full of heart – pretty much like Gina.
The book launch had been so busy we only had the chance for a cursory hello, so a lunchtime meet up was arranged a few months later. Unfortunately, it was the same week I discovered I had breast cancer but that conversation was trumped by another situation that had Mavis like consequences. A month earlier I’d been at the Harrogate Crime Festival and Luca Veste, Gina’s nephew was also there. Beforehand Gina had said to me, introduce yourself and tell him his Auntie Gina says hello. So, I did – and I’m now convinced that he thinks I’m a stalkerish, deluded idiot. Our subsequent meetings have done nothing to dispel that look of fear in his eyes!!
Following that meet up, and throughout my treatment, we continued our late-night chats and made each other laugh. When I lost my hair and eyebrows Gina sent me an eyebrow kit in the post – in true Mavis like fashion, this was the second kit she’d bought as one of her dogs ate the first! My eyebrows were even generously acknowledged in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. When I blogged about my illness, we joked it should be published and just in case that ever happens I’ve already got my brilliantly designed Gina Kirkham cover to fall back on.
I’m delighted to have met up with Gina several times since then, and attended both her other launches, each time, the turnout has been immense. I thought that all author events were like this until I went to several others and wondered where everyone was. Gina attracts a crowd because she’s Gina. I’m happy to say that Gina Kirkham isn’t just a talented author I happen to know, she’s a real friend and I thank the bookish world for bringing us together
Miriam Smith – Gina Kirkham is a very talented and witty author who is genuinely funny, kind hearted and truly cares about every one of her readers. Having read all of her Mavis Upton series and the many antics she gets up to – which are just too humorous to mention – Gina also manages to still include emotional issues into her storylines but in a way that doesn’t bog the reader down with overbearing and depressing narrative yet still tugs at the heartstrings. From her very first book involving humongous thongs to impending motherhood, if your looking to while away the time with a big smirk on your face you’d be hard pushed to find a better series of stories! I’m sure Gina has a lot more in her writing tank for new and intriguing characters in the future and I for one can’t wait to experience more of her exceedingly unique imagination. If I could ever meet an author in ‘real life’ it would be Gina Kirkham, I just know we’d get on like a house on fire and would not stop giggling discussing Mavis, over the odd gin and tonic (or two)!
Eva, Novel Deelights says:- I’m a firm believer of the idea that certain people come into your life at exactly the time when you need them the most. To me, Gina is one of those people. I was struggling with a personal event in my life when I came across Handcuffs, Truncheon and a Polyester Thong. None of my usual genres were offering me the escape from reality I so desperately needed so on a whim, I decided to put all my faith in Gina and Handcuffs, Truncheon and a Polyester Thong and it paid off in more ways than one. As soon as I shared my review, Gina contacted me. From the get-go, she was the kindest, sweetest and most grateful person I ever “met”. She makes me laugh so hard, more than she knows, often at her own expense. When my darling doggie passed away, Gina was one of the first people to reach out to me, offering hugs and a shoulder. It’s just the kind of person she is and I absolutely adore her to bits. I am super grateful for her books but even more so, extremely grateful for Gina herself. She’s without a doubt one in a million. ❤
So Why Gina?
When I first heard of Gina and her book it was for a tour invite for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, I thought it sounds hilarious and wanted to read it straight away. I then got a message from Gina (A lot of squealing my side) and she said that this was book two and would I want the first book…..so I got through the post a signed copy of the first book, I was in awe. Throughout the last 2 years, I have got to know Gina through loads of messages but not had the opportunity to meet her yet, but I know that when I do there will be a lot of laughter. She has become such an amazing friend, she makes me smile every time and I am so glad to have her here! She is most definitely a diamond, one in a million and she is a true inspiration. This is my thank you to you Gina for everything!
Sadly, with a heavy heart, for the last time
Until next time xxx
Frankie | Chicks Rogues and Scandals says
Tooooommmmmmmm!! ???
Fabulous author take over!
Zoé says
Isn’t he lush! Thank you Gina is such a gem x
nickimags @ The Secret Library Book Blog says
Fantastic Zoe really enjoyed your posts! xx
Zoé says
Thank you lovely, that really means a lot to me xx
carhicks says
I need to go back and read all your posts in the takeover. I have added the series to my TBR as they sound wonderful.
Zoé says
Well as you’ve commented you could be in with a chance to win her books ?
carhicks says
That would be amazing.
Joanna Van Marle says
I love Gina’s books. I met Gina / Mavis, personally one night, as she had the dubious honour of being on duty when I called police. She is the most gentle, genuine woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I will always be her…non stalkerish…number 1 fan. ?
Zoé says
Aw! She is awesome. I’ve not met her yet but hoping to do so soon. I think she is amazing