THE SECRET SISTERSBy Joni Rodgers

Woo-hoo! A sister story! I love sister stories, whether the characters are sisters in the real or metaphorical sense. And this dark, touching, intense look at the lives of three women whose lives interconnect is the kind of novel I eat with a spoon. I can only imagine how much I'd love a movie made from this book.

So ... I'm thrilled to offer a GCC Does Hollywood blog on Joni Rodgers's brilliant THE SECRET SISTERS, which is now available in paperback. Here's how Joni would pitch the story to our fictional producer:

Three women in three kinds of prison: Pia suffers from a panic disorder, Beth’s anger and grief trap her in the past, and Lily is in a state penitentiary as the result of a fatal drunk driving accident. THE SECRET SISTERS is the braided story of how they break free.

Sounds excellent, doesn't it? Here's Joni's dream cast:



I think Ashley Judd could perfectly capture the painfully fragile Pia, who surprises herself when she discovers an inner core of strength and sensuality.



The brash, tough-talking Lily needs someone with both courage and comic timing. Sandra Bullock, maybe? Toni Collette would bring humor and humanity to totally uptight Beth.


As I was writing dialogue for the sly and sexy con artist Dalphine, I was hearing the honeylicious voice of Shohreh Aghdashloo.



I hope this book sounds as intriguing to you as it does to me. The new paperback release of THE SECRET SISTERS is in stores now. It's also available from online retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Powells. For more information, visit Joni's website at jonirodgers.com, or use this widget to read an excerpt:

You're invited!

Click on image to enlarge

COUPON GIRLBy Becky Motew

Do you love Becky's cover? I do. And if that wasn't enough to snag me, the opening chapter would do the trick. I haven't even read it yet and I'm in love with this book.

So I'm happy that Becky Motew, one of the newer members of the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit, agreed to participate in my GCC does Hollywood blog. Here's how she'd pitch the book to our fictional producer:

Jeanie Callahan auditions for a community theatre production of The Sound of Music, but doesn't care what part she gets. That's because she is trying to find business owners to buy advertising from her so she can win her company's sales contest. She doesn't count on falling in love with a scoundrel director.

I wonder if our fictional producer could find a fictional director who could capture Becky's unique and hilarious voice. Anyway, here's how she'd cast it:


Whew. I'm terrible at this. My first choice for Jeanie would be Joan Cusack or Cameron Diaz or Sandra Bullock. They all have that empathetic quality and I believe could really portray a hangover.

Honestly, I don't see many movies so it's hard for me to select a cast. But Johnny Depp as the scoundrel director would be a good choice--as long as I got to visit the set every day and consult and eat lunch and make a pest of myself.


COUPON GIRL is in stores now. It's also available from online booksellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and BooksAMillion. For more information, visit Becky's website at beckymotew.com.

GRAFFITI GIRLBy Kelly Parra

I'm thrilled that today's GCC Does Hollywood blog entry is about a bold new YA novel, GRAFFITI GIRL, by Kelly Parra. The book is getting great buzz, and who knows ... maybe this one really will wind up on film.

In the meantime, here's how Kelly would pitch it to our fictional producer:

GRAFFITI GIRL is about a Latina artist who is torn between two boys—one who paints classic art and the other who uses the streets as his canvas. Soon she's divided with family obligations, friendships, and her art. She realizes her newfound acceptance may come with too high a price.

And here's her dream cast:


I think Jessica Alba in her Dark Angel days would have been a great candidate for my heroine, Angel. She knows how to play tough with a soft vulnerability.



And then there is Miguel, the bad boy leader of the graffiti crew...maybe Jesse Metcalf known for Desperate Housewives and John Tucker Must Die. He's the closest to any resemblance of the Miguel in my head.


And for classic artist, Nathan...Milo Ventimiglia from Gilmore Girls and Heroes. :) Because I just like him so much!




GRAFFITI GIRLS is in stores now, so if you're shopping for a gripping YA novel, keep an eye out. It's also available from online booksellers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Powells. For more information, visit Kelly's website, kellyparra.com.

INSIDER DATING By Jennifer O'Connell

Today I'm thrilled to blog about bestselling GCC author Jennifer O'Connell. Here's what some critics have said about her work:

“Insight and humor…entertaining.”
—The Denver Post

“A poolside page-turner.”
—Cosmopolitan

“Hot.”
—Us Weekly

Her newest book is INSIDER DATING, and it's a winner. Here's the synopsis:

One woman is about to take her knack for risk management to a whole new level in Jennifer O’Connell’s new novel, INSIDER DATING (NAL Trade Paperback Original; May 1, 2007; $12.95).

Abby Dunn, barely past thirty and still reeling from her divorce, has taken herself off the dating market. Instead, she’s using her experience to turn the tables on the opposite sex by building a database to rank underperforming men and set women straight when investing their greatest asset: themselves.

Now, what started as a pet project is becoming a full-time enterprise. But while Abby’s busy hedging bets, someone is skewing her data and threatening to ruin her business. Abby is about to find out that sometimes even the savviest market wizards can be headed for a crash.

While it may be perfectly legal, nothing good can come from insider dating.

INSIDER DATING is bookstores everywhere. It's also available from online booksellers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Powells. For more information, visit Jennifer's website, jenniferoconnell.com.

Mom Lit event this Friday!

The Barnes & Noble in Manhasset, NY, is kicking off Mother's Day weekend with a special "Mom Lit" event this Friday evening. Featured authors include yours truly and the hilarious and mega-talented Debra Borden, whose newest book, A LITTLE BIT MARRIED, I am currently devouring. I think fans of Lolly Winston, Jennifer Weiner, Susan Isaacs and, okay, Ellen Meister, will love Debra's work. Hope you can join us!

The event is a fundraiser sponsored by the Long Island Women's Agenda, and it's hosted by the very charming Debbi Honorof, champion of the Long Island lit scene.

Here's the flyer copy they sent out:


LIWA
Long Island Women's Agenda

Cordially invites you to join us on

Friday, May 11th at 7:30 p.m.
Barnes & Noble Manhasset

1542 Northern Blvd.

Authors ELLEN MEISTER and DEBRA BORDEN believe that if you scratch the surface of suburbia, you'll uncover enough humor, heat and heartache to fill a book. And indeed they have! Join them as they discuss their popular and critically acclaimed "mom lit" novels.

Ellen Meister of Jericho, author of Secret Confessions of The Applewood PTA, and Great Neck native Debra Borden, author of A Little Bit Married and Lucky Me, will discuss the adventures and travails of women who, despite their most valiant efforts, face challenges that could only happen in suburbia!

Moderated by Debbi Honorof, Book & Author Columnist for Long Island Woman.

DAMSEL UNDER STRESS By Shanna Swendson

Happy day! I get to do another GCC does Hollywood blog entry ... and it's for a book that seems so filmic I'd be surprised is some actual producer didn't snatch it up.

Here's how the talented Shanna Swendson could imagine pitching the book to Hollywood:

A scatterbrained fairy godmother makes it tough for the girl-next-door and a hot, brainy wizard to start a relationship and stop a rogue from selling black magic on Fifth Avenue.

I may be a sucker for fairy godmother stories set in Manhattan, but that sounds like a blast! Here's how Shanna would cast it:


I think Jenna Fischer (Pam on The Office) would be great in the lead role as Katie, my heroine (but looking more like she does in real life than like she does on The Office).

Sean Maher from Firefly and the movie Serenity (he played Simon, the doctor) would be perfect as Owen, our lead wizard.


Shirley MacLaine would probably be good as the fairy godmother. She's not quite what I pictured when writing the book, but I couldn't think of an actress who fit what I pictured, and I think Shirley MacLaine does those funny ditzes who aren't necessarily as ditzy as they look very well.

Great casting, I think! But you should read the book for yourself and see if you agree. DAMSEL UNDER STRESS is at bookstores everywhere. It's also available from online booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and BookSense. For more information, visit Shanna's website at shannaswendson.com.

Teacher Appreciation Week!

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Far be it from me to tell you how to spend your money, but if you're inclined to buy your favorite teacher a gift, may I suggest a book? Perhaps a funny book? Perhaps a funny PTA-centered book that gives teachers a peek into the scandalous world of the moms that play such a large role in their lives?

Or not. Scented candles are always nice, too.



Praise from teachers ...

"Funnier and more touching than I ever could have imagined. Any teacher who's ever wondered about those PTA moms will love this book!" -- Lisa P., 3rd Grade Teacher, NY

"Masterful, brilliant … it made me yearn for such a group of friends to be surrounded by, each so complex and fully human."-- Randall B., High School English Teacher, PA

"Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA is smart, laugh-out-loud fun. Who knew the PTA could be this exciting!" -- Lauran S., Continuing Ed Teacher, VA

"Get the book, slip between the covers and have the time of your life. This is a seriously funny, engaging, endearing read."-- Mary A., Art Teacher, NY