Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday already?
Wouldn't seem right to post this weekly update without acknowledging the loss of two cultural icons I practically grew up with.
I don't think I watched Charlie's Angels much, but Farrah Fawcett was a ubiquitous presence. This poster was everywhere, and while the boys were focused on her body, us girls were transfixed by that hair. We didn't try to copy it--that would have been futile. But it defined beauty for us.
For all that beauty and fame, I don't know if she had a happy life. But she sure had a terrible death. Peace to Farrah and her loved ones.
There's just no way I can sum up Michael Jackson in a few paragraphs, so I'll just wish him peace as well, and post this--the first moon walk performance I ever saw. I know it sounds corny to say this, but we knew we were watching history being made. There was never a performer like this before.
And now my weekly update ...
• My parents are staying with us for the week, which means that at least once a day there's a mad hunt to find his glasses. We need to implant a Lojack in his frames.
• One week, two graduations!! Congrats to Ethan on graduating from middle school and to Emma on graduating from elementary! I'm immensely proud of you kids. Superstars!
• Speaking of superstars, congrats to both Max and Ethan on their regents scores. (I don't know what we did right, but we sure grow 'em smart.)
• Writing news isn't quite as happy as the personal news. I'm in the midst of having long conversations with my agent about my work-in-progress and it's been downright depressing.
• On the other hand, I've been getting some lovely blurbs on my completed-yet-untitled novel. So that keeps me from going over the edge.
• Every week I think I'm going to have a final title or a pub date, but still no word on that. Driving me quite insane.
• Good news from some of my writer pals. Joshilyn Jackson's new book, THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING, has made the New York Times bestseller list. (Go Joshilyn!) Ron Currie's new novel, EVERYTHING MATTERS!, has the critics swooning. I read the first chapter online and it's astounding.
• Last but certainly not least, I hope you'll pack up your lawn chair and head down to the Schoolhouse Green in Oceanside on Monday evening. I'll be joining Saralee Rosenberg, Carol Hoenig and Brenda Janowitz for a casual outdoor reading, moderated by Debbi Honorof, at the Summer Gazebo Reading Series. Click here for more info ... and pray for clear skies!
Monday, June 22, 2009
EVERYONE SHE LOVED By Sheila Curran
I'm not sure I love anything more than a powerful, moving novel about the unbreakable bonds between women, so today I'm thrilled to be blogging about EVERYONE SHE LOVED by fellow Girlfriends Cyber Circuit author Sheila Curran.
The book has a great premise about a woman getting her husband and closest friends to sign a very unusual pact that will, ultimately, change their lives forever. To read more about it, click here.
Sheila was good enough to answer my interview questions, so here goes ...
How would you describe the genre of EVERYONE SHE LOVED, and what pulled you toward it?
I’d guess ‘women’s fiction’ but to me, genre is so hard to define, especially when one’s writing combines elements of many. For example, it’s a mystery, it’s a love story, it’s suspenseful, it’s a southern novel in the tradition of Steel Magnolias or Terms of Endearment. There are no spies, so I guess we can rule out espionage.
Please tell us about the genesis of the idea for this book.
For the full story, readers should go to my website and click on Backstory. But the short version is this: in some states, if a parent hasn’t named a guardian in an official will, their children can be taken into foster care if the parents die. I was talking to a friend about how difficult it is to make the choice of who, among my siblings and friends would be the best replacements for my husband and I. Suddenly, I said, “Oooh. You know what would be worse? What if I died and John fell in love with someone who was just awful?” I thought for a minute more and said, “I know. What if he couldn’t remarry unless my sisters and best friends approved?”
I knew, deep down, that whatever happened, as long as my friends and family approved of the new wife, then she’d be good for my kids. So I began to imagine a character like me, except she’s really rich, has had even more reasons in her life to become a bit of a control freak than have I and she is so charming in her ridiculous catastrophizing that her husband and friends finally say, “Enough, already! You’re not going anywhere, but if it makes you feel better, we’ll sign the damn thing.” So begins the premise for my novel, the plot of which is set into action by my character’s codicil. It’s about motherhood, wifehood, childhood, and most of all, the sisterhood of great friends who’ve come of age together.
If your protagonist could change one thing about herself, what would it be?
I think she’d wish she weren’t so attracted to her late best friend’s husband, I think she’d wish she knew more about helping his daughters recover from the loss of their mom, and I think she’d like to be more disciplined about what she eats.
What do you love most about EVERYONE SHE LOVED?
I love the way the ending pulls together so many of the loose ends that presented themselves to me and demanded to be put on the page, only to make me wrack my brain over what in the world they meant and how in the world I would solve the problems they created. I also love how these women band together, how much they want to protect their lost friend’s children and husbands, and how they make each other laugh.
Is there a story behind the title?
I had submitted it under the title of LUCY VARGAS IS COMING AROUND, thinking maybe it would sort of ‘brand’ me, since my first title was Diana Lively is Falling Down. My editor, the brilliant Emily Bestler, wanted something less coy, more poignant and serious. We must have gone back and forth with a million tries until she emailed one day and said, I’ve got it! EVERYONE SHE LOVED is perfect since the action in the novel is driven by Penelope’s love for her family, and her assurance that she could trust her friends to protect them if something were to happen to them.
Did you have any input on the cover, and are you happy with the finished product?
You know, all I ever heard from other writers was how little power they’d gotten over their covers. Given that my editor has so many superstar clients (Jodi Picoult, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Jennifer Weiner) and that I was – well, the opposite of a superstar – I figured I would have to go with whatever image she and her team chose. They sent the cover, and it was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, it disturbed me in a way I couldn’t articulate. I almost said nothing, because I know these people are much smarter than I about book covers. Still, I couldn’t help but say it made me think something bad was going to happen. Not only did Emily listen to my commentary but by the time we chose the cover, they’d gone through several versions. I felt so honored, and I realized that Ms. Bestler is one of those powerful people who still treats people as she herself would wish to be treated. You can’t do a whole lot better than that, in my humble opinion.
What do you think readers might be surprised to know about you?
I’ve listed several of my quirks in the About the Author section of Diana Lively's website but I guess they’d be most surprised at the fact that when it all comes down to it, what matters most to me is my family, my friends and living a life that adds value to the world. In my case, I figure my novels can give people a few hours to escape and enjoy themselves, and in a world like ours, that’s a very helpful thing. When I got sick last January, I was able to experience first-hand how very true this was.
Can you share some particularly memorable fan mail you've received?
Every bit of fan mail is memorable. It makes my day to hear that I touched someone. I have heard from old ladies named Wilma and Bernice that I made them laugh, from strangers who begged me to hurry up and write another book, and from nationally-recognized professors who said my first novel about an academic husband who’s just the slightest bit egomaniacal, was ‘brilliant.’ Since I’m not an academic and have never thought of myself as smart, I was so pleased to hear they thought the book was clever, funny and innovative.
Do you pay attention to book reviews?
I do, but it’s really hard, as you know, with diminished review spaces in newspapers, to get a review.
Has there been any particular review that made your heart do a little dance?
I got a ‘starred review” from BOOKLIST. (I’m still not sure exactly what it means, but everyone said it’s really good.) Here’s part of what the review wrote:
Rich with exceptional characterization …Curran's novel gently reminds readers that fantasy has a place in everyone's life, and dreams can come true. Uniquely uplifting and never didactic, this is a gem.
Thanks so much, Shelia!
EVERYONE SHE LOVED has just been released and is available at chain and independent bookstores everywhere. To buy online, visit amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com or any cyber retailer. For more information, visit Sheila's website at sheilacurran.com.
The book has a great premise about a woman getting her husband and closest friends to sign a very unusual pact that will, ultimately, change their lives forever. To read more about it, click here.
Sheila was good enough to answer my interview questions, so here goes ...
How would you describe the genre of EVERYONE SHE LOVED, and what pulled you toward it?
I’d guess ‘women’s fiction’ but to me, genre is so hard to define, especially when one’s writing combines elements of many. For example, it’s a mystery, it’s a love story, it’s suspenseful, it’s a southern novel in the tradition of Steel Magnolias or Terms of Endearment. There are no spies, so I guess we can rule out espionage.Please tell us about the genesis of the idea for this book.
For the full story, readers should go to my website and click on Backstory. But the short version is this: in some states, if a parent hasn’t named a guardian in an official will, their children can be taken into foster care if the parents die. I was talking to a friend about how difficult it is to make the choice of who, among my siblings and friends would be the best replacements for my husband and I. Suddenly, I said, “Oooh. You know what would be worse? What if I died and John fell in love with someone who was just awful?” I thought for a minute more and said, “I know. What if he couldn’t remarry unless my sisters and best friends approved?”
I knew, deep down, that whatever happened, as long as my friends and family approved of the new wife, then she’d be good for my kids. So I began to imagine a character like me, except she’s really rich, has had even more reasons in her life to become a bit of a control freak than have I and she is so charming in her ridiculous catastrophizing that her husband and friends finally say, “Enough, already! You’re not going anywhere, but if it makes you feel better, we’ll sign the damn thing.” So begins the premise for my novel, the plot of which is set into action by my character’s codicil. It’s about motherhood, wifehood, childhood, and most of all, the sisterhood of great friends who’ve come of age together.
If your protagonist could change one thing about herself, what would it be?
I think she’d wish she weren’t so attracted to her late best friend’s husband, I think she’d wish she knew more about helping his daughters recover from the loss of their mom, and I think she’d like to be more disciplined about what she eats.
What do you love most about EVERYONE SHE LOVED?
I love the way the ending pulls together so many of the loose ends that presented themselves to me and demanded to be put on the page, only to make me wrack my brain over what in the world they meant and how in the world I would solve the problems they created. I also love how these women band together, how much they want to protect their lost friend’s children and husbands, and how they make each other laugh.
Is there a story behind the title?
I had submitted it under the title of LUCY VARGAS IS COMING AROUND, thinking maybe it would sort of ‘brand’ me, since my first title was Diana Lively is Falling Down. My editor, the brilliant Emily Bestler, wanted something less coy, more poignant and serious. We must have gone back and forth with a million tries until she emailed one day and said, I’ve got it! EVERYONE SHE LOVED is perfect since the action in the novel is driven by Penelope’s love for her family, and her assurance that she could trust her friends to protect them if something were to happen to them.
Did you have any input on the cover, and are you happy with the finished product?
You know, all I ever heard from other writers was how little power they’d gotten over their covers. Given that my editor has so many superstar clients (Jodi Picoult, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Jennifer Weiner) and that I was – well, the opposite of a superstar – I figured I would have to go with whatever image she and her team chose. They sent the cover, and it was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, it disturbed me in a way I couldn’t articulate. I almost said nothing, because I know these people are much smarter than I about book covers. Still, I couldn’t help but say it made me think something bad was going to happen. Not only did Emily listen to my commentary but by the time we chose the cover, they’d gone through several versions. I felt so honored, and I realized that Ms. Bestler is one of those powerful people who still treats people as she herself would wish to be treated. You can’t do a whole lot better than that, in my humble opinion.
What do you think readers might be surprised to know about you?
I’ve listed several of my quirks in the About the Author section of Diana Lively's website but I guess they’d be most surprised at the fact that when it all comes down to it, what matters most to me is my family, my friends and living a life that adds value to the world. In my case, I figure my novels can give people a few hours to escape and enjoy themselves, and in a world like ours, that’s a very helpful thing. When I got sick last January, I was able to experience first-hand how very true this was.
Can you share some particularly memorable fan mail you've received?
Every bit of fan mail is memorable. It makes my day to hear that I touched someone. I have heard from old ladies named Wilma and Bernice that I made them laugh, from strangers who begged me to hurry up and write another book, and from nationally-recognized professors who said my first novel about an academic husband who’s just the slightest bit egomaniacal, was ‘brilliant.’ Since I’m not an academic and have never thought of myself as smart, I was so pleased to hear they thought the book was clever, funny and innovative.
Do you pay attention to book reviews?
I do, but it’s really hard, as you know, with diminished review spaces in newspapers, to get a review.
Has there been any particular review that made your heart do a little dance?
I got a ‘starred review” from BOOKLIST. (I’m still not sure exactly what it means, but everyone said it’s really good.) Here’s part of what the review wrote:
Rich with exceptional characterization …Curran's novel gently reminds readers that fantasy has a place in everyone's life, and dreams can come true. Uniquely uplifting and never didactic, this is a gem.
Thanks so much, Shelia!
EVERYONE SHE LOVED has just been released and is available at chain and independent bookstores everywhere. To buy online, visit amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com or any cyber retailer. For more information, visit Sheila's website at sheilacurran.com.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Great way to spend the next 5 minutes of your life
watching this video ...
Playing For Change | Song Around The World "Stand By Me" from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday Update
A bit of progress to report ...
• Yesterday I emailed my agents about 50+ pages of my work-in-progress, The Cousins' Club. I haven't told them a single thing about the story, so I have no idea what their reaction will be. Fingers crossed ...
• Still waiting to hear on a pub date and final title for my third novel. I'm more anxious about the pub date. There was a chance it would wind up on the spring 2010 schedule, but that didn't happen. So now I wait for a date on the summer calendar, which goes from May to August, and pray I don't get August again. I know a lot of people think that's a good month for books, but I disagree. I think the reason bookstore sales are high in August is because college stores are included in the mix. August is bad for me. No one is around. Promotion is nearly impossible. I can't get arrested in August. I rest my case. (Except for one thing ... if my book gets pushed off until fall I will slit my wrists.)
I'm visualizing May. May May May.
• Last Sunday was the first ever BOOKS NJ festival. Saralee Rosenberg was our designated driver for the day, taking Brenda Janowitz and me to Paramus. While waiting for my chariot I turned on the radio and heard that the George Washington Bridge was closed all morning for a walkathon. As if that wasn't bad enough, there was a massive accident on the Cross Bronx and all lanes were closed. Wait, there's more. Sunday was the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which meant that 5th Avenue in Manhattan was closed, making through-traffic impossible. Think it can't get any worse? There was a Yankees game.
Can someone please remind me why I don't live in Wyoming or something?
Anyway, as the pictures below attest, we did actually make it. (Went north to the Tappan Zee Bridge.) So glad we did, because the festival was extraordinary. It was so well-organized it's hard to believe this was their maiden voyage. Way to go, New Jersey! Kudos to Arlene Sahraie and the rest of the gang for pulling off the impossible. Special thanks, too, to Mary Riskind, Director of the Bergenfield Public Library, for doing such a great job moderating our panel.
Our panel, Women Are Characters, was at 3.
My panel, left to right: Saralee Rosenberg, Ellen Meister, Carol Hoenig, Brenda Janowitz (with guest)
Saralee, yours truly, Carol, Brenda and author Debra Borden
Chillin' before the panel
With Mary Riskind, our trusty moderator
• Yesterday I emailed my agents about 50+ pages of my work-in-progress, The Cousins' Club. I haven't told them a single thing about the story, so I have no idea what their reaction will be. Fingers crossed ...
• Still waiting to hear on a pub date and final title for my third novel. I'm more anxious about the pub date. There was a chance it would wind up on the spring 2010 schedule, but that didn't happen. So now I wait for a date on the summer calendar, which goes from May to August, and pray I don't get August again. I know a lot of people think that's a good month for books, but I disagree. I think the reason bookstore sales are high in August is because college stores are included in the mix. August is bad for me. No one is around. Promotion is nearly impossible. I can't get arrested in August. I rest my case. (Except for one thing ... if my book gets pushed off until fall I will slit my wrists.)
I'm visualizing May. May May May.
• Last Sunday was the first ever BOOKS NJ festival. Saralee Rosenberg was our designated driver for the day, taking Brenda Janowitz and me to Paramus. While waiting for my chariot I turned on the radio and heard that the George Washington Bridge was closed all morning for a walkathon. As if that wasn't bad enough, there was a massive accident on the Cross Bronx and all lanes were closed. Wait, there's more. Sunday was the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which meant that 5th Avenue in Manhattan was closed, making through-traffic impossible. Think it can't get any worse? There was a Yankees game.
Can someone please remind me why I don't live in Wyoming or something?
Anyway, as the pictures below attest, we did actually make it. (Went north to the Tappan Zee Bridge.) So glad we did, because the festival was extraordinary. It was so well-organized it's hard to believe this was their maiden voyage. Way to go, New Jersey! Kudos to Arlene Sahraie and the rest of the gang for pulling off the impossible. Special thanks, too, to Mary Riskind, Director of the Bergenfield Public Library, for doing such a great job moderating our panel.
Our panel, Women Are Characters, was at 3.
My panel, left to right: Saralee Rosenberg, Ellen Meister, Carol Hoenig, Brenda Janowitz (with guest)
Saralee, yours truly, Carol, Brenda and author Debra Borden
Chillin' before the panel
With Mary Riskind, our trusty moderatorFriday, June 12, 2009
A Friday Update ... of sorts
Hard to figure out what to say for a week that seemed to go by in five minutes. I did a lot of writing on this new project, The Cousins' Club. I'm still at sea in terms of how the story is going to play out, but have been getting lots of exciting ideas and I might actually show my agent something soon. I just feel like I need some feedback around now.
Meanwhile, I've been going to the gym. Not just running on the treadmill, but pumping iron using a routine my husband mapped out for me. And I'm actually seeing results. You know that obnoxious thing guys do when they flex their arms in front of the mirror? I did that today and guess what I saw? Something resembling bicep muscles.
You pr
obably think that shouldn't shock me, but understand that I'm not genetically prone to muscle definition. We are a soft people. (I guess survival of the fittest in the remote shtels of the Ukraine depended more on layering on fat than any athleticism. "Yacov, how will we get through the winter? There is no food." "No food? Why, just last month when the goat died I emptied the contents of its stomach and got almost a whole bowl of half-digested grass! My shana Mindel, you can make enough schav for the whole village!")
That's about it, but if you're anywhere near Paramus, New Jersey, please set Sunday aside for the first ever NEW JERSEY BOOK FESTIVAL. It's going to be huge, with tons of authors, readings and panels. I'll be presenting at 3:00 pm, with Saralee Rosenberg, Carol Hoenig and Brenda Janowitz. Our panel is called "Women are Characters: Exploring Heroines Who Matter." Click here for more info.
Meanwhile, I've been going to the gym. Not just running on the treadmill, but pumping iron using a routine my husband mapped out for me. And I'm actually seeing results. You know that obnoxious thing guys do when they flex their arms in front of the mirror? I did that today and guess what I saw? Something resembling bicep muscles.
You pr
obably think that shouldn't shock me, but understand that I'm not genetically prone to muscle definition. We are a soft people. (I guess survival of the fittest in the remote shtels of the Ukraine depended more on layering on fat than any athleticism. "Yacov, how will we get through the winter? There is no food." "No food? Why, just last month when the goat died I emptied the contents of its stomach and got almost a whole bowl of half-digested grass! My shana Mindel, you can make enough schav for the whole village!")That's about it, but if you're anywhere near Paramus, New Jersey, please set Sunday aside for the first ever NEW JERSEY BOOK FESTIVAL. It's going to be huge, with tons of authors, readings and panels. I'll be presenting at 3:00 pm, with Saralee Rosenberg, Carol Hoenig and Brenda Janowitz. Our panel is called "Women are Characters: Exploring Heroines Who Matter." Click here for more info.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Saturday update
This past week was mostly spent writing rather obsessively. I also finished a freelance editing job I was working on. Here are a couple other highlights ...
• Wonderful event at the Highline Ballroom last weekend, where I got to hear some stellar readers, comics and singers. I also got to join a group of 6-word memoirists on stage and read my life story ("Not as blond as I look").
I kind of got to meet Neil Gaiman, who was at the event that night. My friend Robin Slick had met him before was supposed to introduce him to our pal Susan Henderson, who had interviewed him on her fabulous website, Litpark. Neil was standing right next to Robin and, bless her big gorgeous tender heart, she couldn't muster the courage to tap him on the shoulder. So me and my Long Island chutzpah stepped in to tap Neil, point out that Robin was right next to him, and introduce Sue. I never told him my own name. Oh, well.
Upshot is that it was a fun night, though I can't honestly say it was worth the price of a mortgage payment, which is pretty close to what the night cost me. (Don't ask.)
• Speaking of Neil Gaiman, two out of my three kids read THE GRAVEYARD BOOK and said it was the best book they ever read. No small compliment from these two, trust me.
• Shout-out to my oldest pal, Linda Kitay, for the fun lunch on Tuesday at Fanatico.
• Yesterday I called my mom to tell her her aol account had been hijacked by a phishing scam going by the name "Desktop Dating," and that she had to change her password right away. So she passed the phone to my dad and ran to the computer.
I heard Dad talking to mom and then nothing but the TV in the background. (If you call my parents and don't hear the TV in the background, you've got the wrong number.) Dad clearly had no idea I was holding for him. I tried shouting, singing, whistling. But he didn't hear me. So I called his cellphone from my cellphone.
Ran into fellow author and Facebook pal Debra Markowitz at the event, which really rounded out the night.
Here's a picture of Alice Hoffman and me from last year, when I interviewed her on stage at an Author's Tea ...
• Went to the Borders in Syosset yesterday and signed a great big stack of THE SMART ONE. It was really swell of them to place such a large order, so I hope you'll consider stopping in if you're thinking about end-of-the-year teacher gifts.
• Kudos to the NSSA folks and everyone else who participated in the Jack's Run fundraiser today!
• Wonderful event at the Highline Ballroom last weekend, where I got to hear some stellar readers, comics and singers. I also got to join a group of 6-word memoirists on stage and read my life story ("Not as blond as I look").
I kind of got to meet Neil Gaiman, who was at the event that night. My friend Robin Slick had met him before was supposed to introduce him to our pal Susan Henderson, who had interviewed him on her fabulous website, Litpark. Neil was standing right next to Robin and, bless her big gorgeous tender heart, she couldn't muster the courage to tap him on the shoulder. So me and my Long Island chutzpah stepped in to tap Neil, point out that Robin was right next to him, and introduce Sue. I never told him my own name. Oh, well.
Upshot is that it was a fun night, though I can't honestly say it was worth the price of a mortgage payment, which is pretty close to what the night cost me. (Don't ask.)
• Speaking of Neil Gaiman, two out of my three kids read THE GRAVEYARD BOOK and said it was the best book they ever read. No small compliment from these two, trust me.
• Shout-out to my oldest pal, Linda Kitay, for the fun lunch on Tuesday at Fanatico.
• Yesterday I called my mom to tell her her aol account had been hijacked by a phishing scam going by the name "Desktop Dating," and that she had to change her password right away. So she passed the phone to my dad and ran to the computer.
I heard Dad talking to mom and then nothing but the TV in the background. (If you call my parents and don't hear the TV in the background, you've got the wrong number.) Dad clearly had no idea I was holding for him. I tried shouting, singing, whistling. But he didn't hear me. So I called his cellphone from my cellphone.
ME: Dad? Do you have the landline telephone on your lap?
DAD: How did you know?
ME: Pick it up and say hello to me.
My parents and phones. The fun never stops.
• Saralee Rosenberg and I went to see Alice Hoffman at Book Revue last night. She read from her new novel, THE STORY SISTERS, and I was knocked right out. You really have to get this book.
DAD: How did you know?
ME: Pick it up and say hello to me.
My parents and phones. The fun never stops.
• Saralee Rosenberg and I went to see Alice Hoffman at Book Revue last night. She read from her new novel, THE STORY SISTERS, and I was knocked right out. You really have to get this book.
Ran into fellow author and Facebook pal Debra Markowitz at the event, which really rounded out the night.
Here's a picture of Alice Hoffman and me from last year, when I interviewed her on stage at an Author's Tea ...
• Went to the Borders in Syosset yesterday and signed a great big stack of THE SMART ONE. It was really swell of them to place such a large order, so I hope you'll consider stopping in if you're thinking about end-of-the-year teacher gifts.
• Kudos to the NSSA folks and everyone else who participated in the Jack's Run fundraiser today!
Friday, June 05, 2009
IN OVER HER HEAD By Judi Fennell
What a fitting title to be blogging about today, since that's exactly how I feel. Apologies, my friends. I've been so consumed with this new novel I'm working on that I've been neglecting my poor blog. I should have posted about Judi's book day's ago. And so now I'm putting off my usual Friday update because I really want you to know about this exciting new title.
Here's the quick plot summary:
When Erica Peck, one terrified-of-the-ocean marina owner, finds herself at the bottom of the sea conversing with a Mer man named Reel, she thinks she's died and gone to her own version of Hell.
When the Oceanic Council demands she and Reel retrieve a lost cache of diamonds from the resident sea monster in return for their lives, she knows she's died and gone to Hell. When they escape the monster and end up on a deserted island, she amends her opinion - she's died and gone to Heaven.
But when Reel sacrifices himself to allow her to return to her world, she realizes that, Heaven or Hell, with Reel, she's In Over Her Head.
Darling Judi was good enough to answer some interview questions, so here goes ...
How wou
ld you describe the genre of IN OVER HER HEAD, and what pulled you toward it?
In Over Her Head is a tongue-in-cheek, light-headed paranormal. I loved I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched growing up and I tried to capture that funny, something-else-is-going-on-other-than-what's-on-the-surface feeling those shows had. Plus, I got to make sea creatures talk. That was fun.
What can you tell us about the genesis of the idea for this book?
I'd been writing a series that was a twist on fairy tales: Bauty and The Best, Cinda Bella, and Fairest of Them All, and I wanted to do a twist on The Little Mermaid. The easiest way to twist it was to make him the Mer. Once I had that idea, the story just flowed (pun fully intended).
Is there a story behind the title?
I love manipulating language: puns, double entendres, plays-on-words, cliches, etc. and this saying just fit the bill on all accounts. Erica is In Over Her Head, both in the water, fighting against the sea monster and falling in love with a merman. I couldn't pass it up.
Did you have any input on the cover, and are you happy with the finished product?
They did ask me about the story and what I envisioned. That being said, the cover is nothing like what I envisioned but I absolutely love it. The font that's wavy, HIM, the ocean, the color, the placement of the quote... It's superb. They did an amazing job on the cover, as well as the ones for the next two books (Wild Blue Under, November 2009 and Catch of a Lifetime, February 2010)
Can you share some particularly memorable fan mail you received about this or previous books?
I recently had a book seller email me. She isn't a romance reader but had a friend who liked paranormal romance and picked my book up for her. Since the friend was out of town, she opened my book to see if it could hold her interest. Not only did it hold her interest, but she said she read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. And that she'd be buying the rest of my books. As for her friend, well, she's going to have to buy her own copy of In Over Her Head. That was a great email to receive.
Thanks so much, Judi! The book sounds terrific.
You can buy IN OVER HER HEAD at your favorite chain or independent bookstore. To purchase online, visit amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com or any cyber retailer. For more information--or to learn about the exciting romantic beach getaway Judi is raffling off--visit her website at judifennell.com.
Here's the quick plot summary:
When Erica Peck, one terrified-of-the-ocean marina owner, finds herself at the bottom of the sea conversing with a Mer man named Reel, she thinks she's died and gone to her own version of Hell.
When the Oceanic Council demands she and Reel retrieve a lost cache of diamonds from the resident sea monster in return for their lives, she knows she's died and gone to Hell. When they escape the monster and end up on a deserted island, she amends her opinion - she's died and gone to Heaven.
But when Reel sacrifices himself to allow her to return to her world, she realizes that, Heaven or Hell, with Reel, she's In Over Her Head.
Darling Judi was good enough to answer some interview questions, so here goes ...
How wou
ld you describe the genre of IN OVER HER HEAD, and what pulled you toward it? In Over Her Head is a tongue-in-cheek, light-headed paranormal. I loved I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched growing up and I tried to capture that funny, something-else-is-going-on-other-than-what's-on-the-surface feeling those shows had. Plus, I got to make sea creatures talk. That was fun.
What can you tell us about the genesis of the idea for this book?
I'd been writing a series that was a twist on fairy tales: Bauty and The Best, Cinda Bella, and Fairest of Them All, and I wanted to do a twist on The Little Mermaid. The easiest way to twist it was to make him the Mer. Once I had that idea, the story just flowed (pun fully intended).
Is there a story behind the title?
I love manipulating language: puns, double entendres, plays-on-words, cliches, etc. and this saying just fit the bill on all accounts. Erica is In Over Her Head, both in the water, fighting against the sea monster and falling in love with a merman. I couldn't pass it up.
Did you have any input on the cover, and are you happy with the finished product?
They did ask me about the story and what I envisioned. That being said, the cover is nothing like what I envisioned but I absolutely love it. The font that's wavy, HIM, the ocean, the color, the placement of the quote... It's superb. They did an amazing job on the cover, as well as the ones for the next two books (Wild Blue Under, November 2009 and Catch of a Lifetime, February 2010)
Can you share some particularly memorable fan mail you received about this or previous books?
I recently had a book seller email me. She isn't a romance reader but had a friend who liked paranormal romance and picked my book up for her. Since the friend was out of town, she opened my book to see if it could hold her interest. Not only did it hold her interest, but she said she read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. And that she'd be buying the rest of my books. As for her friend, well, she's going to have to buy her own copy of In Over Her Head. That was a great email to receive.
Thanks so much, Judi! The book sounds terrific.
You can buy IN OVER HER HEAD at your favorite chain or independent bookstore. To purchase online, visit amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com or any cyber retailer. For more information--or to learn about the exciting romantic beach getaway Judi is raffling off--visit her website at judifennell.com.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday Update
Ever have a week where you felt like you spent every hour of the day running in place? This was one of those. Not much to report ...
• Excited to receive my new little Samsung NC-10 netbook, but I can't get it access my w
ireless internet at home. Spent an hour on the phone with D-Link tech support yesterday to no avail. I'll probably spend another hour today. Do I have time for this nonsense? No!
• Today I addressed a big, smart group of retired professionals from the Molloy Institute of Life Long Learning in Rockville Centre, Long Island. My favorite part of these appearances is the question and answer period at end, and this group was especially dynamic. Big shout-out to Marie and Sal Barry for inviting me to speak.
• Got one sick kid today, sorry to say. Feel better, Ethan!
• Getting more and more excited about this new book idea I'm working on. I'm practically feeling hypergraphic over it. Wish I could carve out more time to work.
• Went to my daugther's 5th grade concert this week. Kudos to the band, the orchestra and the chorus. You kids were awesome! And of course, a standing O for the incredible music teachers in our district.
• Attention New Yorkers: tomorrow night there's a special event sponsored by the folks who published the six-word memior book, NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING. I'll be among the writers reading their six words. Hope you can join us! Click here for more info.
• Excited to receive my new little Samsung NC-10 netbook, but I can't get it access my w
ireless internet at home. Spent an hour on the phone with D-Link tech support yesterday to no avail. I'll probably spend another hour today. Do I have time for this nonsense? No!• Today I addressed a big, smart group of retired professionals from the Molloy Institute of Life Long Learning in Rockville Centre, Long Island. My favorite part of these appearances is the question and answer period at end, and this group was especially dynamic. Big shout-out to Marie and Sal Barry for inviting me to speak.
• Got one sick kid today, sorry to say. Feel better, Ethan!
• Getting more and more excited about this new book idea I'm working on. I'm practically feeling hypergraphic over it. Wish I could carve out more time to work.
• Went to my daugther's 5th grade concert this week. Kudos to the band, the orchestra and the chorus. You kids were awesome! And of course, a standing O for the incredible music teachers in our district.
• Attention New Yorkers: tomorrow night there's a special event sponsored by the folks who published the six-word memior book, NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING. I'll be among the writers reading their six words. Hope you can join us! Click here for more info.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Late Friday Update
Pretty damned late to be posting a Friday update, especially on a holiday weekend. (I can already hear this blog entry echoing through the empty chambers of cyberspace.) But my morning was jammed with a meeting at the high school and my annual mammo (clear for another year! yay!), so this is the first moment I've had. Here goes ...
• Last Saturday I drove out to East Hampton to hear a terrific group of authors on a panel, and shlepped my daughter along with me. Got to hear Andrew Gross, Susan Isaacs, Hope McIntyre, Vincent Lardo and Elizabeth
Zevlin. What a stellar lineup! That's me with Andrew Gross in the picture. And yes, he's really that cute. Thanks to Emma for snapping the pic.
• Speaking of Andrew Gross, I bought his new book, DON'T LOOK TWICE, and just started reading it today. This is my first introduction to his work and wow, am I impressed. The story is a heart-thumping page turner, which I expected. What took me by surprise is the quality of the writing. Woosh! This guy knows how to get it done. I'm highly recommending this one.
• Had a great time on Wednesday traveling into Manhattan with my homey, Saralee Rosenberg, to hear an Elinor Lipman reading. It's no secret that I'm a huge Elinor fan, but even if I wasn't, it would be a treat to hear her read. She's so entertaining! Couple weeks ago I raved her new book, THE FAMILY MAN. Brilliant and funny. Read it!
• Two important birthdays in the family last week--my dad (80!) and my sis. Happy birthday, you two! If you have a few minutes and want to read a wonderful little piece of history at AmericanHeritage.com, click here and scroll down to see "MY VJ DAY" by Gerard Meister.
• Had a great little epiphany on the new novel this week. Still very far from having a proposal (in case my agent is reading this), but it's starting to heat up.
• Stay tuned for more news on the title of my book that's in production. Today I came up with an idea I love, but I can't let the cat out of the bag as I haven't even pitched it to my peripatetic editor yet.
• Had a blast doing an interview over at Brenda Janowitz's blog this week. If you haven't clicked in yet, I hope you'll check out it now. And if you leave a comment, you'll be entered in a
drawing for a signed copy of THE SMART ONE.
• Barbecue on the agenda for Sunday. Pray for good weather ...
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
• Last Saturday I drove out to East Hampton to hear a terrific group of authors on a panel, and shlepped my daughter along with me. Got to hear Andrew Gross, Susan Isaacs, Hope McIntyre, Vincent Lardo and Elizabeth
Zevlin. What a stellar lineup! That's me with Andrew Gross in the picture. And yes, he's really that cute. Thanks to Emma for snapping the pic.• Speaking of Andrew Gross, I bought his new book, DON'T LOOK TWICE, and just started reading it today. This is my first introduction to his work and wow, am I impressed. The story is a heart-thumping page turner, which I expected. What took me by surprise is the quality of the writing. Woosh! This guy knows how to get it done. I'm highly recommending this one.
• Had a great time on Wednesday traveling into Manhattan with my homey, Saralee Rosenberg, to hear an Elinor Lipman reading. It's no secret that I'm a huge Elinor fan, but even if I wasn't, it would be a treat to hear her read. She's so entertaining! Couple weeks ago I raved her new book, THE FAMILY MAN. Brilliant and funny. Read it!
• Two important birthdays in the family last week--my dad (80!) and my sis. Happy birthday, you two! If you have a few minutes and want to read a wonderful little piece of history at AmericanHeritage.com, click here and scroll down to see "MY VJ DAY" by Gerard Meister.
• Had a great little epiphany on the new novel this week. Still very far from having a proposal (in case my agent is reading this), but it's starting to heat up.
• Stay tuned for more news on the title of my book that's in production. Today I came up with an idea I love, but I can't let the cat out of the bag as I haven't even pitched it to my peripatetic editor yet.
• Had a blast doing an interview over at Brenda Janowitz's blog this week. If you haven't clicked in yet, I hope you'll check out it now. And if you leave a comment, you'll be entered in a
drawing for a signed copy of THE SMART ONE.• Barbecue on the agenda for Sunday. Pray for good weather ...
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Interview and Book Giveaway!
I hope you'll pop over to author Brenda Janowitz's blog today and leave a comment. She posted an interview with me and is giving away a free signed copy of THE SMART ONE.
Click here.
Thanks!
P.S. You can read more about Brenda's books here.
Click here.
Thanks!
P.S. You can read more about Brenda's books here.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Friday Update
• On Monday I did an appearance at the Jericho Public Library. I think it went well, despite the light turnout. Kisses to those who were there. You asked great questions and I had blast. Hope you did, too.
• My definition of utopia is when all medical tests are as Star Trek as the one for bone density. I mean, how cool is that? No disrobing, no pain, no bodily invasions.
• My middle one got clobbered by fever this week, poor kid. Better today, though. Now we wait and watch to see if anyone else in the family catches it.
• Really looking forward to the interview and book giveaway on Brenda Janowitz's blog next week!
• Speaking of interviews, Saralee Rosenberg and I did a fun one yesterday. Via an online chat, we interviewed each other on the topic of inspiration. It will appear in the July issue of Electica Magazine.
• Looking forward to attending an event at the BookHampton Mystery Festival this Sunday. Looks like lots of great panel discussions going on all weekend, but I'm shooting for the Sunday morning one in East Hampton called "So Charming, So Dead: Social Satire and Murder," with authors SUSAN ISAACS, VINCENT LARDO, ANDREW GROSS, HOPE McINTYRE, and ELIZABETH ZELVIN.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Friday mini-update
Busy busy day and not much to report anyway. Career-wise it's been a slow week. I'm still waiting anxiously for a pub date on my untitled novel, and haven't made much progress on the one I hope will follow.
If you've been reading this blog you know I've been going crazy trying to come up with a title, and have been leaning toward The Broken Wall. But after having lunch with the very smart, talented and helpful Susan Henderson yesterday, I've changed my mind, and am now gunning for The Parting. Not even sure it's on my editor's short list, so we'll see how that flies.
Oh, allergies! Such misery this time of year, no? So much fluid in my head I have tinnitus. Wish I could believe it meant people were talking about me ...
If you've been reading this blog you know I've been going crazy trying to come up with a title, and have been leaning toward The Broken Wall. But after having lunch with the very smart, talented and helpful Susan Henderson yesterday, I've changed my mind, and am now gunning for The Parting. Not even sure it's on my editor's short list, so we'll see how that flies.
Oh, allergies! Such misery this time of year, no? So much fluid in my head I have tinnitus. Wish I could believe it meant people were talking about me ...
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Insert title here
I'm working on an idea for a new book. Right now, I'm still figuring out the characters and the plot, as well as the relationships and the settings. Safe to say I don't really know where I'm going with this, but I have one thing. A kickass title.
I'm calling it The Cousins' Club. ( Though I'm not sure if I need the apostrophe. Does the club belong to the cousins, or is it more like a club of cousins? I'm thinking of examples like The Authors Guild, no apostrophe.)
I'm telling you this for the irony, as the book that's in production now—the one I spent three years thinking about and twelve months writing—is still without a title. The final manuscript has been approved by my editor and will likely have a pub date next spring. But we don't know what to call it.
It's been impossible to find the right peg for this plot. Here's the description that appeared in the trades:
Pitched as "Jodi Picoult meets THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE," the new novel tells the story of a suburban mom expecting her second child who discovers that she might be able to slip through a portal to the life she would have had if she never got married. When a routine sonogram reveals unexpected problems, her grief lures her to escape to the life that might have been—in which she discovers that she's stayed with her neurotic ex-boyfriend, and that her mother, who committed suicide several years before, is very much alive.
For about a year I was calling it The Fissure, because the portal my protag slips through appears as a fissure in her basement wall. Likewise, the problem with her baby is a fissure in her skull. But I never liked the title. I'm afraid that people going into a bookstore and asking for it by name would be sent to the field and stream section. Also, it's not a pretty word. Sounds like something ugly that can happen to your rectum.
Then I started calling it The Silver Line, a more descriptive way to say the same thing. I think it's a pretty title, and memorable, but I worry that it sounds like the name of a train.
My agents rejected both titles outright, and pitched it to editors first as The Opening and then as If Only. No one liked the former, and the latter gets mixed reviews.
My editor changed it back to The Silver Line when she reported the deal to the trades. I later came up with The Parting, which my agents love but my editor is lukewarm on. I'm a little torn on that one. I like it for the emotional resonance, but can't get past how hard it is to say out loud and be clearly understood. Try it. Suggest that as a title to someone and see if they think you're saying The Party.
I came up with several hundred alternatives, and pitched the best of the bunch to my agents. They didn't like any of them. But one stuck with me—The Broken Wall. I like this one because the wall in question is both the literal wall in my character's basement, as well as the metaphysical wall between her two worlds. Also, I think it's memorable, and sticks well to the concept.
But I kept going, and four-hundred pages of notes later I came up with The Other Life, which I really liked, as it refers to my protag's two lives as well as the life of her baby. My agents and editor liked it, too. But after living with it a few weeks I started to think it was just too vanilla. And my agents said it's really not as good as The Parting.
So I pitched The Broken Wall to my editor, because I still really liked it. She did, too, but it wasn't a Eureka that's it! moment. It's just another in the list of titles she's considering, and I wouldn't be surprised if the cover of the book has one that we haven't even thought of yet.
If you want to make suggestions, I'm all ears. But don't be offended if I don't like it. Remember that I've been making lists of possible titles for an entire year, so this is a very tough nut. I've even spent hours searching stock images for ideas. Still, if you're keen to give it a shot, keep in mind that it has to sound serious because the book is kind of dark and highly emotional. It should suggest something about the premise without sounding sci fi or paranormal. And it has to be memorable.
And of course, when we make the final decision I'll be sure to post it here.
I'm calling it The Cousins' Club. ( Though I'm not sure if I need the apostrophe. Does the club belong to the cousins, or is it more like a club of cousins? I'm thinking of examples like The Authors Guild, no apostrophe.)
I'm telling you this for the irony, as the book that's in production now—the one I spent three years thinking about and twelve months writing—is still without a title. The final manuscript has been approved by my editor and will likely have a pub date next spring. But we don't know what to call it.
It's been impossible to find the right peg for this plot. Here's the description that appeared in the trades:
Pitched as "Jodi Picoult meets THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE," the new novel tells the story of a suburban mom expecting her second child who discovers that she might be able to slip through a portal to the life she would have had if she never got married. When a routine sonogram reveals unexpected problems, her grief lures her to escape to the life that might have been—in which she discovers that she's stayed with her neurotic ex-boyfriend, and that her mother, who committed suicide several years before, is very much alive.
For about a year I was calling it The Fissure, because the portal my protag slips through appears as a fissure in her basement wall. Likewise, the problem with her baby is a fissure in her skull. But I never liked the title. I'm afraid that people going into a bookstore and asking for it by name would be sent to the field and stream section. Also, it's not a pretty word. Sounds like something ugly that can happen to your rectum.
Then I started calling it The Silver Line, a more descriptive way to say the same thing. I think it's a pretty title, and memorable, but I worry that it sounds like the name of a train.
My agents rejected both titles outright, and pitched it to editors first as The Opening and then as If Only. No one liked the former, and the latter gets mixed reviews.
My editor changed it back to The Silver Line when she reported the deal to the trades. I later came up with The Parting, which my agents love but my editor is lukewarm on. I'm a little torn on that one. I like it for the emotional resonance, but can't get past how hard it is to say out loud and be clearly understood. Try it. Suggest that as a title to someone and see if they think you're saying The Party.
I came up with several hundred alternatives, and pitched the best of the bunch to my agents. They didn't like any of them. But one stuck with me—The Broken Wall. I like this one because the wall in question is both the literal wall in my character's basement, as well as the metaphysical wall between her two worlds. Also, I think it's memorable, and sticks well to the concept.
But I kept going, and four-hundred pages of notes later I came up with The Other Life, which I really liked, as it refers to my protag's two lives as well as the life of her baby. My agents and editor liked it, too. But after living with it a few weeks I started to think it was just too vanilla. And my agents said it's really not as good as The Parting.
So I pitched The Broken Wall to my editor, because I still really liked it. She did, too, but it wasn't a Eureka that's it! moment. It's just another in the list of titles she's considering, and I wouldn't be surprised if the cover of the book has one that we haven't even thought of yet.
If you want to make suggestions, I'm all ears. But don't be offended if I don't like it. Remember that I've been making lists of possible titles for an entire year, so this is a very tough nut. I've even spent hours searching stock images for ideas. Still, if you're keen to give it a shot, keep in mind that it has to sound serious because the book is kind of dark and highly emotional. It should suggest something about the premise without sounding sci fi or paranormal. And it has to be memorable.
And of course, when we make the final decision I'll be sure to post it here.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Returning to the scene of the crime ...
Next Monday I'm doing a book talk in the Long Island town that inspired the macabre crime in THE SMART ONE. Hope you can join me!
Copies of THE SMART ONE will be available for purchase and signing.
Copies of THE SMART ONE will be available for purchase and signing.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Friday Update
• I spent most of this week catching up on emails and errands I put off last week, when I was prepping for my trip to Newburyport, so not too much to report.
• Sending love and healing wishes to Debbi Honorof. Glad you're home, Deb ... hope you're feeling better day by day.
• Cool lunch on Tuesday with some of my LI lit pals. We're conspiring to launch an exciting joint project. Stay tuned for details.
• Adam in the bottom 3? Huh??? Why do I smell an AI conspiracy to ratchet up next week's call volume?
• After months of not losing an ounce I finally gave up and starting eating carbs again. Guess what? I lost two pounds Go figure. At any rate, it lifted my mood.
• Started weight training this week, but only did it once so it had no impact on above mentioned weight loss. Anyway, I know it's going to be weeks if not months before I see any difference, so it'll be a real exercise in patience for me. (Pun intended)
• For once I'm reading a new book--Elinor Lipman's THE FAMILY MAN. It's amazing--so funny and tender and elegantly written. She truly lets the characters tell the whole story, primarily through dialogue. There's so much between the lines, and not a spare word. Too bad Woody Allen only makes movies from his own stories, because these hilarious and authentic characters would serve his audience so well.
• Sending love and healing wishes to Debbi Honorof. Glad you're home, Deb ... hope you're feeling better day by day.
• Cool lunch on Tuesday with some of my LI lit pals. We're conspiring to launch an exciting joint project. Stay tuned for details.
• Adam in the bottom 3? Huh??? Why do I smell an AI conspiracy to ratchet up next week's call volume?
• After months of not losing an ounce I finally gave up and starting eating carbs again. Guess what? I lost two pounds Go figure. At any rate, it lifted my mood.
• Started weight training this week, but only did it once so it had no impact on above mentioned weight loss. Anyway, I know it's going to be weeks if not months before I see any difference, so it'll be a real exercise in patience for me. (Pun intended)
• For once I'm reading a new book--Elinor Lipman's THE FAMILY MAN. It's amazing--so funny and tender and elegantly written. She truly lets the characters tell the whole story, primarily through dialogue. There's so much between the lines, and not a spare word. Too bad Woody Allen only makes movies from his own stories, because these hilarious and authentic characters would serve his audience so well.
Monday, April 27, 2009
My weekend in Newburyport
It's going to be impossible for me to blog about my weekend at the Newburyport Literary Festival without exposing the terrible truth about how star struck I am over meeting my literary heroes. So to hell with it--I'm not even going to try to play it cool. Consider this a warning: If you have a low tolerance for gushing, you may as well stop reading right now. This is going to get treacly.
Honestly, the whole weekend was like catnip for me. First of all, I got to hang out with one of my best friends and favorite writers, Myfanwy Collins. I spent a good amount of time with her, her husband and baby, which was a rare and wonderful treat. I love them to pieces. The one sad thing thing about the weekend was saying good-bye because I don't know when I'll see them again.
The weekend kicked off with an opening ceremony on Friday, followed by a Meet the Authors dinner. My guest at that event was author Michael Palmer, who's as kind and generous as he is talented. He's a treasure ... and sometimes I can't believe I'm friends with someone who got a blurb from President Bill Clinton on one of his books. (Me: "Too bad you couldn't you get a quote from someone important.")
I was excited to see another very talented friend at the dinner, Liz Willard. I've known Liz online for years, and was so thrilled to meet her in person. She's a doll ... just as I knew she'd be. Also, Liz wrote a terrific book and has great representation, so I suspect she'll have a publishing deal very soon. Good luck, Liz!
The author I most wanted to meet over the weekend was Elinor Lipman. She was at the dinner Friday and I was stalling, waiting for the perfect moment to approach her. Finally, Michael Palmer dragged me over there. There was no reason for me to have hesitated. She's warm and charming and open and friendly. What a treat to meet her! Of course, I grabbed a photo op ...
It was a great party, and I have to admit that one of my favorite moments was when someone asked me if I was Anita Shreve. Ha!
On Saturday morning, I did a book panel with DeLauné Michel, author of THE SAFETY OF SECRETS, which I read and loved. She's smart, talented and outgoing (not to mention beautiful!) and I think the two of us kept the talk pretty lively. A special shout-out to Leslie Hendrickson for doing such a great job moderating. Here are some snapshots from the book signing that followed the talk:
I was thrilled that my friend Meg from CafeMom came to the event. What a sweetheart! It meant so much to me that she was there.
I attended several intriguing book events on Saturday afternoon, got to hang out with Myf and the gang some more, and then went to a party at home of Andre Dubus III. I won't gush about his brilliance because you're already well aware of that, but I will tell you that he is also warm and kind and one other thing no one ever mentions because it seems too shallow a thing to say about a literay god but I'm going to say it anyway: he is drop dead gorgeous. No pics, alas.
I did fin
ally get to meet the real Anita Shreve face-to-face at the party, and she's just lovely and down-to-earth. The party was loud and so it was hard to have a conversation, but I got to chat with her again the next morning at breakfast, as we stayed at the same charming B&B, The Essex Street Inn, which is much prettier than it looks in this photo I snapped.
Other authors I got to meet and chat with over the weekend include Eric Kraft, Ann Easter Smith, Judith Moffatt, Kate Braestrup and Julia Alvarez. I also want to give props to the people who planned and ran this extraordinary festival, Vicki Hendrickson and Jennifer Entwistle. I can't even comprehend what it takes to pull off an event of this magnitude. Talk about a labor of love!
Finally, passionate kisses to the town of Newburyport itself. What a place! I fell headfirst in love with this charming, beautiful, cultured community. It's my version of heaven.
Thanks for reading this far and tolerating such a sloppy valentine. One day I'll learn to be a proper blogger and post snarky, disparaging comments about people. Or maybe not ...
xo
Honestly, the whole weekend was like catnip for me. First of all, I got to hang out with one of my best friends and favorite writers, Myfanwy Collins. I spent a good amount of time with her, her husband and baby, which was a rare and wonderful treat. I love them to pieces. The one sad thing thing about the weekend was saying good-bye because I don't know when I'll see them again.
The weekend kicked off with an opening ceremony on Friday, followed by a Meet the Authors dinner. My guest at that event was author Michael Palmer, who's as kind and generous as he is talented. He's a treasure ... and sometimes I can't believe I'm friends with someone who got a blurb from President Bill Clinton on one of his books. (Me: "Too bad you couldn't you get a quote from someone important.")
I was excited to see another very talented friend at the dinner, Liz Willard. I've known Liz online for years, and was so thrilled to meet her in person. She's a doll ... just as I knew she'd be. Also, Liz wrote a terrific book and has great representation, so I suspect she'll have a publishing deal very soon. Good luck, Liz!
The author I most wanted to meet over the weekend was Elinor Lipman. She was at the dinner Friday and I was stalling, waiting for the perfect moment to approach her. Finally, Michael Palmer dragged me over there. There was no reason for me to have hesitated. She's warm and charming and open and friendly. What a treat to meet her! Of course, I grabbed a photo op ...
It was a great party, and I have to admit that one of my favorite moments was when someone asked me if I was Anita Shreve. Ha!
On Saturday morning, I did a book panel with DeLauné Michel, author of THE SAFETY OF SECRETS, which I read and loved. She's smart, talented and outgoing (not to mention beautiful!) and I think the two of us kept the talk pretty lively. A special shout-out to Leslie Hendrickson for doing such a great job moderating. Here are some snapshots from the book signing that followed the talk:
I was thrilled that my friend Meg from CafeMom came to the event. What a sweetheart! It meant so much to me that she was there.
I attended several intriguing book events on Saturday afternoon, got to hang out with Myf and the gang some more, and then went to a party at home of Andre Dubus III. I won't gush about his brilliance because you're already well aware of that, but I will tell you that he is also warm and kind and one other thing no one ever mentions because it seems too shallow a thing to say about a literay god but I'm going to say it anyway: he is drop dead gorgeous. No pics, alas.I did fin
ally get to meet the real Anita Shreve face-to-face at the party, and she's just lovely and down-to-earth. The party was loud and so it was hard to have a conversation, but I got to chat with her again the next morning at breakfast, as we stayed at the same charming B&B, The Essex Street Inn, which is much prettier than it looks in this photo I snapped.Other authors I got to meet and chat with over the weekend include Eric Kraft, Ann Easter Smith, Judith Moffatt, Kate Braestrup and Julia Alvarez. I also want to give props to the people who planned and ran this extraordinary festival, Vicki Hendrickson and Jennifer Entwistle. I can't even comprehend what it takes to pull off an event of this magnitude. Talk about a labor of love!
Finally, passionate kisses to the town of Newburyport itself. What a place! I fell headfirst in love with this charming, beautiful, cultured community. It's my version of heaven.
Thanks for reading this far and tolerating such a sloppy valentine. One day I'll learn to be a proper blogger and post snarky, disparaging comments about people. Or maybe not ...
xo
Monday, April 20, 2009
FACE OF BETRAYAL By Lis Wiehl and April Henry
It's been a while since I've blogged for the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit, and I'm happy to get back into the swing with this one. Our own April Henry, a popular and critically-acclaimed mystery writer, teamed up with Fox New commentator and legal analyst Lis Wiehl to deliver what Publishers Weekly calls "a sizzling political thriller."
Here's the summary from the press release:
When 17-year-old Senate page Katie Converse goes missing on her Christmas break near her parents' white Victorian home in Portland, Ore., law enforcement and the media go into overdrive in a search for clues. Three friends at the pinnacle of their respective careers--Allison Pierce, a federal prosecutor; Cassidy Shaw, a crime reporter; and Nicole Hedges, an FBI special agent--soon discover that Katie wasn't the picture of innocence painted by her parents. Did Katie run away to escape their stifling demands? Was she having an affair with the senator who sponsored her as a page? Has she been kidnapped? Is she the victim of a serial killer?
April agreed to answer my interview questions, so here goes ...
Do you have a favorite character in FACE OF BETRAYAL? If so, why?
I like Cassidy because she is kind of venial and vain, but honest. She speaks before she thinks. She’s a bit outrageous and is always getting into trouble, so it’s fun to think of what she might be up to.
Is there a story behind the title?
We could not come up with a title we liked. It was bought as The DC Page, but we knew it might not stick. The publisher came up with a bunch of possibilities, but nothing that really grabbed us. Along the way, we were working on our second book, and it was clear it would be called Hand of Fate. The publisher decided to go for a similar type of title, and came up with Face of Betrayal.
What has it been like working with Lis Wiehl?
Lis and I go together like peanut butter and jelly. I've got experience writing mysteries and she's got experience prosecuting and reporting on the bad guys. We email each other nearly every day. Watching this book take off has been a wonderful experience for both of us!
FACE OF BETRAYAL has such a great, chilling cover. Did you have any input on on that, and are you happy with the finished product?
We had cover consultation, but luckily I liked the face of the girl on the cover right away. Let me just say, that has not been true with all my books.
Do you pay attention to book reviews? If so, has there been any particular review that made your heart do a little dance?
The Publishers Weekly review can make or break a book, so I waited with trepidation. The review was nothing but praise! They called it a “sizzling political thriller” with a “seamless plot offers a plethora of twists and turns.”
Fantastic! No wonder it's flying off the shelves!
I know you're a big reader. What are you reading now?
Michael Marshall ‘s Bad Things which will come out in May. He’s an English author who reminds me a bit of Steven King in how he mixes mystery and horror.
Thanks so much for answering my questions, April.
You can buy FACE OF BETRAYAL at your favorite chain or independent bookstore. To purchase online, visit amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com or any cyber bookseller. For information, visit April's website at aprilhenrymysteries.com.
Here's the summary from the press release:
When 17-year-old Senate page Katie Converse goes missing on her Christmas break near her parents' white Victorian home in Portland, Ore., law enforcement and the media go into overdrive in a search for clues. Three friends at the pinnacle of their respective careers--Allison Pierce, a federal prosecutor; Cassidy Shaw, a crime reporter; and Nicole Hedges, an FBI special agent--soon discover that Katie wasn't the picture of innocence painted by her parents. Did Katie run away to escape their stifling demands? Was she having an affair with the senator who sponsored her as a page? Has she been kidnapped? Is she the victim of a serial killer?
April agreed to answer my interview questions, so here goes ...
Do you have a favorite character in FACE OF BETRAYAL? If so, why?
I like Cassidy because she is kind of venial and vain, but honest. She speaks before she thinks. She’s a bit outrageous and is always getting into trouble, so it’s fun to think of what she might be up to.
Is there a story behind the title?
We could not come up with a title we liked. It was bought as The DC Page, but we knew it might not stick. The publisher came up with a bunch of possibilities, but nothing that really grabbed us. Along the way, we were working on our second book, and it was clear it would be called Hand of Fate. The publisher decided to go for a similar type of title, and came up with Face of Betrayal.
What has it been like working with Lis Wiehl?
Lis and I go together like peanut butter and jelly. I've got experience writing mysteries and she's got experience prosecuting and reporting on the bad guys. We email each other nearly every day. Watching this book take off has been a wonderful experience for both of us!
FACE OF BETRAYAL has such a great, chilling cover. Did you have any input on on that, and are you happy with the finished product?
We had cover consultation, but luckily I liked the face of the girl on the cover right away. Let me just say, that has not been true with all my books.
Do you pay attention to book reviews? If so, has there been any particular review that made your heart do a little dance?
The Publishers Weekly review can make or break a book, so I waited with trepidation. The review was nothing but praise! They called it a “sizzling political thriller” with a “seamless plot offers a plethora of twists and turns.”
Fantastic! No wonder it's flying off the shelves!
I know you're a big reader. What are you reading now?
Michael Marshall ‘s Bad Things which will come out in May. He’s an English author who reminds me a bit of Steven King in how he mixes mystery and horror.
Thanks so much for answering my questions, April.
You can buy FACE OF BETRAYAL at your favorite chain or independent bookstore. To purchase online, visit amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com or any cyber bookseller. For information, visit April's website at aprilhenrymysteries.com.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday Update
• Pretty kid-centered week here, as our schools are closed for spring break. But (sniff sniff) I'm down one son as Ethan was whisked away to the Bahamas with a friend's family. I've been getting cellphone pics emailed to me regularly, but the hole in my heart won't close until he's back home.
• This week, as I'm in a holding pattern waiting to hear back from my editor on my revisions, I'm working on my next novel ... or trying to. I have a long way to go before I nail the story. The other day I tried writing the first page of chapter one just to see if I could find the voice. I thought I was onto something but then read it back and realized it sucked. So today I gave it another shot. Dare I think I might have actually scored? Stay tuned to see if I still feel that way in two weeks.
• Just finished reading THE SAFETY OF SECRETS by DeLauné Michel. Wonderful, engaging, surprising book. Great book club read, I think.
• Two out of the three kids had their annual physicals this week and all is well. At 5'11" Max is in the 75th percentile in height. At 4'7" Emma is in the 15th percentile. Quite the spread.
• If I have time next week, I'll blog about why I think my writer friends are getting carried away with this whole Amazon fail issue. There IS no conspiracy of censorship, and people are reading the facts the wrong way. It'll take quite a few paragraphs to explain, so I'll try to carve out some time for it.
• Last night I took the kids and a friend to Adventureland (the amusement park, not the movie) for a night of fun to benefit Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism. A little cold for me, but the children had a blast.
• Department of Bitter Pill to Swallow: I was in the car with the kids listening to Q104.3 when Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls came on. I had to break it to my daughter, who is built exactly like me, that the song was definitely not written about us. Harsh reality ... we don't make the rockin' world go round.
• On Monday I had a lot of fun doing a live podcast at ijustfinished.com. See blog entry below for details.
• No update next Friday as I'll be driving up to Newburyport for the literary festival. If you're in New England, I hope you'll come by. Click here for more info.
• This week, as I'm in a holding pattern waiting to hear back from my editor on my revisions, I'm working on my next novel ... or trying to. I have a long way to go before I nail the story. The other day I tried writing the first page of chapter one just to see if I could find the voice. I thought I was onto something but then read it back and realized it sucked. So today I gave it another shot. Dare I think I might have actually scored? Stay tuned to see if I still feel that way in two weeks.
• Just finished reading THE SAFETY OF SECRETS by DeLauné Michel. Wonderful, engaging, surprising book. Great book club read, I think.
• Two out of the three kids had their annual physicals this week and all is well. At 5'11" Max is in the 75th percentile in height. At 4'7" Emma is in the 15th percentile. Quite the spread.
• If I have time next week, I'll blog about why I think my writer friends are getting carried away with this whole Amazon fail issue. There IS no conspiracy of censorship, and people are reading the facts the wrong way. It'll take quite a few paragraphs to explain, so I'll try to carve out some time for it.
• Last night I took the kids and a friend to Adventureland (the amusement park, not the movie) for a night of fun to benefit Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism. A little cold for me, but the children had a blast.
• Department of Bitter Pill to Swallow: I was in the car with the kids listening to Q104.3 when Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls came on. I had to break it to my daughter, who is built exactly like me, that the song was definitely not written about us. Harsh reality ... we don't make the rockin' world go round.
• On Monday I had a lot of fun doing a live podcast at ijustfinished.com. See blog entry below for details.
• No update next Friday as I'll be driving up to Newburyport for the literary festival. If you're in New England, I hope you'll come by. Click here for more info.
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