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.

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.

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!

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 would 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.

New interview posted today

Check it out: The Writing Mommies Blog.

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 wireless 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.

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!

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.

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 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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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 finally 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

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.

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.

Podcast interview ... listen anytime

This morning I was interviewed live online by the good folks at ijustfinished.com. It's in the archives now, so you can listen anytime.

Here's a link:

Friday Update

• This week I mostly cooked, cleaned and shopped in anticipation of my Passover Seder, which was a smashing success. I work hard for these things, but don't get particularly anxious. Only issue this year was that my dishwasher up and died just days before. Fortunately, we were able to buy a new one and get it installed about 24 hours before the Seder. So ... real china instead of paper. Made the brisket taste that much better.

• While I wait to hear back from my editor on the revised manuscript I turned in last week, I'm trying to work out a plot for my next book. I'm excited about the characters and their relationship, and even have a hook. What I'm still lacking is a story. It's starting to come together, but in bits and pieces. Ironically, the book I just turned in is done, but has no title. This new one doesn't even have a first chapter, but has what I think is a great name: The Cousins' Club. Don't steal it, please.

• Last Sunday, I took Ethan (14) and Emma (11) into Manhattan to have brunch with my cyber friend Lisa McMann, a YA author they both adore. Lisa is from Arizona but was sent on a big tour because her books, WAKE and FADE are huge bestsellers. It was great to meet her in person. She was just as funny, charming and down-to-earth as I knew she'd be. Here we are in front of Pete's Tavern, which has the distinction of being not only being the place O.Henry was reputed to have written Gift of the Magi, but of offering the most reasonably-priced brunch in NYC.

• On Monday I'm doing a podcast over at ijustfinished.com. More info on that soon.

• The kids are off from school the coming week, but Ethan (in photo) is going to the Bahamas with a friend's family.

• Getting excited about my trip to Newburyport. See below for more info.

Newburyport Literary Festival, April 24-25

A couple of years ago when my friend Myf told me she went to the literary festival in Newburyport, Massachusetts, I was wracked with envy because Richard Russo was there. Most writers look to other authors as their rock stars, but to me Richard Russo is The Beatles, Mick Jagger and Harry Nilsson all rolled into one. (Yes, I was a huge Harry Nilsson fan.)

So imagine how thrilled I am that this year I'm appearing at the festival. Richard Russo won't be there, but other idols will. I'm not going to tell you who I'm all starry-eyed over as I plan to play it very cool when I meet and greet, but check out the list of novelists and draw your own conclusions:
Julia Alvarez
Elizabeth Barrett
Brunonia Barry
Richard Bausch
Louis Bayard
Elisabeth Brink
David Crouse
Andre Dubus III
Anne Easter Smith
David Ebershoff
Julia Glass
Áine Greaney
Dyke Hendrickson
Eric Kraft
Elinor Lipman
Margot Livesey
Andrew McNabb
Ellen Meister
DeLauné Michel
Heidi Pitlor
Anita Shreve
Lewis Turco

And those are just the fiction authors. To see who else is presenting, go to Newburyportliteraryfestival.org and click authors et al.

On Friday night, April 24, there's a Dinner with the Authors event, and I think almost all these folks will be there. Click here to make your reservation.

My discussion will be on Saturday morning, April 25, at 9 am. I'll be doing a panel with Delaune Michel, a wonderful author whose most recent book, THE SAFETY OF SECRETS, I'm currently reading ... and loving. For more info on the schedule of events, click here.

I think this is going to be a pretty spectacular festival. Hope you can make it.

Friday Update

Sorry I didn't update last week. I was in a funk for reasons I can't even remember. Pretty quiet this week but I'll give it a shot ...

• A friend recently asked if I was done with my book. That's not as easy to answer as you might think, since there are layers of "done" for a novelist. So I guess I'm at layer 26b, which means that I edited the manuscript per my editor's notes and turned it in. Now I wait to hear from her, anticipating at least one more round of edits ... and hope they're minor.

• Just finished reading HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG by Andre Dubus III, and I'm still reeling. Powerful.

• Speaking of powerful, Laila Lalami's new book, SECRET SON, releases today. Can't wait to get my hands on it. Check out the trailer.

• If you're a writer, there are two sites you must bookmark if you haven't already: Writer Beware and Preditors & Editors. Run by authors Ann Crispin and Victoria Strauss, these sites are devoted to helping writers avoid scammers and other con artists. I've been recommending these sites for years, and was glad to see my favorite agent blogger behind the cause today.

• On the homefront, grueling few weeks as my daughter worked on a heritage project for school. Yesterday she turned it in. May I have my dining room table back now please?

• This morning is my parent-teacher conference at her school. Judging from her report card I'll be hearing all good news, but I want to talk about the little brat boy who's been plaguing her all year. I don't think it's cute. At all.

• My son Ethan's been sick all week, poor kid. Doctor said it's a virus, so he just has to tough it out.

• Speaking of doctors, I had my annual gyn exam yesterday and spent the rest of the day trying to recover from his dismissive attitude. I'm sure there are wonderful male gynecologists out there in the world, but I'm so done with them. Over and out.

• Exciting events coming up this week: brunch with FADE author Lisa McMann and big Passover shindig (also known as Seder) at my house. (Donna--bring dessert!)

• Last weekend was the big MEET THE AUTHORS TEA at the Hofstra University Club, courtesy of The Transition Network and book columnist Debbi Honorof. This deserved its own blog post, but I was too caught up in edits (and wasting time on Facebook). At any rate, it was one of my favorite events ever. I shared with panel with Long Island authors Saralee Rosenberg, Brenda Janowitz and Carol Hoenig. Thanks to insightful questions from Debbi and a smart, engaged audience, it was a delight from start to finish. For more details, check out Saralee's blog.

No Update

Skipping my Friday update today--not in the mood. Sorry ...

Great way to spend a Sunday

I'm thrilled that I was asked to particiate in an exciting panel event this Sunday with a great group of Long Island writers. Here are the details from The Transition Network's website: 

MEET THE AUTHORS AFTERNOON TEA

• Date:  March 29th from 2 to 4 PM
• Place:  Hofstra University Club (www.Hofstrauniversityclub.com), 225 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
  
• Cost:  $20.00 members/$25.00 guests

TTN of Long Island and Hofstra University Continuing Education have arranged a stimulating "Literary" afternoon tea!  

Here is your chance to meet four Long Island female authors who will discuss how they use their fiction to explore the myths and realities of woman's lives. Ellen Meister (www.ellenmeister.com), Carol Hoenig (www.carolhoenig.com), Saralee Rosenberg (saraleerosenberg.com) and Brenda Janowitz (www.brendajanowitz.com) are all intriguing writers who will share their thoughts and inspirations with you.  The discussion will be moderated by TTN's own Debbi Honorof (a book columnist for Long Island Woman).  Come and enjoy luscious French and Italian pastries and fresh fruit selections, accompanied by specially selected international teas and coffees.

Don't miss this terrific event...It's sure to be a real page-turner!

Friday Update

• This week I was the Mystery Mom in my daughter's class, which meant I was responsible for coming up with some unique project or activity to do with the kids. I knew that most of the other parents engaged the kids in fun crafts, so I was bent on finding something different. I hit pay dirt at the library, with a book called MORE TRUE LIES (by George Shannon and John O'Brien), which had these short vignettes I read to the class and then opened for the discussion. The kids were so engaged. It was a blast. I also brought home baked cookies, which didn't hurt. Anyway, I highly recommend this book, which appears to be out of print but is still available on Amazon. Even my 14-year-old was eager to read it. Here's the Booklist review:

Gr. 4-6. The spirited successor to True Lies: 18 Tales for You to Judge (1996) again challenges readers' ability to find "true lies," which Shannon defines as statements that are "technically truthful yet basically a lie." While the idea may sound grimly pedantic, the book is lots of fun. Shannon, who has culled stories from around the world, presents each tale in a few brief paragraphs, then asks the reader to determine, "What's the truth, the whole truth? And where's the lie?" A flip of the page reveals the answer. In one, a man who is accused of stealing insists that he "only picked up a rope." When children turn the page, they discover that the rope was attached to a cow. Other tales revolve around bargaining, buying, and selling. There is even an object lesson in greed. Sophisticated ink line drawings by John O'Brien reinforce the "something's out of whack" theme. Notes on the stories are appended. Connie Fletcher

• Last week I mentioned that I got my editor's comments on my manuscript. I'm happy to say I'm now halfway done with the edits.

• This week I watched House, one of my favorite TV shows, and was surprised to learn that Dr. Taub's first name is Chris. I'm always so surprised when I come across an error like this. Do gentiles not realize that Jews don't name their kids Chris? Is this some sort of secret only Jewish people know? If so, I hereby blow our cover.

• If you're following me on Facebook, you may have witnessed my meltdown over the bathroom scale. I've been dieting like a mental patient, and running on the treadmill daily past the point of exhaustion. Yesterday I got on the scale to see how much all my hard work paid off. The verdict? I'd lost zero pounds. Zero. I had an absolute fit. Then one of my online buddies told me I would literally see results overnight. So today I got on the scale again and guess what? I lost three pounds! Somebody buy me a cheesecake. (And then hide it.)

• Shout out to Barbara and Neil for the fun dinner last Friday at Old Street in Smithtown. Great hanging out with them as well as David and Donna.

• I don't know why it took me so many years to get around to it, but I'm finally reading the magnificent HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG by Andre Dubus III.

Friday Update

Another pretty tame but satisfying week. Here's what's happening ...

• Last Friday night I visited with a book club in Northport, Long Island that read THE SMART ONE. Such a bright and attentive group! Thanks to Rozanne and the whole gang for inviting me. Next time I'll have some of that dessert.

• Good week for a compliment junkie. I got two nice reviews of THE SMART ONE from bloggers, a very lovely fan mail that meant a lot to me and, reportedly, a shout-out in the newsletter from Diane's Books in Greenwich, CT. (Thanks to author Andrew Gross for the heads up on that.)

• Yesterday I had another lunch with my Long Island literati pals, Carol Hoenig, Debbi Honorof, Brenda Janowitz and Saralee Rosenberg. We were meeting to discuss our "Meet the Authors Afternoon Tea" on Sunday, March 29. It's at the Hofstra University Club at 2 pm, and I hope you can join us. Click here for more information.

• Parenting tip of the week: if your kid loses his glasses and you've spent days turning the house upside down looking for them, check the laundry basket.

• Wednesday I finished the whole freelance job I was working on (a website and print materials) and Thursday I got my editor's notes on my novel. Is that great timing or what? Best of all, the notes were relatively minor, which means I don't have to unravel the manuscript and start from scratch. Phew!

• The folks at Jeopardy Kids are smart, but not smart enough. I never got a call from them saying my daughter was selected for the show. But I'm not bitter. I understand the decision. Clearly they didn't want to make all the other kids look bad. (Biased? Moi?)

• If you're in the Newburyport, Massachusetts area, I hope you'll consider coming to the literary festival on April 24 & 25. The schedule hasn't been finalized, but it looks like I'll be speaking on Saturday morning.

• I still like Danny Gokey

• If you're a writer or in any way connected to publishing, you've heard the buzz on the Niffenegger sale. I know some writers are seething with resentment over the whopping size of the advance, but my emotional response is the opposite. I think it's nothing but good news for all of us. It means people are still buying books. It means the world hasn't come to an end. It means hard work and beautiful writing are actually valued. Her agent, Joe Regal, has the final word on Pub Rants, agent Kristin's blog.

• Happy Friday the 13th ...

Friday Update ... a quickie

Argh! I let almost the whole day go by. Here's what's new ...

• I've been suffering so much angst over the title of my forthcoming novel. I haven't been happy with any of my ideas, despite all my brainstorming. (Indeed, my house has been littered with dozens of notepads, hundreds of pages and thousands of ideas.) All along, I sensed that the simplist, most straightforward and graceful title was staring me in the face.

But what the hell was it?

And then, one day this week, it happened. A flash of inspiration and there it was:
THE OTHER LIFE

This is the perfect title, as it refers to my protagonist's two lives, as well as the life of her unborn baby. I sent it off to my editor and agents, and everyone likes it. Not sure it's official yet, so stay tuned.

• Last Friday night I met a group of my old high school pals at a local watering hole. What a blast! I'm so impressed with how charming and funny this group is.

• Tonight I'm meeting with a Long Island book club that read THE SMART ONE, which is one of my favorite ways to spend an evening. If you're local and would like me to visit your club, drop me a line. If you're not local, I'd be happy to do a phone-in appearance. Just click here.

• This week I finished reading Michael Palmer's THE FIRST PATIENT. What a ride!! I'm in awe. Right now I'm reading HUGO CABRET by Brian Selznick. This was recommended to me by my smartypants daugther when I said that I thought my next book might be divided into two parts.

• Gotta run ... carpooling calls.

Friday Update

• I finished the "first draft" of my novel and sent it off to my editor and agents. I put that in quotes because it's the first complete draft my editor is seeing, but something like the 200th draft I've written.

• Speaking of quotes, have you ever seen the "blog" of "unnecessary" quotation marks? Pretty hilarious, especially if you're a punctuation nerd like me.

• Hugs, kisses, thanks and rose petals thrown at the feet of my darling friend Myfanwy Collins, who read every page of my manuscript and gave me such great advice. (And incidentally, she also introduced to the hilarious blog link above!)

• Still no great Aha! moment on my title, despite the dozens of pages of ideas I write down every day.

• Last week I finally screwed up the courage to get on the scale. I knew I had put back a little of the weight I lost, but was shocked at how much I had put back. I haven't eaten since. I'm not even kidding. I'm definitely losing weight (starvation will do that), but am gun-shy about getting back on the scale.

• My husband and daughter are going to be in our temple's Purim play. So cute seeing them rehearse together.

• The freelance project I was working on for the past few weeks is done. You can see my handiwork here.

• In April, Lisa Kudrow is going to be in a new TV show called Who Do You Think You Are. It's a genealogy program and I have more than a passing interest in learning about her roots, as we share a branch of the family tree. Read more about it here.


• A long time ago I came up with the idea for the two main characters I want to explore in my next book. I have a strong sense of who they and what their relationship is like. But I had no story, no through-line, no hook. It's been driving me crazy, because it makes me anxious to finish one book and not have another idea waiting in the wings. But around 5:00 this morning I was making notes and think I finally hit on it.

• Special shout-out to my pal Saralee Rosenberg who dropped everything to meet me for lunch this week and brainstorm on title ideas!

• Here's a YouTube video that's been making the rounds lately, and for good reason. Check out Louis C.K. talking to Conan O'Brien:

Launch day for two great reads

Today I want to tell you about two very different books that have three things in common:

1. They're both written by pals
2. They hit the bookstores today
3. They're being slobbered over by critics and readers alike

PRECIOUS is the debut novel of Sandra Novack. I haven't read it yet, but it looks like the kind of book that will capture me completely. Here's what Publishers Weekly had to say about it:

Novack's lyrical and finely crafted first novel is set in a small, idyllic Pennsylvania town circa 1978 and charts the crumbling of two families. At the center of the novel is the Kisch family, sisters Sissy and Eva and parents Frank and Natalia. Nine-year-old Sissy is introverted and impressionable, while older Eva is having an affair with Peter, her high school English teacher. Her parents' marriage, too, is rapidly deteriorating, and soon Natalia takes off for Italy with her lover, leaving Frank to try to deal with the remnants of their family. A few houses away, 10-year-old Vicki Anderson (whose relationship to Sissy is troubled), has gone missing, leaving her mother, Ginny, panicked and grief-stricken. Unhappiness, it seems, dwells everywhere, though there may be a dash of hard-won hope as Natalia returns home and the Kisches recalibrate. Ginny, meanwhile, fails to receive any good news about her missing daughter. The graceful prose and bleak atmosphere underscore the loneliness of each character. Novack takes the massive distance between friends, husbands and wives, and makes it her home. (Feb.)

PRECIOUS can be found on the new fiction table at your local bookstore. Of course, you can buy it online at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com or any cyber bookseller. For more information, visit Sandy's website at sandranovack.com.

THE SECOND OPINION by Michael Palmer is a medical thriller I was lucky enough to read before it came out. I didn't even know I liked thrillers until I started reading his work. What I discovered is that it's possible to write breathless and gripping plots with characters as layered, complex and fascinating as any you'll find. This book, in particular, grabbed me with its protagonist--a brilliant woman doctor with Asperger's Syndrome. Here's what the reviewer at Booklist had to say about it:

Palmer, a medical-thriller writer who has been producing A-list-quality novels for years, turns in another excellent performance with this story of a physician who uncovers a deadly conspiracy. Dr. Thea Sperelakis’ father is the victim of a hit-and-run; now in a coma, he communicates only with his daughter and only by moving one of his eyes. Slowly, Thea pieces together the truth behind her father’s accident, and behind a series of suspicious deaths, but exposing the villains could mean exposing her to certain death. As usual, the novel is fluidly written—as a stylist, Palmer is head and shoulders above his more famous competitor, Robin Cook—and very suspenseful. Thea, in particular, is a most intriguing character: she has Asperger syndrome, which gives her an obsession with details, a near-encyclopedic memory, and a rather charming awkwardness in social settings. The novel is not merely a thriller but also an exploration of its central character’s unique gifts and her determination to communicate with her comatose father despite overwhelming odds. Another winner from a consistently fine writer.

THE SECOND OPINION can be found just about anywhere. For more information, visit Michael's website at michaelpalmerbooks.com.

Friday Update

Woosh. This week went by in a flash. Most of the excitement happened last weekend ...

• Emma, my 11-year-old, auditioned for JEOPARDY! KIDS on Saturday. We spent the whole day in Manhattan and had a blast. My biggest surprise was that people came from up and down the Eastern seaboard for this. Anyway, the parents were separated from the kids, so I didn't get to see any of it and have no idea how she did. We'll find if she made it next month. Only 15 kids are chosen (out of hundreds) so the odds are tough. But no matter what happens, it was a memorable adventure for both of us. (Shout-out to the cool parents I got to hang out with during the long wait! A terrific bunch ...)

• At the end of the long day, we took the Long Island Rail Road home from the city. As we neared our station, Emma got a little bored and started softly singing some Beatles' songs. I didn't think anybody heard, but when we got off the train, a man turned to her and said he worked for Q104.3, a rock radio station, and loved her singing. Then he said he would give her a shout-out the next day!

We actually listen to that station and so Emma was thrilled. When we got home, we went to the website just to make sure the guy wasn't pulling our legs. Sure enough, we found his picture--he's Gerry Martire, one of the weekend DJs. And oh, the shout-out he gave Emma! He went on and on about how great it was to meet her and how well she sang. It was the perfect end to an exciting weekend!

• The other big event this weekend was Max's 17th birthday on Sunday. Poor kid woke up sick that day, but wanted to celebrate anyway. We tried to keep it mellow, though. Took the family and one of his friends to see Coraline, and then had pizza and chocolate cake, Max's two favorite foods in the whole world.

• Been editing and proofreading my manuscript this week. I thought I was very close to sending it off to my editor, but I've been toying with the idea of adding some scenes. I dunno. I can't stop torturing myself.

• My 14-year-old, Ethan, is going to see that Friday the 13th movie today with his gang. I have never understood the fascination with entertainment designed to terrify. You couldn't pay me enough to sit through that.

• Kudos to Ethan and Max for the excellent report cards!!!

• This week I'm reading (and LOVING) the ARC of a forthcoming book, This Little Mommy Stayed Home, by Samantha Wilde. Remember that name. She's a debut author and she is going to be hot. Not easy to make me laugh out loud when I'm reading, but boy ... she has me in stitches.

• I did 50+ minutes on the treadmill today. Am I skinny yet? God, middle age sucks ...

SCANDAL By Carolyn Jewel

I am SO behind on my blogging! I was supposed to get this post up last week, and when that didn't happen I wasn't too worried as I knew I'd get it done early this week. Today I woke up and realized it was Friday already ... ack!

At any rate, I'll get my weekly update posted later, as I don't want to waste another minute ... today's GCC book is a winner and deserves your attention.

SCANDAL by Carolyn Jewel is a historical romance the critics are going crazy over. I first read about it about over on agent Kristin's blog (if you're a writer and you're not already following this blog, bookmark it immediately--it's one of the best for lit agent insights). She linked to a glowing review at Smart Bitches, a site that has some of the toughest critics around. Here's a little snippet:

I’ve recommended this book to both Jane and KatieBabs, and both of them seemed to be as caught by the story as I was. If you like meaty, thought-provoking historical romance with enigmatic characters and a use of history that illuminates the time period in a new and often difficult way, this is a book for you. This is not light, frilly, lace and ruffles romance set in the Regency; this book is marvelously real. It’s sometimes cold and harsh, and at times sad, but there’s a richness and a poignancy that elevates the entire book to a whole other level of “good.” read more ...

In case you're not inclined to read it all the way to the end, know that the last line of the review is "This book took my breath away." Doesn't get better than, my friends!

And now you get to meet this talented and colorful writer via my interview with her. Here goes ...


Hi, Carolyn. Tell me a little about what inspired SCANDAL?

Terror. I'm only partly kidding. Just about all my books are inspired by the terror of believing it isn't working and that, working or not, I won't be able to finish on time. More seriously, Scandal is set during the English Regency period (which was 1811-1820) and I very deliberately drew on my grad school research on a woman who wrote during this time period. Women of the English upper classes had few resources if the men in their lives did not, for whatever reason, fulfill their cultural obligation to take care of their female relatives. Writing novels was one of the few things a woman could do, openly or secretly, to make money. I was astonished to discover that the money a novelist could expect to make in 1815 isn't much different than it is today. The chief difference between then and now lies in the copyright. In 1815, publishers bought the copyright outright. The author was paid once and that was it. Today, authors typically retain the copyright to their work.


Did you have any input on that sexy cover, and are you happy with the finished product?

My editor at Berkley, Kate Seaver, sent me some cover art by someone she was thinking of using to see what I thought of his style. She also asked me for my ideas and for samples of covers I liked. As it happens, I am completely clueless about what makes a good cover (aside from knowing a good one when I see it attached to somebody else's book). My samples were all fairly dreadful. They were great for books that were not mine, though. The people whose business it is to create covers that sell books ignored me, thank goodness, and came up with a very passionate cover that conveys the emotion between my hero and heroine. I love my cover and I am really, truly grateful for the talented people who worked to make it come together so wonderfully.


What's the main thing you hope people take away from SCANDAL?

A burning and insatiable desire to buy my backlist and everything else I ever write for the rest of my life. And to tell everyone they know to do the same thing. OK, seriously, I just hope they enjoy the heck out of the story.


For the writers reading this, what is your process of getting out a first whole draft? How long might it take?

I print out drafts from time to time because the words look different on paper. I rarely have a complete draft. I just have more and more words that make up a mess that needs constant and massive fixing which I do constantly until somehow the story isn't a mess any more. And then it's done.


What's up next? Do you have another project in the works? If so, please tell us about it.

In June, 2009, Grand Central Publishing will release My Forbidden Desire, the second of an Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance set in a world that includes mages and demons. Indiscreet will be an October 2009 historical from Berkley Sensation.

Congrats, Carolyn! And thanks so much.

To buy SCANDAL, visit your favorite bookstore today. To purchase online, visit amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com or any cyber bookseller. For more information, visit Carolyn's website at carolynjewel.com.

Friday Update

Not too much to report today ...

• Please pop over to Amazon and check out SIX DEGREES OF PARIS HILTON, brand new book by my pal Mark Ebner. He's an astounding writer and ballsy investigative journalist, and I think it's going to be a smash. The critics are going berserk over it. Here's a small example form philalawyer.net:

But I'm getting ahead of myself here, and while all that classic Hollywood sleaze is wildly entertaining, it's not what kept me in the book. And it's important, essential, to remember, Six Degrees is more than just a shocking expose. The book's a cultural indictment, and judged in the literary and journalistic sense, as fine piece of crime writing and social criticism as can be committed to publication ... read more

• I'm wrapping up my week at ijustfinished.com. Still time to leave me a question. Click here.

• Tomorrow my daughter is auditioning for JEOPARDY! KIDS, which should be a lot of fun. Right now I'm combing through a Manhattan Zagat from 2004 to find a place for us to have lunch. Hope some of these restaurants are still open. Anyway, I promise to post an update and let you know how the day goes.

• My first born is turning SEVENTEEN this weekend!!!!

Stop in and say hi ...

I'm the featured author this week at ijustfinished.com ...