I’ve spent the last few days working on final galley edits for The Good Wife and it’s been intense. I love this book so much. I love it a lot. I think it’s my absolute favorite in the Brennan Sisters series. Maybe my favorite book I’ve ever written, and since I’ve had 43 published, that’s saying a lot.
The Good Wife is Sarah Brennan’s story. If you’ve read the first two books in the series, you’ve met Sarah already and you know she’s the youngest Brennan, beautiful, smart, and strong. At least that’s who I thought she was until I sat down to write her story. That’s when she showed me her true self. She might be a tough cookie on the outside, but on the inside, she’s vulnerable girl and still madly in love with her husband Boone. Here’s more about The Good Wife –
Is it possible to love someone too much?
Always considered the beauty of the family, the youngest Brennan sister, Sarah, remains deeply in love with her husband of ten years. Boone Walker, a professional baseball player, travels almost year-round while Sarah stays home and cares for their two children. Her love for her husband is bottomless—so much so that her sisters say it will end up hurting her.
Living apart most of the time makes life difficult, especially since Sarah often wonders whether Boone is sharing his bed with other women on the road, even though he swears he’s been true to her since his infidelity three years ago. While she wants to be happy and move forward in her life, Sarah constantly fears that Boone will break his promise. Now with Boone facing yet another career change, tension rises between the two, adding more stress to an already turbulent marriage. Emotionally exhausted, Sarah can’t cope with yet another storm. Now, she must either break free from the past and forgive Boone completely, or leave him behind and start anew…
The Good Wife is just a couple of months away from release and I’m starting to get super excited. I can’t wait to hear what you think of this book. I hope you’ll love Sarah as much as I do. You’ll also learn what happens with Meg and Jack, and Kit and Jude. There are surprises in store!
But if you are also eager to read Sarah’s story now, I’ve a special treat for you!
I have one ARC (ARC = advance reading copy, uncorrected proof) of The Good Wife to giveaway to a lucky reader here on my blog. Keep in mind, please, that this is an ARC so there will be typos and mistakes. There will also be some scene changes in here which make it different from the final copy. If you want to wait and read the final copy, you can pre-order it now using one of the links mentioned above, but if you’re excited about getting a taste of what’s to come, comment below for a chance to win this ARC.
How to enter the giveaway? Leave a comment and tell me your impression of Sarah from the first two books OR, if you haven’t read the previous books, tell me what appeals to you about Sarah’s story from the blurb. I’ll pick a winner next week on Thursday, June 13th. Good luck and I can’t, can’t, can’t wait to hear what you think of my new Brennan Sisters book!
Laura Drake is my kind of a writer. She’s as obsessed with writing as I am, and yet her work ethic blows mine away at the moment. (I couldn’t imagine waking up that early in the morning to write…read the interview and you’ll see what I mean!!) I love her passion for her work, her addiction to books (like me, she loves to read!!), and best of all, Laura is celebrating her first book release.
I think its important to support new authors, and I confess, I’m really excited about Laura’s career. This girl isn’t a one-book wonder…she’s signed multi-book contracts with two different publishers, with Laura’s next book (a Harlequin Superromance) out late summer. Now let me step aside so Laura can take the floor.
Laura, welcome to the JaneBlog, and congratulations on the release of The Sweet Spot! It’s so exciting to have you here with us during the launch week of your first release! Can you tell us what you like best about being a part of the writing industry?
The community. Either online or in person, writers are so open and giving. I’ve met many famous and successful ones, and to a person, they’ve been approachable and kind. I’m moving to Texas next year, 250 miles from a RWA (Romance Writers of America) chapter, and I don’t know how I’m going to make it…I may just have to start a chapter!
Is there anything that has surprised you about writing or publishing your books?
How different the process is, between publishers. I’m writing for two, and they couldn’t be more different in their approaches, and their rules.
A Love as Big as Texas . . . Charla Rae Denny was the perfect wife with a perfect life, content to keep the home fires burning while her husband, JB, competed as a champion bull rider. Then their son died in a tragic accident-and everything fell apart. Divorced and saddled with a hill of bills and a failing ranch, Charla must now cowboy up to put her life back together. James “JB” Denny doesn’t stay where he isn’t welcome. So when Charla shut him out of her grieving heart-and their home-a year ago, he took comfort where he could find it. Now after seeing beautiful Charla again, he wants it all back. She can’t work the ranch alone, and deep in his heart he knows he can be the man she needs. But after so much history and heartbreak, can JB convince Charla to take a risk and give their love a second chance?
Some writers like to let plot ideas percolate and grow for a while before they start writing the story. Would you say this applies to you as well?
Well, I should. Maybe someday, I’ll be able to. But right now, I’m addicted. If I’m breathing, I’m writing.
What’s your typical day like when you’re between writing projects?
Given the answer above, you can probably guess! I have to force myself out of my office to knit, quilt or read.
Was there anyone or anything that helped inspire you to be a writer?
It evolved from my love of reading, and my mother was my role model there. I remember watching her read when I was very little, and wanting time to hurry so I could learn to unlock the secret code of reading!
Do you have a writing schedule or any writing rituals to help you achieve your daily writing quota?
None I’d recommend! I get up every morning at 3 am (weekends too,) pour coffee, and get to work. If it’s a good day, I spend until lunchtime writing. If it’s one of those ‘chip out of stone’ days, I keep my behind in the chair until I make the word count; sometimes 12-14 hours.
Tell us what your current release is about, in 2 or 3 sentences.
When her only son is killed in a tragic accident, Charla Denny retreats to a world of grief and Valium. Her reeling husband takes up with a blonde buckle bunny half his age. Their ranch, which supplies bucking bulls to the Pro Bull Riding circuit, is split up in the divorce. Jimmy gets the bulls, Charla, their valuable semen. It’s a story of forgiveness and rediscovering love at the end of a long dirt road.
What’s are you working on now?
My ‘biker-chick’ novel, Her Road Home, is due out in August from Harlequin’s Superromance line. I’ve agreed to a 3 book contract for stories set in the same small tourist town of Widow’s Grove.
What’s your favorite time of the day and place to write?
Early morning! My office is upstairs, in one of the kid’s ‘empty nest’ bedrooms. I have a ficus and a palm tree outside my window with birds nesting – including a hummingbird pair! I love listening to them gossiping as the sun comes up.
Name 3 books you hope to read soon.
Jane’s, The Good Woman (It’s next up on my Kindle!)
The Wool series by Hugh Howey
Stephen King’s new one, Joyland
Yeah, I’m eclectic.
What’s your astrological sign?
Sagittarius. And boy, am I. Klutzy, stick-my-foot-in-my-mouth, loving, physical being, that’s me.
If you could meet one person who has died, who would it be? What would you want to discuss with him/her?
There are so many! I’ll keep to writers, to try to narrow it down…
I think it would have to be Mark Twain. I so love his subtle humor; I’d love to talk about writing, and what he thinks of this world we live in now. What a conversation that would be!
You’re offered an all-expenses paid vacation to a destination of your choice. Where would you choose to go and what two things would you want to do there?
Oh, that’s easy because it’s on my bucket list! I want to take that paddlewheel cruise, down the Mississippi. I haven’t spent much time in that part of the country, and I want to see Savannah, Naches, oh yes, and Graceland!
Five favorite things to do on a weekend?
Ride my motorcycle, camp, fly fish, ride my bicycle, and lay under my avocado tree with a cat, and a good book. Not all at the same time, obviously.
Best advice you’ve ever received?
It came from Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture.) He said, “The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.”
Five things every writer should know?
Don’t stop writing
Don’t stop learning
Always strive to make your next book better than the last
Reach a hand back, to help the next writer
Revel in the process of writing. Because if you don’t, you’re not going to stay with it long enough to succeed.
Three things you know now that you wish you’d known before publishing your first book?
It’s going to take way longer than you think
No one is going to teach you how the publishing process works; you have to find out as you go.
Be patient. It’ll happen.
What does success mean to you?
Gaining a loyal following of readers, who ‘get’ what I write.
A RITA would be nice, too…
Name 5 words that fit your personality according to you. And 5 words that fit your personality according to your best friend.
Name 3 – 5 books you’ve read this year. Which ones would you recommend to your girlfriends?
The Good Daughter – and no, I’m not sucking up. I just leant it to Jenny Hansen!
Before and Ever Since – Sharla Lovelace’s RITA nomination book
All God’s Creatures – Carolyn McSparren
The Sleeping Night – Barbara Samuel
Me Again – Keith Cronin
Wow, I could keep going . . .
What three words would you use to describe your book?
Emotional, funny, HEA
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?
Being a writer is it. I tried to become an author for 15 years before selling. This is the best job in the world.
Last thing you do before you turn in for the night?
Kiss the cat. Then the husband.
What or who has inspired you most in life?
My mother and my sister
Why do you write?
To find out what I think.
Laura Drake grew up in the suburbs outside Detroit, though her stories are set in the west. A tomboy, she’s always loved the outdoors and adventure. In 1980 she and her sister packed everything they owned into Pintos and moved to California. There she met and married a motorcycling, bleed-maroon Texas Aggie and her love affair with the West was born. Laura rides motorcycles: “Elvis,” a 1985 BMW Mystic, and “Sting,” a 1999 BMW R1100. In Texas, Laura was introduced to her first rodeo, and fell in love. She’s an avid fan of Pro Bull Riding (PBR, ) attending any event within driving distance, including two PBR National finals. Laura now lives in California with her family. She is hard at work on her next novel. For more information on Laura Drake, please visit:http: //lauradrakebooks.com/
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Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Laura! Friends, don’t miss out on reading The Sweet Spot and to learn more about Laura, be sure to check out her website. To help Laura celebrate her new release, I’m giving away to two lucky winners a JP tote bag, a copy of The Sweet Spot, two of my books, Odd Mom Out (in honor of Laura as she’s another motor-cycle riding mama like my character, Marta!), and She’s Gone Country (because the hero, Dane Kelly is also a PBR bull riding champion and I’m a sucker for rodeos and sexy bullriders), a $5.00 Starbucks gift card, chocolate and lots more fun reader goodies. Want a chance to win? Tell me, do you like rodeo events? Have you ever been to a rodeo? If so, what is your favorite event? Contest runs through Thursday night and I’ll announce the winners on Friday. Good luck!
Fun news! I had an email from Fresh Fiction Friday letting me know that The Good Daughterhad been chosen as their Fresh Pick for May 31st. I am beyond delighted. If you’d visited Fresh Fiction Friday, you would have seen the cover for The Good Daughter on every page! Fresh Pick books aren’t based on advertising, but reader feedback, so its really cool that Fresh Fiction readers loved The Good Daughter as much as so many of you.
In case you haven’t read The Good Daughter yet, I’m giving away a signed copy so you can get caught up with my fabulous, passionate Brennan sisters, along with lots of California goodies, too. Want a chance to win a copy of the book and all the other treats and sweets? Just tell me what you’re reading now, and/or what book you’re looking forward to reading soon. That’s it! It’s a short contest, two days only, with the winner announced sometime during the evening of June 4th so enter now!
I am sooooo excited to welcome Tessa Dare to my blog today! I’m a huge fan of Tessa’s historical romances. As you can tell from my Pinterest board titled “Historical Romance Junkie” this genre is my favorite for pleasure reading, and I’m a demanding reader. I want fantastic characters in a story, and a terrific plot, something that’s fresh, and interesting. I want emotion, I want passion, but I don’t want to see the author…I’m not interested in author while reading. I just want great story. And that’s what Tessa Dare does.
So, back in mid March when I met Tessa at the So Cal RWA conference in March, I gushed about her writing, and her books, and told her I was a massive fan. And Tessa (the lovely, lovely girl!) had her publicist send me an advanced reading copy of Any Duchess Will Do,her brand new historical that releases today.
I devoured my ARC of Any Duchess Will Do over my Spring Break, and it was one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I’ve been dancing about, waiting for May 28th to arrive, to share Tessa Dare with all of you.
Today is the official release day for Any Duchess Will Do, and I’m thrilled Tessa made time to be featured on my blog. Everyone, please join me in welcoming the fabulous Tessa Dare!
Tessa, welcome! So happy today is the big release day of Any Duchess Will Do. I know you’re very busy, so thank you for agreeing to answer my questions.
Here we go: name five items sitting on your desk right now.
My trusty MacBook Air.
Blue-ink Papermate Profile pens (I’m picky about my pens) and a red Moleskin notebook
Fossils from my trip to Sussex, England (setting of my Spindle Cove series)
A candle with a Jane Austen quote, given to me by a lovely reader
An enormous book about English castles. I swear, it weighs ten pounds.
What’s your astrological sign?
Scorpio – which is supposed to mean intense, mysterious, passionate. I guess maybe the “passionate” part is somewhat accurate, since I write romance novels. As for “mysterious”? All I can say is that once when I was a teenager, a cute, slightly older guy said to me, “You seem like the kind of person who would like to imagine she’s mysterious. But you’re really not.” Ha! Sadly, I think he was spot-on. I’d like to imagine I’m mysterious, but I’m really not.
What do you do in your spare time?
Most of my spare time is devoted to hanging out with my husband and two kids. We do the usual family stuff—parks, video games, trips to zoos and museums. Disneyland is practically in our backyard, so it’s a family favorite. When I’m not with the family, I love enjoying our California scenery on long walks and hikes, or getting together with friends for dinner or a movie.
Rock or country music?
I definitely grew up more of a rock music girl—I tend toward alternative rock/pop, mostly. Songs in heavy rotation on my iTunes playlist this month include tracks from Imagine Dragons, Foo Fighters (perennial favorite!), the Neighbourhood, and Capital Cities. But I’m gaining more and more appreciation for country music lately, especially since so many country songs tell a story.
Favorite ice cream flavor?
Haagen-Dazs chocolate peanut butter. No hesitation.
Drama or comedy?
My favorite books, movies, and TV shows always combine both. I love a story that can make me laugh out loud, but also feel deep emotions. Those are the kinds of stories I try to write.
Tell us what your new book is about, in 2 or 3 sentences.
The hero of Any Duchess Will Do is Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, who’s been the quintessential Regency rake, or playboy. His mother, desperate for grandchildren, kidnaps him to Spindle Cove—a village full of unmarried, unconventional women—and tells him just pick a girl, any girl, and she will make that girl into a duchess. Annoyed, Griff decides to call his interfering mother’s bluff—he chooses the serving girl, Pauline Simms, who is impoverished, smart-mouthed, and the furthest thing from elegant. If you’ve ever seen My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman, or Cinderella…you can guess where this is going!
Was there anyone or anything that helped inspire you to be a writer?
I grew up reading anything I could get my hands on, and my family moved a lot. I spent a lot of time in libraries, and as I got older, bookstores. Those book-filled places were a second home to me, and I know I wouldn’t be a writer today without them. That’s why I made Pauline an aspiring bookshop-owner in Any Duchess Will Do, and I wrote this dedication: “To librarians and booksellers everywhere, who gather books and build shelters for tender souls.” Mine was a tender soul, and I owe a lot to the people who offered me shelter.
What do you love most about being a writer?
Since books have always been so important in my life—I’ve been a reader, a bookseller, an editor, and a librarian—I love being able to complete that circle and be part of the creation of new stories. It’s a privilege. The best part of the job is hearing from readers. Even if they just write to tell me a book made them laugh when they needed a laugh, or entertained them while they waited for a flight delay. I never get over the thrill. My characters get to be a part of someone else’s life? So. Cool.
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Friends and readers, do check out Tessa’s website for more information on her new release and also look for her exciting new novella, Beauty and the Blacksmith! In honor of Tessa’s release day, I’ve got a fun giveaway for you, which includes 2 Tessa Dare novels, a $10 Barnes & Noble card, a $5 Starbucks drink card and lots more fun goodies tucked into a JP reader bag. If you love great historical romances, enter to win this giveaway. The contest runs through Friday, with the winner announced Saturday morning, June 1st.
As you know, I love to donate to Brenda Novak’s Diabetes Auction and I’m doing it again this year. I used to be an Executive Director for the American Diabetes Association as this is a cause close to my heart. Diabetes runs in my family and I love helping Brenda in what she’s doing. I think it’s important and her auction makes it fun for everyone. It has given me some wonderful opportunities and memories too. Last year I was lucky enough to win Lunch with Thea Harrison and a couple of years before that, I won coffee with Claudia Dain. Such fun!
As usual, I’ve made a donation too and this year, I’m giving away a chance for you to fly in to have dinner with me – or I can come have dinner with you and your book group like I did with these wonderful ladies from the Horseshoe Trail Book Club in Eden Prairie, MN!
Jane Porter will fly to see you, AND take you, and your book club to dinner, or you, and your friends, up to 12 friends, on a mutually agreeable night in the next six months. Jane will also bring books for all the guests, and fun JP reader swag for all your friends, too!
During dinner, you can turn it into a book club discussion, or a chat with Jane and her books or about publishing, or get advice on how to get published, or simply talk girl talk about men, life, and kids.
However…
If you’re itching to have dinner with Jane at the beach, Jane will fly the winner of this auction item out to Southern California, for dinner with her with an ocean view!
If you choose to come to Jane, she’ll cover up to $500 of your travel expenses, and she’ll still treat you to dinner and send you home with a big tote bag of signed books.
Basically, this is dinner with Jane on Jane, so let’s make it happen!
So, that’s my item and I hope you’ll go bid on it as I’d love to have dinner with YOU! Meanwhile for more fun, I’ve got a surprise beach giveaway for you! For a chance to win, leave a comment here and tell me: Would you want to fly in to have dinner with me in California? Or would you want me to fly in to meet you and your friends in your hometown? Contest runs through Sunday and I’ll announce the winner on Monday, May 27th. Have a great weekend!
I’m really excited to be nominated to the International Chick Lit Month (ICLM) website’s Hall of Fame. It’s such an honor!
To celebrate this nomination, I’m giving away a beautiful totebag and beach towel plus signed copies of all 8 of my single title novels and some other fun goodies! For a chance to win, visit the ICLM website and leave a comment there, then come back and comment here. I’ll announce the winner on Saturday!
And for any of you who write, I’m also being featured over at the Writers In the Storm website right now where I’m sharing my 10 Keys to Success and Survival in the Romance Industry. Part 1 went up yesterday and Part 2 will follow tomorrow. Hope you’ll check it out!
I’m back from Montana and already packing for Oahu to attend this weekend’s Book & Music Festival in Honolulu, before heading on to Minneapolis for my reader dinner on Monday, and then a book club dinner on Tuesday with the Horshoe Trail Book Club. I can’t believe I’m already repacking but when I fly, I read, so I’m packing a big stack of books to take with me.
One of the books I’m taking with me is Amy Sue Nathan‘s debut novel, The Glass Wives, which releases today! Your pub day is so exciting and I’m thrilled to have Amy Sue with us on her big day. I hope everyone will give her a warm welcome to the JaneBlog!
*Amy Sue, what do you love most about being a writer?
Working in my pajamas. That tops the list. After that? I guess it would be the fact that my work is something I can get lost in for hours. I’m not aware of the time, the surroundings, or sometimes even the weather outside my window. It’s all-encompassing. That can also be a drawback.
*Tell us what your new book is about, in 2 or 3 sentences.
THE GLASS WIVES is about Evie Glass, a divorced mom who finds herself strapped for cash after her ex-husband dies suddenly. Cautiously, Evie agrees to share living expenses—and her home—with Nicole, her ex’s young widow, and her baby. But when Evie suspects that Nicole is determined to rearrange more than her kitchen, Evie must decide who she can trust. More than that, she must ask: what makes a family?
*What are you working on now?
A novel about Izzy Lane, a single mom and anonymous blogger. Izzy’s blog gets really popular when she writes about her dating escapades and a new boyfriend. The only problem is, she isn’t really dating at all. Izzy is then offered a job as the dating guru for a popular website and takes it.
The book is really about life lies —you know, the big ones—and not only what makes this character tell them over and over again, but what has to happen for her to tell the truth.
*What’s your favorite time of the day and place to write?
I am an early bird in every sense. My favorite thing to do is wake up with my dogs, get the business of the day taken care of, like feeding the dogs, seeing my daughter off to school (although she’s about to graduate high school, so that will end), answer emails, check blog posts, follow up on any leads from the day before. Then, after more coffee and breakfast, I’ll go into my office, which used to be my son’s bedroom, open the blinds and get onto the bed. I have to be super comfy when I write! The office is also the room at the side of the house farthest from the distractions of the TV and the kitchen!
*Name five items sitting on your desk right now.
Pens. I love pens of all colors, so I have lots!
The dictionary I won in seventh grade as the prize for Outstanding Achievement in English.
Hair clips. I hate having my hair in my eyes or falling on my face, so I always clip it back.
Note pads. I love note pads almost as much as I love pens. And they must be colorful, cute, or pretty ones.
Photos of my kids. I like to have them smiling back at me.
*Name 3 books you hope to read soon. The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman The Third Son by Julie Wu The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau
*Name 3 – 5 books you’ve read this year. Which ones would you recommend to your girlfriends?
Only five? Oh, okay! I would recommend all of these books to my friends, and I have! Me Before You by Jojo Moyes Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler And Then I Found You by Patti Callahan Henry The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman In Need Of A Good Wife by Kelly O’Connor McNees
Here’s more about The Glass Wives:
Evie and Nicole Glass share a last name. They also shared a husband.
When a tragic car accident ends the life of Richard Glass, it also upends the lives of Evie and Nicole, and their children. There’s no love lost between the widow and the ex. In fact, Evie sees a silver lining in all this heartache—the chance to rid herself of Nicole once and for all. But Evie wasn’t counting on her children’s bond with their baby half-brother, and she wasn’t counting on Nicole’s desperate need to hang on to the threads of family, no matter how frayed. Strapped for cash, Evie cautiously agrees to share living expenses—and her home—with Nicole and the baby. But when Evie suspects that Nicole is determined to rearrange more than her kitchen, Evie must decide who she can trust. More than that, she must ask: what makes a family?
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Readers and friends, do check out Amy Sue Nathan’s new release and if you read her book, please add a review to Amazon or B&N or over at Good Reads as those reviews do make a difference!
I’m giving away a copy of The Glass Wives, a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card, and lots of fun sweets and treats to one of my lucky readers. Post a comment below to be entered, and then please check back to see if you won. The Glass Wives giveaway will run til Friday, May 17th, with the winner announced Saturday morning. Thank you, Amy Sue, for being here, and to all my readers, have a fantastic week and if you’re on Oahu this weekend, come see me at the Book & Music Festival on Saturday!
I’ve spent the past week in Montana with three amazing friends and talented writers, CJ Carmichael, Lilian Darcy and Megan Crane, as we plan our new Montana Born books, which kicks off with our October novellas, and then continues in November with my holiday release, Away in Montana.
We started our trip by flying into Kallispell, and then explored Flathead Lake, Whitefish, and parts of Glacier National Park before heading across the state to Butte, Bozeman, Yellowstone, Gardnier, and now Livingston. Saturday I’ll be back home in time for Mother’s Day, and I’ve got something special for you for Mother’s Day, too!
The wonderful Mother’s Day giveaway includes incredible tea, a beautiful tea cup, a big box of Schmidt’s chocolates from San Clemente, fantastic reads, and lots more for the lucky winner! There’s just one winner this time, and it’ll be totally random. For a chance to win, talk to me and tell me something about your plans are for Mother’s Day and I’ll announce the winner Monday morning, May 13th.
Hope you’re doing well. I’m soooo excited about these new books Lilian, CJ, Megan and I will be writing. I feel really lucky to have such talented friends to work with on our series and hope you’ll love what we’re doing, too!
Happy Mother’s Day to all my readers, family, and friends. May you be with those you love on Sunday.
I met novelist Leslie Lehr in January 2009 at the Girlfriends Weekend in Jefferson, Texas.
The Girlfriends Weekend is a weekend of awesome sisterhood among women who love books, and was founded by the amazing, generous, spirited Kathy Patrick–one of my favorite people because she’s combined her hair expertise (she’s a stylist, and you know I love great hair) with her passion for books with her famous Beauty & the Book store, before going on to found the Pulpwood Queen Books Club, which gave birth to the Girlfriend Weekends, and more.
But this blog isn’t about Kathy, its about Leslie, whom I met in Jefferson and promptly adored. The lovely Leslie has a new book out and I’m really excited to introduce Leslie to you all. She’s a star and an angel and a warrior, and I know once you know more about her, you’ll cherish her as much as I do!
Leslie, thank you soooo much for being my featured author this week. Can you tell us what you love most about being a writer?
The hours. That’s also what I hate about being a writer.
Seriously? While I am a horrible typist, I really love the act of putting words on the page, making them come alive. I love playing with this word or that one, to see which is closest to the what I’m trying to express. I love having an idea that grows and grows until there are real people – if only in my head – acting out an entire story. Then I get to share the story and make it real for someone else. It becomes this solid thing, no longer just an idea. It’s magic.
Is there anything that has surprised you about writing or publishing your books?
That each book takes longer to write, because I know more and want it to be better.
Some writers like to let plot ideas percolate and grow for a while before they start writing the story. Would you say this applies to you as well?
Absolutely. When I just write something on a whim, I end up with a great first chapter, then I’m stuck. When I really think about the idea and develop into a solid story, I can write the whole book. Knowing the ending is like knowing where to aim in archery – makes it easier to hit the bullseye.
Do you incorporate any of your own life experiences into your stories? Do you get asked this question very often?
Yes! That’s why I write – to work out the what-if’s of real life. WAMK was inspired by my daughter who was crying at at night, every night, and I felt so helpless that I imagined the worst. I knew I would do anything to protect her. So that’s what my hero, Michelle, does – I get to live through her vicariously. Yes, people ask that all the time. I’ll bet you get that too. But did this really happen? No. By making it up we can control the situation and dig deeper for the emotional truth.
Was there anyone or anything that helped inspire you to be a writer?
Reading. I was a bookworm growing up. My high school friends might be surprised at this, but I came back to it soon after.
Do you have a writing schedule or any writing rituals to help you achieve your daily writing quota?
I don’t have a quota unless I am writing the first draft, then I like to get through a whole scene, whether it’s short or long. I used to do ten pages a day, but my stories were simpler then. There are so many different stages of writing, from research, to working out the story beats, to writing, editing, and then the whole business side. The actual writing process is the most fun, but it’s risky. I’ve been known to spend hours an entire day on one paragraph.
Tell us what your new book is about, in 2 or 3 sentences.
A woman who recovers from a fatal car accident and is accused of murder risks everything to find her missing daughter, the only one who might know the truth of what happened that day. People are calling it contemporary drama or literary suspense, but for me it’s a love story.
What’s your favorite time of the day and place to write?
Late morning at my desk. By then, I’ve exercised and eaten and finished business emails and am starting to get back into the story. I look out over our yard, which has an enormous hundred-year-old tree in the middle, and I can see the blue sky between the branches. The yard is bordered by fruit trees and flower bushes, like a park where something is always blooming. So I take a long look, because once I’m back in the story I don’t see any of it at all.
Name five items sitting on your desk right now.
1. The glass top covering my desk holds dozens of pictures of my daughters, from baby pictures on up.
2. A small sparkly frame holding a wedding photo of my husband and me on the beach in Malibu.
3. One empty Diet Pepsi can.
4. My black patent leather FileO Fax planner. I’m old school
5. Iphone. I’m not totally old school.
What’s your astrological sign?
Taurus
If you could meet one person who has died, who would it be? What would you want to discuss with him/her?
My great grandfather, Billy Watson. He was vaudevillian who started the Beef Cake Trust – a chorus line of zaftig women. He also gave Gyspy Rose Lee her start. My late grandmother, a beauty, was a dancer, who said her father was the proof of the ‘one day chicken, one day feathers’ side of show business. I never met him, so I ‘d love to hear what it was like to live at that time and be so daring and creative.
Five favorite things to do on a weekend?
1. Hike with a girlfriend to a spot overlooking the ocean
2. See a movie, preferably romantic comedy – but not at a Writers Guild screening, because you can’t have popcorn there
3. Eat take-out that requires chopsticks but is okay with red wine in front of the fire
4. Sleep in until it’s time time for the yoga class with music
5. Shop at the Farmers market and taste everything in sight so there’s no need to cook until Monday.
What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without if you were stuck on a deserted island?
Sunblock. No, wait – my husband, he’s pretty fun. He’d keep me entertained.
Best advice you’ve ever received?
You can’t fail until you quit. Thanks, Dad!
Five things every writer should know?
1.Lock you refrigerator.
2. Love the process, that’s all you have control of.
3. Follow the golden rule and respect other writers.
4. Remember that taste is subjective and so are critics. Sometimes a person will say something mean just because their stomach hurts.
5. Write something good enough to make your children proud, but don’t let the thought of your children stop you from writing something good.
Your favorite desert or snack?
Since going to Italy on my honeymoon, I’m crazy about good parmesan cheese with a slice of tomato and crusty bread as a snack. Cabernet and dark chocolate on a date night. I love big fat blueberries anytime. And every night I crave frozen yogurt with chocolate sprinkles – perfect for watching The Bachelor or Project Runway or The Good Wife. That’s more than one favorite, but I lost my taste buds for a few months going through chemo and now that they are back everything tastes good!
What do you do in your spare time?
Read. Novels and all kinds of magazines.
What does success mean to you?
Gong to bed with a smile on my face.
Rock or country music?
Rock! And since I grew up in Ohio, Southern rock – which is a two-step away from country.
Sweet or savory?
Savory in the day, sweet at night.
Drama or comedy?
I tend to read drama, but watch comedy. Especially romantic comedy. I’ve seen every romantic comedy movie ever made – and if not, I hope to catch up soon.
What A Mother Knows
How Far Will a Mother Go to Find Her Daughter?
Michelle Mason can’t remember that day, that drive, that horrible crash that killed the young man in her car. All she knows is she’s being held responsible, and her daughter is missing.
Despite a shaky marriage, a threatening lawsuit, and troubling flashbacks pressing in on her, Michelle throws herself into searching. Her daughter in the one person who might know what really happened that day, but the deeper Michelle digs, the more she questions the innocence of those closest to her, even herself. As her search hurtles toward a shattering revelation, Michelle must face the biggest challenge of her life.
A poignant story of the unshakable bond between mother and child, What a Mother Knows is about finding the truth that can set love free.
With a B.A. from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University, Leslie Lehr is a popular panelist at literary and film conferences around the country. She is a member of PEN, The Authors Guild, WGA, Women In Film, and The Women’s Leadership Council of L.A. She is a contributor to the Tarcher/Penguin Series “Now Write” and teaches in the world-renowned Writer’s Program at UCLA Extension. Leslie lives in Southern California, where she continues to explore the dark and light sides of contemporary women. Find Leslie on Facebook, and as @leslielehr1 on Twitter. For Skype book club visits email [email protected].
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Thank you so very much for being here, Leslie. Readers, be sure to look for Leslie’s book, What a Mother Knows, and check out her website to learn more about her other novels. I’m celebrating Leslie’s visit today by giving away 3 prizes. Each winner will receive a box filled with great reads, sweets, treats and more. Your great reads will include Leslie’s What A Mother Knows, and signed copies of my Bellevue duet, Odd Mom Out and Mrs. Perfect, which are perfect for an early Mother’s Day giveaway. My Leslie Lehr blog contest runs through May 10th, with winners announced May 11th. Want a chance to win? Please comment below, and in honor of Leslie’s book, tell me about your mom, and what she’s taught you either about life, or being a mother.
I had an amazing couple of weeks in February and March, traveling to promote The Good Daughter, and one of the fun weekends included the Tucson Book Festival where I met terrific authors like Jen Lancaster, Amy Hatvany, and the lovely, bright, and talented Charity Shumway.
I so enjoyed the panel I was on with Amy and Charity, and since you all met Amy when I featured her here for the release day of her new book, I thought it was time to introduce you to Charity!
Charity, what did you want to be when you were a kid?
Weirdly enough, I wanted to be a lawyer. I think I must have gotten enough late night glimpses of L.A. Law (after I was supposed to be in bed, which made it all the more exciting) to think that lawyering was really sexy. Later, when I was a teenager, I started dreaming about being a writer, but it always felt like such a far-fetched fantasy. It wasn’t until a few years after college and a lot of time spent actually writing that I finally had to own up to how much I wanted the far-fetched fantasy.
What inspires you?
I’m always inspired by the idea that I’m the only one who can do certain things. Ten other people can have the exact same idea for a story as I do, but we’re all going to write it a different way. Maybe my version will be great, maybe it won’t be, but it’ll always be my unique contribution. Ditto for other people and what they create. The idea of our uniqueness is very touching to me.
What are you reading right now?
I’m reading a collection of essays by Jill Lepore called The Mansion of Happiness. She’s such a smart, straight-forward writer, and the essays cover such unexpected but delightfully interesting topics (breastfeeding, eugenics and the origins of marriage counseling, and board games about life and morality, just to name a few) that I’ve been totally hooked.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a novel about a conservative woman running for state legislature in Utah (my home state). She has five grown children who are all more liberal than she is but who are working on her campaign anyway. Lots of good family and politics and religion mixed up in there, and I’m having a great time with it so far.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
There are two bits of advice that really stand out to me. One was a visiting writer in grad school who told all of us eager MFA students, “the way to make it as a writer is just to keep writing.” Sounds reductionist, but it’s so true! It’s hard not to get discouraged as a writer. There’s so much rejection, and it can be lonely, and projects can take eons to come to fruition. I think back to that advice all the time, and it helps me to just keep going. The other bit of advice that stands out to me came from a mentor who was helping me make a decision about my first novel. He said, “Work with people you like. You’ll be a lot happier.” Again, simple but true! It’s because of that advice that I ended up with the agent I did and the editor that I did, and he was absolutely right. I couldn’t have made a better, happier choice.
More about Ten Girls To Watch
A radiant debut novel about stumbling through the early years of adulthood— and a love letter to the role models who light the way.
Like so many other recent graduates, Dawn West is trying to make her way in New York City. She’s got an ex-boyfriend she can’t quite stop seeing, a roommate who views rent checks and basic hygiene as optional, and a writing career that’s gotten as far as penning an online lawn care advice column.
So when Dawn lands a job tracking down the past winners of Charm magazine’s “Ten Girls to Watch” contest, she’s thrilled. After all, she’s being paid to interview hundreds of fascinating women: once outstanding college students, they have gone on to become mayors, opera singers, and air force pilots. As Dawn gets to know their life stories, she’ll discover that success, love, and friendship can be found in the most unexpected of places. Most importantly, she’ll learn that while those who came before us can be role models, ultimately, we each have to create our own happy ending.
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As a thank you to Charity for being a guest author on my blog, I’m giving away two copies of Ten Girls to Watch along with a fat, fluffy beach towel, a $5 Starbucks drink card, a signed copy of Mrs. Perfect, and lots of fun JP giveaways. To enter to win, just leave a comment in the comment section below here on my JaneBlog and you’re set. Then please, please check back to see if you won, as I still have tons of unclaimed prize boxes stacked in the corner of my office…prizes from Anita Hughes’ contest, Megan Crane’s, and so many many more. Whatever isn’t claimed by Wednesday, will be given away as a bonus prize this week!
Charity’s contest runs through Wednesday night, with the winners announced Thursday morning.
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