7 Seconds in heaven with Ben Svetkey

Our guest today: Ben Svetkey Why we love him: Not only does he write for our FAVE mag (Entertainment Weekly), his debut is really fun. (And he's cute too!)

His debut: Leading Man

The scoop: At 26, Maxwell Lerner thinks he has his whole life figured out. He's got the girl—his high-school sweetheart Samantha. He's got the job—low-level reporter for a prestigious national magazine. He even lives with aforementioned girl in a walk-up studio apartment in the West Village. Life is sweet. Until his aspiring actress girlfriend leaves him for his childhood hero, Johnny Mars, who, as action adventurer "Jack Montana," features in some of Max's favorite movies. Getting dumped for one of his idols sets Max off on a dual mission: to get inside the glamorous world Samantha left him for, and to win her back. But when Samantha's perfect life takes an unexpected turn, Max gets more of an education, in life and in love, than he bargained for.

Our thoughts: LOVED it--totally fun and juicy!

Giveaway: Two copies!  Leave a comment to be entered to win--we'll choose the winners after 8am on Sunday, September 8th.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...7 SECONDS IN HEAVEN WITH BEN SVETKEY

So excited to play 7 Seconds in Heaven with debut author Ben Svetkey--he's sharing 7 surprising facts about himself....

1. I once fondled Angelina Jolie. Her elbow, anyway. I was interviewing her at a restaurant in Toronto (Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life was about to come out) and she was telling me about how she chipped a bone in her elbow while doing a stunt and that the little bone chip kept moving around. Then she took my hand and let me squeeze all over her arm to see if I could find it. I nearly fainted.

2. I know all the words to “Live and Let Die.” And “Goldfinger.” And a couple of other Bond themes. And I’ve taught some of them to my three-year-old daughter. There is nothing cuter than hearing her belt out, “When you were young and your heart was an open book…”

3.  I know all the words to the theme song for Nick Jr.’s Little Einsteins. My daughter taught them to me.

4. I named the protagonist of my novel—Max—after our cat.

5. You know how authors sometimes say that characters end up writing themselves? That always sounded like BS to me, but I’ve learned that it’s kind of true. Once you decide what sort of person they’re going to be, you just wind them up and watch them go. It’s a little freaky.

6. The first book I ever really fell in love with was John Irving’s The World According to Garp. I read it over and over again during my teen years. Then, in my 20s, I read Philip Roth’s The Ghost Writer over and over again. In my 30s, I read Martin Amis’ Money at least a dozen times. I’m a literary monogamist. When I fall in love with a book, I stick with it.

7.  My wife and I eloped and got married in a helicopter over Las Vegas. We figured we’d be so nervous about crashing that we wouldn’t have time to be nervous about getting married. Worked like a charm.

Thanks, Ben!

Tracey Garvis Graves 5 Loves and a Dud

Our guest today: Tracey Garvis Graves Why we love her: We LOVE her books. A LOT. (And she's really cool too!)

Her latest: Covet (Out September 17th!)

The Scoop: What if the life you wanted, and the woman you fell in love with, belonged to someone else? Chris and Claire Canton's marriage is on life support. Downsized during the recession and out of work for a year, Chris copes by retreating to a dark place where no one can reach him, not even Claire. When he's offered a position that will keep him away from home four nights a week, he dismisses Claire's concern that time apart could be the one thing their fragile union can't weather. Their suburban life may look idyllic on the outside, but Claire has never felt so disconnected from Chris, or so lonely.

Local police officer Daniel Rush used to have it all, but now he goes home to an empty house every night. He pulls Claire over during a routine traffic stop and runs into her again at the 4th of July parade. When Claire is hired to do some graphic design work for the police department, her friendship with Daniel grows, and soon they're spending hours together.

Claire loves the way Daniel makes her feel, and the way his face lights up when she walks into the room. Daniel knows that Claire's marital status means their relationship will never be anything other than platonic. But it doesn't take long before Claire and Daniel are in way over their heads, and skating close to the line that Claire has sworn she'll never cross.

Our thoughts: Whew! Hands down, one of our fave books of 2013.  An addicting narrative on love and marriage--you must read this!

Giveaway: Two copies!  Leave a comment and we'll choose a winner on September 8th after Noon PST.

Fun Fact: We met Tracey at BEA last Spring and she is delightful!

Where to read more about Tracey: Her website, Facebook and Twitter.

CHICK LIT IS NOT PRESENTS...TRACEY GARVIS-GRAVES 5 LOVES AND A DUD

Coffee

When I come downstairs in the morning the first thing that hits me is the smell of fresh-brewed coffee. I always get the coffee pot ready the night before because I want – no I need – the coffee to be waiting for me. I have these big mugs that look like bowls with a handle, and I fill one with coffee and a big splash of vanilla soy milk. I used to dump in a packet of Splenda, but I’ve since given it up (and don’t really miss it). I received a lovely gift bag from a book club whose meeting I attended. In it was a bag of coffee called Mississippi Grogg (which is made in Dubuque, Iowa). It has hints of hazelnut, caramel, and butterscotch; it smells and tastes fantastic. I was thrilled to discover it in my local grocery store and now it’s my coffee of choice. I also have a Keurig coffee maker for those mornings when I’m in the mood for a variety (or was too lazy to get the coffee ready the night before). I might start out with a blonde roast from Starbuck’s and then switch to a mocha K-cup if I feel like mixing it up a little.

Extreme weather/change of seasons

I live in Iowa where our motto is, “If you don’t like the weather just wait a minute, it will change.” That’s exactly what I love about my home state. I would go crazy if I lived somewhere where the weather stayed the same all the time. I love a good thunderstorm and nothing excites me more than an approaching blizzard (provided my friends and family aren’t trying to drive in it). I love living in the Midwest because I also love the change of seasons (fall is my favorite). I have certain candles, recipes, and music that I gravitate toward depending on what season we’re in. Now that September is approaching, I’ll be burning cinnamon and pumpkin candles, making chicken tortilla soup, and listening to the Moody Blues and James Taylor.

Room service breakfast

Do I like it when someone else makes the breakfast and delivers it to me right in my room? Yes, yes I do. I don’t even care if they see me in my pajamas, with crazy hair. I’m invisible to room service waiters (no really, they can’t see me). No one ever makes me breakfast at home (except for Mother’s Day), so when I travel I look forward to a lovely meal delivered to me on a tray.

Cardigan sweaters

I love them and think they’re a necessary (and adorable staple) of anyone’s wardrobe. Who doesn’t want to rock the sexy librarian look now and then? I’m especially fond of longer-length cardigans (the softer the better) and I love to cuddle up in one when I’m writing. I just counted and I currently have twenty-seven cardigans hanging in my closet, which sort of makes it sound like I have a problem.

Driving alone. I’ve driven all over the state of Iowa in the last year for book signings and library presentations. I always go alone, and I don’t mind at all. I love music, so I listen to various playlists on my iPod and let my mind wander. I love to plot books when I’m in the car, and if I’m having trouble figuring out a scene I can usually solve the problem with a nice long drive. Sometimes I’m so deep in thought I miss my exit.

DUD

Male strippers/dancers. I may need to turn in my girl card because Magic Mike did absolutely nothing for me, and not even Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum could change my mind. I think the concept of watching men dance around while taking their clothes off is hilariously ridiculous, but I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to be laughing. I think the appropriate response is to scream and swoon, but unfortunately I’m incapable of it.

Thanks, Tracey!

Yona Zeldis McDonough's 5 Firsts and Lasts

Our guest today: Yona Zeldis McDonough Why we love her: Her writing hits the right note!

Her latest: Two of A Kind

The Scoop: Ten years after losing her husband, Christina Connelly has worked through the pain, focusing on raising her teenage daughter and managing her small decorating business. But her romantic life has never recovered. Still, it’s irksome to be set up with arrogant, if handsome, doctor Andy Stern at her friend’s wedding. If he wasn’t also a potential client, needing his Upper East Side apartment redesigned, she would write him off.

This is never going to work, Andy thinks. Still grieving his wife and struggling with a troubled son, he’s not looking for a woman, and certainly not someone as frosty and reserved as Christina. Their relationship will be strictly business. Yet to everyone’s surprise—including their own—these two find themselves falling in love.

But if reconciling with their pasts is difficult, blending their lives and children to create a new family is nearly impossible. They’ve been given a second chance…but can they overcome all the obstacles in the way of happily ever after?

Our thoughts: Perfect for your Fall reading list!

Giveaway: One copy!  Leave a comment and you'll be entered.  We'll choose the winners after Noon PST on September 8th.

Fun Fact: Yona had studied to be a ballerina before attending Vassar College.

Where you can read more about Yona: Her website and Twitter!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...YONA ZELDIS MCDONOUGH'S 5 FIRSTS AND LASTS

Kiss

FIRST: My kiss was shared with a boy named Seth Cohen on Sadie Hawkin’s Day in 1967. I was 10 and he was 11 or 12 and we were running around a bungalow colony in upstate New York with our pals.  My best friend Nancy had a crush on his handsome older brother Mark but I liked Seth, the sweet, kind of awkward boy with the sleepy eyes and slow smile.  Since I nabbed him, we went off to a secluded area in the woods for the kiss. I can still remember how nervous I was: heart hammering, blood rushing in my ears.  But we did it and I felt so smug and grown up afterwards.

LAST: My last kiss was deposited on the snout of Holden, one of my two Pomeranians.  He’s quite the gentleman and sleeps peacefully at the foot of the bed every night.  This morning, when I woke up he had walked over and put his face very close to mine.  Impossible not to kiss him.

Book you read

FIRST: book I read cover to cover was some school-issued reader (who out there remembers those?) concerning Dick and Jane’s plodding and wholly pedestrian exploits.  In fact, it was so dull that I read ahead, vainly hoping for some drama or excitement. My first grade teacher got wind of this and I was punished for not sticking with the program and reading at the same glacial pace as the worst readers in the class.   Fortunately this did not sour me on reading!

LAST: Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter, which is a short, exceedingly blunt novel that lays bare some of the most unattractive feelings about motherhood I have ever seen in print.

Risk you took

FIRST: When I was about 10 or 11, I saved my allowance money and took the bus to a jewelry store on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn where, without my parent’s consent or even knowledge, I had my ears pierced. It was such a rush that I thought I might take up sky-diving next—that’s how fearless and empowered I felt.

LAST: I was wounded by an offhand but cruel remark a friend had made and I took the risk of calling her out on it.  She did not respond well; in fact, she did not even understand the hurtful nature of what she’d said and she did not apologize. The friendship is now over but I am not sorry I spoke my truth; to have remained silent would have been corrosive and dishonest and the friendship would have come to an end anyway.

Hell ya moment

Stuck in the house for what felt like a month with some long illness and bored out of my mind.  A box the size of a washing machine arrives and unbelievably, it’s addressed to me. My mother helps me open it and I frantically tear through the paper and stuffing.  Inside is a Raggedy Anne doll so big that her clothes—blue flowered dress, white apron, white bloomers--actually fit me (I wore them for Halloween that year.)  She was a get-well gift from my grandmother and what a swell gift she was—woo hoo!

Aha! Moment

FIRST: I was in graduate school studying art history, a pursuit that had become increasingly meaningless and joyless to me.  Aha moment came when on a whim, I signed up for a fiction writing workshop (I was allowed to enroll without paying anything extra for the course) and I thought, OMG, you mean I could spend my life doing this?!

LAST: Realizing that the template of beauty does not have to remain fixed at 25 and that I could finally stop coloring my hair.  What a revelation and a relief to be done with all the foul chemicals, drippy potions, and tedium of the colorist’s chair.  Now I’m defiantly, proudly silver (please don’t call me gray!) and loving every minute of it.

Thanks, Yona!

7 Seconds in Heaven with Kevin Kwan

Today's guest: Kevin Kwan Why we want to spend 7 Seconds in Heaven with him: OMG. Read the book. You'll understand!

His debut: Crazy Rich Asians

The scoop: Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.

When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should--and should not--marry. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider's look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.

Our thoughts: Hilarious. Fascinating. Fun. Original. We could go on and on and on.

Giveaway: One SIGNED copy! Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winner after 12pm on Sunday, September 1.

Fun fact: Crazy Rich Asians has already been optioned to be a movie!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...7 SECONDS IN HEAVEN WITH KEVIN KWAN

1. I love being on airplanes when there's lots of turbulence.  Like, the bumpier the better. I get a strange thrill out of it.

2. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a marine biologist.  I had a fish tank and began to obsessively cultivate a vast array of species.  I started with the basic stuff like goldfish and guppies, but quickly graduated to more exotic fish like African Cichlids of Lake Tanganyika.  At the height of my craze, I had a saltwater tank with a lionfish, a leopard grouper, a Picasso triggerfish, a sting ray, a queen angelfish and an octopus. Then I hit puberty and promptly lost interest in all of it.

3. Call me old fashioned, but one of my pet peeves is men who don't get up from the table whenever a woman arrives or departs, or let the ladies exit the elevator first.

4. One of these days I am going to take up hang gliding.  I know it sounds cheesy, but I want to hang glide over the Grand Canyon at sunset.

5. People rarely see me eating fruits, but that's because most of the fruits I like are tropical fruits not available in the Northern Hemisphere.  Like rambutans, chikus, durians, and my favorite of all, mangosteens.

6. In my next life, I’d like to attend Oxford University. (Although I would want it to be 1912, and I'd have a hard time choosing between Balliol, Christ Church, or Magdalen colleges.)

7. I'd like to live in Naples for a year.  The sheer beautiful chaos of the city, the ancient buildings in various states of crumbling, the insanity of the drivers, it all absolutely fascinates me.  And of course, they have the best pizza on earth.

Thanks, Kevin!

Susanna Daniel's 5 Best Evers

Today's guest: Susanna Daniel Why we love her: We've recently discovered this immensely talented author. Can't wait for her next book!

Her latest: Sea Creatures

The scoop: In Sea Creatures, a riveting domestic drama by Susanna Daniel, a mother must make the unthinkable choice between her husband and her son.

When Georgia Qullian returns to her hometown of Miami, her toddler and husband in tow, she is hoping for a fresh start. They have left Illinois trailing scandal and disappointment in their wake, fallout from her husband’s severe sleep disorder. For months, their three-year-old son has refused to speak a word.

On a whim, Georgia takes a job as an errand runner for a reclusive artist and is surprised at how her life changes dramatically. But soon the family’s challenges return, more complicated than before. Late that summer, as a hurricane bears down on South Florida, Georgia must face the fact that her decisions have put her only child in grave danger.

Sea Creatures is a mesmerizing exploration of the high stakes of marriage and parenthood.

Our thoughts:  Loved this thought provoking novel. A must-read!

Fun fact: She's the co-founder of the Madison Writer's Studio.

Giveaway: TWO copies! Just leave a comment and be entered to win. We'll select the winners after 12 pm PST on Sunday, September 1st.

Where you can read more about Susanna: Her website, Facebook and Twitter.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...SUSANNA DANIEL'S 5 BEST EVERS

BEST BOOK

When I was fifteen years old, I worked part-time in an independent bookstore in South Miami (back then, these were just called bookstores), and read behind the desk between customers. I will never forget the experience of reading MATING, by Norman Rush, which was that year’s National Book Award winner. In the book, an anxious and self-involved postgraduate student crosses the desert in pursuit of the megalomaniacal founder of an all-female utopian society. The plot was absurdly ambitious, but the writing was electric, and I think that was the first time I really understood the concept of narrative drive -- that a strong voice can carry an entire book.

BEST MOVIE

The Royal Tenenbaums -- funny, sweet, poignant, and doesn’t let its quirk overwhelm its humanity. When Ben Stiller’s character says to Danny Glover’s character, “You know, I’m a widower, too,” and Danny Glover says, with tremendous restraint, “I know it, son,” it’s all I can do not to lose it entirely.

BEST SONG

Lately I’ve fallen down The National’s rabbit hole, which means I’ve been familiarizing myself with every album relentlessly and repeatedly, almost to the exclusion of all other music in my extensive repertoire. Predictably, I’m big on lyrics, and The National’s songs are poems. ‘Slipped’ has lodged itself in my head in particular: “I don’t want you to grieve but I want you to sympathize.” Honest, simple, gut-wrenching.

BEST LIFE MOMENT

I’m supposed to say the moment my husband asked me to marry him, or when my first son was born, or my second, or some last moment of connection before my mother died -- but everything I so cherish (books, life partner, home, children) balances on a moment in 1999 when a woman named Connie Brothers called me at work in New York and offered me a place in the MFA program at the Writers’ Workshop in Iowa City, a region of the country where I’d never considered living (and now I’m a Midwesterner to this day). I can’t imagine where I would be now if I’d been dumb enough to decline.

BEST ADVICE

This was early-motherhood advice that my editor (mother of two teenagers) gave not to me but to my agent, when my agent was pregnant with her first, and it so perfectly summed up something I believe strongly. She said: When the baby comes, you’re going to want to take care of all of it -- the diapers and the rocking and the feeding and the packing of the bag, all of it -- but you must sit on your hands. Let your partner do it, too. Even if you have more experience and know for a fact that he’s doing it wrong, let him do it and shut up about it unless he asks specifically for your advice or assistance. He’s perfectly capable, and if you take over every time, you’re going to find down the road that you’re doing it all by yourself (and maybe even complaining that he’s not helping). Sit on your hands, and let him develop his own ways of doing things. You’ll be glad in the long run.

Thanks, Susanna!

(more than) 5 Things we didn't know about Emma and Nicola

Our guests today: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus Why we love them:  Besides the fact that they written some of our all-time fave books (Nanny Diaries, anyone?), they are totally funny and smart and AWESOME! (Um, ya, we have a girl crush in case you haven't noticed...)

Their latest: The First Affair (Out today!)

The Scoop: Jamie McAlister has resigned herself to the fact that in this job market, her painfully expensive degree might only get her a position at Starbucks, when she suddenly lands a prestigious internship at the White House. Although she doesn’t hit it off with the other interns—lockjaws who come from so much money that ten weeks without a paycheck doesn’t faze them—she is eager to work hard and make the best of the opportunity while it lasts.

An unexpected encounter late one evening with the charismatic President Gregory Rutland seems like just a fleeting flirtation, but when he orchestrates clandestine meetings and late-night phone calls, their relationship quickly escalates. Jamie knows what she is doing is wrong: he’s married, he has kids, he’s the President. Yet each time she tries to extricate herself, Greg pulls her back in.

With the conflicted desires of the most powerful man in the world driving her to her breaking point, Jamie can’t help but divulge intimate details to those closest to her. But she must have confided in the wrong person, because she soon finds herself, and everyone she cares about, facing calculated public destruction at the hands of Greg’s political enemies, and—perhaps no matter how much he cares about her—at the hands of Greg himself.

Our thoughts:  Fast-paced and fun--another winner from our favorite writing duo!

Giveaway: TWO copies!  Leave a comment to be entered.  We'll choose the winners after 8am on September 2nd.

Fun Fact: We share an editor with Emma and Nicola and were so excited to meet them last spring at Atria! (We may have been fan-girling...sorry about that, ladies!)

Where to read more about Emma and Nicola: Their website, Twitter and Facebook.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...5 THINGS WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT EMMA AND NICOLA

Guilty pleasures?

NICOLA: HGTV.  I am obsessed with Rehab Addict, but on a bad night I can easily sit through a House Hunters marathon.  It’s like some part of me needs to know that if I’m evacuated to, say, Tucson, on a moment’s notice, I’ll already have my dream neighborhood mapped out.

EMMA: Beyonce concert footage on Youtube.  I reward myself with a number after every few pages of writing – and on rougher days, every few paragraphs.  (If her Superbowl Halftime show had been a tape I would have worn it out.)  Her swagger always recharges me.  We put our heroines through so much that I imagine them on the other side of their journeys, long after our stories are over, dancing their asses off to her and knowing how much stronger they are for what they learned.  I think we’ve referenced Queen B in at least three of our novels.

Song that you are slightly embarrassed to admit you know all the words to?

NICOLA: We Built This City on Rock and Roll.  We used it in our third bestseller, Dedication, and it has been stuck in our heads ever since.  Of course don’t get me started on Elmo Potty Time songs.  I will be whistling them in my grave.

EMMA: Go West’s King of Wishful Thinking from Pretty Woman.  Stu Ames dumped me a week before the movie came out and that song became my anthem for recovery. (The first of many anthems over the years.)  We didn’t have a Beyonce.  I honestly think my recovery time would have been halved with an iPod of her, Pink, Taylor Swift, Katie Perry and Kelly Clarkson.

Funny Mom Story?

NICOLA: A few night’s ago I was giving my three year-old daughter a bath and the Twitter app on my phone starts pinging like crazy.  My husband asks, do you need to get that?  I said, no, it’s probably just ____, she wants to wear my skin.  Then I go back to making ice cream out of soap bubbles, or whatever we were up to, and my daughter starts singing, “I’m wear-ing Mommy’s skin.  I’m wear-ing Mommy’s skin.”  I suppose since I dressed her up as Kathy Bates in Misery for Halloween one year I shouldn’t be that surprised.

Beauty Must-Haves?

EMMA: I’ve always had these tiny hairs at my hairline determined to lay diagonally across my forehead in an Adam’s Family-like fashion.  J-Lo rebranded them “baby hairs” and Anastasia Clear Brow Gel is the only product I’ve found to tame my babies.  I’ve also just started using a retinol product – Retrinal Plus 0.1 Cream.  It’s a low dose, but it’s rocking my world.  Since you asked, I’m currently in search of a product for lightening sun spots that doesn’t have scary hydroquinone and am taking any and all opportunities to put out an APB.  Please tweet suggestions to @nannydiaries!

Food/drink you couldn't live without?

NICOLA: I never drank caffeine before having kids, but now I need two extra hot lattes every day to function.  We spend a ridiculous amount of time every day talking about food—what we’re going to eat, when we’re going to eat, and why don’t we have more snacks.  We never have enough snacks.

Favorite curse word?

EMMA: As is evident from our heroines, Nicki and I never shied from employing a satisfying curse word in the face of our heroine’s crappy bosses, boyfriends, etc.  It was a huge adjustment for me when my son was born and I had to rein it in.  I’ve since reverted to using the first letter of each curse followed by “–ing.”  At first I felt like a dork but I’ve come to love it.  My favorite is F-ing, which has become more satisfying than the real word—except when I accidentally use it in grown up situations like a pitch meeting with industry folk in which case it does not inspire the confidence.

Secret Talent besides writing?

NICOLA: I am weirdly great at dog grooming.  And eyebrow tweezing.  Probably the same skill.  In college girls would come from all over campus to have me do their eyebrows.  I am probably a closet esthetician.

Pet Peeve?

EMMA: Manhattan rush hour is notoriously cut throat, but even so I was surprised to discover as a mom that there’s no such thing as Stroller Right of Way.  For example, Single Man with Briefcase should yield the sidewalk to Mom with Toddler Screaming Head Off About Fallen Animal Crackers.  Man with Briefcase should yield AND applaud mother with said toddler in one hand and Senile Dog Straining on Leash in other.  They should make street signs, pronto!

Thanks, Girls!

Diary of a Debut: Revision Hell

There have been A LOT of exciting things going on around here lately. Did you hear?  Simon & Schuster bought TWO more books from us!  Yep, that means they are stuck with us for THREE novels. (We love a publisher that isn't afraid to commit...)  So, in addition to Your Perfect Life, which follows two childhood best friends who switch bodies at their 20 year high school reunion (June 2014), we are currently revising Famous Last Words, about a celebrity who kills herself and the tabloid reporter who's blamed for sending her over the edge. And then we'll be digging in on book #3! (Details coming soon. In fact, if you haven't already, you should subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you're getting the latest news.)

Bottom line? We are incredibly thankful and still wondering how the hell we got here! But as excited as we are that S&S is going to publish Famous Last Words, there's one thing we that we aren't so excited about.  The part of the process that strikes fear into our hearts:

Revisions.

We kind of hate on them. And each other while we work on them.

Well, hate is probably too strong of a word.  Let's just say we'd rather get a full body wax or watch a Teen Mom marathon while getting said wax.

We've mentioned before that our editor and agent are uh-mazing.  But with an amazing editor and agent comes incredibly thoughtful and smart notes that you NEED TO LISTEN TO because those notes will take your book to the next level.  Many notes that have us thinking, duh, why didn't WE think of that or that or that? *bangs palm onto forehead*

Thankfully, after writing together for 5 years, we've finally reached the point where we no longer argue for hours over one word or whether or not a character should wear a trucker hat.  So, this time around, we feel we've honed our editing skills (and attitudes!) and have been volleying the manuscript back and forth like Venus and Serena at the US Open. In fact, we *think* we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank GAWD!

And we've  learned a few new things about each other, too. Yep, that's right, after over 25+ years of friendship, there are STILL things to discover! You see, Lisa can be bit OCD and Liz a bit ADD.  Put those together and what do you get?  A very interesting editing experience.

Oh, and before we forget, leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered to win a copy of Anita Hughes' Lake Como!

WHAT L&L LEARNED ABOUT EACH OTHER: REVISION HELL EDITION

LIZ:

What Lisa says: Wow! Nice job on these edits!  Your descriptions were awesome!

What Lisa means: I *might* have taken out a *few* things from your last edit and turned the boyfriend into a flea-market shopping hipster. Oh, and I may have said the leather couch you put in his home was "cliche."

What Lisa says: When you get into the manuscript, you'll see I have a few "questions."

What Lisa means: I am questioning EVERYTHING. No stone will go unturned!

LISA:

What Liz says: I MUST have the manuscript by Saturday morning at 6am--not a moment later! I'm going to work on it ALL day.

What Liz means: I'm going to sleep in, then post all my Hawaii pics on Facebook, play Candy Crush, try out a new recipe and then watch that new episode of Catfish before cramming ten hours of editing into two. But no worries!

What Liz says: Oh, ya, I totally read through that, it was genius!

What Liz means:  I skimmed it over a thirty second period while posting pictures to Instagram. I can't remember exactly what I read, but it seemed fine! Let's move on to the next thing!

As always, thanks for taking this journey with us. We couldn't do it without your support! Leave a comment below about your own writing experience or anything that's on your mind and be entered to win a copy of Anita Hughes' Lake Como! We'll choose the winner after 8am on September 2nd.

Carolyn Turgeon's 5 Loves & a Dud

Today's guest: Carolyn Turgeon Why we love her: We love that she created a fresh spin on the classic stories of Rapunzel and Snow White. What little girl didn't love fairy tales and that little girl is still very much inside of us!

Her latest: The Fairest of them All

The scoop: In this kingdom, only one fairy tale can end with happily ever after.

In an enchanted forest, the maiden Rapunzel’s beautiful voice captivates a young prince hunting nearby. Overcome, he climbs her long golden hair to her tower and they spend an afternoon of passion together, but by nightfall the prince must return to his kingdom, and his betrothed.Now king, he weds his intended and the kingdom rejoices when a daughter named Snow White is born. Beyond the castle walls, Rapunzel waits in her crumbling tower, gathering news of her beloved from those who come to her seeking wisdom. She tries to mend her broken heart but her love lingers, pulsing in the magic tendrils of her hair.The king, too, is haunted by his memories, but after his queen’s mysterious death, he is finally able to follow his heart into the darkness of the forest. But can Rapunzel trade the shadows of the forest for the castle and be the innocent beauty he remembers?

Our thoughts: A new twist on a classic fairy tale? What's not to love? (Plus, we like that it's a little bit twisted too!)

Fun fact: She went on to graduate school at UCLA, where I studied medieval Italian poetry. (Who knew that was a "thing"?)

Giveaway: Two copies! Just leave a comment to be entered. We'll select the winners on Sunday, August 25th after 12 pm PST.

Where you can read more about Carolyn: Her website, Facebook,Twitter and Pinterest.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...CAROLYN TURGEON'S 5 LOVES & A DUD

Loves

Rain.

I love everything about rain: the sound of it pattering on a sidewalk or a rooftop or a river, the raw smell of it, the feel of it on the skin, the look of it as it lowers this gauzy veil over everything. I love the massive thunderstorms that used to break everything open when I was a kid in Illinois, where we had a big covered porch that looked over the backyard and where I’d sit with my father and watch it raging down. We only lived there until I was eight, so those memories of sitting on that porch, watching the back yard through that haze of rain, sort of define my childhood for me. I love those hot, tropical mid-afternoon rains in Florida, where my grandparents lived, that last for less than half an hour and leave everything wet and sparkling. I love a chilly autumn day where you sit inside by a fire as the cold rain hammers down, shaking the leaves from the trees. I even named my first book Rain Village, after a lush, magical fantastic place where it always rains. That book isn’t about rain, though, but about a tiny misfit girl who becomes a very glamorous star on the trapeze in an old-time circus and side show. Which leads me to my deep love of…

Circuses.

I spent ten years working on my first novel (on and off) and did a ton of research on circuses so that I could get the details right and imagine what it might be like to be in one. I went to a bunch of circuses and read plenty of books, and I also traveled to some of the big circus towns in the U.S, including Bridgeport, Connecticut (where PT Barnum was from), Sarasota, Florida (where the Ringley Brothers settled), and Baraboo, Wisconsin, where the Ringley Brothers were from and where the Circus World Museum is now. I flew to Baraboo from Los Angeles (where I went to graduate school) and my mother flew in from Pennsylvania to meet me and that first night we heard a bunch of buzzing from across the street from our hotel and we realized that there was a huge county fair going on, complete with funnel cakes and Ferris wheel and a full-on tractor pull. How can you resist a town where county fairs are happening and that’s steeped in circus history? Anyway, I loved researching that book, and I still love the idea of the old-time circus, all that magic and razzle dazzle sweeping into town and then up and leaving a day or two later, as if it’d never been there at all.

Road trips.

There is nothing I like more than being in a car, on the highway, either with friends or by myself, with the whole road stretching out in front and something like Johnny Cash playing and everything just full of possibility. Maybe it’s from moving around so much as a kid, but I love the open road. One summer in my 20s, my sister and I took six weeks to get from New York to Los Angeles and we followed an elaborate route that took us through Dollywood and Nashville and Graceland and down to Dallas, Texas, where we’d lived after we left Illinois and where we remembered the Traildust Steakhouse as being the most magical place in the world, since there was a dance floor where we did the Cotton-Eyed Joe and a slide that swooped down into the dance floor. It was funny, seeing that place with adult eyes, how much it seemed to have shrunk.

Old movie palaces.

I went to high school and college in Pennsylvania and I was this huge film buff who constantly lamented the lack of a real at cinema in my town. When I finally moved to New York City for a brief spell after college, I gorged on movies and loved going to little art houses to see all those indies and foreign films my town never got. But then I moved to Los Angeles for graduate school, a city full of old-time movie palaces. I was dazzled by them, the velvet seats and curtains, the swooping art deco curves, the sheer glamour of all of it. Going to the movie felt like a spectacular event, and I loved that after a day of classes (I was studying Italian literature, of all things, in that surreal city) and teaching I could escape into a dark room with soft chairs and get lost in another world completely.

Scuba diving.

I didn’t grow up around the ocean and always found it sort of terrifying and full of gross things that might bite me. I was also super pale and burned easily and had body issues and so basically avoided beaches and the ocean, and being in a bathing suit generally. But then I wrote my novel Mermaid and ended up creating a mermaid blog, which led to all kinds of experiences and encounters I never could have anticipated, including me in a bathing suit and a mermaid tail participating in mermaid camp at Weeki Wachee Springs. Once I started talking to all these mermaid-loving women, I couldn’t help but want to get in the water myself. A few months after that camp, I got scuba certified. Being 50 feet under the surface of the ocean, surrounded by the most strange, colorful fish, and sharks, and eagle rays, and sea turtles—it’s all just mind-blowing, like being on another planet. Now I have a whole list of places I want to dive and magical creatures I want to encounter!

Dud

I am very opposed to parsley, celery, and green peppers, those devilish greens that sneak their way into many dishes and sabotage them completely. It’s not right.

Thanks, Carolyn!

Flash Giveaway: Susan Mallery Bridal bag! And a cookbook too!

Giveaway: A bridal bag(include bridal essentials and a copy of Three Little Words) AND one copy of her Fool's Gold Cookbook The Scoop on Three Little Words: Can first love turn into the real deal? Anything can happen in a sizzling Fool’s Gold story from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery. Isabel Beebe thinks she’s cursed in the romance department. Her teenage crush, Ford Hendrix, ignored all her letters. Her husband left her for another…man. So Isabel has come home to dust off her passion for fashion and run the family bridal shop until her parents are ready to sell it. Then she’ll pursue her real dreams. At least, that’s the plan, until sexy, charming Ford returns and leaves her feeling fourteen all over again…. Seeing Isabel all grown-up hits bodyguard trainer Ford like a sucker punch. Back when heartbreak made him join the military, her sweet letters kept him sane. Now he can’t take his eyes — or his lips — off her. The man who gave up on love has a reason to stay in Fool’s Gold forever — if three little words can convince Isabel to do the same.

The Scoop on Fool's Gold Cookbook: Fool's Gold is known as the Land of Happy Endings, but it's also the land of hearty appetites. Throughout the series, the residents of Fool's Gold have found joy, comfort and good times through food. Now two local Fool's Gold chefs will also find love through food! Join them as they flirt, fight and fall in love, one season at a time.

You'll also find favorite recipes from popular characters in the series, such as: Heidi's Arugula, Corn and Cherry Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese, Liz's Spaghetti for the Girls and Denise's Summer Berry Pie.

With chapters for summer, spring, fall and winter, you can find the perfect recipe for everything from holiday get-togethers to cozy date nights, always using the freshest ingredients. And the heartwarming love story that is woven throughout is Susan Mallery at her finest.

The more than 150 recipes and dozens of gorgeous photographs in this book will inspire you to find perfection in the simple and the seasonal. And with all of Fool's Gold with you in the kitchen, your every celebration will have a happy ending!

Our thoughts:  A great way to get your romance fix--and find a great recipe too!

Leave a comment and we'll choose a winner after 3pm on Friday August 16th. 

What's in Liz & Lisa's Beach Bag?

Can you all believe it's already August? It's back to school time and Fall is just around the corner? Where the hell did the time go? Well, we don't know about you, but we're clinging to summer for as long as possible. And that means we're lounging and reading as much as possible!  Here are the books we're excited about this month!  

Happy Any Day Now by Toby Devens (Out now!)

The scoop: Every five years my mother had her fortune read by Lulu Cho, owner of the Golden Lotus Massage Club for Men. Now it was my turn. And Lulu predicted one hurricane of a future for me!

Judith Soo Jin Raphael’s childhood was shaped by her hardworking immigrant mother, her father who left them, and her struggles to fit in as a half-Korean, half-Jewish kid in a tough urban neighborhood. But music lessons gave her a purpose and passion. Now, as Judith’s fiftieth birthday nears, she has rewarding work as a cellist with the Maryland Philharmonic, an enthusiastic if uncommitted lover, and a quirky but close relationship with her mother.

Then chaos strikes: Judith’s first love, who dumped her decades ago, returns to dazzle her with his golden pedigree and brilliant career. Her long-absent father arrives out of the blue with a snazzy car and a con man’s patter, turning her mother into a love-struck flirt whom Judith barely recognizes. All this while her mentor at the orchestra falls seriously ill. No wonder Judith develops a paralyzing case of stage fright.

Judith finds herself feeling—and sometimes acting—slightly unhinged, but she’s convinced that happiness will arrive any day now. She’s just got to hold on tight during this midlife shake-up...and claim the prize that life surely has in store for her.

Our thoughts: Refreshing. Witty. The perfect book to read as we say good bye to summer.

You Knew Me When by Emily Liebert (Out September 3rd)

The scoop: Katherine Hill left her small New England hometown in pursuit of a dream. Now, twelve years later, she’s a high-powered cosmetics executive in Manhattan and a much glossier version of her former self, unrecognizable to her family and old friends. Not that she would know—she hasn’t been home in over a decade.

Laney Marten always swore she’d never get “stuck” in Manchester, Vermont. No, she was destined to live out her glamorous big-city dreams. Instead, she wound up a young wife and mother. That was when her best friend ran out.

When Katherine receives word of an inheritance from former neighbor Luella Hancock, she reluctantly returns home to the people and places she left behind. Hoping for a second chance, she’s met by an unforgiving Laney, her former best friend. And there’s someone else who’s moved on without her—someone she once loved.

Tethered to their shared inheritance of Luella’s sprawling Victorian mansion, Katherine and Laney are forced to address their long-standing grudges. Through this, they come to understand that while life has taken them in different directions, ultimately the bonds of friendship and sisterhood still bind them together. But are some wounds too old and deep to mend?

Our thoughts: An emotionally gripping debut novel about the the bonds of friendship. We can't wait for her next!

Fat Girls & Fairy Cakes by Sue Watson (Out now!)

The scoop: TV Producer Stella Weston is over worked, over weight and under fire. Having battled uphill for years to balance her career with her family life, she is repaid by being put out to pasture on a religious gardening programme complete with a nervous vicar, his nymphomaniac wife, and 22 stone Britney wannabe gardener, Gerald. Miles away from her husband and daughter she somehow turns the show into a comedic triumph, only to once more fall foul of her evil and twisted boss, stick thin MJ. Stella decides enough is enough but soon finding herself husbandless and penniless, she realises discovering the courage to quit is sometimes the easy part. Desperate, Stella throws herself into her one true love, cakes, and asks the question: can you really turn a passion into a profession? What follows is a series of comical disasters, hilarious holidays, failed dates, super cakes, accidents, injuries and near death experiences. Full of spirit, heart and girl power, this is a high quality chick lit novel that will have readers everywhere laughing, crying, and reaching for the mixing bowl.

Our thoughts: So smart. So funny. You will love devouring this novel along with one of the desserts it will make you crave!

Little Island by Katharine Britton (Out September 3rd)

The scoop:

Grace Flowers By the water Have fun!

These are Joy’s grandmother’s last words—left behind on a note. A note that Joy’s mother, Grace, has interpreted as instructions for her memorial service. And so, the far-flung clan will gather at their inn on Little Island, Maine, to honor her.

Joy can’t help dreading the weekend. Twenty years ago, a tragedy nearly destroyed the family—and still defines them. Joy, Grace, her father Gar, and twins Roger and Tamar all have their parts to play. And now Joy, facing an empty nest and a nebulous future, feels more vulnerable than ever to the dangerous currents running through her family.

But this time, Joy will discover that there is more than pain and heartbreak that binds them together, when a few simple words lift the fog and reveal what truly matters…

Our thoughts: She had us at "family" and "dark secrets." A juicy novel!

W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton (Out September 10th)

The scoop: Two dead bodies changed the course of my life that fall. One of them I knew and the other I’d never laid eyes on until I saw him in the morgue.

The first was a local PI of suspect reputation. He’d been gunned down near the beach at Santa Teresa. It looked like a robbery gone bad. The other was on the beach six weeks later. He’d been sleeping rough. Probably homeless. No identification. A slip of paper with Millhone’s name and number was in his pants pocket. The coroner asked her to come to the morgue to see if she could ID him.

Two seemingly unrelated deaths, one a murder, the other apparently of natural causes.

But as Kinsey digs deeper into the mystery of the John Doe, some very strange linkages begin to emerge. And before long at least one aspect is solved as Kinsey literally finds the key to his identity. “And just like that,” she says, “the lid to Pandora’s box flew open. It would take me another day before I understood how many imps had been freed, but for the moment, I was inordinately pleased with myself.”

In this multilayered tale, the surfaces seem clear, but the underpinnings are full of betrayals, misunderstandings, and outright murderous fraud. And Kinsey, through no fault of her own, is thoroughly compromised.

W is for . . . wanderer . . . worthless . . . wronged . . .

W is for wasted.

Our thoughts: Can you believe we'd never read a Sue Grafton novel before? (And yeah, we know she stared this series with "A"...). And we loved it! We were lucky enough to not only get an advance copy of this but Sue signed it for us! She was gracious and lovely and it just made us want to read her books even more.

On Our Radar

It's like we just blinked and summer was almost over, right?  But before we hit the beach one last time, we wanted to tell you about what we're lovin' right now.

CatFish: The TV Show

Ever since our friend and author Dee Detarsio turned us on to this, we've been OBSESSED.  What should be ambush TV instead is a thoughtful, frightening and complicated look at the real truth of online relationships. We've developed a crazy crush on Nev, who's endless optimism and empathy for these poor, clueless souls makes Catfish much more meaningful than your average reality show.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll never look at your online friends the same way again.

The Snugg IPhone Case

Liz is in love with her new iPhone case--The Snugg is easy to slip on off and comes in all kinds of sassy colors.  And considering the fact that she drops her phone several times before leaving the house each day, it's a good thing she's got some protection! #majorclutz

Covet by Tracey Garvis-Graves

We received an advanced copy of COVET (Out September 17th) and fell in love at first word.  An engrossing picture of marriage and family, Garvis-Graves' simple yet beautiful narrative made COVET one of our favorite books so far this year.  We promise you'll be thinking about these characters long after you read the last page.

The scoop: What if the life you wanted, and the woman you fell in love with, belonged to someone else?

Chris and Claire Canton's marriage is on life support. Downsized during the recession and out of work for a year, Chris copes by retreating to a dark place where no one can reach him, not even Claire. When he's offered a position that will keep him away from home four nights a week, he dismisses Claire's concern that time apart could be the one thing their fragile union can't weather. Their suburban life may look idyllic on the outside, but Claire has never felt so disconnected from Chris, or so lonely.

Local police officer Daniel Rush used to have it all, but now he goes home to an empty house every night. He pulls Claire over during a routine traffic stop and runs into her again at the 4th of July parade. When Claire is hired to do some graphic design work for the police department, her friendship with Daniel grows, and soon they're spending hours together.

Claire loves the way Daniel makes her feel, and the way his face lights up when she walks into the room. Daniel knows that Claire's marital status means their relationship will never be anything other than platonic. But it doesn't take long before Claire and Daniel are in way over their heads, and skating close to the line that Claire has sworn she'll never cross.

Addict by Cai.ro

Most authors will tell you that a good soundtrack is essential to writing.  So when Liz heard this song by Cai.ro, (she heard it on Catfish, did we mention she's OBSESSED?!) she knew she just HAD TO HAVE IT. And now she irritatingly listens to it on repeat.  Again. And again. And again.

Big Brother live tweets

Okay--Liz here.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I watch Big Brother each and every summer.  Except these days I just don't have time to tune in three days a week to see what those miserable house guests are up to. (Is it just me, or are they total Aholes this season?) So instead?  I'm in love with Big Brother Leak on Twitter--a guy who live tweets all the catfights and other drama.  He watches so I don't have to! It's effing brilliant! So, for the three other other people out there that watch Big Brother, you're welcome!

Anita Hughes' 5 Fave Vacation Spots

Our guest today: Anita Hughes Why we love her: Her books are a lovely escape from the daily grind!

Her latest: Lake Como

The scoop: Hallie Elliot has a perfect life. She is an up-and-coming interior designer in one of San Francisco’s most sought after firms, and has just recently become engaged to Peter, a brilliant young journalist. But when she stumbles upon Peter and her boss in what seems to be a compromising position, her trust in her perfect life is shaken.

So Hallie escapes to Lake Como, Italy to spend time with her half-sister, Portia Tesoro, an Italian blueblood dealing with the scandal of a public estrangement from her cheating husband. While staying in the Tesoro villa, Hallie falls in love with the splendor and beauty of Lake Como, and finds work designing the lakeside estate of a reclusive American tech mogul. The caretaker of this beautiful estate is a handsome man named Angus, and Hallie finds herself drawn to his charm and kindness, despite hints of a dark secret in his past.

But just as Hallie is beginning to find her footing on Italian soil, she uncovers a family secret that upends all the truths she’s believed about herself, and calls into question the new life she’s built in Lake Como.

Our thoughts: You'll love this delicious read--our fave of hers so far!

Giveaway: TWO copies! Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win!  We'll choose the winners after 8am on August 11th.

Fun Fact: Anita lives at The fabulous St. Regis resort! #socool

Where to read more about Anita: Her website, Twitter and Facebook.

Anita Hughes' 5 Fave Vacation Spots

1. Lake Como, Italy. I've always been fascinated by Lake Como. It is a magical setting - a gorgeous lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains and grand villas dating back to the eighteenth century. Even though I felt like I was on vacation there when I wrote Lake Como, I'd love to visit again in real life. (I went once, when I was twelve). I'd particularly like to stay at The Villa D'Este which is one of the most famous hotels in the world and a favorite of movie stars and European royalty. And of course if I crossed paths with George Clooney's speedboat, that would be an added perk!

2. Capri, Italy. This is another place I visited when I was a child and absolutely captivated me. Capri is an island off of Naples you reach by ferry. What I love most about it is there are no cars. You wander around the main square without any fears of being run over. I would love to hike up to Anacapri (where Tiberius lived in Roman times), and explore the grottos (underwater caves) in a wooden boat. My favorite hotel is the Quisisana. It is a beautiful white building right on the main square with incredible views and gorgeous interior design.

3. Cannes, France. I guess one could say I'm fascinated by beautiful hotels perched on the water! The Intercontinental-Carlton in Cannes is on the Boulevard Croissette - the site of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is also across the street from the beach, and the sand is always covered with yellow and white beach umbrellas. The Boulevard Croisette is lined with boutiques representing all the famous fashion houses and the people watching is spectacular!

4. Waikiki Beach. I know most people love the outer islands, but growing up in Australia, whenever we travelled to America we stayed in Honolulu for a few days to break up the flight. I fell in love with Wakiki Beach - the smell of suntan lotion, the tiki torches, the feeling that everyone was on vacation. I have a soft spot for The Royal Hawaiian Hotel - which is still painted pink, and I love the Halekulani - which is right next door and has a wonderful restaurant facing Diamond Harbor called "A Room Without A Key."

5. Laguna Beach, California. I might be partial because I live here, but it is a terrific town. The village center is filled with restaurants and galleries and tourist favorites like The Candy Baron and The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. There are always a few volleyball games going on at Main Beach and the gelato and frozen yogurt selection is fantastic. I am a huge fan of The Montage, The Ritz and The St. Regis, but some of the smaller hotels like The Surf And Sand are also fabulous.

Amy Gail Hansen's 5 Best Evers

Today's guest: Amy Gail Hansen Why we love her: This debut left us wanting more! We can't wait until her next book.

Her latest: The Butterfly Sister (Out today!)

The scoop on it: A moving Gothic tale that intertwines mystery, madness, betrayal, love, and literature—a fragile young woman must silence the ghosts of her past.

Ten months after dropping out of all-girl Tarble College, Ruby Rousseau is still haunted by the memories of her senior year, a time marred by an affair with her English professor and a deep depression that caused her to question her sanity.

When a mysterious suitcase arrives bearing Ruby's name and address, she tries to return it to its rightful owner, Beth—a dorm-mate at Tarble—only to learn that Beth disappeared two days earlier.

With clues found in the luggage, including a tattered copy of Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One's Own, which Ruby believes instigated her madness, she sets out to uncover the truth.

Our thoughts: A romantic beach read and a thriller--the perfect page-turning combination.

Giveaway: ONE copy. Just leave a comment and be entered to win. We'll select the winner on Sunday, August 11th after 12pm PST.

Fun fact: Read an excerpt of The Butterfly Sister here >>

Where you can read more about Amy Gail Hansen: Her website, Facebook and Twitter

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...AMY GAIL HANSEN'S 5 BEST EVERS

SONG

“Take it Easy” by the Eagles. It seems to come on the radio just when I need it most, when I’m far too engrossed in the mundane day-to-day worries of life, and I need a good kick in the pants to lighten up. It’s an instant mood booster, an antidepressant wrapped up in a folksy song with simple yet meaningful lyrics. My favorite line is, “We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again.” It reminds me to slow down and just live in the moment, which I think is the key to being happy.

BOOK

Oh, there are so many….I’m tempted to say a classic like Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird or a more recent title like The Last Will or Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh, which serendipitously connected me with my literary agent, Elisabeth Weed. But I’ll go with a more obscure work, Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk. It’s a coming-of-age story about Marjorie Morgenstern, a Jewish girl living in 1930s New York who is on the verge of living an extraordinary life, making it big as an actress and falling hopelessly in love with the enigmatic Noel Airman. I read it first as a teenager and thought the ending was so sad (spoiler alert: she ends up just being an everyday person—oh the horror!)  But when I read it ten years later, after being married and having a child, I thought the ending was happy. Talk about the power of perspective. It’s a reminder that the reading experience is so personalized and unique depending on your age and where you are in life.

MOVIE

Before Sunrise starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, directed by Richard Linklater.  I initially watched the movie because it was filmed almost entirely in Vienna, Austria, a city I fell in love with when traveling Europe for the first time at age 18.  This movie is not for people who want action or car chases or even a complex plot. It’s about two twenty-somethings who meet by chance on a train and spend one amazing day and night together in Vienna, ending on the question: Will they ever see each other again? The whole movie is dialogue, one very long date, and I am enchanted by it every time I watch it. Hawke, Delpy and Linklater teamed up again for a sequel Before Sunset and a third film, Before Midnight, which was just released.

LIFE MOMENT

I have three beautiful children, so I have three best life moments, the day each of them was born. I say this for obvious reasons—my children are precious little miracles that make life worth living—but also because birthing them was a very physical and spiritual accomplishment.  I was one of those crazy moms who chose not to have an epidural or pain medication, despite being on Pitocin. I have never experienced worse pain in my life than labor, but I see each birthing experience like running a marathon. Like a long-distance runner, I brought my body and mind to a level I never thought I could. There’s no better feeling.

ADVICE

Never take your wedding ring off. Ever. Not even to wash the dishes or shower or garden. My grandmother-in-law told me this when I first got married and I expressed concern I’d lose the ring. And guess what? It works. I have lost so many things in the almost ten years I’ve been married—including a pair of expensive prescription sunglasses I am still not over losing—but I have not lost my wedding ring.

Thanks, Amy!

Lori Nelson Spielman's 5 Firsts & Lasts

Today's guest: Lori Nelson Spielman Why we love her: The premise of her book is so unique! We loved reading every page.

Her latest: The Life List

The scoop: In this utterly charming debut—perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern’s P.S., I Love You and Allison Winn Scotch’s Time of My Life—one woman sets out to complete her old list of childhood goals, and finds that her lifelong dreams lead her down a path she never expects.

1. Go to Paris 2. Have a baby, maybe two 3. Fall in love

Brett Bohlinger seems to have it all: a plum job, a spacious loft, an irresistibly handsome boyfriend. All in all, a charmed life. That is, until her beloved mother passes away, leaving behind a will with one big stipulation: In order to receive her inheritance, Brett must first complete the life list of goals she’d written when she was a naïve girl of fourteen. Grief-stricken, Brett can barely make sense of her mother’s decision—her childhood dreams don’t resemble her ambitions at age thirty-four in the slightest. Some seem impossible. How can she possibly have a relationship with a father who died seven years ago? Other goals (Be an awesome teacher!) would require her to reinvent her entire future. As Brett reluctantly embarks on a perplexing journey in search of her adolescent dreams, one thing becomes clear. Sometimes life’s sweetest gifts can be found in the most unexpected places.

Our thoughts: Who doesn't have a bucket list? We loved this charming debut about a woman learns valuable lessons while accomplishing hers.

Giveaway: Two copies! Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Sunday, August 11th after 12pm PST.

Fun fact: The film option for the book has already been purchased!

Where you can read more about Lori: Her website, Facebook and Twitter.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...LORI NELSON SPIELMAN'S 5 FIRSTS & LASTS KISS

First: I was a late bloomer, and horrified that I might be ‘sweet sixteen and never been kissed’. Lucky for me, Nick Nicol (yes, the same boy from the book!) saved me from that mortifying plight. He pulled me aside at a party and planted an unexpected kiss on my lips. Then he walked away. It’s the only time in my life I remember actually feeing dizzy from something that didn’t spin.

Last: My husband. This morning. Nice.

BOOK I READ

First: The first chapter book I fell in love with was The Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Chandler Warner. My third grade teacher read it to our class, and I was completely and utterly captivated.

Last: I just finished The Glass Wives, by Amy Sue Nathan. It’s terrific. The premise is so fresh—an ex-wife takes in her husband’s new wife and child after he dies.

RISK I TOOK

First: As a teen, I was pretty mischievous, but I don’t think I’ll go there! My biggest risk ever, one that I struggled most with, was saying goodbye to a wonderful man who loved me. The feelings just weren’t there. He was the Herbert in my life, if you’ve read The Life List, the man I wish I could have loved.

Last: My latest risk involves live, on-air radio interviews—I’m someone who is terrified of public speaking! Just as I was beginning to breathe during these 15-minute segments, crisis hit. Yesterday, I called into the station three minutes prior to the show, as instructed, and received that annoying message telling me my call could not be completed as dialed. What?! Long story short, I was given the wrong area code! I finally connected with about 90 seconds remaining in the show. The host was ticked, I was a wreck, and my cred was completely shot. So much for that PR blitz!

HELL YA! MOMENT

First: In high school I was voted Best Personality, basically, the equivalent of Miss Congeniality in a beauty contest. Some might prefer the title of Best Body or Prettiest Eyes. But me? I said, “Hell ya!”

Last: Last winter, I approached a local bookseller about doing a book event in July. She was skeptical, saying debut authors don’t draw much of a crowd, it’ll be summer and everybody’s on vacation, yada yada yada. Two days ago, I had the event. It was their biggest debut crowd ever, 100+ people, standing room only. They sold out of books at both their stores. Hell ya!

AHA! MOMENT

First: Several years ago I heard Anderson Cooper say that his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, advised him, “Follow your bliss.” This little phrase resonated with me. I immediately thought of my writing, and vowed to follow Gloria’s advice—and my bliss.

Last: Author Julianna Baggott offered this tip to debut authors: “You are not your book.” Since then, I’ve tried to call The Life List “the book” rather than “my book”. Whether it’s wildly successful or withers on the shelf, I am neither a superstar nor a failure.

Thanks, Lori!

Brenda Janowitz's 5 Do's and a Do-Over

Our guest today: Brenda Janowitz Why we love her: Check out her answers below--how can you not love her?

Her latest: Recipe For a Happy Life

The scoop: Hannah Goodman doesn't grow up like most kids on the Upper East side. Her mother, Gray, is an award-winning photojournalist with little time for the banalities of child-rearing, and when she's not jetting off to follow the latest scoop, she's camped out at the Hotel Chelsea. The closest thing Hannah's got to a traditional matriarch is her grandmother—a glamorous widow six times over with a sprawling Hampton’s estate. But Gray is determined that her daughter resist the siren song of the trust fund set, and make her own way in the world. So Hannah does just that—becoming a successful lawyer in New York City, and dating a handsome musician. Hannah has it all, or so it seems, until one hot June day the carefully constructed pieces of her life break apart. When she throws it all in and seeks solace at her grandmother's estate, she discovers that where happiness is concerned, you don’t have to stick to the recipe.

Our thoughts: You'll be very HAPPY if you treat yourself to this charming novel.

Giveaway: Two SIGNED copies!  Just leave a comment ans you'll be entered to win!  We'll choose the winners after 8am on August 3rd.

Fun Fact: Smarty Pants alert!  Brenda is also an esteemed attorney!

Where to read more about Brenda: Her website, Facebook and Twitter.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS....BRENDA JANOWITZ'S 5 DO'S AND A DO-OVER

I’m so thrilled to be here!!  I’ve been following your site for a while now, but I just needed a new book (ahem) so that I could come on and chat!

It’s been five years (five years!) since my last book came out, and I’m so delighted that RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE is finally on bookshelves.  A lot of people have asked me about the title.  They want to know if it has anything to do with cooking (it does not), or if I can tell them the secret to a happy life (I can try).

As I imagined the grandmother character and the advice she would give to her granddaughter, I wanted her to be non-judgmental and focused solely on her granddaughter’s happiness.  The phrase “that’s not the recipe for a happy life” just came to me, and so it became something that Vivienne says to her granddaughter often. 

Since one of the themes of the book is finding happiness, it was a perfect fit for the title.  And I think it encourages a dialogue—what is the recipe for a happy life?  How can we find it?  Did any of the characters in the book find it?  Can we choose to be happy?  I’ve spent hours debating with friends the question of whether or not we can choose happiness.  (I think we can.)

With that, here are my 5 Do’s and a Do over: Happiness Edition

DO:  Choose to be happy.  You can either approach the day with a big smile or in anger.  Choose the smile. For me, I think that happiness is a choice. Yes, there are major life events that make choosing happiness impossible at times. When my mother had emergency open heart surgery, there was no happiness to be found until I knew she would be okay.  But what I’m talking about is regular day-to-day life. You can either be doing your work, at the supermarket, or picking up your kids with a smile on your face, or you can choose not to make the conscious effort to be happy. When the day gets you down, you can either get angry or laugh it off.

I’ve noticed that when I approach the day with a big smile on my face, it encourages me to be happier. And it makes those around me happier.

DO'S

DO:  Find the things that will make you happy. Writing for me isn’t something I like to do—it’s something I need to do.  Writing is the way I figure out what I think of the world, the way I process things.

About a year ago, I was talking about some personal problems I was having to an old friend of mine (you know that sort of friend you’ve known since you were 18 years old?) and she listened and then asked: have you been writing?  And I had to admit it to myself and to her—I had not.  I told her so, and she looked back at me, no judgments, and simply nodded her head.

Writers need to write.  And when you’re nurturing yourself, allowing yourself to do the thing that you need to do, that always makes you happier.

What’s the thing that you need to do that makes you happy?

DO:  Laugh a lot. I laugh all the time.  Always have.  When I was in nursery school, my teacher told my mother that there was something wrong with me because all I ever did was laugh.  My mother promptly had that teacher fired.

And I’ve never stopped laughing.  Why not?  I always try to find the humor in everything.

DO:  Treasure wonderful friends and family. It’s so hard to find special people in your life.  When you do, grab on and don’t let go.  Nurture the important relationships in your life.  As I get older, I realize how important friends and family are.

DO:  Enjoy the tiny moments in life. So often we’re looking for that big thing.  When I get that promotion, I’ll be happy.  When I finally get married, I’ll be happy.  When I get my book deal, I’ll be happy.

What I’m suggesting is that we embrace the little moments—really soaking in that adorably crooked smile your hubby or boyfriend or crush gives you for no good reason, taking in the moment when your child does something adorable, appreciating that friend who buys you a cupcake one day just because.  It doesn’t have to be anything big—just appreciating life’s little victories, life’s tiniest moments of happy is important.  So, the next time someone complements your outfit out of nowhere, or you see a really beautiful flower, or the cashier lets you use an expired coupon, reflect on it for a second and remember: you have to enjoy the happy moments, no matter how itty-bitty.

DO OVER

It’s so easy to look back at mistakes you’ve made and beat yourself up over it, isn’t it?  Well, I say: look forward.  Sure, learn from those mistakes, but never dwell on them.  Say your apologies and then move on.

After the lesson’s learned, the only important thing is to move forward knowing that you’re smarter and stronger from the experience.  You’ll do better next time.  (And if not, the time after that!)

Thanks, Brenda!

Flash Giveaway: Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir by Eliza Watson

Giveaway: TWO copies of Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir by Eliza Watson The Scoop: Event planner Samantha Hunter is prepared for a few challenges when escorting a group of good ole boy beer distributors to Paris, the city of haute cuisine and fine wines. However, she doesn’t foresee being passed up for a promotion because she is too professional and doesn’t knock back beers with her clients. Her focus soon switches from landing the well-deserved promotion to finding her free-spirited sister, who lives in Paris and has disappeared, leaving behind family secrets to be uncovered. A sexy puppeteer helps Samantha search for clues to her sister’s whereabouts and teaches her to embrace her inner child. And a funeral-crashing psychic demonstrates the importance of living life to the fullest. It takes Samantha’s life spiraling out of control for her to finally get a life.

Our thoughts: She had us at sexy puppeteer! A fun read for sure.

Leave a comment here and you'll be entered to win.  We'll choose the winners after 8am on Sunday, August 4th.

2013 Club: Taylor Jenkins Reid's Forever Interrupted

Today's guest: Taylor Jenkins Reid Why we love her: When we heard Sarah Pekkanen raving, we knew Taylor Jenkins Reid had to be good. And, of course she is! Just read this book, you'll understand.

Her debut: Forever, Interrupted

The scoop: “Have you ever heard of supernovas? They shine brighter than anything else in the sky and then fade out really quickly, a short burst of extraordinary energy. I like to think you and Ben were like that . . . in that short time, you had more passion than some people have in a lifetime.”

Elsie Porter is an average twentysomething and yet what happens to her is anything but ordinary. On a rainy New Year’s Day, she heads out to pick up a pizza for one. She isn’t expecting to see anyone else in the shop, much less the adorable and charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is instant and electric. Ben cannot even wait twenty-four hours before asking to see her again. Within weeks, the two are head over heels in love. By May, they’ve eloped.

Only nine days later, Ben is out riding his bike when he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. Elsie hears the sirens outside her apartment, but by the time she gets downstairs, he has already been whisked off to the emergency room. At the hospital, she must face Susan, the mother-in-law she has never met—and who doesn’t even know Elsie exists.

Interweaving Elsie and Ben’s charmed romance with Elsie and Susan’s healing process, Forever, Interrupted will remind you that there’s more than one way to find a happy ending.

Our thoughts: We fell in love with this love story.

Giveaway: Two copies. Just leave a comment to be entered to win. The winners will be chosen on Sunday, July 28th after 3pm PST.

Fun fact: Taylor signed a two book deal with Atria and has a second book coming out in the Summer of 2014. It's called After I Do. She also has a dog named Rabbit. Love that!

Where you can read more about Taylor: Her website, Facebook and Twitter.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...2013 CLUB: TAYLOR REID'S FOREVER INTERRUPTED

1. DO’S: 3 things every aspiring novelist should do

Read books, write books, and perfect the art of talking about yourself. You have to know what's being written about in order to figure out what you want to add, you have to train yourself to be a great writer, and then, once you have a book to sell, you have to sell it yourself to agents and, eventually, readers!

2. DON’TS: 3 things every aspiring novelist shouldn’t do

Take it Personally. Take it Personally. Take it Personally. It's worth stating three times because it is the most important thing to do and yet, the very, very hardest.

3. MUST HAVES: On your desk?

Iced Tea. Always.

On your Facebook feed?

Life! My Facebook news feed is where people tell me all about their day to day life and writing is nothing if not learning about life. So much inspiration (and needed distractions) there.

App on your phone? Instagram. I spend so much time communicating with words that it's nice to see people using pictures to do the work.

4. LASTS: Song you listened to on repeat?

I don't know exactly but you can bet it was by Beyonce.

Book you read? Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld. Loved it as I knew I would.

Time you laughed? I laugh so often it's hard to remember. I think that's a good sign.

5. HOW MANY: Agents did you query before you found “the one?”

I think I queried 22 people. I remember I had a little list with all of their names and codes for how they responded. I was very excited to put an exclamation point by Carly Watters' name. Hours do you write per day? Hours do you waste online when you should be writing? When I'm actively writing a book, I write 3-5,000 words a day. Sometimes that takes four hours. Sometimes it takes ten. If it takes ten, it's usually because I spent six wasting time online.

6. BESTS: Way to celebrate a book deal?

A nice dinner on the beach in Malibu.

Trick to overcome writer’s block?

I'm inclined to believe it doesn't actually exist. When I don't know what to write, I just give myself permission to write terribly, knowing I'll probably delete it. But once your fingers start moving, and you get the bad ideas out, usually the good ideas come forward. Way to think of a book idea? I tend to start with a small feeling or philosophy I want to explore and then grow out from there. It's always a great moment when you see a scene in your head, make a book idea out of it, start writing that book, and finally get to that scene that was the seed for the book in the first place.

7. NEXTS: Show you’ll DVR?

I'm very excited about Breaking Bad coming back in August. And in September, all the good network stuff is returning! Scandal, Nashville, and New Girl, my DVR awaits your premieres.

Book you’ll read? J. Courtney Sullivan's The Engagements. So excited to start.

Book you’ll write? My second book for Atria is finished. It's called After I Do and it's about a married couple that decides they need to take some time apart. I'm sitting down this week to start a third book and see where it takes me!

Thanks, Taylor!

Flash Giveaway! Sylvia Day's Entwined With You

Giveaway: Two copies of Entwined With You The scoop: The worldwide phenomenon continues as Eva and Gideon face the demons of their pasts, and accept the consequences of their obsessive desires...

From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn't resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside--so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.

No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I'd been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.

Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession...

Our thoughts: It's getting hot in here--in a good way! If you want to "mix things up" on your bookshelf (and maybe other places too, wink, wink), add a little Sylvia Day!

Where you can read more about Sylvia: Facebook, Twitter and her website.

Leave a comment to be entered. The winners will be chosen on Sunday, July 21 after 12pm PST.

Jess McConkey's 5 Firsts and Lasts

Our guest today: Jess McConkey Why we love her: You may not know this, but we love a book with some good ol' mystery in it!

Her latest: The Widows of Braxton County

The Scoop: Family secrets can bind and destroy.

Kate is ready to put her nomadic, city-dwelling past behind her when she marries Joe Krause and moves with him to the Iowa farm that has been in his family for more than 140 years. But life on the farm isn't quite as idyllic as she'd hoped. It's filled with chores, judgmental neighbors, and her mother-in-law, who—unbeknownst to Kate until after the wedding—will be living with them.

As Kate struggles to find her place in the small farming community, she begins to realize that her husband and his family are not who she thought they were. According to town gossip, the Krause family harbors a long-kept secret about a mysterious death that haunts Kate as a dangerous, unexplainable chain of events begins.

Our thoughts: Tired of the same ol' same ol'?  Then pick up this mystery!

Giveaway: One SIGNED copy!  Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win!  We'll choose the winners after 8am on Sunday, July 28th.

Fun Fact: Jess also writes books as Shirley Damsgaard!

Where you can read more about Jess: Facebook!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...JESS MCCONKEY'S 5 FIRSTS AND LASTS

Kiss

First: As I recall, it happened in the neighbor boy’s sandbox when I was approximately 5 years old and was the result of a dare issued by his sister. Always one to rise to a challenge, I planted one on his rather gritty cheek. He yelled “Yuck!” and promptly left the sandbox. So much for my first experience at romance.

Last: I’ve been single for a number of years, so unless I count the peck on the cheek from my five year old grandson, I’m sorry to say that I can’t remember!!

Book read

First: My mother always read Little Golden Books to me so I’m sure my first book was one of those. However my favorite book as a child was THE LITTLE RABBIT WHO WANTED RED WINGS by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey. Many people now say that book discourages children from being individuals, but that isn’t the message that I remember…the message I received was about the importance of being yourself, of accepting who and what you are. Must’ve stuck because that’s basically what every book I’ve ever written is about too!

Last: My taste in reading is all over the board, so as long as a story has a good plot, spunky protagonists, and snappy dialogue, I’m in!! I recently finished The Maggie MacKay: Magical Tracker Series by Kate Danley and really enjoyed it. Another favorite recently read is the latest in Ruth Downie’s Medicus Series--SEMPER FIDELIS: A NOVEL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (MEDICUS). Great mystery series about a doctor serving in Rome’s Legions and stationed in Britannia in 122A.D.

Risk Taken

First: Since my life’s philosophy has always been “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead,” it’s hard to say what the first risk was. I do recall the time, as a preschooler, I climbed to the top of my swing set just to see if I could do it then being too scared to climb down. My mother finally heard me screaming and rushed out to rescue me. Then there was the time I rode my pony up the loading chute to see if he’d fit…What can I say?? I’ve often thought an appropriate epitaph for me would be “It seemed like a good idea at the time!”

Last: Going camping with my family over the 4^th of July weekend. That might not seem like much of a risk, but it involved six children ranging in the age from 3 to 15 years old; sparklers (several articles of clothing now have burn holes in them courtesy of the three year old who thought he’d see what would happen if he touched someone with a lit sparkler); and four dogs. We were the family no one wanted next to them!

Aha moment

First: Do not put a Shetland pony into a loading chute without dismounting first. (See response to first risk taken.) Unfortunately the “aha moment” came a bit too late and I successfully trapped myself and the horse in the chute. (He was so fat that my legs were pinned against the side of the chute.) Once again it was Mom to the rescue and, except for a few tears, neither child nor horse were damaged in the operation.

Last: The last “aha” moment involved five grandchildren, the tip of a Star Wars light saber, a knife, and a bottle of dish soap. It seems one of my 11 year-old grandsons has inherited my curiosity and decided to see if his finger (the middle one…of course) would fit into the broken end of a light saber. It did…quite well. In fact, so well that I thought it was going to take a trip to the emergency room in order to remove it. The “aha” moment came when I thought of the dish soap. Unfortunately the end was closed so it was necessary to saw off the tip as the other four children gathered round, staring intently. They were no doubt wondering if Grandma was going to get the tip of the finger as well as the tip of the light saber, and if she did, they didn’t want to miss it. The story ends well…the tip was removed (the saber, not the finger) and soap was squirted into the remainder of the tube. A few wiggles later, and voila, the offending object slid off.

Hell ya moment

First: I’m sure there were others before this, but the most memorable “hell ya” moment came when I received author copies of my first book. Fist pumping and a happy dance were also involved.

Last: Not to be redundant…but receiving author copies of this book! But I’m cooler now and don’t dance around the house.

Thanks, Jess!

Make new friends: One is silver and the other gold

Married female seeks meaningful local friendship.  Must Facebook appropriately, text banter effectively, caffeinate properly, proudly watch reality TV and never EVER drink white zinfandel. I promise to listen to your stories with large quantities of head nods, be honest but kind, and never, ever ask why you look so tired. I enjoy happy hours at sunset, being snarky and ignoring my children while chatting on the phone. References provided upon request.

Friends.  For many of us, it's what makes the world go round.  I've often prided myself on the tenure and quality of my friendships. Forever friends, Mom friends, couple friends--no matter what we were doing, spending time with these women always felt like a soft worn-in blanket-warm and comforting.

So when we moved to San Diego to be closer to my family last year, I wasn't really concerned. I mean, Lisa lives thousands of miles away and our friendship has endured. This was only an hour's drive from most of our friends!

And yes, many of them have slept soundly in our new guesthouse.  We have driven back up there. It's been really fun.  And I'm literally six houses away from my mom now--with whom I'm very close. (Even though she really likes to control everything , ahem, I mean, give me really valuable advice all the time...)But I've come to a realization: I need to make some freakin' friends that I'm NOT related to that live within a ten mile radius. And then I came to another realization:  It's damn hard to make new friends as an adult!

Being the new girl on the block ain't easy--I've caught myself several times trying to convince people that I'm not some friendless whorebag.  My best friend lives in Chicago!  And I have other friends too! Look, here's a picture! Look how much fun we were having in Vegas last month! I might as well wear a sign that reads: DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT A LOSER. Or maybe I should carry recommendation letters that attest to my pure heart and vodka drinking prowess? (Lisa, can you write one please?)

Last month, I was sitting in Starbucks when these two woman sat at the table next to me.  I didn't think much of them until they proceeded to have THE BEST SHIT TALKING SESSION EVER. I mean, these ladies were on fire, full on hand gestures, giggling, even a high-fiving at one point. And as I stared at my unsweetened green iced tea and tried to magically turn it into a glass of cabernet, it clicked for me:  I really missed having local girlfriends to meet up with.

Sure, I could call up my girls in my old hood.  But between our conflicting schedules and commute time, it might be 2014 before we can get together.  And yes, we still talk shit via text and email, but every once in a while a girl needs some face time to discuss who's being a jackass on Facebook this week. (Yes, if you post weirdly vague status updates or slutty bathroom mirror selfies, we'll be talking about you!)

It's not that I haven't met some really cool people down here, I certainly have. But I realize that the kind of friendships I'm looking for don't happen overnight--someone who knows your heart, someone who you can truly let your guard down with. But at least I've finally figured out who can handle an F bomb (after a few awkward moments), who to call in a pinch to carpool and who always has a welcoming smile at drop off. I haven't pulled the trigger and asked any of them out on a date--like lunch or coffee or happy hour--because what if they say no? What if my inappropriate comments (And there are so many!) make them squirm?  What if they think I'm that working mom who never has time to volunteer in the classroom? (I totally am!) What if they don't drink wine or Starbucks? (Then it's not going to work out anyway...)

I often hide behind the fact that I'm incredibly busy, that between my full-time sales job and the travel that comes along with it, my writing and my family, there's just not much time left over.  And it's true--most days I feel like I'm drinking from a fire hose that won't turn off. But maybe regardless of all that, I still need to make time for myself--and to make a little room in my life for some new GFs.  Even though it may be a little awkward at first, they'll feel like a comfy soft blanket before I know it. Right?  (This is where you just nod and say, RIGHT!)

I want to hear about your experiences making friends later in life! Was it hard?  Easy?  Painful?