Ms. Weiner,

I love the character of Cannie Shapiro. Being plus-sized myself, it was so refreshing to read about a character who was overweight and didn't have to go through a miraculous weight loss and transformation to end up with happiness in her life.
Catching up with Cannie in "Certain Girls" was like visiting with an old friend. Having raised two teenagers with one (11 yr old) to go, I could certainly relate to her issues with Joy.

Did you feel like you were taking a risk when you stepped away from that "formula" of thin=happy that is so popular in women's literature today? Or did you know that Cannie would strike a chord among readers?

Karen Fauls-Traynor

Hello :-) !

I have a comment about 'truth in fiction' more than a question. I tried to mail you about this a couple of years ago but do not know if my mail reached you.

My comment and THANK YOU is from Good in Bed.

When she is in the hospital and she is scared and she "leaks". Not crying but actually just leaking. THAT is exactly what it is like for a mother with a small child in the hospital. I felt so at home, not alone and comforted by that passage. And I think many will. So thank you :-) !

From a woman in Norway who no longer has to leak ;-) :-)!

Cathrine.

I wanted to thank you for "Little Earthquakes," I recommend it to all breastfeeding moms and have been known to broadcast my love of it in La Leche League meetings, when we went, before my second daughter was born. If this whole author thing fails to pan out, he he, you could have a future as a breastfeeding guru. Now that I am a mother, I love how you cover parenthood without being so judgemental about it.

I was a little upset about Cannie's bra size, it hit a little too close to home, for me, and with two young girls.... And once you youngest gets older you will discover how hard it is to be sobbing over a book when they are awake. Otherwise, totally loved "Certain Girls."

Ms. Weiner -

In "Certain Girls" (I am about 3/4 of the way through, so no spoilers!), you focus a lot of Joy and Cannie's thoughts on what amount of truth is in "Big Girls." My question to you - how much of all of your novels are bits of your life.

I have to add that I absolutely love "Little Earthquakes." I recommend to all of my newly pregnant friends and will read it every time I am with child.

Thank you for such great stories - please keep them coming!

Best,
Lauren Reid