Jane Porter's Blog, page 30

Last days to order The Good Woman on Amazon and get it the day it releases!

This is just a quick note to let you know that The Good Woman comes out next Tuesday, September 4—only five days from now! And that means today and tomorrow are the last days for Amazon Prime members to order a print copy and have it arrive on your doorstep on release day. I can’t wait for you to get to know the Brennan family. The first two chapters of The Good Woman are up on my site for you to enjoy right now, and if you want to keep reading, handy order links to a bunch of formats and stores are right there on the same page.

As for me, I am just enjoying summer—here’s one of my most favorite moments from last week. I’ve been smiling every minute since…

Original article: Last days to order The Good Woman on Amazon and get it the day it releases!

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Summer Reading: Wendy Wax

I am so very happy to have Wendy Wax join us as this week’s featured author for my Summer Reading series on my blog.

Some of you ‘met’ Wendy last year when she was a guest author on my blog, and you wrote to me to tell me how much you loved Ten Beach Road last summer, so its really special to have Wendy back this summer to talk about her new release, Ocean Beach.  If you haven’t read Ocean Beach yet, you should.  It’s wonderful.  And Wendy is wonderful.   Now please help me welcome Wendy back to the JaneBlog and let’s learn more about Ocean Beach!

Thanks for joining us today, Wendy!  Could you tell us why you chose to write women’s fiction?  What do you love most about this genre?

Like most writers I know, I didn’t set out to write a particular kind of fiction.  I just set out to write.  What I found is that I keep coming back to stories about women banding together as they face and overcome adversity.  In real life, I’m so often impressed by the strength women have and by how much we can handle, especially when we support each other. My female friends and family members lift me up and keep me going when the going gets tough and I try to do the same for them.   What I love about writing women’s fiction is the response from readers.   There’s nothing like having a reader tell me that she sees herself in a character or that one of my books helped her through a difficult time.  Besides, if I wrote books about men, I’d have to include a lot more grunting and scratching. (I know this because I live with a husband and two teenage sons!)

I loved reading OCEAN BEACH!  What was your inspiration for the story?

OCEAN BEACH is my first sequel. I sat down to write it because I wanted to spend more time with Maddie, Nicole, Avery, Deirdre and Kyra (who first meet as victims of a major Ponzi scheme in TEN BEACH ROAD), and because I wanted to further explore who they are and what they’re made of.  But as with all my books inspiration also comes from the headlines and from what I see going on in the world. In OCEAN BEACH I wanted to dig deeper into our country’s fascination with misbehaving and self-obsessed celebrities. I touched on the subject in Ten Beach Road with multi-child adopting and generally badly behaving movie star couple Daniel Deranian and Tonja Kay, but then the idea of contrasting them with an “old school” celebrity who was a true gentleman and class act began to take shape.

I was also inspired by the obsession we have in our culture right now with reality TV.  While most reality stars seem to want nothing more than to be in the spotlight 24/7, I found myself wondering what it would feel like to be under that kind of scrutiny if it was the last thing you wanted.  So I turned the reality TV cameras on the women of OCEAN BEACH while they renovate a house for a Vaudeville star with a dark past, and try to protect one of their own from some overbearing celebs and the paparazzi that inevitably follow them.

What’s your favorite aspect of OCEAN BEACH?

That’s a little bit like asking which of my children I love the best, isn’t it?  (Of course I love them both exactly equally, unless one is talking back and the other is doing the dishes…) So, I can’t say I have a favorite aspect of OCEAN BEACH, but with all my books I like to have a little fun in the midst of the drama. In this book there were two running jokes that I really enjoyed playing with.  One was Maddie’s inability to send a coherent text message.  Coming up with her garbled versions of where she was and what to serve for dinner actually had me laughing out loud in my office.  The other was Daniel Deranian’s attempts to disguise himself so the paparazzi wouldn’t catch him visiting Kyra and his son.  Coming up with crazier and crazier disguises for him was a blast, and I think even though he’s not the most likeable guy, his determination to see his son allowed readers to relate to him a little more.

Do you consider yourself a pantser (go with the flow writer) or do you prefer to outline and plot extensively before you sit down to write?

In all aspects of my life aside from my writing, I am so not a pantser.  In fact, I’m a planner.  One hundred percent.  But in my writing, I have to admit I’m a bit of both.  I don’t really outline in the traditional sense (I tried once and it shut me down completely), but I do generally have a synopsis and character sketches ready when I sit down to write.  I know basically where everyone is headed, what the major challenges will be, and where everyone will end up.  But I don’t necessarily know all of the turns in the road between the start and the finish.  I don’t have every scene and conversation pre-planned and I don’t always know how characters are going to relate to each other or feel about what is happening.  That’s what happens in pantser mode and sometimes what happens along the way is big enough that I have to course correct a bit.  But that’s the magic, I think.  When the planning and plotting lead to characters and scenes and moments that have a life of their own.

What sort of research did you have to do for OCEAN BEACH while writing and how did it impact the book?

 While I know it’s possible to write a book that takes place somewhere you’ve never been, I much prefer visiting a location first. I think being able to actually walk around in the places my characters will makes everything more real and my writing more authentic.  That’s why many of my books take place in the greater Atlanta area (where I currently live) and others, like TEN BEACH ROAD and OCEAN BEACH take place in beautiful places in Florida like Pass-a-Grille on the west coast where I grew up and South Beach in Miami where I visited often as a child and spent time in before starting on OCEAN BEACH.  It’s a struggle to research the kinds of sunsets and sunrises my characters will see and to taste the fresh seafood, and fruity cocktails they’ll consume… but it’s my job, so I just have to grin and bear it.

Aside from location, both TEN BEACH ROAD and OCEAN BEACH required me to learn a lot about architecture and renovation. I became an HGTV addict in the process and mercilessly grilled anyone and everyone I knew who had a background in architecture, construction, or interior design. (Some of them learned to run when they saw me coming!)

I’m still kind of amazed that I chose to write two novels in which tools play such a major role. My family isn’t allowed to own tools because we almost always require medical attention after we use them. I learned a lot about restoring light fixtures and floors, ripping out kitchens, installing new air conditioners and replacing old plumbing.  Even though I created characters that know their way around a drill and power sander, I still remain happily tool free.

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Thanks so much for joining us today, Wendy!  I’m so grateful you were able to squeeze in this blog when I know you’re on deadline!!

Readers and friends, to learn more about Wendy, her events, and her books, check out her website at http://www.authorwendywax.com and then for a chance to win a set of Wendy’s novels, along with a fun beach tote of goodies, including a Ty Gurney Surf School water bottle, and Starbucks card, please leave a comment below.  You can talk about anything, just chat and you’re entered.

And as a reminder, if you are new to my blog, please put your comment in the comment section below for the chance to win. Contest runs through Friday night and the winner will be announced on Saturday in the comment section below, too!  So be sure to check back to see if you won!

Good luck, happy reading, and here’s to a gorgeous weekend!

 

Original article: Summer Reading: Wendy Wax

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Summer Reading: Mia March

When two of my close girlfriends recommended the novel, The Meryl Streep Movie Club, to me this summer, I knew I had to read it!   After contacting Mia March, I knew you would all find Mia charming and fascinating, too.  Please help me welcome the wonderful Mia March to my Summer Reading blog feature.

Mia, its so good to have you here with us.  I’m going to now hand the blog over to you!

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How Meryl Streep, Nora Ephron, and an idea changed my life

Since my novel, The Meryl Streep Movie Club, was published a couple of months ago, I’ve shared the story behind its inspiration: how six years ago, while I was going through a divorce, I rented five Meryl Streep movies and my life ended up changing. Seriously. I’d spent a sad-sack weekend on my living room couch with tissues, popcorn, a few pints of Ben & Jerry’s, and had a Meryl marathon. I watched the breathtaking Out of Africa, the hilarious, poignant Defending Your Life, the beautiful Kramer Vs. Kramer, the sharp, touching Postcards from the Edge; and Heartburn, a favorite I hadn’t seen in a while. Brilliantly written by Nora Ephron and famously based on her second marriage and divorce, Heartburn made me laugh for the first time in months. Just when I needed to hear it, there was Meryl Streep’s character saying: “And the dream breaks into a million tiny little pieces. The dream dies. Which gives you a choice. You can stick with it, which is unbearable, or you can just go off and dream another dream.”

Dream another dream. Between those words and Carly Simon singing about coming around again, I got off the couch. Put the Ben & Jerry’s down. And went straight to my desk.

I wrote the words Chapter One and began the opening chapter of a novel about a fractured family of women, each going through a life crisis, who reunite at their family matriarch’s inn in Maine and find themselves unexpectedly bonding through “Movie Night” in the parlor—via the surprising and heartfelt discussions raised as they watch Meryl Streep movies together. I wrote and wrote and wrote, reminded of another time, years earlier, when I watched The Bridges of Madison County with my mother and grandmother during a rocky Thanksgiving when no one was getting along, and the discussion afterward, of Meryl Streep’s character’s choice, choices, sparked a conversation that changed our relationship that night. As we each talked about how we felt about the movie, about the lonely Iowa-by-way-of-Italy farmwife’s affair, we opened up, revealed bits of ourselves that led to questions and answers. The night ended in hugs and “I love you’s” instead of what it had been headed toward.

What power movies—jut like books—have! To get us to feel, to think, to care, to experience—and to want to talk about it all afterward. The novel I wrote is a tribute to that, to what movies mean, to how they bring people together, to the magnificent Meryl Streep, who’s been my favorite actress since I was sixteen and saw Sophie’s Choice in the theater, and to Nora Ephron, who also changed my life that sad-sack weekend that started out with tissues and ended with typing.

Silkwood, Heartburn, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and Julie & Julia are just a few of the great movies Nora Ephron gave us. She also wrote some terrific essay collections in addition to her novel, Heartburn, including I Feel Bad About My Neck and Other Thoughts On Being a Woman. When I heard that she passed away this past June, I sat down and cried. One of my idols, gone too soon. I didn’t know Nora, but I loved her through her work and for inspiring me, not just in that moment, but many moments before and since. Inspiration is so magical! You’re watching a movie and wham. Something lights inside you. I love that.

Has a movie ever worked its magic on you? Changed your perspective? Inspired you? Let me know—or just share a favorite movie of yours—and you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of The Meryl Streep Movie Club.

Thanks for sharing your blog with me today, Jane!

Mia March lives on the coast of Maine, the setting of The Meryl Streep Movie Club, published this past June by Simon & Schuster. The novel is slated to be published in over 18 countries. Kirkus Reviews kindly describes The Meryl Streep Movie Club as “a heartwarming, spirit-lifting read just in time for beach season.” Mia’s next novel, Finding Colin Firth, will be published by Simon & Schuster in the summer of 2013.

For more info, please visit Mia’s website at www.MiaMarch.com.  You can also friend her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiaMarch.author and follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/March_Mia

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Thanks, Mia, for visiting with us today!  I loved learning more about you and the inspiration behind the novel.  I so appreciate your time.

Readers and friends, for a chance to win a copy of Mia’s novel, along with a fun beach tote of goodies, including a Ty Gurney Surf School water bottle, and Starbucks card, leave a comment in response to Mia’s question–Has a movie ever worked its magic on you? Changed your perspective? Inspired you?–and if you are new to my blog, please put your comment in the comment section below for the chance to win. Contest runs through Friday night and the winner will be announced on Saturday.

Happy summer, everyone, and happy reading!!

 

 

Original article: Summer Reading: Mia March

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Love Between The Covers

Okay.  This is cool.  I seriously love Love Between The Covers and am so happy to share some info with you about this film project.

Those of you who love romance novels–whether you are readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, agents or editors–will love this documentary, too.  If you have a moment, check out the video clip and discover Love Between The Covers.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

And why am I bringing it to your attention before its made?  Because Laurie Kahn, the filmmaker, could use some support to make sure the film gets made.   And I want to see this film get made.  I’m tired of romance novels, romance readers, and romance writers being mocked and belittled.  I don’t engage with folks who poke fun at romance novels because it’s not worth my time, but also because I know the truth–the people who read and write these books, the people who love romance, are the best people I know.  They’re warm and passionate– smart, witty, loving, generous, supportive, and best of all—happy.  They know how to love and know how to live and that’s the life I want.  It’s the good life.  The interesting, optimistic, hopeful, compassionate life.

If you like what you see here, tell folks about the documentary and The Popular Romance Project and let’s get this film made AND celebrate our remarkable genre!

I’d love to hear what you think!  Check out the video, and visit Kickstarter, and share the information if you can.

You and I can help filmmaker Laurie Kahn get Love Between the Covers made!  (And if it does…I will pick two of my readers to join me at the film’s premiere. I’ll even cover your air and hotel for a night, too!  So have a look and comment below and share your thoughts with me.

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Summer Reading: Anita Hughes

Nearly a year ago I was asked to read Anita Hughes’ debut novel, Monarch Beach, for a possible cover blurb and I’m so glad I did.  I loved the book.  It was a fantastic story and perfect for summer and I’ve been waiting anxiously for it to hit store shelves so I could recommend Monarch Beach to all my freinds.

I had the chance to spend an afternoon with Anita in Dana Point in July and it was a wonderful afternoon.  We talked books and books and more books, and discussed life and publishing and parenting and I can’t wait for you all to “meet” Anita, too!

Help me welcome Anita to the JaneBlog for a Q&A.  I know you’ll love her, and her first book!

*Anita, what’s your favorite time of the day and place to write?

I love to write first thing in the morning. I think up the next day’s writing right before I go to bed, so it is fresh in my mind when I wake up. I like to write on the love seat in my bedroom. It has a view of the golf course and it is very peaceful. When I get stuck, I look up and watch the bunnies in our garden!

*Your new book, Monarch Beach, is in stores now.  What’s the feedback been like from fans so far?

I love that readers have really connected with the characters in MONARCH BEACH. I have gotten a lot of requests for a sequel – people want to see what happens next for Amanda. I also love that they recognize Amanda’s support system: her mother, Grace and her best friend, Stephanie. These characters are very important to me and it is wonderful to see that they are important to my readers as well.

*What’s your next project?

My next book is called MARKET STREET and it will be released on March 26th, 2013. I love MARKET STREET because it has two wonderful female characters with a very close friendship. I love exploring female friendships like Amanda and Stephanie’s in MONARCH BEACH. MARKET STREET is set in San Francisco and has a gorgeous cover!

*What’s your all-time favorite movie or book?

I am a huge fan of Penny Vincenzi. She is a British author who writes wonderful, super thick books crammed with fascinating characters. When I start one of her books, I put everything else aside. And she never disappoints – every one of her books is fabulous.

*You’re going on vacation and can only choose one of two destinations.  Would you pick a Safari in Africa or Cruise in the Caribbean?

Definitely a Cruise in the Caribbean. I love to talk to people and on a cruise you meet people from all over the world. Plus, I’m not opposed to some serious pampering and a cruise is a great place to get massages, eat gourmet food, shop in fabulous stores. Having the ocean outside your window would make it absolutely heaven!

*You’re planning a girls night out with friends.  Would you pick an nightclub so you can all let your hair down or a fun, cozy dinner at a nice restaurant?

I would pick a cozy dinner at a nice restaurant. I love to chat – to find out what is going on in my friends’ lives and you can’t do that in a nightclub. My favorite restaurant has a view of the ocean. You can sit on the balcony and watch the sunset, and when it gets chilly they turn on the heat lamps. It is the perfect place to catch up over a delicious dessert.

*Name 3 – 5 books you’ve read this year.  Which ones would you recommend to your girlfriends?

I have read and loved The Song Remains the Same by Allison Winn Scotch, Overseas by Beatriz Chantill Williams and WIFE – 22 by Melanie Gideon. I would highly recommend all three.

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Thank you, Anita, for joining us today.  Readers, you can find out more about Anita and her books on her website, http://www.anitahughesbooks.com.

For a chance to win a copy of Anita’s wonderful debut novel (tucked into a colorful summer tote bag perfect for the beach along with other fun goodies) talk to me!  What books have you read lately that you’d recommend to your girlfriends?  Or is there a book one of your girlfriends has been recommending to you? Share with me and you might win!  Contest runs through Friday night, with the winner being announced Saturday morning.  Best of luck and happy reading!

PS  Anita and I are going to be doing a booksigning together September  19th at Warwick’s in La Jolla, California, so if you live in San Diego County and are free, come see us at Warwick’s and hang out with us for awhile!!

 

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Blast from the Past!

I was going through my files trying to clean up my folders on my computer, and came across this blog I wrote in June 2006.  It made me smile and those of you who have followed me a long time might remember it, and  hopefully those of you who are new to me, will enjoy it.  Happy summer and apologies for not posting more right now but I’m determined to enjoy and savor every moment I can of my Hawaii trip before I return to San Clemente in two weeks and start work on my new book!

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Slimey Adventures

03 Jun 2006

I love having boys. I love the purity of their energy. Their drive. Their fierce passion to compete, to do, to be. And yet every now and then, when my son Ty fills my purse with sticks and rock gardens, shoves weedy flowers in my pockets, or creates snail houses with my tupperware, I wonder what it would be like to have a shy, pink-cheeked girl who liked dresses and dolls and princess costumes.

Yesterday driving to Sinclair’s for dinner my son Ty, who is buckled into his booster chair in the back seat says, ‘hey, there’s my slug’ in a happy, chirpy voice. I knew Ty was holding his slug house on his lap (a blue small to medium tupperware box with two ventilation holes) and glancing into the rearview mirror I see him holding the tupperware lid with a nice big fat slug in the middle.

It’s not what I want to look at before dinner. I don’t see anything pretty about slugs. They’re long and grayish brown and damp looking and…just really unappealing. But since I haven’t agreed to Ty buying his gecko or newt yet, Ty’s been building his own animal (read bug and slug) habitats with my tupperware and stuff from the gardens. It’s essentially a good, creative idea. And cheap. I’ve lots of soil and pebbles and leaves. And apparently slugs. And Ty can practice his nurturing skills.

So gross but that’s beside the point.

I’m still driving to Sinclair’s when Ty asks, ‘Mom, how do I put the lid back on without smashing Slimey’s eyes?’

Cranking my head around like Linda Blair in the Exorcist I see the slug hovering over the edge of the tupperware lid. Disgusting. I really could use a girl that loves playing with Barbie and cute accessories.

I suggest to Ty that he use a leaf and push Slimey towards the middle of the lid and then close it fast.

This works and Ty carries his Slug House around Sinclair’s garden and finds another slug or two. It’s a magical evening. Sinclair relates. She used to raise snails at one point–had twenty, even let them crawl on her legs (this is *not* the kind of girl I want).

Back at home boys go to bed, Ty says goodnight to Slimey and his pals and leaves Slug House on my antique Irish sideboard in the hall.

This morning after breakfast–some purply pop-tart–Ty goes to check on his pet slugs. I tell him to check on them outside as I don’t want the container to spill inside.

And then Ty shouts, ‘They’re gone, Mom! They’ve vanished. I’m not kidding. I’m not kidding. They’re gone.’

And he brings me the blue tupperware box with plants and dried up leaves that are minus any signs of slug life.

They were there when we went to bed.

Disgusting.

And then a minute later I find one on the kitchen floor, stretched out, creeping along near the pantry. It’s almost the same shade as my hardwood and the bulldog puppy wants to jump on it. I call for Ty who is still lamenting his loss, and he grabs a cereal spoon and starts trying to scoop it up as Jake yells at Ty not to use a spoon we eat with. Slug finally recaptured and restored to Slug House I make Ty look for the others. I look for the others. Jake even looks but we don’t find them.

They’ve vanished.

And I seriously suspect it’s right into my nice plush carpet.

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That was written 6 years ago and it’s still madness around my house.   A veritable three ring circus of noise, chaos and craziness!  And to celebrate my boys–all of them, big and small–I’m giving away one special prize from Hawaii.  It’s a cool surf tote bag packed with great things…over $50 of wonderful…so comment below, and hopefully you’ll win!  Contest runs through Wednesday night and winner will be announced Thursday morning.  Good luck and now I’m off to the beach with my boys!

 

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Summer Reading: Liza Palmer

I am beyond delighted to introduce the brilliant, funny, insightful, wonderful, funny (I know I said that already but she really, really is funny) Liza Palmer as this week’s featured guest author.  I love Liza Palmer’s books and am crazy about her newest novel, More Like Her, and I’ve asked Liza to write something special just for you, my readers.  Lucky us!

 

IN PRAISE OF LIFE, LOVE AND BIRTHDAYS

 

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”

–Satchel Paige

 

I’m writing this blog post on my birthday.  And as birthdays tend to do, they make one reflect on the year that’s just passed.  Did I do enough?  Did I make the most of my life?  Did I live up to my endlessly rising expectations of what my life should be about?  Why is it that we never seem to measure up during these moments of reflection?  It’s the New Years’ Resolution Rule, right?  Sure, you did okay – but next year try to do more, be better, get thinner and vow to be even more selfless. The Mantra of today’s woman, I suppose.

This past year I had a bit of a health scare.  It was one of those moments – where the world slows down and I was floating above my body as some doctor told me I had cancer.  HAD.  They got it out – along with half of my thyroid.

The thing is my body and I haven’t gotten along for quite some time. But, earlier this year something happened.  We fell in love.  For the first time.  It was my body and I joined and finally working as one.  Connected.  I was giving it what it wanted – instead of starving it and beating it into submission — and it was grateful.  Patient.  Loving.  As ever.

Then the cancer hit.

And I just… I crumbled.  I’d been so cruel to my body for so long.  So demanding.  So unendingly frustrated and harsh.  And then, come to find out, it had been battling cancer the entire time?  I was gutted.

Birthdays are the only day we get that’s just about us.  Yet as we get older we brush them under the rug as this dark harbinger of aging and some kind of tolling bell of our lost youth.  Birthdays aren’t about impending death.

Birthdays are about life.

Another year.

I propose that instead of using our birthdays to list all of the ways we came up short, all of the things we could have done better and all of the instances where we let ourselves (and others) down, we take the day to lavish ourselves with love, adoration and tenderness.  Swaddle ourselves in the softness we save for others.

We get to be happy.  We get to be loved.

I went to this workshop this past week where the person giving the lecture was talking about writing The Perfect Book.  She said that we shouldn’t strive to write The Perfect Book, we should strive to write The Compelling Book.  I think this transfers over to life as well.

Let’s stop trying to be perfect.

Let’s strive to be compelling.

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Liza, many, many thanks so much for joining us today.  Readers and friends,  you can find out more about Liza and her books on her website, http://www.lizapalmer.com.

For a chance to win an amazing prize–all four of Liza’s wonderful titles, including her newest, More Like Her, in a colorful summer tote bag perfect for the beach along with other fun goodies–talk to me about Liza’s blog.  What do you think?  Do you agree?  I’d love to hear what you think (and if you’ve ever read Liza Palmer’s books before). Contest runs through Friday night, with the winner being announced Saturday morning.  Best of luck, thank you Liza, and very happy summer reading!

 

 

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Summer Reading: Kaira Rouda

I’ve got another wonderful guest author hanging out with us this weekend.  Readers, please help me welcome the wonderful Kaira Rouda, who lives in Laguna Beach…just a stone’s throw from me. So excited to be neighbors with Kaira.  And now without any further delays, let’s introduce Kaira!

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Jane! Thank you so much for having me on your blog. It’s an honor to be here with you and all of your readers. And I do hope we get to meet one day soon as you are just down the road from me, and I, too, have just arrived. Transitions are tough and I’ve found what helps the most are girlfriends. So, remember, I’m here! I loved She’s Gone Country and Flirting with Forty – and I can’t wait for your newest release in September!

A little about me

My name, Kaira, is pronounced “care-ahhh”, just in case anyone is wondering and yes, I’ve heard and answered to just about every variation of it! I’ve wanted to be a novelist for as long as I can remember. In fact, in third grade I wrote to the author of my favorite book, Make Way for Ducklings, and told him I wanted to be just like him someday. Robert McCloskey wrote back and said thanks for the note but that he was an illustrator not an author and wished me luck. Undeterred, the dream stayed alive but it took me until my 48th birthday last summer until I was able to hold my first novel in my hand. I’ve learned dreams will come true if you keep believing in yourself and don’t give up.

Dreams are at the heart of my new novel All The Difference as Ellen, Laura and Angie – three very different women – strive for their goals. Because it’s a chick-lit with a murder mystery tossed in (note darker than normal beach book cover), in All The Difference some of the characters go to extremes.  In my first novel, Here, Home, Hope, Kelly is facing her 40th birthday and decides to change her life, with the help of friends and family.  Are you living the life of your dreams? Are you fulfilled? Happy? I hope so. As with most everything in life, happiness and dreams flow in phases and stages so if you aren’t now, take steps to be sure you will be soon. I’ve found that it really is up to you.

A little more about All The Difference and a contest!

I’ve been a fan of light murder mysteries a la Jessica Fletcher and Susan Isaacs. Not bloody, just surprising. And the notion of an unreliable character appealed to me, too. So I’ve mixed some mystery into the traditional chick-lit, beach read. I had so much fun writing this book – and I’m proud of how it turned out. I’d be honored if you gave it a try!

Kirkus just gave All The Difference a great review, and I was thrilled! Here’s part of the review: “A trio of strong women living in Grandville forms the centerpiece of Rouda’s absorbing new novel. . . .The murder mystery serves as a captivating backdrop to the finely drawn characters and the twist at the end is a fantastic revelation. It’s a nod to Rouda’s talent that despite the inherent (and severe) flaws each woman displays, the reader still forms an attachment to each of them. A light, engaging read that keeps readers guessing until the end.”

Jane and I would like to give two readers a chance to win a copy of All The Difference, a Starbucks drink card, and lots of fun goodies. Just leave a comment below about how you’re making your dreams come true.  The contest will run from now until Monday, August 6th, and we’ll announce the winners in a comment below.  Be sure to check back on Monday, August 6th to see if you’re one of our lucky gals!

For more about Kaira and her novels, please visit her website. She loves to Skype with book clubs and she’s a social media addict. Please find her on Facebook,  Goodreads, Twitter and  Pinterest.

 

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Wednesday!! Anaheim! See me!

In just two days time, I will be joining over 400 authors–yes, 400 authors!!–at the Anaheim Convention Center in California for the 2012 “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing!  It’s an amazing, crazy, crowded, wonderful event, as we’re all there signing, and buying books, to help raise money to promote literacy and if you’re going to be in the area, or can get to Anaheim, you should go.  It’s a great cause, and selfishly, I’d love to see you.

Full details:

2012 “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing

Wednesday, July 25, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Anaheim Convention Center, Ballroom (third floor)

http://www.rwa.org/cs/literacy_autographing

Proceeds from book sales go to ProLiteracy Worldwide, Read Orange County, and Literacy Volunteers—Huntington Valley.  And hope you understand, because this is a literacy fundraiser, no outside books are allowed in the event venue.

Hope to see you there!

 

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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Summer Reading: Heather Barbieri

Heather is a gifted author from Greater Seattle with a lovely, lyrical voice.  I am a fan of her new release, The Cottage at Glass Beach, and thought my readers would enjoy getting to know her and about the book, if you aren’t already familiar with Heather’s work.

Please help me welcome Heather Barbier!

Thanks for joining us today, Heather! Could you tell us why you chose to write women’s fiction?

It chose me: My books tend to fall into this category, based on their subject matter, a sisterhood of writers to which I couldn’t be happier to belong.

I love the premise of your book! What was your inspiration for the novel and why was writing The Cottage At Glass Beach so important to you?

I wrote the book shortly after my mother passed away and it’s dedicated to her memory. She was a great reader and support to me and many others. It’s a novel about mothers and daughters, tracing the personal journey of my main character, Nora, as she searches for love, and experiences loss and scandal, and, ultimately finds the answers she’s been searching for.

What’s your favorite aspect of The Cottage At Glass Beach?

The magical-realism aspects of the story. There’s a selkie myth—the Irish seal wife tale—woven into the narrative, which speaks to the characters’ sense of loss and transformation. (A selkie is supposedly half-human, half-seal; despite having a fisherman husband, she has a divided nature and is always drawn back to the ocean.)

What’s the feedback been like from fans so far?

The feedback has been wonderful. One blogger called it “as mysterious as it is picturesque” and Booklist described it as “a wonderful, subtle, transporting story” in their starred review.

I love the cover of your book! What are your thoughts on it?

I love it too! The designer did a fabulous job—it really speaks to the overall themes and atmosphere of the novel.

Now that The Cottage At Glass Beach is in stores, what’s your next project?

I’m having so much fun working on my fourth novel. It’s about a group of high school friends in the early-mid sixties.

What’s your favorite time of the day and place to write?

Either the mornings or early afternoons, but I also take notes in the evenings while reading books that feed my creativity. Inspiration—and unexpected motherly duties (I have three teen/young-adult children)–can strike at any time.

What’s your astrological sign?

Aries.

Five favorite things to do on vacation (any destination!)?

Explore: hiking, strolling city streets, visiting markets, snorkeling, photography, meeting new people, and finding slightly off-the-beaten path spots where I can get a greater sense of how the locals live/the history of the place.

What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without if you were stuck on a deserted island?

If food and water weren’t an issue, a good book, pen and paper, and dark chocolate/almond bars.

You’re planning a girls night out with friends. Would you pick an nightclub so you can all let your hair down or a fun, cozy dinner at a nice restaurant?

It would depend upon my mood—I could go for either one, depending upon the night. (I’d love to learn to tango or jitterbug.) I also love to go hiking or cycling with friends.

Name 5 words that fit your personality according to you. And 5 words that fit your personality according to your best friend.

According to me: determined, compassionate, insightful, funny, creative. According to my friend: empathetic, wise, funny, smart, loyal.

Name 3 – 5 books you’ve read this year. Which ones would you recommend to your girlfriends?

Wild by Cheryl Strayed, Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple, and Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

The title of the last book you read that you absolutely loved, loved, loved!

The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen for its insightful narrative and gorgeous writing.

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Thank you, Heather, for joining us today!   And readers, you can find out more about Heather on her website, http://www.heatherbarbieri.com.

For a chance to win a copy of Heather’s book, The Lacemakers of Glenmara, and an arc of The Good Woman…yep, we’re giving away an arc this week of my new September release in this week’s contest, post a comment below and fingers crossed you’ll be the won to win this tote bag packed with good reads and fun stuff!  Contest runs through Thursday night, with the winner being announced Friday morning.  Best of luck and happy summer reading!

©2012 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

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