Beth Albright's Blog

Southern Exposure

Hey y'all!! I am so thrilled to share this new collection of "tales from my front porch" with you! Here is a snipit:

"This is, to put it simply, where I fit. Down South, in the humidity-hazed summer, a place where the warm wet steam rises from the endless ribbons of asphalt after a warm summer rain; in the perfectly, imperfect Deep South. And every time I am home, I leave my heart in the red soil and damp air of Alabama. My belly and my soul full and satisfied; refueled to face life away from my roots, my people, my southern culture, and all our stories." -Beth Albright

National best selling southern fiction author Beth Albright delivers her most personal and heartfelt work ever with Southern Exposure, Tales From My Front Porch; a compilation of real-life stories of Beth’s childhood and coming of age in her beloved Alabama. Sometimes side-splittingly funny, sometimes poignant and raw, Beth immerses readers into the heart and soul of the Southern way of life, and what it means to be a Southerner.

Fans of both Beth’s Sassy Belles and In Dixie series will meet the real life characters who inspired her fictional universe and get a glimpse into the crazy, quirky, comforting world that is at the very root of her funny warm southern fiction.

Beth is as authentic and genuine as any southerner could be, true to her hometown of Tuscaloosa, tightly woven to her family and her Crimson Tide football team, along with all the southern food and the off-the-wall people she loves.

Home is what this book is all about, home and family and food and love. So cuddle up in your most comfy chair and sit down for an intimate visit with southern author, Beth Albright. You will feel like you're sitting right at her own kitchen table, listening to her personal stories of growing up down south.

It’s a love-letter to the South written from the heart by a true Southern Belle.

'Saved by the Belles' Now Available!

New Release! 'Saved by the Belles,' a Sassy Belles enovella for only $2.99!
Today is the day you've been waiting for! Blake, Vivi, and Dallas are back with one more mystery to solve...all with their typical sassy, Southern-style.

Life is finally wonderful for Tuscaloosa’s Blake O’Hara Heart: a rekindled love affair with her high school sweetheart and a precious new baby on the way. But when she gets an unexpected call from Harry Heart, her soon to be ex-husband, Blake’s new sweet world is turned upside down. Harry vows his love – but soon Blake discovers he is running from a sex scandal—one that could ruin Harry, the freshman senator from Alabama, and bring down Blake right along with him.

Blake is in a fix so she does what any southern woman would do: she rounds up her Sassy Belle sisters to try to prove Harry’s innocence. Blake, Vivi and Dallas band together to fix this scandal and get that man back to Washington if it’s the last thing they do. But Blake is running out of time. Her new baby is waiting for no one as Harry’s new political career is hanging in the balance.

From a trailer-park brothel to the high-society neighborhoods of Tuscaloosa, y’all grab your best girlfriends and some sweet tea and join Blake and her girls on this twisted tale of intrigue and hilarity, southern-style.

Get your copy today!                                                    

'Saved by the Belles' is currently only available as an ebook but will soon be available in paperback through Amazon.

The Sassy Belles Won an Award!

 
                    Hey y'all!!! Guess what?? I just WON a big award!!

                          BEST DEBUT NOVEL/ROMANCE 

               FROM THE BOOK JUNKIE CHOICE AWARDS!!

                                For THE SASSY BELLES!!

       Thank y'all ALL soooooo much for voting for me and my
                                                BELLES!!

Beth Albright in Tuscaloosa News!

While in Tuscaloosa for my book release, I was interviewed by the lovely Lydia Seabol Avant, staff writer for Tuscaloosa News. Check out part of the interview below and follow the link for even more!

When life got hard for Tuscaloosa native Beth Albright, the strong women of her family would gather around her grandmother's yellow kitchen table in Glendale Gardens, eat Krispy Kreme donuts and laugh. No matter the situation, the women in her life held things together through whatever came their way, Albright said. There was always laughter.

Michelle Lepianka Carter / The Tuscaloosa News Albright used her Tuscaloosa upbringing in her three books, the "Sassy Belles" trilogy which were released this year. The last book in the trilogy, "Sleigh Belles," goes on sale nationwide Tuesday and has been named as a Top Pick Read for September by Barnes and Noble.

"I think of it as 'Steel Magnolias' meets 'Sex and the City,' " Albright said of her trilogy, which focuses on a circle of "sassy" Southern girlfriends.

All three books are set in Tuscaloosa. Part of her inspiration, she said, was to write about what she knows and loves: her hometown. Albright graduated from Holt High School and the University of Alabama before going into radio and becoming a radio host for WAPI radio and TV talk-show host for WTTO-TV. In the early 1990s, she landed a role on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives." She and her husband now live in San Francisco.

Click here to continue reading the article...

Thank you, Lydia, for taking the time to talk with me and let me share my books with my hometown yet again!

The Crimson White Wrote About The Sassy Belles!

As you all know, my blood runs Crimson for Alabama. So when The Crimson White wrote an article about me and The Sassy Belles series, I was thrilled. Read a snippet from the article below and follow the link for more!

As the old saying goes, “authors write what they know.” This could not be more true for Beth Albright, Tuscaloosa native and University of Alabama graduate, whose new book series “The Sassy Belles” depicts life in Tuscaloosa, from its glamorous Southern charm to Crimson Tide football.

“I grew up in Tuscaloosa and graduated from The University of Alabama,” Albright said. “I wrote the first book of the series during a nostalgic time in my life. I had followed my husband to a job out of state and had to close my acting school, and I found myself homesick for Tuscaloosa and the smart, sassy women who raised me.”

Albright’s brother, Bruce Albright, said she always had a “flair for drama and telling stories.” Not only is “The Sassy Belles” based in her hometown, but the books are littered with influences from Albright’s own life. Several of her characters are based on her own family, friends and old boyfriends, while some of the funny scenes in the books are flashbacks and anecdotal stories from her own life, she said.

Continue reading this article...

How wonderful was that article?! I am so thrilled they wanted to write about me because I just love Tuscallusa so much!

PRESS RELEASE!! It's PARTY TIME Y'ALL!!

                                                                                                                       




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:              Nancy Berland                                    800-308-3169                                    Nancy@NancyBerland.com
Sassy Celebrity Author Beth Albright Returns for ‘Bama Football, Signing & Matters of the Heart
“The Sassy Belles” Series Shows Passion for the Crimson Tide

San Francisco, CA—You can take the girl out of Tuscaloosa but you can’t take Tuscaloosa out of the girl—or, in this case, nationally bestselling author Beth Albright.
The native daughter, who graduated from the University of Alabama’s School of Journalism in 1985 and went on to act in TV soap “Days of Our Lives,” returns to Tuscaloosa Friday, September 27, for four days of local appearances—and to celebrate the birthday of her mom, Betty Spavins, during the Ole Miss game Saturday.
How will they celebrate?  By tail-gating on the quad Saturday, of course. Then on Sunday, Albright will greet her fans and sign her three 2013 novels from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Midtown Shopping Center, 1800 McFarland Road. The latest novel in that series:  Sleigh Belles, which goes on sale Tuesday nationwide.
Albright broke into the highly competitive world of book publishing in May with The Sassy Belles , the launch book in her southern women’s fiction series for MIRA Books. The three stories show her love for Tuscaloosa and the Crimson Tide and her ability to make readers laugh at the antics of a colorful circle of friends with a sassy Southern attitude. One is a Tuscaloosa TV news journalist.  And another?  The Voice of the Crimson Tide!
Albright comes by her passion for ‘Bama football honestly. Her grandfather, Frank Bruce, was the Voice of the Crimson Tide in the 1950s.
Now living in San Francisco, Albright is married to another ’85 U of A graduate, Ted Ishler, who is promotions director for the PAC 12 Athletic Conference.  Local residents will remember Beth as a talk show host for WAPI radio and WTTO-TV, while her husband reported for Birmingham’s WBMG-TV. Their wedding in the ‘80s was quite the media event.
Albright will donate copies of her Sassy Belles books to the Tuscaloosa Public Library and DCH Regional Medical Center Monday. The hospital’s birthing center is the opening scene of Sleigh Belles , the tale of colorful TV journalist Dallas Dubois, who is recruited by her boss to direct the children’s Christmas pageant. The only problem: she isn’t all that fond of children, and directing the play will keep her from competing for the prime time news anchor position she’s desperate to land.  But a lonely little orphaned girl with the voice of an angel and former Crimson Tide football standout, Cal Hollingsworth, have yet to work their magic on her hardened heart.  You see, miracles do happen in Tuscaloosa, even between the covers of a book.
Barnes & Noble has named Sleigh Belles a Top Pick read for September. Book two in the series, Albright’s August release, Wedding Belles, has been nominated for theGold Seal of Excellence by RT Book Reviews magazine.  The Sassy Belles, book one, was just honored as a finalist in the Book Junkie Choice Awards for Best Debut Novel.
Before she has to say farewell to her beloved home state, Albright will hop over to Birmingham on Tuesday, October 1, to donate books to the UAB Women’s Cancer Pavilion, in honor of her childhood best friend, who is undergoing treatment there. She will also guest at a meeting of the Pearls of Wisdom Book Club at the Cypress Inn the evening of Monday the 30th.______________________________________________________________________________Read more about Albright on http://www.thesassybelles.com/.
For a review copy of Sleigh Belles , or to arrange an interview with the author, contact Nancy Berland, 800-308-3169, or Nancy@NancyBerland.com.  One thing we’ll guarantee: the interview won’t be boring.

Wonderful Honors for The Sassy Belles Series!

Hey all you Sassy Belles! I have been so busy writing and traveling to promote Wedding Belles that I've not had the chance to update you on some exciting things that have happened lately!

First, SLEIGH BELLES was chosen as a TOP PICK by Barnes and Noble for September! I am so thrilled! You can see the rest of the TOP PICKS here!

Second, WEDDING BELLES was nominated for the RT Gold Seal of Excellence! Some of my absolute favorite books have also been nominated and even received this award so I am so honored to be listed among them!

Keep sharing my series with all of your friends and spread that Sassy Southern attitude! Thank you to each and every one of you that have bought and read these books. It means the world and more to me!

Watch: Interview at San Francisco Writers Conference

This past May, I went to the San Francisco Writers Conference, this year as a soon-to-be-published author! So I sat down with the guys at Author Learning Center to talk about getting a three-book deal.

The Sassy Belles is an Amazon Bestseller!

You heard that right! The Sassy Belles has bumped up ranks to hold up in the TOP TEN of Amazon's Hot New Releases, Women's Fiction, Friendship list and in the TOP TWENTY-FIVE on the Women's Fiction Friendship list so far! I am THRILLED and feel so blessed.



Thank you to everyone who has bought and read a copy. You have no idea how much this means to me to share a little bit of Southern Sass with you. I encourage you to tell and share my book with your friends and keep my book on the charts!

If you've yet to pick it up, you can currently get 43% off the Kindle ebook and 26% off the paperback on Amazon! Go get your copy now!

Sassy Belles Sister Contest

“We take care of each other, stand our ground…and do it in high heels, big hair and lots of lipstick!”


When I began writing The Sassy Belles, I always knew it would be the story of the women. Yes, of course we have some good ol’ romps in the sack with our sexy chivalrous southern gentlemen, but mostly it would be about the women and how they really relate to each other—how they truly love each other. Growing up, I saw it and experienced it first hand. Women need each other. We have a unique view of life from atop our stilettos. We actually DO do it all. From working inside or out of the home, from the family budget, which most of us handle, the childcare, the aging parent care, the house cleaning, the grocery shopping, the supper-cooking…and on and on…and please just for fun, let’s pile on at least one major crisis per day, per child…how do we do it? Hopefully, you have a little help in the way of a best friend—a Sassy Belle Sister-- who is the wind beneath your wings, or at least waiting with a full tank of gas to drive your get-away car.
I saw my mother need and lean on her Sassy Belle Sisters after my Daddy was killed in a car wreck when I was only four years old. They literally pulled her back out into the world. I remember them coming over to our house for cook-outs and parties, bringing their kids over all the time to play-- and oh, I remember so much laughter. Their presence took away our incredible sadness. They are certainly Steel Magnolias. When one is sinking the others not only throw the life raft-- hell they build the boat. They are all still with us today and I know all those sassy ladies as extended family—cause they are! I learned from an early age how important those female friendships really are just watching my mother and to this day I am so grateful for those strong steel magnolias. I, too, have a few of my own.

This is my own story of what it has meant to have such strong Sassy Belle Sisters over my lifetime. After you read mine---just submit your own story, 200 words or less, of who is your Sassy Belle sister and why right here on the website.
I have leaned on my Sassy Belle Sisters so much they are growing crooked. From my mom to my best friends, I need them like flowers need rain. I could talk about any of them and share stories of how they have rescued me from myself hundreds of times, especially my mother…who continues to be my very best friend, to Susan, and Joyce just to name a few. But one dear sturdy and strong woman always comes to mind when I’m the one needing that “I-got-your-back” Sassy Belle sister. Lynn Watts Zegarelli, who I have known since she was only a baby of 14. She was strong back then too! She had to be. I swear if you need someone to drive your getaway car, give you a swift kick in the ass, or …what she does best—talk you down out of the tree---this is your girl.
I am a pretty passionate, well, emotional, person. It comes in really handy when I write, but makes life a little …uhm…louder, my husband would say, than some other people’s lives. You know, like really low-key folks or I would say—less passionate beings. So when life throws me a curve, especially when I am going on very little sleep…thank you change-of-life-hormones—I tend to get really upset sometimes. Lynn has a roadmap to me and can talk me down out of any sized tree. Amazingly, she actually volunteers for this job! And her GPS had been working over-time this last year as I wrote not one, but three novels! She needs an award, or a stiff drink---better yet, both!
But when I really needed her—when even my mom needed her for me, was after I had my only baby. I had had several deep brain strokes during delivery, visible on an MRI, and I plummeted into post partum blues, along with dizzy spells, crying fits, etc…One day when I was reaching a breaking point, Lynn literally showed up and physically picked me up off the floor, got me in her car and drove me straight to see one of her doctor friends, then stayed with me, holding my hand—and my mother’s, till she was sure I would be okay. It certainly helps that my Lynn is a nurse when she has so many crazies to work with. Well-- passionate beings.
And Lynn is there for all of us, too. My other Sassy Belle sister, Susan, was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer last October—who should be in a position to come to her rescue in everyway but our Lynn. With all of us in tears but trying so hard to be strong for Susan, Lynn was strong for all of us and got Susan set up with every single thing she Another incident when we were all leaning on our rock was when my brother was in a horrific motorcycle accident in September…we couldn’t get word on him...he was rushed into ER-- wounds and broken bones head to toe. I am clear out in California, but one call to my Lynn back in Alabama, and she ran down from her upper level administrative nursing office and gave us a full assessment within minutes! She is wonder-woman to me! I have never needed her when she didn’t bend over sideways and backwards to help me—all of us. It’s just her nature to help. But what she does best is just out of love and honesty, she listens and will shake you if you need it—and sometimes that’s all you need. I just hope she knows she can lean on me for anything—forever. That’s what us Sassy Belles do— “We take care of each other, stand out ground…and do it in high heels, big hair and lots of lipstick!” As I say in  “The Sassy Belles” novel.
I could go on and on and share so many stories of how my sisters have been there for me…holding my hand, pulling me up, setting me straight or simply just having my back or listening over a good margarita. Through tears and side aching laughter, we, as women, know the special bond we share with each other. I am always so proud of my relationships with my Sassy Sisters. I know that when the day comes for sadness, joy grief, despair or big time celebrating, I will always have my Sassy Belle Sisters and therefore, I know will never ever be alone. And that is the best feeling on Earth!

Now is your chance to tell me about YOUR Sassy Sister to win a huge Grand Prize! Share with me in 200 words or less, who is your Sassy Belle Sister, and why right here on my website. We will pick one grand-prize winner and 3 runners-up. Can’t wait to hear from y’all!

The Grand Prize winner receives two signed books, one for you and one for your "sister", lunch with me in Tuscaloosa with the you and your "sister", 2 jars of DREAMLAND BBQ Sauce...A Tuscaloosa mainstay, a shirt that says, "I Love Krispy Kremes", and some University of Alabama shakers and trinkets. As an added bonus, you'll receive a free query critique from my agent and an annotated copy of my next book, Wedding Belles, signed by me...due out July 30th!

Three runner ups will receive a signed copy of the book! All you have to do is tell me about your Sassy Sister below and you're entered to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway