Author Profile: Susan McBride

Author Name: Susan McBride

Website: http://susanmcbride.com/index.shtml

Bio: Susan McBride is the author of THE COUGAR CLUB, a stand-alone novel about three forty-something friends who discover you’re never too old to follow your heart (HarperCollins/Avon, 02/10). Selected by Target Stores as a Bookmarked Breakout Title, COUGAR was also named a Midwest Connections Pick by Midwest Booksellers and was on MORE Magazine’s list of “February Books We’re Buzzing About.” Susan has also penned five Debutante Dropout Mysteries for HC/Avon: BLUE BLOOD, THE GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER, THE LONE STAR LONELY HEARTS CLUB, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEB, and TOO PRETTY TO DIE. In addition, she’s written several young adult novels for Random House, including THE DEBS; LOVE, LIES, AND TEXAS DIPS; and GLOVES OFF. Once called “The Lou’s Whodunit Queen” by Sauce Magazine in St. Louis, Susan was named one of the city’s “top singles” in 2005 by St. Louis Magazine but tied the knot in late February of 2008. Susan was the cover girl for the February 2009 issue of St. Louis Woman Magazine, where she was featured in the article, “Paperback Princess.” A breast cancer survivor, Susan often speaks to local women’s groups about her experience. Susan has won a Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery, a Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Amateur Sleuth Mystery, was twice nominated for Anthony Awards for Best Paperback Original, and was one of three finalists for the William Rockhill Nelson Award for Literary Excellence (for Kansas and Missouri Authors).

Currently: Susan currently lives in Brentwood, MO, with her husband.

Titles: The Cougar Club, Blue Blood, The Good Girls’ Guide to Murder, The Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club, Night of the Living Deb, Too Pretty to Die.

Christina Applegate Pregnant

Christina Applegate is pregnant! Applegate, one of my favorite actresses, announced today through People.com that she and fiancée, Martyn Lenoble, are expecting. The couple, who got engaged on Valentine’s Day after two years of dating, have yet to set a wedding date. Applegate, 38, underwent a double mastectomy and credited Lenoble for helping her recover and giving her strength after the procedure. Congrats to the couple!

Photo Credit: Jesse Grant/WireImage

Guest Post from Author Fleur McDonald

Author Fleur McDonald took the time to answer some common questions published writers are asked. Fleur has two published novels  Blue Skies and Red Dust. Please check out Fleur’s website for more information on her writings and more tips for writers.

How were  you able to get published?

About five years ago, I decided I wanted to write a book that I would like to read. Without too much thought, I decided on the topic of stock stealing. I still don’t know why I thought of it, particularly at a time when I was completely sleep deprived with two littlies, but I thought I could develop intrigue and mystery around this subject.

I set about writing. Once I had written five chapters, I asked a friend to read it to see if it was any good. I also sent it to my writing mentor for his opinion. The responses were brilliant and overwhelmed me. I decided I needed to keep writing.

Patience has never been my strong point! When I had written about a third of the story, I thought I’d try Allen and Unwin publisher’s ‘Friday Pitch’. This offers first-time authors a chance to have their first chapter and a synopsis read and considered by its publisher Louise Thurtell. I wanted to know what she thought about it—never mind finishing the manuscript!

Her response was just as encouraging as others I had received, although it wasn’t what she was looking for at that time and she encouraged me to try another publisher. I didn’t want to now I had established contact with Louise. So I waited about a year, tweaked it a bit more, and resent it—but I did little work on finishing the manuscript.

Suddenly, not only was there was a phone call saying ‘Yes! We want your manuscript!’, there was a contract and … an unfinished manuscript!

I got to work quick smart and finished the rest of the story in about six-months.

My journey to get to this point has been amazing. It blows me away whenever I think about it. I don’t have any writing qualifications or experience in writing for publishers. I just wrote the book I wanted to read. From that, I was picked up from the ‘slush pile’, handed a contract, now have two books published with another two book deal  and have also sold the rights for both Red Dust and Blue Skies to Germany. (Red Dust has already been released there with Blue Skies due out next year.)

Has anything in general surprised you since becoming an author?

Hm, not sure. I didn’t really know enough about the industry when I first started, to be surprised by anything. I just went with the flow and did what ever I was told to do!

I guess the response to my books has been surprising and very overwhelming. Red Dust flew off the shelves as did Blue Skies, but that may be more because there is a hunger for Australian stories than anything else.

I also love the way that Allen and Unwin are as passionate about my books as I am – I’m not sure if I’m surprised by that or just grateful!
How many times were you rejected before finding your agent?

I haven’t actually ever been rejected by an agent, when I was submitting my fiction novels. I got my first two books published without an agent, but Gaby Naher, from the Naher Agency is now my wonderful, patient and calming agent and negotiated my two book deal.

I was rejected by plenty when I was pitching my children picture books.

One thing I will  point out here – it’s harder to get an agent once you are published. Most people think it wouldn’t be the case, but it is. My publisher introduced me to both Curtis and Brown and Gaby Naher. Curtis and Brown wouldn’t take me on, because they had a similar client and because I had already negotiated two books. Just something to be aware of.

How long does it take you to finish writing a novel?

About a year – I diddle around for the first part – don’t do much, just think a lot, write lots of notes and then when I realise I’ve only got about six months before it’s due, get really stuck in and write. I usually have enough ideas and thoughts to be able to do that.

What gave you the drive and motivation to write a book and push to get it published?

Well, I never really started out with the thought that I would try and get published. I started to write a book that I would like to read and then, it was one of my friends who thought I should try.

I started researching the industry and submitted for the ASA Mentorship program, but didn’t get anywhere there. I don’t like failing so that was probably my turning point!

Two Years, No Rain by Shawn Klomparens

Andy Dunne is feeling the drought. The San Diego weatherman has been reporting no rain for the past two years, and been feeling increasingly irrelevant in his personal life. His wife left him, the death of his twin brother still haunts him, and he is in love with a married woman. Hillary Hsing, the object of Andy’s affection, urges Andy to try out for a job working on a children entertainment TV show, and before Andy can blink he is upgraded to the host and entering the realm of a media darling. As Andy’s life changes from being a nobody to a somebody, he is faced with many difficult decisions on his life, his family, and his relationships.

Two Years, No Rain by Shawn Klomparens is a refreshing change from my usual chick lit books. It was interesting to get a males perspective about so many issues I normally read about women: love, relationships, careers, and families. The humor was there in patches, but it wasn’t so much laugh out loud funny but more of a dark humor. The supporting cast really added to the story, especially the relationship between Andy and his young niece. Klomparens writing is stylish and fresh, and I would recommend Two Years, No Rain to chick lit fans that enjoy the males take on common adult issues.

Rating: 4/5

Author Profile: Suzanne Beecher

Author Name: Suzanne Beecher

Bio: I did not go to college, but I have 1 1/2 years of auto mechanics in a trade school. Brakes jobs are my specialty. I’ve owned a restaurant. I founded and published a business magazine, “In Business” in Madison, Wisconsin. The magazine is still being published. In my mind, some of my greatest achievements are: a nonprofit program, “Meals For Madison, that I founded to feed the homeless in Madison; homeschooling our youngest son, from fourth grade through high school; and still being best friends and in love with my husband after 27 years. I write a daily column, (290,000 people read with me online every day), I design book clubs for publishers, booksellers and libraries across the country. And I speak to groups every chance I get because I love to tell a great story. When I tell people about my life, listing all the things I have done and the troubles I have seen, they are amazed. I have four children, two grandchildren and a wonderful husband who said he married me because he knew his life would never be dull. I don’t intend to let him down. I’m on the ride of my life.

I invite you to sign up and read with me at www.DearReader.com.

Titles: Muffins and Mayhem

Bio Written by Suzanne Beecher

Fabulously Fashionable by Holly McQueen

I once again stumbled upon a book whose main character mirrored closely to Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic. Isabel Bookbinder has decided that she wants to be a fashion designer. The only trouble is, she has absolutely no talent for designing and creating clothes. Not letting that little fact keep her from her goals, Isabel gives her all to the fashion world. After lying her way into a job interview, Isabel manages to dupe her future boss into hiring her as a PA.

Fabulously Fashionable by Holly McQueen was a funny story, but at times a bit too farfetched for me. Fans of the Shopaholic series will appreciate the humorous situations the heroine constantly finds herself in, but it just wasn’t enough to pull me along. I thought the story between Isabel and her possibly cheating boyfriend and then the following relationship with an odd character that I couldn’t quite figure out until the end interested me more than Isabel trying to be a fashion designer. I thought this was a mediocre novel at best.

Rating: 3/5

GIVEAWAY: Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Sometimes all you can do is fly away home . . .

When Sylvie Serfer met Richard Woodruff in law school, she had wild curls, wide hips, and lots of opinions. Decades later, Sylvie has remade herself as the ideal politician’s wife—her hair dyed and straightened, her hippie-chick wardrobe replaced by tailored knit suits. At fifty-seven, she ruefully acknowledges that her job is staying twenty pounds thinner than she was in her twenties and tending to her husband, the senator.

Lizzie, the Woodruffs’ younger daughter, is at twenty-four a recovering addict, whose mantra HALT (Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?) helps her keep her life under control. Still, trouble always seems to find her. Her older sister, Diana, an emergency room physician, has everything Lizzie failed to achieve—a husband, a young son, the perfect home—and yet she’s trapped in a loveless marriage. With temptation waiting in one of the ER’s exam rooms, she finds herself craving more.

After Richard’s extramarital affair makes headlines, the three women are drawn into the painful glare of the national spotlight. Once the press conference is over, each is forced to reconsider her life, who she is and who she is meant to be.

Written with an irresistible blend of heartbreak and hilarity, Fly Away Home is an unforgettable story of a mother and two daughters who after a lifetime of distance finally learn to find refuge in one another.

I have one copy of this excellent Jennifer Weiner novel to give away! Comment on this post, RT on Twitter, or comment on Facebook to win your copy! The winner will be chosen Tuesday July 20^th.

UPDATE:

The winner has been chosen. Congratulations to Jana! Please email me your mailing address at Samantha@chicklitplus.com. Thanks to all those who participated!

The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch

Tilly Farmer believes she has a great life. At 32 years old, she is still living in her hometown of Westlake, is employed as the guidance counselor at the high school, and married to her high school sweetheart. Her mother may have passed away at a young age, and her father is a recovering alcoholic, but Tilly still firmly believes she possess a fantastic life. The only thing she needs now is a baby. Her and her husband, Tyler, have been having trouble conceiving a child of their own, and now their marriage seems a bit rocky. But Tilly is convinced if they could just have a child, everything would be better.

When Tilly runs into an old childhood friend at a fair, things begin to change. Ashley, now a psychic, gives Tilly the gift of “clarity” regarding her future. Tilly begins having flashes of the future, showing her father having a relapse, her husband leaving her for a better job, and her little sister trying to take her own life. These visions frighten her at first, but after some time, Tilly begins to appreciate her new gift, and realizes the major life changes she is now facing.

The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch is a beautifully written story about woman whose perfect life begins to unravel faster than she can control. I thought the visions the heroine started receiving actually heightened the story instead of hindering the plot. The “hocus pocus” part makes the story a little less relatable to a real life story, but I enjoy the way the author went about it. As I was reading, I found myself asking a lot of the same questions Tilly was asking herself, and in that sense I think I took away a lot from this story, making The One That I Want be added to my Favorites list.

Rating: 4/5

Handbags and Homicide by Dorothy Howell

I was looking forward to reading back to back chick lit mysteries. After finishing up the Lacy Fields novels from Janice Kaplan, I moved on to the Haley Randolph series from Dorothy Howell. The first, Handbags and Homicide, sounded like it could provide enough entertainment, but it definitely fell flat with me. The heroine Haley reminded me of Sophie Kinsella’s shopaholic, Rebecca Bloomwood, but without the likeability. She’s in massive debt, has an addiction to designer handbags, and working at a minimum wage position in a low scale retail store. Instead of finding some sort of work ethic and paying off debts, she continues to slouch through life, racking up extreme credit card purchases and showing no sign of changing. That alone put me off, but then comes the mystery part. When Haley finds the retail store’s assistant manager dead in the stockroom, she becomes a suspect in the crime. She sets off her own half-assed investigation, which I found to be pointless and overly long-winded, and eventually the real killer was uncovered and I could finally stop reading this book. I knew right away I wasn’t going to like this story when Haley finds her deceased boss, then walks away from him and decides she needs to buy another purse. What?? The supporting characters were not well written, most times I couldn’t decipher between characters or couldn’t remember who they were and why they were being talked about. I couldn’t finish this novel fast enough, and have zero interest looking into any of the other Haley Randolph books.

Rating: 1/5

Author Profile: Allison Winn Scotch

Author Name: Allison Winn Scotch

Website: http://www.allisonwinn.com/

Bio: Allison Winn Scotch graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Honors History and Concentration in Marketing from the Wharton School of Business. After working in the PR, marketing and internet worlds, she discovered that there’s nothing finer than working for yourself, working from home and getting paid to write full-time. She worked as a freelance magazine scribe for magazines such as Glamour, Self, Shape, Redbook, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Family Circle, InStyle Weddings,  Bride’s, Cooking Light, Parents, American Baby. More currently, Allison primarily focuses on celebrity interviews and profiles.

Titles: The Department of Lost and Found, Time of My Life, The One That I Want.

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