Author Profile: Deborah Cloyed

Author: Deborah Cloyed

Website: http://www.deborahcloyed.com/

Bio: DEBORAH CLOYED lives in Los Angeles, in Humphrey Bogart’s old room with a view. As a photographer, travel writer, or curious nomad, she’s previously resided in London, Barcelona, Thailand, Honduras, Kenya, and New York City. She’s traveled to twenty other countries besides, several as a contestant with her childhood best friend on CBS’ The Amazing Race. She runs a photography school for kids and is happily at work on her next book – a nonlinear love story set against the political violence in Kenya 2007-2008.

Titles: The Summer We Came to Life

See my review of The Summer We Came to Life

 

Debut Author and Titles: January 2012

Debut Authors and Titles – January 2012

 

Title: Point, Click, Love

Author: Molly Shapiro

Available: January 1, 2012

Synopsis: In Molly Shapiro’s fun and sexy debut novel, four women try to sort through the wild and complicated world of text messaging, status updates, and other high-speed connections.  

Best friends and fellow midwesterners Katie, Annie, Maxine, and Claudia are no strangers to dealing with love and relationships, but with online dating and social networking now in the mix, they all have the feeling they’re not in Kansas anymore. Katie, a divorced mother of two, secretly seeks companionship through the Internet only to discover that the rules of the dating game have drastically changed. Annie, a high-powered East Coast transplant, longs for a baby, yet her online search for a sperm donor is not as easy—or anonymous—as she anticipates. Maxine, a successful artist with a seemingly perfect husband, turns to celebrity gossip sites to distract herself from her less-than-ideal marriage. And Claudia, tired of her husband’s obsession with Facebook, finds herself irresistibly drawn to a handsome co-worker. As these women navigate the new highs and lows of the digital age, they each find that their wrong turns lead surprisingly to the right click and, ultimately, the connection they were seeking.

 

Title: Julia’s Child

Author: Sarah Pinneo

Available: January 31, 2012

Synopsis: A delectable comedy for every woman who’s ever wondered if buying that six-dollar box of organic crackers makes her a hero or a sucker.
Julia Bailey is a mompreneur with too many principles and too little time.  Her fledgling company, Julia’s Child, makes organic toddler meals with names like Gentle Lentil and Give Peas a Chance. But before she can realize her dream of seeing them on the shelves of Whole Foods, she will have to make peace between her professional aspirations and her toughest food critics: the two little boys waiting at home. Is it possible to save the world while turning a profit?
Julia’s Child is a warmhearted, laugh-out-loud story about motherhood’s choices: organic vs. local, paper vs. plastic, staying at home vs. risking it all.

 

Title: Bond Girl

Author: Erin Duffy

Available: January 24, 2012

Synopsis: When other little girls were dreaming about becoming doctors or lawyers, Alex Garrett set her sights on conquering the high-powered world of Wall Street. And though she’s prepared to fight her way into an elitist boys’ club, or duck the occasional errant football, she quickly realizes she’s in over her head when she’s relegated to a kiddie-size folding chair with her new moniker—Girlie—inscribed in Wite-Out across the back.

No matter. She’s determined to make it in bond sales at Cromwell Pierce, one of the Street’s most esteemed brokerage firms. Keeping her eyes on the prize, the low Girlie on the totem pole will endure whatever comes her way—whether trekking to the Bronx for a $1,000 wheel of Parmesan cheese; discovering a secretary’s secret Friday night slumber/dance party in the conference room; fielding a constant barrage of “friendly” practical jokes; learning the ropes from Chick, her unpredictable, slightly scary, loyalty-demanding boss; babysitting a colleague while he consumes the contents of a vending machine on a $28,000 bet; or eluding the advances of a corporate stalker who’s also one of the firm’s biggest clients.

Ignoring her friends’ pleas to quit, Alex excels (while learning how to roll with the punches and laugh at herself) and soon advances from lowly analyst to slightly-less-lowly associate. Suddenly, she’s addressed by her real name, and the impenetrable boys’ club has transformed into forty older brothers and one possible boyfriend. Then the apocalypse hits, and Alex is forced to choose between sticking with Cromwell Pierce as it teeters on the brink of disaster or kicking off her Jimmy Choos and running for higher ground.

Fast-paced, funny, and thoroughly addictive, Bond Girl will leave you cheering for Alex: a feisty, ambitious woman with the spirit to stand up to the best (and worst) of the boys on the Street—and ultimately rise above them all.

 

Title:  Blame It on the Fame

Author:  Tracie Banister

Available: January 2012

Synopsis:  A power-trippin’ bitch, a has-been, a skanky ex-model, a press-shy indie queen, and a British stage actress no one knows – this is how the Best Actress hopefuls in this year’s too-close-to-call Oscar race cattily describe each other.  Which of them will win the much-coveted gold statue and what price will they be forced to pay as they travel the red carpeted-path to Hollywood glory?

 

Amidst all the press-schmoozing and angsting over which designer gown to wear, these Oscar contenders feud, commiserate, and face a succession of personal crises – scandalous secrets come to light, marriages implode, accidents land two nominees in the hospital while another receives news that could derail her career, all culminating on Tinsel Town’s biggest night when anything can happen, and does.

 

Interview with Lauren Clark

Did you always wanted to be a writer? Yes. For as long as I can remember. Of course, my parents always remind that I also wanted to be an Indian princess named Tiger Lily, but that dream was more short-lived. On a serious note, I do have fond memories of spending my summer days toting stacks of books back and forth from my house to our town’s library. It always seemed like a magical place, with endless stories to get lost in.

 

You worked as both an anchor and producer after graduate school. How did that influence the writing of Stay Tuned? So much! It was an accident, really, getting into broadcast journalism. I always thought of myself as a behind the scenes kind of girl, but after my first day on the job, I loved it and stuck with it for the next 6 years. Working in television is never boring. There’s always a story, always the next show. The camaraderie in the newsroom is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. It’s like living in a big, loud, mostly happy, very dysfunctional family every day.

 

What gave you the idea for Stay Tuned? True story:  A few months before I took my first television job as a part-time health reporter, the two main anchors at one of the local television stations (who were romantically involved) got into a fistfight. They were outside the building, in the station parking lot. Shortly thereafter, they were both fired. In the months that followed, the two of them bantered back and forth in newspaper editorials, threatened lawsuits, and fueled all sorts of crazy retaliation stories. I never forgot about that incident and always thought about what might happen if such a fistfight happened on air, during a newscast. What would happen? How would it be handled? Who would fix this kind of mess?

 

What did you learn from being on air? It’s very humbling, really. As a producer, especially, you are in charge of what’s being put out there—the news stories people watch and talk about each day. It’s a big responsibility to get it right. Not just sometimes, but all of the time. There were many sobering days—car accidents, house fires, school shootings—and those stories should be told with sensitivity and care. It’s someone’s son, daughter, or parent. Everyone matters.

 

What was your most memorable experience as an anchor or reporter?  

I was on set during 9-11. I remember sitting there with our weatherman and waiting to be cued to go back on air after the commercial. CBS cut in and showed footage from a plane crashing into the Twin Towers. It was surreal and awful. We were all in shock. It didn’t seem possible. All I wanted to do was go home and hug my son.

 

Was it a difficult decision to leave television? Yes and no. I loved so many parts of broadcasting. I was able to meet fascinating people – Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro, then-New York Attorney General Elliott Spitzer among many others. I adored the people I worked with, especially the folks behind the scenes. I was also fortunate enough to win several AP awards for anchoring and reporting.

 

On the flip side, I worked crazy hours (2 am – 10 am) and, as is typical in the industry, I received very little vacation time. I anchored every holiday (Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, you name it) and wasn’t able to spend much time with my young son. After more than six years, I “retired” from TV news. It was then that I really started to get serious about writing fiction.

 

How long did it take to write Stay Tuned? About five years, all said and done. I wrote several other novels before that—and those manuscripts will never see the light of day! When I began Stay Tuned, I had just given birth to my second son, so my writing time was very limited. After putting it away for several years, I picked it back up about 12 months ago, brushed it off, and had an editor-friend look it over. We made some changes, tweaked the story, and fine-tuned the plot. A few months back, I was offered a contract with a small publishing company. Another friend introduced me to the talented and fabulous Emlyn Chand at Novel Publicity, who helped guide me through the entire publishing process. It’s been a wonderful journey!

 

What’s next? A sequel or a stand-alone novel? Dancing Naked in Dixie is next (stand alone title) and I’m so excited to share that it’s been selected as a finalist for the 2011 Chick Lit Writers “Get Your Stiletto in the Door” Contest (Winner will be announced December 20, 2011.) Here’s the link: http://chicklitwriters.com/stiletto-contest/stilettocontest/stiletto-winners/

 

Dancing Naked follows the story of a talented but scattered travel magazine writer who returns from overseas only to find out she’s on the verge of getting fired. To save her job, she reluctantly accepts an assignment in the Deep South. She’ll be writing an article about Eufaula, Alabama’s annual Pilgrimage event, which is a long-standing spring tour of antebellum mansions (the location is featured in the Reese Witherspoon’s movie, Sweet Home Alabama). Upon arriving in Eufaula, Julia falls in love with the area, its cast of charming characters, and her handsome tour guide. When she discovers that a developer has big plans to buy up many of the historic homes and turn the area into a tourist site, it’s up to Julia to save the day.

 

What is your writing schedule like? With two growing, active boys and a busy husband, finding time to write is like looking for a missing Lego piece in a houseful of toys (Moms should appreciate that!) I often get up very early and write while everyone else is asleep or go to the lovely campus of our local university and shut myself in a study room. I love it there because I have to shut off my phone and I don’t have the password for an internet connection! No distractions! Of course, I do frequent two or three local coffee shops and draw inspiration from my daily dose of caffeine and good friends!

 

Who are your favorite writers? Favorite books? Gosh, there are so many! My all-time favorites include Emily Giffin, Sophie Kinsella, Jodi Picoult, Alice Hoffman, Jennifer Weiner, Chris Bohjalian, John Grisham, Amanda Eyre Ward, and Lisa See. I also love Lisa Scottoline, Janet Evanovich, and James Patterson. Favorite books include: Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees, Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, and Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (this is a children’s book that I’ve read over and over to my two boys).

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Read. A lot. Write. A lot. Revise. A lot. I’m not joking.

Anyone can write. Writing well is different. It takes focus, tenacity, and determination. I’ve heard Stephen King quoted as saying, “The first million words are practice. Malcolm Gladwell, in Outliers, says, “It takes 10,000 hours of purposeful practice to become expert at anything.” Just to be clear, at 4 hours a day (28 hours a week), that’s 7 years. I’m not quoting the experts to scare anyone or be a harbinger of doom. It’s the truth.

Pick up a copy of Stephen King’s On Writing. It’s brilliant and so true and funny in so many sections. My copy is ragged and well-worn! If you’re serious about becoming an author, learn as much as you can. Read blogs and books about the craft, network with other writers, or go to a writer’s conference. Edit your work. Proofread. Be professional, always. And above all, write!

 

 

 

Interview with Chandra Hoffman

Where did the inspiration for Chosen come from?

CHOSEN was influenced and shaped by a trail of experiences and opportunities. It wasn’t as though I chose the adventures so I could write about them, but the stories shaped my life, and subsequently, a novel.

In 1995 I was a senior at Cornell University when I connected with a professor who wanted an aide worker to go into a Romanian orphanage and hospital where her own adoption was stalled. I volunteered, flying to Bucharest alone, not knowing the language or the social complexities that had created a country where most orphans were not without parents, just abandoned to a state-run foster care. I only knew I loved babies and travel, adventure. It was overwhelming, (I was given fifty infants my first day) and heartbreaking, nearly impossible for me to leave Bucharest to finish my degree at last I did. (You can read more about Romania here: http://www.chandrahoffman.com/blog/2010/7/23/digging-up-the-past-part-1-of-2.html)

After college, I couldn’t stop thinking about adoption, about the circumstances surrounding new life that will shape it forever. At the end of several years abroad, I applied for a position at an international adoption agency and ended up as the director of their US program, the sole caseworker juggling birthmothers and waiting families. I fell in love with both the city of Portland and the heady allure of a job so full of promise.

Like Chloe Pinter, I went into it with the intention of creating happy endings. Similar to when I stepped off the plane in Romania, I quickly scrambled to learn a new language and subculture; the business side of adoption. But as the months passed, I got too attached. I cried and raged at some adoptions that fell apart, and just as painfully for some that went through. I left not because I no longer believed in adoption, but because the potential for joy and heartache walking the razor’s edge was no longer something I was able to agent — my skin had become too thin.

Faced with our own pregnancy and an unexpected diagnosis at our first son’s birth, I pondered some of the deeper issues that formed the backbone of this novel. How does parenthood change you? How will the challenges you face shape you as a couple? What happens when your expectations of parenthood are so far from the reality? What makes a good parent? A good person? What happens when you get what you thought you wanted?

All of these courageous people whose lives had touched mine so intimately rattled around with me as I adjusted to that first year of new parenthood. Driving home from a pre-dawn airport run, exhausted from getting up to hang bottles for my newborn’s feeding tube, I stopped to get gas at a filling station not far from the very place where a child was abducted in my hometown twenty years earlier. Knowing this, I still fantasized about not lugging the car seat and its precious cargo out with me just to run in for a bottle of water… But what if I didn’t?

The idea for this novel was born out of that single scene. A mother so exhausted her judgment lapses; a grief-stricken, empty-armed father who takes advantage of this. The story is fiction—characters and settings and scenarios are as though I took a handful of experiences, marinated them in a childhood paranoia of abduction, seasoned them with the salt of my vivid imagination, put the whole thing in a bag and shook it up—but the themes are real, from my own life and from those I have been privileged to witness.

 

Are you currently working on another novel?

Last year on book tour in Santa Monica I was sleeping with the windows open to hear the ocean, and I dreamed the plot of my next novel–a love story set in the steamy Caribbean summer where the tragedies are not what they seem to be, and a hint of mystery. I’m so excited to share it with readers soon!

 

 What are some books that you have read recently and really enjoyed?

When I’m actively writing a novel, I tend to read more nonfiction and memoir so that I can stay consistent in my own narrative voice. As a gardener, I’ve been on a locavore food movement kick. Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Vegetable Miracle was an inspiration, and Kristin Kimball’s The Dirty Life a fascinating account of following your heart. I love the idea of being more connected to what we eat and creating a more sustainable lifestyle. I’ve been campaigning hard for chickens and recently had a little foray into goats… You can read about that here: http://www.chandrahoffman.com/essays/in-over-my-caprine-head.html

I love gardening beside my kids and creating an appreciation for food and the miracle of life, the return of spring after our icy winters. I know there is more of this in my future.

 

What are some hobbies outside of writing?

There’s a joke that my family of origin bred for brains, so it’s a wonder that sports take up so much of my hobby time, since I’m not a natural athlete. I’ve been running for years, see link: http://www.chandrahoffman.com/essays/running-for-my-life.html

which keeps me sane, and I play field hockey from March to November in a Philly sports league. After moving from the Caribbean where we mostly enjoyed water sports, my husband suggested we had better take up ice hockey in the Pennsylvania winter or we’d go nuts cooped up indoors with three little kids. I didn’t know how to skate but it turned out to be brilliant! We all play–even my littlest is putting on the pads–and I love that our town has an outdoor skating pavilion, so that I’m getting exercise and my critical time outdoors even in the long gray winter months. Ten years ago I never would have thought we’d be a hockey family, with my husband building a backyard rink and the Flyers obsession and our winter weekends having as many as twelve games, but it does keep us occupied, active and sane.

 

Where would be your dream vacation?

I’ve heard that you’re either a mountain person or a beach person. I’ve lived in the Caribbean and that breathtaking point where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet in Tarifa, Spain, and I’ve lived in the mountains of Breckenridge, Colorado. While I can appreciate the beauty of mountains and enjoy hiking and snowboarding, I know for sure I’m an ocean girl. Relaxing and swimming and playing on the beach with my family and a pile of books and an umbrella drink is where it’s at for me.

Connect with Chandra!

www.chandrahoffman.com

Facebook: Chandra Hoffman, Author

Twitter @chandraKhoffman

Interview with Ella Slayne

What made you want to write High-Heels and Slippers?

I had always liked the idea of writing a full length novel but I completely lacked the courage to do it.  When my Uncle Alan passed away suddenly, it was the catalyst I needed to get started.  It was a sharp reminder that life can be short and I decided not to waste anymore time.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Nearly four years. Of course I thought I’d finished after a year and half which shows how little I knew!

What was the hardest part in the writing process for you?

I think one of the hardest parts of the writing process for me was learning how to take negative feedback in a constructive way and not let letting it send me into the depths of depression!  At first I found it very hard to move on from a critique but actually I found that my book improved after I worked through feedback.  Now, I find that negative criticism is often the most valuable because it helps me improve as a writer.

What were some of your favorite scenes to write?

Well I like a bit of romance, and I was always rooting for Josie and Callum to get together, so it was fun writing scenes between their characters.  I also enjoyed writing the scenes with Tom in England, even though they were emotional.  It was cathartic in a way and my intention was always to write a chick-lit story with a poignant twist; I wanted Josie’s character to have layers. I hope I managed that!

What made you decide to give Josie her own blog?

Starting Josie’s blog was a huge learning curve for me.  I was completely new to the blog world but I wanted to test the market and see if there was an audience for a character like Josie.  Besides I felt she had a lot more to say than just what was in the book so the blog was a good outlet for her!  I’m so glad I did it, even though I was petrified at first.

Are you currently working on another novel?

Yes I am and I hope to release it in the Spring of 2012!  It’s called “Holding Me Up – A Life Without Jasmine” and it’s about Trisha Miller, a bereaved mother, trying to find a way to move on from the grief of losing her daughter.  It’s starts off in a dark place but I pull her out to somewhere good in the end!

You also do voiceover work. How did you become involved in this?

Back in England my plan, since I was a child, was to become an actress.  I studied Drama at Manchester University and then trained as an actress at the Webber Douglas Academy in London.  However everything was put on hold when I started having kids and moved to Belgium! A few years ago I made the decision to move forward with a voice-over career because I thought it would be flexible enough to fit around my family life.  I am proud to say that I’ve recently become a volunteer reader to the Dallas Reading Resource center which provides a huge variety of audio material for those people who can’t read. It’s a fantastic facility, they reach out to so many people, and it feels good to be using my training for such a good cause.

If you could be on any reality show, which one would you choose?

That is so easy! I am a HUGE fan of American Idol and The X Factor so I would have to be on one of those.  Although I’d prefer to be a judge if possible because it must be absolutely nerve-wracking to be a contestant!

Where would be your dream vacation?

I would be alone in an old stone cottage, half-way up a hill somewhere with a view of the sea, there would be a log fire, a steaming coffee pot, a tray set with jam and scones and a bookshelf crammed with books.  The only sounds would be the crackling fire, waves crashing back and forth and rain lashing against the windows.  I would be wearing cozy jeans, a pair of fleece slippers and a huge, but stylish, baggy jumper and I wouldn’t wash my hair for days! Ooh when can I go?

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

My advice to anyone wanting to start writing is the same advice I tell myself all the time (and it’s also the title of a FAB book by Susan Jeffers which I always recommend because you can apply it to all aspects of life): “Feel the fear – and do it anyway!”  Just get started and don’t delete ANYTHING at first. Let the story come out; there’ll be plenty of time to edit your work later.

 

Interview with Amanda Strong

What inspired you to write With Just One Click?

The inspiration behind the novel was friends and friends of friends who have lived through similar situations.

 

There are three female leads in the story. Was it difficult writing from three different perspectives?

I never felt writing from three different perspectives was difficult.  The stories set them apart from one another and that helped me focus on each individual character without any confusion.

 

How did you write the different POV’s? Did you work on one woman at a time, or tackle them all together?  

This might some strange, but I wrote the book exactly how it’s published.  I wrote the three different women, one after the other, and followed that routine for each chapter.  As a writer, I wanted to see the progress of each character step by step.  I wanted to be like the reader, following their development at the same time throughout the book, almost parallel stories synchronized on three tracks set to the same pace.   I also didn’t want to leave a character for too long, because I believed it was very important to give each equal time and attention.

 

Out of the whole writing and publishing process, what did you find most difficult?

When you’re independently publishing a novel, everything falls solely on your shoulders. Each decision has to be weighed carefully, because one mistake could derail your whole project.  The attention to detail, and the specific choices you make as the one person who is responsible for this novel is time consuming, stressful, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. These reasons alone make the final preparations before officially publishing a book a difficult one.

 

Are you working on any other writing projects?

I’ve written a few articles that have been published recently all revolving around social networking. I also have started an outline for the next novel, and hope to have that finished sometime next year.

 

Will you ever follow-up from the characters in With Just One Click?

Many readers have asked me if I would be willing to write a sequel or follow-up to the book.  I would never rule anything out, because I do feel these characters have many more things left in their stories to explore.

 

What do you think are some of the biggest benefits of having Facebook?

First, I think the ability to reconnect with old friends is the number one benefit of Facebook.  I also see Facebook as an amazing tool for businesses and even authors like myself.  The ability to connect with an extraordinary amount of people at a time is an unbelievable advantage.

 

And what are some of the biggest downfalls or Facebook?

Well, I think the biggest benefits of Facebook unfortunately cause the biggest downfalls. The ability to reach out to virtually anyone and check-in on what they are doing with their lives is sometimes too tempting to pass up.  This curiosity can lead to infidelity and people spying on exes, just to name a few.  Facebook doesn’t have many rules to live by so that point alone makes this type of communication dangerous and one where people need to be cautious.

 

Where would be your dream vacation?

Turks-Caicos

 

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

This is the best time to be a writer, because of the rise of self-publishing and the ability to connect with people you wouldn’t otherwise have known through social networking(ironic, I know). Take every opportunity, always believe in yourself, and accept criticism.  As with everything, I believe you can never stop learning and trying to become better.  Writing is like being an artist, it’s subjective and open to judgement, but with hard work and dedication the opportunities are endless.

 Connect with Amanda!

http://byamandastrong.blogspot.com/

http://amanda-strong.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Strong/122253571179517
http://twitter.com/#!/_amanda_strong_

Author Profile: Tess Hardwick

Author Name: Tess Hardwick

Website: http://tesshardwick.com/

Bio: Tess Hardwick is a novelist and playwright.S he has a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California.

Like her main character in Riversong, Tess is from a small town in southern Oregon. She currently lives in Snoqualmie, Washington with her husband, two small daughters and a teenage stepson. She is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade Mountains from her home office window.

She was an active member of the theatre community in Seattle as an actor and director during the late nineties. In 2000 she wrote her first full-length play, My Lady’s Hand which subsequently won the 2001 first place prize for new work at the Burien Theatre.

A voracious reader, Tess’s favorite thing to do is to curl up on a rainy and read. She also enjoys movies, theatre, wine, food and spending time with friends and family.

Tess is busy working on her second novel, an historical fiction set in 1930’s Alabama inspired by a short story written by her great-grandmother.

See my review of Riversong

 Bio Retrieved from tesshardwick.com

 

 

 

 

Debut Author and Titles- November 2011

Debut Authors and Titles- November 2011

 

Title: One Little White Lie

Author: Pricilla Bleik

Synopsis: India Roman has always come second best. Growing up with a clinically depressed sister, overbearing mother and then settling for a controlling marriage to a much older man, India is used to accepting what little life throws at her. When her husband leaves her with two young children and a mortgage, on the same day her sister goes missing after successfully auditioning in the first round for the world’s premier talent show, India decides to take a chance on herself. Taking her sister’s place on the talent show, India lies about her age and pretends to be her sibling to make it through to the finals. But there is more than one dark secret in her past, and just when it seems that India might finally come first, a shocking revelation rears up to steal the limelight once more.

Available: ebook in November and paperback early 2012.

 

Title: The Bollywood Breakup Agency

Author: Naina Gupta

Synopsis: Twenty-six-year-old Neela Solanki’s family is fed up with her rude refusal to either work or marry any of the eminently suitable men put before her, so they cut her off without a penny. Unable to make her designer ends meet, Neela stumbles upon a unique business idea – a breakup agency that helps ‘de-arrange’ unsavoury Indian engagements. However, Neela’s brash attitude to her culture soon comes back to haunt her, when she finds love in the most unusual of places.”

Available: ebook in November and paperback early 2012.

Title: Destined To Fail

Author: Samantha March

Synopsis: Jasmine Jones is ready to begin her new life as a college student, and is ecstatic to have best friend Abby by her side. But weeks into their new college life, Abby drops the bomb- she is pregnant, and dropping out of college. Jasmine can’t handle the fact that Abby is wasting her opportunity to get an education, and going back to her cheating, abusive boyfriend. She struggles to move on from her friendship with Abby, but befriends two new girls at college. Everything seems back on track for Jasmine- great new friendships and roommates, a strong relationship with boyfriend Nate, and excelling at her college courses. But Jasmine’s newfound happiness is shattered when her pregnancy test comes out positive. Does she have to drop out of college now and become a young mother? Will Nate stay with her? How can she afford a child? Jasmine’s life has been filled with obstacles and challenges along the way- from a missing father, sexual and physical abuse, and addictions that tore her family apart. With this latest setback, Jasmine fears her life will always be a struggle. Destined to Fail is one woman’s story about overcoming adversity in life, about taking the negatives and finding a positive, and about never giving up hope.

Available: November 2011

 

Title: Unscripted

Authors: Natalie Aaron & Marla Schwartz

Synopsis: As a producer on a reality dating show, Abby Edwards knows that true love is a myth. Her career and her friends are all she needs. Right?

When her screenwriter ex makes a hit movie based on their relationship, Abby’s faults are projected on screens across the country. Suddenly the fact that her job depends on orchestrating hot tub hook-ups doesn’t seem so impressive.

Her friends rally to help. Zoë thinks she needs to meet a guy. Stephanie suggests an attitude adjustment. Nancy wants her to get in touch with her inner Goddess. Abby knows they mean well, but she prefers to focus on her work. Unfortunately, she’s already embarrassed herself in front of her new boss, Will Harper, who she would find totally crush-worthy if he weren’t so irritating.

Abby’s about to be reminded that life doesn’t follow a script—and good things happen when you least expect it…

Available: November 2011

Debut Authors and Titles- October 2011

Debut Author and Titles- October 2011

 

Title: Miracle on Regent Street

Author: Ali Harris

Available: October 13

Synopsis: Dreams can come true – it could happen to you…For the past two years, Evie Taylor has lived an invisible existence in London, a city she hoped would bring sparkle to her life. But all that is about to change. For winter has brought a flurry of snow and unexpected possibilities. Hidden away in the basement of Hardy’s – once London’s most elegant department store – Evie manages the stockroom of a shop whose glory days have long since passed. When Evie overhears that Hardy’s is at risk of being sold, she secretly hatches a plan. If she can reverse the store’s fortunes by December 26th – three weeks away – and transform it into a magical destination once again, she might just be able to save it. But she’s going to need every ounce of talent and determination she has. In fact, she’s going to need a miracle.

 

Title: The Camera Never Lies

Author: Tess Daly

Available: October 13

Synopsis: Britt Baxter is unaware of the effect she has on people. A big-hearted, no-nonsense northern girl, she naturally looks for the best in everyone she meets, but in her attempts to make it as model she finds she struggles against being pinned down on the casting couch by the most unlikely people…

So when a happy accident lands her a career as a presenter on breakfast television, it looks as if she has made it out of the modelling world of close-ups and cattle calls and into the big time – or at least daytime TV.

But scarcely has Britt had time to wonder at how far she has come, when backstage machinations propel her with ever increasing speed through a series of trapdoors and she soon realises that the drama backstage far eclipses anything that happens in front of the camera.

Tess Daly has written a fast-paced novel with perfect comic timing and as many twists and turns in the plot as her heroine has costume changes. With language that fizzes on the page, enough romance to make the Sex and the City girls blush and a cast of characters that includes American-smoothie heartthrob Hollywood reporter Josh Bailey, Rise and Shine’s co-hosts Cherry Smith – known for her tinkling laugh and penchant for toyboys – and lecherous family man Ken Chudleigh who always has a hand in the cake tin. The Camera Never Lies is both hilarious and hair-raising, a glamorous and revealing tale of love behind the scenes from the popular Strictly Come Dancing presenter.

 

 

Title: The Night Before Christmas

Author: Scarlett Bailey

Available: October 27

Synopsis: All Lydia’s ever wanted is a perfect Christmas…

So when her oldest friends invite her to spend the holidays with them, it seems like a dream come true. She’s been promised log fires, roasted chestnuts, her own weight in mince pies – all in a setting that looks like something out of a Christmas card.

But her winter wonderland is ruined when she finds herself snowed in with her current boyfriend, her old flame and a hunky stranger. Well, three (wise) men is traditional at this time of year…

Interview with Meredith Schorr

How do you know being an author is the right choice for you?

I honestly do not know if it is the right choice for me forever.  I hope so, but we’ll see if I can keep coming up with book ideas!  I never thought about being an author until I started writing Just Friends With Benefits on a whim and loved every minute of it.  And I’ve enjoyed writing my second novel just as much.  As long as writing novels continues to make me happy, I assume I will keep doing it.
I read that you were interested once in writing books for children. Do you still have an interest for this?

Not at all.  After dabbling in children’s stories, I realized it wasn’t for me.  I’ve often thought about writing a Young Adult novel, but teenagers are so different now than they were back in my day.  (Yikes that made me sound REALLY old.)  I was a pretty innocent kid and don’t know if what I would write would appeal to a more sophisticated generation of teenagers.

 

Is any part of Just Friends With Benefits is based on your life?

Yes and no.  Stephanie is a lot like me and most of the other characters are inspired by people I’ve known.  That being said, the story itself is completely fictictious.  While some events/conversations might have actually taken place, they were used completely out of context.
I see that you are currently in the revision stage for your second novel. Can you tell us what this story will be about?

I’ve actually begun the torturous process of drafting my query letter and pitch!  Here’s what I have so-far.  It will be tweaked: “Exactly 365 days after breaking up with her high school sweetheart of nine years, 26 year-old Jane Frank is ready to fall in love again.  Although the plan is to be in a committed relationship by the time she starts law school the following year, Jane discovers that finding and maintaining a boyfriend in high school circa 1999 is entirely different than dating in NYC post-millenium.  When Jane finds herself on the receiving end of the silent ‘fadeaway’ three times too often, she is determined to take back control, but risks losing her friends, family and a little bit of her sanity in the process.”  The working title is “Taking Back The Fadeaway”.
Do you have a certain writing routine?

Actually I don’t. I work full-time and have a lot of other things going on that make it impossible for me to write every day.  I do belong to a writer’s group that meets every week.  And I try to write on lunch hours, while commuting, and often while waiting my turn for a hair or doctor’s appointment, and even online at the grocery store.  I do a lot of writing remotely on my phone.

 

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?

As far as the writing itself, I struggle the most with description.  I usually write the first draft pretty sparingly and then flesh it out during revisions.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?

EXTREMELY important.  Especially for e-published writers like myself whose books cannot be bought at brick & mortar stores.  There is definitely less chance of an impulse sale so getting yourself out there using social media is very helpful.
What are some of your pet peeves?

People who stop at the bottom of an escalator and just stand there.  Similarly, people who stop in the middle of a NYC city street to look up at a building or billboard without any thought to the fact that people are directly behind them.  People walking on the streets who don’t move to the side to send texts.  I think I have a lot of issues with commuters in NYC!!
What are a few things on your bucket list?

I would like to see one of my books in an airport book store.  Observing someone buy it would be even better!   I’m going to get a little corny here and say that I’d really like to fall in mutual love with the right person.  The right person is key as there have been a few wrong ones.  Oh, and the “mutual” part is key too!  Running a marathon is a possibility but I’m going to reserve judgement until I complete my first half marathon in September.
What is your advice to aspiring writers?

I believe writers should write the story they want to write and not only what they think will sell.  Also, writers should learn to take construction criticism and learn from it, but also be able to trust their own instincts.  There is a fine line between editing blindly based on someone else’s comments and being so stubborn (and foolish) that you aren’t able to see changes that could really improve your story.  Finally, I think aspiring writers should not be afraid to explore new options of publishing.  It’s a changing industry and there are a lot of different ways to publish.
Where would be your dream vacation?

I have so many dream vacations and they run the gamut in type. But common to all are good company, delicious food and drinks “a-plenty”!

Thank you to Meredith for this interview, and for going on tour with CLP Blog Tours! Be sure to check out my review of Just Friends With Benefits, and visit Meredith’s website!

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