It’s another girl for Jessica Alba and Cash Warren! The couple welcomed daughter Haven Garner Warren on Saturday, and Alba shared the good news on her Facebook page. “She was born on Saturday, weighed 7 lbs and was 19 inches long. Healthy and happy! Big sister Honor couldn’t be more excited about the new addition to our family.” Haven joins Honor Marie, 3.
Hilary Duff is pregnant! The former Disney star, who married pro hockey player Mike Comrie on August 14th last year, announced on her website the good news. “This weekend, Mike and I are celebrating our one year anniversary! In memory of the special day, we decided to post some of our favorite pictures from our wedding! I can’t believe it has already been a year. Time really flies when you’re having fun! We also want to share the exciting news that baby makes three! We are extremely happy and ready to start this new chapter of our lives. Thanks to everyone for the continued love and support throughout the years!” This will be the first child for Duff, 23, and Comrie, 30.
In My Mailbox: Week of August 14
Title: Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Received: From Denise Grover Swank via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: “It all started when I saw myself dead.” For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She’s had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone’s toilet’s overflowed, but she’s never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn’t enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect. Rose realizes she’s wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She’s well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won’t help with number fifteen– do more with a man. Joe’s new to town, but it doesn’t take a vision for Rose to realize he’s got plenty secrets of his own. Somebody thinks Rose has something they want and they’ll do anything to get it. Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn’t her biggest worry after all.
Title: Merciless
Author: Diana Palmer
Received: From Jaime at Planned Television Arts
Synopsis: Can she convince a man to let down his defenses when he’s set on guarding his heart? Tall, dark and eligible? That’s all that matters to the women of Jacobsville when it comes to handsome and aloof FBI agent Jon Blackhawk. But if it were up to him, he would never settle down. Luckily, Jon has the best gatekeeper: his efficient and reliable assistant, Joceline Perry. Without her help, he’d be at the mercy of husband hunters—but the more he comes to rely on her, the more he notices how invaluable she really is… While Joceline can’t deny that her boss is attractive, as a single mother with responsibilities she’s determined to be professional. But when Jon is accosted by a criminal seeking revenge, she comes to his aid—fueling the spark that is growing between them. As the attempts on Jon’s life increase, Joceline stands by his side. But when the smoke clears, will the man who avoided love realize that all he ever needed was right there all along?
Title: Goddess of Vengeance
Author: Jackie Collins
Received: From Ann-Marie @ Get Red PR
Synopsis: Lucky runs a high profile casino and hotel complex, The Keys in Vegas.
Lennie, her movie star husband, is still writing and directing successful independent movies, while Max, her stubborn and gorgeous teenage daughter is about to celebrate her 18th birthday, and her son, Bobby, owns a string of hot clubs. Lucky has everything. Family. Love. Life.
And everything is exactly what billionaire businessman Armand Jordan is determined to take from her one way or the other.
Born a Prince in the small but affluent Middle Eastern country of Akramshar, Armand comes to America with his American mother at an early age, and rises to become a real estate business titan. Armand regards women as nothing more than breeding mares or sexual playthings, so when his people inform him that the one property he covets more than anything, The Keys, is not for sale, he is shocked. That a mere woman would dare to turn down his offer to buy The Keys is unthinkable, and Armand vows to force Lucky’s hand whatever it takes. And so the battle for power begins . . .
Meanwhile Bobby is dealing with shady Russian investors, while his girlfriend—smart and independent Denver Jones—is becoming a Deputy D.A. in the L.A. drug unit.
And Max, Bobby’s seventeen year old sister, is busy embarking on a forbidden affair with a sexy young movie star. An affair they have to keep on the down-low lest Lucky finds out.
The word is that “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” and what happens in Goddess of Vengeance will blow your mind!
Title: Aftertaste
Author: Meredith Mileti
Received: From Kensington Books (unsolicited)
Synopsis: Mira Rinaldi lives life at a rolling boil. Co-owner of Grappa, a chic New York City trattoria, she has an enviable apartment, a brand-new baby, and a frenzied schedule befitting her success. Everything changes the night she catches her husband, Jake, “wielding his whisk” with Grappa’s new waitress. Mira’s fiery response earns her a court-ordered stint in anger management and the beginning of legal and personal predicaments as she battles to save her restaurant and pick up the pieces of her life. Mira falls back on family and friends in Pittsburgh as she struggles to find a recipe for happiness. But the heat is really on when some surprising developments in New York present her with a high stakes opportunity to win back what she thought she had lost forever. For Mira, cooking isn’t just about delicious flavours and textures, but about the pleasure found in filling others’ needs. And the time has come to decide where her own fulfilment lies – even if the answers are unexpected.
Lennie Ross is on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Blow Me Blow Me is the story of three single women—each close to forty and…
Author Name: Kathleen Kole
Website: http://kathleenkole.com/
Bio: Born in Edmonton AB, Kathleen began storytelling in grade school. She has many fond memories of passing summer afternoons, out on the swings in her backyard, creating tales that entertained her neighborhood friends.
When she finally decided to venture from her backyard, Kathleen pursued a career in storytelling. She graduated from college with a Diploma in Radio and Television Arts and traveled the path of freelance writing for numerous local newspapers.
Many years later, too many to talk about without seeming rude and nosey, Kathleen has channeled her imagination to the pages of her novels. She hopes that you enjoy her tales and encourages you to feel free to read her stories on the swing set in your own backyard.
Kathleen has traveled from Edmonton, to a new backyard with a lovely mountain view. She spends time there with her beloved husband, adored son and silly dog. They let her tell them stories and always laugh in all of the correct places. She’s lucky, and she knows it.
Titles: Breaking Even
See my review of Breaking Even
Bio Retrieved from kathleenkole.com
New! The Kitchen Shrink, A Novel by Dee DeTarsio If your life’s a mess, your house could probably use a makeover too! From TV writer…
Try, Try, Try…and Try Again.
By Brooke Moss
Thanks for having me here on Chick Lit Plus, I’m thrilled to be here!
Ever since I sold my debut novel, The What If Guy, to Entangled Publishing, I’ve been asked at least a dozen times for advice on how to break into the publishing world. And as much as I’d like to be able to share my amazing words of wisdom, and to map out the way to publication for all of the aspiring writers out there, I have to admit something:
I’m still as clueless as I ever was.
Well, maybe not quite as clueless as I was. After all, I was pretty clueless. But do I have all of the answers? No way, man. Not at all. Every day I move forward in this new career of mine, I learn more. I’ve learned about the editing process, and how grueling and painful it can be. I’ve learned about doing publicity for your books, and how time consuming that process is. I’ve learned about timelines and deadlines, and how important it is to learn the dying art of patience.
Since selling my book, I’ve been the student, so to speak. But I do have some sound advice for all of the aspiring writers out there. And this advice comes straight from the mouth of an author who was aspiring just a few short months ago. Follow these steps, and it may be your debut hitting the shelves next:
1.) Write a book. Don’t query it before it’s done. Sure, it’s tempting to do so, but it’s simply not a good idea. Because you never know how long your editing process might take, and if an agent or editor expresses interest in it, you’d hate to make them wait six months before it’s in the right shape to send. DON’T query a book that’s not finished. As the great Cherry Adair says, “Finish the damn book!”
2.) Once that book is finished, start editing. Now, this may take a while, and a few separate sets of eyes to look at it, but don’t get discouraged. Editing is a normal part of getting your book in the proper shape for querying. Take it from me, editing isn’t fun. Personally, I loathe it. But it is a necessary evil. So keep your chin up, and do it.
3.) Edit it again. I know, you were so happy when you thought you were done. You danced and celebrated and breathed a sigh of relief, because the worst was over…but no. The work is not done.
4.) Edit it again. Okay, okay, don’t stop reading…I promise that I know what I am talking about. Give your manuscript to a friend, and hand them a red pen. Ask them to mark anything that doesn’t read smoothly, or is confusing. When you get the manuscript back, go through it with new eyes, and fix fix fix.
5.) Write a query letter, and repeat steps three and four. That query letter is an agent or editor’s first impression of you. Make it short, sweet, and undeniably you.
6.) Make a list of agents and editors that you would love to work with. Never query an agent that you haven’t researched. You don’t want to wind up working with an agent that you don’t mesh well with, or have an unforeseen clash of personalities. Plus, what good does it do to query an agent or editor that only works with contemporaries, when you write paranormal, or vice versa? Do your research, and query the right options for you.
7.) Send the queries. And follow their guidelines! If they say no attachments, by gosh, they mean it. Don’t include a picture of yourself in a bikini, or send the first fifty pages of your manuscript, just because you think they’ll give it a chance out of pity. Not following their guidelines is a one way road into the slush pile.
8.) When you get rejected, and believe me, you will, don’t get down on yourself. This is part of the process, no matter how very much it sucks. And believe me, it sucks. Sometimes I even cried. The point is: Just keep sending out the queries. Thank each person who rejects you for pushing you even closer to the person who will offer you a contract.
9.) If you’ve been rejected more times than you can stand and you feel like you’re on the verge of a mental breakdown (which is totally normal) then table the book. Put it in a drawer and promise yourself to revisit it in six months. A year. A decade. Whatever feels right.
10.) Start a new book. I know, I know, now you’re rolling your eyes saying, Why the hell would I do that, when I’ve already written such a good book!? Believe me, I’ve been there. Here’s the deal: A writer who writes ONE great book is like shutting one’s self into a tiny room with no windows or doors. No room to expand. Write another book. Keep making up new worlds. Keep creating new characters. You never know when you’ll be given the chance to revisit that old book, but why limit yourself? Write another damn book.
11.) Edit the new book.
12.) Repeat steps one through nine. If that book doesn’t sell, repeat step ten.
Here is my point in a nutshell: Never give up. If you can’t sell one book, write another. Fine tune your skills. Go to conferences. Listen to lectures. Try new styles, perspectives, methods, etc. Never consider yourself to be at your best; otherwise you’ll never reach your best. Perfect your craft. The What If Guy was the fifth book I wrote. After I was offered a contract for it, my editor read on my website about a trilogy I’d written a few years ago, and asked to read it. This particular trilogy was rejected over forty times.
No, I’m not kidding.
The books you’ve tabled aren’t being forgotten. But never allow yourself to be so tethered to an old project that you’ve stagnated yourself. Keep trying. Try, try, try, try, try…and try again. That’s the best advice this debut author can offer to aspiring writers. Good luck to each and every one of you.
The What If Guy is available through Entangled Publishing, and I am thrilled to be sharing it with the world. It tells the tale of single mom, Autumn Cole, who is returning to the miniscule farming town of her youth, to reluctantly reclaim her role as daughter of the town drunk. Things become even more complicated when she realizes that her son’s history teacher is Henry, the college sweetheart she dumped, but never stopped loving. Be sure to grab a copy of The What If Guy, and then tell me what you think!
Find The What If Guy at Amazon, B&N, Books On Board, and at your local bookseller. A special thanks goes to Entangled Publishing for their amazing prizes and giveaways. Thanks guys!
Find me on the web at Website, Blog, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.
Fondly,
Brooke Moss
After losing her job at a swanky Seattle art gallery and finding out her father has been hospitalized, single mother Autumn Cole reluctantly returns to her tiny hometown of Fairfield, Washington to put the pieces of her life back together.
Her disgruntled twelve-year old son isn’t thrilled about going from hip to hick, but Autumn’s got it worse. She resumes her role as the daughter of the town drunk, promptly facing a crisis with her father that’s been decades in the making.
Running into Henry Tobler, and nearly breaking his nose, is almost more than she can handle, but can rediscovering love–and herself–with her “what if” guy teach Autumn to forgive before it’s too late?
I have one paperback copy of The “What If” Guy by Brooke Moss for giveaway! To enter, please leave a comment below. Please note this is for US/Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen on Wednesday, August 10. Thank you to Danielle at Entangled Publishing for sponsoring this giveaway!
In My Mailbox: Week of August 7, 2011
Title: The Last Page
Author: Lacy Camey
Received: From Lacy Camey via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Norah Johnson is at a crossroads and is in desperate need to heal after a highly publicized breakup from her major league baseball player boyfriend. To escape, she moves to her summer home at the beach with her sister and best friend where she journals, attends therapy and works on her pending clothing line. When a gorgeous stranger finds her lost journal, he seeks to find the author and make her fall in love with him. But is Norah ready to love again?
Book 1 in the romantic comedy trilogy of living, loving, and laughing again; a Norah Johnson story.
Title: Scorpio Rising
Author: Monique Domovitch
Received: From Monique Domovitch via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Some people have ambitions so great, that to achieve them, they must put aside all else. Alexander Yvanov is such a man. Born in Brooklyn from an embittered mother, he climbs his way to a better life in New York. Thousands of miles away, beautiful Brigitte Dartois, also has big dreams and raging ambitions. This is the story of two people whose single-minded obsessions are put to the test when they meet. Will they choose love or success?
Monique Domovitch takes us on a breathtaking journey of twists and turns, from New York to Paris, in this, her stunning first novel, Scorpio Rising.
Title: Q
Author: Evan Mandery
Received: From Harper Collins
Synopsis: “You must not marry Q.” This is the fateful and heartbreaking message delivered to the protagonist by someone who knows him very, very well, and it comes deep into a sweet courtship all around New York City. Yet Q is the love of his life and they are engaged to be wed. But for clear and painful reasons, he knows that for her sake, he can’t go through with it. And so his journey begins, and he must find a way to spare Q any pain and embark on any new path possible to happiness—or any semblance thereof.
According to Booklist, Q is “a deeply funny, seriously smart novel, at times both romantic and pragmatic. Fans of Mark Kurlansky and Matthew Norman will appreciate Mandery’s eloquently witty authorial voice.”
Title: Jennifer’s Garden
Author: Dianne Venetta
Received: From Dianne Venetta
Synopsis: Dianne Venetta lives in Central Florida with her husband and two children–and her part-time Yellow Lab (Cody!). An avid gardener, she spends her spare time growing organic vegetables. Surprised by the amazing discoveries she finds there every day, she wondered, “Who knew there were so many similarities between men and plants?” What began as a brief hiatus from writing has blossomed into an ever-expanding home garden and blog at BloominThyme.com — stop by and share some tips! When she’s not knee-deep in dirt or romance, Dianne contributes garden advice (challenged!) for various websites (a crazy existence to be sure). But at the end of the day, if she can inspire someone to stop and smell the roses–or rosemary!–kiss their child and spouse good-night, be kind to a neighbor and Mother Earth, then she’s done all right.
