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Author Profile: Daniella Brodsky

Author Name: Daniella Brodsky

Website: http://www.daniellabrodsky.com/index.htm
Bio: Daniella Brodsky was born in Queens, New York, in the town of Little Neck. She now lives in Australia, in the capital city of Canberra.
In between, Brodsky’s lived in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, Las Vegas, London, Connecticut, and Washington DC. She earned a BA from New York University in Greenwich Village, where creative writing instructors first hinted she may actually have something there. She was unconvinced, but kept being drawn back. Mere blocks away, it was in 2000 that she officially told that doubting voice to shove it when her first novel, DIARY OF A WORKING GIRL was published. DIARY OF A WORKING GIRL has been adapted by Disney for the feature film BEAUTY AND THE BRIEFCASE, starring Hilary Duff, debuting on ABC Family Network April 18, 2010.
Daniella Brodsky’s subsequent novels are THE VELVET ROPE DIARIES, and PRINCESS OF PARK AVENUE (all originally published by Penguin). It was with the release of her fourth novel, FEAR OF DRIVING, that Brodsky explored new geographical territory and understood how powerful place can be in a story. When she left New York City for rural Connecticut several years ago, it was such a fertile time for her imagination—driving, seeing how pumpkins grow on vines, not in a box at the corner bodega, deciding whether it’s safe to tiptoe past twelve deer on the way to her car.
Her new home in Australia offers novel experiences galore, and she’s discovered travel to be the most nourishing food for a creative mind.
Her first young adult novel, ONE TRICK PONY (Random House), was published in hardcover in 2007. Back when she could stay out past 10:30, Brodsky was also the creator and author of THE GIRL’S GUIDE TO NEW YORK NIGHTLIFE series, as well as a freelance magazine journalist. She has been featured on Good Day New York, The WB Morning News, NPR, and in The New York Times, The New York Post, and The Hartford Courant. Her nonfiction work has been published in leading publications such as Time Out New York, The New York Post, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Shape, and Self. Her next novel, VIVIAN RISING, will be published by Simon & Schuster this August. She continues to be fascinated by what makes us who we are and what we can do about it. Brodsky is working on three new novels and a non-fiction title about writing.
Titles: Never on a Sundae, The Girls Guides to New York Nightlife, Trick Pony, Princess of Park Avenue, Diary of a Working Girl, Velvet Rope Diaries, Fear of Driving, and Vivian Rising.

Bio Retrieved from www.daniellabrodsky.com

Blogpost: My Weight Woes

I have to say I am a bit bummed out today. I stepped on the scale after two weeks of trying to eat better, exercise more and….I have lost no weight. Not a pound, not even a half pound. I should have measured areas such as my waist, hips, and thighs, before I started, but I haven’t noticed a difference there either. My pants don’t seem looser, and I really don’t think I’ve lost any inches.
So what’s the deal? I highly dislike eating healthy, my taste buds will just not learn to accept green vegetables, and I crave Doritos every other hour. But I tried my best, cutting way back on my chip intake, eating fruit for my snacks instead of candy bars and cheez-it’s, and having a strawberry and banana smoothie in the mornings instead of pop-tarts for breakfast. I enjoy working out, often visiting the gym three times a week, along with doing workouts at home to DVDs or workouts I rip out of Shape magazine. So why am I not seeing any results? What more do I need to do? If someone tells me I have to completely cut out Doritos, I think I will be heartbroken.
I won’t give up just quite yet. By incorporating more fruits into my diet and choosing whole grain when it comes to bread and even pasta noodles, I feel like I am being better to my body. I will keep up with my workouts even when the perky blonde trainer tells me to smile and I feel an overwhelming urge to throw my socks at her. Today, I will go out and buy that pesky measuring tape to take down my inches, then see in another two-three weeks how I did. More to come…

Author Profile: Heather Wardell

Author Name: Heather Wardell

Website: http://www.heatherwardell.com/index.shtml
Bio: Growing up, I was an avid (rabid?) reader. I am a natural speed reader, regularly clocked at about 1200 wpm (I read Harry Potter 5 in just under three hours), and always have several books on the go and many more in e-book form on my Palm handheld.
I have always made up stories in my head, but never considered becoming a writer. Instead, I intended to be a high school music teacher. I was sidetracked by my enjoyment of my psychology courses in university, and ended up with a psychology degree with a concentration in computer science.
This took me to a major Canadian bank as a software developer. I stayed there for just over four years, and then went back to school to become an elementary school teacher. After four years teaching elementary school computer science, I took up the National Novel Writing Month challenge and attempted to write a novel in a month.
I succeeded, and the first draft of “Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo” was the result. I realized I love writing. I left teaching, and I haven’t looked back since!
In my non-writing time, I read, run, swim, crochet (I am on Ravelry and would be happy to add you as a friend!), take care of my 55 gallon aquarium and my cat Sapphire, and play clarinet. Generally not all at once.
Titles: Life, Love, and Polar Bear Tattoo; Go Small or Go Home; Seven Exes Are Eight Too Many; and Planning to Live.

Bio Retrieved from www.heatherwardell.com

Word of the Week: Setback

I have been noticing a certain word popping up continually this past week, and it got me thinking. The word of the week is setback, read some examples below:
Example 1: Lindsay Lohan on her recent failed drug test: “This was certainly a setback for me but I am taking responsibility for my actions and I’m prepared to face the consequences.”
Example 2: Jerry Jones on his Dallas Cowboys starting the NFL season 0-2: “It’s just something you can’t expect. You can’t anticipate it and you’ve got to realize it’s quite a setback.”
Even though I am a huge football fan and understand the demise of opening the season 0-2, Lindsay Lohan’s constant drug abuse and battles with the court may be a bigger issue. But that’s not really what I’m going for. Everyone has to deal with setbacks, and it’s how we handle these hurdles that build character.
A small example from my life: I was doing great on my better eating plan until the weekend came around and I visited fast food chains three times in two days. Certainly a setback for me. Maybe not a life changing one, but I still had to figure out how to get myself back on track after eating greasy food and gulping sugary sodas. I threw in an extra gym workout and pre-made my lunches for the week so I couldn’t be tempted again to grab McDonalds.
We have to remember, setbacks will always occur in our lives. The unexpected happens. When they do, we must pick ourselves back up, examine the problem and why the setback occurred, and prepare for facing the future in a better way. Whether that entails rehab from Lindsay, a new coach for Dallas, or simply better preparation skills, setbacks will not derail someone forever. It’s a minor glitch, one that wants to be fixed. So put a smile on your face and welcome some setbacks from time to time. You may realize how much better of a person you are after having to deal with one- or several- of these pesky problems.

Book Cover Vote

Author Kaira Rouda needs your help in choosing her latest book cover! Kaira has her choices narrowed down to two, and now she is letting the readers vote for their favorites. I had a tough time with this task! This is Kaira’s first women’s fiction novel, titled Here, Home, Hope, and I think it is excellent she is already involving her readers in the process. The voting will close tomorrow, Wednesday the 22nd at 5 pm. EST, so be sure to get your vote in right away. Please click the link below to get to Kaira’s Facebook page and place your vote there.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaira-Rouda-Books/125389587505763?v=photos&ref=ts#!/album.php?aid=26770&id=125389587505763

Author Profile: Lisa Unger

Author Name: Lisa Unger

Website: http://www.lisaunger.com/index.htm
Bio: Lisa Unger is an award winning New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. Her novels have been published in over 26 countries around the world.

She was born in New Haven, Connecticut (1970) but grew up in the Netherlands, England and New Jersey. A graduate of the New School for Social Research, Lisa spent many years living and working in New York City. She then left a career in publicity to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time author
Currently: Lisa currently lives in Florida with her husband and daughter.
Titles: Beautiful Lies, Sliver of Truth, Black Out, Die For You, and Fragile.

Bio Retrieved from www.lisaunger.com

Beauty Review: Too Faced Lip Injection

I recently tried the Too Faced Lip Injection product, and I have finally found a product that does what it promises! This lip gloss says it will give your lips a plumper look- up to 20% fuller lips with only one application. And it worked! When I slicked it for the first time, I felt a tingling sensation after about five minutes, and wondered if that was normal. After checking the website, I found that the tingling is very normal- it means it’s working! The Lip Injections include a Vitamin E Derivative, which increases blood circulation, plumping lips without creepy and costly injections. Lips appear fuller for up to four hours after application, making this my new favorite lip gloss. It is a little costly at $19 a tube, but I think it is worth the money!

Author Profile: Phillipa Ashley

http://phillipa-ashley.com/

Beauty Review: Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara/Eye Liner

I am still on the search for my favorite mascara, and I was really hoping that Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto would be the one. I was wrong. This mascara promises longer, thicker lashes with an added bonus of a black-patent shine. Well, I didn’t quite see any of those things. The first time I tried it, I thought maybe my lashes looked a bit longer. But within a few minutes of it drying, I didn’t notice the length anymore. And after that first time use, I didn’t notice length at all after applying. Thicker lashes- nada. And this shine I was supposed to see, which was the main reason I was so excited to buy this mascara? I sure didn’t notice anything shiner about my lashes. For $7.49 this wasn’t the priciest mascara, but I will definitely not be buying it again.
On a more positive note, I bought the Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner and I am hooked! The smaller tip gives me the flexibility of having a thin line or adding drama with a thicker line. It is good for extended wear, lasting through a night of dancing for me without smudging or disappearing. And I like that it doesn’t smear above my eyelids, once I put it on, it’s dry and in place. At only $5.94, I thought this was a good deal for a product that works!