People.com has announced that Britney Spears is keeping her jobs with Candie’s, the brand available through Kohl’s. The pop star signed on to be the face of Candie’s last March, starring in multiple ad campaigns since. The brand has said that they are renewing Spear’s contract throughout 2010, and will continue to appear in their advertisements and marketing campaigns.
Q: I absolutely love the story about how you met writers at a wedding and
how they encouraged you and gave you some great advice. If you hadn’t gone
to that wedding and gotten that encouragement, do you think you still would
have been a writer?
Definitely, but it would have taken me a lot longer to figure out the nuts and bolts of story/plot and the publication process. When I first got started, I had heard vague murmurings about literary agents and editors, but I had no clue what they really did and why an author might need them. I was very lucky to find a few mentors to guide me and help me form realistic expectations and patiently explain how to format a manuscript for submission, etc.
Q: What is your favorite part about the writing process?
Turning in the finished manuscript!
No, actually I love the spark of excitement that comes with the inspiration for a brand new story, the “what if…?” question that first gets the ball rolling and my initial meet-and-greet with fresh characters. (Yes, I host imaginary cocktail parties in my mind in order to mix it up with imaginary people, and then I embroil all these imaginary people in the juiciest scandals my depraved sensibilities can come up with. I love being a writer.)
I also love chatting up my writer friends. Most of my author buddies live in other states, but we regularly spend hours on the phone, bouncing plot ideas off each other. Just talking through plot problems with someone else can lead me to surprising solutions, and hearing about their work makes me feel less isolated; writers spend a lot of time sequestered alone in their offices, which can be very bad for one’s head state.
Finally, I love those hours when I’m so caught up in a scene, when the characters and the dialogue and the action are all clicking together and I can’t wait to get the next sentence typed out, that I forget where I am and what I’m doing and am transported, temporarily, out of the “real world” and into the story.
Q: Is there one character you have written about (or multiple!) that you
feel you really relate to, or where do you get your character inspirations?
You know, I’ve written a lot of characters who are similar to me in terms of background, but the characters I most identify with are probably Stella, the young “trophy wife” from Nearlyweds and Brooke, the former Sourthern belle in Second Time Around (coming April 2010)…even though I’m not at all like either of them on the surface! Stella and Brooke embody that feeling we all sometimes have that we don’t really fit in with our peer group and we can’t meet the expectations that the world has of us. They refuse to fit neatly into the stereotypes society has created for them. I think everyone can relate to that.
Q: How did you celebrate after your first novel was published?
A very wise author once advised me to buy myself a little present with every advance check because “you need to recognize and reward your own accomplishments and not expect constant validation from your publisher or your reviewers because that’s a one-way ticket to crazy town.” I still remind myself of this whenever I hit a new milestone in my career. Of course it’s important to plan for the future, but we need to live in the moment, too; celebrate what we’ve already accomplished and not immediately switch focus to the next goal.
So, when I sold my first book, I bought a bottle of good champagne, a million-calorie chocolate cake, and a classic black pearl and diamond pendant that makes me smile every time I wear it.
Q: How long does it take you to complete writing a book, from beginning to
end?
About 9 months. I can whip out a first draft pretty quickly, but I’m a very revision-intensive writer, so my first draft is just a jumping-off point. Then I roll up my sleeves, wade back in, and do lots of elaboration on character and theme and conflict. I spend about half my writing time revising. Everyone’s “process” is different, and my process is to be the Revision Queen.
Q: What is a “typical day” in the life of Beth Kendrick?
Well, I can tell you what my schedule was today:
-Drag self out of bed. Vow not to stay up too late again tonight.
-Check email.
-Get my toddler dressed, fed, and bundled off to preschool.
-Go to gym, slog through a few miles on treadmill, all the while thinking about the upcoming scene I need to write for my work-in-progress. (I wish I could write off my gym membership as a work expense, because I do a ton of brainstorming and problem solving in the cardio room!)
-Go home, shower, check email.
-Pick up toddler, eat lunch together.
-Naptime for toddler, work time for me.
-Check email and procrastinate for a bit by skimming celebrity gossip blogs.
-Write a few pages .
-Talk to agent about contract details for new book deal.
-Talk to author buddy about her current plotting issues, my current plotting issues, and celebrity gossip we have recently read online.
-Check email.
-Toddler awakens. Emerge from office and realize in dismay that house is trashed. Toys, stacks of paper, and dog hair abound. Swipe at countertop with damp dishcloth. Bust out vacuum cleaner. Vow to come back in next life as the love child of Martha Stewart and Cesar Millan the Dog Whisperer.
-Commence making dinner (white chili). Cease preparations upon realizing that one of the dogs has “counter-surfed” the bag of Great Northern Beans and distributed the contents all over the family room.
-“Hey, we’re having breakfast for dinner! Here’s your cereal and scrambled eggs! Isn’t Mommy madcap and fun?”
-Bath and bedtime for the toddler (insert choir of angels singing).
-Write a few more pages.
-Read a few chapters of book on nightstand. (Tonight = Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs by Michael J. Collins. Hilarious and incredibly well-written.) Stay up too late. Will curse self tomorrow morning. But, as long as I’m up, I might as well read a few more chapters.
-Lights out.
The epitome of glamour. I know you all are jealous.
Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures (TV shows, foods, etc…)?
Other than my shameful addiction to celebrity gossip blogs, you mean?
Food: Homemade mac and cheese made with extra sharp cheddar and gruyere, See’s candies.
TV: Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County”, MTV’s “Teen Mom”
I also have a thing for browsing online for ridiculously overpriced handbags. I almost never buy them, and then only on clearance, but for whatever reason, browsing through designer handbag is a balm for my soul. Perhaps I have an undiscovered Italian leather fetish?
Q: Do you have a favorite book or author?
Too many to list, but among my “desert island” library would be the complete works of Carol Shields, Jane Austen, Sandra Tsing Loh, and Michael J. Collins.
Q: What would be or is your favorite place to travel?
I hope to someday make it to what I refer to as “The Three A’s”: Australia, Alaska, and Antarctica.
J.L. Penn lives in the suburbs of Maryland with her husband and daughter. She has been an avid reader and writer all her life. Although writing a book is something she always wanted to do, it was not until a stroke of inspiration hit that she decided to seriously sit down and write. To her surprise, with a tiny kernel of truth and a lot of imagination, the words just flowed out and became Reunion. She is now actively working on an unrelated novel, and a sequel to Reunion is also in the works. J.L. (Jenn) enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, romantic comedies, and music when she’s not reading or writing.
Under Mother’s tutelage, Eva Pasco became a proficient typist by the age of nine and soon pounded chapter stories replete with dialogue on her girly-pink Tom Thumb typewriter. In high school she composed her first novella earning its own reserve shelf in the library. On the fast track of college, Ms. Pasco’s penchant for writing deferred to churning out term papers. Throughout a rewarding teaching career she dedicated her craft to drafting curriculum, developing student proficiency in creative writing, and penning poignant notes to her charges. Undergoing a mid-life renaissance, Ms. Pasco rekindled her passion for storytelling by composing fiction that taps into significant issues affecting the lives of women.
Eva Pasco resides in Rhode Island by the East Bay. She enjoys the splendor of sunset from a double-hung window in the office where her fingers dance over the keyboard whenever a notion pops into her head. Sometimes the cats allow her to work undisturbed. Life is good!
Jennifer Weiner was born in Louisiana on an army base, but grew up mostly in Simsbury, Connecticut. She attended Princeton University and graduated with a degree in English literature. She published her first novel, Good in Bed, in 2001, and has since published 7 more. Weiner has made many appearances on the popular TV programs The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, and The Martha Stewart Show. She has also been published in Seventeen, Salon, Redbook, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, and Elle.
Jennifer Weiner’s titles include: Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, Little Earthquakes, Goodnight Nobody, The Guy Not Taken, Certain Girls, Best Friends Forever, and her latest novel, Fly Away Home, is set to be published in July of 2010. In Her Shoes was turned into a motion picture in 2002, starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine.
Weiner currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband Adam, two daughters, Lucy and Phoebe, and their rat terrier, Wendell.
Sarah Jessica Parker has always shown us her love for fashion, from her famous Carrie Bradshaw outfits in Sex in the City to her red carpet choices. People.com is now reporting that Parker has signed on with the fashion brand Halston (she wore their designs in the upcoming Sex in the City movie) with an active design role, possibly even the role of creative designer for Halston Heritage, the company’s just-launched secondary collection. (Halston Heritage will feature pieces at contemporary price points.) The actress has past experience in creating and designing for fashion lines; she created the affordable apparel line Bitten for Steve & Barry in 2007.
Birth control is becoming increasingly popular for women these days, and not just to help prevent pregnancy. Birth control can help decrease cramps and PMS symptoms, help clear skin, even help decrease hair on the body! Women’s Health Magazine had an online quiz to take about knowledge on this oral contraceptive, and even though I’ve been on the pill myself for a number of years, I scored “contraceptive confused.”
For instance, I wasn’t aware that having the flu or other stomach alignment can lower the effectiveness of the Pill. Because the contraceptive is digested through the stomach, if you are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, it may not be digested properly. It is recommended that you use a back up form of birth control combined with the Pill while you are sick.
Were you confused at all when you read taking the Pill can help decrease body hair? I was! Body hair is produced because we have testosterone, but taking birth control lowers the female testosterone produced, ultimately decreasing the amount of hair- and shaving time!
The quiz at Women’s Health Magazine gives some really good information about birth control and other forms of protection, and I would really recommend checking out that full article. Being knowledgeable is the best form of power and protection.
Are you being as safe as you need to be when you work out? Chances are, you are slipping in at least one area, causing exercise to be an enemy to your body. Shape.com listed four fitness tips that will help you avoid injury while getting your best workout.
1. Don’t Forget to Stretch! I am guilty of this so often, because I feel like I don’t have enough time. But stretching is crucial to a workout; giving you more flexibility and you will be less likely to pull a muscle if everything is stretched out. It’s important to stretch both before and after your workout to get the best results.
2. Overtraining. Exercising too frequently can have harmful effects on the body. The body needs recovery time, so it is important to let muscles rest. If you work your legs one day, the next day work on upper body strength and vice versa. This will cause your body to get stronger while preventing injuries.
3. Doing the Wrong Workout. Shape advises against choosing a workout simply based on its popularity or the fact your friends are doing it. You need to make sure it is a class that will focus on your fitness needs, and most importantly- fit your current fitness level. If you are a beginner, don’t sign up for an advanced kickboxing class. You will more than likely end up hurting yourself, and feeling defeated about working out.
4. Getting Dehydrated. You should never do a workout without enough fluids or food in your system. Shape reports that both are essential to complete a workout and keep up your stamina. Drink water or munch on a protein bar before your workout to keep your energy up.
Remember, exercise can be harmful if you are not doing it correctly! Be sure to check out Shape.com for the full article and other fitness tips.
Mia King is not only a national best-selling author, but also a sought after speaker and workshop leader on midlife transitions as well as work and parenting. Her bursting career portfolio includes titles such as a tax manager with a Big Six accounting firm, website content copy chief for a major LVMH luxury-branded website, brand manager, life coach, cross-cultural trainer, director for a 2,000 acre retreat center, business owner, and now, author and homeschooling parent.
Mia has three published novels, with a fourth in the works. The titles are: Good Things, Sweet Life, and Table Manners. Each of her books brings a heartwarming story about strong women and family, with delicious recipes included: a little bonus for all readers.
Mia was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has lived in Texas, Colorado, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Beijing, China. She attended Miss Porter’s School and Wellesley College, graduating from Rice University with a degree in Political Science. Mia currently lives in Hawaii with husband (author and mental golf expert Darrin Gee) and their three children, Maya, Eric, and Luke.
