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Whole Latte Life by Joanne DeMaio
Chick Lit Review

Whole Latte Life by Joanne DeMaio

Whole Latte Life by Joanne DeMaio is a poignant novel that examines life and the unbreakable bonds of love and friendship. The story follows Sara Beth Riley who suddenly and unexpectedly leaves a note to her best friend at a restaurant one night and takes a break from her own life. In the beginning, all Sara Beth really wants is a few days of freedom, but she doesn’t realize just how close she is to completely losing it all. Her marriage, her family, her life, her forgotten dreams, and the loss of her mother have all taken their toll on her, and she can do nothing but run away.

Her best friend Rachel, alone now more than ever since the death of her husband and her daughter away at college, fears for her friend and attempts to bring her back to her life. Will Rachel be able to reach her friend in time?

I found the two women honest and absolutely loved the bond of their friendship. This novel had me thinking about my relationship with my best friend and all of the wonderful (and unforgettable) moments that the two of us have shared. Together, Rachel and Sara Beth create an unforgettable team that really create a “whole latte life” for one another. This book is endearingly heartfelt and left me thinking often times about the decisions and choices that I have made thus far. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a women’s fiction book with a little more depth. I will be sharing this one with my best friend and my mom!

[Rating 4.5/5]

April 25, 2012
3 Comments
Well-Heeled Writer Platform
For Writers

Well-Heeled Writer Platform

Building a writing platform is an important ingredient in finding success with our craft. I’m talking more about how we validate our work, answering the question … Why are you the one to write this Mystery/Romance/Family Drama/YA book? What expertise can you bring to the work? Take this chair, for instance. It definitely has “platform” going on. At the same time, it brings something fresh to the seat genre. But without that platform, the chair so lacks authority!

Platform is helpful in both fiction and nonfiction, and there are several ways a writer can build one. Some include holding an MFA. Are you a lawyer? Back up the legal thriller you’ve written with that title. Love to cook? Parlay that passion into your own unique cookbook.

Authority in a subject does lend credibility to a piece of writing, and can help influence agents, editors, and especially your reading audience. At the same time it gives you a rich knowledge of wisdom and experience to bring to the page, layering your story with authenticity.

For me, I’ve developed my blog as an extension of my novel Whole Latte Life. The blog looks at the same questions the book does, that of living our passions, whatever they may be. I’ve posed questions to my readers, initiated active dialogues in the Comments, and interviewed experts in the arts of music, writing, greeting card design, cooking, and others, to bring their experiences to my readers, and to build my own base of knowledge on the subject.

So think Platform … Consider your education, employment, hobby, expertise, craft, as a shoe-in to building your writing resume.

~Joanne

April 23, 2012
1 Comment