Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

Thanks so much for the tremendous support on the re-release of SCOT ON THE ROCKS!!  If you're looking for a great beach read to take with you this Memorial Day weekend, SCOT is free right now on Amazon!  So hop on over and pick up your FREE copy!!  I hope you like the book.

You know I love me some free books!!

It was so much fun re-releasing SCOT ON THE ROCKS that I decided to give JACK WITH A TWIST a chance, too. 

The newly re-released JACK WITH A TWIST is now available on Kindle for $2.99. 

And to celebrate the re-release of JACK, Amazon's offering SCOT ON THE ROCKS for free all week. So, if you haven't read SCOT yet, download it onto your Kindle for free! If you have, then thank you!!  Now's a great time to let your friends know about SCOT (after all, it's free!!).

All this in honor of my third novel, RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE, which comes out July 2nd.  The gorgeous new cover is on the right, and it's available for pre-order now!

Inspiration

So, you may have missed it, but RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE has a gorgeous new cover!!  Yes, yes, the old one was gorgeous, too.  But the fabulous art peeps over at St. Martin's saw this one, and we just knew that we had to change the cover.  I hope you like it!

What do you think??  I'm totally in love.  This cover is elegant and fresh, and does a really nice job of describing the feel of the book.  It would also look amazing on your coffee table!!

In honor of this new cover, I've re-designed my whole website!!  (And this blog, if you hadn't noticed!!)  So, check out the new website and let me know what you think.  Also, don't forget to sign up for my email newletter list-- I've re-designed the emails, too, and there will be lots more book news coming up in the next few weeks (including book giveaways!).

xoxo

brenda

Author interview: Leslie Lehr

I'm so thrilled today because I've got the amazing Leslie Lehr here to chat.  Today, her new novel WHAT A MOTHER KNOWS comes out and it's a gripping story about mothers and daughters, about what, as parents, we fear the most.  You may also know Leslie as Chemo Chick over on Sick of Pink.  I know her as an awesomely supportive and hugely talented writer friend.  But enough about me-- let's chat with Leslie!

Tell us about yourself!

I grew up in Ohio and moved to California as soon as possible –meaning, after senior year in high school when it was so cold that school was closed for a month. Which was not as fun as it sounds. But I do miss the small town 4th of July. I’m sort of a newlywed, living as close to the beach as possible with my cute husband. (I’d sworn off getting married again, but he was still so cute after four years of dating that I couldn’t resist.) I have two almost-grown daughters who inspire both the angst and the adoration in What A Mother Knows. I collect sand dollars because it thrills me that no matter what else is happening the world, these little gifts keep washing up on the beach. And I’m just finishing treatment for breast cancer, so I absolutely hate pink, but I do appreciate how little time it takes to get ready when I’m rocking a turban.

Tell us a bit about your path to becoming a writer

It was a curvy path. I always wrote, newspaper columns and essays and scripts between jobs after film school, but mainly because I have a lot to say. This morning my radiologist had to tell me to stop talking to his co-worker, Candy, so the beam wouldn’t fry the wrong boob. How could anyone resist talking to a person named Candy?

Tell us about your latest release in 25 words or less.

 A woman who recovers from a fatal car accident only to be accused of murder must find her missing daughter, who might know what happened.

(Except she cares more about finding her daughter than she does about the accident.)

What's your favorite part of writing?  Least?

My least favorite part of writing is when I spend an entire day banging my head against the keyboard, trying to figure something out. My favorite part comes after that when I finally give up, take a walk on the beach – and voila, the answer comes! Then I wish I’d gone to the beach earlier. And brought a notepad.

If you weren't a writer, what would you be?

My original goal was to make music videos, but then I did and it was awful. Then I wanted to produce movies and started working my way up, but got sidetracked by kids. Then again, I always wrote on the side, thinking I could do it better than whoever wrote the script we were shooting.

Now I can’t imagine being anything else. I get to play with the people in my head all day. Boss them around. Is that weird?

What’s your website like?

It’s so fun  - and it was a family affair. My niece just moved to LA, so in exchange for doing her laundry here she helped me with Pinterest character boards and the Skype thingie so I can do book club visits from home.  My daughter is studying advertising in San Francisco, so she filmed the trailer and also came up with the map where my hero searches for her daughter– you can click on cities from Hawaii to New York and find postcards from scenes in the book. She also put together the Spotify playlist. My girlfriend gave me her recipe for lemon bars to put on the page with all the book club menus. And of course there are blogs and reviews and the usual stuff. Plus a picture of me with long hair. Ha!

What are you reading right now?

Caroline Leavitt’s Is This Tomorrow.  If it were July, I would be reading Recipe For A Happy Life by Brenda Janowitz. 

Aw, thank you, Leslie!  I so appreciate that.  Leslie's novel WHAT A MOTHER KNOWS is out today.  What are you waiting for??  Go get your copy now!

To self-pub or not to self-pub, that is the question!!

There's been so much talk these days about self-publishing.  Haven't heard about it?  Well, you can check it out here or here. And it's something I've been thinking about for a while. Ever since my imprint closed (RIP, Red Dress Ink!!) and I got the rights back to my first two novels, I've been thinking: what should I do with them now?!

Last summer, I sold my third novel in a two-book deal to St. Martin's, so there wasn't much time to think about it.  My third novel, RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE, comes out July 2 and in anticipation of the launch, I've decided to do something I never thought I'd do.

I'm going to release SCOT ON THE ROCKS and JACK WITH A TWIST myself.  Now, I know what you're thinking-- it's easy to do since the books were already acquired, edited, and then copyedited to within an inch of their life.  And you'd be right.  The books are ready to go.  I read over them and made a few tiny tweaks here and there, but the truth is, all I really had to do was to format them for e-readers, get new covers and then hit "publish."  Easy as that.

So, I reached out to the fabulous Malena Lott over at the Athena Institute (seriously, how gorgeous are her covers?!) and voila!, she created an amazing new cover for SCOT!!

And man, do I love this new cover!  I think it really conveys the sense of fun and romance that are in the book.  I'll be publishing SCOT sometime next week (with JACK to follow closely on its heels) and I'm really excited about the new journey!

So, tell me about your thoughts on self-publishing.  Are you for it?  Against it?  Have you tried it yourself?  I want to hear!!

Spring cleaning, ahem, reading

Ah, springtime!  Time to clear out the cobwebs, get a breath of fresh air, and clean out the closets.  I've got closets full of books over at my place, so spring always means reading for me.  A time to catch up on the books I haven't had time to dig in to, a time to read the books I've been hearing so much about.

I'd been hearing so many great things about The Good House by Ann Leary.  There were the amazing reviews, and then this very candid segment on CBS This Morning.  I found Ann's honesty so brave and inspiring that I didn't even make it to the bookstore, I just hit click on my iPhone's Kindle app.

I was trying to save this book to read on vacation, but I took a little peek at chapter one-- something I always do. I was immediately swept away by the story and read the whole book before I even got on the plane!  The characters, the setting, the story-- they all carried me away and I just couldn't stop reading.  The Good House is a must read!


I was lucky enough to attend Ellen Meister's book party at the wonderful Corner Bookstore for the debut of her latest, Farewell, Dorothy Parker.  I've always been a fan of both Dorothy Parker and Ellen Meister, so I was excited to dig in. This book does not disappoint.  The writing is pitch-perfect-- you'll really believe that it's Dorothy Parker on those pages-- and the story is sweet and charming with a ton of heart.

Elinor Lipman said of the book: "What bliss to be in the company of a reimagined Dorothy Parker!  Ellen Meister's wonderful novel delivers the wit, ingenuity and elegiac sass worthy of the Algonquin Round Table's most quoted member. Long live Dorothy Parker and her zingers, resurrected so winningly in these pages."  

And the word has been so positive about Dorothy and Ellen that Ellen's already signed the deal to write another Dorothy Parker book!

My book club (yes, authors belong to book clubs, too!) chose The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh as their pick last month and I devoured it.  This story of mothers and children, family, and, of course, flowers, captivated me.

The first thing you need to know is that it's a beautifully written novel.  The story of a foster child, you will find yourself understanding the main character, Victoria, in ways you can't imagine.  And the description of the language of flowers-- a Victorian language used to convey romantic expressions-- fascinated me.  (It also made me re-think my entire bridal bouquet.)

This book made such a beautiful statement about moms and motherhood at the end that, frankly, I still tear up when I think about it.

I just began Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter and I don't know why it sat in my To Be Read pile for so long.  Just a few pages in, I'm already wondering why I waited so long to enjoy this epic novel.

Here's what it's about:

From the moment it opens—on a rocky patch of Italian coastline, circa 1962, when a daydreaming younginnkeeper looks out over the water and spies a mysterious woman approaching him on a boat—Jess Walter's Beautiful Ruins is a dazzling, yet deeply human, roller coaster of a novel. From the lavish set of Cleopatra to the shabby revelry of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to the back lots of contemporary Hollywood, Beautiful Ruins is gloriously inventive and constantly surprising—a story of flawed yet fascinating people navigating the rocky shores of their lives while clinging to their improbable dreams.

And the cover is gorgeous, isn't it?!

Next on my reading list is Life After Life by Kate Atkinson.  It seems like everyone is talking about this book, doesn't it?  Jennifer Weiner said that it lives up to the hype, and that's pretty much all I need to know.

Here's what it's about:

What if you could live again and again, until you got it right? 

On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war. 

Does Ursula's apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? And if she can -- will she?

Darkly comic, startlingly poignant, and utterly original -- this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best. 


Is that a WOW or what?  I kind of wish I came up with that concept.  I have a feeling this one's going to keep up me up late at night.

So, what are YOU reading these days?

Author interview: Samantha Wilde

Today we're very lucky because we've got the talented Samantha Wilde here to chat!  Her latest novel, I'LL TAKE WHAT SHE HAS, is out and it's another hilarious take on motherhood and friendship.

Like her on Facebook, check out her mom, and watch her amazing book trailer!  Okay, are you done with all of that?!  Great.  Let's get to chatting with Samantha!

Tell us about yourself!

I am a mother, a writer, a minister, and a yoga teacher. I live in Western Massachusetts with my three young children, all born in just over four years, and my husband, a professor of chemical engineering. The substance of my days is probably remarkably similar to that of so many other at-home mothers, in ways both humorous and tedious. Right now, in the midst of a flurry of work to support my book launch, I have neglected almost every household chore, including laundry. My husband, who does not have laundry as one of his household tasks, said to me this morning: “Luckily, I found a hidden supply of underwear.” That is lucky right about now!

I love my babies, my children, being a mother, writing stories, being with my friends, taking long walks, talking to my husband about ideas, practicing yoga, being outside, playing with my children, eating chocolate, talking to old friends on the phone, dancing, hiking, and reading, reading, reading.

Tell us a bit about your path to becoming a writer.

I can’t remember a time I didn’t write. I grew up the daughter of novelist, Nancy Thayer, in a house filled to overflowing with books. It always seemed perfectly reasonable to want to become a writer—despite the fact that it’s actually quite challenging—because my mother, who never wanted to do anything else, made such a tremendous career for herself as a novelist. I have written everything, except for plays. I have at least twenty full journals, dozens of short stories, hundreds of poems, the beginnings of at least ten novels, a few other finished novels, unpublished memoirs, and now two published novels. After my first son’s birth I wrote my first book during his nap-times. This became This Little Mommy Stayed Home. I think having my son helped me find my voice as a comic novelist. Motherhood has certainly given me the best material for my books.

Tell us about your latest release in 25 words or less

Best friends wrestle with the green-eyed monster uncovering the truth about imperfect friendships, mixed up families, messy motherhood, and myth of the greenest grass. (Whew! I’m long winded. That was hard.)

What's your favorite part of writing?  Least?

I love the actual writing, being inside of the story, putting the words down, following the characters where they go. I don’t love the plotting. Characters come more easily to me. I still don’t know how to write a great synopsis or outline my books. I am also learning how to navigate the world of marketing. I am happy to say that some parts have proven fun—a relief because publicity challenges me. I want a bumper sticker that reads: “I’d rather be writing!”

If you weren't a writer, what would you be?

I often think, well, if I could only do one thing, what would it be, because I do express myself creatively in a variety of different ways. My answer is always: mother. I have wanted to be a mother since I was a little girl and I love it more than anything else I do (not that I find it easy!). As far as vocation goes, once my children grow older, if I could make a living teaching yoga, what a dream that would be. I have such a heart for teaching and practicing. I had an amazing teacher during graduate school. She truly changed the course of my life. She would walk into this room packed with students (only forty were allowed to enroll, she never turned anyone away), and I knew with a gut certainty that I wanted what she had, but instead of the superficial kind of wanting (clothes or hair or money), I wanted that thing that made her glow, made her alive. And that thing was yoga. I became a teacher so that I could do for others what she did for me—what she gave me doesn’t belong to her or a classroom or a moment in time or a class. I take it with me wherever I go; that’s pretty powerful.

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth, A Thousand Names for Joy by Byron Katie (a re-read), Bossypants by Tina Fey and the original Winnie-the-Pooh to my children.

Let's go to the hop!

I'm so excited because I've been invited to take part in a blog hop!  What is a blog hop, you ask?  Well, that's easy.  It's like a ginormous round robin where authors answer questions and help readers discover new authors.  What could be better, right?!  So, let's begin!

THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP

Welcome to the NEXT BIG THING Blog Hop.

For this hop, authors are answering 10 questions about what we’re working on now. This week, I’m it.

I was tagged by Judith Arnold (http://www.juditharnold.com/blog/). Visit her blog to see who else she tagged. At the end of this post, I’ll tag more authors who will be joining the hop next week. Follow the hop long enough and you’re bound to find books you’ll love!

Here is my Next Big Thing!

1: What is the working title of your book?

My third novel is called RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE.  It will be published by St. Martin’s on July 30, 2012

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

My grandma Dorothy!  One summer, when I was single, she informed me that she would be renting a house in the Hamptons.  I was to stay with her and she was going to help me meet someone.  The only problem with this scenario was that I was SURE that she’d meet a man before I did.

In the end, when she found out the cost of a Hamptons summer rental, the idea sort of fell apart.  But it gave me an idea—what if a young woman spent the summer out in the glamorous Hamptons with her even more glamorous grandmother?  (Grandma D was nothing if not glamorous.)

3: What genre does your book come under?

This novel is considered commercial women’s fiction.  But really, it's for anyone who loves a good story that will whisk them away to somewhere fabulous, anyone who loves a good laugh and a good cry.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Oooh, this one’s tough, because the most important part to cast a grandmother.  (And we all know how Hollywood loves old people- especially women!!)  

I think Joan Collins would be perfect to play the part, but my editor likes Shirley Maclaine.  (Joan, Shirley, call me!)

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Here’s the St. Martin’s catalog one sentence description:

A grand dame rules over three generations of women from her Hamptons estate, and her granddaughter realizes that the recipe for a happy life may be very different from her family's expectations.

And in case you liked that, here’s the whole kit and caboodle!  (I was never very good with the whole one-sentence-synopsis thing…)

Hannah Goodman isn’t like everyone else. Her mother, Gray, is an award- winning photojournalist with little time for the banalities of caring for a child, so she's mostly raised by her grandmother—a glamorous widow known for her charm, as well as the fact that she’s been married nearly as many times as Elizabeth Taylor. Despite her mother's great wealth, Gray is determined that Hannah resist the siren song of the trust fund set, and make her own way in the world. And Hannah did just that—becoming a lawyer in New York City. Hannah has it all, or so it seems, until one hot June day when the carefully constructed pieces of her life break apart. That’s when she seeks solace at her grandmother's Hamptons estate. And that’s when she learns that there's more than one recipe for perfection.

Fast-paced, charming, and full of heart, Recipe for a Happy Life sweeps you into a world in which fabulous beach-front cocktail parties are a regular occurrence, and the cure for social awkwardness is a perfectly-placed quip, but the boy in the mansion next door might just turn out to be the one thing that keeps you grounded when reality sets in. A memorable story about one memorable summer.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

I’m thrilled that my novel is being published by St. Martin’s.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Years and years!!  I began work on this novel back in 2007, after I finished my first novel.  But I don’t think I was ready to write this story just yet.  I picked it back up after finishing my second novel, which was published in 2008 and worked on it for years. In the time since I began this novel, I met my husband, got married, and had two children.  So, yeah, I guess you could say it took a long time.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I really love books by Emily Giffin, Julie Buxbaum, Jennifer Weiner, and Allison Winn Scotch, so those were the authors who served as my inspiration as I wrote.  I hope that readers will find the warmth, truth and laughter that are the hallmarks of these authors in my book as well.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?

See question number 2: my grandma Dorothy!  But becoming a mother also inspired me, as did my own mom, who is my best friend.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The description and gorgeous cover didn’t do it?!  Man, you guys are a tough audience.  I think what readers will like most is that it’s a story with lots of heart which will also make you laugh.

Below you will find authors who will be joining the blog hop next Wednesday. Be sure to bookmark and add them to your calendars for updates on WIPs and New Releases! Happy Writing and Reading!

Malena Lott (Facebook)

Jacqueline Luckett (Facebook)

Jennifer Miller
Ka Hancock
Samantha Wilde
Christa Allen