Friday, November 28, 2008

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Ophira and Tali Edut, The AstroTwins

Today we're chatting with the Astro Twins, Ophira and Tali Edut. I'm so thrilled that they're here today, since their latest book, The The AstroTwins' Love Zodiac: The Essential Astrology Guide for Women is now out in bookstores! Enter to win a free copy in our Holiday Book Giveaway!

And now, without further ado, I give you the Astro Twins!


How did you first get into astrology?

We first discovered astrology when we were 21, studying art at the University of Michigan. A friend printed out a comprehensive chart based on our time, date and place of birth, and it was bizarrely on point. We were like, how on earth can anyone know so much about us? Being naturally curious yet a little skeptical, we wanted to see if this was a fluke or if there was something more to it. We started doing our friends' charts and were shocked by how many accurate details and insights there were. From there, we began reading and learning everything about astrology and it unfolded from there. We were hired to write a column for Teen People, then a bunch of others followed: MyLifetime.com, Brides.com, Hellokitty.com, and Sirius Radio. We now do horoscopes for over 50 million people a month.

What are some celebrity couples that will last/ won’t last because of their zodiac signs?

It’s really a matter of timing…what’s in the stars that month or year. For example, Jennifer Aniston is an Aquarius and she’s highly compatible with Libra John Mayer. However, next year Jupiter will be in Aquarius, making Jennifer more independent. She could be dumping him for a change! That said, our money is on Reese and Jake (Aries and Sagittarius, compatible Fire signs). There could be trouble in paradise for Mariah Carey (Aries) and Nick Cannon (Libra) later in the year, when Saturn moves into Libra, her relationship sector. She could start to get a little paranoid about the age difference, and he may have an identity crisis, like “How the heck did I end up here?”

What is Chinese astrology and what does it have to do with the zodiac that most of us are familiar with?

It corresponds with Jupiter, which moves once a year. So every January or February, the Chinese calendar changes and a different animal, and that’s what you’re born under. It’s actually fascinating, and we’ve become obsessed with it over the past few years. (You can read about your Chinese horoscope on our website)

Can you tell someone’s sign just by looking at them?

A lot of the times, yes—and if not, we know after asking a question or two. Sometimes, your ascendant (“rising sign”) is very different than your Sun sign, and can make you resemble a different sign. For example, we’re Sagittarius, but with a Capricorn rising, which makes us come across as more serious and business-focused than the typical Sag. You can actually do a free sample chart on our site and find out your whole chart.

How far into a relationship should a woman find out her partner’s zodiac sign?

As soon as possible! We like to say that a lot of women accidentally do the wrong thing with the right guy. We broke our book up into the various phases of a relationship, so there are very specific “start-up” tips for what each guy is like on a first date, how he courts you, how you know he’s into you, and how to prepare for his first home visit or meeting his parents.

Should you break up with someone if you learn that your zodiac signs are not compatible?

Absolutely not. In fact, we don’t follow any rules there at all. We believe that any match can work with a combination of self-awareness and acceptance. Sure, some may require a little more flexibility and compromise. It’s really everyone’s choice. Easy isn’t always best. Sometimes, dating a person very different from you can spur amazing growth because you’re forced to look at yourself.

How will this book help women in their dating lives? Will married women benefit from the book?

Women in any phase of a relationship—single, dating, or married—can get a ton of practical advice from this book. It’s a 450-page guide to the men of every sign. Each chapter gets really in depth about what makes them tick. It was written to help women understand any man, be it your husband, boyfriend, brother, father, son, friend, coworker…you name it.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy thanksgiving!

Hope you all have a great day today! And what could make the day better than a box filled with 8 fabulous signed books?! Now that's something to be thankful for!

xoxo
brenda

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered our Holiday book giveaway! Congratulations go out to Jennifer Woiccak from Binghamton, New York, who won the box filled with books. Jennifer, come and claim your prize!

Didn’t win? That’s okay! We had so much fun giving books away, we’re doing it again!!! (And if you’ve already entered, well, then thanks and good luck!)

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Another holiday book giveaway!

We had so much fun giving away books that we're going to do it again!

Since books are the perfect gift to give this holiday season, we're offering you another ch
ance to win a box full of books. The winner will get signed copies of all of these fabulous reads:


THE ASTRO TWINS LOVE ZODIAC:
THE ESSENTIAL ASTROLOGY GUIDE FOR WOMEN
by Tali & Ophira Edut
JACK WITH A TWIST
by Brenda Janowitz

SCOT ON THE ROCKS
by Brenda Janowitz
MAGIC AND THE MODERN GIRL
by Mindy Klasky

WIFE GOES ON
by Leslie Lehr

CITY DOG
by Alison Pace

THE MEMORIST
by M.J. Rose

TIME OF MY LIFE
by Allison Winn Scotch

To enter, just email brenda@brendajanowitz.com and write “Another holiday book giveaway” in the subject line. You must be a subscriber of the www.brendajanowitz.com mailing list to enter.

Want extra entries? Post a blog entry about this giveaway and/or email five friends about it. For each blog entry and each email you send out, you'll get another entry to win!

Winners will be announced on December 16. So what are you waiting for? Enter today!

Friday, November 21, 2008

DONNA MARTIN GRADUATES!



I've been watching the new 90210, and it's made me so incredibly nostalgic for the original 90210. My husband sent me this clip and it just cracked me up! How did the actors actually keep straight faces when they filmed this?! It's so ridiculous, so campy, that it's-- dare I say-- brilliant!

It made me think of some of my favorite teen shows (Gossip Girl, anyone?!) and what happens when they graduate high school. I mean, WHY did they let Donna Martin graduate? Dylan clearly states that if Donna Martin doesn't graduate, summer school registration will break records. So, in that case, if Donna Martin didn't graduate, no one else would.

But for a show like 90210, wouldn't it have been a GOOD thing if no one ever graduated? Aren't all of these shows waaay better when the kids stay in school (which, for any kids reading my blog out there, is a really good message-- stay in school, kids!!!)? The shows are always at their best when the cast is still in high school. I'm genuinely worried about what will happen when Serena and Blair graduate come May!

So, Josh Schwartz, listen up-- if someone gets drunk at the prom, put your foot down and keep everyone in school for one more year. Really, it's for the good of everyone involved.


Thursday, November 20, 2008

Reading is fundamental....





The family that reads my books together, stays together.....

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

One more week!



One more week until my Holiday Book Giveaway is over! So, what are you waiting for? Enter now! And get even more entries by emailing 5 friends about it, and/or blogging about it!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

The contest winners have been announced!!! Thanks so much to everyone who submitted entries to Chick Lit Gurrl's fabulous contest, Why do you love Chick Lit? Big congratulations go out to:

Penny Venable from Colorado,

Lydia Heath from Wisconsin, and

Carlie Sherwood from Louisiana

who won signed copies of JACK WITH A TWIST! If you'd like to see the wonderful essays that won the prize, check out Chick Lit Gurrl's wonderful website.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

BIG time

First it started over at Trashionista, when the lovely ladies over there posted a video clip of the incomparable Meg Cabot. (Okay, how much do we love Meg Cabot?!)

Then, Allison Winn Scotch continued the discussion over on her blog, Ask Allison (and if you're not reading her blog, um, why not?!). Allison talked about having a BIG idea for your book (yes, all caps, please!) and why it's important to think about high concept ideas for your fiction (well, at least the fiction you're hoping to sell, anyway).

I broadened the discussion out to my Mediabistro class, and we talked about what makes an idea "high concept," or as Allison puts it: BIG! And, for me, there's no better example than Allison Winn Scotch's latest, TIME OF MY LIFE. TOML is the story of a woman who gets caught up in the what-ifs of her life, and finds herself seven years in the past, able to fully explore the what-ifs, and take the path not taken.

Talk about a BIG idea! First of all, it's easily explainable. Also, it's the sort of book that would be perfect for a book club-- it will generate lots of discussion and will bring up some really serious issues for people: What if I married someone else? What if I never quit that job?

And, most importantly, can't you just see the movie now?!

The book is really resonating with lots of people out there who can relate to the idea of having lots of what-ifs in their lives. I read the book and gobbled it up. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone-- even those of you out there who don't think about what-ifs (I personally don't-- I try to just look ahead). The writing is so smart and thoughtful, you can't help but fall in love with this book.

I guess that's why it just made the New York Times bestseller list!

Other writers who I think deal in BIG ideas are Jodi Piccoult, Emily Giffin, and Sophie Kinsella. What are some BIG books and what makes them high concept to you?

Monday, November 10, 2008

What's in a name?

Naming characters can be an art....  and also a bit complicated.

I've got a fun guest blog posted over at Editor Unleashed, a new writer's website created by the fabulous Maria Schneider.  Go check out the site, check out my post, and enjoy!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Reading is fundamental....

Even two year olds love JACK WITH A TWIST!!!  That kid has really good taste in reading materials.  Do you have a kid at home who loves to read?  Do you have a pic of yourself reading one of my books?  If so, send em in!  I'll be posting pics of readers with their books as a part of a new series: Reading is Fundamental.  So, if you've gotten your photo snapped while reading one of my books in an exotic locale, taken pics with it at your book club meeting, or even staged a photo session with your two year old, we want to see them!  Email them to me at brenda@brendajanowitz.com.  Because yes, you oughta be in pictures.....

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Friday, November 7, 2008

BOOK REVIEW: CITY DOG by Alison Pace

CITY DOG tells the story of Amy, a recently divorced woman who’s on the way to writing the Great American Novel. In the meantime, though, she’s the author of the bestselling children’s books, RUN, CARLIE, RUN!, based on the imagined adventures of her dog, Carlie. When Carlie gets offered a starring role in a cable show, Amy begins to question the direction her life is going, and what she truly wants out of life.

You don’t have to be a dog lover to fall in love with CITY DOG. Told by alternating narrators, I found the story so relatable—who hasn’t questioned the path their life is on? Alison’s writing truly shines in this charming tale of a woman finding her way. CITY DOG is funny, wistful, and touching.

I would highly recommend CITY DOG. Want a free copy? Enter to win one in my book giveaway!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Holiday book giveaway!

What's the perfect gift to give this holiday season? Books, of course! Enter to win a box full of books-- all signed by the authors, so they make for a fabulous holiday present! (Or you can just keep them all for yourself-- we won't tell!)

The winner will get signed copies of all of these fabulous reads:


SCOT ON THE ROCKS
by Brenda Janowitz

JACK WITH A TWIST
by Brenda Janowitz

MAGIC AND THE MODERN GIRL
by Mindy Klasky
WIFE GOES ON
by Leslie Lehr

CITY DOG
by Alison Pace

THE MEMORIST
by M.J. Rose

To enter, just email brenda@brendajanowitz.com and write “Holiday book giveaway” in the subject line. You must be a subscriber of the www.brendajanowitz.com mailing list to enter.

Want extra entries? Post a blog entry about this giveaway and/or email five friends about it. For each blog entry and each email you send out, you'll get another entry to win!

Winners will be announced on November 25. So what are you waiting for? Enter today!