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!)
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!
1 comment:
I'm thrilled for your third book to arrive this summer! I can't wait to hit the beach and read!! Congrats on your third title!
Post a Comment