I'm on tour!

Yes, I'm on tour!  All this week!  And I'm so thrilled about it.  

But, I won't be traveling from town to town (sorry, Rock of Love Tour Bus), I'll be all over the internet!  It's my first tour on the fabulous Girlfriends Cyber Circuit for JACK WITH A TWIST! So, be sure to check back here to find out which blogs I'm on each day.  There will even be a bunch of giveaways, so stay tuned!

The fabulous Judi Fennell has already posted our interview, so check it out!  The wonderful Malena Lott's also got the interview up, too, so be sure to visit their sites!

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?

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!

Playing favorites

The wonderful peeps at Chick Lit Club asked me to choose my favorite novel of 2008. I was so honored to be asked! And it was an easy pick for me, since I absolutely gobbled up Emily Giffin's LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH. Go to their main page and then scroll down to see my review.

BOOK REVIEW: THE FOLLOWER by Jason Starr

As a chick lit author, I love any book that begins with a Jane Austen quote. Especially one that’s cleverly used, as in the opener to Jason Starr’s psychological thriller, THE FOLLOWER.

THE FOLLOWER is a dark tale about Katie Porter, and the man who stalks her, Peter Wells. Just one warning: Parents—you may never let your children move into their own apartment in Manhattan after you read this!

Starr does an excellent job of portraying single life amongst the 20-somethings living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan—and then skewering it. I loved the irony of how Katie’s creepy stalker, Peter, actually has many of the things that Katie would want in a man—the expensive co-op apartment, the big bank account, and the subtle good looks. Starr is making a powerful statement about single life in New York City, what we think we want, and what we deserve to get.

I was highly entertained by this book, and you will be, too. It was the first Jason Starr novel that I’ve ever read, and I will be back to read more.

You don’t know JACK!

But these people do!

Check out what some of your favorite authors are saying about JACK WITH A TWIST!

"a funny, sweet romance."
New York Times bestselling author Marian Keyes

"Another fun-filled page-turner from Brenda. Every bit as sparkling as the champagne that the bride-to-be's mother is so fond of..."
USA Today international bestselling author Carole Matthews

"A funny, smart, true-to-life novel about being your own woman. Loved it!"
Melissa Senate, author of SEE JANE DATE and QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE MARRYING"

Deliciously entertaining, laugh-out-loud funny and fraught with disaster after hilarious disaster, Janowitz's second novel is engaging, fast-paced and thoroughly delightful. Janowitz's pitch-perfect sequel to SCOT ON THE ROCKS is a hilarious look at the not-so-holy side of holy matrimony..."
Kristin Harmel, author of THE ART OF FRENCH KISSING

The Art of French Kissing

Kristin Harmel's latest book, THE ART OF FRENCH KISSING, will be out on bookshelves this Tuesday. It's a fantastic read and I was honored to have been asked to give a blurb! So, I got to read an advanced copy and I must say: I loved it! And you will, too. It's absolutely adorable and here's what I said about it:

"Tres magnifique! I loved this book and you will, too! The Art of French Kissing is a sweet and adorable page-turner that will make you long for the city of light!"

Here's some info on the book:

How do you say, 'So many men, so little time,' in French?

Well, Emma Sullivan can always figure that out later. The point is -- she's in Paris! Which would be great, except that she's stuck doing public relations for one of the hottest -- and craziest -- rock stars on the planet. Making things worse is Gabriel Francoeur, the sexy and stubborn reporter who refuses to believe her when she tells him that her client was just playing Go Fish in that hotel room with all those scantily-clad girls....

But Emma will always have Paris. The City of Light, of romance, of high fashion and of unfathomable varieties of cheese. If a girl can't reinvent herself here, there's no hope! It's time to leave the old Emma Sullivan behind and become someone courageous, exciting, successful. The type of girl who, when faced with a reporter who won't stop asking questions, knows just what to do. After all, they don't call it French kissing for nothing!

THE LIAR'S DIARY by Patry Francis

Did you hear about this amazing web movement yesterday about The Liar's Diary by Patry Francis? 300 bloggers got together and all posted messages about the fabulous Ms. Francis and her book. She is unable to promote the paperback release of her book herself, as she is presently recovering from cancer.

What a fabulous thing for all of these writers to band together and help a fellow writer! I bought my copy today and you should buy yours today, too! To see a full list of all of the wonderful people who were involved, go to Lit Park. And then go buy the book!

Well reviewed

Slate's got a fascinating article about the "top" reviewers on Amazon. Seems that those in the "Top ten" of Amazon's reviewers are reviewing up to 5 books a day. Grady Harp, Harriet Klausner.... have you seen these names as reviewers of your favorite books? The Gradys and Harriets of the world are either unbelievably prolific, or, as the article suggests, working with a staff of writers to produce so many reviews each day.

I should mention here that Harriet Klausner actually posted one of the first reviews of my book, but when I started to see the comments from various people doubting that Harriet really existed, I asked Amazon to take Harriet's review down (even tho, as I recall, she gave me a really good review!).

Don't get me wrong: I don't have a problem with publishers putting books into the hands of those who review the most books on Amazon (if that is, in fact, what they are doing, and I should mention here that I have absolutely no idea how Harriet Klausner got her hands on my book). What I *do* have a problem with is reviewers reviewing up to 5 books a day. There's just no way that a normal person can read that much. Can they?

And if people like Harriet Klausner actually represent a bunch of writers who are doing reviews, is that fair to then take the Number One Reviewer spot on Amazon? Shouldn't people who are *really* reading books and reviewing them honestly get a chance at this spot?

Book review: GLOSS by Jennifer Oko

Deliciously dishy!

Annabelle Kapner becomes the very news she reports when a harmless little human interest story about a beauty industry job creation plan for refugee women in the Middle East goes terribly out of control.

An insider's peek at the world of morning news television, DC politics and, of course, lip gloss, you won't be able to put GLOSS by Jennifer Oko down. Filled with tons of fun details gathered, no doubt, by the author's own experiences in morning television, you'll have a blast reading GLOSS, and not just for the guessing game of "who's really who" in the large cast of characters that inhabit Annabelle's world. A deliciously dishy and irresistible tale!

Book review: NEXT THING ON MY LIST by Jill Smolinski

Put "Next Thing On My List" on YOUR list!

Do you have a life list? A list of things to do before you hit 25? Neither did June Parker. But when a tragic accident puts her in possession of another woman's life list, entitled "20 Things to Do by My 25th Birthday," June undertakes to complete the list for her. June embarks on a journey that will change her life, and the lives of those around her, forever.

Next Thing On My List is funny, sweet and touching. You'll be rooting for June from the first item on the list that she tackles straight through to the last. This book will make you smile, warm your heart, and maybe even make you shed a tear (in a good way, of course!).
I highly recommend Jill Smolinski's Next Thing On My List!

Booklist review of SCOT ON THE ROCKS

From Booklist: This rollicking debut novel finds heroine Brooke Miller in the midst of a quandary. A successful Manhattan attorney dating Douglas, a handsome Scotsman, Brooke responds to the news that her ex-boyfriend Trip is engaged to a movie star by telling a small lie and claiming that she and Douglas are engaged as well. Brooke figures Douglas is about to pop the question any day now, so she has a nasty surprise when instead of proposing, he unceremoniously dumps her and reveals his infidelity. Distraught, Brooke tries to win him back, then concocts another plan: she persuades her handsome coworker Jack to put on a Scottish brogue and pretend to be Douglas at Trip's wedding. Brooke doesn't imagine just how complicated things can get. A breezy romantic comedy with plenty of laughs.

Kristine HuntleyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved