Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Big congrats go out to Linda Kish! You've won a copy of PURE PRINCESS, BARTERED BRIDE by Caitlin Crews! Just shoot me an email at brenda[at]brendajanowitz[dot]com to claim your prize!



Not a winner this time around? That's okay! I give lots of books away all the time, so check back in a few days for my next big giveaway!

Girlfriends rocking out....

The fabulous Sheila Curran (who you may remember as a member of the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit) is celebrating the paperback release of her novel EVERYONE SHE LOVED. But more importantly, she's also celebrating the fact that she's successfully fought cancer and won. Now that's something to celebrate!

Check out her blog entry about her amazing journey here, and then by all means, run out and get your copy of EVERYONE SHE LOVED!

Hey girl!

I'm being interviewed today on Girlhabits, a blog devoted to "finding your inner star." Well, who wouldn't want to do that?! The interview is all about chasing your dreams and changing careers.

Check out my interview here!

GCC Author Interview: Jenny Gardiner

I'm so excited today, because we've got the lovely Jenny Gardiner here to chat! She's here to tell us all about her latest release, WINGING IT, and it sounds like a total delight. Jenny's clearly got a way with titles, because this one is a winner, just like her first book, SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER.


Take it away, Jenny!


Tell us about your most recent novel in 25 words or less.

Winging It: Think David Sedaris meets Marley & Me, with a deadly beak.


When did you first begin writing?
I've always been a writer--ever since I knew I sucked at math (around 2nd grade) so needed a Plan B. I studied journalism and worked in radio/tv/print, then worked in PR, so writing has been my trade. But I didn't start to view myself as a writer until I started writing again a few years back after being a stay-at-home mom for a good long while. And I realized I finally had in me the seasoning to actually write something more substantial than reportage on someone else's life. The first time I resumed writing at all, I was bumming out that due to a severe drought (with water usage cut by 50%), we'd have no Christmas parties that year (who could invite 100 people to your house to drink lots of liquids, but then not let them use your bathroom? Impossible!). So I wrote a funny piece about this, sold it to a regional publication, and was duly deluded into thinking getting published was a snap.


Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I am constantly inspired from everything around me. I hear stories that seem so outlandish and then I think of ways I can rework them with a plot and some goals and motivation and conflict and make a book out of them. Sometimes just a sentence intrigues me enough to write a book (which was the case with my first book, Sleeping with Ward Cleaver--I'd jokingly said that about some guy, that he'd be like sleeping with Ward Cleaver, and the phrase stuck with me and sounded like such a fun book title).


What tips would you offer to aspiring writers?

I think besides honing your writing skills and educating yourself about the industry, I think the most essential thing for any writer is to believe in yourself. You need to be able to believe in yourself when you think not another soul on the planet does. Because otherwise you will struggle to persevere in this business--it's a tough business with a lot of downs and sometimes not as many ups. But if you know you're a damned good writer, then tell yourself that all the time. And if you need to be reminded of it, go back and read something you've written, and surprise yourself with how good a writer you are. And remember to write because you love to write, not because of external forces that are making it an unenjoyable practice.


Do a quick character study on yourself: don’t forget to add in the fun stuff, like favorite foods and things you love/hate!

Hmmm...I think I'm actually a study in contrasts. I am organized in an amazingly disorganized way. I am friendly, outgoing, helpful, fun. I am the one who spearheads the party, who organizes the get-together, the one who stays in touch or gets in touch again after 20 years. I can hold a grudge probably too long, but will equally hold someone upon a pedestal who has been particularly kind or thoughtful. I'm super sarcastic, yet bizarrely pollyanna at times. I'm really tough and determined, but sometimes plagued with self-doubt. I have a gift for retaining extremely useless information and would be fabulous on Jeopardy, except that I'd always forget to begin my answer with an interrogative. I remember useless nonsense but then forget really important things.

I wish I could be a vegetarian, but I don't care for many vegetables. I wish I had more self-discipline, but hey, don't we all? I am crazy about milk chocolate with almonds, and adore banana cream pie. I love to cook, love good wine, traveling is what I would do if I had time and money, and I'd also continue to study Italian if I had the time to do so.


Thanks so much for swinging by, Jenny! Don't forget to rush out and pick up a copy of Jenny's latest, WINGING IT.

Book giveaway: Pure Princess, Bartered Bride by Caitlin Crews

Caitlin Crews is back!! First, you heard her talk all about her secret identity, and now she's back to give away a copy of her latest release which debuted on the USA Today bestseller list, PURE PRINCESS, BARTERED BRIDE.



To enter to win a signed copy, just leave a comment below! Winners will be announced on March 31st!

My secret identity

If the title of this blog post makes you think of Jerry O'Connell, you're not alone.

But today we're talking about a different secret identity! Last week on my blog I introduced you to the talented Megan Crane. She's the one with the secret identity. Okay, well, it's not really quite so secret since we're talking about it here and most of her readers know about it, but.... Well, just go with me here!

Megan writes under her own name, but she also writes under a pseudonym! How cool is that?! Well, I thought it was super cool, so I asked Megan to blog about it!

So, without further ado, let's hear from Megan:

I've always wanted a secret identity.

Who wouldn't? I remember watching Alias and thinking it would be pretty cool to be Sydney Bristow--especially with that yummy Michael Vaughn trailing along with her on her adventures--because taking on all those new identities looked like a blast.

Also, I'm a Gemini, so I guess I was always destined to have an alter-ego.

When I decided to see if I could write a romance novel, I had no idea that anything would come of it. I just knew that romances were my most favorite books in the world. I hoard them. I read my favorites over and over, and can spend whole afternoons in book stores with good romance sections, browsing for new authors to love, cherish, and follow slavishly. Though I'd written for years and sold a few books, I didn't think I could write a romance novel.

They're so *hard,* you see.

Think about it: when you pick up a romance novel and read the back cover, you know at once who the heroine is and who her hero is. Which means you also know that those two will end up together in the end, happily ever after. That's what a romance novel offers: a happy ending, no matter what. So your job as a writer is to tell a story that everyone already knows the ending to, in such a way as to keep the reader entertained, hopefully making them worry and fret and forget to breathe because *how* can it possibly all work out... and then making that happily ever after ending ring true. Pulling that off is the art of the romance novel.

You'll have to tell me if I succeeded!

But when the book was finished and Harlequin actually bought it--the culmination of a life long dream!--it seemed like the perfect opportunity to create a new identity for these books. After all, a Harlequin Presents, so richly layered and emotionally intense and starkly passionate, is a very different sort of book than the others I write. I thought it made sense to make sure up front that no one thought they were getting one form of my writing when they'd be getting the other--and so Caitlin Crews was born.






So far, I quite like her. She hit the USA Today bestseller list with her debut book, has two more set to come out this year (Majesty, Mistress...Missing Heir will be out in May in the UK and October in North America; Katrakis's Last Mistress will be out in September in the UK), and really should be working on her latest one *as we speak.* In comparison, my usual identity feels like a little bit of a slacker.

You can't really ask for more from a not-so-secret identity!


No, you can't! Thanks so much for stopping by, Megan! But wait, there's more! Megan has generously offered to give away a copy of one of her romance novels! Er, one of Caitlin's, I should say. But, anyway, you get the point: a free signed book!! Check back in a few days for deets!!

More winners!!!

Big congrats go out to Booksnyc! She's won a signed copy of Megan Crane's EVERYONE ELSE'S GIRL! Just shoot me an email (brenda[at]brendajanowitz[dot]com) with your contact info, and we'll get a signed copy of the book out to you!



Didn't win? That's okay! Megan's alter ego, Caitlin Crews, will be giving away a copy of her latest release in a few days. Check back for deets!!

So handsome

This Jimmy Kimmel video is just too hilarious to accurately describe in words. It's long-- almost 10 minutes-- but I promise you it is beyond hysterical. Be careful watching it at work because you Will. Laugh. Out. Loud!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Big congrats go out to Kaye-- you've won a copy of Hank Phillippi Ryan's DRIVE TIME! Just shoot me an email (brenda[at]brendajanowitz[dot]com) with your contact info, and we'll get a signed copy of the book out to you!



Not a winner this time around? That's okay! There are still a few days left to enter to win Megan Crane's EVERYONE ELSE'S GIRL! Enter to win today!!

Better than Disney!!

Okay, I know that the subject line is totally sacrilegious, BUT- New York Mag is reporting that there are talks to create a LOST theme park!!!

And, anyhoo, it's not that bad to say that it would be better than Disney, because Disney actually owns the rights to LOST.

So, basically, Disney + LOST = greatest thing ever. Only, how will they accurately depict Sawyer's hotness once they convert him into animatronics?! Only time will tell.....

Only a few days left to win!!

Only a few days left to enter to win a copy of Hank Phillippi Ryan's DRIVE TIME!!! Deets on how to enter to win are at the bottom of this post.

She's a total rock star!!

So, I know we all use the expression "you're a rock star!" all the time, but one of my girls from the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit really is one now!!!

The fabulous Wendy Nelson Tokunaga just recorded a video that is a companion piece to her novel, LOVE IN TRANSLATION. The book features a Japanese song called "The Wishing Star," and Wendy wrote that song!! Her hubby then composed the music, and voila!

Check out Wendy belting it out-- in JAPANESE, no less!-- here:

GCC Author Interview and book giveaway: Megan Crane

I'm so excited today because the wonderful and prolific Megan Crane has stopped by to chat! And it gets even better-- she's going to be giving away a free signed book!! Deets on how to enter to win are at the bottom of this post.

Megan's here today to tell us all about her latest novel, Everyone Else's Girl. We're celebrating it's UK release, but you can also buy it in the US! (And enter to win it at the bottom of this post....)

What more do I have to tell you about this book other than the fact that goddess writer Meg Cabot said: "Megan Crane rules! Cancel your evening plans: You won't want to stop reading until you've devoured every delicious word."

And if Meg Cabot says that Megan rules, then clearly she does.

So, without further ado, let's hear from Megan!

Tell us about your most recent novel in 25 words or less.

Everyone Else's Girl is the story of Meredith, who must learn to grow up while stuck in her childhood home.

When did you first begin writing?

I've been writing as long as I can remember. My first work was an epic tale called "Casey of Petsy" about a talking horse. I was in the first grade. I wrote the story on construction paper with my crayons, and then provided the illustrations. Once I stopped trying to be an artist, I think the writing really started to take off.

What are you working on right now?

I'm working on my fifteenth novel, which is a romance. I'm pretty excited about it--but less excited about the looming deadline!

[nb: Fifteenth!!! Wow! Megan, you are SUCH an inspiration to us other writers out there!!]


How do you fight writer’s block?

I find that a fearless inventory of my bills usually motivates me pretty quickly. But seriously, I can't have writer's block with so many deadlines. So if I hit a wall, it's usually because I don't know my characters well enough, or have tried to do something in the story that isn't organic. So I back up and try again.

What tips would you offer to aspiring writers?

Just write. All the advice in the world won't amount to much until you get those words on paper. You can do it!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Megan! This was so great-- and inspirational! If you can write fifteen books, maybe I can write a third! Or even do the laundry this week. Next time I don't want to do the laundry, I will think: Megan has written fifteen books and STILL does her laundry! What's your excuse??

Megan, you do your own laundry, right?

Anyhoo, let's get to the contest! If you want to enter to win a copy of Megan's latest, Everyone Else's Girl, just leave a comment below. Winners will be announced on March 11.

And don't forget to stock up on all of her older titles, too!

GCC Author Interview and book giveaway: Hank Phillippi Ryan

She's back! Hank Phillippi Ryan has visited us here before, and today she's back with a new book, DRIVE TIME, and even better still, a BOOK GIVEAWAY!!! Deets on how to enter to win are at the bottom of this post.

Wanna know all about Hank?! Here goes:

Award-winning investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan is on the air at Boston's NBC affiliate. Her work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in restitution. Along with her 26 EMMYs, Hank’s won dozens of other journalism honors. She's been a radio reporter, a legislative aide in the United States Senate and an editorial assistant at Rolling Stone Magazine working with Hunter S. Thompson.

Her first mystery, the best-selling PRIME TIME, won the Agatha for Best First Novel. It was also was a double RITA nominee for Best First Book and Best Romantic Suspense Novel, and a Reviewers' Choice Award Winner. FACE TIME and the new AIR TIME are IMBA bestsellers. DRIVE TIME, February 2010 from MIRA Books, just earned a starred review from Library Journal. Hank is on the national board of Mystery Writers of America.

And the latest news on Hank? Her novel AIR TIME was just nominated for an AGATHA for Best Novel of 2009 and her short story "On the House" was also nominated--for the AGATHA for Best Short Story of 2009!

Wow! Hank totally rocks!! So, without further ado, let's get to the questions!

Tell us about your recent novel.

DRIVE TIME is about secrets. TV reporter Charlie McNally’s working on a story about a dangerous scheme that could absolutely happen…and let me just say, if you own a car, or rent a car, you’ll never look at your vehicle the same way after reading DRIVE TIME. In fact, after writing the book, I now get a bit creeped out when I go into a parking garage. That’s all I‘ll say.

Charlie’s also drawn into another frightening situation—this one at the prep school where her fiancé is an English professor. When Charlie learns a secret that might put her step-daughter-to-be in danger, and might also be an blockbuster investigative story—how does she balance her loyalty to her husband-to-be—with her need to protect the public?

So this is a tough one for Charlie. And she must make many life-changing decisions. Just when she begins to think she might be able to have it all—a terrific career and a new husband and a new life--revenge, extortion and murder may bring it all to a crashing halt.

DRIVE TIME just got a fabulous starred review from Library Journal. Just a snippet of the rave: “Placing Ryan in the same league as Lisa Scottoline…her latest book catapults the reader into the fast lane and doesn't relent until the story careens to a stop. New readers will speed to get her earlier books, and diehard fans will hope for another installment."

And dear Robert B. Parker’s quote is on the cover—he says “I loved DRIVE TIME!”

Growing up, did you ever think you’d be an investigative reporter?

Definitely—not. You know, I have a funny juxtaposition of desire to be in the spotlight—and sheer terror of being in the spotlight. I love my job in TV—and have to go live and unrehearsed al the time. Confession: I’m still terrified every time. I want to be perfect, and when you’re on live, you can’t possibly be. That’s one reason why I love investigative reporting—there’s more time to work, and dig, and polish, and produce, It’s like making a little movie, and I can make it as perfect as possible.

Anyway, my sisters and I used to create musical shows when we were all young, and perform for our parents in our back yard. I did acting in high school and college. I wanted to be a DJ on the radio for a long time! But I thought I would be an English teacher, or a lawyer for the Mine Workers union, or for awhile, a political activist.

(My mother, though, says she always knew I would be a television reporter—but I think that was just her way of rationalizing that all I did as a pre-teen and teenager was read books and watch TV.)

I knew from my first Nancy Drew that I loved mysteries. Nancy was my first best friend—I was a geeky unpopular kid, and it was such a relief to go home and hang out with Nancy. She was smart, and made it be okay to be smart. She was confident and inquisitive and resourceful. I loved that. But being a TV reporter was not in my sights. Little did I know!

How did you get started in that type of journalism?

I got into TV by chance. I had worked as a radio reporter (hired because, as I informed the radio station, they didn’t have any women working at the station! Hey. It was the seventies.) But after a few years working in Washington DC (on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide and then for Rolling Stone Magazine,) Rolling Stone closed its Washington office and I needed a new job.

I went back home to Indianapolis, and applied for a job as a TV reporter. It was 1975. I had covered politics in Washington, and the news director of the station figured he could teach me to be a TV reporter. (This was incredibly risky—I had never taken journalism and didn’t know one thing about TV. But I wasn’t afraid and I knew I could do it.)

Problem was, I should have been afraid! I quickly learned I had no idea what I was doing. I went home every night for the first two weeks, sobbing. Because I thought I would never understand it. Soon after—it hit me--oh, I get it! And I have adored it ever since. I took a chance, and found my calling.

I started as the political reporter (and was also the movie reviewer, of all things! At age 26.) At various times I’ve been the medical reporter, a weekend anchor, and an on the road feature reporter. When I came to Boston, I was the funny feature reporter--cat shows, sports features, poems, and anything quirky or funny. They used to call me “something out of nothing productions,” because I could find a story in anything.

But starting in 1988, I covered the presidential election, doing long elaborate think pieces. It was terrific. And then I told my news director I didn’t want to be the funny one anymore. I wanted to be the serious one. And from that day on, I've been the investigative reporter.

And I love it every day.

How did the character of Charlotte ‘Charlie’ McNally come about?

What a great question. I have NO idea. She was born when I got a weird spam in my email. It was what looked like lines from a play by Shakespeare. I thought--why would someone send a spam like that? And it crossed my mind--maybe it's a secret message.

I still get goose bumps telling you about it. And I knew, after all those years of wanting to write a mystery, that was my plot. And that turned out to be the Agatha-winning PRIME TIME. But Charlie? Well, I knew I had a good story, but who would tell it? A television reporter, of course. And she just instantly popped into my head. Named, fully formed. I knew her perfectly.

The other characters were more difficult to get to know. But now, Charlie surprises me a lot! And I love when that happens.

Is she anything like you? Has she ever done anything you wouldn’t do to get your story?

When my husband talks about Charlie, he calls her “you.” As in—when “you” are held at gunpoint, when you track down the bad guys, when you solve the mystery… and I have to remind him, “Sweetheart, it’s fiction. It didn’t really happen.”

But a couple of things: I’ve been a TV reporter for more than 30 years. (Yes, really.) And so it would be silly, in writing a mystery about TV, not to use my own experiences. Think about it—as a TV reporter, you can never be wrong! Never be one minute late. Never choose the wrong word or miscalculate. You can never have a bad hair day, because it’ll be seen by millions of people! It’s high-stakes and high-stress—literally, people’s lives at stake--and I really wanted to convey that in the books.

And everything that TV people do and say in the books is authentic and genuine. (Of course, Charlie can say things I can’t say, and reveal things I can’t reveal.) We’re both devoted journalists, and over-focused on our jobs.

But Charlotte McNally is different, too. She’s single—I’m happily married. She’s ten years younger than I am, and so is facing different choices and dilemmas. She’s braver than I am, certainly. Funnier. And a much better driver.

Any plans to write a non Charlotte McNally novel?

Yup. Absolutely. It's in the works. You heard it here first.

We can't wait!! Thanks so much for stopping by, Hank! If you'd like to enter to win a copy of Hank's latest, DRIVE TIME, just leave a comment below and you're entered to win! The winner will be announced in two weeks. US entrants only, please.

I just can't resist a bargain....

JACK WITH A TWIST is on sale over at Amazon.com! Now's the time to pick up that copy you never bought or buy some copies for your friends and family! Needless to say, a book makes a great birthday gift/ belated Valentine's Day gift/ early Mother's Day gift/ hostess gift/ I think you get the idea....

If you buy your copy at Amazon, just shoot me the email confirmation (email me at brenda[at]brendajanowitz[dot]com) and I'll send over a JACK WITH A TWIST bookmark for each book that you buy!

Did I mention that it makes a great gift?!

Chick Lit.... Plus!

There's a new website out on the chick lit landscape and it's got a little something extra. Thus, it's name: Chick Lit Plus!

Check out my new interview with Chick Lit Plus! We talk about books, writing, and even Hawaii! What could be better than that?!

GCC Author Interview: Judi Fennell

Today we've got a return guest! It's Judi Fennell, from the Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit! She's here today to discuss CATCH OF A LIFETIME, the third in her Mer series.

What people are saying about Judi's work:

"Fennell's got detailed worldbuilding, creative secondary characters and an impressive use of mythology in this great read. While this title is part of a series, it works well as a stand-alone. Angel and Logan are both incredibly textured characters.

-RT BookReview Magazine 4 Stars

"Judi Fennell has extraordinary imagination and has certainly used it in creating this exciting and colorful story. Her characters are wonderful."

Fresh Fiction

About Judi:

Judi Fennell has had her nose in a book and her head in some celestial realm all her life, including those early years when her mom would exhort her to “get outside!” instead of watching Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie on television. So she did--right into Dad’s hammock with her Nancy Drew books.

These days she’s more likely to have her nose in her laptop and her head (and the rest of her body) at her favorite bookstore, but she’s still reading, whether it be her latest manuscript or friends’ books.

A three-time finalist in online contests, Judi has enjoyed the reader feedback she’s received and would love to hear what you think about her Mer series. Check out her website at www.JudiFennell.com for excerpts, reviews and fun pictures from reader and writer conferences, and the chance to “dive in” to her stories.

And of course, there's a contest!!

To celebrate the release of each of her books, Judi Fennell and the Atlantis Inn (www.AtlantisInn.com) and the Hibiscus House (www.HibiscusHouse.com) bed and breakfasts are raffling off three romantic beach getaway weekends. All information is on Judi's website, www.JudiFennell.com

Phew! That was all a mouthful!! Let's get to the questions:

Tell us about your most recent novel in 25 words or less.

In Catch of a Lifetime, Angel Tritone, Mer princess, wants Humans to protect the Earth, but the last person Logan Hardington needs is a mermaid.

When did you first begin writing?

First grade is the one I can remember. It's a story about a raindrop falling from the sky and mixing with her friends in a giant puddle and floating out to sea together. Hmmm, guess I had a sea theme even then.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

For the third story in my Mer series, I wanted something completely different. In In Over Her Head, I had a Human going into the sea and discovering Mers. In Wild Blue Under, I had a Mer coming on land. This one mixes it up some, with both the Mer and the Human being fish out of the water.

What are you working on right now?

I just turned in the first book in my new series about genies and am working on the second. I Dream of Genies comes out January 2011..

What are you reading right now?

My RITA books, so I can't give you the names since that's against the rules of the contest. I will say I love discovering new authors whose work I wouldn't normally read. That's one of the best parts of judging the RITAs.

How do you fight writer's block?

I mud wrestle with the muse. :) Seriously, I have to push through. Sometimes I'll take some time off and write blog posts, or read, but mostly I skip the scene that's giving me fits and work on another one.

If your book were to become a movie, who would you cast?

Jessica Alba as Angel and Hugh Jackman as Logan. Anytime Hugh takes off his shirt is a good movie, imo.

[Judi, me too!]

What is your favorite part of writing?

Seeing the characters take over my keyboard. Least favorite? When they don't and you have to really focus to get the words on the paper.

What tips would you offer to aspiring writers?

Enter contests and get feedback. Listen to it, even if you don't agree; it's someone else's perspective of your work and what you might unknowingly be portraying. A new perspective never hurts, if just to reinforce why you wrote/did what you did.

How do you usually begin your stories with a character or with a plot?

I've found, especially now that I've started another series, that because I have to tie the books together, the characters take shape first, mainly because I usually refer to them in books other than "their" book. The tough part can be molding a story around what I've already created.

Do a quick character study on yourself: don't forget to add in the fun stuff, like favorite foods and things you love/hate!

My brain works quicker than I can write, so the voice recorder feature on my iPhone is invaluable. I love gadgetry and have now decided that roughing it - which used to mean a cabin in the woods with no electricity, now means a motel without room service. I need my internet.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Judi! I hope that you will all check out Judi's latest, CATCH OF A LIFETIME.

The mother of all save the dates....

This truly needs to be seen to be believed. NY Mag reports on a new trend in weddings: the video save the date announcement.

I have no clue whether or not this thing is for real, but it just doesn't matter. Do yourself a favor and set aside four minutes (yes, it is *four* minutes long!) and watch this. I promise your mouth will drop to the ground.

It's the ultimate!

I'm so thrilled to announce that SCOT ON THE ROCKS made Chick Lit Club's Ultimate 100! It's a list of the ultimate 100 chick lit books, the books that help "define chick lit." Check out the list to see how many you've read. And a big thank you to everyone who voted for SCOT!

What a wonderful way to start the new year!

Christmas comes early!!!

There are just no words for this. Except for the fact that this song will now be stuck in my head for another three weeks....

GCC Author interview: Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

And the touring continues!!!

Today, we've got the fabulous Wendy Nelson Tokunaga here to chat. You may remember her from about a year ago when she came by to chat about her debut novel, MIDORI BY MOONLIGHT. Well, now she's back! And we get to her all about her latest novel, LOVE IN TRANSLATION.

So, without further ado, let's hear from Wendy!

Tell us about Love in Translation in 25 words or less.

An American woman finds herself unexpectedly in Japan to search for a long lost relative who could reveal the identity of the father she never knew.

When did you first begin writing?

I didn’t start writing fiction until my early 40s when I started a job as a technical writer. Many of my colleagues were writing fiction on the side and I joined in. One thing led to another and then I decided to take a creative writing course at a community college—that was when I first started writing short stories. I got a few published and that led to me starting to write novels, but it took a long time to get one published.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Japan and Japanese culture have been a big impact on my writing because they have been important in my life. I lived in Japan for a while and ended up marrying a Japanese man. In college I studied the Japanese language.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on my third novel, which ironically has very little to do about Japan.

What is your favorite part of writing? Least favorite?

My favorite is the revision process: reworking rough material until it’s just right. My least favorite part is writing that rough material!

What tips would you offer to aspiring writers?

Spend time on learning your craft and practicing writing. Don’t be in such a hurry to publish. Find good readers and consultants who can give you honest, constructive feedback on your manuscript and who can help you know when it’s ready to be sent out.

Do a quick character study on yourself:

Favorite white wine: Chardonnay

Favorite red wine: Pinot Noir

Pet Peeve: People who write “loose” when they mean “lose”

Favorite beauty item: flat iron

Favorite places to buy clothes: Anthropologie and H&M

Top Bookstores: Books Inc. (San Francisco Bay Area), Book Passage (Corte Madera, CA)

Dream job: Real estate agent with her own show on HGTV

Favorite cities: Paris, San Francisco, New York, Laguna Beach

Favorite TV shows: Mad Men, 30 Rock, Modern Family

Most hated food: Any kind of beans (except jelly)

Favorite sushi: chirashi

More winners!!!

Big congrats go out to Llehn-- you've won a copy of Melissa Senate's THE SECRET OF JOY! Just shoot me an email (brenda[at]brendajanowitz[dot]com) with your contact info, and we'll get a signed copy of the book out to you!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Big congrats go out to Lisa-- you've won a copy of Jessica Brody's LOVE UNDER COVER! Just shoot me an email (brenda[at]brendajanowitz[dot]com) with your contact info, and we'll get a signed copy of the book out to you!

Not a winner? That's okay! There's still time to enter and win Melissa Senate's THE SECRET OF JOY. So, what are you waiting for? Enter now!

GCC Author interview and book giveaway: Melissa Senate

Today we've got the lovely and talented Melissa Senate here to chat! You may know her from any one of her previous seven novels (yes! seven!), including her debut, SEE JANE DATE, which was turned into a TV movie (go Melissa!), but today, you're going to hear all about her latest novel, THE SECRET OF JOY.

And, it gets even better: Melissa will be giving away a signed copy of THE SECRET OF JOY! Deets on how to enter are at the bottom of the post.

THE SECRET OF JOY asks the question: what would you do if you discovered you had a half-sister you never knew existed? The book's been getting amazing buzz so far....

"The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate opened my heart, made me laugh, cry, and smile all at the same time. A don't-miss read!" –New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips

"A wonderfully heartfelt story about hope, possibilities and the yearning for real connections. Senate's latest will take you on a much needed vacation, while sneaking vital life lessons in when you're not looking." –Caprice Crane

Kinda makes you want to run out and buy it right this very second, doesn't it?! But before you run out to the store, let's have a little chat with Melissa first!

Tell us about your most recent novel in 25 words or less.

A 28-year-old New Yorker discovers she has a half-sister she never knew existed. Off she goes to a small Maine town to find her.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I use my own life—but flip everything so that just the nugget of the idea is autobiographical. A serial dater working in publishing in NYC—check. A woman who gets pregnant two months into a new relationship—check. Planning a wedding that isn’t what you expected—check. Half-sibling you’ve never met contacting you out of the blue—check!

How do you fight writer’s block?

Best cure I’ve found is to sleep on it, to let whatever is stuck work itself out deep in my subconscious. I often wake up at the crack of dawn with the answer. Another good trick is to take a long walk alone, no iPOD. Just you, the wind and your thoughts.

What is your favorite part of writing? Least favorite?

My favorite part is when I understand my characters so well that the writing feels effortless (even though it never is). My least favorite is the dreaded first draft, which always makes me doubt myself!

What tips would you offer to aspiring writers?

Believe in yourself! Trust your gut—it knows more than you may think it does.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Melissa! And now for the book giveaway! If you want to be entered to win a signed copy of THE SECRET OF JOY, just leave a comment below! The winner will be announced on December 1st.

GCC author intervew and book giveaway: Jessica Brody!

The Girlfriend Cyber Circuit continues!

Today we've got the fabulous Jessica Brody here to chat. Not only is she the author of THE FIDELITY FILES, but she's also the brainchild of the awesome book giveaway site, Free Book Friday.

And she is spreading the wealth! Since Jessica loves free books as much as I do, she's offered to give away a signed copy of her latest release, LOVE UNDER COVER, to one lucky winner! Deets on how to enter are at the bottom of this post.



About LOVE UNDER COVER:

In her job, she’s an expert on men…

In her own relationship, she doesn’t have a clue.

Boyfriend behaving badly? Suspect your husband of straying? Jennifer Hunter can supply the ultimate test. She runs a company which specializes in conducting fidelity inspections for those who suspect their loved ones are capable of infidelity.

An expert on men, Jennifer can usually tell if they're single, married or lying... Unfortunately, her new boyfriend, Jamie, is one of the few men that she's never been able to 'read.' Has she finally found the perfect man or is he too good to be true?



Sounds amazing, right? Well, it gets better: It's currently in development as a TV series by the executive producer of Crash!

The buzz on the book is amazing.....

"With a complicated, sympathetic protagonist, worthy stakes and a clever twist on the standard chick lit narrative, Brody will pull readers in from the first page."

– Publisher’s Weekly

"Those who enjoyed Brody's debut will be eager to catch up with Jennifer, but newcomers will be intrigued, too...an honest, witty portrayal of modern love."

- Booklist

If you ask me, praise like that couldn't be given to a nicer girl! Don't believe me? Let's start our chat with Jessica!

Tell us about your most recent novel in 25 words or less.

LOVE UNDER COVER is the compelling story of a woman who runs a “fidelity inspection” agency, hired by suspicious spouses to test the faithfulness of their loved ones.

When did you first begin writing?

In the second grade we were assigned to write a one-paragraph book report on the book of our choice. I turned in four pages. I remember my teacher showing it to every other teacher in the school saying, “We have a little writer on our hands.” I wouldn’t realize until 20 years and three corporate jobs later that she was right. I truly believe we’d all be a lot of happier if we could choose our careers at age 7. Although we might have an excess number of princesses, ninjas and astronauts on our hands.

What are you working on right now?

I’ve got some really fun stuff in the works. I’ve been revising a manuscript which is going to be the first book in a new young adult series about time travel. I’m really excited about it! Also I just wrapped up my second young adult novel, MY LIFE UNDECIDED, which will be out in Spring of 2011 and I’ve just sold my third YA novel to my publisher so I’ll be starting that in the next few months. I like to keep very busy. Idleness is my worst enemy!

What is your favorite part of writing? Least favorite?

My favorite part? Definitely the first 50 pages. They fly by. They’re brilliant and fresh and exciting and full of promise. I feel like I could do anything. I feel like I write an entire novel in two weeks.

My least favorite part? Everything that comes after that.

What tips would you offer to aspiring writers?

Take criticism. Believe in your work and stand behind it, but don’t be afraid to make changes. Use rejections to evolve yourself as a writer, not just to line your waste basket. When someone rejects your work and offers a reason, don’t just blow it off and claim that they “didn’t get it” or that they clearly didn’t read it closely enough, dissect it and try to figure out if what they’re saying makes sense and if it will inevitably help your work. There’s a fine balance between staying true to your art and being open for suggestions, try to stay somewhere in the middle. If they “didn’t get it,” chances are, readers won’t get it either. And you won’t be there to explain it to them in the middle of Barnes and Noble.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Jessica! It's always so nice to have you!

To enter to win a copy of LOVE UNDER COVER, just leave a comment below. Winners will be announced on On November 26th!