Get lost

So, did you see it?! Did you watch it? Were you like me, waiting for years in anticipation, all culminating in last night's series finale of LOST?! Did you watch all forty-seven hours of LOST-related programming?

Well, I did. And now I feel just like John Locke. For years, I believed. I truly thought that the show creators and writers would wrap the show up and answer all of the questions I've been wondering about for years. (Years!!)

But, instead, the show creators and writers were like the Man in Black: laughing at me, mocking me for my faith. They didn't answer so many of the questions that have been out there for years (Why can't women maintain pregnancies on the island? What was the point of Walt and Michael? And what the heck was with the temple at the beginning of season six?! Feel free to leave your own unanswered questions in the comment section!), and now I just feel like I was a fool to have obsessed about the show for so long.

The only thing that can really make me feel any better right now is a photo of Sawyer with his shirt off, so for old times sake, let's see that one more time:

Yup, I feel better already.

Guest blog: Jenny Gardiner

I'm so excited today because we've got a guest blogger, Jenny Gardiner. She's a fellow GCCer, but that's not why I'm totally excited-- Jenny is pioneering a new front on the publishing scene. Her latest novel, SLIM TO NONE, will only be released on Amazon Kindle! That's right, you heard correctly: it will not be published on paper! Only digital, baby!



Pretty cool, huh?! It definitely begs the question: is this where publishing is going? I don't know the answer, but let's hear from Jenny! So, without further ado, I give you Jenny Gardiner!

Shortly after I received my Kindle e-reader for my birthday a few months ago, I was reading in bed at midnight, not loving the book I had downloaded, but wanting to continue to read something. So with the magic of my electronic reader, in two minutes' time, I found another book on Amazon, downloaded the thing, and had begun reading it. How cool is that?

Dramatic changes have been underway in the publishing industry in recent years—changes that--combined with a faltering economy--have left traditional publishing in a bit of a tailspin. While the cumbersome infrastructure of the publishing industry is perhaps not quite nimble enough to as easily embrace and adapt to these changes, authors are on their own figuring out how they can achieve their end goal--to reach readers hungry for their work.

I've been fortunate to be teamed up with a literary agent—the wonderful Holly Root—whose agency (The Waxman Agency) is an innovator and has undertaken a bold new program of offering up high-quality books to the reading public via a digital imprint called Diversion Books.

I jumped at the chance to be part of this program because in many ways I am a convert to e-reading and I believe that society is on the cusp of a major shift in how people read books. I've always felt badly that there is a tremendous amount of paper waste with books—that books that don't sell get sent back to the publishers and ultimately destroyed. And as one who has on many occasions found at least three books lurking in the bowels of her purse (which gets heavy!), I love having all of my reading neatly compiled into one small, lightweight and very portable device. And strangely I find I can focus more readily when reading in a public place with an e-reader. Go figure.

I think that as competition increases with the introduction of new e-readers, and prices come down in the near future, soon electronic readers like the Kindle, the Nook, the Sony Reader and the iPad (of which 1 million units were sold in 28 days) will become as commonplace as cell phones (with smart phones already an e-reading option for many).

Are e-books the perfect solution? Not at all. I hate the idea that e-books contribute to marginalizing wonderful independent book stores, and hope that somehow some of the talk—of e-book downloads being available at stores, perhaps, will help to mitigate that. And I hate to sit back and watch layoffs and consolidation in the publishing industry, as really good people, fabulous editors, publicists and artists are squeezed out as the business changes. The music industry experienced these same sea changes and frankly nothing about it is easy. But as the mainstream industry goes more and more toward sure-bet books to the exclusion of the vast mid-list, which is really like the middle class of the writing world, more authors will by necessity seek alternatives to continue to pursue their passion and to reach their readers.

I decided to publish digitally with Diversion Books rather than cold turkey on my own because, alas, I am such a Luddite. Well, not fully. But I am technologically stunted and I don't have the time in my life right now to figure out how to do this on my own, and I am happy to be able to work with such wonderful professionals to collaborate on an end-result we can all be proud of. It's early enough that I can't tell you how the outcome will be, but so far so good and I really just hope I can get the word out to enough e-readers about the book—I do find that those who are early adapters with e-readers are enthusiastic to buy books, which is a good thing for everyone in a market in which so few books are being purchased. And I hope that my readers will be able to access this book.

Of course tangible paper books aren't going to go away, but the convenience of downloading books and carrying literally hundreds of them in such compact form is awfully hard to beat. And I'm thrilled to be at the forefront of such exciting innovations and to be able to offer up a book that I absolutely love and think that you will too.

Many of you may know me as a novelist who was able to successfully market my way into a publishing contract with my first novel, SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER, which was the winner of Dorchester Publishing's American Title III contest a few years ago. Back then I sort of stumbled into the frontier of capitalizing on what would soon become the most comprehensive way to market and publicize books—via networking on the internet.

Since that time, the industry has shifted in none-too-subtle ways as the internet has become an integral part of the publishing picture. So much so that e-publishing, which used to be considered an unconventional means of publication, is clearly being viewed now as the wave of the future. The future is already upon us, and I hope that you will join me in this brave new "frontier" and check out my debut e-novel, SLIM TO NONE, in which Abby Jennings, Manhattan's premier food critic, is outed on Page Six of the New York Post, and to her chagrin she realizes she's too recognizably fat to now remain incognito in her job. Her editor gives her six months to shape up or ship out, and so this ultimate foodie--a woman who is paid to eat for a living--must vastly curtail her eating in order to continue being able to make a living.

SLIM TO NONE is a story near and dear to my heart. Like probably every female out there with a heartbeat and a stomach pooch, I have been on the dieting treadmill since I was oh, born. Well, wait, I guess after I started walking. It was then that I knew I needed to stop cramming down the Froot Loops my mother kept insisting was the only thing I would eat, and instead turn to steel-cut oats direct from Ireland for the best proper nutrition.

Alas, Froot Loops won the day, over and over again. In what seems like an omnipresent dietary smackdown between Brussels sprouts and Fluffernutter sandwiches, the latter prevails every time. And with that has been the roller coaster of dieting and hating to diet and then never having pants that fit and a closet full of awesome clothes collecting dust that I really ought to just purge and give to someone thinner and more deserving, but instead I hold out mournful hope that I again will jam my fat ass into a size 6 pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans (yes, friends, it has been that long).

With that albatross secured snugly around my neck, I decided to tackle the ups and downs of this way of life in a novel—and decided upon a foodie for whom food had to become the enemy. I loved the idea of taking someone who has to eat for a living then not be able to eat in order to continue to be able to eat for a living. Such a quandary! And then of course I wanted to pile her up with all sorts of issues that she has to overcome.

I hope you'll join Abbie on her journey of self-discovery and while you're at it enjoy many of the yummy recipes you'll find within the pages of SLIM TO NONE.


With a strong yet delightfully vulnerable voice, food critic Abbie Jennings embarks on a soulful journey where her love for banana cream pie and disdain for ill-fitting Spanx clash in hilarious and heartbreaking ways. As her body balloons and her personal life crumbles, Abbie must face the pain and secret fears she’s held inside for far too long. I cheered for her the entire way.
--Beth Hoffman, bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Satisfying as a Thanksgiving dinner at Mom's. ... Jenny Gardiner's heroine gives us a sarcastic but provocative look at our love-hate relationship with food. You'll eat this up in one sitting
--Ad Hudler, bestselling author of Househusband and Man of the House

"Jenny Gardiner has done it again - this fun, fast-paced book is a great summer read."
--Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Opposite of Me


Thanks so much for stopping by, Jenny! And for those of you who are interested in checking out SLIM TO NONE, click here to read the first chapter!

GCC Author Interview: April Henry

I'm so excited today because we've got fellow GCCer April Henry here to chat! She's got a new book out-- HAND OF FATE-- with her co-author, Lis Wiehl, and it sounds super exciting.


Here's what it's about:

When the host of a popular radio talk show is murdered, the suspects almost outnumber his millions of listeners. Outspoken radio talk show host Jim Fate dies he opens a package and releases poisonous gas while his polarizing show, "The Hand of Fate," is on air. In the ensuing panic, police evacuate downtown Portland. Soon the triple threat of FBI Special Agent Nicole Hedges, crime reporter Cassidy Shaw and Federal Prosecutor Allison Pierce begin piecing together the madness, motive, and the mystery that lie behind Fate’s murder. While Lis has worked with Bill O’Reilly for years (often serving as the voice of reason or his liberal foil, depending on your point of view), the character is NO WAY based on O’Reilly.

This is the second in the Triple Threat mystery series, which has been optioned for TV. The first, Hand of Fate, one was on the New York Times bestseller list for four weeks! And in April 2011, readers can look for Heart of Ice, which traces the path of a destruction left by a sociopath - and based on a real-life case Lis prosecuted.


Sounds exciting, doesn't it?! But don't just take my word for it! Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say about it:

"Exciting... readers will identify with these very real women as they try to uncover Fate's killer, and each battles a personal demon—Allison her fear of miscarriage, Nic her fear of her daughter's criminal father, and Cassidy her prescription drug addiction.”


I'm sold! So, without further ado, let's get to our questions!

When did you first begin writing?

I started writing when I was nine or ten - and Roald Dahl helped me get a story I wrote when I was 12 published. It was about a six-foot tall frog named Herman who loved peanut butter. I’ve since lost the story, but I still have the postcard Dahl sent me. I was convinced we were friends.

What are you working on right now?

The next book in the Triple Threat series, Heart of Ice, has gone through almost all the edits. It’s super scary and based on a real-life case Lis prosecuted. I’m editing The Girl in the Mini Cooper, a YA I wrote that is also based on a real life case about a pizza delivery girl who disappeared.

What are you reading right now?

Before I Fall, a young adult book about a girl who keeps reliving the last day of her life, trying to get it right. It’s a real page turner.

How do you fight writer’s block?

I will work on a different scene that falls later in the book. Sometimes I work on an entirely different book. Or I will just force myself to write crap, because you can edit crap, but you can’t edit nothing. Now that I make my living as a writer, I depend on making my deadline to eat, so that is a big motivator!

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

It’s usually a plot that first inspires me - then I figure out who would be the most affected by that plot.

Thanks so much for stopping by, April! And I hope you'll all check out her latest release, HAND OF FATE.

All about Ellen....

We here at Brenda's Blog just love Ellen Meister. We also love entering contests. And we love free stuff. So, what could be better than this: Ellen's giving away a free $25 gift card just for signing up for her mailing list!

Ellen has an exciting new book coming out next year and she wants you to know all about it. It's sure to be her breakout novel, so if you loved her last two books, or just want to discover a new author, you should check this out.

Sign up for her mailing list now and you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25 amazon.com gift card.

Just click here, fill out the form, and remember to click through when you get the confirmation email. That's it. Ellen only sends out a few updates a year, so you won't be bombarded. Besides, I think you'll want to hear about her breakthrough novel, THE OTHER LIFE (Putnam/2011), which is already getting great early buzz:

"Gripping! A truly fascinating story of love, loss, and a magical place in between."
–Beth Harbison, New York Times bestselling author of HOPE IN A JAR

"Intriguing, stimulating, original, unpredictable, frightening, utterly engaging--THE OTHER LIFE reminded me why I love to read. Ellen Meister is a writer with a limitless future."
–Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author of THE SECOND OPINION and THE LAST SURGEON

"In her riveting breakthrough novel, THE OTHER LIFE, gifted storyteller Ellen Meister doesn’t just peek in on a young mother who straddles between love and doubt, she blows it open with a story of one who straddles two parallel universes, each with its own perilous decisions. It is a brave and honest exploration of the precarious limits of motherhood that will make readers wonder if Meister followed them with a probe and felt their racing hearts and hopes. If you have ever second guessed the biggest decisions of your life (and who hasn’t), THE OTHER LIFE is a captivating homage to the question, does love conquer all?"
–Saralee Rosenberg, author of DEAR NEIGHBOR, DROP DEAD and FATE AND MS. FORTUNE

"Ellen Meister makes a big leap toward the literary in THE OTHER LIFE, a book where “What if” becomes the most powerful question in the world. This is the thinking woman’s beach read, a love story to the modern family, written with a deep and lovely understanding of mothers and daughters and the sacrifices they’ll make for each other."
–Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING

"THE OTHER LIFE is a provocative and unique tale of the road not taken. Ellen Meister puts a magical, masterful spin on one of my favorite questions: "What if?" What if you took both roads? You won't want to miss this one!"

–Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON

"I loved this emotional powerhouse of a novel that asks a daring “what if…” and manages to be as charming and funny as it is thoughtful and moving. Brava, Ellen Meister!”
–Melissa Senate, author of SEE JANE DATE and THE SECRET OF JOY

The funniest thing about all of these fabulous blurbs is that I am reading THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING as we speak! Seriously. You can even check out my goodreads page!

Anyhoo, I hope you all enter to win the contest. I'm heading over there now!

So lost....

Last week there were two completely hilarious videos about Lost. The only problem is: I can't decide which one is funnier.

On the one hand, the montage of Sawyer saying "Son of a bitch" over and over again is just so classic. It starts out really funny, then gets to where you just sort of smile at each moment, then it just isn't funny anymore, but then wait: because it gets totally hilarious again.

On the other hand, the ode to Richard Alpert has some really classic lines. Clearly, I need to integrate "you wear the hell out of a button down" into my regular parlance.

And the bonus of each video is that they BOTH feature Lost hotties!!! So, as you watch, you get to stare at some of the best man-candy Lost has to offer.

I guess you could say it's a win-win.

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.