Domestically Challenged

GCC tour stop - Ellen Meister

This stop features debut author Ellen Meister. Ellen's book Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA sounds great - especially when you go here to listen to the audio book clip read by Lisa Kudrow!!

Here's the scoop:

When a Hollywood location scout comes to Applewood,

Long Island

and announces that the local elementary school might make the perfect backdrop for an upcoming George Clooney movie, the PTA’s decorum crumbles like a cookie from last week's bake sale.

Enter Maddie, Ruth and Lisa, three women who become the glue that holds the project together...and wind up forming a bond of friendship stronger than anyone had imagined.

A good thing, too, because each of them is about to come apart. Maddie Schein, an ex-lawyer trying as hard to fit in as she is to save her marriage, gets knocked off balance by Jack Rose, an old college friend hell bent on seducing her. Ruth Moss—rich, sexy and outspoken—has more to give and less to enjoy than most people think. Indeed, since her husband's stroke left him embarrassingly uninhibited yet completely impotent, she's more of a caretaker than a wife. And modest Lisa Slotnick, a loving parent who wants nothing more than to fade into the scenery as she tends to her children, must deal with the humiliation of being thrust before the spotlight by her scandalous, alcoholic mother.

When these three get together, a powerful alliance is forged. But is it strong enough to overcome the obstacles to getting the movie made in their town? And will their friendship be enough to mend their hearts and homes? Join them as they reach for the stars...and try to pull off a

Hollywood

ending of their own.

Praise:

"The best time I've had in years. Ellen Meister's characters are so funny, smart, and real, I feel like I've made three new friends!" — Lisa Kudrow

"A funny and wonderfully irreverent look at the dark underbelly of suburbia." — Lolly Winston, author of Good Grief and Happiness Sold Separately

"Women, hide this book from your husbands and resist the urge to read passages out loud. Ellen Meister knows our secrets, and she tells them in a smart, honest, and very funny voice." — Maryanne Stahl, author of Forgive the Moon and The Opposite Shore

"…multi-layered with subtle jokes, wit, and sarcasm...and in some cases, pain. For me, it was one of the most enjoyable reads of 2006." — Robin Slick, author of Three Days in New York City and Another Bite of the Apple

GCC author Stephanie Lehmann

This stop features author Stephanie Lehmann. Stephanie's latest book is You Could Do Better - something I have said to my fair share of friends. Not only do all of Stephanie's books look fab (check them out here) but she also has a great blog - so check it out when you need a distraction.

The dish on her latest...

The author of The Art of Undressing makes her highly anticipated return with an irresistible new novel about a woman trying to choose between the man of her dreams -- and her fiance.

Daphne Wells is way too busy watching television to start planning her wedding. She tells herself that being glued to the boob tube counts as research for her job at the Museum of Television and Radio. But the truth is, as much as she’s looking forward to a future with her fiancé, Charlie, their sex life just isn’t ready for prime time.

Then Daphne meets sexy, successful writer/producer Jonathan Hill when he comes to the museum for inspiration. Daphne spends a weekend in the Hamptons at Jonathan’s beach house—on business, of course—but the picture comes in loud and clear: This man can turn her on as if he’s a remote control.  She’s more confused than ever about marrying Charlie. What if she can do better?

Stephanie Lehmann

is the author of Are You in the Mood?, Thoughts While Having Sex, and The Art of Undressing. Her plays have been produced Off Off Broadway, and she is a contributor to Salon. Originally from San Francisco, she's a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, and has a master's in creative writing from New York University. Lehmann now lives with her husband and two children in Manhattan.

Even more books to add to the "To Be Read" pile!!

GCC tour stop - author Diana Peterfreund

This tour stop (which is horribly late, my apologies...) features author Diana Peterfreund. Diana is the author of Secret Society Girl. Here's the skinny:

Secret Society Girl takes us into the heart of the Ivy League’s ultra-exclusive secret societies when a young woman is invited to join as one of their first female members.

Elite Eli University junior Amy Haskel never expected to be tapped into Rose & Grave, the country’s most powerful–and notorious–secret society. She isn’t rich, politically connected, or…well, male.

So when Amy receives the distinctive black-lined invitation with the Rose & Grave seal, she’s blown away. Could they really mean her?

Whisked off into an initiation rite that’s a blend of Harry Potter and Alfred Hitchcock, Amy awakens the next day to a new reality and a whole new set of “friends”–from the gorgeous son of a conservative governor to an Afrocentric lesbian activist whose society name is Thorndike. And that’s when Amy starts to discover the truth about getting what you wish for. Because Rose & Grave is quickly taking her away from her familiar world of classes and keggers, fueling a feud, and undermining a very promising friendship with benefits. And that’s before Amy finds out that her first duty as a member of Rose & Grave is to take on a conspiracy of money and power that could, quite possibly, ruin her whole life.

A smart, sexy introduction to the life and times of a young woman in way over her head, Secret Society Girl is a charming and witty debut from a writer who knows her turf–and isn’t afraid to tell all....

To read an excerpt, visit Diana's site at http://secretsocietygirl.com/excerpt.htm.

Here's what people are saying...

"Ms. Peterfreund’s descriptions of the ambitious Amy Haskel’s collegial
life are both vivid and amusing ... Amy's story is both witty and
endearing, peppered as it is with rhetorical questions and moments when
she emphatically addresses the reader as “dude.” As she discusses her
dorm-room drama, her study sessions at the library, and the awkward
interactions she shares at the lit-mag office with her “friend with
bennies,” Amy proves herself a rather appealing girl. To top it off, Amy
knows about Said and Lévi-Strauss."
- The New York Observer

"A frothy summer read for anyone interested in the collegiate antics of the secret rulers of the
world."
- Edward Nawotka, Bloomberg News

"Peterfreund leaves some loose ends to entice readers to pick up her next installment...the story is...fun to read--full of quirky characters and situations. It's bound to appeal to readers looking for entertaining escape and college humor."
- Booklist

" Absolutely captivating, Secret Society Girl takes us into the mysterious, rarified, and delicious world of an Ivy League secret society--but even more, into the life of a fascinating and dauntless young woman. Diana Peterfreund has such a bright, original voice, and she has written an unforgettable novel."
- New York Times Bestelling Author Luanne Rice

Sounds like a great read!

GCC tour welcomes...Martha O'Connor

This stop on the GCC tour bus welcomes author Martha O'Connor. I had the pleasure of interviewing Martha for Mom Writer's Talk Radio and to say that she was a good guest would be an understatement. She was not only funny and sweet, but she was also extremely willing to share her writing knowledge.

Martha's book just came out in paperback and it is a must read! Here's the scoop:

A circle's round it has no end; That's how long I want to be your friend.

Tear off the mask and stop pretending.  Your Posse knows the truth.


Novelist Martha O'Connor makes a remarkable debut with THE BITCH POSSE
(St. Martin's Press; May 12, 2005), the dark and thrilling story of
three young women, their passionate friendship, and the terrible
secret that inextricably binds them together.  Bestselling author
Jacquelyn Mitchard called the novel "dark, poignant, and only too
believable…a book that will walk alongside you, and haunt your dreams,
long after you turn the last page." Her contemporaries have compared
her to Alice Sebold, Donna Tartt, and Joyce Carol Oates.

With bold and unflinching language, O'Connor weaves past and present
from the perspectives of three best friends, Rennie, Amy, and Cherry –
as rebellious teens and then as grown women in their mid-30's coping
with the repercussions of their actions.  As high school seniors, the
girls form a tight circle of friends – which they name the Bitch Posse
– in order to lash out against tumultuous situations in their lives.
But as steadfast as their friendship is, it's not enough to protect
the girls from circumstances that cause all three of their lives to
spiral out of control.   Rennie has a doomed affair with her married
drama teacher, which results in her bearing the psychic weight of an
abortion and a blighted love. Amy's parents think their daughter has
thrown over her bad-news friends, and upon learning their daughter has
become a drug and alcohol addict (not unlike themselves) they turn
their backs on her. Cherry's mother finds solace in cocaine, then
heroin, leaving her daughter to target her rage at someone, anyone,
over whom she has control.

Flash-forward to the present, where one girl is now a wife and
mother-to-be, trying to uphold a life of normalcy for herself and her
family.  One is a writer with a sexual addiction that sucks her into
destructive relationships.  And one is incarcerated in a mental
hospital – and has been since one fateful night fifteen years ago,
when a betrayal led them to commit a crime that profoundly changed
their destinies.

Fascinated by the struggle between good and evil within the human
spirit, Martha O'Connor delves into the dark side of human nature, the
intensity of female friendship, and the possibilities of redemption in
THE BITCH POSSE.  Emotionally raw, upsetting, and provocative, this is
the introduction of a huge new talent and will leave readers reeling
this season.  As Edmund White says, "The Bitch Posse is a debut worthy
of Joyce Carol Oates."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Martha O'Connor grew up in Illinois and earned a BFA in Creative
Writing from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, graduating Phi
Beta Kappa, summa cum laude.  Her poetry has been published in the
literary journals Stand, Poetry London Newsletter, Confrontation, and
Midwest Poetry Review, among others.

By turns a department store clerk, waitress, latte-maker, and
eighth-grade teacher, Martha O'Connor now lives and writes fiction and
poetry full-time in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband,
award-winning novelist and short story writer Philip F. O'Connor, and
their children.

Visit her website at http://www.marthaoconnor.com.


Now, I wanted to post some blurbs about the book, but there are too many! Check out http://marthaoconnor.com/saying/saying.asp.

Mark my words - you will be seeing a lot of work from Martha and she will be on the writing scene for a long time.

GCC tour stop - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

If you are looking for some good books, keep checking back here for the GCC tour stops. Summer is a busy time of year.

This stop features author Jennifer Lynn Barnes, whose first book Golden went on sale recently. Now, normally I read through the press release, post about the book and move on. Something on Jennifer's bio stopped me:

A Native Oklahoman, Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a recent graduate of Yale University, where she studied cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought).  Her research on animal and child cognition has been featured on ABC’s World News Tonight, Animal Planet, and The New York Times, and Jennifer will be spending the 2006/2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge.

Jennifer wrote Golden at the age of nineteen, and her second book, Tattoo, will be available in January of 2007.

Now, when you first read that, you probably can't tell what line stopped me. Was it that she graduated from Yale (you go girl!)? Was it that she will be doing research abroad? Or was it the fact that she wrote Golden WHEN SHE WAS 19?

HUH? 19?!?!?

Do you remember what you were doing when you were 19? Are you cringing, blushing, or both? ;) Sounds like a woman who knows what she wants and knows exactly how to get it.

About the book:

At Emory High, there are two kinds of people: those who matter, and those who don’t.

When Lissy James moves from California to Oklahoma, she finds herself in the middle of a teenage nightmare: a social scene to rival a Hollywood movie. And if understanding the hierarchy of the Goldens vs. the Nons isn’t hard enough, Lissy’s ever growing Aura Vision is getting harder and harder to hide, and if she’s not careful, she’s going to become a Non faster than you can say “freak.”

But it’s becoming clear that Emory High has a few secrets of its own. Around the halls, the term “special powers” goes way beyond one’s ability to attract the opposite sex, and there may be something more evil than the A-crowd lurking in the classrooms. Lissy can see a lot more than the average girl, but she’s about to learn the hard way that things aren’t always as they appear and you can’t always judge a girl by her lip gloss.

What People Are Saying:

“…A well-balanced blend of fast-moving fantasy and light, playful chick lit.”

–Kirkus Reviews

“Golden glows with the spot-on 
insights and pitch-perfect prose of someone whose knowledge of adolescence is absolutely fresh… Golden is a captivating mix of everyday teen terrors and supernatural suspense."

-Borders Online, July Newsletter

Check out Jennifer ~

Website:

http://www.jenniferlynnbarnes.com

Blog:

http://jenlyn-b.livejournal.com/

GCC tour stop - author Lauren Barnholdt

This tour stop features author Lauren Barnholdt. Her first book, called Reality Chick hits stores in August. Here's the info:

All hour study fests.....all-night parties.... Going away to college means total independence and freedom. Unless of course your freshman year is taped and televised for all the world to watch. On uncensored cable. Sweet and normal Ally Cavanaugh is one of five freshpeople shacking up on In the House, a reality show filmed on her college campus. (As if school isn't panic-inducing enough!) The cameras stalk her like paparazzi, but they also capture the fun that is new friends, old crushes, and learning to live on your own. Sure, the camera adds ten pounds, but with the freshman fifteen a given anyway, who cares? Ally's got bigger issues -- like how her long-distance bf can watch her loopy late-night "episode" with a certain housemate...

Freshman year on film. It's outrageous. It's juicy.

And like all good reality TV, it's impossible to turn off.

Bio

Lauren Barnholdt is a twenty-six-year-old writer who was born and raised in Syracuse , NY . Her articles and short stories have appeared in Elements Magazine, Girls Life, and on mensclick.com. Her first book for young adults, REALITY CHICK, is in stores now. Lauren also teaches a popular online course called How to Write and Sell the YA Chick-lit Novel. She is currently at work on her next YA book, which will be out next summer. Lauren now resides in Central Connecticut , and when she’s not writing, she watches a lot of reality TV.

Visit her website at www.laurenbarnholdt.com and her blog at www.livejournal.com/users/laurenbarnholdt.

Now you have NO excuse to not have a good read this summer!! :)

GCC author Joshilyn Jackson!

This is going to sound sooooo cheesy, but I am SO in awe of this woman. Not only is she a phenomenal author (if you haven't read her first book gods in Alabama, RUN to a bookstore, buy it and do not resume regular life until you finish it), and an absolutely hilarious blogger (see Faster than Kudzu) but she is SO nice. So nice, in fact, that she offered me help with a book proposal that later turned into my first book Domestically Challenged on a Sunday while she was at home writing. How's that for nice?

Her second book, Between, Georgia has just hit the shelves and I am waiting for my autographed copy now. Look at that cover...isn't it divine?

OK, enough of my drooling and blabbering, here's the skinny on the book:

Synopsis:

There's always been bad blood between the Fretts and the Crabtrees. After all, the Fretts practically own the tiny town of Between, Georgia, while the Crabtrees only rent space in its jail cells.

Stacia Frett is a deaf artist with a genetic condition that is causing her to slowly go blind. She's lost the love of her life, and when her vision goes, she'll lose her career as well. She's asking God why He keeps her breathing in and out, until the night fifteen year old Hazel Crabtree shows up on her doorstep brandishing a stomach swollen with a pregnancy she'd hidden for nine months. Stacia thinks Hazel's unwanted baby might be God's answer, and so the Fretts decide to steal it...

Thirty years later, Nonny Frett is a successful interpreter living in Athens, Georgia. She understands the meanings of "rock" and "hard place" better than any woman ever born. She's got two mothers, "one deaf-blind and the other four baby steps from flat crazy." She's got two men; Her husband is easing out the back door and her best friend is laying siege to her heart in her front yard. She has a job that holds her in the city, and she's addicted to a little girl who's stuck deep in the country. And she has two families; The Fretts, who stole her and raised her right, and the Crabtrees, who lost her and can't forget that they've been done wrong.

In Between, Georgia, population 90, the feud that began before Nonny was born is escalating, and a random act of violence will set the torch to a thirty-year old stash of highly flammable secrets. This might be just what the town needs, if only Nonny wasn't sitting in the middle of it...

A #1 BookSense pick

In her accomplished second novel, Jackson sweeps the reader away to a place where gravel crunches underfoot and the smell of corn bread wafts in the air. Between, a tiny dot on the Georgia state map, is oversized when it comes to personalities. The plot is precise and sweet, and Jackson includes the perfect ingredients: quirky characters, a picturesque setting and ample surprises. Evocative and lovingly crafted.
     - Kirkus *starred review*

I can't WAIT to read this book!!! :)

GCC tour author - Kyra Davis

This GCC tour stop features Kyra Davis, author of Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights.

Synopsis:

Sophie Katz has just offered a man $12,000 for his services…is she desperate of just meshugeneh?

Considering the kind of disasters that usually befall the half-black, half Jewish mystery writer, probably both.  Because the last time Sophie saw sexy P.I. Anatoly Darinsky, he practically danced a jig when she waved goodbye-a normal reaction for a man who’d nearly bought the farm due to her misguided attempts at vigilante justice. What are the chances he’d agree to take incriminating pictures of her sister’s philandering husband?  Or that he’d let her tag along-you know…for research?

But when her brother-in-law turns up dead and her sister becomes the prime suspect Sophie’s priority is finding the real killer.  With or without Anatoly’s help.  Her brother-in-law’s secret life yields plenty of suspects, but the

San Francisco

police aren’t taking any of them seriously.  So Sophie does what comes naturally to her: she stirs up trouble (to lure the killer out, of course). 

But if her crazy plan works will everybody survive the outcome? 

In the rollicking follow-up to Sex, Murder And A Double Latte, Sophie hones her irreverent humor and sleuthing skills to a sharp edge.  Fans of Stephanie Plum or Kinsey Millhone will no doubt love Sophie and find her snappy comebacks and quirky cohorts as addictive as good coffee and a sexy dye job (okay, let’s stick with the caffeine).

About the author: Novelist Kyra Davis has spent her life in

San Francisco

and the greater Bay Area, where she currently lives with her young son.  Now a full-time single parent and writer, Davis previously divided her time between a career in the fashion industry and various artistic endeavors such as acting, singing and dancing.

First of all, she's a single mom and a writer?!?!? Kudos to her!! This sounds like another great read. I am hoping to have more time to read in the near future and plan on getting this and its prequel soon!

GCC author stop - Sara Rosett

This tour stop features author Sara Rosett. The title of her book is Moving is Murder. Now, I know that this is supposed to be a mystery book, but after moving 2 weeks ago, I can attest to the fact that moving IS murder, or wants to move you to murder - one of the two. LOL

The book sounds like a super fun read - check it out:

Air Force wife Ellie Avery is an ace at moving. A professional organizer,
she plans ahead, packs efficiently, and even color-codes the boxes. But
nothing in her bag of tricks could prepare her for the secrets that shadow
her new neighborhood.secrets that drive one of her neighbors to murder.

Moving four times in five years has honed Ellie's considerable skills. But
moving with a newborn daughter and husband Mitch in tow, a record-breaking
heat wave, and the realization that their dream neighborhood is known as
Base Housing East is enough to make her turn to chocolate for comfort. Now
half of their neighbors are with the 52nd Air Refueling Squadron. Forget
privacy.

Forget peace of mind, too. Driving home from her first squadron barbecue,
Ellie finds neighborhood environmental activist Cass Vincent dead on the
side of the road. The police call it an accident-Cass, fatally allergic, was
stung by wasps-but Ellie's not so sure.  And when it looks like Mitch's best
friend might be a suspect in the murder, Ellie starts snooping in earnest.
What she finds shocks her-and when suspicious "accidents" start happening in
her own backyard, Ellie realizes she's getting closer to the killer.maybe
too close!

Now, look at this praise -

Library Journal:  Rosett knows the ins and outs of living on a military
base-she also knows a lot about moving and includes tips at the end of each
chapter.

Kirkus:  A cozy debut that'll help you get organized and provide
entertainment in your newfound spare time.

Carolyn Hart:  Air Force wife Ellie Avery knows the hassles of moving but
she never expected murder to complicate unpacking. A fun debut for an
appealing young heroine.

Alesia Holliday:  Mayhem, murder, and the military!  Sara Rosett's debut
crackles with intrigue.  Set in a very realistic community of military
spouses, Moving is Murder, keeps you turning pages through intricate plot
twists and turns.  Rosett is an author to watch.

Um, ok it gives moving tips???? I should have read this about 4 weeks ago. I can't wait to pick this one up!

About the author:

Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, Sara Rosett has always loved to curl up
with a good book. The wife of an Air Force pilot, she and her family moved
ten times-giving her plenty of expertise to write her first Mom Zone
Mystery, Moving is Murder.  They are currently living in southern California
with their two children and two dogs.  Sara's work appeared in Chicken Soup
for the Military Wife's Soul, and she is working on the next Mom Zone
mystery. Please visit her website, www.sararosett.com.

GCC tour stop author - Deborah LeBlanc

OK, I am SO going to get back to blogging like a regular blogger, as soon as my life cooperates with me. LOL

This stop features author Deborah LeBlanc, author of A House Divided. I was intrigued by the premise of this book, so I sent Deb some questions to answer about her latest title.

1. What inspired your latest book A House Divided?

The story for AHD came to me while visiting with a friend who claimed to have lived in a haunted house, not too far from my own home, when he was a kid. Always fascinated with a good ghost story, I was even more thrilled knowing the house was nearby. He took me to see it, and while visiting the small, abandoned home, I found out the structure was only half of a larger home.

As the story goes, an oil company, who purchased the property the home was originally built upon years ago, offered a local contractor the house. All he had to do to own it free and clear was move the house off the property. The contractor, knowing he would not be able to get the rent he needed for such a large house, decided to cut the house in half, move it to residential lots in another town, remodel the halves, then rent each structure separately. He accomplished his goal, for both halves were rented the moment the remodeling was completed. However, strange things began to happen to the families who moved into each structure. According to my friend, cabinet doors opened and closed on their own, utensil drawers flew open, lights in the kitchen turned on and off, the sound of children and a woman crying late at night. Chairs rocking on their own.

I didn't see or feel anything in the abandoned home of my friend and took his accountings of the paranormal events with a grain of salt. Still curious, however, I searched out the other half of the home, found it across town, and had the opportunity to speak to the single mother who lived there with her three children. When I told her why I was there, she actually seemed relieved and invited me inside. For over an hour, she recounted all the weird things that had been happening in the house since she'd moved in a year ago. Many of those events mirrored the ones my friend had told me about.

Although I didn't experience any phenomenon in either half of the house first hand, the stories generated enough fuel to set my imagination in motion, which eventually led to my latest novel. 

2. What type of writing schedule do you keep?

A writing day for me begins at 5:30 a.m. with a huge mug of coffee. I normally give myself about a half hour to wake up, shower, and throw on a pair of jeans and t-shirt before hitting the office. Once there, and with a second mug of coffee at the ready, I go over the last two chapters I’ve written so I can get back into the flow of the story. 

Then I start pounding away at the keyboard. Aside from bathroom breaks and an occasional coffee refill or bottle of water and a sandwich, I steadily type away until 3 or so in the afternoon. By that time, every creative brain cell in my head feels like it’s turned to oatmeal. I print what I’ve written, add it to the growing stack on the corner of my desk, then tackle emails that have accumulated during the day. Around 6, I come up for air and head for the kitchen and dinner. If I’m lucky, the book will leave me alone long enough to have a decent meal, spend a little time with my family, then get a good night’s sleep. If it doesn’t, I’m usually back at the keyboard around 9 to work for a couple more hours.

3. How has writing/publishing changed for you now that you have a few books under your belt?

I've had to get faster at writing because the deadlines seem to be getting tighter and tighter--Gurgle-gurgle-gurgle!

Summary of the book:

Keith Lafleur thinks he's cut the deal of a lifetime. The huge old, two-story house is his for the taking as long as he can move it to a new location. It's too big to move as is, but Lafleur's solution is simple: cut it in half. He has no idea, though, that by splitting the house he'll be dividing a family, a family long dead, a family that still exists in the house . . .

Angelica Batiste is a young, mentally challenged woman with a unique gift. Her mind, no more advanced than a ten-year-old child's, sees things before they happen. Not only does she see them, she draws them with extraordinary perfection.

When Angelica moves into part of an old, two-story house with her cousin and a friend, her gift suddenly turns into a terrifying power she can not control. The house feeds it. The house needs it. And only death can make it stop.

Sounds like a grat read!!