Affairs

BOOK REVIEW: “Secrets of the Suburbs”

October 14, 2016 1 Comment

“Secrets of the Suburbs” by Alisa Schindler

Blurb: Secrets of the Suburbs is the story of Lindsey, a 42 year-old suburban mom who seems to have it all – doctor husband, two great kids, satisfying part-time work; all the spin classes, shopping and lunches she can fit into her busy schedule.

But when a drunken moment with her friend’s husband opens up a well of desire, excitement and emotion that she didn’t even know existed, it throws her perfectly perfect life into turmoil. Because as Lindsey opens her heart and body to this forbidden passion; her eyes open as well, and she is forced to take a closer look at her life, her marriage and herself.

Already her friends are starting to whisper, her husband is growing suspicious and there is a Secrets of the Shore Facebook page that just may be talking about her.

Will Lindsey stay in her safe, pretty world with her seemingly perfect husband who just might have secrets of his own, or will she break every rule and follow her heart?

Whatever she decides, she’d better figure it out fast because in small town suburbia nothing stays secret for very long.

Sexy and engaging, with characters who seem like friends and issues that make you think about marriage, satisfaction and the lines we draw, Secrets of the Suburbs is the perfect book to curl up with next to your (sweet) snoring husband.

My Review: I’ve always been intrigued by books where affairs take place, curious where the author would take the characters, along with what the “excuse” would be, which is one reason I decided to review this book.

It started off quickly, and I found myself widening my eyes at some parts, blushing at others, all while Lindsey struggled to find herself. I’m thirty-five, have been married for almost seven years, and though I don’t condone extramarital affairs, I felt that I could relate to Lindsey because I think all she really wanted was a spark put back into her marriage, and for someone to see her in a new light (as a mother of two, who’s getting older). Some might think she was weak (which, yes, she did have), but I thought she was strong, considering the situations she was in.

I don’t want to give away anything, but I came away satisfied with the ending.

Writing about affairs can be very difficult, but I really enjoyed this quick and sexy read. I recommend this book to any woman who is on their own journey to finding themselves.

I give “Secrets of the Suburbs” 5 stars!

**About the author: Alisa Schindler is a SAHM of three boys and wife to Mr. Baseball. In between schlepping to the ball fields and burning cupcakes, she chronicles the sweet and bittersweet of life in the suburbs on her blog icescreammama.com. Her essays have been featured online in the Washington Post, NYT, Scary Mommy, Kveller, Parents, Brain, Child, and Good Housekeeping, among others. Random nights, she can be found hiding in the closet with a pint of ice cream and a good book.

**Click HERE to follow Alisa on her Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

Kathleen Irene Paterka

April 22, 2015 2 Comments

About the author: Kathleen Irene Paterka is an Amazon Bestselling Author of smart women’s fiction. Her newest novel, The Other Wife, was published in February to critical acclaim. Kathleen’s popular James Bay series, set in Northern Michigan, includes: Fatty Patty, Home Fires, Lotto Lucy, and For I Have Sinned. Love weddings? Pick up a copy of her novel Royal Secrets for a fascinating glimpse into the world of royalty, romance and brides. Kathleen is the resident staff writer for a world renowned castle listed on the National Historic Register, and co-author of the non-fiction book For the Love of a Castle. Kathleen and her husband live in the beautiful north country of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, where she is busy working on her next James Bay novel.

**Contact Kathleen: Email Website Facebook Goodreads Pinterest Twiter

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INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: Smart, emotional, witty, intense, and personal.

Which do you prefer, hard/paperbacks or eBooks? Both! I’m a big fan of our town’s public library, which has plenty of hard cover books to enjoy, but eBooks are great too. I especially love using my Kindle when I’m reading in bed. The backlit screen, plus one flick of a finger, and I’m on the next page. But hard/paperback or eBook, the most important factor will always be a great story that keeps my interest.

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: Though ideas and conversations constantly bounce through my brain, I’m very linear when it comes to writing. I start with Chapter One and write my way to The End. I’m slow and methodical when it comes to writing; I count it a good day if I manage to produce 500-750 words. By the time I’m finished, my rough draft usually only requires one or two edits. I then turn it over to a few trusted beta readers for their input. An indie author, I signed with Booktrope Publishing in February. I’m excited about the opportunity to promote my works to an expanded audience.

In what location do you think you write better, (ex: office, kitchen, etc.)? I’m a very structured writer, and tend to work best in my home office. Unlike other authors who can write anywhere (J.K. Rowling wrote reams of Harry Potter materials while riding on the train and sitting in coffee shops), I need the peace and quiet that surrounds me when I’m at my computer.

While working on a WIP, do you have any rituals? I write every day. I’m up early, at 5 am. Normally, by 6:30 am, I’m at my computer. I have a little timer which I set for two hours. Then I open up my WIP, and I’m quickly lost in a beautiful daydream that unfolds before me on the computer screen. Thank God for that little timer. If I didn’t have it, I’d probably be late for work every day, and have been fired from my day job long ago.

If you had to meet any author who would it be? Stephen King. I am a huge fan of his work (11/22/63 and The Shining are classics). His book On Writing is the one craft book about writing that I keep close at hand.

You mention that your husband was an inspiration for this story. What were your emotions when you were writing “The Other Wife”? Grief is not an easy issue to tackle, and The Other Wife proved the most difficult story I’ve written to date. First, I was dealing with two separate characters: Eleanor and Claire—two wives, each with their own perspective and storyline. Eleanor (wife #1) and Richard (her husband of 38+ years) were already living semi-separate lives when he died on page 1. Eleanor’s method of coping with Richard’s death also proved semi-detached; her scenes were easy to write. Claire (wife #2), however, was a different story. She and Richard had been married only a few years, and she was left feeling betrayed and bewildered at the situation in which she suddenly found herself. With two young children to raise, Claire’s grief threatened to overwhelm her… and me, as the author. Eventually, about ½ way through the book, I switched from writing in 1st person to 3rd in order to distance myself from Claire’s emotions. Her grief was so intense, I found myself not wanting to write. If I hadn’t switched POV, I doubt the book would have been finished.

What is your favorite word? Perseverance.

What is the best advice you’ve been given? A dear friend of mine (who is a NYT bestselling author) gave me the following advice years ago: “Don’t give up. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. Work hard, work smart, work tirelessly. Be tough, be brave, and be persistent. All clichés, yes. But when they apply to you and how much you want to realize your dream, they are very apt.” Her words came to me in an email, which I have framed and hanging right above my computer. I’ve often looked at it throughout the years, and her words have served me well.

Where do you see your writing career in five years? I would like to have written and published another three novels. I’m an idealist at heart, but I’m also realistic. I’m a slow writer, and that’s okay. It’s part of my process. Normally it takes a good 12-15 months for me to complete a work to my satisfaction… and that’s before my editor sees it. I am not going to kill myself trying to impose strict deadlines upon myself that will only stress me out. My latest work, The Other Wife, took 18 months to write. While I was in the editing process, my 92 yr. old mother was diagnosed with cancer. I slowed down and allowed myself time to focus on her. Thank God I did. The book was published on Feb. 18th (my mother’s birthday), and she passed away on March 13th. I’m slowly beginning to pick up the pieces and begin the process of writing again.

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“The Other Wife” by Kathleen Irene Paterka

Till death do us part…

Eleanor Anderson has a beautiful home, a loving husband, a tranquil life. After thirty-eight years of marriage and her children now grown, she finally has time for herself. She’s not expecting any surprises; certainly not to wake up one morning and find her husband dead in bed beside her from a massive heart attack. It’s a devastating discovery… but not as much as the shock awaiting Eleanor when she learns the truth about her husband’s secret life. And then there’s the damaging document he signed before his death, which threatens to destroy her life.

Claire Anderson isn’t your average thirtysomething. A professor of psychology at a prestigious university, Claire has a successful career, a handsome husband, and two young children at home. But nothing in her background, including her academic accomplishments, prepares Claire for the horrendous reality of discovering that the life she’d led was all a lie… fostered by a husband who’d promised to love and cherish her forever.

Two women from two generations, bound together by denial, anger, and grief. How far will their misery and fear push them? Does compassion rule the day, or will a husband’s betrayal lead to a woman’s revenge?

What happens when each of these women comes face-to-face with the other wife?

**Buy “The Other Wife”: Amazon Barnes & Noble iTunes

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GIVEAWAY

**Click HERE to enter to win an eBook of “Lotto Lucy” by Kathleen!

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**Click HERE to see other stops on Kathleen’s Chick Lit Plus Blog tour!

The Consequences

January 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

TheConsequencesCoverPic

“The Consequences” by Colette Freedman

Blurb:

In the riveting follow-up to her acclaimed debut novel, Colette Freedman explores the aftermath of infidelity from three different perspectives–husband, wife, and mistress.

The end of an affair may be only the beginning. . .

Over the course of one tumultuous Christmas Eve, Kathy Walker confirmed her suspicions about her husband’s affair, confronted his mistress, Stephanie, and saved her marriage. She and Robert have eighteen years, two teenagers, and a film production business between them–plus a bond that Kathy has no intention of giving up on. Yet though Robert is contrite, Kathy can’t quite silence her doubts.

While Robert reels from his wife’s ultimatum and his mistress’s rejection, Stephanie makes a discovery: she’s pregnant. Her resolve to stay away from Robert wavers now that they could make a real family together. And in the days that follow, Stephanie, Robert, and Kathy must each reckon with the intricate realities of desire, the repercussions of betrayal, and the secrets that, once revealed, ripple through lives and relationships in thoroughly unexpected ways.

ColetteFreedmanPic **About author, Colette Freedman:

COLETTE FREEDMAN- An internationally produced playwright with over 25 produced plays, Colette was voted “One of 50 to Watch” by The Dramatist’s Guild.

Her play Sister Cities was the hit of the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe and earned five star reviews: It has been produced around the country and internationally, fourteen times including Paris (Une Ville, Une Soeur) and Rome (Le Quattro Sorelle). The film version has been optioned and is in pre production.

She has co-written, with International bestselling novelistJackie Collins, the play Jackie Collins Hollywood Lies, which is gearing up for a National Tour.

In collaboration with The New York Times best selling author Michael Scott, she wrote the thriller The Thirteen Hallows (Tor/Macmillan).

Her novel The Affair (Kensington) came out January 29, 2013. The play of the novel earned both critical and commercial success as it toured Italy February through May 2013.

Her novel The Consequences (Kensington) comes out January 28, 2014, (TODAY!).

**Contact Colette: Website Pinterest Twitter

Colette Freedman

January 29, 2013 5 Comments

Bio of author, Colette Freedman: COLETTE FREEDMAN is an internationally produced playwright, screenwriter, and novelist who was recently named one of the Dramatist Guild’s “50 to Watch”.

Her play Sister Cities (NYTE, 2009) was the hit of the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe and earned five star reviews: It has been produced around the country and internationally, including Paris (Une Ville, Une Soeur) and Rome (Le Quattro Sorelle). She has authored fifteen produced plays including Serial Killer Barbie (Brooklyn Publishers, 2004), First to the Egg (Grand prize shorts urban shorts festival), Bridesmaid # 3 (Louisville finalist 2008), and Ellipses… (Dezart Festival winner 2010), as well as a modern adaptation of Iphigenia in Aulis written in iambic pentameter.

She was commissioned to write a modern adaptation of Uncle Vanya which is in preproduction and has co-written, with International bestselling novelist Jackie Collins, the play Jackie Collins Hollywood Lies, which is gearing up for a National Tour. In collaboration with The New York Times best selling author Michael Scott, she wrote the thriller The Thirteen Hallows, (Tor/Macmillan) The play version of The Affair (Kensington) is touring Italy next month.

INTERVIEW

Today is the release day for your book, “The Affair!” How are you feeling? Incredibly excited and hungry! When I get excited I eat so I can’t even imagine how many calories I’ll be devouring today.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? Yes. I wrote my first play when I was eleven and have been writing ever since.

Who and/or what inspires you? My parents inspire me. My teachers past and present inspire me. Good writers inspire me: Ann Patchett, Michael Scott, Eudora Welty, Charles Dickens and Gabriel Garcia Marquez inspire me.

Describe what the writing/editing/publishing process is like for you: I actually love the process. I come from a background of sports where my job was to train to be the best athlete I could while the coach, assistant coach, athletic trainer, grounds crew and school administrators did their jobs to make sure that I could play. The writing/editing/publishing process is the same way. My job is to create the material and deliver it on schedule and I have a terrific support team to make sure that it gets from my vision into the public arena.

Which do you prefer, writing plays or books? Plays. There is nothing like sitting in an audience and watching actors bring your words to life and feeling the collective energy as an audience experiences your story.

You’ve had the pleasure to work with Jackie Collins. What was that experience like? Jackie is unbelievable. She is a true pro, a wonderful writer and a savvy businesswoman. She was incredibly generous throughout the process and I learned a great deal from her. I can’t wait to see the play!

What must a writer have at all times? Thick skin, tenacious optimism a hard chair.

Hard/paperback or eBooks? Both. I used to be a purist who refused to give in to the digital age, but when my brother bought me a kindle…well….let’s just say I’m addicted to being able to hold 1,000 books in my hand.

What is the best advice you’ve been given? Believe in yourself

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I’m writing the novelization of my play Sister Cities and working on a Young Adult book about a boarding school for girls where not everything is what it appears to be.

GUEST POST

When I moved to Hollywood after grad school, I expected it to be the happiest place on earth. After all, everyone was beautiful, the sun was always shining, the air was fragrant with the smell of citrus and it was close to both the ocean and the mountains. Jay Leno drove his cool antique cars down my street, George Clooney frequented my favorite restaurant, I got my hair done by the same guy as Jennifer Aniston….what could go wrong? While Hollywood should be the happiest place on earth, it is often the saddest and the loneliest. When I first moved here, most of my friends were in committed relationships: They were in love. They were happy. Yet, time passed and now, only a handful of those relationships survived. Why? They were torn apart by affairs.

Affairs are dirty little secrets that no one likes to talk about; rather, they like to speculate, judge and gossip. It is so much easier to point fingers than to simply ask why. Why did it happen? And the answers, when you really ask the hard questions, are surprising. No one sets out to have an affair. Why would they? The universal answer to why people have affairs is “It just happened.” But nothing just happens. As humans we are constantly searching for the new experiences; the rush of adrenaline felt from something new, the newness of someone looking at us from a fresh perspective…seeing only what is presented to them rather than the heavy baggage loaded with history and shared experiences. “New”…that is always the operative word. We get bored by what we see every day and an affair, an illicit relationship with someone outside our mundane world of watching the kids and taking out the trash, offers a freshness which we so desperately crave.

Before I became a novelist, I was a commercial director and it was a world rife with affairs. We’d often be in an exotic location (okay, maybe North Carolina wasn’t terribly exotic..but it was different…and new) for a limited amount of time and people got frisky. There were so many affairs between the cast and crew I couldn’t count. And people didn’t go to North Carolina to shoot furniture commercials to have an affair…they “just happened.”As the director, I had to keep my distance from everyone. I was the authority figure, plus I was both young and a woman, so I had to keep a modicum of decorum. But that didn’t stop me from sitting at the bar and observing. A writer’s job is too observe…especially when people let down their guards and think no one is watching. A few of these affairs continued long after the shoots. And, eventually, one or two things would happen: the wife found out and kicked the husband out or the wife found out and forgave the husband. And there is no judgement to be placed on either decision. After all, we never know what goes on behind closed doors and what those confrontations boiled down to.

In The Affair, I tried to show the consequences of an affair from three different perspectives…placing the guilt equally on all three parties while trying to understand and empathize with them as well.

**Contact Colette!

**Buy “The Affair”

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