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Francine LaSala

Author & Book Feature of “A Comfortable Madness” by Francine LaSala

May 30, 2017 1 Comment

“A Comfortable Madness” by Francine LaSala

Blurb: No love, no risk; no risk, no hurt.

When Annie and Hugh first meet in a Long Island cemetery, they’re each dwelling in their own darkness. Hugh is a “serial monogamist” whose romantic fervor ruins every relationship he gets into, and Annie is still reeling from a dark secret from her past involving her dead ex-husband–one she’s been drowning in alcohol and quick, failed relationships for years. That, and the terror that love may push her over the edge… Again…

When they run into each other at a party in Manhattan later that night, they are surprised at how easily they connect. Despite their insistence to remain “just friends” to protect each other – and themselves – their chemistry is intense and their attraction soon becomes impossible to deny. Can they see beyond the damage they’re convinced they’ll do to each other and finally give in to the love they so desperately crave?

**Get your copy of “A Comfortable Madness” now!: Amazon

*****

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

In three words, describe your writing style: Comedic. Cinematic. QUICK!

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: Most writing projects for me start in one of two ways: 1) as some emotional life situation I need to work through, using characters and the trials they face as a way to understand and come to terms with my own; or 2) as voices in my head chatting back and forth, which I stop ignoring when I realize they are indeed only characters trying to speak dialog and try to get me to help them tell their stories…and not possible mental illness. 😊

What inspired you to write “A Comfortable Madness?”: I started writing this book more than 15 years ago as a way to cope with two consecutive broken hearts. Over the years it veered far away from that, and also forced me to explore other areas like growing up Catholic – and the help or harm that may have done to me.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? For reading, I like paperbacks best. But because I tend to do most of my reading in the middle of the night, it’s mostly ebooks for me.

At what time of day do you tend to be most productive? From about 3am to 7am. (Please see above, “possible mental illness.”)

Do you have any writing rituals? When I was younger and had no kids and the only “chaos” and “crazy” I had in my life was the self-afflicted party-mayhem type, I had DOZENS of rituals. Fully quiet space. Cigarettes and junk food at the ready. Etc. The list is too long and boring. That all changed when the babies came… My kids are older now and more independent, but I did write at least two of my novels (Rita Hayworth’s Shoes and The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything) in a veritable tsunami of domestic madness, against a soundtrack of unimaginable horrors, including Bubble Guppies and Yo Gabba Gabba and this show called Lazytown, which frightens me to this day. The only way for me to write in that environment was with music – earbuds and loud music – and that become the lone ritual for me. My playlist is the stuff of nightmares. It’s always random. In minutes, it will flip from Enya to a Cole Porter showtune to that one Metallica song I have on there. But it helps. The music doesn’t need to have anything to do with the scene (for example, I wrote the love scene in Rita Hayworth’s Shoes with “One Night in Bangkok” on continual repeat) but it does have a way of drawing the story out of me.

Aside from being an author, you’re also an editor; what do you like most about editing other people’s work? I’m so, so glad you asked me this! The type of editing I mainly do is developmental editing. What I like best about it is that it helps me help other authors grow in storytelling. I love watching story arcs shape, characters learn and flourish. I love challenging authors to push beyond what they originally imagined possible in their writing, and I love watching their work improve and really blossom with every pass. I’ll fix grammatical errors all the time when I see them, but helping to bring out the most powerful story is the most rewarding part of what I do.

Do you have any writing/author goals? I have written four feature-length screenplays – one of which is the screenplay for A Comfortable Madness. I would give anything to be able to sell a script to Hollywood, have one of my movies made, and get an Oscar nomination for either best original or best adapted screenplay. I already know what my Oscar gown looks like – it’s from a birthday card I once received:

Where do you see yourself in five years? Aside from being 50… OY! I say, please see above. I see myself in that Oscar gown, claiming my statue. 😊

Salty or sweet? Depends on the day.

What do you want your readers to take away from “A Comfortable Madness?”: Mainly I want them to take away the sense that they’ve read a good story. That they were entertained and that maybe my story had something fresh and original for them to enjoy, and that my characters gave them something to think about they may never have considered before. Not really a tall order, right? LOL!

What are you working on right now? I have about three projects I’m developing right now. One is a centuries-old love story involving maenads from antiquity finding themselves in modern times, with Orpheus as the romantic male lead. (If you know anything about maenads and Orpheus from your Greek mythology, you may already know something dark about this story.) One is a YA story inspired by my older daughter who in the summer after my mother passed away somehow kept finding keys everywhere. The last is about a woman’s midlife crisis, loosely structured around Dante’s Inferno. (If you think my playlist is scary, you should see my brain…)

**About Francine LaSala: Francine has written nonfiction on every topic imaginable, from circus freaks to sex, and edited bestselling authors of all genres. The author of novels “Rita Hayworth’s Shoes” and “The Girl, The Gold Tooth & Everything,” lives in New York.

**Contact Francine: Email   Facebook   Twitter   Editorial / Creative Services

Filed Under: A COMFORTABLE MADNESS Tagged With: A COMFORTABLE MADNESS, Author Interview, Books, Francine LaSala, Guest Author Feature, New Release

Book Feature: A Kind of Mad Courage

May 10, 2014 1 Comment

AKindOfMadCourageA KIND OF MAD COURAGE

Nineteen authors from around the world were given six weeks or less to produce “a story involving a mother somehow.” The result is a gorgeously eclectic collection of tales that will make you laugh, cry, and truly appreciate the “mad courage” of motherhood.

Laura Chapman, Francine LaSala, Nikki Mahood, Heather McCoubrey, and Karen E. Martin each present unique takes on impending motherhood, while Sheryn MacMunn, kc wilder, and Julie Valerie portray the end of the journey. Samantha Stroh Bailey, Louise Wise, and Maria Schulz show the pride and peril of dealing with teenage daughters, while Elke Feuer, Diana Shafter Gliedman, and Donna Valenti demonstrate that a mother’s work is never done, even under the craziest of circumstances. Regina-Cash Clark, Wendy Janes, and Monique McDonellexplore the impact on lives in which mothers go “missing,” while Carey Heywoodand Jen Tucker warm your heart and tear it out, respectively.

THE STORIES

Hide and Seek – Samantha Stroh Bailey

Claire’s teenage daughter, Emily, goes missing on a birthday cruise, and Claire can only fear the worst from the lately rebellious teen…

Autumn’s Eyes – Regina Cash-Clark

June’s abandonment of three of four of her children, told in alternating points of view between June, and her oldest daughter, Edwina.

Oh Baby – Laura Chapman

Rocker Tuck and new wife Autumn return from Chapman’s “Ten Drummers Drumming” (Merry & Bright), now with a baby on the way.

The Sacrifice – Elke Feuer

Melissa learns there isn’t anything she won’t do to protect her children from the abuse and neglect of her alcoholic husband Roger…

Love in the Time of Cannibals – Diana Shafter Gliedman

Could a zombie apocalypse finally give rudderless Jessica the direction she needs–and the connection she craves? It will if her mother has anything to say about it.

A Poem for Mommy – Carey Heywood

In helping his young daughter craft a poem for Mother’s Day, a father beautifully recounts the story of the romance with her mother that led to them becoming a family.

Verity – Wendy Janes

After an accident means she’ll no longer be able to live on her own, septuagenarian Susan may need to divulge a secret she’s been keeping from Verity all her life.

Monkey Bread – Francine LaSala

Amy and Deck (Rita Hayworth’s Shoes) learn more about having babies than they ever wanted to know at a madcap family dinner celebrating President’s Day.

Last Words – Sheryn MacMunn

The bond shared between Ruth (Finding Out) and her mother, Eliza, is revealed, from the time of Ruth’s childhood before the War to the death of Eliza.

This Year’s Love – Nikki Mahood

Fallon and Abner are married, mortgaged, and expecting a baby any minute in this fun, heartfelt mini-sequel to Fallen.

Two Thousand Steps – Karen E. Martin

With the unsolicited help of a fairy friend from their childhood, two grown sisters – one with kids, one without – each get to walk a mile in the other’s shoes…

Emily’s Promise – Heather McCoubrey

Even though pregnant Emily’s life is shattered by Jason’s infidelity the night before her wedding, she’s determined to give her baby the best life possible.

A Tale of Two Mothers – Monique McDonell

How do you deal with the mother who abandoned you when she shows up out of the blue – and what does it mean for the woman who raised you? Chloe’s about to find out.

Like a Boomerang – Maria Schulz

Tess has been stressing out her mother, Charlotte, since the day she was born. But when disaster strikes during a campus Halloween party, it could prove the worst stress yet…

Heartstrings – Jen Tucker

Young widow Vicki’s no stranger to loss–and guilt, as another mother’s loss helped her daughter live. Will meeting up help them the two mothers heal? Or make matters worse?

In the Nick of Time – Donna Valenti

Iris may be dead but her insistence on looking after her children is far from buried. Will her husband Nick get it together? Or will Iris have to move Heaven and Earth to make him?

LLL – Julie Valerie

In this hilarious yet heartwarming story, words of wisdom from the game of Scrabble unite a daughter with her aging mother, a former Scrabble champion whose mental faculties are quickly fading.

Lady in Red – k.c. wilder

Her dying “Gran” is the only mother she’s ever known. But only when Gran is gone does a woman discover the woman her grandmother really was, and the secrets she hid.

Becky’s Mum – Louise Wise

Straight-A student Becky’s being pulled off the straight-and-narrow by her derelict boyfriend Darren. Will her mother’s wisdom sink in before it’s too late?

**Click HERE to buy “A Kind of Mad Courage” on Amazon!

*All proceeds benefit The Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation.*

Filed Under: Guests Authors Tagged With: A Kind of Mad Courage, Carey Heywood, Diana Shafter Gliedman, Donna Valenti, Elke Feuer, Francine LaSala, Heather McCoubrey, Jen Tucker, Julie Valerie, k.c. wilder, Karen E. Martin, Laura Chapman, Louise Wise, Maria Schulz, Monique McDonell, Mother's Day, Nikki Mahood, Regina Cash-Clark, Samantha Stroh Bailey, Sheryn MacMunn, Wendy Janes

Rita Hayworth’s Shoes

January 2, 2014 1 Comment

Book review of “Rita Hayworth’s Shoes”

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“Rita Hayworth’s Shoes” by Francine LaSala

Book Description:

Amy Miller gets dumped on her wedding day and everyone knows it’s for the best. Except for Amy. When her best friend treats Amy to a little retail therapy and convinces her to treat herself to an extravagantly priced but adorable pair of shoes that purportedly once belonged to a siren of the silver screen, she balks at first, but their allure soon wears her down. Once they are hers, everything in her life starts to change. A new romance blossoms, but things may not be what they seem.

As sparkly and witty as a 1940s screwball comedy, and filled with quirky characters and lots of delightful surprises, Rita Hayworth’s Shoes is a delightful roller coaster ride of romance and intrigue.

My Review:

This morning I finished reading a book that’s been on my TBR list for a long time. Yesterday, the first day of 2014, I started reading “Rita Hayworth’s Shoes”. Once I did, I literally couldn’t put it down–not even to take down our Christmas tree. Right away, I got sucked into Amy’s life. From her wedding day disaster, the highs and lows she experiences with her work and personal life along the way, and of course, that big moment when she tries on the magical shoes, I was not disappointed.

At the beginning, I felt really sorry for Amy for being left at the altar, which made me really dislike her fiancé, David. He was a very well-written jerk who only brought Amy down. While I understood her logic in dealing with him, I was proud of her when she finally saw his true colors. I also think that she knew it wasn’t right being with him–no matter how much how often she defended him, or how much they “compromised” with each other.

I loved Amy’s best friend, Jane, and her daughter, Zoe. They brought out a side of Any that made her relax a bit. The quick one-liners from them, especially Zoe, had me cracking up.

Now, let’s talk about the magical shoes: Wow! It’s embarrassing for me to say, but I can’t walk in heels. After reading “Rita Hayworth’s Shoes”, I want to learn how, just so I can find and wear a pair like Amy’s. I love how she finds them, Zoe’s “story” about them, and how they really do play a huge role in Amy’s life and how she lives.

As for how the book ended, I’m not going to spoil anything for you, but I love how it ended. I love who Any ended up with. I’d love to meet a man like him.

“Rita Hayworth’s Shoes” was a great book for me to kick off my year in 2014 reviews, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to read, watch old movies, and who believes that a great pair of shoes can change anything, (even if you wear flats).

I give this book 5 stars!

Filed Under: Book Review, Rita Hayworth's Shoes Tagged With: Book review, Books, Chick-Lit, Francine LaSala, Rita Hayworth's Shoes, Women's Fiction

1-year Birthday Bash for “The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything” by Francine LaSala

November 3, 2013 9 Comments

TGTGT&EBanner

It brings me great pleasure to be part of the 1-year celebration of “The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything” by Francine LaSala, which there has been a lot of praise for!

GUEST POST by Francine LaSala

Teamwork and the Indie Author

When I self-published my first novel, Rita Hayworth’s Shoes, I knew everything there was to know about publishing a book. Literally. I had had nearly 20 years of experience in book publishing, after all. I knew I had to launch it at just the right time, that the cover had to be fantastic. What I didn’t realize was that in order to successfully make a self-published effort sing, I needed to make friends–and lots of them.

By the time Diversion Books picked up Rita Hayworth’s Shoes, I still hadn’t learned this lesson. So while I had the support of a publisher now, and I was selling more than the three books per month I had previously sold, I still wasn’t reaching an audience.

Then the most remarkable thing happened. I discovered a world of writers’ groups on Facebook, and it made all the difference. Chicklit Goddesses, in fact, was my first-ever Facebook writing group to join. I noticed in my feed that Meredith Schorr, a fellow New Yorker with whom I’d had a passing non-Facebook association, had joined Chicklit Goddesses, and I checked it out. I asked to join, was graciously welcomed by Isabella and the rest of the ladies in the group, and what a difference that made!

I interacted with people. I asked and answered questions. I made jokes and I made friends. By the time I published The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything, I had made a group of writer friends to do fun holiday promotions with. I had a network of supporters who shared my statuses and tweets, and I theirs. I signed up for blog hops and other writer’s groups, where I could reach audiences outside of Chicklit, a category for which I don’t completely fit the mold, but have been lovingly embraced by authors and audiences of this genre anyway. And I have made friends, true and special friends whom I cherish.

None of this has existed in the world of traditional publishing. Though they are starting to catch on. 🙂

When you’re a writer, you’re very isolated. You work in isolation. Chances are, you feel isolated when you talk about what you do with your family and friends who want to support you, but really have no idea what you’re talking about half the time.

When you’re an indie writer, you also have that isolation of not having a publicity-marketing team behind you. As an indie writer, you have to make that team. The great thing about this? Instead of having one or two people backing you up, you have hundreds. It’s a wonderful feeling to support other writers and to be supported by them.

There is no “I” in teamwork, but there is a “we.” There’s also a “wok,” a “meat,” and a “mow.” That’s all nonsense, though. Because the most important thing in teamwork is the friendship, the camaraderie. The sense that we’re all in this together, and we work together to help each other succeed. Call me a Pollyanna, but if you’re an indie author, this is what makes all the difference!

**GIVEAWAY**

Be sure to enter the Goodreads giveaway to win a copy of “The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything”

**GET YOUR COPY TODAY**

**From today to November 8th, “The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything” is on sale for $0.99!**

FrancineLaSalaPicAbout author, Francine LaSala:

Francine LaSala has written nonfiction on every topic imaginable, from circus freaks to sex, and edited bestselling authors of all genres. She is now actively taking on clients for manuscript evaluations, editing services, copywriting (covers, blurbs, taglines, queries, and more), website and blog creation, and developing kickass social media campaigns. The author of novels Rita Hayworth’s Shoes and The Girl, The Gold Tooth & Everything, and the creator of The “Joy Jar” Project, she lives with her husband and two daughters in New York.

 **Contact Francine:
Website   Blog   Facebook   Twitter   Goodreads (Profile)   Goodreads (Book)   Diversion Books   The Joy Jar Project

Filed Under: The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything Tagged With: 1-year book birthday, Francine LaSala, Giveaway, Guest Post, The Girl The Gold Tooth & Everything

Francine LaSala

March 4, 2013 8 Comments

FrancineLaSalaPic

About author, Francine LaSala:  Francine LaSala has written nonfiction on every topic imaginable, from circus freaks to sex, and edited bestselling authors of all genres through her company, Francine LaSala Productions. The author of novels Rita Hayworth’s Shoes and The Girl, The Gold Tooth & Everything, she lives with her husband and two daughters in New York. Drop her a line at francine@francinelasala.com.

GUEST INTERVIEW

Tell us about your books, “The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything” and “Rita Hayworth’s Shoes”:  I’m that annoying kind of writer traditional publishers don’t trust because I can’t seem to write in one genre. Rita Hayworth’s Shoes is a quirky screwball rom-com, centering around a pair of “magical,” life-changing secondhand shoes. The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything is more of a kooky psychological drama/light mystery about a woman with amnesia lost in her suburban housewife life who, upon getting a gold dental crown, starts remembering things… So I guess they are alike in that they are both sort of wacky and involve objects that help the protagonists find themselves, and change perspective and destiny, etc., etc. But are completely different in the way they get there. 🙂

What is your favorite word?  Starts with an F, ends with a K. (Hint: It’s not flask, though that’s not a bad one either.)

How do you come up with titles of your books?  They come to me. Sometimes I need to start writing a while to get the title, which eventually pops out of the material. Sometimes I know the title and start from there. That was the case with both Rita Hayworth’s Shoes and The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything. Each started with an experience that sparked a title, and then Blamo! Books! (Well, maybe it took a bit longer than that, but you get it.) If I don’t have a title, it’s impossible for me to know a book. Which I guess is part of the reason I have so many WIPs floating around. (The other reasons being my severe A.D.D. and raising small children…)

Which other authors would you like to meet?  Christopher Moore tops the list these days! But in reality, many of the authors I’d like to meet are all right there in your Chicklit Goddess Facebook group. I feel like I know so many of the ladies so well from our daily interactions, but how cool would it be to raise a glass and rage together! (Well, maybe not “rage,” but whatever grown-up goddesses do for fun…)

Who or what inspires you?  Life inspires me. There are so many things that happen every day, large and small, that are just magnificent. You have to look for them–you can’t expect them jump in front of you like an old friend at the mall or something. You really have to be scanning for them. Sort of like stalker I guess. But truly, there’s just so much out there that inspires! When you look at the world with a writer’s eye, the question really becomes “What doesn’t inspire you.”

Name three things that must every writer have:  1. A burning desire to tell and share amazing stories. 2. A thick skin to guard and protect you when others don’t believe your stories are quite so amazing. 3. An editor to help show you the distinction between what you think is amazing and how your expression of such amazingness may or may not be working.

What is your favorite part of the writing/editing/publishing process?  I love the whole process–when it’s working. When it isn’t, I hate the whole process. In all seriousness though, I love the writing. When it’s flowing, when I feel like I’ve really “hit it,” there’s no greater feeling in the world! (As a side note, I’ve been enjoying the marketing process much more now that it’s become more of a shared, “team” endeavor.)

What are you reading?  Right now, I am reading Cindy Roesel’s Viewer Discretion Advised, as well as a horror novella by Douglas Clegg, and the galley for Patti Callahan Henry’s new novel, And Then I Found You, coming out this April. (Did I mention the A.D.D.?)

If you’re not working, what you doing?  Drinking. (Ha! Just kidding. But it would be boring to admit I’m pretty much always working. Even when drinking…)

What time of day do you seem to work the best?  My most productive time: 4am to 7am. I’m fresh from (maybe not quite enough) sleep, and the mayhem has not yet descended in my house.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks?  I always thought I’d be hardcover / paperback girl forever, until I got a  Kindle this past Christmas. I’m almost embarrassed to admit how quickly I was converted… I think I’ll always love to have my most special books in non-digital formats, but the ebook thing really appeals to my “anti-clutter/simplify life” side.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?  Too many projects, too little time!

  • A women’s fiction, multi-generational “fractured” romance that’s still sort of kooky but runs a little darker than my usual fare.
  • A trilogy of absurd “fairy tale” novellas, in collaboration with my husband (who’s actually not a bad writer for an architect).
  • A steamy erotic novel about a trophy wife who takes a break from that life at a reputably raunchy resort.
  • An as-yet-untitled and therefore in-limbo series about ancient party nymphs living in modern times.
  • A novel / screenplay / TV treatment (which will it be?) about college roommates who end up living together again in their 40s…

No wonder I can’t get anything done!

GUEST POST

Write What You Know

It’s unlikely that I’m ever going to write a sci-fi novel about time-traveling part-humans living at a space station on Jupiter. Even less likely that I’ll ever set a story in the Wild West. It may be cliché, but I definitely like to write about what I know. And then, of course, turn it on its ear…

Rita Hayworth’s Shoes comes from a point in my life when my heart (and self-esteem) were shattered by not one, but two relationships combusting over a short period of time. One was long-term and stale (like the relationship between David and Amy). The other was more of a flash-burn. In any case, I really did buy a pair of expensive shoes and did sort of make a wish that with that purchase, things might turn around for me…

The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything was born out of my own identity struggles with marriage and motherhood; with being a freelance writer, which many mistook for being a “free” writer when the economy tanked; with looking to “self-help” to try to help myself get my feet back on the ground. I also do have gold dental crown I never asked for and don’t want, but that’s besides the point!

So yes, I do build my fiction from life. I do sometimes I put into my stories the pain and confusion, the joy and the bliss I have felt. I steal snippets of friends’ and foes’ best lines and build dialogs around them. I create scenes inspired by my awkward times and my most wonderful moments.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that in any story, elements can be lifted right from the writer’s own experience, and there really isn’t anything wrong with that. Whether these experiences become foundation or flourish really depends on the writer and the story.

As for my recent experiences, I’m certainly not going to write a book about going to the grocery store. But I might write a scene about something unusual happening in a grocery store. Who knows–maybe part-human time travelers from Jupiter will land in the produce aisle and surprise my protagonist du jour, a woman in search of a fresh head of broccoli (and, underneath that banal quest, her life’s purpose), then everything will change for her…

And maybe not. I guess the point is that sometimes to make life bearable and understandable, and maybe a little more interesting, we writers sometimes steal from what we know and then switch the elements around and re-decorate them before we slap them down on a page. For me, the best part is being surprised with how it all gets re-expressed and turns out in the end. Life is definitely not like that. What do you think?

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Click the links to buy Francine’s books!

Rita Hayworth’s Shoes

and

The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything

**Contact Francine!:  Website  Blog  Facebook  Facebook Group: “The Joy Jar Project”  Twitter

Filed Under: Francine LaSala Tagged With: Books, Chick-Lit, Francine LaSala, Guest Interview, Guest Post, Rita Hayworth's Shoes, The Girl, The Girl The Gold Tooth & Everything, Writing

Holiday Treats for Chick Lit Lovers

December 4, 2012 8 Comments

HTFCLL

In the spirit of coming together for the holidays, eight popular Chick Lit authors are “partying it up” with a shared promotion for book lovers! That means eight fun and fizzy e-books, each priced at $3.99 or less, that are packed with plenty of laughs and romance to keep you entertained on those long winter nights! And if you’d like to gift one of these books to a Chick Lit fan, we’ve got you covered with your choice of paperbacks!

Which books are featured in this festive promo?

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey – Daytime talk show producer Jamie Ross is beyond fed up with her toxic bad boy turned metrosexual boyfriend. Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, she goes on a hilarious, at-times disastrous, and totally life-changing hunt to track down the “one who got away.” But are some loves best left behind? E-book and paperback available on Amazon.

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister – Handling the problems of hysterical hypochondriacs, lovelorn neurotics, and compulsive man whores is all in a day’s work for super-shrink Pilar Alvarez. But can she deal with her crazy Cuban family, a trio of unsuitable suitors, and a threat to her practice without ending up on the couch herself? E-book available on Amazonand Barnes & Noble; paperback available on Amazon.

What the Dog Ate by Jackie Bouchard – Discovering what her dog ate turns Maggie Baxter’s world upside down. With her chocolate Lab, Kona, as her guide, can Maggie forego her overly analytical ways to find a new life filled with tail-wagging joy? E-book available on Amazon,Barnes & Noble, and iTunes; paperback available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The Girl, the Gold Tooth, & Everything by Francine LaSala – Suburban housewife Mina, beaten-down and struggling with amnesia, starts getting her memory and her mojo back. But she soon learns everything has a price in this fast-paced, richly layered, and darkly humorous satire! E-book and paperback available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie – When Roxy Rule shares a passionate kiss with her lifelong best friend, she must come to terms with her feelings for him while dealing with two sisters in full crisis mode, a boss who makes her want to stab herself with a letter opener and a fiancé who can’t wait to walk down the aisle. Can she keep it together–or will she break under the pressure? E-book available on Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble; paperback available on Amazon.

Fashioning a Romance by Libby Mercer – Devastatingly handsome and deliciously weird, John Harrington is the man of Caitlyn Taylor’s dreams… and her nightmares. She has no use for a womanizer like him, and dodges his advances like a pro. But when they end up in Paristogether, Caitlyn feels her resolve begin to slip. How will she ever be able to resist the irresistible in the most romantic city in the world? E-book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr – Jane Frank is newly single after nine years and looking for a second chance at love. But when she dives head first into the NYC dating scene and finds it infested with flakes who are interested today and gone tomorrow, it may be time for Jane to turn the tables! E-book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes; paperback available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Picture Perfect by Lucie Simone – Lauren Tate’s perfectly planned life quickly unravels at the seams when a smear campaign threatens her career as a top TV executive, but she learns just how cutthroat showbiz can truly be when the hottest scandal in Tinsel Town turns deadly and the Hollywood hunk who’s stolen her heart goes missing. E-book available on Amazon; paperback available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: A State of Jane, Breaking the Rules, Cat Lavoie, Fashioning a Romance, Finding Lucas, Francine LaSala, Holiday Treats for Chick Lit Lovers, In Need of Therapy, Jackie Bouchard, Libby Mercer, Lucie Simone, Meredith Schorr, Picture Perfect, Samantha Stroh Bailey, The Girl The Gold Tooth & Everything, Tracie Banister, What the Dog Ate

The Next Big Thing: Authors Tagging Authors!

October 19, 2012 18 Comments

Happy Friday, everyone!  Whew!  It’s been a long time since I’ve really blogged and I’ve missed it, and my followers!  Thank you for being patient with me the last few weeks, but it’s been quite a busy time in my work and personal life.  The good thing is that my office is almost finished, so I’ll be a lot more focused hopefully by the end of this month, (YAY!).

And now for something exciting…

Last Friday I was tagged by Jackie Bouchard of Pooch Smooches as part of a blog going around, called “The Next Big Thing.”  It was a pleasure being tagged along with other wonderful authors.  Below are the questions that are given to each other, along with my answers.  While some of them were difficult to answer because I’m (very) shy and don’t like to talk about myself or my books, I had wonderful advice given to me by the ladies of a Facebook group that I started, Chick Lit Goddesses.  We’d love to have you!

What is the working title of your book?  Right now I’m working on edits for my books, “Redefined Dreams” and “The Right Design.”

Where did the idea come from for the book?  I began writing “Redefined Dreams” while taking a creative writing class at Gotham Writers’ Workshop.  One assignment was to start a story with “The window…”  I had no direction at first for it, but I was a newlywed and still had wedding stuff on my mind, so the beginning story was easy, but then the characters started to “speak” to me and soon my characters came to life, as well as a story!

“The Right Design,” it was the beginning of October when I decided that I would participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).  When I sat down to write this book on that first day of November, I knew I wanted my Heroine to be very different from the MC in my first book, but had no clue whatsoever what this book would be about, but that changed very quickly.  I wrote this book as if I were the main character, so I guess you could say that I wrote the book about a life I have/had/wish I had and in some ways, want.  For those of you that know me, I bet you’d be surprised, though only three people have read this book, (one of my closest male friends, my mom and my editor)!

What genre does your book fall under?  Both of my books are a mix of Chick Lit/Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?  I love this question!  My dream is to write a book and have it turned into a movie, even if it’s on Lifetime, (only without Leann Rimes and Eddie Cibrian — if you don’t know the story, HERE is a summary).  For “Redefined Dreams,” I’d have to say that Ashley Williams or Gennifer Goodwin would play Lucy, Eric Dane would play Jackson, and Nathan would played by Channing Tatum.  For “The Right Design,” I would have Katherine Heigl play Carrie, Sandra Bullock to play Sara, Harry Connic Jr. would play Roger, and either Matt Bomer or Colin Egglesfield would play Brad.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?  What a great question!  “Redefined Dreams” — Have you ever been engaged to a man who turns out to be gay, but you get over it by falling in love with your ex-wedding coordinator’s son, only to end up pregnant with his baby?  “The Right Design” — What’s a better way to get over your cheating ex-boyfrind than to move to new city, only to be tempted by your client and not able to act on it because of the rules you’ve set for yourself, until he makes the first move?

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?  I’m still deciding.  There are both positives and negatives about each choice, but there is one I’m leaning towards and that’s to self-publish!

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  “Redefined Dreams” took me a full year, March of 2010 to March of 2011.  “The Right Design” took me 30 days in November of 2011!  (Participating in NaNoWriMo was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made).

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?  I’d love for my books to be compared to Emily Giffin’s “Something Blue” and “Something Borrowed.”  Those books are why I wanted to be an author in the first place.  She’s an inspiration!  I think that Emily is the most talented and beloved author in the Chick Lit genre.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?  Like I mentioned before, Emily Giffin is an inspiration, but my husband inspired me write books one and two.  He’s a constant motivator and pushes me to achieve what I think I can’t do, but knows I can.  (Thank you, hubby!)

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?  My books aren’t just to entertain, but I want my readers to feel like they can relate to my main Heroine and/or the struggle she’s in.  While I write for pleasure, I love to write for others who can finish my book and say, “Wow, that was great,” and the character and/or story sticks with them.

I was only supposed to tag 5, but I have so many awesome author friends that I wanted to include, so I tagged 6.  Next Friday, the 26th, they will have answered the questions and tagged  more authors, and so on.  Be sure to check stay tuned and see who they tag!

Wendy Ely

Elke Feuer

Kristina Knight

Francine LaSala

Sharon Moore

Samantha Robey

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: Authors, Books, Elke Feuer, Francine LaSala, Kristina Knight, Redefined Dreams, Samantha Robey, Sharon Moore, The Next Big Thing, The Right Design, Wendy Ely, Writing

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