Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA by Ellen Meister is on my bedside table! Although I have NO time to read, I think I have to make time for this b/c it sounds too delish (or I'll read it on the way to CHINA!!!! ... ahem.... sorry...back to the program).



Here's a bit about the book:

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.

*****

Here are Ellen's answers to my GCC questions:




Great questions, Julie!  Here are my answers ...

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL “WRITING DAY”?

Oh God, are you sure you want to know?  My alarm goes off at 4:30 am, and I hit the snooze button until about 5.  I make myself a supersized mug of coffee, turn on my computer, check all my various email addresses, and then start to write.  At 6:30 I wake up my middle schooler and get him ready for school.  Then I do the same with my elementary schooler and high schooler.  By 8:30, everyone's gone again.  The rest of my day consists of writing squeezed in between errands and sporadic housekeeping.

 

DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR  THIS BOOK?
The inspiration came at a PTA meeting.  It was the first meeting of the year and, as usual, I was feeling a little self-conscious around the other moms, who seemed so perfect to me.  I found myself wishing they knew there was more to me than the smiling PTA face I was presenting.  Then it occurred to me that everyone might be feeling something similar.  And that's when I knew I had to write about these types of women, to explore their inner lives, and the layers of joy and heartache beneath the surface. 

From there I set out to construct a plot around an event that could affect the community as a whole and the women as individuals.  Eventually, I got the idea to bring a Hollywood movie studio to their town, and select their schoolyard as a possible location for the filming of a George Clooney movie.

PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU  SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
 
The character I thought I'd have the most trouble relating to was Lisa Slotnick, the shy, timid daughter of an alcoholic mother.  Since our backgrounds and personalities are so different, I had to dig deep to find an aspect of her I could relate to.  Finally, I realized that Lisa's fear of letting the world know she could sing was a perfect metaphor for how I felt about writing.  It took me so many years and so much gumption to finally push past my fears and pursue my dream of becoming a novelist.
IF YOU WERE  STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MAGICAL TRUNK THAT GAVE YOU  LIMITLESS BOOKS TO READ, OR A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF PAPER ON WHICH TO  WRITE?
I have to admit, I'd go for the books.  I think that would chase the loneliness away.

BEER OR WINE?
Wine.

CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Chocolate.
WHAT’S YOUR  ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK?
Tie between Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and Empire Falls by Richard Russo.


PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

"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

"Meister's debut novel is heartbreakingly funny, her characters facing life's dramas and disappointments head on with wit and spunk." — Library Journal, starred review

"With sexy characters, sharp dialogue, and snappy pacing, Meister's sassy, saucy debut novel could well turn into a movie of its own." — Booklist
"Three conflicted housewives in Applewood, Long Island, long for something more fulfilling than what their families and their membership in the local PTA offer.... helping each other realize their dreams. Comical yet poignant..." — Kirkus Reviews

About Ellen:
Ellen Meister grew up in the PTA-enriched heartland of suburban Long Island and spent her early career in publishing and advertising. She lives in New York with her husband and three children. This is her first novel. You can learn more about Ellen and her writing by visiting her website, ellenmeister.com.