Thursday, August 31, 2006
GCC Tour: Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA: A Novel: Books: Ellen Meister
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.
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.
Nice Review for THIS IS CHICK LIT!
Check out This Is Chick-Lit: (and, hey, check out my story: Dead Friends and Other Dating Dilemmas).
Here's a new review:
Although chick lit is immensely popular with readers, it is largely ignored by literary critics and maligned by more serious female authors, such as contributors to This Is Not Chick-Lit, a forthcoming short story collection. Chick-lit authors fight back with this collection of stories by women writers proud to wear the chick-lit label. In her introduction, Baratz-Logsted [see page 46 for her most recent novel] explains that she invited chick-lit authors to prove how varied, insightful, and, yes, entertaining the genre can be. Each author prefaces her story with her own personal defense of chick lit, and the collection ends with a bibliography of titles outside the genre these authors recommend. For the most part, the anthology succeeds at showing the diverse range of authors, characters, and plots that now fall under the chick-lit umbrella, including a surreal tale about a woman who goes in for a simple medical treatment and comes out with a third eye, and a poignant story about a young mother's fantasies after her twins' birth. Chick-lit devotees will appreciate discovering new authors, and the uninitiated will be pleasantly surprised. -- Booklist
Here's a new review:
Although chick lit is immensely popular with readers, it is largely ignored by literary critics and maligned by more serious female authors, such as contributors to This Is Not Chick-Lit, a forthcoming short story collection. Chick-lit authors fight back with this collection of stories by women writers proud to wear the chick-lit label. In her introduction, Baratz-Logsted [see page 46 for her most recent novel] explains that she invited chick-lit authors to prove how varied, insightful, and, yes, entertaining the genre can be. Each author prefaces her story with her own personal defense of chick lit, and the collection ends with a bibliography of titles outside the genre these authors recommend. For the most part, the anthology succeeds at showing the diverse range of authors, characters, and plots that now fall under the chick-lit umbrella, including a surreal tale about a woman who goes in for a simple medical treatment and comes out with a third eye, and a poignant story about a young mother's fantasies after her twins' birth. Chick-lit devotees will appreciate discovering new authors, and the uninitiated will be pleasantly surprised. -- Booklist
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Stephanie Lehmann's YOU COULD DO BETTER, on the GCC tour!
Stephanie Lehmann's YOU COULD DO BETTER has all the markings of a fabulous read!
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?
*****
Here are Stephanie's answers to my GCC questions:
My typical writing day. It’s usually the weekend, as I get most of my work done then. So… get out of bed thinking about that first cup of coffee. Leave the apartment before seeing children, who thank god are now old enough to sleep late. (Husband has already left to go exercise.) Get to coffee shop at undisclosed location where no one in my family can find me. Order that cup of coffee I’ve been thinking about, along with a whole wheat bagel with butter and marmalade. Sit down with coffee and bagel and read something for awhile (newspaper, magazine, book for research, novel for fun) and procrastinate turning on laptop. Sometime around when finishing that cup of coffee, force myself to turn on laptop. Read over what I’ve already written, hopefully not from first page. Rewrite obsessively until I get mad at myself for not writing anything new. Get more coffee. Eat one more bite of (now cold) bagel. Actually write something new. Start worrying that I should be getting home. Continue to write. Feel more pressure to get home. Try to squeeze more writing in. Perhaps get second cup of coffee. Squeeze in more writing. Realize that two hours has gone by, maybe three. Perhaps get call on cell phone from daughter, who is now up and wants me to bring home a muffin. Tell her I’ll be home soon. Squeeze in one more half hour. Leave for home. Hopefully remember to get muffin for daughter and one for son too, just in case. Once home, present muffins, hope that earns me points as a good mom, set up laptop on kitchen table, put on a pot of coffee, and basically begin cycle again.
Limitless books to read. Definitely. Let them entertain me.
Wine. I only like beer if I have potato chips with it, and I’m trying not to eat those evil things.
Chocolate. Preferably SEE'S chocolate. Specifically peanut clusters or marzipan.
Favorite all-time book is After Leaving Mr. Mackensie by Jean Rhys.
****
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.
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?
*****
Here are Stephanie's answers to my GCC questions:
My typical writing day. It’s usually the weekend, as I get most of my work done then. So… get out of bed thinking about that first cup of coffee. Leave the apartment before seeing children, who thank god are now old enough to sleep late. (Husband has already left to go exercise.) Get to coffee shop at undisclosed location where no one in my family can find me. Order that cup of coffee I’ve been thinking about, along with a whole wheat bagel with butter and marmalade. Sit down with coffee and bagel and read something for awhile (newspaper, magazine, book for research, novel for fun) and procrastinate turning on laptop. Sometime around when finishing that cup of coffee, force myself to turn on laptop. Read over what I’ve already written, hopefully not from first page. Rewrite obsessively until I get mad at myself for not writing anything new. Get more coffee. Eat one more bite of (now cold) bagel. Actually write something new. Start worrying that I should be getting home. Continue to write. Feel more pressure to get home. Try to squeeze more writing in. Perhaps get second cup of coffee. Squeeze in more writing. Realize that two hours has gone by, maybe three. Perhaps get call on cell phone from daughter, who is now up and wants me to bring home a muffin. Tell her I’ll be home soon. Squeeze in one more half hour. Leave for home. Hopefully remember to get muffin for daughter and one for son too, just in case. Once home, present muffins, hope that earns me points as a good mom, set up laptop on kitchen table, put on a pot of coffee, and basically begin cycle again.
Limitless books to read. Definitely. Let them entertain me.
Wine. I only like beer if I have potato chips with it, and I’m trying not to eat those evil things.
Chocolate. Preferably SEE'S chocolate. Specifically peanut clusters or marzipan.
Favorite all-time book is After Leaving Mr. Mackensie by Jean Rhys.
****
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.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Little Moments of Idiocy ...
So, I did a stupid thing today.
Sigh.
I'm participating in Armadillocon, a completely fun SFF con in Austin. This morning I participated as one of the "pros" in a writing workshop, an all day affair that was really fun (great stuff turned in for critique). At any rate, I completely misread my program guide and thought that the only things I was obligated to do today (Friday) were the morning and afternoon sessions of the workshop.
I planned to hang out Friday night, see a few friends, chit chat. (Had I done that, someone would have surely said, "Aren't you on a panel right now?") But D calls and asks if I can get C from day care. "Sure," I say, because I have no firm committments.
How wrong I was ....
Now --- HOURS too late -- I decide to doublecheck tomorrow's schedule. And in doing so, I have an ephiphany. I misread the schedule and missed panels.
Color my face very, very, very red. (I blame it both on idiocy and the fact that the schedule is in military time. Which, ahem, also relates back to the aforementioned idiocy.)
So, anyone attending the panels where my aura was hopefully attending in lieu of myself ... if you have questions about the topic and feel the need to have my input on the subject, well, drop me an email and I will espouse for you. Probably more eloquently and thought out than I would have in person (guilt, you know).
And please accept my sincere apology. I really can't believe I managed such a faux pas. (And now, of course, the question is: would I have been better off NEVER figuring out what I did?)
Yeesh.
Sigh.
I'm participating in Armadillocon, a completely fun SFF con in Austin. This morning I participated as one of the "pros" in a writing workshop, an all day affair that was really fun (great stuff turned in for critique). At any rate, I completely misread my program guide and thought that the only things I was obligated to do today (Friday) were the morning and afternoon sessions of the workshop.
I planned to hang out Friday night, see a few friends, chit chat. (Had I done that, someone would have surely said, "Aren't you on a panel right now?") But D calls and asks if I can get C from day care. "Sure," I say, because I have no firm committments.
How wrong I was ....
Now --- HOURS too late -- I decide to doublecheck tomorrow's schedule. And in doing so, I have an ephiphany. I misread the schedule and missed panels.
Color my face very, very, very red. (I blame it both on idiocy and the fact that the schedule is in military time. Which, ahem, also relates back to the aforementioned idiocy.)
So, anyone attending the panels where my aura was hopefully attending in lieu of myself ... if you have questions about the topic and feel the need to have my input on the subject, well, drop me an email and I will espouse for you. Probably more eloquently and thought out than I would have in person (guilt, you know).
And please accept my sincere apology. I really can't believe I managed such a faux pas. (And now, of course, the question is: would I have been better off NEVER figuring out what I did?)
Yeesh.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Secret Society Girl -- I've been so waiting for this one!
Yay!!!! Secret Society Girl is finally on shelves! I've been waiting for this one, and can't wait to go snag my own copy (it's my reward for finishing the book I'm currently working on).
Anyhoo, here's the scoop:
Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund 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....
****
Sounds fun, doesn't it?
And here are Diana's answers to my burning GCC questions....
> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL "WRITING DAY"?
Typical? I don't think I know this word! It's changed so much since I
started writing full time and my schedule has been off recently because
I've been travelling two or three times a month since May. When things
go well, I get up, check email, write in my blog, write for a little
while, hang out with my boyfriend, make food, write for a while longer,
run errands, do more email, hopefully write a little more.
Right now, when I'm on deadline, everything else falls by the wayside. I
write. That's it. That's all I have time for.
> DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
I was watching the movie THE SKULLS on TV and thought it was about time
that someone wrote a secret society story that described them the way
they really were. From there, it was a matter of finding the right facet
of the long collegiate secret society history to use as a framework for
the story. It was very important for me to make the story as accurate as
possible, which is why most of the events in the story are based on
things that happened in real life. A few people have been mystified by
this choice, but my favorite kind of fiction is the kind that is so
firmly rooted in reality that you feel as if any second you could step
into that world -- and that goes for everything, even fantasy. I want
people to question where the truth lets off and the invention begins.
> PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME
> CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
Like my protagonist Amy, I have
> 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?
Limitless books. I need to read. It's a requirement for living. And this
way, if I needed to write, I could just use the flyleafs and inside
covers.
> BEER OR WINE?
Wine, without a doubt. Champagne if you've got it.
> CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Sometimes I crave chocolate, but in general, I love a really
high-quality vanilla, especially ice cream or shakes.
> WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK?
This is hardly a fair question. I don't think it's possible to pick just
one. There are definitely books I can read over and over and over again,
as well as books I read once but will always stick with me. And how do I
choose amongst those? I can make a list of several favorites: The Voyage
of the Dawn Treader, Anne of the Island, The Count of Monte Cristo, The
Phantom Tollbooth, A Girl of the Limberlost, Clarissa, Solaris, Lost
Horizon, The Odyssey, Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein, Hearts Aflame,
The Giver, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Mists of
Avalon, Millenium Hall...
Visit Diana at http://dianapeterfreund.com
Anyhoo, here's the scoop:
Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund 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....
****
Sounds fun, doesn't it?
And here are Diana's answers to my burning GCC questions....
> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL "WRITING DAY"?
Typical? I don't think I know this word! It's changed so much since I
started writing full time and my schedule has been off recently because
I've been travelling two or three times a month since May. When things
go well, I get up, check email, write in my blog, write for a little
while, hang out with my boyfriend, make food, write for a while longer,
run errands, do more email, hopefully write a little more.
Right now, when I'm on deadline, everything else falls by the wayside. I
write. That's it. That's all I have time for.
> DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
I was watching the movie THE SKULLS on TV and thought it was about time
that someone wrote a secret society story that described them the way
they really were. From there, it was a matter of finding the right facet
of the long collegiate secret society history to use as a framework for
the story. It was very important for me to make the story as accurate as
possible, which is why most of the events in the story are based on
things that happened in real life. A few people have been mystified by
this choice, but my favorite kind of fiction is the kind that is so
firmly rooted in reality that you feel as if any second you could step
into that world -- and that goes for everything, even fantasy. I want
people to question where the truth lets off and the invention begins.
> PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME
> CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
Like my protagonist Amy, I have
> 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?
Limitless books. I need to read. It's a requirement for living. And this
way, if I needed to write, I could just use the flyleafs and inside
covers.
> BEER OR WINE?
Wine, without a doubt. Champagne if you've got it.
> CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Sometimes I crave chocolate, but in general, I love a really
high-quality vanilla, especially ice cream or shakes.
> WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK?
This is hardly a fair question. I don't think it's possible to pick just
one. There are definitely books I can read over and over and over again,
as well as books I read once but will always stick with me. And how do I
choose amongst those? I can make a list of several favorites: The Voyage
of the Dawn Treader, Anne of the Island, The Count of Monte Cristo, The
Phantom Tollbooth, A Girl of the Limberlost, Clarissa, Solaris, Lost
Horizon, The Odyssey, Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein, Hearts Aflame,
The Giver, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Mists of
Avalon, Millenium Hall...
Visit Diana at http://dianapeterfreund.com
Monday, August 07, 2006
THE GOOD GHOUL'S GUIDE TO GETTING EVEN
OMG...check out the fabulous cover for my first young adult book, coming soon (well, next April) to a store near you!
Sunday, August 06, 2006
GCC Tour: THE BITCH POSSE by Martha O'Connor
If you missed the hardback of The Bitch Posse, the debut novel by Martha O'Connor, don't miss the paperback!
"Astonishing and truly remarkable ... tough, subtle, tense, authentic
and very beautiful. If this isn't really Alice Sebold, Donna Tartt or
Barbara Vine writing under a pseudonym, then Martha O'Connor is a huge
new talent who is already about as good as it gets."
–Lee Child, author of The Enemy
Here's what folks are saying:
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.
Here are Martha's answers to my GCC questions:
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL “WRITING DAY”?
Before I start my day, I read and study passages about addiction and recovery from a daily email list to which I subscribe. This helps me to center my mind and prepare myself for the inevitable challenges in my day. Then, I drop the children off at school. After I drop them off, I check email and spend some time in quiet meditation. This again helps me to focus on what I need for the day and helps me to gather strength and motivation.
Then, I write out a schedule for myself. If I don’t have a schedule, I’m doomed. I mix writing and housework throughout the day. If I am doing a first draft, I tell myself I am not “allowed” to go and clean before I have written 1000 words. (Of course, if I’m on a roll, I keep going!) When I am cleaning, I am not “allowed” to go and draft before I have done certain things. (Sadly, I never get “on a roll” with cleaning.)
By alternating projects that way, it all gets done and I don’t get too fatigued with either thing. Sometimes, if there is too much going on at home, I will go to a café to work. Fewer distractions! About three times a week, I will put the kids to bed early (~9 pm) and work from then until midnight.
DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
I had a very close relationship with a few other girls in high school. Over the years, we eventually lost touch, but I still always felt like they were right next to me, in my heart, no matter where I was. I’ve never recaptured that intense feeling of friendship as an adult. So I suppose you could say that relationship was the inspiration behind the book—although we never did any violent crimes together!
PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
The three girls/women in my book are really all aspects of me. Amy is a mother like me—I can definitely relate to her desire to protect her baby. When you have a baby (or in my case, twins), it changes everything. You no longer live for yourself, but for someone else. Rennie is an author, so that comparison is obvious. However, I hope I’m not as dysfunctional as she is—at least, not anymore! Finally, Cherry’s a writer too, and has had to struggle against forces beyond her control. In struggling against addiction, I have had to do the same. In the end, I can’t pick a favorite. I love them all. ☺
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?
A magical trunk with limitless books, because I would be able to wish for books on survival skills, foraging food, and getting rescued.
BEER OR WINE?
I’m a recovering alcoholic, so I don’t drink either one. However, I do obsess over flavored juices if I am craving something unhealthy. I really like the sparkling blueberry juice from Trader Joe’s!
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Chocolate all the way-
WHAT’S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK?
I would have to say it’s The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous by Bill Wilson. It has saved not only my own life, but many others as well. If I was not in recovery, I’d be dangerously insane right now. I would not have a writing career or much of anything else, either.
Although this book was written long ago (1939), it is timeless and so true. The Big Book showed me that there is a solution to addiction, which seems like a hopeless state. What’s more, it’s very informative from a medical and psychological point of view. I recommend it not just to those struggling with addiction, but to anyone who would like to learn some facts and read some fascinating stories. The Big Book is available for free online in English, French, and Spanish. http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/
Visit her website at http://www.marthaoconnor.com
"Astonishing and truly remarkable ... tough, subtle, tense, authentic
and very beautiful. If this isn't really Alice Sebold, Donna Tartt or
Barbara Vine writing under a pseudonym, then Martha O'Connor is a huge
new talent who is already about as good as it gets."
–Lee Child, author of The Enemy
Here's what folks are saying:
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.
Here are Martha's answers to my GCC questions:
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL “WRITING DAY”?
Before I start my day, I read and study passages about addiction and recovery from a daily email list to which I subscribe. This helps me to center my mind and prepare myself for the inevitable challenges in my day. Then, I drop the children off at school. After I drop them off, I check email and spend some time in quiet meditation. This again helps me to focus on what I need for the day and helps me to gather strength and motivation.
Then, I write out a schedule for myself. If I don’t have a schedule, I’m doomed. I mix writing and housework throughout the day. If I am doing a first draft, I tell myself I am not “allowed” to go and clean before I have written 1000 words. (Of course, if I’m on a roll, I keep going!) When I am cleaning, I am not “allowed” to go and draft before I have done certain things. (Sadly, I never get “on a roll” with cleaning.)
By alternating projects that way, it all gets done and I don’t get too fatigued with either thing. Sometimes, if there is too much going on at home, I will go to a café to work. Fewer distractions! About three times a week, I will put the kids to bed early (~9 pm) and work from then until midnight.
DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
I had a very close relationship with a few other girls in high school. Over the years, we eventually lost touch, but I still always felt like they were right next to me, in my heart, no matter where I was. I’ve never recaptured that intense feeling of friendship as an adult. So I suppose you could say that relationship was the inspiration behind the book—although we never did any violent crimes together!
PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
The three girls/women in my book are really all aspects of me. Amy is a mother like me—I can definitely relate to her desire to protect her baby. When you have a baby (or in my case, twins), it changes everything. You no longer live for yourself, but for someone else. Rennie is an author, so that comparison is obvious. However, I hope I’m not as dysfunctional as she is—at least, not anymore! Finally, Cherry’s a writer too, and has had to struggle against forces beyond her control. In struggling against addiction, I have had to do the same. In the end, I can’t pick a favorite. I love them all. ☺
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?
A magical trunk with limitless books, because I would be able to wish for books on survival skills, foraging food, and getting rescued.
BEER OR WINE?
I’m a recovering alcoholic, so I don’t drink either one. However, I do obsess over flavored juices if I am craving something unhealthy. I really like the sparkling blueberry juice from Trader Joe’s!
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Chocolate all the way-
WHAT’S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK?
I would have to say it’s The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous by Bill Wilson. It has saved not only my own life, but many others as well. If I was not in recovery, I’d be dangerously insane right now. I would not have a writing career or much of anything else, either.
Although this book was written long ago (1939), it is timeless and so true. The Big Book showed me that there is a solution to addiction, which seems like a hopeless state. What’s more, it’s very informative from a medical and psychological point of view. I recommend it not just to those struggling with addiction, but to anyone who would like to learn some facts and read some fascinating stories. The Big Book is available for free online in English, French, and Spanish. http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/
Visit her website at http://www.marthaoconnor.com
