Maggie Marr

Red Light, Green Light, GO!

2010-02-07T15:20:00.000-08:00

treat*ment [noun] the presentation or discussion of a subject.

In Hollywood 'the treatment' refers to a document written by screenwriters so that executives might have an overview of a screenplay's story, structure, and characters prior to the screenwriters going to draft. The treatment is an attempt by executives to correct, advise, change, and or doctor the screenplay prior to the writers writing and becoming so very enamored with every word they write and their characters speak so that the screenwriters never want to change a single comma thus leaving the executives with whatever drivel the screenplay writer drips out of their fingertips onto the page.

Ah, the treatment. Mike and I have been working on a new one for...a while. And somehow this little bitty treatment, 'really, guys we only need a couple of pages.' Has turned into a monster at 17 pages SINGLE spaced. Single. Now any writer knows that 17 pages single spaced...is well...it's about 40 pages double. Wow. But we've nailed it. Finally. Or pretty much. There are of course more notes. (See post from January 27 regarding notes.) But notes are to be expected. Always. But now, after oh...one, two, three, four....okay five passes, it seems everyone is onboard with this treatment; three producers and two writers.

So now: Green Light, GO!

The fun part begins. We start to write. The script. The real thing. With the scenes, and the characters and the romance and the funny bits (oh please let the bits be funny) and the drama....and the funny bits...I mentioned the funny bits right? And once we have a draft, a really solid draft we turn it in to the producers. And guess what?

Same dance different tune. More notes. More rewrites. But if we do it right? It won't just be a Green Light to write...but a Green Light to make a movie.

xoMaggie

The Next Three Chapters of Billionaire

2010-01-29T08:22:00.001-08:00

And with one big 'woosh' from my Mac Mail the first three chapters of The Billionaire's Proud Mistress are gone. Off to London. To the wonderful editor that chose me as runner up for the Harlequin Presents Writing Contest.

And now the nail biting begins. As I prepared to press the send button my heart palpitated, my stomach lurched and my palms...well they got a teensy-weensy sweaty. Why? Because this is Harlequin. The big boy (or big girl) in romance and Harlequin Presents is the creme de la creme of category/classic romance.

Why romance? Because I love, love. In film I write romantic comedies, in television I write about women and their relationships and even my first two books had large romance elements to them. Plus I am so fond of the HEA - Happily Ever After. Life is so very tragic on it own. And please don't get me wrong, I love a good tear jerker, or literary novel or women's fiction, but I also love the stability and security that a really well written romance provides me, as a reader.

So now I wait. And cross my fingers. And continue working on the rest of the book. And the next script. And the notes from the director.

xoMaggie

Hollywood Couch & Water Tour

2010-01-27T21:38:00.000-08:00

So more news from the Hollywood trenches. An update, if you will.

The script that we wrote, and is beloved by all that read it, is alive and kicking. In fact, one of my most favorite directors in all the world is interested in directing. (And no, I will not say their name as I am outrageously superstitious and don't want to jinx myself.) But as the director loves the project, we (Mike and me) are sitting down with the wonderful director tomorrow. For breakfast. And notes.

The director has notes. Everyone has notes. To be a professional writer in Hollywood is to realize there WILL ALWAYS BE NOTES. And it is our job, as professionals, to take them, incorporate them, and make the script better. Not to say that all notes are created equal.

They're not.

But most notes have at least a little bit of somethin' behind them. Meaning if you dig deep enough a note that appears nutty can actually point you in the direction of even a tiny crack in the script that needs a fix.

Then next week...more meetings. Many more meetings. And a treatment. For a new script.

I'll keep you posted.

xoMaggie

The Billionaire's Proud Mistress

2010-01-13T17:25:00.000-08:00

The opening chapter in my classic romance, The Billionaire's Proud Mistress is up at iheartpresents. This is the chapter that caught the eye of the Harlequin Editors and snagged me the runners up slot in the Harlequin Presents Writing Competition. For which I am EXCEEDINGLY thankful and not just a little shocked! I am hard at work implementing Bryony's notes and fingers crossed The Billionaire's Proud Mistress will be available soon.
xo
Maggie

Yeah, yeah, I'll Take Care of It

2010-01-13T07:09:00.001-08:00

Oh my sad tale of woe continues. I dropped off my little baby on December 31 expecting a 7 - 10 day wait. 'A little longer than usual' my genius said 'because of the holidays.' I could understand that. So when he asked 'should we ship your computer to the store or your home once it's fixed' I thought why not save a trip ship it to my house.

'Is this your address?' he asked and then rattled off my OLD address.

'No, we've moved.' I gave him the NEW address and toddled away looking longingly over my shoulder as he took my computer to the back room.

I arrived home and checked out my receipt and I noticed that at the top is my OLD adress. I immediately picked up the phone and called my Apple store. I tell them the problem and a guy quickly takes down my address and says 'yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it.'

Now there are some sentences in the English language that instill confidence that a task will be completed such as : Right Away! or Yes, madame I shall do that post haste.' But 'yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it' is not one of the sentences that instills such confidence. But I trusted that this fellow would do as he said.

So I waited.

On the 6th of January (7 days later) I decided to check on the status of my computer. I call the store where I am put on hold for a very very long time. A woman returns sounding a bit out of breath. 'Miss Marr, you need to call apple care since you chose to have your computer sent to your home.' Okay. So I call Apple Care they tell me that there is no status update other than the technicians ordered the part to make the repair. I then say, what address do you have to ship my computer to? He recites the OLD address. I give him the new one and cross my fingers. He tells me I need to call my Apple Store and update my address with them.

Been there, done that.

But I dutifully called AGAIN. I asked my Apple Store what address they had and they recite back to me my OLD address. I then asked them AGAIN to change my address.

I've reached Panic Level Yellow. My old address is an empty house because the buyer will not be moving in until February. But it is close to our NEW address so I asked my husband to check for Fed Ex tags at the house.

I called on the 10th because I am now SURE my computer will be sent to the wrong house. But the Apple Care tech informed me that no it hasn't shipped. On the 11th my Apple Care tech forwarded me a link where I can check on the status. I finally look at the link late on the 11th. There is a Fed Ex number! Yippee! The computer has been shipped. Where is it, when will it be here. I click the link.

Oh. My. Goodness.

My little baby was shipped on the 4th! Of January. After I called the Apple Store to update my address and got the 'yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it' guy and before I called Apple Care.

Guess who didn't take care of it.

Fed Ex tried to deliver my computer to my old address since the 6th. I call the Apple Store. I call Apple Care. If only the guy who had said 'yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it,' had actually taken care of it.

Today my computer is in Fort Worth. Friday it is supposed to be here in my hot little hands. We'll see.

PS Fed Ex put NO door tags on the house, we checked. Big Business failed all the way around.

xoMaggie

Technical Difficulties or Please Don't Take My Computer Away!

2010-01-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

Writers are inordinately attached to their computers.

If there were a fire and I had to choose between my children and the computer... Well of course I'd choose the kids. But if the choice were my husband and my little baby Mac on a bad day I'd grab the laptop bag and throw my man a fire extinguisher. (I am quite sure my MIL will not see the humor in the above.)

But truly. I am ATTACHED to this little machine. I spend more time communicating with this box of metal than with any other thing on the planet. It contains my most intimate details (and I don't mean naughty pics) but my stories. All of them. In all stages. My manuscripts, my scripts, my pilots, my treatments, my one liners that may become stories or scripts or pilots. Aaah. I love my little computer so.

Until Wednesday the 30th.

Just as I was about to head to the airport to return home from holiday my screen went black. Black. As in deader than a doornail black. Of course I wantedt to blame the children since they are 3 and 6 and are NEVER to touch Mommy's computer which means they ALWAYS want to touch Mommy's computer. Especially the 3 year old. She is our terror. The one that I already spend sleepless nights wondering what she'll be like when she's sixteen. Then I wanted to blame the husband. But he saw that hit coming and told me with his wicked smile that it wasn't his fault and I better keep right on moving down the list.

But there was no one else on the list. It couldn't have been me that harmed my precious little lovebug made of metal. And it wasn't. The darn graphics card bit the dust. And according to my Genius at the Genius Bar (who had some very sexy/swanky ink on his arms--gotta love a man who can really pull off a tattoo.) My computer fell within the 'range' of a group of computers that have graphics card failure.

Huh?

We have to take it for 7 to 10 days.

Gulp.

You back up right?

Gulp. Uh. Gulp. Sometimes?

Your data should be okay but I can't guarantee it.

Here come the tears. I can feel the tears. They are taking my baby away and she might not be okay? I might not be okay? My STORIES might not be okay?

Now I am on a friend's old computer. You know the one you never use once you get the killer new one but keep around 'just in case.' I am the 'just in case' right now. But of course I don't trust this little baby the way I trust mine. It's like driving someone else's car. You're not sure about that squeeky noise. Or how the breaks feel. Or if the steering is always this tight. Plus, this baby has some miles on her. Don't get me wrong I am THANKFUL I can now go through email. (Uh 290 in three days took me 3 hours.) But I don't trust this little lady with my most intimate thoughts.

Looks like I'll keep on writing those new chapters out long hand. At least until my baby gets back home.

Hollywood Couch & Water Tour

2009-12-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

As many of you know I write books and I write screenplays. And as a screenplay writer I get to embark on the amazing fun of the Hollywood Couch & Water Tour.

What is the Hollywood Couch & Water Tour you ask?

Well let me explain. My writing partner and I wrote a lovely little screenplay. We received some truly rave reviews and based on that screenplay now we go and meet all the execs that loved our writing. Where do we sit? The couch. What do we drink? Water. Hence the name Hollywood Couch & Water Tour.

Last week was meeting #25. We met with Laurence Mark Productions. They are an amazing production company. They made this movie:

One of my favorites and one of the movies we studied while writing our script.

Laurence Mark Productions recently produced this film:

Another one of my faves.

At the meeting we riffed on films. Television. What makes a good story vs. what makes a great story. We even pitched them a couple ideas as well as the screenplay we are working on now.

Next stop on the Hollywood Couch & Water Tour is January 6 2010...stay tuned.

The Writing is Never Easy

2009-12-13T17:55:00.001-08:00

Writing is not easy. Not as a business. Not as a creative endeavor. But for me, writing can be filled with joy.

For the past year I've worked on a contemporary romance. And I love this book. I continue to love the book even though I struggle to write and then rewrite the manuscript each and every day. Perhaps that is why my entry to the Harlequin Presents Contest was so effervescent. Now please, do not mistake effervescence with ease. They are two separate words.

Every story, every chapter, every storyboard, every outline, every sentence, every word takes work. However, it was with great joy that I discovered as I worked on my entry that two amazing characters came forth. Ease? No. As I've said. Writing is never easy. But joyful? Yes. I believe the joy came from the intensity of the attraction these characters felt for each other. And the tight word count in which I, as an author had to convey this intensity. There is something, I found through this entry, thrilling about needing to convey as much as possible about the chemistry between two people in so few words. But yes, the characters and their story came fast. But does that mean I didn't work on the pages?

No.

I am an author. And every author works. We work on craft. Just because a story comes fast doesn't mean it's not rewritten, tinkered with, rewritten again. We should all know, based on one of my favorite authors, just because there is speed in the writing doesn't mean there isn't work. Not that I will ever be nearly as talented nor as prolific as the great Nora. A girl can dream.

I end with this... There is no greater gift given to an author than a story to convey. Who knows where the stories come from? I don't ask. I merely write the words.

xoMaggie

Classic Romance Something New

2009-12-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

So... A few months ago a good friend of mine (Ally Carter) said, "Maggie, I think you should write a category romance."
"A what?" I replied.
"A category romance," said Ally. "You know from Harlequin." And although I often read romance because I am all about the love and the Happily Ever After, I am embarassed to say I hadn't read a category romance in years. But because Ally is a little bit psychic (don't tell her I told you..actually she probably already knows) and because she's sold a BILLION books I decided I'd listen to my dear writer friend. I got on line and ordered a couple of these little treats.

Oh. My. Goodness.

They are like mini-milky way chocolate bars! Fast, addictive and sweet! The books are four dollars, I can read them in a few hours, and they are REALLY GOOD! Before I knew it I had consumed a whole bag...wait...that was the chocolate...I had read a whole dozen.

Then, because I am a writer...I started thinking about characters. Two characters. Then I started surfing and I found a contest! Not just any contest but a big contest...at Harlequin. I was in the midst of my 5th rewrite (which felt like my 20th rewrite) on my contemporary romance and I wanted the freedom the joy of writing new characters. So I did. I sat down and let these two fabulous characters spring to life. Wrote a one page synopsis and shipped it off to the UK with barely a moment to spare.

Flash forward four weeks. And I get a phone call. A phone call with a 44 prefix. Now I have friends in London but usually they don't call at 8:15 am.... This phone call was the lovely Joanne Grant! Telling me that although I wasn't the bride, I got to be a bridesmaid in a flashy little dress. I was a runner up!! Out of 544 amazing entries! Wow! Talk about thrilled, excited, astounded! What fun to dash off this lovely little chapter (that practically wrote itself) and then become a finalist! I get the honor of a critique by Bryony Green, an amazing editor. And every writer loves working with amazing editors!

I am humbled. And honored. And thrilled. Thank you Joanne. Thank you Bryony. Thank you Harlequin. And thank you to my good friend, the psychic, Ally.

xoMaggie Marr

Rewrites

2009-12-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

As I plow through yet another rewrite of my current manuscript...is this 5 or is it 6? I can no longer remember I am both enchanted and disheartened by the process. Enchanted in that I always have something new to learn in every draft. Whether it be about a character, a plot layer, or my craft this job provides me with a steep learning curve each time I sit down to write.

And the disheartened bit?

Well I often wonder, as most writers do, whether the writing is good enough. Whether the writing will ever be good enough to tell this story. And that constant wondering (aka fear) although it acts as a magnet to get my butt in the chair can also be a drain on my psyche. When faced with the idea of yet another rewrite that potentially could change an entire book I initially become paralyzed.

I liken this moment of paralysis to standing at the foot of Mt. Everest after sumiting five times in the last twelve months, taking a deep breath and beginning to climb yet again. And although with each climb I know the perils of the mountain a little better I can only prepare so well. Storms whip up. Blizzards. Ice fields. Equipment fails. Oy what writer hasn't fought with their computer or word processing software at some point? And still I climb on, upward into thinner and thinner air.

Why?

Because I love the feeling of the words rushing by, I love the sound of all the voices in my head, and most of all, if I'm completely honest, I love the view from the top. Looking down at all the consonants and vowels I've formed in millions of ways to make thousands of words and hundreds of sentences. All the tippity tappity sounds of my fingertips on the keyboard and hours of work culminate in one book. One book written by me. And really, I guess, that finish, the mountain of pages that lie before me after each and every rewrite, my view of the world, is well worth the climb.

xoMaggie

Love In Translation by Wendy Tokunaga

2009-12-06T19:56:00.000-08:00

Wendy Tokunaga's latest book Love In Translation was just released. Wendy agreed to stop by and answer some of my questions about her process and her latest book.

What inspired Love in Translation?

Many things. LOVE IN TRANSLATION is my cockeyed valentine to Japan, which is a place I’ve both loved and loathed, a place that has fueled both fascination and frustration. And it is also a place that has had a huge impact on my life and writing. I also wanted to explore what it means to be a gaijin (foreigner) in Japan and the benefits and downsides of that status and what happens when a gaijin sings in Japanese. I also am fascinated by the concept of the homestay, (something I never experienced), and how that would impact someone as an adult who grew up in foster homes and who never experienced a real family.

What do you consider the heart of your story?

My stories seem to have several “hearts,” or at least I see them that way. In LOVE IN TRANSLATION it’s how Celeste Duncan, a woman without a family, finds one in a foreign culture. It’s also about the power of music on the soul and heart and the meaning of finding your own voice, both in the singing sense and the identity sense.

What comes most naturally for you to write, dialogue? plot? character? What’s the hardest?

Easiest for me is plot and that’s what I try to spend time sorting that out on the first draft. I also like to “talk out” my plot to friends and keep refining it that way. The most difficult is slowing down and spending time on description. I don’t care for long passages of description, but you must have some. So I try and strike a happy medium, but it isn’t easy for me.

What has brought the greatest joy since you were published? The greatest angst?

I’d say the greatest joy is having readers who appreciate your writing. And the greatest angst is in working hard to keep those readers and gain more.

What do you love about being an author?

There’s so much that I enjoy. First, it’s great to be paid for something you love to do. But I also find it inspiring to help other writers. I enjoy telling my story of woe on my road to publication and let others know that they don’t need any special connections to the publishing world in order to get published. I like to promote the message that you should never give up. And if you work hard, keep at it and be flexible, your publishing dream may come true. I also like helping other writers make their work the best it can be.

What’s one piece of writing advice you’ve found valuable on your journey to publication?

That often you won’t discover the real story you’re trying to tell until the revision process.

How do you promote your books? Are you going on tour for this book? Any upcoming signings?

I do a lot of my own promotion for my books, much of it online. I’m on MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, have blogs, a website, etc., etc. It’s fun, but it can be overwhelming sometimes. I actually was dreaming in Tweets the other night and I often spend way too much time thinking about what my Facebook status should be. I generally do readings and signings in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have events coming up for promotion of LOVE IN TRANSLATION in early December in San Francisco, Half Moon Bay and Corte Madera, which are all listed on my website. And I may be doing some more in January. At some of the events I’ll be performing “The Wishing Star (Nozomi no Hoshi)” the “theme song” from LOVE IN TRANSLATION, which is the fictional song portrayed in the book brought to real life. I also really like appearing at writers conferences and I’ll be at the San Francisco Writers Conference in mid-February. I’ll also be teaching a class called Your Novel: The Road to Publication at Books Inc. Opera Plaza in San Francisco in January.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a novel that is a different departure for me: it has very little to do with Japan!

Good Review

2009-11-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

Every writer likes a good review and Secrets of The Hollywood Girls Club got one at ChickLit+

Enjoy!

xoMaggie

The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate

2009-11-29T10:35:00.000-08:00

The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate was just released. Here is her fabulous cover.

Tell us about your latest release and the inspiration behind it.

28-year-old New Yorker Rebecca Strand is shocked when her dying father confesses a devastating secret: he had affair when Rebecca was a toddler—and a baby he turned his back on at birth. Now, his wish is that the daughter he abandoned, Joy Joyhawk, read the unsent letters he wrote to her every year on her birthday. Determined to fulfill her father’s wish, Rebecca drives to a small town in Maine—against the advice of her lawyer boyfriend who’s sure Joy will be a “disappointing, trashy opportunist” and demand half her father’s fortune. But when hopeful Rebecca knocks on her half-sister’s door, Joy—a separated mother who conducts weekend singles tours out of her orange mini-bus—wants nothing to do with Rebecca or the letters her father wrote to her. Determined to forge some kind of relationship with Joy, Rebecca sticks around, finding unexpected support from Joy’s best clients—the Divorced Ladies Club of Wiscasset—and a sexy carpenter named Theo . . . .

The inspiration: Several years ago, I received an email out of the blue that said: I think you might be my half-sister. I was. Am. It took me a long time to decide to take that little (huge) nugget and write a novel to help me figure out the answer to some burning questions, such as: if you haven’t seen or heard from your biological father, or any member of his family, since you were little (or, in Joy’s case, never at all), is his child from another relationship really your sibling? Or just a stranger? Does the word father or sister or brother mean anything without back up? I had a ton of questions and set out to uncover how I felt through a fictional character, but it’s interesting to me that I flipped everything on its head in the writing of the story. Nothing but the basic questions that are proposed in the novel are autobiographical. Just the questions! And I surprised myself quite a few times during the writing of this story with how I felt about certain things. Amazing how writing fiction can teach you so much about yourself.

What's one piece of writing advice you've found valuable on your journey to publication?

Trust yourself. Your gut knows. You know.

Tell us why your editor is the best editor ever in the universe.

I’m crazy about my editor, Jennifer Heddle at Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books. I love working with her. She’s just so razor-sharp smart and aware and interested in the world and pop culture (which I’ve learned via being her friend on Facebook!). Her suggestions, starting with our first conversation before she even bought my book, were so intelligent and thoughtful. And she’s New York honest in a very kind way with her editorial letters and edits. I absolutely trust what she says. As I’ve gotten to know her, I’m even more touched that she bought my book. She’s a tough customer, I think. And that’s a good thing.

Any tried and true tricks for beating procrastination?

Tried but not true: taking laptop to a library or coffee lounge without wi-fi. I can’t handle more than an hour or two without checking email or reading through Twitter or Facebook. Tried and true: a deadline, whether self-given or publisher-given.

Which 'craft' book has inspired or helped you the most throughout your writing career?

The most inspiring, to me, is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. But I also love Stephen King’s On Writing; Carolyn See’s How To Make A Literary Life, and Elizabeth Berg’s Escaping Into The Open.

If you could only own and read 5 books for the rest of your life, (excluding your own) what five books would you choose?

The Portable Dorothy Parker; the collected works of William Shakespeare; To Kill A Mockingbird; Anne of Green Gables; The Color Purple; and I can’t leave off this gem: Why I Like My Mommy by Max (my son’s latest work in first grade!)

What’s next for you?

Next up is my second novel for teens, The Mosts, which will be published by Random House in June 2010. Then, my next women’s fiction novel from Simon & Schuster, The Love Goddess’s Cooking School, about five people in an Italian cooking class, will be published November 2010. I’m staring down a 1/1 deadline (the worst deadline to have!) And I’m being poked at by a new idea . . . .

Love Under Cover by Jessica Brody

2009-11-13T08:06:00.000-08:00

Jessica Brody's latest book Love Under Cover comes out this week. Here is the cover:

Now here is all the praise:

"With a complicated, sympathetic protagonist, worthy stakes and a clever twist on the standard chick lit narrative, Brody will pull readers in from the first page."
– Publisher’s Weekly

"Those who enjoyed Brody's debut will be eager to catch up with Jennifer, but newcomers will be intrigued, too...an honest, witty portrayal of modern love."
- Booklist

“With her usual smart, deft, and witty prose, Brody delves deep into the psychology of a woman who tests the fidelity of strangers for a living but struggles with commitment in her own life."
- Joanne Rendell, author of Crossing Washington Square and The Professors’ Wives’ Club

Wow! And wait until you see her picture, it seems almost unfair that someone should be so talented and so beautiful and I would absolutely hate her if she wasn't so gosh darned NICE too!!

What was your inspiration behind Love Under Cover?

As soon as I finished writing my first novel, The Fidelity Files¸ I knew that Jennifer’s journey wasn’t over yet. Although she had seemed to find her happy ending there was so much more fun stuff I had in mind for another book. Setting Jennifer up with an entire agency of fidelity inspectors was definitely the first and foremost on my mind for the next instalment.

Plus, I really wanted to explore what a fidelity inspector would be like in a committed relationship. After everything she’s seen—all the cheating, dishonesty, and betrayal—would she really be capable of settling down herself? So that’s what I set out to focus on in this book.

Which scene (or scenes) in your novel did you love writing? Why?

I love writing any of the scenes with Jennifer’s friends. They’re all fun in their own way. Zoë has a terrible road rage problem and she has a habit of talking on the phone while driving so those conversations with Jen and Zoë on the phone are always really entertaining for me. I get to channel my inner turrets patient. Sophie is totally neurotic. I love going over the top with her.
And John is the flamboyant gay boy from West Hollywood who is always quick with his sarcasm and wit. Sometimes I don’t know where his remarks come from. I must be channelling my inner gay man because I’ll write something that he says and think, “That’s really funny. Where the hell did that come from?”

Which 'craft' book has inspired or helped you the most throughout your writing career?

SAVE THE CAT, by Blake Snyder. It changed my life. People tell me my books read like movies. Well, that's probably because SAVE THE CAT is actually a book for screenwriting. But I've found it translates exceptionally well to novels. A well-told story is a well-told story, regardless of the medium and a fast-moving story keeps the pages turning. Blake Snyder lays out a simple (yet effective) step-by-step beat sheet of how to tell any story and I'll never write another book without it! He's very well-respected in the industry and I know many writers (screenwriters and novelists alike) that utilize his books. Plus, the book is extremely funny and entertaining to read!

Since becoming a writer, what’s the most glamorous thing you’ve ever done?

When my first book, The Fidelity Files, came out in France last year, my French publisher actually flew me out to Paris to promote it! It was a dream come true! I speak French almost fluently so I was able to conduct all my interviews in French, which was both nerve wrecking and exciting at the same time. Paris has always held a special place in my heart. I was a French major in college and I lived in Paris my junior abroad. Plus, I spent a month in Paris in 2005 finishing the novel so it was all very magical and kismet to be back there to see it in French book stores!

Do you have a sample chapter posted?

Absolutely!

If you could only own and read 5 books for the rest of your life, (excluding your own) what five books would you choose?

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella to make me laugh.
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult to make me cry.
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger to make me believe in fantastical love
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer to give me a hot vampire to fantasize about daily.
Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding to remind me of why I write.

What's one piece of writing advice you've found valuable on your journey to publication?

Jump and the net will appear. Although I think this applies to any career you’re trying to get into. You have to jump in with both feet. Right into the deep end. You can’t wait for the perfect opportunity to come along, you just have to go for it. When I decided I would be a published author, I made the decision and I leapt off the cliff…without a parachute. I quit my high-paying, corporate job at a move studio, started taking odd jobs off of Craigslist to make ends meet, downgraded my car, my apartment and my lifestyle to save money and just went for it. I never looked back. I turned down three job offers from other studios, all which paid even more than I was making when I left my previous one. I sold my first novel a year and a half after I quit. Now I write full time and this year, for the first time since I quit my corporate job in 2005, I’m making more as a writer than I was making as a “suit.” Do what you love and the money will eventually come. I’m a big believer in this. And I am living proof that it works!

Why do you write?

I once heard someone say, “Dancers dance because they have to.” I really loved that and I think it’s the same for writers. I definitely have to write. Like I have to breathe. If I don’t, I get very stir crazy. All of that energy has to come out somehow and for me, it comes out in words. Lots and lots of words. Some of them are actually worth publishing.

What’s next for you?

Although I strive to live in the moment, I can’t help but be excited about the future! I’ve got three young adult books scheduled to come out in the next three years from Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. The first, THE KARMA CLUB, releases on April 27 and I simply can’t wait! It’s about three teen girls who are tired of waiting for Karma to get off its butt and do its job, so they decide to give Karma a helping hand by getting revenge on their evil ex-boyfriends. But they soon discover that when you mess with Karma, Karma messes back. It’s a story I wanted to tell for years and I’m so glad it’s finally going to be put out to the world. The teen voice feels very natural to me (not sure what that says about my inherent maturity level, but whatever!) and the YA novels are such a blast to write. I think the teenage years resonate with everyone in some way. For me, my teen years were very painful so it’s somewhat therapeutic to be able to “go back” and relive them with all the knowledge and wisdom that I have now!

Thank you Jessica. Now go buy Love Under Cover.
xoMaggie

Spinning Forward by Terri DuLong

2009-11-09T07:41:00.000-08:00

This week, Terri DuLong a fellow member in the Women's Fiction chapter of RWA has a new book coming out; Spinning Forward.

Terri stopped by to tell me about her book as well as her writing process.

Tell me about your book.

A New Englander born and bred, the last place Sydney Webster expects to find herself starting over is on an island off the west coast of Florida. Yet here she is in Cedar Key, trying to pull herself together after her husband’s untimely death—and the even more untimely revelation of his gambling addiction. Syd takes shelter at a college pal’s bed and breakfast, leading her to discover her true identity and feminine soul. Her passion for spinning and knitting draws attention due to the unique composition of her wool and a door is opened. She finds herself in the embrace of a community rich with love, laughter, friendship . . . and secrets. A tale of new beginnings, old friends and lives forever bound.

What pulled you into the story and made you think 'I have to write this'?

The actual people of Cedar Key, the small town where I now reside, made me feel I wanted to write about the closeness and caring of a small community. As far as my main character, not all women have the final say-so when it comes to decisions or financial matters in their marriage and although it may seem fine and easy at the time, my story deals with the fact that women owe it to themselves to be aware of these issues. For Sydney, her uninvolved attitude came back to bite her.

When did you first begin writing?

I’ve been writing all my life. As an only child, I had an imaginary playmate and looking back now, I feel that’s when my creative process began. I’ve kept diaries and journals and I began writing professionally for Bonjour Paris about eleven years ago. I did over forty travel articles based on my travel to France through the eyes of a fictional canine character.

What is your writing process and where do you write?

When I’m on deadline, I begin around ten in the morning and generally work six to eight hours a day. When we moved to Cedar Key, we had a writer’s studio built for me, detached from our house but connected by a screened lanai. So this is where I work.

What is your favorite thing about writing? What is your least favorite thing?

I’d have to say my favorite thing about writing is all the feedback I get from my readers. Their comments on my characters, plot, how my story affected them, etc. Least favorite? Call me Pollyanna, but I really don’t have one. I love writing and the feeling of accomplishment when I finish a story.

Please name the five movies and the five books you want with you if stranded on a desert island.

5 books would be: A Woman of Substance, To Kill a Mockingbird, The House at Riverton, The Shellseekers and The Thornbirds
5 movies would be: Casablanca, Pretty Woman, Saving Private Ryan, Ghost and Steel Magnolias

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

Don’t ever give up. If writing is your passion, then keep writing. Believe in yourself and make great things happen.

What is next for you?

My Christmas novella that I’m doing in the anthology with Fern Michaels headlining will be released November 2010—the same time that my second book in the Cedar Key series will be out.

Sounds like a great read! You can get Spinning Forward at any local bookstore or here and here.
xoMaggie

Romance Writers of America Women's Fiction Chapter

2009-11-03T12:57:00.000-08:00

The amazing Therese Walsh decided that there needed to be a home within Romance Writers of America for authors who write stories that have romantic elements but don't neatly fit into the category of 'romance.' Her vision and determination led to a new online chapter being established; RWA-WF.

Here is the amazing logo:

Fantastic isn't it! And today the amazing RWA-WF website is up; click here.

Also, I am the VP of Programs. So please come join our fun. This is an amazing group with an ferocious amount of talent.

xoMaggie

The Gift by Deb Stover

2009-11-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

The award winning author Deb Stover has a new book out this week! The Gift, here is the cover:

Looks good! Deb was kind enough to stop by and answer some questions about The Gift as well as her writing process.

Tell me about THE GIFT.

Certain members of the Dearborn Family are born with some
variance of an empathic gift. Beth's "gift" manifests in
a particularly frightening manner, by enabling her to
experience the final moments of those who've died violently.
As an adult, she chooses a career as a homicide detective,
and--obviously--is very successful. However, the
experience of being "murdered" repeatedly takes a terrible
toll and she turns to alcohol for solace. When she hits bottom
and seeks treatment for her addiction, she is convinced the only
way she can stay sober is to somehow suppress her
gift-turned-curse by avoiding places where the spirit of
someone who died violently might contact her.
She leaves her position and takes one as a nomadic
insurance investigator.

Her new career keeps her safe and sober for three years.
Convinced her gift has faded from lack of use, she finally
accepts an assignment involving possible life insurance fraud,
which leads her to a small town in eastern Tennessee.

Ty Malone's wife, Lorilee, disappeared over seven years ago.
Though the town and his father-in-law remain convinced she
ran away to pursue a career as a painter in Europe,
he has always maintained that the only thing that could
keep his wife away from her children is death. It's time
to learn the truth, so he petitions the court to have
her declared legally dead. The life insurance claim brings
investigator Beth Dearborn into his life.

THE GIFT is part mystery, part ghost story, part suspense,
part romance, part thriller. The novel also touches on the
issue of women and alcoholism on various levels. Beth
is a recovering alcoholic, and the reader will also meet a
character who is a practicing one.

Both Beth and Ty will be forced to face their
greatest fears to learn the truth, and to find
happiness.

When did you first begin writing?

I think I was about eight. My first publication was a letter
to the editor of the WICHITA EAGLE at age eleven. I majored in
Journalism, then worked for a newspaper. I wrote my first
romance manuscript in 1984. It was a monster of almost
200,000 words. I still need to burn it....
I dabbled for a few more years, then joined RWA and got
serious in 1991. I sold my firstbook in December 1993.
SHADES OF ROSE was published by Kensington in 1995.

What is your writing process and where do you write?

I prefer to write at my desk, mostly for comfort.
Since I have rheumatoid arthritis, ergonomics are extra
important. I have a special keyboard, keyboard tray,
chair, mouse, etc. I love my laptop, but if I spend too
much time on it, I pay the price. I'm typically a
very early morning writer--a lark--and often wake
hours before dawn to work while the rest of the
house is sleeping soundly. I love quiet, and
rarely listen to music while working--especially in
first draft. While editing, I can listen to anything,
but in first draft I can't have any lyrics.
They pull me out of the story.

I'm very much a "pantser"--and I have to say I hate that term.
I muchprefer Jo Beverley's "writing into the mist" description.
I start with a character in a situation, then start writing.
Once I have a global idea of the general plot and the cast of
characters, I write a narrative synopsis and send it to my agent.
Once we go to contract, do any revisions to the proposal,
if requested, I plunge ahead. I confess my finished product
does not always follow that synopsis verbatim.
And I NEVER outline. Perish the thought....

What is your favorite thing about writing?
What is your least favorite thing?

My favorite thing is that it's my favorite thing.
Okay, seriously, I love being able to work in my pajamas.
I stagger out of bed in the morning, get my fuzzy slippers
and robe, my mug of strong coffee, and plop myself
in front of the computer with an adoring dog at my side.
Much better than dressing up and fighting traffic on the
freeway.

My least favorite thing would have to be worrying about
the business side of this, and promotion. In a perfect
world, writers could just write and not have to worry
about numbers and promo and covers and... ::sigh::

Please name the five movies and the five books you want with you if
stranded on a desert island.

I hate this question. The thought of being stranded
with only five books is pure torture. I can live
without movies, but not books. Can I trade five
movies for five extra books? No...?
Okay, I'll try.

Books:
1. THE PROMISE OF JENNY JONES by Maggie Osborne
2. GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell
3. Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy by Nora Roberts
(have them all in 1 book club hardcover edition--
is that cheating?)
4. Three Sisters Island Trilogy by Nora Roberts
(same as #3)
5. Boatbuilding: a complete handbook of wooden
boat construction By Howard Irving Chapelle [ :-) ]

Movies:
1. PRACTICAL MAGIC
2. INDEPENDENCE DAY
3. ROOTS
4. LONESOME DOVE
5. CASTAWAY (I couldn't find a movie about how to build a boat)

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

It's your book. Trust your instincts. There are no rules.
Critique is a smorgasbord--take what you want and leave
what you don't. There are a thousand how-to books, workshops,
and know-it-alls out there dying to tell you how to do your job.
There is no special handshake. There is no secret potion.
There is no magic elixir. You only have yourself, your muse,
and the blank screen/Big Chief Tablet/whatever medium you
choose. Keep throwing the spaghetti against the wall until
something sticks.

What is next for you?

I am currently at work on the sequel to THE GIFT--working title
is THE SECRET. When you read THE GIFT, you will meet
Beth's cousin, Sam Dearborn. His "gift" manifests
in a different way. He jokingly refers to himself as
a "psychic errand boy."

Thank you Deb for stopping by. Now go get The Gift!

Title Trouble

2009-10-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

What's in a title? Well everything. Would Catcher In The Rye be the same book if it were called Holden Visits New York? And I'm not comparing my latest tome to J.D. Salinger, not by a long shot. But I am trying to show an example of the difference a good title makes. And my latest manuscript went through dozens of titles. DOZENS. And finally I selected one that wasn't even created by me but by my fantastic agent. But I had scads of people, including best selling authors, helping me out. We looked for words within the text, song lyrics, song titles, clever phrases, anything and everything that would convey the fun of the manuscript as well as the relationships within the pages. And the thing that's interesting about this title is that even with this much work to come up with a few words, the title might not stick. The editor could decide to change it or the marketing department might not like it and that's okay. As long as they help to come up with the next clever few words that label the pages. I mean consider if Scout And Boo's Big Adventure had been called something silly, you know, like To Kill A Mockingbird?
xoMaggie

The Last Will of Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh

2009-10-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

Is this the most beautiful cover you've ever seen?!

I love it.

The Last Will of Moira Leahy was written by Therese Walsh. This is her first book and she was gracious enough to answer some of my questions about her process and her fabulous new book.

Tell me about your new book.

The Last Will of Moira Leahy is, at its core, the story of a woman recovering from the loss of her identical twin—but this emotional core has rangy genre limbs. We learn what happens to Maeve Leahy after she purchases an artifact from her past—a Javanese keris, a weapon that reminds her of happy times playing pirate with her twin on Castine’s Penobscot Bay—and the journey she undertakes as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding this particular blade. The book is told through interwoven narratives—Maeve Leahy in the present day, and Maeve and Moira in the past in sections called “out of time.” Eventually, these narratives merge in a surprising way and the full meaning behind Maeve’s quest over the keris is understood. Not easy to explain, as you can probably tell: it’s a women’s fiction novel with plenty of cross-genre elements, including psychological suspense, mystery, some romance and mythical realism.

What is your writing process and where do you write?

My writing process is best described as “haphazard.” When I’m in the zone, I write like mad and give up many things including meals, television and sleep. When I’m not in the zone, it’s often because I’m stuck on something; my muse knows I’ve taken a wrong turn and is waiting for me to figure it out. I write both at my desk in my office and on the loveseat in the living room with my laptop. That couch is great, because my 5’2” self can just fit there and give my calves a good stretch, and my dog can snuggle up beside me more comfortably (for both of us).

What is your favorite thing about writing? What is your least favorite?

My favorite thing about writing is drafting something unexpected that I actually—hope this doesn’t sound conceited—admire. You know, a phrase or plot twist that seems to come from nowhere inside of me. I usually just smile when that happens and nod to the dead writers hanging over my shoulder, who I think have a better grip on the story than I. My least favorite thing is the solitude and the butt-in-chair time. I really don’t like to sit for long periods of time, but with this job you have to.

Please name the five movies and the five books you want with you if stranded on a desert island.

Oh, good question. Movies: Princess Bride; Shakespeare in Love; Shawshank Redemption; Lord of the Rings; Moulin Rouge. Books: The Time Traveler’s Wife (Niffenegger); The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Haddon); Daughter of the Forest (Marillier); Bliss (Cuevas); Wishing Box (Slater).

What is your advice for aspiring writers?

I really believe the magic formula is perseverance + opening yourself to/acting on criticism. Listen to your critics without pride and with open ears, then make changes to your work when your gut tells you those critics are right. Keep at it. Never, never quit on your dreams.

What is next for you?

I’m working on another novel of women’s fiction + psychological suspense + mystery + mythical realism + interwoven narratives. It’s the story of a blind woman who treks across West Virginia in search of her dead mother’s story and along the way teaches others how to see the world. The *third* book will be simpler, I keep promising myself. ;-) Thanks so much for having me, Maggie. This was fun!

According to Jane by Marilyn Brant

2009-09-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

You never forget your first... Marilyn Brant celebrates the release of her debut novel According to Jane. Marilyn answered some questions about her process and her book According to Jane.

Tell us about According to Jane.

My debut novel, According to Jane, is the story of a modern woman who--for almost two decades--has the ghost of Jane Austen in her head giving her dating advice. I first read Pride & Prejudice as a high-school freshman. Like my heroine Ellie, I raced through the novel way ahead of the reading assignments. I loved both the story and Austen’s writing style immediately. Her books changed the way I perceived the behavior of everyone around me, and I spent the rest of freshman year trying to figure out which Austen character each of my friends and family members most resembled! Also like Ellie, I had a few (okay, a lot) of less-than-wonderful boyfriends, and I would have loved to have been given romantic advice from the author I most respected and the one who’d written one of my all-time favorite love stories.

Which scene in your novel did you love writing? Why?

One scene I had a lot of fun with was the bar scene in the first chapter where my main character runs into her ex-high-school boyfriend for the first time in four years. It was a situation I had never experienced personally, but I could imagine the comical possibilities so clearly and feel and the frustration of my heroine as if I’d been the one standing there, facing the jerk and his latest girlfriend, while Jane Austen ranted about how “insufferable” he was.

Could you please tell us a little about your writing background and how you made your first sale?

Aside from being on the newspaper and yearbook staff in high school and publishing some academic work in college, I didn’t take writing seriously until I was about 30. I was a stay-at-home mom with a baby and desperately in need of a creative outlet, so I began writing poems, essays on being a parent and educational articles for family magazines. I wrote my first book having never taken a creative-writing class or even having read a book on the craft of fiction. (The lack of craft is very evident when I reread chapters from that first book, btw! I don’t recommend this level of ignorance…) I got some feedback though--mostly negative--from a prominent literary agency, which led me to study fiction formally, delve into craft books and, eventually, go to my first writing conference. It was there that I heard about RWA. I joined, wrote three more unpublished manuscripts and, then, came up with the idea for According to Jane. My agent signed me on this book and submitted it to editors, but it needed to be significantly restructured before it sold. Nine months after it won the Golden Heart and was revised (again), it finally did sell--to John Scognamiglio at Kensington--on a sunny and surrealistic day in April 2008

Which 'craft' book has inspired or helped you the most throughout your writing career?

I’m a BIG fan of craft books, so I have more than one! I used Blake Snyder’s SAVE THE CAT! almost religiously in the plotting of my past several books. I’m still very sad that he’s no longer with us. As far as a great reference guide, Robert McKee’s STORY is incredible. It has more information about writing craft than I can ever internalize. Also, whenever I need a more emotional pick-me-up, I grab the Ralph Keyes book THE COURAGE TO WRITE. I recommend it to everyone.

Are you a member of a writer’s group? If so, how has it helped your writing?

I’m a member of Chicago-North RWA, and it’s an incredibly strong critique chapter. Every month, three members have the opportunity to have up to 20 pages of their work critiqued by those attending the meetings (usually between 25-30 published/aspiring authors). The feedback is excellent, and it really helped me when I was a newbie to hear what more experienced writers were saying about some of my earlier work. Not only what confused them or what they thought was structurally unsound, but also what they felt were some of my writing strengths. That’s priceless insight when you’re just starting out. I can contrast this experience with semester-long university-level fiction workshops, which I personally didn’t find to be nearly as constructive. In my opinion, if a new writer ever finds herself surrounded by people whose main objective is to show off how clever they are or to alter a piece of writing in a way that messes with her author voice, she should sprint, not merely run, to the nearest exit. It worth hunting for a group that will help you build upon your writing talents while, at the same time, assisting you in strengthening your weaknesses.

What's one piece of writing advice you've found valuable on your journey to publication?

Don’t follow trends just because you think it’ll be an easier sell. And write the books that fit your voice. If what you love writing happens to be a hot-selling genre, great. If your writing voice happens to be perfect for the genre you want to write in and love to read, that’s awesome, too. But--if not--write long and hard enough to find what DOES fit you and your style best. Because then, even if it takes longer to make that first sale than you expect, you’re writing the kinds of stories you most enjoy, and that passion has a way of working itself into the projects you’re creating.

Where do you write? Describe your writing space – is it a cluttered mess or minimalist heaven?!

I write in my home office--a messy, absolutely cluttered place--I won’t deny it! There are stacks of paper and towers of books everywhere, but also a very nice window overlooking our backyard. Sometimes I’ll write at a local coffee shop (either with my laptop or, most often, just with pen and notebook paper), and that location has the advantage of endless cups of coffee and occasional snacks.

What’s next for you?

I get to visit a number of book clubs that chose my debut novel, According to Jane, as their monthly book pick--wildly fun!--while also starting the production/promotion process all over again for my next women’s fiction project. That second book is done, but we’re still working on finding the right title. It’s a modern fairytale about three suburban moms who shake up their marriages and their lives when one woman asks her friends a somewhat shocking question… That comes out in October 2010.

Congratulations Marilyn! Now everyone go buy According to Jane by Marilyn Brant.

Health Care

2009-09-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

Love this! I have to ask, why are reps are blocking the National Option when so MANY American's want it. Could it be all the insurance company money the reps have received?

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Hank Phillippi Ryan

2009-09-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have a fab recommendation for you . . . and another great writer to introduce you to (if you don't already know her). Hank Phillippi Ryan, an Emmy-winning Boston television reporter and award winning mystery writer has a fantastic series that you'll love! There are currently three books in the Charlie McNally series: Prime Time,

Face Time and Air Time. They are SO popular that they were just re-released in mass market. You know what that means...No Waiting! You can read all three NOW!

Some would say, It's Prime Time for Air Time! Here's what else is being said:

“Sassy, fast-paced and appealing. First-class entertainment.” Sue Grafton

“I love this series!” Suzanne Brockmann

“AIR TIME is a fun, fast read with a heroine who's sexy, stylish, and smart. I loved it." Nancy Pickard

Smart and savvy Boston TV reporter Charlotte McNally is back. In AIR TIME she’s taking on the fashion industry, where she learns “When purses are fake – the danger is real.” AIR TIME is the third of the back-to-back-to back Charlie mysteries—the first PRIME TIME (also in bookstores now) won the Agatha Award for best first novel. FACE TIME (also in bookstores now) is a BookSense notable book.

Let's hear from Hank in her own words:

How did you come up with the idea for this book?

Imagine the research I had to do into the world of designer purses! It was tough, but someone had to dive in…

Actually, Charlie’s investigation into the world of counterfeit couture came s straight from been there-done that. In my day job as a TV reporter, my producer (not Franklin!) and I have done several in-depth investigations into the world of knock-offs—not only purses and scarves, but blue jeans and watches and DVDs and videos.

We went undercover and with a hidden camera—like Charlie does—into various back-alley stores where counterfeit merchandise was being sold, and also into some suburban purse parties where women—certainly knowing they were fake and thinking was fine—were scooping up piles of counterfeit Burberrys and Chanels.

You should know— law enforcement tells us, it’s not illegal to buy the purses—unless you’re buying large amounts that are obviously for resale. The illegality is in the copying and manufacture and sale of what’s clearly a trademarked and proprietary item. (As the elegant fashion exec Zuzu Mazny-Latos tells Charlie in AIR TIME—it’s like taking Gone with the Wind—and putting your name on the cover.)

Anyway—lots of AIR TIME is based on research and reality—besides the undercover work, and the research, I’ve done many interviews with the federal agencies in charge of battling counterfeiting, the attorneys who help big companies protest their products, and even the private investigators the designers hire to scout out counterfeits.

Are you more driven by plot or by character?

Ah, it's both. I start with one little germ of a plot twist--and then figure out how Charlie is going to figure it out! So I know what I know--and she knows what she knows. And then she has to solve the mystery--based on what I let her know.

Who's your favorite character in this book and why?

Oh, I can't possibly answer that. Charlie McNally is dear to my heart of course. When my husband talks about Charlie, he calls her “you.” As in: when “you” get chased by the bad guys, or when “you” get held at gunpoint. And I have to remind him, “Sweetheart, it’s fiction.” But Charlie can say things I can’t say about the reality of television, and because she’s fictional, she can go places I can’t go. And say things I can’t say!

And the very sweet 8-year-old Penny, I must say, touches me every time I write about her And I get so many letters from readers, concerned about her, and asking about her, and who I based her on. But really? She’s right out of my imagination. (She’s the character who sometimes makes readers cry...along with Charlie’s mother. I guess family relationships are sometimes—universal.)

And in AIR TIME there’s a new character . a gorgeous FBI agent named Keresey Stone. She’s amazing. And unpredictable. But I wonder what you’ll think about her?

What's your writing process/writing environment like?

I’ve been a television reporter since 19, um, 75. I’m still on the air at Boston’s NBC affiliate, and still at work as an investigative reporter. (And I’m always hoping my best story ever is just around the corner.) So I come to work at Channel 7 every morning—tracking down clues, doing research, hoping for justice and looking for a great story that will change people’s lives. (Hmm..sounds a lot like mystery writing!)

Then at night we go back home—and when I’m in writing mode, I write til about ten pm, in a wonderful study that’s lined with bookshelves. I admit—I have a cluttered desk, and no real filing system, except for “piles.” But I know where everything is. I like it to be quiet.. At the TV station, it’s chaotic and loud, with three TV’s blasting all the time—and I can work fine there! But at home, with the books—quiet.

Because my schedule is so tight, I keep track of my words. If I know I have to write 90,000 words by the deadline, I literally divide that number by the number of days I have—and then set that as a goal. I try to write maybe—to pages a day. And on weekends, more. If I can do that, I’m thrilled.

I push my way through a first draft. I say to myself—just get the story down. Just do it. And you can fix it later.

Then I cook dinner, and my husband and I have a very late dinner together! You can imagine how patient he is!

I used to be a pretty good cook, and diligent about exercise. My husband and I gave dinner parties and went to movies and went on vacation. Sigh. That’s all pretty much over. I have a full time job as reporter, a full time job as a mystery author, and a full time job as a wife (with two step-children and two step-grandchildren!) That doesn’t leave much time for much else.

What's your favorite part of writing?

Revision, no question. I love that. You have this whole first draft, and you get to go back and see what you really have. I often have wonderful revelations when I read over the first draft—there are themes and rhythms and even clues that I didn’t realize were there! It’s always so rewarding.

And after 30 years in TV, I know how valuable editing is—so I look at it as a real treat. To get to polish, and tweak, and rearrange, and make it all shine—oh, it’s great fun.

The other favorite part—when readers love the books. I can’t tell you how often I’m out on a story, for instance, and a stranger will come up to me , and pull the book out of a purse or briefcase, and ask me to sign it. I can barely resist bursting into tears. It somehow completes the writing, you know? when someone reads it.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever gotten about writing?

There’s a plaque on my bulletin board with the question: “What would you attempt to do if you know you could not fail?” That gives me a lot of courage.

Love Hank! Love her books! Now go buy them!
xoMaggie

Crossing Washington Square

2009-09-01T09:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Release Day to Joanne Rendell! Her second novel Crossing Washington Square pubs today. Joanne was very kind to answer some of my questions.

New readers want to know about your book! In 2-3 sentences, can you tell us the basic premise?

Crossing Washington Square is a story of two very different women and their very different love of books. Rachel Grey and Diana Monroe are both literature professors in the old boys club of Manhattan University. While this should create a kinship between them, they are very much at odds and when a brilliant and handsome professor from Harvard comes to town and sets his sights on both women, sparks really fly!

What was your inspiration behind your latest novel?

The idea for Crossing Washington Square evolved over a few years. As someone who has lived the academic life (I have a PhD in literature and now I’m married to a professor at NYU), I’ve always loved books about the university – novels like Michael Chabon’s Wonder Boys, Richard Russo’s The Straight Man, Zadie Smith’s On Beauty, and Francine Prose’s Blue Angel. But what I noticed about such campus fiction was the lack of female professors in leading roles. Even the female authors like Francine Prose and Zadie Smith’s novels focus on male professors. Furthermore, most of these male professors are disillusioned drunks who quite often sleep with their students! I wanted to write a novel with women professors taking the lead and I wanted these women to be strong and smart and interesting – instead of drunk, despondent, and preoccupied with questionable
sexual liaisons!

What line or section of your novel are you most proud of?

Rachel Grey and Diana Monroe are both literature professors in the old boys club of Manhattan University. While this should create a kinship between them, they are very much at odds. Rachel is young, emotional, and impulsive. She wrote a book about women’s book groups which got her a slot on Oprah and she uses “chick lit” in her classes. Diana is aloof, icy, and controlled. She’s also a scholar of Sylvia Plath who thinks “beach” fiction is an easy ride for students. My favorite scene is where these two women face-off in a department meeting. Neither of the professors is a shrinking violet and thus sparks really fly! The scene was such fun to write.

Where do you write?

I write at my desk at the front of our apartment. We live on a very busy street in Manhattan so my writing is “lulled” by taxis honking, firetrucks hooting, and jackhammers pounding. With all this practice, I could probably keep writing through a asteroid shower!

For you, what is the most difficult part of being an author?

Settling down to write. Once I get going, I love it. But there’s just that hurdle of getting going which is so hard -- especially these days when there are so many demands on authors to go online and promote our books. It is wonderful to meet people and connect and learn through the internet, but the web is also a huge procrastination vortex! I sometimes kid myself I’m doing promo work, but really I’m just wasting time snooping around on Facebook or reading other people’s tweets about what they ate for breakfast!

What’s next for you?

I’m working on final edits for my third novel (which was bought by Penguin last fall). The novel tells the story of a woman who thinks she might be related to the nineteenth century writer, Mary Shelley. On her journey to seek the truth and to discover if there really is a link between her own family and the creator of Frankenstein, Clara unearths surprising facts about people much closer to home – including some shocking secrets about the ambitious scientist she is engaged to. The book is told in alternating points of view between Clara and the young Mary Shelley who is preparing to write Frankenstein.

The Lion Sleeps

2009-08-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

Thank you. We will miss you.

Has Glen Beck LOST his mind?

2009-08-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

Uh...problem? President Obama's beloved Mother was white, his grandmother who he credits with being HUGE part in making him the man he is was white... Glen? Wow! Deluded? Or just feeding Fox viewers what they want to hear? If you are as appalled as I am after this clip, you can sign petition to the sponsors of Glen's show here.