Thank you to my sister Mira who forwarded this. How perfect is this wrap up?

Can't teach without my Dunkin' Donuts coffee

Happy New Year! If you have ever dreamed of writing novels  but are daunted by the task of getting started, that line forms to the left.  Every novelist begins the journey full of ideas and equally full of doubt, even the ones who have gone down this road many times before.

Whether your goal is to attempt your first literary feat or to polish your work-in-progress, I urge you to take the plunge.  Learn how to hone the craft. To bring your words, thoughts, feelings, knowledge and experiences to life. And to write sentences that are grammatically correct, lol.

It is so interesting that we live in an age where the written word is easily communicated through everything from a tweet to a blog to a book, but when it comes to good storytelling, the elements remain unchanged. If you want to succeed at writing a novel that offers the 3 E’s- enlightenment, education and entertainment, you need to know the fundamentals. But where to start?

If you live in the New York area and/or Long Island, I would love for you to register for one of my  new writers workshops.

Starting on Thursday, January 14, 2010, join me at MediaBistro for an innovative 8-week class that focuses on writing chick-lit and contemporary, female-driven stories. Don’t be thrown by the pink cover stereotypes- this is a fun but intensive program to help emerging writers develop the techniques and strategies that sell commercial fiction. If you have compelling story ideas that would appeal to women, and you are ready to roll up your shirtsleeves and share with other writers, I want you in my class! Check out the details, including curriculum, price and location.

http://www.mediabistro.com/courses/cache/crs5336.asp

If you live on Long Island, I am very excited to also be offering a different type of writers workshop. This one will be led at Hofstra University (Uniondale)  and is open to anyone who wants to write fiction. It is a 6-week course packed with tips, techniques and honest critiquing. Designed for the beginner, regardless of age, it offers a great opportunity to start the year fulfilling the dream of becoming a writer. Classes begin on Wednesday January 20, 2010. Check out this link for all of the details

http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/CCEPA/ccepa_coursedetails.cfm?cid=U6112-51&fid=91A2182E-65B3-F1F2-6E0149896AC8B9AB&hid=919F5C33-65B3-F1F2-6BB95A35553BE596

Feel free to email me with any questions at Saralee42@gmail.com.

Hope to see you in class!

NEW FROM THE GIRLFRIENDS CYBER CIRCUIT

Want to travel to Japan and get immersed in the culture without leaving home? Pick up the delightful new novel, LOVE IN TRANSLATION by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga (St. Martins Griffin/$13.99).  This is Wendy’s second book, after her debut, MIDORI BY MOONLIGHT, which was recommended as a terrific first novel by the “San Francisco Chronicle”, her hometown paper.

Here is the story:

For anyone who’s ever dreamed of finding love and family in an unexpected place…

After receiving a puzzling phone call and a box full of mysterious family heirlooms, 33-year-old fledgling singer Celeste Duncan is off to Japan to search for a long, lost relative who could hold the key to the identity of the father she never knew. Once there she stumbles head first into a weird, wonderful world where nothing is quite as it seems—a land with an inexplicable fascination with foreigners, karaoke boxes, and unbearably perky TV stars.

With little knowledge of Japanese, Celeste finds a friend in her English-speaking homestay brother, Takuya, and comes to depend on him for all variety of translation, travel and investigatory needs. As they cross the country following a trail after Celeste’s relatives, she discovers she’s developing “more-than-sisterly” feelings for him, although his mother seems to have other plans for her son. But it is when Celeste learns a Japanese song called “The Wishing Star” that things begin to change for her in ways she never expected, leading her to ask, what is the true meaning of family? And what does it mean to discover your own voice?

Praise for LOVE IN TRANSLATION

“A delightful novel about love, identity, and what it means to be adrift in a strange land. This story of a search has an Alice in Wonderland vibe; when Celeste climbs down the rabbit hole, one can’t help but follow along.”

—Michelle Richmond, New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Fog

“An amusing story of one woman’s quest for her father and the improbable path of love.”

—Meg Waite Clayton, author of The Wednesday Sisters

“Tokunaga… describe[s] Japanese culture in absorbing detail.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Witty, lighthearted and charming story of finding love in an unexpected place.”—Fresh Fiction

“A delightful plot with wonderful characterizations.”—Affair de Coeur Magazine

“Four stars!” —RT Book Reviews Magazine

I asked Wendy to stop by for a chat and here was what she said:

Q. What inspired Love in Translation?

A.  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.

Q. What do you consider the heart of your story?

A. 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.

Q. What do you love about being an author?

A. 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.

Q. Writing a letter can be daunting. How do you even begin the process of writing a novel? Does it start with a title? A character?A plot? All or none of the above?

A. Actually, I love writing letters! When I was a kid I was always the one who answered my pen pals the moment I received their missives and then fumed each day when I found my mailbox empty. But, yes, novels are daunting. I usually start out with a character who has a particular conflict or issue, and with themes I want to explore. Then I devise a plot around them. Reading that last bit over, I make it sound so simple. But it isn’t!

Q. I have to print off every draft page, which means that by the time I’m done, I’ve gone through two trees in Oregon. What is your process of getting out a first whole draft? How long might it take?

A. With me it’s probably more like ten trees. I do like to print pages out and read them and make notes during the revision process. On the computer screen I’m writing with double spacing, but when I print pages out I reduce the spacing in order to save paper. I don’t usually change to single space because that’s a bit hard to read, but close to it. And I think it’s great that nowadays you can deliver your ms electronically to agents and publishers. That’s a lot of paper saved and much less wear and tear on printers and cartridges!

Q.Do you have show and tell with your first draft? Who do you trust for honest reaction, or is so fragile you show it to one you love who you know will be kind?

A. I’ve used writer’s groups in the past and trusted readers. But to tell you the truth, I don’t want someone to be kind. Of course I want to hear the positive aspects, but I really want to know when something doesn’t work in a manuscript. And if there’s a consensus on anything, then I need to do something about it. It’s never fun to hear what’s wrong, and the truth can hurt sometimes, but it’s a necessary evil in being a writer.

Q. What is one of the nicest compliments that you have ever received about your book(s)?

A. I’m always pleased when someone who knows Japanese culture well says that I’ve captured its essence particularly spot on.

Q. My author fantasy is to have one of my novels optioned by Clint Eastwood and he insists that I write the screenplay adaptation. What is your author fantasy?

A. Mine is similar to yours, though I think it would be too daunting to write a screenplay of one of my novels. But I do have the author fantasy of having one of my novels being turned into a film. An independent filmmaker who specializes in Japan-themed films recently read “Midori by Moonlight” and liked it a lot. But he may be moving on from Japanese-related movies so I’m not sure that my fantasy will come to fruition in this particular case.

Author Bio

Wendy Nelson Tokunaga is the author of the novels, MIDORI BY MOONLIGHT (St. Martin’s, Available Now) and the forthcoming LOVE IN TRANSLATION (St. Martin’s, November 2009). Her novel, NO KIDDING, won the Literary/Mainstream Fiction category in Writer’s Digest’s Best Self-Published Book Awards in 2002. She is also the author of two children’s non-fiction books, and has had short stories published in various literary journals. Wendy signed her two-book deal with St. Martin’s just as she was beginning the MFA in Writing program at the University of San Francisco in 2006. Along with her MFA, she also holds a BA in Psychology from San Francisco State University. In her spare time Wendy sings bossa nova, cool pop, jazz standards and Japanese songs accompanied by her surfer dude husband Manabu on electronic keyboards. They live with their cat Meow in the San Francisco Bay Area, a short walk from the Pacific Ocean

Web Site: www.WendyNelsonTokunaga.com

Amazon Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Translation-Wendy-Nelson-Tokunaga/dp/0312372663/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258672687&sr=1-1

Good luck Wendy and thanks for touring with the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit.

This has been a wonderful week to introduce new books from the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit (we are one lucky, prolific bunch). Long may we write!

Today I am happy to tell you about a new novel by one of my favorite writers, Melissa Senate, from the great state of Maine. It’s called THE SECRET OF JOY (Simon & Schuter, $15), and was just released this week. Melissa is the warm, winning, best selling author of See Jane Date and Love You to Death. Great titles!

Here is the story:

What would you do if you discovered you had a half-sister you never knew existed?

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 Secret of Joy is a Simon & Schuster Book Club Pick! For more information, check out the Reading Group Guide:

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Secret-of-Joy/Melissa-Senate/9781439107171/reading_group_guide

Praise:

“The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate opened my heart, made me laugh, cry, and smile all at the same time. A don’t-miss read!” –New York Times bestselling author  Carly Phillips

“The Secret of Joy is a warm hug of a book. Insightful, wise, and romantic, it’s as inviting as the small-town life it depicts.”  –Claire LaZebnik

“A wonderfully heartfelt story about hope, possibilities and the yearning for real connections. Senate’s latest will take you on a much needed vacation, while sneaking vital life lessons in when you’re not looking.”  –Caprice Crane

Author Melissa Senate

I asked Melissa to share some thoughts with me so you could learn more about her:

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

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.

Who do you picture in your mind when you write?

Sometimes I picture a lone woman reading my book on a bus or on her sofa or in a coffee shop, and I imagine what she’s responding to, relating to, thinking about as she reads. Would this scene make her smile? Would she relate? But most of the time, I picture my characters’ faces with their personalities etched into their features. I rarely base my characters physically on celebs (except for my first book—Jane from See Jane Date looked just like Ann Marie from “That Girl” (a young Marlo Thomas). She did not look like Charisma Carpenter, who perfectly played her in the TV movie, but now when I think of Jane, I think of Charisma only. Which makes me think of hot David Boreanaz, which is a good thing.

What was the inspiration for your hero?  An actor, a picture you saw, some random guy in the coffee shop?

I have long been drawn to guys with dark eyes and dark hair, starting with my very first serious crush in 7^th grade. But Theo, Rebecca’s love interest, has sandy-blond hair and pale brown eyes because that’s just the way he came out of the keyboard—he sort of created himself. I never base the guys on anyone. They’re always inspired by the guy I wish I were dating. (Yes, I’m single!) Right now, as a single mother, I’d love a guy who, like hot, wise Theo, works with his hands and made things, like porch swings and tree houses for my son. A guy who’s smart and honest and romantic and always seems to say the right thing at the right time. Oh and hot, too.

Writing a letter can be daunting. How do you even begin the process of writing a novel? Does it start with a title? A character? A plot? All or none of the above?

An idea flits into my heart, mind and soul (if I may be so dramatic!) and I just know. The idea, just a wispy thing, grips me and I think about it until the two major characters—my protagonist and the person or thing who “forces” her change—become clear. Then I write out a one page treatment, a bare bones synopsis, then think about that, then revise the storyline into a “pitch” I can share with my agent. If she green-lights it, I’ll then let myself dream it into a full blown synopsis, which is what I usually sell a novel on.  The synopsis, in its major plot points, rarely changes, but how the characters get from page one to page 325 is another story.

If your book were to be made into a movie, who could you see playing the lead role?

For the main character, Rebecca, I see Rachel McAdams. She has such sweetness and hope in her eyes, and such a lovely face. For half-sister Joy, Kristin Bell, with all that “Veronica Mars” intensity. For delicious Theo, Rebecca’s love interest, the very attractive Aaron Eckhart. Love his face.

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!)

Writers are usually big readers too. How do you make time for reading and what are you reading at the moment?

The moment my seven-year-old son closes those eyes for the night, I stretch out on my little sofa with a good book, hot chocolate (it’s getting cooold here in Maine) and my two black cats at my feet. I’m reading Elizabeth Berg’s Home Safe right now. I love how she manages to write so honestly and elegantly at the same time. She’s able to call someone a shit in the loveliest way. Next up: the seven or so books that came from Amazon, staring with Kristina Riggle’s Real Life & Liars. I love women’s fiction—all these interesting storylines and gorgeous covers.

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 . . .

Author’s Bio:

Melissa Senate lives on the coast of Maine with her son and their menagerie of pets. She’s the author of eight novels (seven women’s fiction and one young adult) with two on the way. Visit her website (http://www.melissasenate.com) for more information and she’d love if you became her friend Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/MelissaSenate) and followed her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/melissasenate).

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Joy-Melissa-Senate/dp/1439107173/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258292510&sr=8-1

Melissa, we are wishing you all the best with this new book and look forward to all those to come!

Reader friend Monica Anfinson

I am very fortunate to hear from enthusiastic readers all the time, but I don’t think they understand how much their generous praise means to an emerging writer.

Honestly, there have been times where if not for their heartfelt words of encouragement, I would have given up.  Not really. I will never quit, lol, but they do inspire me to keep going.

This week, however, I received the greatest e-mail from a reader who discovered me at 30,000 feet. Coincidentally, the book she picked up was CLAIRE VOYANT, which begins in the air. I couldn’t help but share this message because it sums up my feelings about fate!

Nothing better than  snuggling up with an entertaining new book and here’s a great recommendation from the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit.

Fresh off THE FIDELITY FILES, author Jessica Brody returns with her follow up romantic whodunit, LOVE UNDER COVER (both from St. Martins Press). Just released last week, this fun, fast paced tale will keep you turning pages long after your bed time. In fact, it’s currently under development as a TV series from the producer of  “Crash!”

Here is the story:

In her job, she’s an expert on men…

In her own relationship, she doesn’t have a clue.

Boyfriend behaving badly? Suspect your husband of straying? Jennifer Hunter can supply the ultimate test. She runs a company which specializes in conducting fidelity inspections for those who suspect their loved ones are capable of infidelity.

An expert on men, Jennifer can usually tell if they’re single, married or lying… Unfortunately, her new boyfriend, Jamie, is one of the few men that she’s never been able to ‘read.’ Has she finally found the perfect man or is he too good to be true?

Critics are raving!

“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

The lovely Jessica Brody

I asked Jessica to share more about LOVE UNDER COVER and here is what she said:

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! www.jessicabrody.com/loveundercover_excerpt.html

What’s the main thing you hope people take away from your book?

Entertainment. That’s all I seek to do. Entertain people. The reason I started writing was because of Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding. I read that book in college whenever I would go to the gym and I remember looking down at the elliptical and thinking, “Seriously? I’ve already been exercising for thirty minutes!?” The time would FLY by. I was so inspired and awed by the fact that a book could take me away from my life like that. I knew from that day on that I wanted to be a writer so I could attempt to do the same. So if my book can help pass the time of a long flight or a boring workout then I’ve accomplished my goal. And if some of the issues about relationships and love and trust that I’ve delved into get people thinking, than that’s just icing on the cupcake.

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!

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!

Which fictional character would you most like to have dinner with?

Um, Edward Cullen, of course! Although after dinner, I’d probably ask him to stick around for a drink, a movie, coffee, and then who knows where it might lead. I’m not to be held responsible (or accountable) for fictional dinner dates with hot vampires.

About the Author:

Jessica Brody graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts with degrees in economics and French. In 2005, she left her job at MGM Studios in Los Angeles to become a full-time freelance writer and producer. Jessica currently lives in Los Angeles, where she is working on her next novel. Visit Jessica’s website at www.JessicaBrody.com

Best of luck Jessica!!! We’re rooting for you!

This is gonna kill me, but...

Tonight marks the start of the 2009 World Series and as a long time Mets fan I am as conflicted as an observant Jew who sees a sign that says “free bacon.” What to do? Root, root, root for the crosstown rivals because they are a New York team, or throw my support to the Phillies because they’re the National League champs? Both choices make me queasy and I know I’m not alone… if only it was the Dodgers vs. the Angels. Then I wouldn’t have to watch at all and it would be woot woot, bring on the NFL. Gotta love those Saints!

But no. Like the pies that A.J. Burnett keeps throwing in his Yankee teammates faces, Mets fans are getting the pie equivalent by being forced to watch as many as seven games between their two biggest enemies.

Oh sure, we could ignore the series, but to be a Mets fan is to be a glutton for punishment. We’ll watch and we’ll sigh and we’ll hope that Swisher wiffs at another thirteen at bats (is he related to Chuck Knoblauch?) and that Pedro blows a save (although how can you not love the comeback kid?).

I suppose it’s hard to be a good sport when all you can think about are the three dismal seasons the Mets have put us through, not to mention the high price fans had to pay “enjoy” the new Shittyfield, which frankly could burn to the ground for all I care. It’s so cold, sterile and corporate, it made me long for the luxurious afternoons I spent at Wrigley when it didn’t matter who the Cubs were playing, or if they won or lost, only that the peanuts were fresh and that Jack Brickhouse was in the booth.

Speaking of burning to the ground, do you think there is any truth to the rumor that the reason we suffered so this year was because the new stadium was built on ancient burial grounds? Nah. We sucked because the front office under the always inept Jeff Wilpon was further castrated by the Madoff scandal. We sucked because we sent injured players out on the field and didn’t protect uninjured players from improper conditioning. We sucked because our farm system was down to two cows and a bull named Bessie. We sucked because Jerry Manual got spooked and forgot he was once an American League manager of the year. We sucked because  fans who had to take out a second mortgage to bring their family to the ballpark decided that their money was better spent taking the kiddies to the bargain venue, Great Adventure.  We sucked because  we all checked out- owners, managers, coaches, players, fans.

But I digress. Which team will I root for during game one and beyond? I loathe the arrogant Phillies, so that’s out. I guess that leaves the Yankees who I did enjoy watching in the playoffs. A Rod is a star, Jeter is so cute, CC is a monster, Teixera is exciting, Damon when he wakes up is damn good and Mariano Rivera is a god.

Go Yankees. Take the Phils in four so we can resume to our regulalrly scheduled life and begin the countdown to spring training, though Lord knows there is no rush.

I’m always delighted to play show and tell with new novels from The Girlfriend’s Cyber Circuit, but especially “high-spirited” debut novels written by Chicago- born authors like myself. And this one is just great! ACCORDING TO JANE (Kensington Books) by Marilyn Brant, is a fun, snappy and entertaining look at what happens when thee Jane Austen inhabits a high school girl’s head.  It was named the  2007 Golden Heart Winner!  Here are the details:

In Marilyn Brant’s smart, wildly inventive debut, one woman in search of herself receives advice from the ultimate expert in matters of the heart. . .

It begins one day in sophomore English class, just as Ellie Barnett’s teacher is assigning Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. From nowhere comes a quiet “tsk” of displeasure. The target: Sam Blaine, the cute bad boy who’s teasing Ellie mercilessly, just as he has since kindergarten. Entirely unbidden, as Jane might say, the author’s ghost has taken up residence in Ellie’s mind, and seems determined to stay there.

Jane’s wise and witty advice guides Ellie through the hell of adolescence and beyond, serving as the voice she trusts, usually far more than her own. Years and boyfriends come and go–sometimes a little too quickly, sometimes not nearly fast enough. But Jane’s counsel is constant, and on the subject of Sam, quite insistent. Stay away, Jane demands. He is your Mr. Wickham.

Still, everyone has something to learn about love–perhaps even Jane herself. And lately, the voice in Ellie’s head is being drowned out by another, urging her to look beyond everything she thought she knew and seek out her very own, very unexpected, happy ending. . .

Praise for ACCORDING TO JANE:

“A warm, witty and charmingly original story.” –Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“An engaging read for all who have been through the long, dark, dating wars, and still believe there’s sunshine, and a Mr. Darcy, at the end of the tunnel.” –Cathy Lamb, author of Henry’s Sisters

“This is a must-read for Austen lovers as well as for all who believe in the possibility of a happily-ever-after ending.” –Holly Chamberlin, author of One Week In December

An October “Fresh Pick” from Fresh Fiction!!

“Jane Austen fans will revel in this modern day unique twist on a classic, as well as learning interesting facts about Jane herself. There is just enough mystery of ‘why’ to keep you guessing, and the ending is thoroughly satisfying. This was a truly, irrevocably inspiring novel.”~Kelly Moran, Bookpleasures (5 stars)

“Just when you think Jane Austen could not appear in anything new, a refreshing reincarnation occurs as Marilyn Brant provides an engaging modern day take on the writer. Ellie is a terrific lead character as she adapts to the voice in her head while Sam is her nemesis…readers will thoroughly enjoy this fun contemporary romance that also provides insight into Jane Austen and her characters.”~Harriet Klausner (4 stars)

Author Marilyn Brant shared a quick Q & A with the Girlfriends:

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

*Any great fan/fan mail stories you care to share?
The book was just released on September 29^th, so first impressions are still coming in, but I’ve gotten some truly wonderful emails from people who read the ARCs this summer. One of my favorites is from a woman who won a copy of the book in a contest and emailed me to say that she’d finished the book in a day and was on an emotional high from reading it. She added, “Sometimes I go through phase where I’m so blase about reading fiction and focus mainly on non-fiction (my usual staple), but once in a blue moon, a book grips me and makes me fall in love with fiction again. Thank you. A very grateful reader.” I will always, always love that message!

*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.

*What were some of your favorite books as a kid?
In junior high and early high school, I loved The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, A Separate Peace by John Knowles, Love Story by Erich Segal, Illusions by Richard Bach and, of course, everything by Austen. When I was an elementary schooler, I also loved Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink, Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key and all the Nancy Drew mysteries.

Marilyn Brant

ABOUT MARILYN BRANT: As a former teacher, library staff member, freelance magazine writer and national book reviewer for Romantic Times, Marilyn has spent much of her life lost in literature. She received her M.A. in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago, dabbled in both fiction and art at Northwestern University, studied the works of Austen at Oxford University and is an active member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Her debut novel won RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart Award® in 2007.

Marilyn lives in the northern Chicago suburbs with her family, but she also hangs out online at her blog “Brant Flakes.” When she isn’t rereading Jane’s books or enjoying the latest releases by her writer friends, she’s working on her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry. Her latest is due out next October and is about three women friends who turn their lives and their marriages upside down.

Her website: http://www.marilynbrant.com

Links to my page on Kensington: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/catalog.cfm?dest=itempg&itemid=14890&secid=258&linkon=section&linkid=258
And to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/According-Jane-Marilyn-Brant/dp/0758234619/ref=ed_oe_p

Every novel is a mystery of sorts, but for a genuine whodunit, you need to discover the mystery series by Emmy-winning journalist and veteran investigative reporter, Hank Phillipi Ryan. If you live in the Boston area, you already know her name after watching her on the NBC affiliate for the past twenty- two years. If you are just discovering her, start with her latest thriller, AIR TIME (Mira Books) which was just released. This is the third in her series, following the very successful releases, FACE TIME and  PRIME TIME.

Catch the theme here? Ms. Ryan, from the Girlsfriend’s Cyber Circuit, knows all about the competitive, cut-throat field of broadcast journalism, and she proves that the pen is mightier than the gun. Here is the story:

Star reporter Charlotte (Charlie) McNally enters the glamorous and high-stakes world of high fashion . . . and soon discovers when the purses are fake, the danger is real.

To break her latest big-money blockbuster, Charlotte must go undercover—but what if the bad guys recognize her? This savvy TV journalist must face more than her fear of flying when her inside scoop on designer duplicates suddenly  turns deadly.

Carrying a hidden camera and dressing to deceive, Charlie finds she’s not the only one disguising her identity. Nothing—and no one—is what they seem. And that means nothing—and no one—can be trusted. In her high-risk job and in her suddenly steamy love life, how can she tell the real thing?

Charlie is forced to make some life-changing—and life and death—decisions. With only a split-second to act and with her own life in the balance, Charlie knows if she chooses wrong it will be the last decision she ever makes.

Real-life investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan devises a scheme so timely and innovative you’ll wonder why someone hasn’t tried it. AIR TIME takes you behind the scenes of TV news—and reveals what can happen when a savvy, sexy journalist turns from hard-working reporter into becoming a killer’s target.

“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

Check out my “One-on-One” with Hank Phillipi Ryan.

• 1. Charlotte (Charlie) McNally is an investigative TV reporter, and so are you! What qualities do you share with Charlie, and how are you different?

When my husband talks about Charlie, he calls her “you.” As in—when “you” are held at gunpoint, when you track down the bad guys, when you solve the mystery . . . and I have to remind him, “Sweetheart, it’s fiction. It didn’t really happen.”

But a couple of things: I’ve been a TV reporter for more than 30 years. (Yes, really.) And so it would be silly, in writing a mystery about TV, not to use my own experiences. Think about it—as a TV reporter, you can never be wrong! Never be one minute late. Never choose the wrong word or miscalculate. You can never have a bad hair day, because it’ll be seen by millions of people! It’s high-stakes and high-stress—literally, people’s lives at stake—and I really wanted to convey that in the books.

And everything that TV people do and say in the books is authentic and genuine. (Of course, Charlie can say things I can’t say, and reveal things I can’t reveal.) We’re both devoted journalists, and over-focused on our jobs.

But Charlotte McNally is different, too. She’s single—I’m happily married. She’s ten years younger than I am, and so is facing different choices and dilemmas. She’s braver than I am, certainly. Funnier. And a much better driver.

• 1. Charlie has some exciting adventures in your mystery series—going undercover, confronting some really bad guys. Tell us about some of your adventures as an investigative reporter.

There’s a huge been-there-done-that element to the books—I’ve wired myself with hidden cameras, confronted corrupt politicians, chased down criminals . . . been in disguise, been stalked, and threatened and had many a door slammed in my face. I’ve had people confess to murder, and others, from prison, insist they were innocent. So when that happens to Charlie, it’s fair to imagine me. Although the plots are completely from my imagination, those are real-life experiences.

• 1. Your job sounds very demanding. How (and when) do you find the time to write? Do you ever take a vacation, and, if so, what do you do with your time off?

Short answer—no. I don’t take vacations anymore. We used to! We love Nevis, a tiny island n the Caribbean with empty white beaches and nothing to do. We love to go to western Massachusetts, to Tanglewood, to go to plays and the symphony and museums. We love to go to Cape Cod, to Truro, to sit on the beach with pals and read, then go out to wonderful dinners.  All in the past. Now, I write. And Jonathan lounges in the back yard. Luckily, we have a lovely yard, with a pool and beautiful gardens.

• 1. Charlie is afraid of flying, and the airlines are constantly losing her luggage. When you write in Charlie’s voice about these dilemmas, you sound like you’re writing from experience. Is this true?

Sigh. Yes. I am a luggage-loss magnet. If they can lose my bags, they will. It’s almost funny. Almost.   As for fear of flying, yes, I am afraid. (Although not as much has I used to be. I’ve worked very hard and tried a lot of things to get over it.) I was once covering a very bad plane crash, in a major airport, and was in a room with a lot of the bleeding and upset survivors of the crash. I often wonder if that bad energy someone affected me.

• 1. Even though Charlie has a love interest, basically she’s married to her job. You are married to a very successful criminal defense and civil rights attorney.  Is it difficult to maintain a balance between the demands of your careers and your relationship, or do your exciting careers help “keep the fire going.”

Fire? Well, hey. We both really respect each other, and we each think the other is really attractive and funny. We each understand when the other is immersed in work—in a story, or a writing a book, or handling a big case. We think each other’s work is fascinating. Jonathan is incredibly patient. An endlessly interesting. It’s wonderful for me to have in-house counsel to make sure my books are authentic when it comes to legal issues—and it’s fun for him to have a writer-wife who had advised him on his dramatic closing arguments.

• 1. Since you write about what you do, do you ever have ethical dilemmas of your profession that cause conflicts between Hank, the author, and Hank, the journalist?

Ah, no. The closest I’ve come to an ethical dilemmas trying to make sure that no one is the books is a representation of a real person. I’m careful about that. There’s no real Franklin. Or Josh. Or Penny.  (Is there a real Charlie? Well, that’s possible . . .)

• 1. You have won 26 Emmys and 10 Edward R. Murrow Awards. Tell us about the stories that won a couple of these distinguished awards for you.

Here’s a list!  We proved the state’s 911 system was sending emergency responders to the wrong addresses.  We found there was not one person of color on the federal jury pools in parts of Massachusetts.  We discovered why thousand of people were never called for jury duty. We found there were thousands of warrants for peoples’ arrests that were never served . We found people convicted of drunk driving who were still on the road. We found unsafe big rig trucks on the highways and found they were illegally ignoring the weight limits on the state’s bridges, thereby causing expensive and dangerous damage.  We found school buses with massive mechanical problems.  We found the unit pricing in stores was completely incorrect. We found unscrupulous mortgage companies luring people into foreclosure.  At least four—maybe five?—laws have changed as a result of our stories and people have gotten literally millions in refunds and restitution.

• 1. Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter, or do you wing it when writing? Do you work on one book at a time or more?

Such a great question. In PRIME TIME, I totally winged it. I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going, so I just blithely typed away. I typed The End, and then took it to be printed. It was 723 pages long! I had to cut half of it. Yikes.

It was a real editing education but also taught me I needed to be a bit more organized. And a lot tougher as a self-editor. (Now, I outline. Like crazy. My outlines are 60 pages long. I loathe writing them, but I adore it when I’m finished.)

I must say, though, that in writing PRIME TIME with no plan, I surprised even myself. I got about half-way through the book, and realized I’d chosen the wrong bad guy! I literally (as I remember it) sat up in bed, and thought—wait!  The person who I thought did it—didn’t!—and it just dawned on me who the real culprit was. It as all I could do not to run downstairs to the computer and see if I was right. The next morning, as I read over my 40,000 words—I barely had to make a change.

The real killer had been lurking in my very own pages—I just hadn’t realized it! Talk about a surprise ending.

And yes, I only work on one book at a time. Well, no, not really. The next book is always forming in my head and just pushing to come out. Sometimes I have to hold it back!.

• 1. Finally, were you always a public person, comfortable in front of the camera and with a microphone in your hand? Or is this a skill you had to develop? How early did you know you wanted to be a TV journalist? When did you have your first inkling you wanted to be an author?

You know, I have a funny juxtaposition of desire to be in the spotlight—and sheer terror of being in the spotlight. I love my job in TV—and have to go live and unrehearsed all the time. Confession: I’m still terrified every time. I want to be perfect, and when you’re on live, you can’t possibly be. That’s one reason why I love investigative reporting—there’s more time to work, and dig, and polish, and produce. It’s like making a little movie, and I can make it as perfect as possible.

My sisters and I used to create shows when we were all young and perform for our parents in our back yard. I did acting in high school and college. I wanted to be a DJ on the radio for a long time!

My mother says she always knew I would be a television reporter—but I think that was just her way of rationalizing that all I did as a pre-teen and teenager was read books and watch TV.

I knew from my first Nancy Drew that I loved mysteries. Nancy was my first best friend—I was a geeky unpopular kid, and it was such a relief to go home and hang out with Nancy. She was smart and made it be okay to be smart. She was confident and inquisitive and resourceful. I loved that.

For more on Hank Phillipi Ryan, visit her website:

www.hankphillipiryan.com

Not every author I know loves touring, but for me it’s a joy. I love to talk books! In fact I love to talk period, and the nicer the audience, the happier I am. Well! My feet haven’t touched the ground since I returned from Miami yesterday, where I was invited to kick off their first event of the year for Sisterhood of Temple Beth Am.

Sisterhood President, Nanci Hellinger, her co-chair Ellen Genet, their board and programming committee did an amazing job getting the word out and creating excitement, but things got a little dicey an hour before when the skies opened up and down came the torrential rain along with Florida’s famous lightening and thunder show.  Oh crap, we all thought. Nothing like heavy rain to make people stay home.

But not these ladies. Oh no… they showed up in force. All 150 of them and they came ready for a fun night out.  They dined on a sumptuous  looking  dinner prepared by their caterer and board member, Sarah Davidoff. They also got to sample the heavenly looking Sistertini cocktail, which was pink and pretty and going fast at every table. I was offered one (every five minutes) and would love to have imbibed, but it’s not the best idea to have your dinner speaker passed out on the floor. On the other hand, I knew they more they drank, the funnier I’d be.

Sure enough, the program went off without a hitch and I must say, they were a fabulous audience. They laughed, they listened, they asked great questions, they bought books and mostly they let me know how much they enjoyed my stories and my sense of humor. Oh fine, it was a lovefest and I’d return in a heartbeat.

I met so many nice people, but it was wonderful to finally meet two people who have been in my corner for years. Etta Gold is the Temple librarian and she has been a fan from the beginning. Because of her support, when the group was looking for an author to speak, she urged them to get in touch. Thank you Etta, and your daughter Ronni, for your generous praise and best wishes.

I was also delighted to meet and have lunch with Lisa Payton, a woman who contacted me six years ago, before her twin daughters b’nai mitzvah. Back then, she had e-mailed me with a request to send a message offering them a Jewish author’s perspective on becoming a woman and apparently liked my reply so much, they read it to their guests during the service.  Since then, we have become e-mail pals. I’m so glad we finally got to put the name with the face, plus, how is this for irony? One of her daughters is now at the same college as mine… the Lord works in mysterious ways.

Another great moment was getting to read an excerpt from my new work-in-progress called Beat It! It got such a great reaction, I soared back to the hotel. No writer ever really knows how readers will respond to their novels, so testing the waters is a tricky task (say that three times fast). But once I heard the loud applause and so many asked about the publication date, what a huge boost!

If you belong to a club, organization, school or business that invites speakers, I would love to hear from you.  Aside from writing, there is nothing I like better than talking about books, the writer’s life and every day life. Life is not  a sit com, but it is sure better with a laugh track!