Hope your Thanksgiving celebration was joyous and guilt-free. Yes, you probably ate as much as I did (and enjoyed every minute of it) but here’s great news. This Monday is December 1. A perfect time to make the 100th promise of the year  to lose weight. It’s a Monday, it’s a new month, and Pluto entered Capricorn for the first time in 246 years. I have no idea what that means in the scheme of things, but astrologers promise that it’s a very positive alignment when it comes to transformation. That’s all the evidence I need. Yay Pluto!

I’ve been considering the new Prevention Magazine Flat Belly Diet because it INSISTS that you enjoy dark chocolate, olives, avocados and nuts. But then mid-way through the explanation came the possible deal breaker. No coffee or tea. Really? But this is a Starbucks nation.  How could they even suggest that we go cold turkey on caffeine…

I shot off a quick e-mail to the authors of the new book who developed this sure-fire-losethebellyfat-it-won’t-hurt-a-bit program to express my dread of living a day without my hazelnut coffee. Fortunately they wrote back and sad it’s just for the first four days to get rid of the bloat. After that, if I must, I can return to coffee and tea on a limited basis. So that sounds a little more doable, although I’ve never gone four hours without coffee. Four days won’t exactly be a walk in the park… I’ll let you know what I decide.

Meanwhile, let’s get to a book that is an absolute guilty pleasure- The FIdelity Files by Jessica Brody

(St. Martins Press, June 2008). This dazzling debut novel is the story of a beautiful, L.A. woman who works as an undercover “fidelity inspector.” Working under the code name Ashlyn,  Jennifer Hunter is hired by suspicious wives and girlfriends to test the faithfulness of the men in their lives.  Except every one in Jennifer’s life thinks she is an investment banker…

But Jen’s double life starts to take its toll and her friends and family suspect that the reason she never dates is more complicated than the demands of her supposed “investment banking” career. And when a suspicious email surfaces with her picture on it warning men of her real motives, Jen fears that her secret identity is in danger of being uncovered. Just when it seems like nothing is going her way, Jen meets sexy, sophisticated Jamie Richards. She knows there’s no room for real romance in her life, yet she finds herself drawn to him. But before she retires her secret agent self for the sake of true love, she takes on one last assignment – a job which will permanently alter her perceptions of trust, honesty, and love.

Here is what critics are saying:

“Alias meets Sex and the City…an excellent debut.” -Bookluver

“Sensational!” -Literary Lotus

“You’ll be hooked!” -Minneapolis Star Tribune

A USA Today Hot Summer Reads Pick!

I have not yet had the pleasure of reading this intriguing, put-your-feet-up-by-the-fire book, I am looking forward to it. Recently, I interviewed the lovely author to find out more. Here is Jessica and what she said:

Saralee:Your heroine is an investment banker rather than let’s say a corporate chef. How well do you this turf?

Jessica: Before I became a full-time writer, I worked in a very corporate environment. And like all corporate jobs, there were a certain number of “alcohol-related” events that I was expected to attend. I would often find myself at work happy hour functions in nearby bars, observing the interactions between single and non-single co-workers as their behaviors gradually declined from professional to something else entirely. Something hardly capable of being described as “appropriate.”

Witnessing these “indiscretions” upset me on a profound level. I secretly wished that someone would tell the “conveniently” absent significant others about what their husbands/wives/boyfriends/ girlfriends/fiancés really did while attending these “obligatory” and supposedly “uneventful” work functions. But I certainly wasn’t going to be the one to do it. I was brave enough to think it…but not exactly brave enough to go knocking on people’s doors with bad news. You know what people tend to do to “the messenger.”

So instead I created a character whose job and purpose in life was to do just that. To reveal the truth to anyone who wanted to know. To knock on all the doors that I never had the courage to knock on. An invincible superhero-esque woman whose quest is to fight against the evils of infidelity. But of course, she soon finds out…she’s not as invincible as she once thought.

Jessica: My friends are definitely in my books. There’s one in particular that stands out. One of Jen’s friends, Zoë, has a bad case of road rage. And she tends to talk on the phone while she drives, so Jen often finds herself on the phone with Zoë while she’s cursing out another driver. I have a friend who does that and that’s where I got the idea. This friend has read the book but I’m not sure how she feels about the similarities. She acts like she’s fine with it, but I guess you never know. She could secretly be totally offended.

Jessica: I can’t sing enough praise for Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. It has “saved” so many manuscripts of mine. It’s meant for screenwriters but it works flawlessly for novels as well. It’s just a very intuitive way to write stories and make sure the audience isn’t bored to tears because nothing is happening for fifty pages. Now, I consult the book before I even start writing and I use his “beat sheet” to help me outline the major story points. It saves me so much time later on!

www.thefidelityfiles.com/excerpt.html

Jessica: How LONG it takes for a book to hit the shelves! Holy cow! I was a young woman when I sold that thing. I really wasn’t expecting it to take that long. I thought six months maybe, nine tops. But from the time I got the publishing deal to the time it was actually available in stores was 19 months! And I recently sold a YA novel to another publisher and that one is going to take 24 months to release. I’m still not entirely sure why it takes so long but that was definitely an unpleasant surprise. Especially for someone like me who get frustrated when it takes longer than ten seconds for music to download.

Jessica: The writing process is very random for me. It all depends on the day. Because I tend to be equally right and left brained, sometimes I feel as though the writing process is just a constant struggle (or sometimes clash) between the two sides of my brain to come up with a consistent way to write a novel. I write outlines, because my analytical side tells me it’s the right thing to do, but then halfway through the story, I come to the conclusion that I only write outlines so that I’ll have something to deviate from. I create complicated spreadsheets (a nod back to my days as a strategic analyst) for my storylines and page counts and pacing only to abandon them halfway through. And yet, despite this seemingly random chaos, it all feels perfectly natural to me. As if it was designed specifically for a purpose. So I suppose, my lack of a defined process is a process in itself.

Jessica: Of course I have all the regular fantasies like Oprah, Movie deal with an opening the size of Twilight, NYT Bestseller list, etc. But honestly, the one fantasy that I would really like to see fulfilled is just seeing someone reading my book in a public place. Like on an airplane or in the gym. I think that would be such an amazing feeling. Now, I just have to decide whether or not I would approach them and tell them I wrote it. Or better yet, ask them what they think without telling them who I am. I might not want to hear the answer to that though!

Houston we have a probIem? Not for me. I have just returned from a whirlwind visit to the great city of Houston and am happy to report in that I had a fabulous time. The trip was a combination of business and pleasure but even the business was a pleasure.

Here is how the adventure began. My wonderful niece, Hilary Most, invited me to be the keynote speaker at Houston Hillel’s Chai Tea luncheon, their biggest fundraiser of the year. She said, “I need you to be amazing and funny and brilliant, but no pressure, of course.” What do you want me to talk about?” I asked, to which Hilary said, “It’s up to you, as long as you are amazing, funny and brilliant.” Oh. Then she said, “Why don’twe also see about lining up a few other events while you’re here?” “Sounds good,” I said, but aren’t I only coming in for one night?” “Yes, but I know how you like to keep busy.”

And busy I was! I landed, checked into the hotel, had lunch with Hilary then she whisked me off to, are you ready, a delicious place near Rice University called The Chocolate Bar! This is living. It was one third candy store, one third ice cream shop and one third bakery. All in chocolate. They might has well have renamed the place PMS Delight! But this was the setting where I did my new problem- solving workshop called, Write For Your Life.  Students from 12 area colleges and universities, including Rice University and University of Houston were invited to share their worries and learn how to use the power of the written word to get in touch with their inner voice. Let me tell you, it doesn’t hurt to be surrounded by chocolate to solve what ails you! Now although the turnout was small, everyone who came said they learned so much and got some great ideas. Victory!

Then that evening, I got to meet up with one of my favorite people in the world, the charming and brilliant Dr. Gayle Klaybor. I knew her in college when she was just charming and brilliant, but not yet a fabulous therapist. How great to catch up and reminisce and share stories of raising children and husbands, and mostly to laugh. Gayle has one of those contagious chuckles with a hair trigger. She also has one of those great attitudes where she tries to find the humor in everything and she does. Love her and her youthful vibrance and endless quest to be as productive and harmonious as possible.

From there, we went to the magnificent home of Elyse and Howard Schultz. Elyse was kind and gracious enough to host a gathering of friends and family to hear all about my books. And what a nice group of women! So friendly and talkative and generous with praise. It was a great evening, made possible because my daughter Alex and Elyse’s daughter Mindy (LOVE THAT NAME) are best friends at Indiana, and Elyse said in this perfect Texas pitch, “Well if you’re comin’ to Houston, ya’ll have to come over and talk to mah friends about your books. We all love to read.” So glad it worked out. Elyse put out this incredible spread of yummy food and desserts, the ladies were lovely and now I have a whole new group of readers. Sweet! Here are some fun photos from the night. First is my niece, Hilary and her mom, Mira (and the best sister ever).

Here I am with the very generous Nancy Genson, who was so sweet to buy TWO collectors sets of my novels.  That is a way big compliment for an author, and she couldn’t have been any more gracious.

The next morning, it was breakfast with my sister, Mira, who flew in from Chicago, to join in on the fun, and then off we went to Hillel for the big Chai Tea Luncheon. And what a grand reception I got. Hilary and her committee attended to every last detail- the beautiful table settings and floral arrangements, the scrumptious buffet luncheon, endless varieties of teas and coffees…. no wonder everyone was in great spirits.

And may I say, what a wonderful audience they were. So attentive and interested, and they laughed and clapped in all the right places. I had a ball and was so glad to meet every one of these women who support Hillel and give generously to make sure that Jewish students have a home away from home for every Shabbat and every Jewish holiday. They have my utmost respect and appreciation.

A special thanks to the co-chairs of the event, Ellen Lowe and Jenny Tavor, for making it such a memorable afternoon. Jenny’s catering company also provided the delectable lunch and you haven’t tried macaroni and cheese until you’ve tried Jenny’s. Yum! I also want to give a shout out to the talented Shirley Cohn, Tamara Marks- Moses and Rabbi Kenny Weiss, for all of their hands-on help. And, of course, a very special thanks to my niece, Hilary, for handling everything in good spirits and great organizational skills. Wow. What she took on and did she deliver. The event was a raving success!

As always, I am indebted to all the people I met who are such do-ers and givers. You truly make a difference!

Barnes & Noble, E. Northport, NY

Last night, my friend and uberauthor, Ellen Meister (THE SMART ONE) and I had the extreme pleasure of being the maiden voyage book event for Long Island’s newest Barnes& Noble, and what a great night. In spite of the dreary rain, true book lovers can’t be deterred. We had such a nice audience who laughed at all of our jokes. Plus it was so cozy being situated right next to the cafe, I thought at one point we might all join together for a group hug.

Major kudos to new community relations manager, Linda Epstein, who ran the event flawlessly. Everything was set up just as we requested, our books were displayed very prominently at the front of the store and in the event area, and we were greeted by the entire staff so warmly, we felt very welcomed (Thank you Jen for all the smiles and encouraging words)

Trust me, it doesn’t always run like clockwork. Some times we show up and get a, “Oh? That’s tonight?” kind of look. Recently I did an event and couldn’t even get the manager to come over and say hello. He introduced me “virtually” over the loudspeaker, as if I was a K-Mart Blue Light Special. Attention shoppers….

So thank you Linda for all your attention to detail and for being our partner in making this such a successful event. I know that at your store, DEAR NEIGHBOR, DROP DEAD is getting lots of love and attention.

Ellen and I with Community Relations Manager, Linda Epstein. Brava!!!!

We were also thrilled to have a little love from our local Cablevision. Web producer for News 12 My Town, Christine Hubany, tagged along for the entire evening to find out just what do authors do when they speak at an area bookstore. Trust me, the pressure was on to look and sound our best. We sure hope when we go to the video tape that we did a good job because we are our own worst critics. I for one am always cringing about something. Good God. Look at my hair. Or, crap. That sweater looked so much more flattering in the dressing room…

But let’s think positive.  Hopefully the talented Christine got rid of the OMG moments and we’ll share a vid clip of her handiwork in the next blog post.

And while we’re on the subject of looking good, can’t thank my daughter, Taryn, enough for dragging along to practically every event to take all these great photos. She not only has to put up with my yo, over here, requests every two minutes, she knows the first thing I’m going to do is check how it came out and 99% of the time I’m going to say take another because OMG I look HUGE!!!!! Taryn is so patient and polite, there is none of the rolling eyes or would you relax expressions that I probably (absolutely) deserve.  Thank you, my dear. You are so awesome!!!! Every picture I adore was taken by you!

Meanwhile, rest assured, we had a blast talking to new friends, old friends, and all the customers in the store who stopped over to hear us chat.  And, of course, we are always thrilled and delighted to sign books and hear nice words from nice people.

I’d also like to give a special shout out to the always enthusiastic Kathleen Fristensky, who has been following my career and been such an incredible cheerleader.  Last night we finally got to meet and she was just as sweet in person. Every writer should have a fan like Kathleen who really believes in you and who isn’t even related. Thank you Kathleen!!!!

All is good in book world. Here is to the reading public!!! Couldn’t do this without you.

Introducing an Exciting New Paranormal Novel For Teens from Kelly Parra and MTV Books

New from the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit is a fantastic new mystery/paranormal novel, INVISIBLE TOUCH by Kelly Parra, author of Graffiti Girl. You know how much I love books about fate (have written a few myself), and this one promises to appeal to every girl who wonders what life has in store (everyone!!!). The beauty of this book is that it combines so many different exciting elements: teen drama, mystery and the spiritual, written with a poignant narrative by a character who feels different in so many respects. An absolute great escape for your teen reader.

Here’s the story: Kara Martinez has been trying to be “normal” ever since the accident that took her father’s life when she was eleven years old. She’s buried the caliente side of her Mexican heritage with her father and tried to be the girl her rigid mother wants her to be–compliant and dressed in pink, and certainly not acting out like her older brother Jason. Not even Danielle, her best friend at Valdez High, has seen the real Kara; only those who read her anonymous blog know the deepest secrets of the sign seer.

Because Kara has a gift–one that often feels like a curse. She sees signs, visions that are clues to a person’s fate, if she can put together the pieces of the puzzle in time. So far, she’s been able to solve the clues and avert disaster for those she’s been warned about–until she sees the flash of a gun on a fellow classmate, and the stakes are raised higher than ever before. Kara does her best to follow the signs, but it’s her heart that wanders into new territory when she falls for a mysterious guy from the wrong side of town, taking her closer to answers she may not be able to handle. Will her forbidden romance help her solve the deadly puzzle before it’s too late…or lead her even further into danger?

I asked Kelly to share some more details about the book, and here is what she said:

Q. If you could get a rave review in “People” magazine, what would  you want it to say about your new book?

A. “A page-turning paranormal mystery for teens, packed with romance and family drama!” That would be nice!

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 show all my work first drafts, typos and all, to my critique  partner, author Tina Ferraro. We’ve been together long before we were published and are honest with each other. We’ll tell each other what
works and what doesn’t in a kind way that works for both of us.

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

A. I often read reviews by teens since they are my targeted audience. A  few girls have told me how they’ve felt like they were there with the character  and could really relate to her feelings. That was so nice
to hear I was hitting the mark on that note!

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. My fantasy has partly come true. My novel Graffiti Girl was optioned to a producer, and my fantasy is that it will one day be made into a  movie or television show. A girl can dream…

Q.  What has brought you the greatest joy since you were published,  and what has caused you the greatest angst?

A. My greatest joy has been to hold both of my books in my hands,  backaged with a pretty cover and created by my imagination. Its an unbelievable feeling.  What has caused my greatest angst? Sales! LOL.
Its so hard not to try and worry about the numbers in publishing.

KELLY PARRA is a Mexican-Filipino-Italian writer. Through her teen years, her nationality was many times a guessing game by new acquaintances and today she often writes her multicultural characters with the same experiences. She debuted into young adult fiction with the Latina novel GRAFFITI GIRL, a Latinidad top pick in 2007. Kelly currently lives somewhere in between dreamland and her hometown in Central Coast California. When not pulling her hair while writing her current novel, she likes to play with her abundance of websites and feed a serious television addiction.

Thank you Kelly and best of luck to you. For more information, check out her website. www.kellyparra.com

Ellen Meister and I Are Back in the Saddle

If you’ve been following my book tour trail, you know that Avon introduced me to the hilarious and talented Ellen Meister, whose new novel, THE SMART ONE, was released around the same time as DEAR NEIGHBOR, DROP DEAD.

Since then, we have been joined at the hip (though hers are 10X smaller) to promote our books and make sure that readers know we exist. Sleep? We remember sleep.

For the past four months we have traveled from one end of the Island to the other and met so many great people who have showered us with praise and encouragement. Gotta love the reading public!

This past Saturday, we had the unique pleasure of being on a panel with PR maven, Warren Strugatch of ImageQuest, at the Southampton Cultural Center. The workshop was called, “The Art of Doing Business in the Arts”, or as it also could have been called, Attention Starving Artists. It was directed to writers, artists, designers, musicians, dancers or anyone trying to earn a living when they’ve got artistic passion and talent but not too much business experience. 

Ellen and I talked about how we got started, how we promote our books through blogs, websites, book events and if need be, skywriting.  The questions we got were great and hopefully we offered some helpful ideas and insights.

Kudos to Warren and his partner, Cindy Smith, for organizing a great event that brought together  the likes of Vic Skolnik, the founder of the Huntington Cinema Arts Center, Shenole Latimer, a brilliant jazz musician who lined up his own corporate sponsors, Mitchell Kriegman, the emmy award writer and founder of Wainscott Studios and a dozen other success stories.

DONNA DIAMOND IS A TRUE GEM!!!!

Yesterday it was my absolute pleasure to be invited to speak to one of the best book discussion groups on Long Island.

It was formed by the amazing Donna Diamond, a member of the Long Island Reads committee. She runs several book groups, including the one at the Barnes & Noble in Huntington.

Here we are with Debra Gaynor, the Community Relations Manager at this Barnes & Noble, who has been so supportive of my books from day one. Donna Diamond is on my right and can you see the sparkle in her eyes? She has the PERFECT last name.

It was a great turnout, a great discussion and everyone had a lot of laughs. Then we headed to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and you didn’t have to ask me twice! I told the waiter I wanted my usual and he thought I had two heads. How could he not remember that I always order the same thing? The bbq chopped chicken salad, dressing on the side. Anyway, it was yummy and a wonderful chance to talk about books, the election, kids, college, travel and whether we should or should not order cheesecake (Yes!!!).

Thank you Donna and all those who joined me for a lively event and lots of great exchanges… this truly is the fun part for me after spending so much time in front of computer.

NEXT UP: BARNES & NOBLE IN E. NORTHPORT

Please, please join Ellen Meister and myself at the gorgeous new Barnes & Noble at 4000 Jericho Turnpike in E. Northport.  It’s this Thursday night (Nov 13)  at 7PM and we’ve got a great program planned. Bring your friends, family and neighbors (the ones you like) and sit a spell. Don’t forget- autographed books make super holiday gifts.

See you soon!!!

This long overdue sea change, this extraordinary validation, this breathtakingly simple step towards a much needed overhaul, has buoyed my spirits in a way I never imagined. I am as busy as ever with my personal and professional duties, but I am tending to my responsibilities with a gladdened heart and a greater sense of purpose. I feel lucky to be sharing Barack Obama’s journey and his visions of what can be. I am elated that when all the levers were pulled, his dreams were his destiny.

Mr. President Elect, from my family to yours, God speed!!!!

Now Class, Back to the Books…

Ellen Meister and Saralee Rosenberg Are on the Road Again!!!

I am happy to report that once again, the dynamic duo of Ellen Meister and Saralee Rosenberg are tearing up the book world, globe trotting to meet with readers and future authors. Or, as Maxwell Smart would say, would you believe we’re traipsing all over Long Island?

That’s more like it. Last Saturday, Ellen and I set up shop outside the Walden Books in the Walt Whitman Mall hoping to meet and great eager fans. Or anyone really. We put out a bowl of leftover Halloween candy, thinking that a sweet treat would be a nice Ellie May way to say, y’all come and sit a spell… Only to have people pass by, scoop up the Skittles and skittle right along.

Yay! This reader loves us!!!

So much for the reading public, lol, but we did meet some very nice folks and entice some new readers to check out our comic novels, THE SMART ONE and DEAR NEIGHBOR, DROP DEAD. Thank you Gail Akeson, the energetic store manager, for making all the arrangements and for inviting us back. Any time!!!!

Next Stop, Southampton

Whether your intended career is in dance or theater, writing or painting, you need an entrepreneurial mindset, good contacts and competence in basic business skills: selling, negotiating, writing contracts. No one is better qualified to teach their skills than Long Island’s top visual and performing artists.

Ellen and I are participating in an interesting panel discussion at 11:00 AM called, are you ready? YOU’VE GOT A MOUTH- NOW TALK! Here is the write-up:

Up Next Barnes & Noble, East Northport, NY

I am totally gobsmackingly happy to have been inducted into a sorority of book sisters called The Girlfriends Cyber Circuit. We are all hard working moms/wives/friends/authors who are each willing to do some heavy lifting for each other to the get word out about our latest works. Shameless promotion? Absolutely.  But do we believe in what we do and in each other? You betcha!!!! What’s up next?

INTRODUCING TIME OF MY LIFE by Allison Winn Scotch  (I ADORE this cover)

Today I am so proud to share that a fabulous, new novel by our own Allison Winn Scotch has just made it to the venerable New York Times Best Seller list! This is huge, this is incredible, and totally deserved! Allison’s latest, Time of My Life (Shaye Areheart Books; October 7, 2008),  is one of those snuggle-under-an-afghan stories that will immediately get you involved and thinking because at its core is the gazillion dollar question, what if? What if I ended up with a former love after all? Is there anyone among us who has never pondered this? Oh stop. You’re lying.

So here is the scoop on this captivating story:  Jillian Westfield has the perfect husband, the perfect baby, and the perfect home in the suburbs, but sometimes she finds herself wondering about the life she left behind. A few short years earlier, she was living with her undeniably attractive but unreliable boyfriend Jackson, working a demanding job at an ad agency, partying too much, and living in a less than perfect New York apartment. But those days were full of possibility and free of diaper changes, trips to the grocery store, and endless days fulfilling only the needs of her daughter and husband. Now, discontented in her faltering marriage, Jillian can’t help but think about what her life would have been like if she hadn’t married Henry, quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom, or spurned her mother’s attempts to reconcile after two decades of silence. What if she’d stayed with Jackson in their run-down apartment and tried a little harder to make their relationship work? What if she’d answered her mother’s letter? What would her life be like now?

One morning, Jillian gets a chance to find out. She wakes up in her old apartment, right in the middle of her life as it was seven years ago, before she’d left Jackson and her job, and ignored her mother’s letter. With 20/20 hindsight, Jillian has the chance to discover “what if” once and for all – and to decide which life she really wants.

Although most readers don’t ever get to revisit a previous relationship or life-altering decision with the hindsight Jillian does, they can live vicariously through Allison Winn Scotch’s novel. TIME OF MY LIFE is a smart, entertaining, and inspiring follow-up to her debut novel, The Department of Lost and Found.

Check out the early praise for Allison’s book (and see why she is smiling):

“Scotch’s novel is a clever, entertaining look at the compromises women make – and the dangers of getting what you asked for.” - People

“Insightful and honest. Winn Scotch keeps it light but delves into the dark doubts of the road not taken.” —Family Circle

I asked Allison to share some background on her writing and this wonderful new book. Here is what she said:

Q.  If you could get a rave review in “People” magazine, what would you want it to say about your new book?

A. Well, um, the book WAS reviewed in People! J Just last week.  So I was pretty dang happy about it. We didn’t know it would be in there, so after I dropped my son off at school, I stopped at the grocery store and decided to flip through the newest issue to see what books were reviewed.  Well, MINE WAS!!  I completely lost it in the check-out line and nearly hurdled the conveyer belt to hug the cashier!  I don’t remember anything from seeing the review to coming home and putting my groceries away!  In fact, later that afternoon, I went into a panic because I had no recollection of putting the ice cream in the freezer and figured that it had melted on my kitchen counter…but fortunately, when I checked, I had…it was like I was in a total black-out from the People review!

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. I start with a plot, and a little bit with a character.  I really need to be struck with the BIG IDEA of what the novel is about: for this book, I was just immediately struck with the idea of a discontented woman who wakes up 7 years in her past, and with my first book, I was struck with the idea of a go-getter who had to re-evaluate her life when she is diagnosed with cancer – and from there, I’m off to the races.  So, for me, I wait for that big plot idea to come, and the rest falls into place.

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. Once I’m struck with the BIG IDEA, I write very, very quickly.  I wrote Time of My Life in about two months, and wrote my first book in about three.  Basically, I marinate the next few scenes in my head while I’m doing everything BUT writing: working out, doing errands, falling asleep, and then, once I sit down at my computer, they just pour out of me.  I am a super-big procrastinator though, so the only way I can jumpstart my writing every morning is by reviewing the previous day’s scenes, and it’s then that I tend to revise that writing.  After tweaking those scene, I add in the new ones, and eventually end up with the hulking draft.  From there, I’ll go back, with my editor’s help and insights, and overhaul what needs to be overhauled…but actually, unlike you, I do almost all of this electronically!  Not even to save trees, but because I find printing things up such a pain in the ass. J

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

A.  I got some incredible, incredible feedback to my first novel, The Department of Lost and Found.  I received a lot of emails from breast cancer survivors or friends and family of breast cancer survivors who told me that the book in some way, helped them heal or cope or grieve or come to terms with the disease or their situation.  And every single note blew my mind.  Truly.  To know that I wrote something that helped someone get through a difficult situation is the most humbling and gratifying thing you can ask for.  I saved a lot of these emails because they meant so much to me.

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.  Well, the Weinstein Company is actually adapting this book, and I have to say, to see it on the silver screen will probably blow my mind.  I’ve never really set limits on where my career would go, so I don’t want to say that I never envisioned this, but…I never envisioned this!!  LOL. What I mean by that is that yes, this has always sort of been out there as the ultimate aspiration, and the fact that it’s not happening is just beyond what I truly could have expected, even if it was certainly something that I hoped for!  But I guess that’s the life lesson: dream big !!!!

To Buy this Book:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Time-of-My-Life/Allison-Winn-Scotch/e/9780307408570