Book Review: Destined to Fail

Shannon’s Review of Destined to Fail by Samantha March

With an intriguing title like Destined to Fail, it’s obviously impossible to expect this story to be light and breezy. Destined to Fail is a strong tale of survival and courage packed with emotions and baggage. It is a novel that is hard to put down. Jasmine, or JJ to her friends and family, welcomes readers into her world of chaos. To simply say that her life has been tough is the understatement of the decade. Between getting over her past that includes physical and emotional abuse, battling addiction (not hers though, but it was equally difficult), and an absent father, and trying to cope with the challenges of the present (losing her best friend, financial turmoil, and having to deal with an unplanned pregnancy), it is amazing that she hasn't gone completely insane. Apart from her way-too-perfect boyfriend Nate, her life is a complete and utter mess. But JJ is wise beyond her years and has strength and determination that keeps her going. Her ability to forgive and her concern for the safety and happiness of her friends are admirable characteristics that everyone could learn from.

There were certain elements of the story that could have been better. For example, there were a few sentences that could have been more elaborate to get the reader even more invested into the story. Also, a few more hints about her abusive past could have been added a bit earlier in the story. But these are little things that do not affect the strength of the story at all. It is possible to look past all these things because the underlying message is so much stronger. In this debut novel, writer Samantha March opens up a world filled with what should be anger, frustration, bitterness and insanity, but in the form of formidable strength and friendship. This strong tale is the perfect illustration of how people can rise above the past, no matter how painful, and leave behind all the drama to make the ultimate choice to move on and create a better future for themselves. Samantha presented a well-written, emotional and compelling story, one that all women should read and recommend to others. Girlfriends, go ahead and give it a read!

Samantha March fell in love with books at a young age thanks to her mother and grandmother, both avid readers. In high school, Samantha excelled in writing courses but took what she considered the practical route and enrolled in a business college where she graduated with honors in 2009. However, her thoughts of writing never dissolved. In October of 2009, Samantha started the book blog Chick Lit Plus where she met fellow readers and writers who pushed her to continue her goal of becoming published. Her self-published debut novel, Destined to Fail, is available now as an eBook and will be available in paperback in November. Samantha currently lives in West Des Moines, Iowa, with her boyfriend.

Author Interview: Michele Gorman

Single in the City was published in June 2010 by Penguin (UK) across their markets in the UK, Europe, Asia, Canada and South Africa, selling quite well in those areas to make it a bestselling debut. London-based American writer Michele Gorman decided to self-publish Single in the City in the US, rejecting American publishers’ views about chick lit fans and flying in the face of criticism of the genre. The book’s universal theme about taking a chance and building a new life is something she knows about first-hand. Michele was born and raised in the US but has lived in London since 1998, and in 2006, she obtained British citizenship.  

Single in the City is available today in the US. In our interview with Michele, she explains more about her decision to self-publish and her views on chick lit.

Your novel, Single in the City, was published by Penguin in the UK and became a bestseller. Why did you decide to self-publish it in the US?

My publishing team at Penguin (UK) was great. They recognised that the book’s universal themes would appeal right across their markets in the UK, Europe, Asia, Canada and South Africa. They were right. The book has sold well both in the UK and abroad. But the US publishers we approached claimed that chick lit readers around the country couldn’t identify with a book set outside their borders. I think they’re wrong, and that’s why I’m self-publishing.

If they were right, then Single in the City should sell only to Americans living in London. After all, the main character, Hannah, is American and there’s a strong theme about seeing London through her rather baffled eyes. But the book has sold well to many nationalities worldwide. Single in the City is about taking a chance. It’s a fish-out-of-water story. And it’s about finding your feet in life and love. Penguin (UK) was right; those are universal themes. I think some US publishers are selling chick lit fans short by claiming they have only a narrow range of interests.

Other UK based bestselling authors of chick lit, like Sophie Kinsella and Hester Browne, have had their novels published in the US by traditional publishers. Why do you think your novel is being treated differently? 
 
It’s worth saying that originally Penguin (UK) offered me a global deal that included the US, but my agent and I declined and held back the US rights, because we wanted a US publisher for the book.

I’ve chatted to several friends about the way our market has changed, and I think there’s a feeling among chick lit writers that those of us who have managed to get published by traditional houses sneaked in just before the door closed. Unfortunately, as relatively new writers, we’re actually only inside the front hall. The big names are profitable for publishers, so they’ll get traditional representation. It’s trickier for less well-established writers.

My decision to self-publish Single in the City though, isn’t a rejection of traditional publishing by any means. It’s the right decision for this book. My agent and I will offer my next book to publishers because there are lots of advantages to that model. Plus, I had a great experience with Penguin (UK), so I believe in the partnership between writers and great publishers.

Why did you decide to self-publish your book in the US with an illustrated cover that is typical of British chick lit? Do you worry that people will judge your book by its cover?

I want readers to judge a book by its cover! I think too many books are misrepresented by their covers, which aim to the widest possible audience regardless of whether the cover represents the book. There’ve been a few high profile debates about that recently in the UK (Polly Courtney’s decision, for example, to fire her publisher, HarperCollins, for misbranding her books).

I’m very proud to write chick lit. More than that, I’m proud to write chick lit that stays true to the genre’s light-hearted, humorous roots. I want my covers to reflect the book’s contents. Even if that means that it’s criticized by chick lit detractors. I don’t write for those critics. I’d much rather have a woman sneer at my cover and pass it by than see her buy it because she doesn’t think it’s chick lit. A wise reader once pointed out that if you market cheese as chocolate, all you do is miss the cheese-lovers and disappoint the chocoholics. I want the cover to proudly declare that this is fun, funny chick lit. I’m happy to forgo some sales to ensure that I reach the women I’m writing for.

American publishers aren't publishing as much chick lit now as a few years ago. They are looking for serious women's fiction. Do you see British publishers leaning the same way or are they still actively pursuing chick lit?

Yes, we’re seeing the same trend in the UK. I think publishers are finding it difficult to know which direction to take next. The amount of negative press here about chick lit doesn’t help. Chick lit (and its fans!) are often targets for contempt in the media, but those critics don’t speak for the fans. Yet publishers see these articles. They look at their sales data and they’re worrying. Most publishers focus on physical distribution for many of their books, and the sales data like Nielsen BookScan only captures that physical distribution. We know that eBooks have taken off, but there’s no reliable data about eBook sales by genre. So, it may very well be that chick lit is as popular as ever but that women are downloading it more instead of buying a physical book.

What do you think about all of the criticism of the chick lit genre? Why do you think chick lit is singled out and often portrayed negatively?

I think that fans of the genre should consider the source of the criticism. These critics cite many reasons in their dismissal of the genre, reasons that ostensibly aren’t rooted in literary snobbery. But it is literary snobbery. “The problem” with chick-lit, we’re told, is that it doesn’t deal with the real issues that women face. Well actually, some of it does. From sibling rivalry to infidelity, addictions to poor body image, a woman can take her pick within the genre if she wants to. And the rest of it? It’s meant for pure indulgent enjoyment, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I can’t help but notice that we don’t hear this criticism levelled at any other genre. Why insist that chick-lit reflect the issues facing its readership when no other genre is measured by the same yardstick? It isn’t expected of science fiction, or crime, mystery, historical fiction, or even most literary fiction. Women didn’t flock to buy We Need to Talk About Kevin thinking, ‘Gosh, my son is in prison too for picking off his classmates with a crossbow. That’s the book for me.’

And they needn’t fear for the malleable minds of chick-lit fans. Our poor little female brains aren’t going to turn to mush because we read light and breezy books. We don’t all sit on the sofa eating cakes and waiting for the next reality TV show. In fact, many of us even have quite intellectually challenging jobs. Is it any wonder we crave a little escapism? And it’s not as if women who read chick-lit read it exclusively. Most of us enjoy chocolate cake, but we don’t eat it every night for dinner do we? As you can probably tell, I don’t think much of these criticisms!

Why did you decide to move to London? What do you love about the city? 
 
I followed my heart but fell in love with the city, so I’m still here 15 years later. It would be a shorter list to say what I don’t love about the city! But I won’t. I love that so many nationalities and cultures are here. I love that no matter what your interests, you can do it here. I love that Brits take a nuanced approach to everything – there is no black and white – and they treat all information with suspicion, preferring to figure out for themselves what they believe. I love the easy pace of the city (yes even with 10 million people living here) and the fact that no matter how much work there is to be done, everyone will leave their offices to go to a pub and stand outside if the sun is shining. It’s a tremendous city. I think that love comes through in Hannah’s attitude too.

The main character of Single in the City, Hannah Cumming, moves to London to start over. Did you base the character and the whole novel on your own experiences?

Yes and no. I moved for very different reasons but the fish-out-of-water experience is one that all newcomers to London face. In fact, it’s something everyone faces when they move into a new life. It might be moving to a new country or new city, or learning to fit into your boyfriend’s family or starting college. I’ve had many comments from women who’ve read the book that Hannah’s experiences were theirs too. I love that her story is a universal one.

When will Single in the City be available in the US?

Thursday, October 27th! It’s available for Kindle and Nook, and will eventually be available for iPad/iPhone once I read the 54 page instructions about how to upload it properly!

If your book is not as successful in the US as it is in other countries, will you be satisfied with your success outside of the US? If it is successful in the US, do you think US publishers will take note of that and possibly be reminded that US readers still want chick lit?

I’m extremely happy with how the book has done in the UK and elsewhere. Doing well in the US would be the icing on an already very tall, very tasty cake.

Regarding the US publishers, I think they are carefully watching the eBook market and will be taking note of any book or subject area that seems to be getting a lot of attention. But we really need reliable sales data for eBooks soon!

Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you, your novel, or your publishing journey?

I love connecting with readers and social media is giving me the means to do that. So please don’t be shy, send me a Facebook friend request, a follow on Twitter, or drop me an email. There are exciting plans afoot for the next book and I’d love to let everyone know about them.

Book Giveaway: The Dirty Girls Social Club

Hi everyone!

I'm giving away one paperback copy of The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez. To be entered to win, leave a comment sharing what your favorite girls night activities are. Do you go out? Do you stay in? Do you belong to a women's book club? 

I'll choose the winner randomly this Friday, October 28th. Good luck!

Nancy 

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Meet the six unforgettable women who make up The Dirty Girls Social Club. Lauren, the “caliente” columnist for the local Boston paper whose love life is making headlines… Sara, the perfect wife and mother who’s got it all but pays a high price… Elizabeth, the stunning black Latina whose TV anchor job conflicts with her intensely private personal life… Amber, the Valley girl who doesn’t speak Spanish but is fast becoming a huge rock star en Espanol… Rebecca, hyper-in-command in her glossy magazine world but clueless when it comes to men…and Usnavys, fabulous, larger than life, and at risk of falling head over five-inch Manolos in love…. No matter what happens to each of them, the Girls dish, dine, whine, and compare notes as they try to sort out the bumpy course of life and love. And what a wild ride it is!

Book Review: A Scottish Ferry Tale

Nancy’s Review of A Scottish Ferry Tale by Nancy Volkers

In A Scottish Ferry Tale, main character Cassie Wrentham travels to Scotland to visit her boyfriend who lives there. When she arrives abroad, she discovers that their relationship is over. He is no longer interested, but didn’t bother to tell her before she flew thousands of miles to see him. Feeling broken hearted and unwilling to head right back home, Cassie takes a ferry to a bed and breakfast. She meets Ralph who she has an instant connection with. He is much older than her and she eventually finds out that his family owns the bed and breakfast where she is staying. This allows Cassie to get to know Ralph better since she sees him around a lot. As their friendship grows into something more, Cassie is unsure if she should stay in Scotland to pursue a relationship with Ralph or if she should go back home and try to forget about this new yet uncertain romance.  

This novel is a likeable, quick read. Cassie is an honest character with flaws and insecurities that she tries to work through to get back on her feet again after her breakup. The story is very descriptive but has a bit too much back story to start out with. The relationship between Cassie and Ralph seems forced at times and the age difference is like the elephant in the room that is never delved into or addressed the way it could have been. Overall, Cassie’s journey to finding herself and finding true happiness is a worthwhile pursuit. A Scottish Ferry Tale is a solid debut from a writer who has great potential. There is sincerity in her writing that is refreshing and engaging. 

Nancy Volkers lives in Vermont with her family. In addition to being a writer, she is an editor and a website manager. She grew up in New York and went on to attend Drew University, Stanford University, and the University of Minnesota, completing two degrees. Nancy has written two novels, A Scottish Ferry Tale and Scotland by Starlight, and she is working on her next novel. For more information, please visit http://nancyvolkers.webs.com. 

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What do you think of this review? Have you read A Scottish Ferry Tale?

If you are interested in another women's fiction novel that takes place in Scotland, you can also check out Swept Off Her Feet by Hester Browne. 

Book Giveaway: Love Walked In

Hi everyone!

I'm giving away one paperback copy of Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos. To be entered to win, leave a comment sharing what your favorite classic film is and why. I'll randomly choose the winner this Friday, October 21st. Good luck!

Nancy
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A tribute to classic film and true romance, Love Walked In tells the story of two women, one older, one younger and the unexpected ways in which their lives are forever changed by chance. For thirty-one-year old Cornelia Brown, life is a series of movie moments, and "Jimmy Stewart is always and indisputably the best man in the world, unless Cary Grant should happen to show up." So imagine Cornelia's delight when her very own Cary Grant walks through the door of the hip Philadelphia café she manages. Handsome and debonair, Martin Grace sweeps Cornelia off her feet, becoming Cary Grant to Cornelia's Katharine Hepburn, Clark Gable to her Joan Crawford. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, eleven-year-old Clare Hobbes must learn to fend for herself after her increasingly unstable mother has a breakdown and disappears. With no one to turn to, Clare seeks out her estranged father, and when the two of them show up at Cornelia's café, the lives of Cornelia and Clare are changed in drastic and unexpected ways. Love Walked In is a cinematic and heartfelt debut that pays homage to the classic Cary Grant/Katharine Hepburn romantic comedy The Philadelphia Story.

Book Review: A Life That Fits

Nancy's Review of A Life That Fits by Heather Wardell 

When twenty eight year old business analyst Andrea comes home from a work trip, she is shocked to find out that her longtime boyfriend, Alex, is leaving her for another woman who is Andrea’s opposite. Her plan for her life is turned completely upside down as she tries to figure out ways to get him back. Andrea can’t imagine her life without Alex and thinks becoming a new, opposite version of herself is the way to win his heart again. As she makes changes in her life for the wrong reasons, she starts to discover what is actually right for her life. She finds change to be challenging at first, but she eventually enjoys the new activities that she is doing and likes the new people she meets. Andrea creates a different life for herself that may or may not include Alex.

In A Life That Fits, the characters’ lives are successfully woven together to create a good amount of drama. Andrea is a woman who basically needs to start over after her fourteen year relationship ends. She doesn’t realize it at first, but the end of this relationship is the best thing to happen to her. It allows her to embark on a new path that will allow her to address her insecurities and move past them to a better version of herself. The story delves into romantic relationships, friendships, and workplace issues as Andrea figures out who really belongs in her life. The pacing of this novel is a bit slow at times and Andrea’s choices can be frustrating to those who want her to open her eyes quicker and see what a jerk Alex really is. Overall, this novel may not wow readers, but it does have a good message that can be inspiring for some to make changes in their own lives.

Heather Wardell has always created stories in her head but didn't consider becoming a writer initially. She planned on becoming a high school music teacher but ended up at a major Canadian bank as a software developer for several years before she went back to school to become an elementary school teacher. After teaching for four years, Heather participated in the National Novel Writing Month challenge and successfully wrote a novel in a month, realizing her love of writing. She left teaching and hasn’t looked back since. When Heather isn’t writing, she reads, runs, swims, crochets, takes care of her fifty five gallon aquarium and her cat Trinity, and plays drums and clarinet. To learn more about Heather and her novels, please visit www.heatherwardell.com and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.  

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What do you think of this review? Have you read any of Heather Wardell's novels?

Book News: October Releases

The Pub Across the Pond by Mary Carter - October 1st in Paperback

Carlene Rivers is many things. Dutiful, reliable, kind. Lucky? Not so much. At thirty, she's living a stifling existence in Cleveland, Ohio. Then one day, Carlene buys a raffle ticket. The prize: a pub on the west coast of Ireland. Carlene is stunned when she wins. Everyone else is stunned when she actually goes. As soon as she arrives in Ballybeog, Carlene is smitten not just by the town's beguiling mix of ancient and modern, but by the welcome she receives. In this small town near Galway Bay, strife is no stranger, strangers are family, and no one is ever too busy for a cup of tea or a pint. And though her new job presents challenges - from a meddling neighbor to the pub's colorful regulars - there are compensations galore. Like the freedom to sing, joke, and tell stories, and in doing so, find her own voice. And in her flirtation with Ronan McBride, the pub's charming, reckless former owner, she just may find the freedom to follow where impulse leads and trust her heart - and her luck - for the very first time.

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The Very Picture of You by Isabel Wolff - October 4th in Hardcover

At thirty-five, Gabriella Graham—“Ella” to her family and friends—has already made a name for herself as a successful portrait artist in London. She can capture the essential truth in each of her subjects’ faces—a tilt of the chin, a glint in the eye—and immortalize it on canvas. This gift has earned Ella commissions from royals and regular folks alike. But closer to home, Ella finds the truth more elusive. Her father abandoned the family when she was five, and her mother has remained silent on the subject ever since. Ella’s sister, Chloe, is engaged to Nate, an American working in London, but Ella suspects that he may not be so committed. Then, at Chloe’s behest, Ella agrees to paint Nate’s portrait. From session to session, Ella begins to see Nate in a different light, which gives rise to conflicted feelings. In fact, through the various people she paints—an elderly client reflecting on her life, another woman dreading the prospect of turning forty, a young cyclist (from a photograph) who met a tragic end—Ella realizes that there is so much more to a person’s life than what is seen on the surface, a notion made even clearer when an unexpected email arrives from the other side of the world. And as her portraits of Nate and the others progress, they begin to reveal less about their subjects than the artist herself. A picture is worth a thousand words, and in Isabel Wolff’s vibrant and textured story, these words are brilliantly crafted to convey the humor, mystery, and beauty that exists within each of us. 

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Brooklyn Story by Suzanne Corso - October 25th in Paperback

From Suzanne Corso comes a spirited debut novel about a girl’s lost innocence and dreams found just the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge . . . an affectionate, true-to-life tale of growing up, breaking away, and dreaming big. In the summer of 1978, Samantha Bonti is fifteen years old and navigating a dangerous relationship with an older boyfriend who’s devastatingly good looking—and an aspiring mobster. Half-Jewish, half-Italian, and hesitantly edging toward pure Brooklyn, Samantha lives in Bensonhurst with her mother Joan, a cynic shackled with addictions, and with Grandma Ruth, Samantha’s loudest and most opinionated source of encouragement. As flawed as they are, they are family. But when a girl wants something more, when tradition is a terrifying roadblock to the independent woman she wants to become, it’s time to break free and find one’s own way. Told from the adult perspective, this is a powerful story of leaving the past to history and the future to fate—as Samantha makes a move to restore hope where there was none, and reach for her dream of a new life as a writer in an inspiring promise of paradise called Manhattan.

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The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman, October 25th in Mass Market Paperback

Mark your calendar. It's the Christmas Cookie Club! Every year on the first Monday of December, Marnie and her twelve closest girlfriends gather in the evening with batches of beautifully wrapped homemade cookies. Everyone brings a dish, a bottle of wine and their stories. This year, the stories are especially important. Marnie's oldest daughter has a risky pregnancy. Will she find out tonight how that story might end? Jeannie's father is having an affair with her best friend. Who else knew about the betrayal, and how can that be forgiven or forgotten, even among old friends such as these? Rosie's husband doesn't want children, and she has to decide whether that's a deal breaker for the marriage. Taylor's life is in financial free-fall. Each woman, each friend has a story to tell, and they are all interwoven, just as their lives are. On this evening, at least, they can feel as a group the impulses of sisterly love and conflict, the passion and hopefulness of a new romance, the betrayal and disillusionment some relationships bring, the joys and fears of motherhood, the agony of losing a child and, above all, the love they have for one another. As Marnie says, the Christmas Cookie Club, if it's anything, is a reminder of delight. The Christmas Cookie Club is about the paths Marnie and her friends have taken and the absolute joy they take in life. Ultimately, The Christmas Cookie Club is every woman's story. By celebrating courage and joy in spite of hard times, honoring the importance of women's friendships and embracing bonds of community, you'll see yourself and some of the ingredients of your own story.

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The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie - October 25th in Paperback

Daisy Flattery is an incorrigible free spirit with a soft spot for strays and a weakness for a good story and a bit of adventure. Why else would she agree to the outrageous deal offered by her button-down, workaholic neighbor Linc Blaise? The history professor is desperately in need of a fiancée to capture a dream job at a local college—and Daisy is up for the challenge. But something funny happens on their way to the altar that breaks all the rules and changes the game. Falling in love was never part of the bargain. Their little charade has taken in everyone—including themselves. Now with the proverbial midnight hour approaching, will the fairytale finally be over or will opposites not just attract but live happily ever after?

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The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs - October 25th in Paperback

Linda Davis’s local fabric shop is a place where women gather to share their creations: quilts commemorating important events in their lives. Wedding quilts, baby quilts, memorial quilts — each is bound tight with dreams, hopes, and yearnings. Now, as her only child readies for college, Linda is torn between excitement for Molly and heartache for herself. Who will she be when she is no longer needed in her role as mom? What will become of her days? Of her marriage? Mother and daughter decide to share one last adventure together — a cross-country road trip to move Molly into her dorm. As they wend their way through the heart of the country, Linda stitches together the scraps that make up Molly’s young life. And in the quilting of each bit of fabric — the hem of a christening gown, a snippet from a Halloween costume — Linda discovers that the memories of a shared journey can come together in a way that will keep them both warm in the years to come.

Book Giveaway: How to Bake a Perfect Life

Hi everyone!

I'm giving away one paperback copy of Barbara O'Neal's novel How to Bake a Perfect Life. To be entered to win, leave a comment telling us about your favorite baked goods to make and/or eat and why. You can even share the recipes if you want to! I'll randomly choose the winner this Friday, October 14th. Good luck!

Nancy 

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An unforgettable novel that celebrates food, family, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters. In a story as warm and embracing as a family kitchen, Barbara O’Neal explores the poignant, sometimes complex relationship between mothers and daughters—and the healing magic of homemade bread. Professional baker Ramona Gallagher is a master of an art that has sustained her through the most turbulent times, including a baby at fifteen and an endless family feud. But now Ramona’s bakery threatens to crumble around her. Literally. She’s one water-heater disaster away from losing her grandmother’s rambling Victorian and everything she’s worked so hard to build. When Ramona’s soldier son-in-law is wounded in Afghanistan, her daughter, Sophia, races overseas to be at his side, leaving Ramona as the only suitable guardian for Sophia’s thirteen-year-old stepdaughter, Katie. Heartbroken, Katie feels that she’s being dumped again—this time on the doorstep of a woman out of practice with mothering. Ramona relies upon a special set of tools—patience, persistence, and the reliability of a good recipe—when rebellious Katie arrives. And as she relives her own history of difficult choices, Ramona shares her love of baking with the troubled girl. Slowly, Katie begins to find self-acceptance and a place to call home. And when a man from her past returns to offer a second chance at love, Ramona discovers that even the best recipe tastes better when you add time, care, and a few secret ingredients of your own.

Book Review: Family Pieces

Nancy’s Review of Family Pieces by Misa Rush

Away at college in Arizona, Karsen Woods is living a picture-perfect life until the unexpected death of her mother turns her world upside down. When she goes back home to Indiana, she discovers that there is a missing piece of her treasured necklace, a family tradition started by her grandfather when he handmade each immediate relative an interlinking puzzle piece charm. Karsen’s brother and father dismiss her concerns about the pieces not fitting perfectly together anymore, but her uncertainty and curiosity propel her to search for answers. Addison Reynolds’ life revolves around running Urbane, the magazine empire built by her father, in New York. She is known to push people away out of fear of her own vulnerability. At thirty nine years old, Addison finally tells her most safely guarded secret to her lifelong, closest friend Emily. Karsen and Addison are hundreds of miles apart but their lives will intersect in a very profound way, forcing them to face the truth and learn to forgive in order to love again. 

Family Pieces deals with issues of family, friendship, romance, heartbreak and mystery. Karsen and Addison are two women at very different stages in life but their unforeseen bond allows them to discover more about themselves and their families. This novel is an engaging read that is humorous but also has depth. There are several surprises along the way that will keep readers wondering what will happen next. The realistic situations and dilemmas faced by the characters allow readers to connect to the story and become emotionally invested. Family Pieces has some of the typical elements of chick lit but enough originality to make it stand out. It is an enjoyable read that really emphasizes the importance of family. 

Misa Rush competed in gymnastics for eighteen years, including four on a full-ride scholarship to Eastern Michigan University. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master's degree in business administration. She currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband and two children. Family Pieces is her first novel. For more information, connect with Misa on http://misarush.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Bee Our Guest: Author Fleur McDonald

How I Got My Novels Published
by Fleur McDonald

I never started out thinking I could get published. I started writing because I loved it. And because my youngest child is autistic, I was trying to help his attention span by writing kids stories about things he knew and understood, like our farm animals. When I submitted them to my mentor, he told me, "You're hiding your light under a bush! Get your skates on and submit these to a publisher." Which I duly did, but without success.

After a while, I decided I wanted to write a women’s fiction novel. I wrote half of it and submitted one chapter to Allen and Unwin through their Friday Pitch Day. I was rejected, but with a positive note that said, "Your writing is strong and commercial." I wasn’t going to let that go, so six months later I re-submitted and had a contract within a month. Allen and Unwin bought Red Dust on the first three chapters, so all I had to do was write the rest of the novel.

Red Dust sold to Germany before it was released in Australia. They also bought the rights to my second book, Blue Skies, which wasn’t even written at that stage! Both of these books have gone on to be best sellers in Australia.

In between all of the excitement of my new ‘career,’ I still work full time on our farm. I raise two children and help care for my terminally ill mother-in-law. In fact, I wrote most of my third book, Purple Roads, while taking her to Perth for doctors appointments.

The most exciting email I have ever received was when I was told that Red Dust was being distributed in the US. It’s available there now, with Blue Skies due out soon.

If you really love something, you can always make the time do it. For me, that’s when I drive 100kms to the closest town to do my shopping and spend two hours in my accountant's office, hitting the keyboard or outside while I’m working! Love it!
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Fleur McDonald lives 110km east of Esperance on 8,000 acres with her husband where they care for their two children and a menagerie of dogs, cattle and sheep, as well as the tractors and machinery required for cropping. Fleur is convinced the machinery is as needy as the stock and children sometimes!

In 2009, Red Dust was the highest selling novel for a debut author. In 2010, it was short listed for the Australian Book Industry Awards as Newcomer (Debut) Author of the year and the R*BY Awards.