5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about... Wendy Holden

We love Spring. The blooming flowers, the adorable sundresses and...all the fabulous book releases! Today we're learning more about bestselling UK author Wendy Holden, whose sassy US release Beautiful People is available now.  We think you'll love her five things...how cool is it that she met Princess Diana? And almost became an ambassador?

Wendy Holden (U.K.)  was a journalist on The Sunday Times, Tatler and The Mail on Sunday before becoming a full time author. She has now published nine novels, all top 10 bestsellers in the UK, and is married with two young children. Her novels include Farm Fatale (in US Stores from Sourcebooks Landmark in July 2010), Bad Heir Day (also coming to US stores from Sourcebooks Landmark in September 2010), Simply Divine, Gossip Hound, the Wives of Bath, The School for Husbands, Azur Like it, and Filthy Rich.

Beautiful People is a fabulous adventure revolving around a struggling actress, a desperate former film star and a down-to-earth nanny, Holden's witty novel jets to London, Hollywood and Italy at a frenzied pace. A perfect addition to your beach bag this summer!

And we're thrilled to have FIVE copies of BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE to give away! You know the drill-just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: 5 Things Liz and Lisa didn’t know about Wendy Holden

1. Beautiful People was inspired by some of my own experience. My first book Simply Divine was optioned for a movie and out of the blue I had this hot-shot Hollywood producer and his wife coming to visit me in London. They wanted to meet at a terrifyingly smart restaurant which I had never been to, and asked me to book it. As it was the kind of place where the wrong table could ruin your life, I rang up and threw myself on their mercy. The film hit the buffers soon afterwards.

2. I almost became a diplomat. My very first job was editing a magazine for foreign ambassadors in London. They had amazing lives – palatial houses; hot and cold running servants; wardrobes you could ride in, let alone walk in; huge black shiny limos; endless parties with eye-watering strong drinks…

I seriously considered going into the Foreign Office after that, but then I landed a job in glossy magazines. They had amazing lives as well, palatial houses; hot and cold running servants; wardrobes you could ride in, let alone walk in; huge black shiny limos; endless parties with eye-wateringly strong drinks…

3. I cry at everything. I’m ludicrously easily moved and can barely read to my children because of it. Alice in Wonderland I can manage, but the more mawkish bits of Peter Pan have me in floods. As for poetry, forget it. At the same time I have a borderline evil sense of humour and laugh at wildly inappropriate things.

4. I’ve met Princess Diana. I was at a garden party at Buckingham Palace; she came up to talk to some people next to me and assumed I was part of the group. She also once came to a Christmas party when I worked at the Sunday Times in London. Otherwise my only royal encounter was being almost run over by Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband, when he was out with his horses and carriage in Windsor Park. He came thundering towards me like something from a horror film; I only just got out of the way.

5. I hate tomato ketchup. My children adore it, and even eat it in sandwiches, which makes me want to retch. My favourite food is baked scallops with garlic and herb butter, fat chips and a rocket salad on the side. Washed down with a glass of champagne, naturellement.

To learn more about Wendy, head on over to http://wendyholden.net!

xo, Liz & Lisa

5 Things Liz & Lisa Didn't Know about...Jane Green

She's a funny and very down-to-earth blogger, a mother of six and, oh, she also happens to be, like, the most famous Chick Lit author EVUH. Our mystery author is revealed and, yup, it's Jane Green! Our Chick Lit hero who also happens to be a New York Times bestselling author of eleven books, including one of Lisa's all-time fave's, Jemima J. And Liz puts The Beach House at the top of her "loves to read over and over again" list. Jane Green is a "must read" author for any chick lit lover! And we're so excited that Dune Road will be out in paperback on May 25th! Click here to pre-order it.

We're beyond thrilled that Jane took time out of her incredibly busy life (did you see the part about the six kids or "smalls" as she calls them?) not just to share 5 things we didn't know about her, but to make a video to personally tell us 5 things we didn't know about her.  Which we LOVE. She's honest and hilarious and well, we've developed a bit of a crush after watching it. And you will too.

PS: Leave a comment here and you'll be entered to win a fabulous Flip video camera just like the one Jane used to make the video. And thank you to those of you who've been following along on our Facebook page and trying to guess the mystery author's identity!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: 5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about Jane Green! (PSS: Watch carefully. If you can correctly guess the location of her t*****, you'll be entered for a chance to win an advanced reading copy of her new book, Promises to Keep. Just go to Jane's Facebook page or her website and tell her where you think it is.)

Five Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about...Sarah Pekkanen

We've made no secret about the fact that we LOVE Sarah Pekkanen. Her debut novel, The Opposite of Me, will be published by Washington Square Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, next week.  But before it hits bookstores, she's holding a Sarah Spike Day with a big raffle for everyone who pre-orders her book this Wednesday, March 3. So, what's in it for you if you pre-order The Opposite of Me on 3/3?  Here are the raffle prizes:

• A small, sleek HD camcorder from DXG USA’s Pro Gear line for 2010 (www.dxgusa.com). It retails for $300.  We gave them away at our Girls Night Out book signing last summer-they are AWESOME!

• A gift bag containing five hot new Simon & Schuster releases

• Five high-end, cotton t-shirts from Heart Threads Clothing (www.heartthreadsclothing.com). You pick the size, color and secret message printed on the inside of your shirt and worn close to your heart. Five winners!

• A 30-minute phone consultation with Sarah, in which she'll explain, step-by-step, how she got signed by a literary agent and publisher. This will include an editorial critique of your manuscript of up to 40 pages. If you're not interested in writing a novel, you can gift this prize to anyone you choose.

• This last prize is one a character in her book, Lindsey, would especially like:  A $35 gift certificate to MAC cosmetics (Lindsey is a fan of their eyeshadow) and a gorgeous red bustier from Affinitas Intimates. It would probably look best on a woman, but we won't pass judgment if the guys want to win it!

If you want to be entered in Sarah's raffle, here’s what to do:

1) On Wednesday, March 3, order The Opposite of Me online from places including Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com or Powells.com. If you buy more than one book, you’ll get more than one chance to win.

2) Email your receipt within 24 hours to this address: sarah@sarahpekkanen.com and make sure to put CONTEST as the subject line.

3) Wait to hear if you are one of the winners!

Now for the even bigger news…#1 New York Times bestseller Jennifer Weiner, author of seven blockbusters including Best Friends Forever and In Her Shoes, which was made into a major motion picture staring Cameron Diaz, is supporting The Opposite of Me by holding an extraordinary giveaway of her own! Please visit Jen’s website for the details of how she is giving a free, autographed copy of one of her books to everyone who orders The Opposite of Me!

Remember, these are separate giveaways. So you can enter Sarah's raffle, or Jen’s giveaway, or both! The possibilities are endless!

If you’d like to read the first chapter of The Opposite of Me, a Redbook magazine book club pick, it’s on Sarah's website, www.sarahpekkanen.com. And trust us, it's as good as everyone is saying it is!

And just when you thought things couldn't get ANY better, we also asked Sarah to share five things we didn't know about her.  And, if it's even possible, we think we love her even more after reading them!  We think you will too.

Five Things Liz and Lisa didn't know about...Sarah Pekkanen!

1. I was rejected as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, despite the fact that I have a Rain Man-like ability to solve puzzles with no letters showing. I’m still bitter; I really wanted to spin that wheel!

2. I wrote part of The Opposite of Me at Chuck E. Cheese. I’ve got three young boys, so I bring my laptop with me wherever I go and squeeze in snatches of writing time. I’ve got this system down at Chuck E.’s: I keep all the tokens on my table and my kids have to come to me every time they need one. So they’re checking in every couple of minutes, and in the meantime, I’m pecking away on my laptop.

3. The Opposite of Me isn’t even the slightest bit autobiographical. The first thing people ask me when they hear the premise of my book – it’s the story of twin sisters who are complete opposites – is whether I’m a twin. Nope; I don’t even have a sister. But I've always been intrigued by the complex relationships my friends have with their sisters, so I tried to make the relationship of my main characters, Lindsey and Alex, as juicy and competitive and loving and tangled as possible. I've heard about twins who are so close that they create their own language, and can feel each other's pain from miles away - but I wondered what would happen to twins who were completely different. What if two sisters had nothing in common, but were constantly being compared? How would that shape their relationship?

4. I started writing books when I was a kid. A few years ago, my niece discovered an old letter I’d written on Raggedy Ann stationery asking a publisher when my book, titled, “Miscellaneous Tales and Poems” would be published. I carry that letter with me every time I go to New York to meet with my publisher, as a reminder that dreams really do come true. Well, at least some dreams. Brad Pitt has yet to show up on my doorstep wearing nothing but a toolbelt and a knowing smile and asking me if I need anything fixed. So maybe it’s only G-rated dreams that come true.

5. When I'm not writing, I love to run marathons and study Latin and organize the clothes in my closet by color and season. Naw, not really. I watch reality TV and eat too much chocolate and worry if my butt looks fat in my favorite jeans.

To read more about Sarah, head on over to  www.sarahpekkanen.com or become a fan on Facebook.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about...Wendy Wax

March is going to be a great month!  Not only  will we be featuring fantastic authors like Sarah Pekkanen and Jodi Picoult, we'll also be revealing the mystery author we've been hinting about on our Facebook fan page.   But right now we're ecstatic to find out five things we didn't know about...Wendy Wax! We first discovered Wendy  last year when we devoured THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER, a wonderful story about four best friends who discover how little they know about each other. We LOVED it!  Now comes MAGNOLIA WEDNESDAYS.  After she's fired from her job as an investigative reporter, Vivian leaves the big city after her life falls apart to write an anonymous column about suburban life in the South.  But after moving in with her recently widowed sister and her teenaged children, Vivian learns more about herself and the suburban life she mocks in her column than she could have ever imagined.

And we loved learning 5 things we didn't know about Wendy. We smiled at the very cool way Wendy met her husband and loved learning more about her secret chocolate addiction.  And how can you resist anyone that quotes Gone With The Wind?

And, today, we have not one but TWO giveaways.  We have three copies of MAGNOLIA WEDNESDAYS-just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win!

AND...you can also enter for a chance to win a cougar tank top from  CougarsandCo.com by leaving a comment about which twenty-something you secretly pine over. (We have a special place in our cougar hearts for Robert Buckley!)

1.  I met my husband completely by accident the first and only time I ever took the Carey Bus from JFK to Grand Central while visiting New York City. That was twenty-six years ago just after my mother, who thought I’d never fall in love or get married, asked, “What, do you think you’re going to be walking down the street and it’s just going to…happen?”

2.  I’ve read Gone with the Wind way too many times. It’s the reason I originally chose to attend the University of Georgia even though I knew no one there, and why I’m able to recite large portions of dialogue by memory. I fell in love with Clark Gable the first time I saw the movie and have never understood how anyone could choose Ashley Wilkes over Rhett Butler. Ever. Under Any Circumstances.

Whenever possible during an argument with my husband, I try to work in at least one, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn!”  and have even considered uttering the occasional ‘fiddle-dee-dee!”

Speaking at the Margaret Mitchell House last June when The Accidental Bestseller came out was an incredible thrill.

3. Birthdays in our family always begin with birthday cake (preferably chocolate) for breakfast. This began in my single days when a roommate and I started the tradition. It feels wonderfully decadent and allows you to get to the best part of the day first thing. I’m not all that into delayed gratification, which sometimes makes writing a four hundred page manuscript, well, difficult.

4.  I hosted a live radio show in Tampa, Florida called, Desperate & Dateless, back when I was both. Every Friday from 8:00PM to Midnight I would take calls from men and women and match them up on the air.

One couple called into the show from their honeymoon to thank me. It was great to hear from them, but I thought they should have had better things to do!

5.  I am a chocoholic. There, I’ve said it out loud. I’ve been this way since birth (I think it’s genetic) and crave it pretty much all the time. (Even at breakfast on my birthday—see #3 above) When I was pregnant with my sons, I considered it the fifth food group. A day without chocolate is, well, I don’t even want to go there!

To read more about the fabulous Wendy Wax, head on over to her website or become a fan on Facebook.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about... Kristin Hannah

How lucky are we?  First we kicked off February with our new look (woo hoo!).  And now, we're excited to discover 5 Things we didn't know about NYT bestselling author Kristin Hannah! Although lawyer turned writer Hannah has written a staggering EIGHTEEN novels, we just happened upon her work last year when Liz picked up a copy of FIREFLY LANE.  Blown away by the story of the journey of two lifelong friends, (sound like anyone you know?)  she broke her long standing rule to not read books that make her cry. FIREFLY LANE was so engaging that she couldn't help herself-she was bawling like a baby by page 150. (Damn you Kristin Hannah!)

Hannah's latest novel, WINTER GARDEN, focuses on Meredith and Nina Whitson, two adult sisters who were denied any real affection from their icy European mother while growing up. After their beloved father's death and mother's illness, they attempt to discover the truth about their mother's past through the Russian fairy tales she told them as children. (Click here for a sneak peek!) WINTER GARDEN is in bookstores TODAY and you can buy your copy here.

We LOVED learning more about the lovely Kristin.  Like us, she's addicted to The Biggest Loser and loves The Food Network.  But we were surprised to discover that she, well, how do we say this? SHE WRITES HER NOVELS ON A LEGAL PAD. WITH A PEN. You'll  have to read on to discover why...

Five things Liz & Lisa didn’t know about Kristin Hannah...

1. I'm a Food Network junkie.  I’ll admit it: I love everything about food.  I spend hours watching programs on the food network, as well as pouring over the recipes on their website.  Several times a week, I quit work early and make a recipe that challenges me.  Sometimes they work out beautifully, and sometimes, not so much, but I always enjoy the process.  While I was writing Winter Garden, I focused on Russian food for the first time, and I have to say it was delicious.  I wouldn’t be surprised if readers found that the book made them hungry!

2. The Biggest Loser inspired me to take up spinning.  I know I’m not alone in watching the Biggest Loser.  Honestly, I find the show inspiring, week after week.  Well, after years of watching the contestants sweat on their spinning bikes, I finally decided to give it a try myself.  I was really nervous about it.  The first time I walked into the gym’s “spinning room,” I moved pretty slowly.  I was afraid I’d fall off the bike or sweat so hard, I wouldn’t be able see.  And it was hard; I won’t lie to you.  But when the speakers blared out with Heartbreaker, I was in heaven.  I love it!

3. I write my novels longhand.  I know it seems impossible in these computer-driven days, but I’m an old school girl.  Years ago, I used a computer, but I simply found that my body couldn’t handle sitting in a chair for the hours required to write an entire novel.  Now, I write on yellow legal pads, and I can write anywhere.  On the beach, on my deck, on a boat.  Anywhere.  How great is that?

4. If I wasn't a writer, I'd want to be a Supreme Court Justice. Why not dream big, I say?  Obviously, there’s nothing I’d rather be than a writer.  I absolutely adore my chosen profession.  In fact, it’s almost an obsession.  But if, for some reason, I had to do something else, I’d love to sit on the Big Bench.  I adore the entire idea of searching for justice, untangling facts, and determining how our laws should be written to best protect us and preserve our rights.  Although I’m an attorney, I have rarely gone there in my fiction.  True Colors is the one real exception.  I was spurred to write that novel by a perceived injustice in the current legal system.

5. I'm funny.  Really. I’m still not entirely sure how I became known as a writer of tearjerkers.  I never  set out to write “sad” novels.  Rather, I intend to write emotional fiction with real-to-life characters who face intensely difficult situations; that goal often takes me into dark and complex landscapes, and thus…the sadness.  But I also try to have uplifting, life affirming endings.  Occasionally that kind of ending doesn’t fit the novel, but I try to end my books in a way that makes the reader smile.  Even if she's blinking back tears at the same time.

To read more about the fabulous and talented Kristin Hannah, head on over to her website.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about Irene Zutell

So far, 2010 is starting off to be pretty damn fabulous! We're almost done editing our second book and are also getting ready to celebrate CLIND'S one year anniversary with a complete website makeover. (Get Tim Gunn on the phone STAT!) But before we roll out our fabu new look, we wanted to take a minute to learn five new things about author Irene Zutell and her latest book, PIECES OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER.  It's a sweet and sassy novel about what happens when your happily ever after doesn't turn out quite the way you thought it would.  We really enjoyed this heartwarming story about Alice's journey to find herself again after her husband strays. And we're not the only ones who thought it was awesome.  Sheknows.com just announced PIECES OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER as their first book club pick. You can also pick up a copy at your local Target beginning February 1st! Click here to check out the book trailer.

And we're giving away THREE copies!  Just leave a comment to enter!

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about Irene Zutell

1. I'm a former celebrity journalist for People Magazine and US Weekly who has interviewed the likes of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Jessica Simpson.

2. I'm no stranger to scandal! My neighbor - Vera Moder - was married to Danny Moder (as in Mr. Julia Roberts!) up until he left his wife for the movie star. My latest novel, Pieces of Happily Ever After, is based on this scandal - a woman, Alice, finds herself picking up the pieces after her husband leaves her for Hollywood's Sexiest Woman Alive. Enter in a sexy papparzzo, a former high school flame, an aging mother and a super sweet 5 year old daughter, and it's the tale of what happens after Happily Ever After.

3. I'm a native New Yorker who moved to L.A. - to the San Fernando Valley - which just happens to be the porn capital of the world! Made for some funny side stories in my new book.

4. The aging mother in the book is based off of my real mother-in-law who battled Alzheimer's. You can read my essay on this story: A Love Story by Irene Zutell.

5. My editors didn't think the dialogue of 5 year old Olivia in the book was realistic -but I took many of the words right out of my own daughter's mouth!

To read more about the lovely Irene Zutell, head on over to her website or click here to follow her on Twitter.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

5 things Liz & Lisa didn't know about...The authors of the Nanny Diaries

O.M.G.

Can you pinch us? It's really happening... The New York Times Bestselling authors of THE NANNY DIARIES, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus are here for the debut of our latest series "5 things Liz and Lisa didn't know about..." where we ask our favorite authors to dish out juicy and secret tidbits about their lives. Because we're just nosy like that-and know you are too!

We're like kids on Christmas. Or women who accidentally happened upon a majuh sale.  Or moms who've just been given a party pass to go out while daddy stays home. We know we're giddy but when authors like McLaughlin and Kraus, not only agree to be interviewed but also wanted to interview us you have a burning desire to stand up and shout from the rooftops, "HELL YEAH!" Or at the very least to, um, blog about it.

And we're sure you've heard but Nanny's baaaaaaack! Look for  NANNY RETURNS on December 15th or pre order it here. The sequel to the critically acclaimed NANNY DIARIES picks up 12 years later...after the discovery of the nanny cam that nanny left behind...and she gets sucked right back into the world she left behind. So. juicy.

Just like the 5 things we didn't know about Emma and Nicola!

1.  We have date night. When in the phase of generating a first draft we try to see each other once a week for a movie or the theater.  And it's always that delicious high school feeling like it's been FOREVER since we hung out. Even though we've talked a minimum of five times on the phone that day.  And we won't even count the emails.

2.  We have codependent food fixations. When on tour one of us will invariably say, "Ooo, do you think they'll have _____ here?" (Fill in the blank with some random local treat.)  Invariably "they" will not, and neither will the local diner, bakery or supermarket.  Cut to us trying to construct key lime pie/peanut butter cupcake/baked Alaska from an assortment of over priced stale goods out of a mini bar fridge.

3.  We are suckers for the charming.We may talk a tough game about the moneyed folks and the places they hang but, no matter how much we yell at ourselves, we still go weak in the knees for an enchanting wallpaper.  Curse you, Osborne and Little!

4.  We believe in the Law of Attraction. Call it what you will, the power of intention, cognitive behavioral therapy, if you build it he will come-after a decade of partnership we've learned that holding a positive vision is job criteria numero uno.

5.  We feel better about life just knowing Angelina Jolie is out there. Rocking motherhood, neutral casuals, airplane navigation and Amnesty International.  If she were a religion, we'd join.

Thanks, ladies!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

For more about Emma and Nicola and their other FAB books, CITIZEN GIRL, DEDICATION, and THE REAL REAL, check out www.emmaandnicola.com. And click here to become their fan on Facebook.