Liz & Lisa's Book Club: What Nora Knew by Linda Yellin

Hey y'all!  Today we're introducing another new feature we hope you'll love--Liz & Lisa's Book Club! Each month we'll highlight one UH-mazing novel and give away a copy. To kick it off, we've found an author we think you'll really love--she's hilarious and her narrative is quirky and funny---Linda Yellin!  Her novel, What Nora Knew (out tomorrow, January 21st!) is a breath of fresh air--we could not put it down. Any fan of Nora Ephron will devour it! And when you read her answers below, we think you'll fall a little bit in live with her the way we have!

We have ONE copy for giveaway!  Leave a comment and you'll be entered. Winner will be chosen after noon on January 23rd. US and Canada only.

Here's the scoop: Molly Hallberg is a thirty-nine-year-old divorced writer living in New York City who wants her own column, a Wikipedia entry, and to never end up in her family’s Long Island upholstery business. For the past four years Molly’s been on staff for an online magazine, covering all the wacky assignments. She’s snuck vibrators through security scanners, speed-dated undercover, danced with the Rockettes, and posed nude for a Soho art studio.

Fearless in everything except love, Molly is now dating a forty-four-yearold chiropractor. He’s comfortable, but safe. When Molly is assigned to write a piece about New York City romance “in the style of Nora Ephron,” she flunks out big-time. She can’t recognize romance. And she can’t recognize the one man who can go one-on-one with her, the one man who gets her. But with wit, charm, whip-smart humor, and Nora Ephron’s romantic comedies, Molly learns to open her heart and suppress her cynicism in this bright, achingly funny novel.

Where to read more about Linda: Her website, Facebook, Twitter, and GoodReads.

Liz & Lisa's book club: What Nora Knew by Linda Yellin

1. We loved WHAT NORA KNEW! What was your inspiration for the book? Are you a huge fan of Nora Ephron's? My first book, SUCH A LOVELY COUPLE, was about my first husband, and my second book, THE LAST BLIND DATE, was about my second husband. I ran out of husbands so I had to write about somebody else I love. And, yes, I love Nora Ephron.

2. In the novel, Molly is quite skeptical about romance after a bad divorce. What about you?  Are you a romantic? That’s the funny thing about skepticism. You’re skeptical…you’re skeptical…then you meet the right guy and – boom! - you’re a romantic. I hated dating. I was terrible at it. I wanted to skip ahead from the getting-to-know-you part to the order-in-a-pizza-and-watch-TV part.

Molly interviews couples making out on subways, couples buying engagement rings at Tiffany’s, single guys playing Frisbee in the park. Like her, I couldn’t figure out what everyone else seemed to figure out so easily. The first time my husband Randy called (of course, he didn’t know he was my future husband; I had to point that out to him several months later) – I was at home watching TV and eating a pizza. So really, it was the perfect beginning. And now I am a total romantic.

3. Molly subjects herself to many different ways of meeting people in order to research her article.  What's your take on speed dating, online dating, etc?  One of the great perks of being a journalist is that you can pretend you’re researching an article, when really you just want to meet guys. Speed dating fascinates me. It must be either the ultimate trust-your-gut experience, or a great way to have men reject you every five minutes. Maybe both.

And then there’s online dating. Ah, yes. I met Randy right before it became popular. I often wonder if a computer would have matched us up. I lived in Chicago and he lived in New York, so I’d have had to request: looking for someone within a 700 mile radius - which let’s face it, sounds pretty desperate. But – and I’m quite proud of this - I’ve written several profiles for girlfriends and so far I’ve reeled in two husbands and two serious boyfriends. I get the fun of online dating without having to actually date.

4. What's your favorite Nora Ephron movie?  (Ours is When Harry Met Sally...) Oh, me, too. Definitely. Ditto. I totally agree. When Harry Met Sally. High five. Group hug. Absolutely.

5.  What's up next for you? At the moment I’m recruiting anyone I’ve ever met in my entire life to come to my Barnes and Noble reading on January 28^th. Which is why I expect a major New York snowstorm on January 27^th.

Thanks, Linda!

Best books of the month!

As we mentioned recently, our website has a new name and also a new direction. (And to celebrate, we're giving away a majuhly awesome sauce prize. Details here!) But some things will never change. Like the fact that we heart spreading the love for our fellow authors and their books. So, each month, we'll be featuring a list of the best books we're reading and giving away copies too! (Obvs!) Details on how to be entered to win below.

So, here's a list of what we're devouring in January. Some novels that we think you should definitely add to your TBR list! And please feel free to share the books you're lovin' on too!

1. The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers (Out in paperback: January 28th)

Five years ago . . . Tia fell into obsessive love with a man she could never have. When she became pregnant, Nathan disappeared, and she gave up their baby for adoption. Caroline reluctantly adopted a baby to please her husband. Now she’s ques­tioning whether she’s cut out for the role of wife and mother. Juliette considered her life ideal: solid marriage, two beautiful sons, and a thriving business. Then she discovered Nathan’s affair. He promised he’d never stray again, and she trusted him.

Now . . . When Juliette intercepts a letter to her husband that contains pictures of a child who deeply resembles him, her world crumbles once more. How could Nathan deny his daughter? What other secrets is he hiding? Desperate for the truth, Juliette goes in search of the little girl, and before long the three women are on a collision course with consequences that none of them could have predicted.

Our thoughts: Loved it just as much the second time around!

Giveaway: One copy (US). Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winner on Sunday, January 19th after 3pm PST.

2. Because of You by Kathryn Starke (Out now.)

Lilly never wanted to settle, not in her education, her career, and especially not in her relationships. She observes the countless number of couples in her circle of family and friends, but she has always been unsure if marriage is for her. At thirty-one, she is convinced she has finally found the man of her dreams. But on her actual wedding day, she shares a conversation with a mysterious stranger in a hotel elevator. Suddenly, she begins to question her “happily ever after.”

An instant connection with this stranger leads her to doubt what and who she believes in. She recalls flashbacks of her courtship with fiancè Patrick and begins to wonder if she is indeed settling for the first time in her life. Lilly struggles internally with her decision and begins questioning her future. Will she marry Patrick or will she ultimately start her search for love all over again?

Our thoughts: A sweet novel that you can devour in one sitting.

Giveaway: One copy. Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winner on Sunday, January 19th after 3pm PST.

3. Keep Calm and Carry a Big Drink by Kim Gruenenfelder (Out now.)

 In Keep Calm and Carry a Big Drink, Kim Gruenenfelder's delicious follow-up to There's Cake in My Future, Seema, Nic and Mel are back, adjusting to their new lives as a bride-to-be, a mother-to-be, and a recently single girl looking for love

It's been almost a year since Mel, Nic and Seema pulled their magical charms out of the cake at Nic's bridal shower and most of their happily-ever-afters seemingly came true. Seema is about to marry Scott in an elaborate three-day affair. Nic is glowingly pregnant. And Mel... well, Mel feels as if she accidentally veered off the rails of her life at some point and isn't sure how to get back on. She recently became single again, she's been threatened with a layoff from her teaching job, and she has to find her own place now that Scott is moving in with her roommate, Seema.

Nic thinks Mel just needs a new cake charm to bring her good luck. . . and decides to rig the cake pull at Seema's bridal shower. Desperate for travel, Mel asks for the passport charm. But, once again, the cake proves to have a mind of its own, and she pulls a charm she doesn't want, and can not use. Rather than be bound by the charm's prophecy, Mel realizes she, and she alone, is responsible for her destiny. A spur of the moment decision takes her to Paris and then Maui, where she finds herself on an adventure that she never could have imagined, experiencing the trials and tribulations of a life suddenly and perfectly unplanned. And, along the way, she begins to learn that, however nonsensical it may seem, the cake is never wrong...

Our thoughts:  A delicious sequel!

Giveaway: One copy (US). Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winner on Sunday, January 19th after 3pm PST.

Welcome to Lizandlisa.com!

Out with the old and in with the new, YO! We're ringing in 2014 by making some BIG changes around here. 

What's in a name?

Disclaimer: We may have changed the name of our website, but that doesn't mean we don't still LOVE Chick Lit is Not Dead. Or that we're not still huge fans of books BY women FOR women. Nothing will ever change either of those things.

We've had an amazing time here at CLIND (it’s been 5 years!) bringing you the best of the best in books while sharing our own journey. But as the saying goes...all good things must come to an end. And we felt it was time to focus a bit more on our own writing.  DON'T WORRY, we'll still be featuring other authors and books (more on that in a minute), but we'll also be dishing on our own adventures and keeping you up to date on our book signings, giveaways (of course!) and a lot of other fabulous things!  (On that note: GoodReads is giving away FIVE copies of Your Perfect Life RIGHT NOW!)

And WE have a giveaway here too! It’s pretty good, if we do say so ourselves. If you follow both our newsletter and NEW Facebook page, you’ll be entered to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card. To be officially entered, just leave a comment here letting us know you did both. We’ll select the winner on Sunday, January 18^th after 3PM PST.

Bottom line: Lizandlisa.com will be THE place to be! We'll keep things fresh by hosting a monthly book club and by sharing the books we’re currently loving. And we'll also have some exciting contests in conjunction with the release of Your Perfect Life!

So, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter here.  And don’t fret, we promise not to get all stalker-ish on y’all. Pinky swear!

We really want you to like us

And, as we mentioned, we’re also switching our Facebook page--so pretty please, come like our brand spankin' new Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke page—that’s where we’ll be sharing all the scoop on Facebook as we move forward!

That’s What She Said

Over the next few weeks,we’re going to be sharing some bangin’ advance praise Your Perfect Life has received from some of our favorite authors—and we’ll be giving away a book from each of them!  Stay tuned!

All the places we want you to come find us!

On Facebook here!   On Twitter here!  On Pinterest here!  On Instagram here!

To put Your Perfect Life on your GoodReads wishlist, click here!

And you can pre-order Your Perfect Life here.

Thank YOU.

Each and every one of you that has supported us.  We will miss CLIND, but are excited to see what comes next!  Thanks for hopping on and taking the ride with us.

2014: Bring it on!

What a year 2013 has been! From turning 40 to our publishing deal with Atria/Simon & Schuster to getting through all five seasons of Breaking Bad, it's been a year of big things. And as I bid 2013 adieu tonight while watching the ball drop in Time's Square from the comfort of my couch, I'll be thinking about the things--big and small--that I'm most excited about in 2014.

Oh and because we had to do ONE LAST GIVEAWAY this year, leave a comment about what you're excited to do in 2014 and be entered to win a bundle of surprise books! We'll choose the winner on Sunday, January 6th after 12pm PST.  Happy New Year, everyone!

1. Juicing!

Yes, you read that right. I'm that wife who asked for and is ecstatic she received an appliance for Christmas. A good friend said to me, of course you did, you're forty and you're a mom! Welcome to the club.  The hubs and I are so overly-excited about the endless possibilities this juicer will bring us you'd think we'd just won the lottery. I'll definitely be reporting back on the kale, carrot and ginger concoction I plan to try first.

2. More binge watching

We just watched the finale of Breaking Bad two nights ago. (So. Effing. Brilliant.) And I may never watch TV the same way again. In fact, I know I won't. Not having to wait a week to find out what Walter White was going to do next was one of the best things that has ever happened to this highly impatient person.  The only question is what TV show should I binge on next? Recommendations, please!

3. More blowouts

I know Liz and I have talked incessantly about and posted, er, a lot of pictures of our obsession with having someone else blow dry our hair--DryBar, oh how we love you! This blowdry thing *might* have even ended up in the book we're currently writing: The Status of All Things. I realize I'm not J-Lo and probably don't need as many blowouts as I think I do (you know, like 3-4 a week), but if any of you know a way for me to wash my hair as little as possible while still making it look great, please let me know! I smell a dry shampoo obsession coming in 2014.

4. Changes to our website

2014 will mark the 5th anniversary of this site. That's cray-cray! Oops, forgot that's one of the 7 things I'm supposed to stop saying because I'm over forty.  Anyway, be on the lookout for a redesign as well as new features! And important news about our new domain name! Stay tuned...

5. Getting published

This is so big that Liz and I don't have the words for it yet. In fact, we probably never will. All we can continue to say is we're grateful to be living our dream and so happy to have your support and  that you put up with our shameless plugs. Like these:

• You can pre-order our book here. 
• You can subscribe to our newsletter here.
• You can follow us on Instagram here.
• You can follow us on Twitter here.
• And then there's Pinterest too.

See you in 2014!

On being thankful by Liz

Thankful--It's an easy thing to say, but I think like anything in this over-sharing world we live in, it's easier said than done, as we watch others share the best part of their lives on social media.  I'm not gonna lie--it can be hard to feel thankful for the wireless phone charger your husband got you (Sorry, honey, I do love it! Very convenient!) when your college roommate's husband has a Lexus with a big red bow sitting in her driveway Christmas morning like the commercial or is being swept off by private plane somewhere fabulous. (Really great gift ideas, btw!) Or maybe someone has lost ten pounds while your metabolism sits idle.  Whatever it is, it makes us question our own lives, no matter wonderful they may be. It's a theme we're exploring in the The Status of All Things, the book we're working on right now, which will be released in 2015 with Atria/Simon & Schuster. But like anything, being thankful is an art, one that must be practiced each day, something that we will probably fail at often--because it's human nature to focus on what we don't have, especially these days.  But as long as we can pull ourselves back up, if we can take a deep breath from the insanity of our day-to-day to stop and be present, to find the silver lining, we make progress. And honestly, it just makes life much more enjoyable to see the bright side.  There's no worse feeling than jealousy--it eats up the best part of ourselves. It robs us of the joy in our own lives.

So I'm going to challenge myself to be truly thankful this holiday--to not just say the words, but to actually feel the lightness inside that comes with enjoying your good tidings, rather than worrying about what's coming next. I'm going to take in the last moments of my son's belief the magic of Santa Claus, savor the sweet voices that sing Silent Night at the school performance, I'll even try to enjoy Charlie, our stupid effing Elf on the Shelf! (Which I totally suck at, btw. Pretty much the most boring elf. EVER.) When the hubs takes my hand as the kids tear into their gifts on Christmas morning, I promise that I'll squeeze it back and rejoice in the life that we've built, even if it's not even close to perfect.  It's still ours.

And in case I forget, I've complied a list of things I can reference.  You know, when my kids have a sugar-induced meltdown on the way home on Christmas Eve, or when they break the remote control helicopter I spent a month researching ten minutes after they open it. This being thankful shit is hard, yo!

I'm thankful for: Pink scattered clouds at sunset, star-filled skies, the way my daughter sings at the top of her lungs without fear, the little skunk patch in back of my son's head, Apple products, Orange is the New Black on Netflix, Justin Timberlake's hotness, a bookshelf full of books I haven't discovered yet, Bose headphones to tune out my lovely children while I write, the way my mom still wants to solve all my problems, the incredible enthusiasm the dogs have when I pull in the driveway, my friendships with my girlfriends, that I get to write, that people will actually read something I wrote, the way my husband still looks for me across a crowded room, Sushi, iTunes, homemade tamales, Facebook, because I love keeping in touch with people, SmartWater and for all of you that took a moment to read this.

Happy holidays!  Whatever you celebrate, I hope it's beautiful. xoxo

What are you thankful for?

Liz & Lisa's Favorite Books of 2013

With so many wonderful books to choose from, it was incredibly hard to narrow down our list this year!  Here are the ones that made us laugh, cry, the ones that kept us up at night.  Tell us--do you agree?  What were your favorite books of 2013?

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

When a brilliant yet socially awkward professor of genetics designs a scientifically valid survey to find his future wife, he finds that love and science don't have much to do with each other at all.

Our thoughts: Incredibly quirky and ridiculously charming!

Heart Like Mine by Amy Hatvany

Grace gets much more than she bargained for when the man she's engaged to gets full custody of his two children after their mother dies under mysterious circumstances.

Our thoughts: Beautifully written and incredibly intriguing--our fave from Amy Hatvany thus far.

The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen

An all expense paid trip to Jamaica for a group of old friends seems like the invitation of a life time.  But as a hurricane bears down on the island, things will come out that force everyone to to evaluate their friendships and themselves.

Our thoughts: MAJOR page turner alert!  We loved this one!

The Love Wars by L. Alison Heller

Molly Grant is a divorce lawyer in a powerful law firm whose life turns upside down when she decides to secretly represent the estranged wife of a powerful media mogul who's being taking advantage of.

Our thoughts: A perfect debut--a lot of fun with a healthy dose of heart.

Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster

Twenty years after ruling her high school, Lissy Ryder's life isn't exactly going her way--she's been pink slipped at her job and dumped by her husband.  When she gets a chance to go back and change things, will she get it right this time?

Our thoughts: Fabulous and fun--we loved every minute of this adventure.

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Elise couldn't believe her luck--she found the perfect man on New Year's Day and had eloped by May.  When he's tragically killed nine days later, she must confront the mother-in-law who isn't even aware she exists.

Our thoughts: Beautiful and gut wrenching at the same time--you will be touched by this incredible debut.

All the Summer Girls by Meg Donohue

All the Summer Girls is the story of how three former best friends, their lives rapidly unraveling, are reunited at the beach town of their past--where the ambience of summer encourages them to explore new experiences they would never otherwise attempt.

Our thoughts: A charming story about friendship--Meg had us at page one!

Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves

Claire is slowly disconnecting from her own marriage--her husband, once laid off and now gone four nights a week, doesn't seem to see that their relationship is slowly drowning. When Claire meets Daniel, he seems to offer all the things she's searching for, and soon she finds herself in way over her head.

Our thoughts: Written in a simple yet poignant narrative, we were mesmerized by Covet--it strikes right at the core of the challenges of love, family and fidelity.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy by Helen Fielding

Our girl is Bridget is back, and life hasn't exactly turned out the way she thought it might. Struggling with navigating raising two children on her own and being back in the dating scene, she's still the hot mess we fondly remember.

Our thoughts: Like catching up with an old friend, this book will make you laugh, cry and shake your head several times.  But just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Morning Glory by Sarah Jio

Fleeing an East Coast life marred by tragedy, Ada Santorini settles on a houseboat in Seattle. She discovers a trunk left behind by Penny Wentworth, a young newlywed who lived on the boat half a century earlier--Penny’s mysterious past and her own clouded future are destined to converge.

Our thoughts: As always, Sarah delivers in this wonderful mystery--you'll be hooked from the very beginning!

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under.

Our thoughts: One word: DELIGHTFUL. Trust us on this one.

Lake Como by Anita Hughes

After finding her husband in a compromising position, Hallie escapes to beautiful Lake Como to spend time with her half-sister. But just as Hallie is beginning to find her footing on Italian soil, she uncovers a family secret that upends all the truths she’s believed about herself, and calls into question the new life she’s built in Lake Como.

Our thoughts: Fun and frothy, we loved spending time in Lake Como and think you will too!

Flash Giveaway! Josie Brown's Totlandia: The Onesies

Giveaway: Two e-copies of Totlandia: The Onesies by Josie Brown The scoop: As summer sizzles in Totlandia, emotions boil over for the newest members of Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club, whose trust in each other is sorely tempted by Bettina and her club politics.

When Jillian's vindictive joke backfires, she learns the true meaning of forgiveness.

Jade’s betrayal puts her in a dangerous downward spiral with no bottom in sight—until she finds friendship and redemption where she least expects it.

Lorna faces the biggest trial in her marriage, and makes an important decision that may end it for good.

While Ally may regret the choices made she to get accepted in the club, her exile puts new opportunities in her path, thanks to Brady and his ceaseless desire to win her over—with Barry's help, who is playing his own little game with the Top Moms Committee.

But it's Bettina who suffers the ultimate punishment—one that changes her life, and the livelihood of the club, forever.

Our thoughts: This series is so much fun!

Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Sunday, December 15 after 12 PM PST.

Lu Ann Cahn's 5 Firsts and Lasts

Today's guest: Lu Ann Cahn Why we love her:  Absolutely love the concept of this book! Talk about a kick ass way to deal with your life being in a rut.

Her latest: I Dare Me: How I Rebooted and Recharged My Life By Doing Something New Every Day

The scoop: One woman’s quest to do one new thing every day of the year, what she learned, and what we all can gain from her journey...

In 2009 veteran journalist and eight-time Emmy award winner Lu Ann Cahn was feeling angry and frustrated. The economy was tanking. Her job was changing. Budgets were being cut. She resented the new technology and social media she was being asked to embrace at work. In a word, she felt “stuck.”

Cahn’s daughter encouraged her to try blogging, and after some thought, she decided to write about trying something new every day for a year. Little did she know, that "Year of Firsts" would change her outlook on life. For 365 days Cahn made a point of doing something she had never done before, some as simple as performing an old task in a new way, some creative and extreme:

Riding a mechanical bull Eating a scorpion Speaking to a complete stranger on the street Smoking a cigar Shoveling horse manure Zip-lining across a crocodile-infested Mexican lake Spending a day in a wheelchair Walking her dog backwards Taking a drum lesson from a famous 80s rocker

In the process she discovered that "firsts" were the antidote to “stuck.” I Dare Me is Cahn’s journey, but it's more than just a memoir. It challenges readers to confront their own fears, and encourages them to try their own "firsts."

Our thoughts: Be prepared to be inspired!

Giveaway: ONE copy of Lu Ann's book!  Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winner on Sunday, December 15th after 12pm PST.

Where you can read more about Lu Ann: Her website

LIZ & LISA PRESENT...LU ANN CAHN'S 5 FIRSTS AND LASTS

1.KISS

First kiss? Boy, this is tough.  I think my first "boy" kiss was in the 6th grade. My friend had a slumber party in her basement and a group of guys from school crashed it without her parents knowing. Spin the bottle? I think that's how  I was smacked with my first kiss.  I do remember I didn't sleep that night....delicious.

Last kiss? Easy. My husband insists I don't leave the house or go to bed without a kiss. It's a good policy especially when the you-know-what is hitting the fan.  Those kisses keep me grounded.

2. BOOK

First book? The Cat in the Hat.  I'm pretty sure I had every single Dr. Seuss book. I wish I kept the originals. I loved them all.

Last book? I'm reading Elizabeth Gilbert's "The Signature of All Things".  It doesn't matter what she writes.  Her words are "butter".

3. RISK

First Risk I took? When I was in fifth grade I sang "Climb Every Mountain" from The Sound of Music to my class for a "talent day" with no music.  Haha. I  wish we had video back then.  Thank God we didn't though.  I actually thought I could sing and I had no evidence until years later that I couldn't.

Last Risk I took? My book, I Dare Me, is all about taking risks so I try to take them frequently.  The last one that terrified me was about a week ago when I did my first Power Point Presentation. It turns out talking and clicking isn't as tough as I thought it would be.

4. AHA MOMENT

First AHA moment? In high school I took a creative writing class and the teacher told me I was a good writer.  I believed her.

Last AHA moment? A dear friend of mine just read my book and said it made her laugh out loud and made her happy.  I believed her.

5. HELL YA! MOMENT

First Hell Ya! moment? When I told my personal story of having a delayed diagnosis of an aggressive breast cancer on TV to all of Philadelphia in 1991 and hundreds of women went to get their first mammogram.

Last Hell Ya! moment? When I walked off the Kathie Lee and Hoda Today Show set with my daughter last week.  I didn't even have a glass of wine but it felt good.

Thanks, Lu Ann!

7 Seconds in Heaven with Stacey Ballis

Today's guest: Stacey Ballis Why we love her: She writes delicious novels!

Her latest: Out to Lunch

The scoop: A touching and hilarious novel from the fabulous Stacey Ballis about best friends, true love, and the joy of food—for fans of Jen Lancaster, Jennifer Weiner, and Emily Giffin...

Jenna has lost her best friend. With Aimee gone so tragically young, Jenna barely knows where to turn. Aimee was the one who always knew what to do—not to mention what to wear. The two built a catering company together and had so much in common—well, except their taste in men. Jenna never understood what the successful, sophisticated Aimee saw in Wayne, with his Star Wars obsession and harebrained business schemes.And gained her best friend’s husband… But Aimee has left a shocking last request: Jenna now has financial custody of the not-so-merry widower. True, Wayne needs someone sensible around to keep him under control, but what was her dear departed friend thinking?The thing is, as she gets to know Wayne better, his latest moneymaking idea actually starts to intrigue her. Her attractive new lawyer boyfriend doesn’t approve of it—but then, Wayne doesn’t approve of her attractive new lawyer boyfriend. Now Jenna has to figure out what direction her life is going to take next. And she can’t help asking herself: What would Aimee do?

Our thoughts: Our favorite of all seven of her novels! Yes, she's written seven!

Giveaway: TWO copies of Out to Lunch!   Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winner on Sunday, December 15 after 12 PM PST.

Where you can read more about Stacey: Her website, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

LIZ & LISA PRESENT...7 SECONDS IN HEAVEN WITH STACEY BALLIS

1.  I have two tattoos, and one of them was my mother’s idea and on her dime.   And no, you can’t see them.

2.  I once sprained both of my ankles at the exact same time.  Because I’m gifted like that.

3.  Despite being passionately in favor of gun control, when I was at camp I was a Ninth Bar Sharpshooter with a 22 caliber rifle, and just three targets shy of the Expert level before I realized it made me a member of the NRA, and I stopped shooting.  I’m still kind of good at a carnival tho.

4.  While you will most often find me listening to the 70s and 80s stations in the car, my favorite single piece of music is Dvorak’s Symphony for the New World.  It’s also my dad’s favorite.  We discovered the coincidence when I was in my 20s.

5.  I know all the words to Don McClean’s American Pie.  ALL OF THEM.

6.  I often keep my wallet and cell phone in my bra so I don’t have to carry a purse.

7.  I’m completely addicted to television procedurals of the legal, police, and spy variety.

Thanks, Stacey!

Flash Giveaway! Jamie McGuire's A Beautiful Wedding: a Novella

Giveaway: One copy of Jamie McGuire's A Beautiful Wedding: A novella The Scoop: Why did Abby pop the question?

What secrets were shared before the ceremony?

Where did they spend their wedding night?

Who else knew about it . . . and didn’t tell?

Everything about Abby and Travis’s elopement was top-secret . . . until now. Fans of Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster will get all of their questions answered in this whirlwind tale of the wedding day (and night!)—and as with all good stories, this one will definitely have been worth the wait.

Our thoughts: Fans of Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster's Travis and Abby will devour this novella!

Leave a comment to be entered--we'll choose the winners on Sunday, December 15th after 3pm PST.

Diary of a debut: In search of the perfect cover for Your Perfect Life

We have to admit, there is no feeling to describe what it's like when you first hold your novel in your hands. For a time, the characters you've created live only in your head, until they eventually make their way onto your computer screen. So the the experience of gripping the actual paperback--of feeling the pages between your fingers, the emotion of seeing your name on the front, the details about your plot on the back, the amazing blurb from your author idol Jen Lancaster (thank you, Jen!), the dedication, the acknowledgments, well, there are no words.

But I suppose if we tried, if we really took a shot at conveying what it felt like to cradle Your Perfect Life, it would be something along the lines of holy f*cking shit, we actually wrote a book! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

When we were told our cover was being overnighted to us, we were like little kids on Christmas Eve, tossing and turning in our beds, eyes wide open, unable to wait to open that big gift the next day. Then the doorbell finally rang and we found ourselves walking, then running, then walking to the door, equal parts scared shitless and excited beyond belief to see it.

There are so many covers out there--a gazillion different ways to use images to encapsulate what a book is about, to call someone's attention to it when it sits in a store, in a sea of other novels.  Would we love it? Would we *gulp* not? Hand on the doorknob, we took a deep breath and opened, then grabbed the box and ripped with wild abandon, unable to get that damn perforated tab to pull just right, then finally, we just say eff it and take a steak knife and slice through, then put our hand in and slowly slide the picture of the cover out of it. Eyes squeezed shut until finally, popping them open and...

Screaming with joy--so loudly that a neighbor or two *might* have popped their head out of the door to check that there wasn't a mass murderer roaming.

The cover was, in a word--perfect.

And also eerie. *cue Twilight zone music*

Because what the designers of this oh, so perfect cover, could have never known is how much the images on the front would mean to us. They could have never in a million years known that at Lisa's wedding four years ago, she picked orange Chinese lanterns and white lights to dangle above the atrium where she would be married. Or that just a few months ago, Liz and Lisa spent two painstaking hours hanging Chinese lanterns and lights over the dance floor where her closest friends and family would come together to celebrate her 40th birthday.

This cover is so much more than a perfect representation of what our book is about or a beautiful way to attract a curious reader as she peruses the aisles of her favorite bookstore. It is us. And for that, we want to say thank you to our publisher, Judith Curr and our editor, Greer Hendricks and everyone on the team at Atria who worked so hard to create it.

So to celebrate, we are giving away a signed arc of YOUR PERFECT LIFE which, btw, is available for pre-order! Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winner on Sunday, December 15th after 12PM PST. And also, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive info about more giveaways, contests and details about our novel.

And, as always, thank you so much for being there for us through it all! We could NOT have done it without you!

Jennifer Tress' 5 Things I'd Tell The Teen Me

Our guest today: Jennifer Tress Why we love her: She tells it like it is!

Her latest: You're Not Pretty Enough

The Scoop: From the "Sex Papers" Jen drew as a four-year-old when her mom was pregnant with her younger sister, to her sole teenage act of rebellion: going to church. "We're very disappointed in you," her nonreligious parents said. When she was sixteen Jennifer fell in love with Jon Bon Jovi and felt certain that if he just met her, he'd feel exactly the same way. They met all right. But that's not what happened. At twenty-three Jen married her college sweetheart and divorced him at twenty-six after he'd had an affair. Affairs happen every day. What doesn't happen every day? The wife and the girlfriend meeting at a bar, discovering they liked each other, and then confronting Jen's husband that same night. The true stories contained her are smart, uproarious and utterly relatable. Told chronologically and chock full of truths, You're Not Pretty Enough provides an example of how to be comfortable in your own skin and ultimately live a full life (even if you screw up, royally, along the way).

From the “Sex Papers” Jen drew as a four-year-old when her mom was pregnant with her younger sister to her sole teenage act of rebellion: going to church. “We’re very disappointed in you,” her nonreligious parents said. When she was sixteen, Jennifer fell in love with Jon Bon Jovi and felt certain that if he just met her, he’d feel exactly the same way. They met all right. But that’s not what happened.

At twenty-three Jen married her college sweetheart and divorced him at twenty-six after he’d had an affair. Affairs happen every day. What doesn’t happen every day? The wife and the girlfriend meeting at a bar, discovering they liked each other, and then confronting Jen’s husband that same night.

Smart, uproarious and utterly relatable You’re Not Pretty Enough is chock full of truths and provides an example of how to be comfortable in your own skin and ultimately live a full life (even if you screw up, royally, along the way).

- See more at: http://www.yourenotprettyenough.com/v2/the-book/#sthash.NQT9VjRc.dpuf

From the “Sex Papers” Jen drew as a four-year-old when her mom was pregnant with her younger sister to her sole teenage act of rebellion: going to church. “We’re very disappointed in you,” her nonreligious parents said. When she was sixteen, Jennifer fell in love with Jon Bon Jovi and felt certain that if he just met her, he’d feel exactly the same way. They met all right. But that’s not what happened.

At twenty-three Jen married her college sweetheart and divorced him at twenty-six after he’d had an affair. Affairs happen every day. What doesn’t happen every day? The wife and the girlfriend meeting at a bar, discovering they liked each other, and then confronting Jen’s husband that same night.

Smart, uproarious and utterly relatable You’re Not Pretty Enough is chock full of truths and provides an example of how to be comfortable in your own skin and ultimately live a full life (even if you screw up, royally, along the way).

- See more at: http://www.yourenotprettyenough.com/v2/the-book/#sthash.NQT9VjRc.dpuf

Our thoughts: Three words: Laugh. Out. LOUD!

Giveaway: ONE copy!  Just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win.  We'll choose the winners on Sunday December 8th after 3pm PST.

Where to read more about Jennifer: Her website, Facebook and Twitter.

LIZ AND LISA PRESENT....JENNIFER TRESS' 5 THINGS I'D TELL THE TEEN ME

1. Remember that you are more than your body. Your breasts will come in at around 12 and they will be big right from the start. You’re a little taller than average, and since you have a well-proportioned body in that hourglass way, you will get unwelcome and sometimes unseemly attention from grown men. The deli guy, even a teacher or two, will give you that explicit, expressionless up and down or a direct verbal innuendo. At first you will feel shame and you will hide your “assets” under baggy clothes. You will turn off your personality, and look down to the ground so that you don’t make eye contact. It will make you unhappy for a little while, until you…

2. Choose empowerment. As you get to be a sophomore, you’ll realize you have some control over that leering behavior and how you react in the face of it. You’ll realize you’re just becoming a woman and hey these boobs ain’t half bad! And, wouldn’t it be fun if I could force the creepy dudes to face their creepy behavior? So you’ll go into Spencer Gifts at the mall and buy a smallish red pin with white lettering. And it will say “Stop Staring At My Tits” and you will wear it on the jean jacket you wear every day (with Jon Bon Jovi’s face inked on the back) and place it strategically…over your breasts. And you will laaaaugggh (in your head) when the deli guy reads it and looks you in the face by mistake and then quickly looks away, ashamed.

3. Putting out is not going to make you popular. You will try this time and time again (way past your teens, even) not realizing that you’re seeking validation that you’re pretty/good enough or using it as a trophy that says “hey…I just made it with this dude and he’s popular, so that must make me…[fill in the blank].” The problem is, if you don’t fill in the blank, they will; with “a slut,” or “pathetic,” or whatever. Putting out doesn’t make you a slut. It makes you sexual. And if you’re sexual in a way that shows respect for yourself, and you engage when you’re mature enough to handle it, that’s healthy. Putting out to fill a void is not, however. So…

4. Make choices that honor you. If you’re in that moment where you’re leading up to something sexual or otherwise unhealthy, and something starts nagging at you like, I don’t really want to do this, but I don’t want to look like a prude/disappoint anyone, listen to it. Say, “you know what? I’m not ready for this.” So what if the guy or a peer is disappointed? You made a choice that honored you. When you’re 15, you’ll go out with a guy a couple years older who will be mad (or embarrassed?) that you didn’t have sex with him so he lied and told people you did. When you hear the rumor, you’ll catch him in the hallway, pull him by your locker and say, “you better tell people the truth, or I’ll just tell everyone you had a really, really small…” Guess what? Things got better.

5. Continue to invest time in activities that light you up and get you excited. You will do that with theater and writing and art throughout your high school experience, but you’ll push those passions aside in favor of a more practical path once you enter college. Hey, you come from a long line of hard workers who tow that heavy line into the sweet shores of responsible career choices and savings accounts. That’s not a bad thing. It’s just...if the world could deliver me a time machine where I could go back to you as a teen, then instead of merely dipping our toes into la vie boheme, we would wade up to our middle, take a long swim, and then decide.

Thanks, Jennifer!

Flash Giveaway: In honor of Jane Porter's Christmas at Copper Mountain

Giveaway: $10 Starbucks gift card & some Christmas goodies in honor of the release of Jane Porter's novella, Christmas at Copper Mountain Bonus: Christmas at Copper Mountain is free on kindle today!

The scoop: Since the loss of her family in a plane crash, Harley Diekerhoff has led a quiet life and keeps to herself. Taking the temporary job at the Copper Mountain Ranch as widower Brock Sheenan’s housekeeper seems perfect for her. But her calm cocoon is invaded with the arrival of Brock’s pre-teen twins, Mack and Molly who’ve never experienced a proper Christmas and before she knows it, Harley’s determined to make their holiday perfect.

Annoyed at first by Harley’s interference, Brock is secretly pleased she’s changed Mack and Molly’s world. It doesn’t hurt that he finds Harley incredibly attractive, fierce, smart and passionate. It’s also an added bonus that she’s not afraid to challenge him and get his blood heated! But when sparks fly and the attractions sizzles between them, Harley’s not so sure she can handle something permanent with this dark, taciturn cowboy who doesn’t know how to let her in. But Brock is determined to hold on to her and praying for a Christmas miracle…

Our thoughts: Reading this felt like receiving an early Christmas present!

To be entered to win, leave a comment by Friday, December 5th at 12PM PST

Flash Giveaway! Holly Kingston's A Cinderella Christmas

Giveaway: Two e-copies of A Cinderella Christmas by Holly Kingston The scoop: This laugh out loud romantic comedy is a Christmas cracker of a read!

This year’s Cinderella pantomime is the hottest production in town. What’s more, Lucy is starring alongside Ryan Aspall: famous TV actor, sex symbol and potential love of her entire life. One teeny problem – Lucy is tripping the light fantastic as … the back end of the comedy cow. Surely nothing kills a flirty moment quite like wearing a massive set of udders?

At least she has the support of glamorous (if potentially flammable) Charmaine; a reality star diva of a Cinderella, who Lucy is completely fascinated by. But behind the fame and beauty, Charmaine is not all she seems.

With more drama off the stage than on it, and everyone wanting to be star of the show, will Lucy find the confidence to make it out of the cow suit and into the spotlight this Christmas?

Our thoughts: The perfect winter read! Just in time for the holidays.

Where you can read more about Holly Kingston: On the Novelicious website!

Leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Thursday, December 5th after 12pm PST.

7 Seconds in Heaven with James Whitfield Thomson

Our guest today: James Whitfield Thomson Why we love him: His writing is haunting...

His latest: Lies You Wanted to Hear

The scoop: Alone in an empty house, Lucy tries to imagine the lives of her two young children. They have been gone for seven years, and she is tormented by the role she played in that heartbreaking loss. You can hardly see a glimpse of the sexy, edgy woman she used to be. Back then, she was a magnet for men like Matt, who loved her beyond reason, and Griffin, who wouldn't let go but always left her wanting more. Now the lies they told and the choices they made have come to haunt all three of them.

With shattering turns, Lies You Wanted to Hear explores the way good people talk themselves into doing terrible, unthinkable things. What happens when we come to believe our own lies? And what price must we pay for our mistakes?

Our thoughts: A major page turner!

Giveaway: One copy!  Leave a comment and we'll choose the winners after 3pm on Sunday, December 8th.

Where to read more about James: His website and Facebook.

LIZ AND LISA PRESENT...7 SECONDS IN HEAVEN WITH JAMES WHITMORE

1. I kept journals for each of my three children for eighteen years. Like Lucy in Lies You Wanted to Hear, who writes letters in a bound journal to her missing children, I wrote to my own children, beginning when they were ages two, five and ten. I kept no schedule, just wrote about whatever seemed important at the time. I gave them the journals (about 275 handwritten pages each) on Christmas 2000, and they opened them and started reading at random. “Oh, my God, Dad,” said Kelly, laughing. “This is about the time I called you an asshole.”

2. I never give a piece of fiction a title until I’m finished with the first draft. Bit of superstition here. I used to make up titles when I was a young man but never wrote any stories. Now I do it the other way around.

3. Back when I was a navigator in the Navy (1968-70).  I made four Pacific crossings, navigating virtually the entire way by the stars. The instruments I was using then were much closer to those of Lord Nelson in 1780 than the equipment mariners have at their disposal today.

4. I’m an incurable insomniac. It’s not always pleasant, but some of my best writing gets done at three in the morning.

5. My head is filled with a ridiculous amount of trivia. True story. I was in a leather shop a few years ago talking to two clerks when a bearded fellow came in dressed in a fringed jacket and full hippie regalia. As the conversation quickly turned back to his heyday in Haight-Ashbury, someone mentioned the year 1967.  The fellow got a loopy grin on his face and said, “Back when people were free and music was music.” “Yeah,” I said, “and the number one song of the year was Sugar Shack.” Some of those songs from the ‘70s made their way into Lies.

6. I grew up with a mother, father, sister and brother.  By the age of 46, I was the only one still alive. That had a huge impact on how I’ve lived the last 22 years of my life.

7. I was a minor football star in high school, which earned me a bunch of recruiting letters and a few scholarship offers. But my most significant athletic feat was impressing my wife Elizabeth on our second or third date by walking across her backyard on my hands.

Thanks, James!

Why Bridget Jones is still my girl: A (sort of) book review by Liz

Truth: I almost didn't read the new Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy. Sequels had a bad habit of letting me down.  And like any good woman, I hated that more than anything. So even though I was dying to revisit my effed up friend Bridget Jones, to see where life had taken her, I was afraid.  Afraid it would suck. Afraid Bridget would bug me. Afraid that I wouldn't find moments of brilliance between the pages of her diary again.

And then there was the backlash.  People saying it was terrible. That Bridget had lost her heart. Everyone all pissed off that Helen Fielding had killed off Mark Darcy. (No spoiler alert needed, right?  Don't we all know this by now?) Even as I turned the first pages, I almost found myself finding reasons not to like it--judging her for being an unfit mother, for her dating choices, for being obsessed with texting and Twitter.

But as I delved deeper into the book, I started to remember all the reasons why I loved her--why we all had fallen in love with her in the first place. When the book picks up, things haven't exactly turned out the way we thought they would for Bridget. She's trying to pick up the pieces of her life after losing her greatest love, the one man she felt would ever "get" her. She's trying to find herself again. And in classic Bridget fashion, she's a hot damn mess.

I've always believed that deep down inside, there was a little bit of Bridget in all of us--that we're all just struggling to keep our shit together, some better than others.  Bridget reminds us it's okay not to be perfect--she may take it to the extreme, but the message is still the same: let's not take ourselves so damn seriously. Her honesty about love, parenting and aging will make some people uncomfortable for sure, (um helloooo, have you seen the angry Amazon reviews?!) but at least she's putting it out there.  Fielding does a genius job of making us adore Bridget, even when she makes maddening choices. And in my experience as an author, that's a very difficult thing to do.

For me, reading Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy was like having an drink with an old friend--it was funny, heartbreaking and loving all at the same time. I highly recommend putting the judgement aside and picking it up--and I dare you not to find a little piece of yourself in those pages.

Have you read it? What did y'all think?

Diary of a Debut: Lessons learned in the Big Apple +5 book giveaway!

OMG you guys...we seriously heart New York City! We just returned from a fantastic trip--we had a great time getting lost as hell (more on that later) as we ran to meetings with our publisher, editor, agent and some super cool fellow authors--all of us excitedly talking about the publication of our novel, Your Perfect Life in June (there was even some clapping involved!). The best news? We saw the cover! Y'all--it's absolutely perfect and we cannot wait to show you. (Soon, we promise!)

And just when we thought we knew everything about each other, even MORE things came to the surface of our ever-evolving friendship. Much like the characters in Your Perfect Life, Rachel and Casey, we discovered (without switching bodies!) that there are always more things you can learn--even about your best friend.

Some of you may recall our trip to the Big Apple back in May. Well, without rehashing it  (because you can read all about the dramz here) let's just say it was kind of a shit show. And even though we don't mind watching other people's shit shows on TV (helllooo Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), we don't really care for it in our own lives.

The real lesson we learned?  That sometimes you need to hit rock bottom so you can build your friendship back up.  That it will be stronger once you do and you'll appreciate it more than ever.  The bottom line? We aren't perfect, and our friendship certainly isn't either.  But we wouldn't have it any other way.

And to celebrate our fabulous trip to NYC and how excited we are that our book is being published by Atria and in honor of Thanksgiving and, well, because we love you, we are giving away a bundle of 5 books by some of our fellow Atria/Simon & Schuster authors! The First Affair by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, Heart Like Mine by Amy Hatvany, The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen, The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner and Forever Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winner on Sunday, December 1 after 3pm PST. xoxo

5 Lessons Liz & Lisa learned in NYC

1. Robots need love too

It's effing hard to be vulnerable. Especially now that we're forty. Talk about being set in your emotionally unavailable ways! But during a dinner that *might* have involved more cocktails than food, Lisa *might* have hugged Liz right there in the middle of The Dutch restaurant after Liz *might* have shed the first tear Lisa had seen from her since Bill Clinton was in office. And although Liz claims she hugged Lisa back, Lisa begs to differ. But it was still a hug and it was still a step. A step toward hanging up our hardware and embracing our inner softies.  And maybe even  finally abandoning our alter egos, Short Circuit and WALL E.

2. Separate hotel rooms are the key to...everything!

So who knew that this was the solution?  After we almost killed each other on the last trip-we decided a little space might do us some good.  And by space, we mean the half mile between our hotels.  At first, it felt odd, almost as if we were failing by not being able to spend 24 hours a day together for four straight days.  But when we realized how much more we LIKED each other after a twelve hour break each night, it was hard not to argue that it was the best effing decision we had ever made, not counting when we decided to get rid of our unibrows and start plucking our eyebrows back in college.

3. We are NOT photogenic AT ALL So we sort of already knew this, but, for some reason, we looked extra horrible in most of the pics we took on this trip.  Someone kept closing their eyes (Liz!). And someone else had runaway bride eyes (aka "crazy") in every other shot. (Lisa!) We ruined several great photo opportunities, including one while signing the Atria wall and another with Emma and Nicola, the fabulous authors of The First Affair. Even on the ladder in our agent's dazzling office, we couldn't get our shit together. And somewhere along the way, when the double filters stopped working (you know, when you put the photo through Instagram and then through Facebook editing too?) we gave up and started posting all of our pictures in black and white. #photofail

We finally realized the answer was to go to our beloved DryBar! After that we were instant supermodels! #drybarcustomersforlife

4. Neither of us has a freaking sense of direction!

Okay, so maybe this isn't the biggest revelation considering Lisa ONLY knew how to find places in Cali because she used the ocean as her guide. Don't even get her started on the eye rolls her husband still gives her four years after moving to the Midwest when she asks "which way is North again?" But still. We had our trusty apps that were SUPPOSED to help us, yet we STILL GOT LOST. Like when we went anywhere. And once, we even went to the wrong restaurant (turns out there were six locations) to meet someone. (Not sure we can blame that on Google Maps?) But the important thing we learned through this process is it doesn't have to lead to a murder on the corner of 47th and 7th. (See #5)

5. Pleasantries go a long way

We couldn't have a convo without biting at each other on our last trip to NYC.  This time?  We couldn't Not agree.  Lisa held the door for Liz, Liz let Lisa choose the restaurant.  "Whatever you want" became the catchphrase of our trip.  And for any of you that know us well, you know that is NOT something we usually say. Ever.

THANK YOU so much for following along on our journey and for understanding that we are human as we do it. Fights will happen. People will get lost. Bad photos will be the rule not the exception. But we're still doing what we love and that's what matters. And we couldn't do it without you! . We've only just begun this wild ride and look forward to you joining us all the way! #holdontoyourhats

xoxo

Mary Kay Andrews' 5 Firsts & Lasts

Today's guest: Mary Kay Andrews Why we love her: Because she's Mary Kay Andrews! The best!

Her latest: Christmas Bliss

The scoop: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and Savannah was breezy

But there's trouble afoot - and it's heading toward Weezie.

Seems BeBe’s been holding a big secret back

that would make Santa’s reindeer stop dead in their tracks.

Can these two best friends wriggle out of these twists?

Will they do it in time to ensure CHRISTMAS BLISS?

Our thoughts: Such a warm and cozy winter read--it feels like a blanket you wrap around yourself to keep warm during the cold weather!

Giveaway: One copy of Christmas Bliss, a signed bookplate, a bookmark, a set of recipe cards and an ornament! (US only.) Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winner on Sunday, December 1 after 12 pm PST.

Where you can read more about Mary Kay Andrews: Her website, Facebook and Twitter.

 LIZ & LISA PRESENT...MARY KAY ANDREWS' 5 FIRSTS & LASTS

FIRST KISS: Hmm. I must have been a late bloomer, because the first one I recall was from my high school boyfriend. He was a sailing instructor and almost always had a blob of zinc oxide on his nose. He was very sweet—until he dumped me and broke my teenaged heart. I still think of him when I get a whiff of Brut aftershave.

LAST KISS: From my starter husband—of 37 years. After all these years he still revs my rockets.

FIRST BOOK: Probably a big Golden Book edition of SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. It was wrapped up as a Christmas gift, but I found it early, slipped it out of the wrapping paper, read it and put it back. I remember being entranced with the castaway’s tree house, which started me on a life-long affair with houses—of all kinds.

LAST BOOK: MOONRISE, by Cassandra King, a contemporary re-telling of Daphne DuMaurier’s REBECCA, which is one of my favorite novels ever. Come to think of it, Moonrise, a spooky old mansion in Highlands, N.C.,  is Cassandra’s version of DuMaurier’s Manderley. See—still obsessed with houses after all these years.

FIRST RISK I TOOK: Going off to college to a school in a faraway state, that I’d never laid eyes on, where I didn’t know a soul. It was my 18-year-old attempt at independence. I was miserable at first, missing my then boyfriend, later husband, but I eventually made friends and discovered I liked being out on my own.

LAST RISK I TOOK: Leaving my long-time publisher and beloved editor. I’m a totally risk averse type, and hate change.  I agonized over the decision for weeks, and had many sleepless nights, but in the end, it was one of the wisest decisions I’ve ever made.

HELL YA MOMENT: First: Finally getting my driver’s license at the ripe old age of 21—my driver’s ed instructor terrorized me so badly I was probably the only kid in my high school graduating class to have to hitch a ride to school with my baby sister. When I finally did get my license—the summer before college graduation, I realized I loved being in the driver’s seat—literally and figuratively.

LAST HELL YA MOMENT: Figuring out how to add contacts to my new iPhone.

AHA MOMENT: Realizing I was in charge of my own success—or failure. And that if I didn’t believe in me, nobody else would either.

Thanks, Mary Kay!

Joshilyn Jackson's 5 Do's and a Do Over

Our guest today: Joshilyn Jackson Why we love her: Her unique narrative is fabulous--we love it!

Her latest: Someone Else's Love Story

The scoop: Shandi Pierce is juggling finishing college, raising her delightful three-year-old genius son Nathan, aka Natty Bumppo, and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced parents. She's got enough complications without getting caught in the middle of a stick-up and falling in love with William Ashe, who willingly steps between the robber and her son.

Shandi doesn't know that her blond god Thor has his own complications. When he looked down the barrel of that gun he believed it was destiny: It's been one year to the day since a tragic act of physics shattered his world. But William doesn't define destiny the way others do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in facts and numbers, destiny to him is about choice. Now, he and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head on, making choices that will reveal unexpected truths about love, life, and the world they think they know.

Our thoughts:We loved this one--it was heartwarming and delighful!

Giveaway: TWO copies! Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win--we'll choose the winners on November 21st after 8am PST.

Where to read more about Joshilyn: Her website,

LIZ & LISA PRESENT....JOSHILYN JACKSON'S 5 DOS AND AS DO OVER

DO try yoga. I was an obnoxious yoga poo-poo-er because I am pragmatic to the point of mental illness. Yoga seemed so … woo-woo.  Friends said it would help with my insomnia and lower my anxiety, and I’d mock them, saying, “Yes, let’s do yoga, and then I can eat a hemp rope salad as I ting my little finger bells. Later we can lick some healing quartz and prance around a tree.” Then I tried it, and what do you know? It lowered my anxiety and helped so much with my insomnia. It’s a beautiful discipline. I had to go back and apologize to about nine people.

DO join a book club. I did, just this year, and I can’t think why I didn’t before. It’s marvelous! The club’s picks push my reading boundaries, and I read deeply because I know I have to articulate my reactions to a lively crew of smarty-pantses. Also, we have cookies. Win-Win.

DO get into a relationship with an animal. Dog person, cat person, horse person, rat person---it doesn’t matter. You get a friend who won’t talk your ear off or judge you, and it is spiritually nutritious to act as a care-taker to a dependent creature.

DO pick the experience over the thing. New dishes or play tickets for you and your best friend? Tickets! You have plenty of shoes, so wear the old ones and take your sister out to eat at that new Persian place that serves food you can’t pronounce.  If your car can get you safely from spot A to spot B, why trade it in? Use it to drive someone you love to spot C, which neither of you has ever seen before.

DO tell your own love story. If you are in a relationship, and you want it to last, then formalize the tale of how you came together. Grow it between you by telling it back and forth, remembering all the best parts together. Connect his recollections to yours to find the version you can call “ours.” Immortalize the moment when you knew, when he knew, who knew first, who woke up to it later. Tell it to new friends. Retell it to old friends. Make it good---put in all the funny details, all the tiny, fated hinges that had to swing exactly when and how they did so you could find each other.  Make it one of your Go To “getting to know you” stories. Bring it out, all shiny and funny and sweet, and let it loose at parties. Let it become a large piece of your personal mythology. Telling it reminds you. It solidifies you. It defines who you are as a unit, binds you, and wards you against that small but deadly sin against love—taking your partner for granted.

DO over

I wish I’d learned earlier to ascribe the kindest possible motive to any inexplicable word or action in a social situation. People often speak before they think, and then realize what they’ve blurted out and die a thousand shame-deaths. I used to feel judged or attacked, but I care a lot less what people think of me these days. Not caring has let me see I was taking things personally that were just badly phrased or awkwardly timed. As for the few people who actually mean to be snide or petty? I’ve learned blithe, oblivious kindness is not the reaction they were hoping for, and it’s fun to thwart them by constantly assuming they couldn’t possibly be such jerks on purpose.

Thanks, Joshilyn!

Flash Giveaway: Sarah Jio's Morning Glory

Giveaway: One copy of Sarah Jio's Morning Glory! The Scoop: New York Times bestselling author Sarah Jio imagines life on Boat Street, a floating community on Seattle’s Lake Union—home to people of artistic spirit who for decades protect the dark secret of one startling night in 1959

Fleeing an East Coast life marred by tragedy, Ada Santorini takes up residence on houseboat number seven on Boat Street. She discovers a trunk left behind by Penny Wentworth, a young newlywed who lived on the boat half a century earlier. Ada longs to know her predecessor’s fate, but little suspects that Penny’s mysterious past and her own clouded future are destined to converge.

Our thoughts: Another wonderful novel from Sarah--cozy up near the fire this winter and devour it!

Leave a comment to be entered--we'll choose the winners November 21st after 8am PST.