Guest Post: Taylor Jenkins Reid's advice for After I Do

Happy pub day to one of of favorite authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid! Her latest, After I Do, is a wonderfully insightful look into the pitfalls of marriage, and it's filled with wit. Hands down, one of the best books of 2014!  So of course, we asked her to give us some advice on how to keep the love alive after so many years.  This is what she had to say! (Oh, and go buy After I Do!  Right NOW!)

Taylor Jenkins Reid's advice for After I Do

When I set out to write After I Do, I wanted to put myself in the position of a woman who had allowed her marriage to become stale and dispassionate.

To do this, I took a lens to my own marriage. I started to take a look at the things that my husband and I take for granted from each other, even when things are good. I began paying attention to the habits that, if we were to allow them to fester, might grow into real problems. I tapped into the seemingly benign complacency in my own marriage and took a hard look at how those things might be dangerous in the long run.

Here are the top three things I realized I was taking for granted that I put into the book:

1. My dog used to sleep in the middle of the bed.

I realized that my pit bull had started sleeping in between my husband and I. Gone were the days when I had to sleep touching my husband. Instead, I was happy to let the dog rest in between us. Now, in my defense, there is no greater snuggler than a pit bull. But regardless, once I saw that I had allowed it to happen, I knew it had to stop. So not only did I put a similar thing in the book, but I started making my dog sleep on the side of the bed. I always try to fall asleep touching my husband.

2. I've lost my wallet more times than I can count.

In my vows to my husband, I thanked him for being the kind of man that doesn't get frustrated when I lose my wallet. And over the years, as I've continued losing my wallet, I have gradually started taking for granted that he will be patient about it. I'm pretty sure that if every time I left the house, I had to hear a woman yell, "Oh my God! Where's my wallet?" I'd lose my cool. But he never does.

So I gave that quality to Lauren, and now make an effort to thank my husband every once in a while for always being so cool.

3. Who's going to call the plumber?

My husband is the one that calls people. I do the dishes. I make the bed. I do the laundry. But my husband handles repairmen, dog walkers, vet appointments, and all customer service phone calls, in addition to things like the trash and the yard. I have more than once found myself taking for granted that he will do all of that, and in the same breath, being convinced, "I'm the only one that does any of the work around here."

When Lauren and Ryan start fighting about who was supposed to call the plumber, it came from my realization that I wasn't appreciating all the work my husband does. After that, I started saying thank you more often and tried to stop tallying all of the chores I handled, as if it was a competition.

Ultimately, this is all small stuff. But I'm convinced marriage is small stuff. I'm banking on a happy marriage being made up of small kindnesses every day. So I'm doing my best to protect my marriage by saying thank you and making the dog sleep in the corner. (And using all of this as material.)

Thanks, Taylor!

Tell us--what is YOUR advice for a happy marriage?

Best books of the month: June edition

After an eighteen-month journey, we can’t believe YOUR PERFECT LIFE is finally out. Not to mention it’s in such fabulous company this month!

 1. All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner (out June 17th)

The scoop: Allison Weiss got her happy ending—a handsome husband, adorable daughter, a job she loves, and the big house in the suburbs. But while waiting in the pediatrician’s office, she opens a magazine to a quiz about addiction and starts to wonder…Is a Percocet at the end of the day really different from a glass of wine? Is it such a bad thing to pop a Vicodin after a brutal Jump & Pump class…or if your husband ignores you?

The pills help her manage the realities of her good-looking life: that her husband is distant, that her daughter is acting out, that her father’s Alzheimer’s is worsening and her mother is barely managing to cope. She tells herself that they let her make it through her days…but what if her increasing drug use, a habit that’s becoming expensive and hard to hide, is turning into her biggest problem of all?

With a sparkling comedic touch and a cast of unforgettable characters, this remarkable story of a woman’s slide into addiction and struggle to find her way back up again is Jennifer Weiner’s most masterful work yet.

Our thoughts: This is her best yet!

Giveaway: ONE copy (US). Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Monday, June 23rd after 8am PST.

See Jen on tour >>

2.  The Unexpected Waltz by Kim Wright

The scoop: From the author of the critically acclaimed debut Love in Mid Air comes this moving novel about a middle-aged widow who finds her feet by embracing a new hobby: ballroom dancing.

Kelly Wilder becomes recently widowed from a much older wealthy man with whom she spent her married life doing charity work, building a lovely home, and, as she says, “pretending to be a whole lot more conservative and stupid and nicer than I really am.”

Now, with too much time and money on her hands, Kelly has absolutely no idea what happens next. So on a whim she signs up for a ballroom dancing class, and slowly, step by high-heeled step, begins to rebuild her life with the help of friends old and new: Nik, a young Russian dance teacher who sees the artistic potential she left behind; Carolina, a woman in hospice, anxious to experience a whole lifetime in a few months; and Elyse, Kelly’s girlhood best friend who knows all of her past secrets—including the truth about the man who long ago broke Kelly’s heart.

In the vein of Jennifer Weiner's novels, Unexpected Waltz is a deeply felt story about moving on after loss and finding a new walk—or dance—of life through the power of second chances.

Our thoughts: We've loved Kim since she wrote Love in Mid Air (check that one out too!). This book is a must-add to your summer reading list.

Giveaway: ONE copy (US). Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Monday, June 23rd after 8am PST.

3. The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee

The scoop: Portia Cuthcart never intended to leave Texas. Her dream was to run the Glass Kitchen restaurant her grandmother built decades ago. But after a string of betrayals and the loss of her legacy, Portia is determined to start a new life with her sisters in Manhattan . . . and never cook again. But when she moves into a dilapidated brownstone on the Upper West Side, she meets twelve-year-old Ariel and her widowed father Gabriel, a man with his hands full trying to raise two daughters on his own. Soon, a promise made to her sisters forces Portia back into a world of magical food and swirling emotions, where she must confront everything she has been running from. What seems so simple on the surface is anything but when long-held secrets are revealed, rivalries exposed, and the promise of new love stirs to life like chocolate mixing with cream. The Glass Kitchen is a delicious novel, a tempestuous story of a woman washed up on the shores of Manhattan who discovers that a kitchen—like an island—can be a refuge, if only she has the courage to give in to the pull of love, the power of forgiveness, and accept the complications of what it means to be family.

Our thoughts: The perfect summer escape!

Giveaway: Giveaway: ONE copy (US). Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Monday, June 23rd after 8am PST.

4. Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews

The scoop: A savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime—one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn't believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them. But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in.  Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all.

Told with Mary Kay Andrews' trademark wit and keen eye for detail, mark your calendars for Save the Date!

Our thoughts: We're not sure what her secret is, but her books just keep getting better!

Giveaway: ONE copy (US). Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Monday, June 23rd after 8am PST.

5.  The Never Never Sisters by L. Alison Heller

The scoop:  Marriage counselor Paige Reinhardt is counting down the days to summer, eager to reconnect with her workaholic husband at their cozy rental cottage in the Hamptons. But soon a mysterious crisis at Dave’s work ruins their getaway plans. Paige is still figuring out how to handle the unexplained chill in her marriage when her troubled sister suddenly returns after a two-decade silence. Now, instead of enjoying the lazy summer days along the ocean, Paige is navigating the rocky waters of a forgotten bond with her sister in the sweltering city heat.

As she attempts to dig deeper into Dave’s work troubles and some long-held family secrets, Paige is shocked to discover how little she knows about the people closest to her. This summer, the self-proclaimed relationship expert will grapple with her biggest challenge yet: Is it worth risking your most precious relationships in order to find yourself?

Our thoughts: We just love Alison! She's not only a talented author but a great person! Definitely throw this novel in your beach bag!

Giveaway: ONE copy (US). Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Monday, June 23rd after 8am PST.

6. Right Click by Lisa Becker

The scoop: Love. Marriage. Infidelity. Parenthood. Crises of identity. Death. Cupcakes. The themes in Right Click, the third and final installment in the Click series, couldn't be more pressing for this group of friends as they navigate through their 30's. Another six months have passed since we last eavesdropped on the hilarious, poignant and often times inappropriate email adventures of Renee and friends. As the light-hearted, slice of life story continues to unfold, relationships are tested and some need to be set "right" before everyone can find their "happily ever after."

Our thoughts: Love this series! Download to your e-reader and prepare to devour this delicious novel!

Giveaway: ONE e-copy or print copy (US). Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Monday, June 23rd after 8am PST.

7. The Scenic Route by Devan Sipher

The scoop:Austin Gittleman is running late, and not just for the seaside wedding he's attending. Austin's an eye doctor, who doesn't see what's in front of him, until he crashes into Naomi Bloom, a pastry chef with a taste for adventure. Naomi believes a straight line isn't always the shortest distance between places -- or people.

Do any two people look at love the same way? Austin and Naomi offer conflicting narrative accounts as they circle each other through a series of miscommunications and missed connections. In The Scenic Route, life is what happens on the way to where you're going. It's unpredictable and sometimes fleeting, but it can be pretty wonderful when you bring the right person along for the ride.

Our thoughts: A man that can write books for women. What more could you ask for?

Giveaway: Giveaway: ONE copy (US). Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll select the winners on Monday, June 23rd after 8am PST.

Blog Swap: Ariel and Marybeth of She Reads

We can't think of a better way to celebrate publication day than to host the ladies of one of our favorite book sites--She Reads! And you can find us over at She Reads today chatting with the girls. Yay! We always admired Marybeth and Ariel--like us, they are also authors!  We're so excited that they've agreed to answer all the Qs we've been dying to ask, like how do they do it ALL?!  We must know their secrets!

Marybeth's latest novel is The Bridge Tender.

Here's the scoop: Emily must realize that her dreams didn’t have to die with her first love. When Emily Shaw, a young widow, learns that her late husband's last surprise for her involves returning to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to realize an old dream of theirs, she reluctantly embarks on a summer of discovery in the midst of grief. There, in the oasis of the beach community, she meets a host of townspeople with their own broken dreams and unexpected situations. As the island citizens divide over the fate of a nostalgic bridge, Emily happens upon a man who just may be the one to restore her faith in dreams, hope, and possibly love.

Our thoughts: UH-mazing!

Ariel's latest novel is The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress.

Here's the scoop: They say behind every great man, there's a woman. In this case, there are three. Stella Crater, the judge's wife, is the picture of propriety draped in long pearls and the latest Chanel. Ritzi, a leggy showgirl with Broadway aspirations, thinks moonlighting in the judge's bed is the quickest way off the chorus line. Maria Simon, the dutiful maid, has the judge to thank for her husband's recent promotion to detective in the NYPD. Meanwhile, Crater is equally indebted to Tammany Hall leaders and the city's most notorious gangster, Owney "The Killer" Madden.

Our thoughts: Juicy with a capital J!

Q & A with Ariel and Marybeth

Liz & Lisa: She Reads is an amazing website, both for readers and bloggers. Tell us what inspired you to start the site. And what's the biggest thing you've learned from it?

Marybeth: We started the site after we noticed that we were often asked by friends for book recommendations. We decided to take what we were already doing one on one and do it on a larger scale via the world wide web. As for the biggest thing we've learned, I think it's that-- as far as the selections go-- we have to look at what will reach the largest cross-section of readers. A lot of thought and intention has to go into each selection, with an eye towards what we've already chosen in regards to theme, setting, age or profession of characters, etc. In other words, it's much more complicated than I think either of us anticipated! We work hard to put a variety of consistently excellent novels in front of readers month after month. And we love doing it.

Ariel: Ah, thanks! As Marybeth said, we were already recommending books to friends and family in real life. And after a while it just made sense to do that on a larger scale. But, for me personally, the biggest thing I've learned from running She Reads all these years is what kind of stories readers respond to. Every month for five years we've had our finger on the pulse of what the average woman is reading. What books they're buying when they're at Target and Costco and Barnes and Noble. And we've listened as they've explained why they love those books. As a writer, that's amazing information to have and it's impacted my own novels in very positive ways.

Liz & Lisa: Besides running an incredibly popular website, you both have 2014 releases. (Ariel's debut, THE WIFE, THE MAID AND THE MISTRESS came out earlier this year, MaryBeth's latest, THE BRIDGE TENDER, released June 3rd).  Not to mention, Ariel has four children and Marybeth has six! You must know your secrets: When do you find the time? And where is your favorite place to write?

Marybeth: *laughing* Where do we find the time? We have no idea. We scramble around trying not to lose our ever-loving minds most of the time. And somehow it all comes together. We marvel that it does and are very thankful. Somehow the words get written, the posts go up, and our families (mostly) gets to eat and wear clean clothes. As for my favorite place to write, we have a covered, screened-in area on our deck. I love to write outside on pretty days. It's good to get away from the house (and the never-ending demands within it), but not have to go very far at the same time.

Ariel: Gosh, you make it sound like we actually know what we're doing. Thank you for that! The truth is that both of us are very good at accomplishing a lot in a very short amount of time. We're good at making the most of white space when it appears on the calendar. And we're good at meeting deadlines, whether self-imposed or external. And honestly, I think those are things motherhood has taught us: show up every day and do the work. Over time that adds up. But when it comes to the actual writing, I usually have to leave the house. I write a lot at night and on the weekends. And I often camp out in local coffee shops for marathon writing sessions.

Liz & Lisa: If y'all could give one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?

Marybeth: Hang on. You're about to go on a wild ride. It's not going to be like anything you've ever done. In some ways it'll be better than you expect and in some ways, it'll be worse. That's part of the deal. Most importantly, find a good friend to hang on with, one who understands the writing life, and the ride will be ever so much more enjoyable. You can white knuckle it together and laugh like crazy people. That's what Ariel and I do.

Ariel: Write the book that scares you, the one that you are halfway convinced you can't pull off. That's the book that you'll bring your A-game to. And that's the book that readers will respond to.

Liz & Lisa: Tell us what you are both working on right now--we can't wait!

Marybeth: I'm attempting a historical novel. One of those things that used to be on my "I will never" list. You'd think I'd learn to stop saying never.

Ariel: I'm writing another historical novel based on a true event and I can't say much more than that because I've been sworn to secrecy. Also, I'm still at the beginning stages of writing and it feels big and scary and overwhelming and I'm afraid to jinx myself.

Thanks, ladies!

Your Perfect Life has arrived!

OMG OMG OMG! Finally, the day has come! (Are you sick of us yet? Wait, don't answer that!)

We just want to stop for a moment and say THANK YOU.  Each and every one of you has played a part in us getting here today.  We are so grateful for every tweet, every email, every click on the website.  We heart y'all. For reals!

Don't forget we are partying with Jen Lancaster TONIGHT  at 7pm at Aspen Drive Library--701 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills, IL  60061. You must register for this event online here. No worries if you can't make it--we have plenty of other signings too!  Check them all out here.

And you probably heard (because we couldn't stop Facebooking about it yesterday, sorry!), but we had some fun interviews yesterday!

Our first stop was at Windy City Live in Chicago! We had a blast!

And then, we hung with NYT bestselling author Allison Winn Scotch at Book Talk Nation! We LOVE her!  (She's so damn cute!)

Thank you so much for joining on us on this wild ride.  We can't wait to meet you all and hear what you think of Your Perfect Life!

BEA 2014: We came in like a wrecking ball

First, just have to say that our book baby Your Perfect Life will be born in exactly one week. O.M.G.  And we couldn't be more excited! (PS: Have you ordered your copy yet? And have you entered our book club contest? And are you coming to one of our events?) We hope so! And we're giving one lucky reader a bundle of 5 books to celebrate BEA! Just leave a comment here and you'll be entered to win.  US only.  Contest closes on June 8th after 8am PST.

So...we've just barely finished unpacking from our trip to NYC.  But we knew the first thing we needed to do was sit down and tell you all about it--because, you guys, it was SO RAD! (And before we say anymore, we just have to thank GAWD  we learned the lessons we did last year!) But, don't worry, we did still manage to clumsily stumble our way through it, literally tripping over things and making asses out of ourselves all over the place. (Why do they keep inviting us back?!) But, we were in Heaven. And all you little book whores would have been too.  We snagged upcoming titles from Jojo Moyes, Rainbow Rowell, Isabelle Gilles, Jennifer Weiner, Liane Moriarty, just to name a FEW. Our bags were so heavy that *someone* couldn't stop complaining while *someone else* rolled their eyes at her!

And we fulfilled some serious girl crush fantasies by meeting (And I think scaring, a little bit) Jennifer Weiner, Isabelle Gilles, Rainbow Rowell, Liane Moriarty and Catherine McKenzie, among many, many others.  Let's just say we were very, crazy, stalkerish enthusiastic about meeting them!

Oh, and we had our first interview with Shindig, a really cool online hangout!  And we didn't suck!  In fact, there was a rumor that we totally killed it. (We credit the glass of wine we had at lunch prior...)   We may have started that rumor, but still. (No, really, they actually said we did well!)

See? We were perfect little angels, right?

Um, wrong.  We also had a few slip ups, faux pas, and just some  plain ol' wrecking ball behavior.

1. Karma bites Lisa in the ass as Liz looks on

Lisa really wanted to get latest book by Meg Wolitzer. And the line was very long, like wrapping around the block long. She'd stepped out of it to make a phone call, and then she went on a stealth mission to slip back into the aforementioned line.  The only problem?  She came in like a wrecking ball. Liz watched from afar (she's a rule follower!  No cuts!) as Lisa tried to slide in-between the metal post, knocking it over loudly in the process with her hugeass bag, setting off some line-cutting alarm to every BEA staff member within a thirty foot radius (even though she technically wasn't cutting as she had been there before and her "line friends" begrudgingly accepted her back). But somehow she managed to sweet talk her way into keeping the spot (thank you again, line friends!).  And that staff member even came to OUR signing later while on her break! #lemonsintolemonade

2. Twisting Arms

Speaking of the BEA book signings, we may or may not have used them as our recruiting grounds for our own signing .  And by recruit, we mean beg.  And in one case, mildly threaten. But it worked--we had a legit line the entire time!  But no one was so desperate to see us that they knocked over a metal pole.  (Maybe next year?)

A few people that came to the signing might have commented that we "sure had a lot of energy" as they slowly backed away from the table. Did the fact that we were practically foaming at the mouth scare them away?  Or was it the way we screamed HIIIIIII as they approached?  Hey, at least no one can ever say we're apathetic, right?

3. Cute shoes at any costs #blistersbedamned

We made a pact before leaving: we were going to wear our sassy heels no matter what they did to our feet. (In case you haven't been, at BEA, you are on your feet all. day. long. From 7am to 10pm. People actually recommend wearing cross trainers with your skirt! As if!)  And while Liz enjoyed towering over everyone in her four-inch platforms and Lisa ate up all the compliments on her suede pink heels, we could barely walk by Saturday. But Jennifer Weiner said we had cute shoes on.  Totally. Worth. It!

 4. Open mouth, insert foot

Let's be honest here: we don't always say the right thing.  But our foots seemed to be permanently hanging out of our mouths at BEA. Whether Liz was using incorrect grammar in front of the publisher of Atria Books (one of her finest moments!), or Lisa couldn't remember which character she wrote in YPL, we were basically wreaking havoc everywhere we went.  We tell ourselves that's just part of our charm. #denialisaniceplacetolive

5. Okay, maybe we had one fight

But it was really small.  And we really didn't mean to have at dinner it in front of our agent.  And we're sure it's fine that she went to "wash her hands while we work it out" and didn't come back for ten minutes. In our defense, we hadn't eaten all day. And we had ran Amazing Race style to this restaurant that was too good to have an actual sign (wtf with that, anyway), and then drank the bottle of wine that man with the fake italian accent had recommended for us. (It was the least we could do!)

But like we always do, we made up quickly and put in the archives of our friendship, another story to tell, a lesson to be learned.  And the best part?  We're getting better.  We're getting more careful with each other in the way that matters--becoming more delicate with each other's soft spots.  We'll never be perfect, but we're learning.  And to us, that's what perfect looks like. xoxo

What Sarah Jio had to say about Your Perfect Life

We're just back from an incredible time at #BEA14 and have so many stories to tell (look for the post tomorrow.) But one thing we can tell you now is that it was overwhelming to be in the company of so many talented authors. Authors who supported and championed us. Lil' ol' us?! Who said they couldn't wait to read YOUR PERFECT LIFE (out in just eight days--June 10th!). All of the author-to-author love made our hearts melt. And we couldn't be more thankful. We've been fortunate to have received amazing blurbs from many of these very authors. Like New York Times bestselling author, Sarah Jio, whose sixth novel, GOODNIGHT JUNE, was released on May 27th. We absolutely loved it! And she has a seventh book coming out this Fall, THE LOOK OF LOVE. (Does she ever sleep? She can't!)

Sarah had these kind words to say about YOUR PERFECT LIFE:

“I loved this from the very first line (which will go down in history as the funniest, bravest first line ever). Hilarious, honest and truly touching, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are two important new voices in women's fiction who write about life in such a real, relatable way."

Thank you so much, Sarah! To celebrate, we're giving away a copy of GOODNIGHT JUNE. Just leave a comment to be entered to win. The contest closes on Wednesday, June 4th at 8am PST.

Guest Post: Avoiding the Sophomore Slump by Tracey Garvis Graves

It's something you hear about a lot---authors that have a wildly successful debut novel struggle with their second.  And it's something we've experienced too as finshed up our own sophomore effort recently, constantly wondering if The Status of All Things will stand up to Your Perfect Life  when it's released next year.  So we went to our friend and fabulous author Tracey Garvis Graves to get her opinion. (We're also doing a book signing with her on June 11th at 7pm  at Anderson's Naperville, IL! Come join us!)  Her debut, On The Island, took off like a rocket and became a NYT bestseller. For her second novel, she went in a different direction with Covet, this time writing about a woman struggling after her husband loses his job. But her gamble paid off-- Covet was one of our favorite books of the year--heartfelt and amazing!  So we asked her, how the hell did you do that? This is what she had to say:

**we have one copy of Covet to give away.  Leave a comment here to be entered--contest closes June 1st at 8am PST. 

Avoiding the Sophomore Slump by Tracey Garvis Graves

There are two words that every writer loves unequivocally: THE END. I always type these words in all caps because by the time I'm done with a manuscript, I am DONE. At the other end of the spectrum are two words that strike fear into most writers: sophomore slump. Thankfully, I will never have to worry about these two words again because my sophomore novel is now behind me.

Writing your second book is every bit as scary as it seems, especially if your debut novel sold well. On the Island was rejected by every agent who received my query letter, but later went on to spend 9 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The rights have been sold to twenty-eight foreign publishers and the book has been optioned by MGM for a feature film. I sold 500,000 copies of the self-published edition and was later picked up by Penguin and offered a two-book publishing deal.

After the dust settled a little, the question everyone wanted the answer to was, "What's next?" I felt every ounce of the weight of my sophomore novel resting firmly on my shoulders; at times, it felt heavier than I could bear. On the Island was the most exciting and fulfilling thing that had ever happened to me as a writer, and the success of my debut novel is something I may never be able to replicate.

I had started writing the book that would become my sophomore novel while I was still querying On the Island. Conventional writing wisdom claimed that the best way to take my mind off of the rejections I'd soon be receiving was to start another book. So I did. The inspiration for Covet came from a real-life event. In the fall of 2008 my husband was in danger of being laid off. He was a valued employee and had been with his company for over fifteen years, but the recession was in full-swing and none of that mattered. I was a stay-at-home-mom at the time so the threat of losing our only source of income weighed heavily on my husband and me. Fortunately, he did not lose his job, but we knew many couples who weren’t so lucky. Most of my books start out as a question, and Covet was no different. I wondered, “What if my husband had lost his job? What if he wasn’t able to find another one? What effect would that have had on an otherwise strong marriage? The answers to those questions became the basis for Covet’s storyline. I just had to know what the outcome would be, and I felt that the premise would be relatable to many women.

I've always loved women's fiction (it's the genre I read the most) and really wanted to try my hand at writing it. I never once thought about whether it was a good idea to switch to women's fiction after writing a contemporary romance novel like On the Island, for several reasons. One, On the Island was still just a manuscript on my hard drive when I began writing Covet and two, I can only write the stories that speak to me the loudest. I didn't think about my audience because in the summer of 2011, I didn't have an audience. But I did feel that there was considerable crossover appeal between women's fiction and contemporary romance, so I immersed myself in writing this new story.

Fast forward two years. I'm gearing up for the publication of my sophomore novel, an event that I never imagined I would be blessed enough to experience. Every single thing was different this time around: format (my debut was self-published as an e-book and trade paperback; my sophomore novel was being released by a major publishing house in e-book and hardcover), genre, price, marketing, etc...In hindsight, there was a very slim chance that my sophomore novel would mirror the performance of my debut, although everyone involved (myself included) certainly hoped it would.

Covet was well-received by several literary review publications: Kirkus and Booklist gave it high marks, and one of the best reviews was written by a man at the New York Journal of Books who said that Covet was "Powerful stuff, honest and brutal." There were readers who reached out to say that I'd written their story. They had walked in Claire's shoes and felt every one of her frustrations and struggles. They fell in love with Daniel and their hearts ached for Chris. But Covet was not On the Island. Unlike writers whose debut novel is the first book in a series, I wrote a new stand-alone novel, about characters who were living very ordinary lives. Covet wasn't a romance novel, although it was widely referred to as one. There was no desert island survival. No sharks, tsunamis, or forbidden love. Some readers were probably thinking, "Hey, what's going on here?"

If I had a time machine I might have gone back and told myself to push Covet a little farther back in the queue. I might have told myself to follow up On the Island with a fast-paced, plot-driven romance novel instead of a quieter, character-based book about married women living in the suburbs and dealing with a variety of issues. But I didn't have a time machine and Covet is a book that means a lot to me. It's a book that spoke to a lot of readers because it was relatable.

I could have chosen not to sign that publishing deal. I could have decided not to write again at all for a while, to ride out the safe and happy wave of On the Island a little longer. I could have chosen to write spin-off books until there were no characters from On the Island left to write about (and I did, in fact, write a companion novella to On the Island called Uncharted, which I wrote after finishing Covet). But frankly, that's not what I wanted to do.  I've always said that I'm not interested in writing the same book over and over again. My favorite authors are those who do not follow a formula, who take risks and aren't afraid to experiment. This is the kind of writer I aspire to be, and I hope to have a very long career, with more titles under my belt than I could have ever imagined.

I've received many wonderful e-mails and Facebook messages about Covet, and they mean the world to me. A few months ago a reader wrote to me and said that she'd borrowed Covet from a friend and had photocopied one of the pages, which she then carried around in her pocket. Her e-mail nearly brought me to tears. My sophomore novel may not have reached as many readers as my debut, but when a reader carries a page of your book around in her pocket, you know that the story did exactly what you hoped it would do. I sent this reader a signed copy of Covet, because I knew she would treasure it the same way I treasured her e-mail.

This is the kind of heartfelt connection that made me realize there's more than one way to measure the success of a sophomore novel. Out of all the books I write during the span of my career, I know my readers will have their favorites as well as a few they might not connect with as strongly, and that's okay. I'll keep writing the stories that speak to me the loudest, knowing that my readers will be there to listen.

Thanks, Tracey!

5 Questions for Sarah Jio + Giveaway!

As many of you know, we hold the fabulous Sarah Jio very near and dear to our hearts--we adore both her and her bestselling novels.  We're so happy that she's hanging out with us today to discuss her latest, Goodnight June. And this one really lives up to it's fabulous cover--we both devoured it in one day and agreed it may be her best so far! And guess what--we have one copy to give away!  Leave a comment to be entered.  Contest closes on June 2nd after 8am PST.

The Scoop: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Goodnight Songs) is an adored childhood classic, but its real origins are lost to history. In Goodnight June, Sarah Jio offers a suspenseful and heartfelt take on how the “great green room” might have come to be.

June Andersen is professionally successful, but her personal life is marred by unhappiness. Unexpectedly, she is called to settle her great-aunt Ruby’s estate and determine the fate of Bluebird Books, the children’s bookstore Ruby founded in the 1940s. Amidst the store’s papers, June stumbles upon letters between her great-aunt and the late Margaret Wise Brown—and steps into the pages of American literature.

5 Questions for Sarah Jio

1. We love the concept behind GOODNIGHT JUNE. How did you think of the idea? The idea for the novel literally came to me while sitting in the big overstuffed rocking chair in my son's nursery one night. I have three young boys (ages 7, 5, and 3) and used to read each of them Goodnight Moon when they were babies (and even still now!) before bed. My tradition was to read the book, then sit in the chair until they dozed off in their crib. When Colby, my youngest, was a baby, I began getting really curious about the author of Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown, and what might have been the inspiration for the iconic "great green room". I did some research, and began writing the novel!

2. What other children's books do you read with them/do they love? I remember reading all the old Little Golden Books as a child (the illustrations of 1940s and 1950s life still fascinate me!), and my boys love those too (I mean, who doesn't love Scuffy the Tugboat?!). Now the boys are on to chapter books. They're currently loving The Magic Treehouse series.

3. In this novel, the main character, June, is a runner and so are you. Do you often work out your plot points, character development while running? Or do you leave your writing back at home? Yes! In fact, I plotted out much of this novel on my daily runs. Once I was so distracted with my brainstorming that I tripped on the sidewalk and came home with a bloody knee. (I'm clumsy.) But, injuries aside, I definitely consider running creative time for me. I always come home with great ideas.

4. You have based all of your novels, at least in part, in Seattle. This may be a hard question, but what are your favorite things about the city/how does it inspire your books? I'm so in love with Seattle (as much as I complain about the weather). I grew up here, and it's natural for me to set books in my hometown. I also have found that readers all over the world have a soft spot for Seattle and have come to love my Northwest (specifically, Seattle) settings. While I may vary things in the future, I have yet to lose literary interest in Seattle. In fact, my upcoming novel, THE LOOK OF LOVE (out in November from Penguin/Plume) is basically a love letter to Seattle.

5. THE LOOK OF LOVE is coming out in November. How do you manage to write two books a year, girl??? Your secret, please! I have a mild, and sporadic, case of insomnia, so I write at all hours. Apparently it's genetic as my younger brother does too. He's a computer guy and will often be up at 2:30 or 3:00 coding. I'll sometimes be up at the same time writing a chapter. It's not always fun, but it's one way to get work done! And I really don't have any "rules" for my work, but I do try to write everyday to keep my head in the story; I only start and finish books that are truly haunting me; I drink a lot of coffee (and I mean, A LOT--thank you Nespresso); I sometimes cancel evening plans to write; and I am constantly, and eternally, lusting after the next book idea. I think ultimately it's that very thing that keeps me going...the quest for the next idea.

Calling all book clubs! Fun giveaway for your group!

So...YOUR PERFECT LIFE is out soon! (June 10th!) *squeal* And one of the things we're most excited about is hanging out with book clubs. (If you'll have us!) We've been in our own book club for two since we were 14, when we'd swap and devour Danielle Steel and Judy Blume novels like there was no tomorrow. Reading has always been one of our favorite things, as has dishing with each other--and all of you on this website-- on what we love about the books we've read.

And now, to have the opportunity to talk about our own novel with you and your book club would be humbling to say the least.

Also, we'll bring wine. Did we mention wine?  Maybe we should've said that up front! Or if we aren't/one of us isn't local, we'll Skype in or do a Google Hangout and ship you a bottle-- and we can all drink virtually together. Because wine's wine, right?

We also thought it would be fun to run a CONTEST for y'all. Because you know we're contest/giveaway whores. (Contest will close June 24th at 8am PST!) Here are the deets:

If you book us to talk with your book club, we'll enter you in a contest to win TEN COPIES of one of the most fabulous, thought-provoking, you-can't-stop-turning-the-pages-and-are-so-sad-when-it's-over, novels we've read this year: AFTER I DO by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Here's the scoop: From the author of Forever, Interrupted—hailed by Sarah Jio as “moving, gorgeous, and at times heart-wrenching”—comes a breathtaking new novel about modern marriage, the depth of family ties, and the year that one remarkable heroine spends exploring both.

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

So what do you say? You, your club, us, wine?

Just leave a comment here and/or email us at Lisa@lizandlisa.com or Liz@Lizandlisa.com to set it up!

xoxo

Diary of a debut: Who would Liz & Lisa trade lives with?

In our upcoming debut novel, Your Perfect Life, Rachel and Casey, best friends since childhood, wake up the morning after their high school reunion to discover they've switched bodies. In honor of our book, we decided to choose who we'd swap lives with if we could. HINT: Not each other! Would we elect to be famous? (One of us would!) Or would we want to be younger? (Er, the other would!) And we MUST know, who would you switch with?  Leave a comment letting us know whose life you'd want for a chance to win a signed copy of Your Perfect Life! Contest will close on Saturday, May 17th at 8am PST.

Liz: BOO, the cutest dog in the world.

This was a hard choice for me. Trading lives is a big deal, and I don't want to make the wrong choice.  So I thought--who am I most jealous of on a daily basis?  Who's life do I covet? And that's when it came to me: I'm dying to be BOO, that ridunkously cute teacup Pomeranian that has over TWELVE MILLION LIKES on Facebook.  Yes, you read that right. TWELVE.  MILLION!

You see, I've become a bit obsessed with this dog.  The way he rocks booties and sunglasses? Genius! The endless pampering and naps in his daily life? So. JEALOUS. The perpetual smile he has in every picture, as if his life couldn't get ANY better? I must know if he really feels that way!

So yes, sign me up for a few days prancing around in Boo's paws, eating the filet mignon I imagine his owner preparing him each morning, sleeping the day away when she's not taking adorable pics of him and getting 650k likes instantly when they are posted. Not to mention, I've always wanted to be considered dainty! Who wants all the human problems that would come along with switching with Angelina Jolie or Fergie? I want to be Boo!

Lisa: My three-year-old daughter

When I had to think of the person who's life I'd want, whose life I was insanely jealous of, the answer popped into my head instantly. My three-year-old, daughter.

Why wouldn't I want to dress up like a princess every day--donning the most beautiful gowns and crowns while spinning aimlessly and singing at the top of my lungs to the Frozen soundtrack?  Why wouldn't I want to have someone make all of my meals for me? Why wouldn't I sign up for a life filled with coloring rainbows, playing at the park and meeting my idols? (Pictured: Not just meeting her hero, Cinderella, but getting personally escorted by her through Disneyland?) And who wouldn't want to nap every day (well she might not, but I would, dammit) and be in bed by 7:00 pm every night? Talk about beauty sleep!

She also looks at the world in such a pure way. She remarks on a beautiful day--a blue sky, a bright sun. She notices the tulips as we walk the dog. She giggles constantly. She is in awe of everything. And she also has no clue there is any bad out there. To be that blissfully ignorant would be amazing!

Not to mention, I wouldn't have any damn wrinkles and my skin would constantly glow!

Also, I would NOT throw any fits. I would be the perfect child at all times. Right, Mom?

Best books of the Month: May Edition

Spring has FINALLY arrived and has brought with it so many great new books!  Her's our list for May--we've got some great giveaways too!

 The Cure For The Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick

The Scoop: Flight attendant Summer Benson lives by two rules: Don’t stay with the same man for too long and never stay in one place. She’s about to break rule number one by considering accepting her boyfriend’s proposal—then disaster strikes and her world is shattered in an instant.

Summer heads to Black Dog Bay, where the locals welcome her. Even Hattie Huntington, the town’s oldest, richest, and meanest resident, likes her enough to give her a job. Then there’s Dutch Jansen, the rugged, stoic mayor, who’s the opposite of her type. She probably shouldn’t be kissing him. She definitely shouldn’t be falling in love.

After a lifetime of globe-trotting, Summer has finally found a home. But Hattie has old scores to settle and a hidden agenda for her newest employee. Summer finds herself faced with an impossible choice: Leave Black Dog Bay behind forever, or stay with the ones she loves and cost them everything....

Our thoughts:  A page turner, just in time for Summer!

Giveaway: ONE copy! (US only) Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

Vintage by Susan Gloss

The Scoop: At Hourglass Vintage in Madison, Wisconsin, every item in the boutique has a story to tell . . . and so do the women who are drawn there.

Violet Turner has always dreamed of owning a shop like Hourglass Vintage. When she is faced with the possibility of losing it, she realizes that, as much as she wants to, she cannot save it alone.

Eighteen-year-old April Morgan is nearly five months along in an unplanned pregnancy when her hasty engagement is broken. When she returns the perfect 1950s wedding dress, she discovers unexpected possibilities and friends who won't let her give up on her dreams.

Betrayed by her husband, Amithi Singh begins selling off her old clothes, remnants of her past life. After decades of housekeeping and parenting a daughter who rejects her traditional ways, she fears she has nothing more ahead for her.

An engaging story that beautifully captures the essence of women's friendship and love, Vintage is a charming tale of possibility, of finding renewal and hope when we least expect it.

Our thoughts:  A sparkling debut!

Giveaway: ONE copy! (US only) Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

The From Aways by CJ Hauser

The Scoop: Two women come to Maine in search of family, and find more love, heartbreak, and friendship, than they’d ever imagined one little fishing town could hold.

When Leah, a young New York reporter, meets Henry, she falls in love with everything about him: his freckles, green thumb, and tales of a Maine childhood. They marry quickly and Leah convinces Henry to move back to Menamon. As Leah builds a life there, reporting for The Menamon Star and vowing to be less of an emotional screw-up, the newlyweds are shocked to discover that they don’t know each other nearly so well as they thought they did.

When Quinn’s mother dies, she tracks down the famous folk-singer father she’s never known, in Menamon. Scrappy and smart-mouthed, Quinn gets a job at the local paper, an apartment above the town diner, and tries to shore up the courage to meet her father. But falling in love with her roommate, Rosie, was never part of the plan.

These two unruly women’s work relationship at The Star deepens into best-friendship when they stumble onto a story that shakes sleepy Menamon—and holds damaging repercussions for Leah’s husband and Quinn’s roommate both. As the town descends into turmoil, both women must decide what kind of lives they are willing to fight for.

Our thoughts: We think you'll flip for this one--throw in your suitcase!

Giveaway: ONE copy! (US only) Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

In The Mirror by Kaira Rouda

The Scoop: If you knew you may die soon, what choices would you make?  Jennifer Benson has it all: a successful career, a perfect husband, two kids and abundant friendships. The only problem is she may be dying. IN THE MIRROR is the realistic love story about a woman facing a deadly illness, and her loves past and present. It's a story that unfolds with a delightful blend of humor and poignancy, ringing true in the heart of anyone who has ignored a warning of her own. Our thoughts: Thought provoking and satisfying!

Giveaway: ONE copy! (US only) Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

The Accidental Book Club by Jennifer Scott

The scoop: Jean Vison never expected to run a book club, until her life took an unexpected turn. Now, with Jean’s husband gone, what began as an off-the-cuff idea has grown into a group of six women who meet the second Tuesday of every month for a potluck supper, for wine and laughter—and for books.

There’s Loretta, who deals with the lack of intimacy in her marriage by diving into erotic novels. Dorothy, whose ruffian sons are a never-ending source of stress. May entertains the group with her outrageous dating stories, while Mitzi finds something political to rant about in every book—including Loretta’s trashy romances. Even Janet, with her mousy shyness and constant blush, has helped Jean rediscover the joy in life.

So when Jean’s family starts unraveling again—her daughter forced into rehab and her troubled teen granddaughter, Bailey, coming to live with her in the interim—she turns to the book club for comfort and support. And, together, they all, even Bailey, discover that family is what you make of it, especially the family you choose…

Our thoughts: Totally charming summer read!

Giveaway: ONE copy! (US only) Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

The Lonely Hearts Club by Brenda Janowitz

The scoop: Jo Waldman lives life to her own soundtrack—working for her father by day while pursuing her music career in NYC’s downtown clubs at night. Music is her passion, along with her boyfriend, Jesse, who shares her dreams of making it big. Jo's old band, The Lonely Hearts Club, came this close to getting a huge recording contract, and she’s just biding her time, waiting for lightning to strike twice. The music business is tough, but so is Jo.

So when Jo's father fires her and Jesse breaks up with her, Jo doesn’t get upset—she just wants to rage. Dusting off her computer, Jo writes a blog entry, pouring her heart out about the shortcomings of love. Except that no sooner does Jo hit “upload” than the site sends a mass e-mail to the entire Lonely Hearts mailing list, alerting everybody Joe has ever met that she's been brutally dumped. All Jo wants to do is hide under the covers, but to her surprise, supportive e-mails start flowing in—many of them from complete strangers. Apparently, her anti-love rant has struck a chord. The Lonely Hearts Club Blog develops a huge following, even capturing the eye of Jo’s sworn nemesis, bubble gum pop princess Amber Fairchild. Jo soon becomes an icon for all things “anti-love,” and at her fans' request, she begins to plan The Lonely Hearts Club Ball—a massive anti-love Valentine's Day party to end all parties.

Jo quickly becomes the poster girl for lonely hearts, and it inspires her to start writing music again. There's only one problem: the web programmer helping Jo with her site is simply dreamy. Jo's never been very good at depriving herself of anything, but if this budding romance is exposed, she'll be revealed as an 'anti-love' fraud and risk losing all the people who have grown trust her voice. So is it time to start singing love songs, or time to pick up the guitar and return to the hard rock that almost got The Lonely Hearts signed in the first place? Either way, Jo's got some big decisions to make, and it looks like she's going to have to take one step closer to doing something she never thought she'd do—becoming a grownup.

Our thoughts: Hilarious--perfect for the pool this summer!

Giveaway: One eCopy! Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

Finding Mr. Righteous by Lisa De Pasquale

The Scoop: Lisa was a public relations director and event planner in D.C. A Christian-in-name-only, Lisa dated freely in spite of her insecurities. An Atheist. A Catholic. A Quaker. A Preacher. A Jew. Some gave her the answers she yearned for, while others left her with more questions. As Lisa’s star rose in the political movement, her quest to find her Mr. Righteous led her down a path of religious confusion and discovery. Lisa navigates her journey with humor and humility. Will she find her soul mate or save her soul? Is it too much to ask for both?

Our thoughts: Another winner for your beach bag!

Giveaway: ONE copy! (US only) Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

The Blonde by Anna Godberson

The scoop: At the height of the Cold War, Marilyn Monroe was the most infamous woman in the world. But what if she was also a secret Soviet spy?

In 1947, a young, unknown Norma Jeane Baker meets a mysterious man in Los Angeles who transforms her into Marilyn Monroe, the star. Twelve years later he comes back for his repayment, and Marilyn is given her first assignment from the KGB: uncover something about JFK that no one else knows.

But a simple job turns complicated when Marilyn falls in love with the bright young President, and learns of plans to assassinate Kennedy. More than anything, Marilyn wants to escape her Soviet handlers and save her love—and herself. Desperate, ruthless and brilliant, what she does next will leave readers reeling.

Our thoughts: Intriguing--this one will keep you up at night!

Giveaway: ONE copy! (US/Canada) Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman

The Scoop: Beth Hoffman’s bestselling debut, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, won admirers and acclaim with its heartwarming story and cast of unforgettably quirky characters. Now her flair for evocative settings and richly drawn Southern personalities shines again in her compelling second novel, Looking for Me.

Teddi Overman found her life’s passion in turning other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques. Leaving her hardscrabble Kentucky childhood behind, Teddi opens her own store in Charleston. She builds a life as unexpected and quirky as her many customers, but nothing alleviates the haunting uncertainty she’s felt since her brother Josh mysteriously disappeared. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi returns to Kentucky, embarking on a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family—and find herself.

Our thoughts: We love Beth Hoffman and this does not disappoint!

Giveaway: ONE copy! (US only) Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

On Grace by Susie Orman Schnall

The scoop: Meet Grace, who is actually excited about turning 40 in a few months, that is, until her job, marriage, and personal life take a dizzying downhill spiral. Can she recover from the most devastating time in her life, right before it's supposed to be one of the best? Fans of Emily Giffin will love Susie Orman Schnall's debut, which is all about rediscovering yourself--with grace--well after you think it's even possible anymore. On Grace deals with themes such as divorce, infidelity, re-entering the workforce after children, breast cancer, and of course, turning 40. This novel is sure to hit a chord with many women readers.

Our thoughts: An entertaining read that you will relate to!

Giveaway: ONE copy (US). Leave a comment to enter. Contest will close on May 25th at 8am PST.

Happy reading!

5 Questions for Cecelia Ahern + giveaway!

We're HUGE fans of Cecelia Ahern (nine books, anyone?) and were thrilled when she made time to answer some questions! (Yay, yay, yay!) Did you know she's not just an author? She develops TV shows too... We delve into that and some other fun facts about Cecelia below. But first, her latest novel, ONE HUNDRED NAMES, is out in paperback now (it's just as good the second time around!) and is the perfect book to take on your summer vacation. So pick up your copy right away. And, if you leave a comment on this post, you'll be entered to win one copy (US). The contest closes May 25th at 8am PST. The scoop: Scandal has derailed Journalist Kitty Logan's career, a setback that is soon compounded by an even more devastating loss. Constance, the woman who taught Kitty everything she knew, is dying. At her mentor's bedside, Kitty asks her—what is the one story she always wanted to write?

The answer lies in a single sheet of paper buried in Constance's office—a list of 100 names—with no notes or explanation. But before Kitty can talk to her friend, it is too late.

Determined to unlock the mystery and rebuild her own shaky confidence, Kitty throws herself into the investigation, using her skills and savvy to track down each of the names on the list and uncover their connection. Meeting these ordinary people and learning their stories, Kitty begins to piece together an unexpected portrait of Constance's life. . . and starts to understand her own.

5 QUESTIONS FOR CECELIA AHERN

1. L&L: ONE HUNDRED NAMES is your ninth novel and the premise is so intriguing. How do you keep thinking of such great ideas? And how did you come up with this one?

Cecelia Ahern: I came up with this idea in the most unusual way. I was half-watching the MTV movie awards a few years ago and an actress appeared onscreen to introduce an exclusive trailer to her new movie. I thought that she said it was called ONE HUNDRED NAMES and immediately I stopped what I was doing and paid attention. In the time it took me to actually watch the trailer I created an idea of what I thought it could be about. A journalist finds a list of names, she needs to write a story which is incredibly important to her career, to her life but in order to write it, she has to find out who the people are on the list and how they're linked. The idea came to me instantly. By the time I had this idea I realized I had completely misheard the title of the movie and it was actually called 'The Hunger Games'. I was so excited that I had my new idea and title!

2. L&L: We just have to say this. Samantha Who? was one of our favorite TV shows and we were so sorry when it ended. Any plans to develop another TV program? And on that note, what are you watching now?

CA: I loved Samantha Who? It was such an exciting show to be part of and I certainly caught the TV bug after that. I've since created a TV movie called Three Wise Women for Hallmark, two TV movies for ZDF which aired in February called, Between Heaven and Here and My Whole Half Life. I'm currently developing more TV ideas for ZDF. My novels The Book of Tomorrow and Thanks for the Memories have both being optioned for TV series so I'll be involved in their development, so there's lots of TV activity.

My favourite show on TV is Homeland, I like Game of Thrones, and just started watching True Detectives, I never grow tired of Law and Order's Special Victim's Unit. BBC's Sherlock is exceptional.

3.L&L: When you are writing your books, do you think about the celebrities who you'd want to play your main characters in a movie? If so, who did you picture while writing ONE HUNDRED NAMES?

CA: No I never picture celebrities when I create my characters, I just create entirely new people in my mind and I never think about them becoming TV or films while I'm writing. I have to focus on my story as a novel, immerse myself in that, and if the TV and film people are interested in what I do, then that's a lovely bonus. I've been very lucky to have such incredible actors in all of my work so far.

4.L&L:  What books have your read lately/are you reading now?

CA: I'm currently reading 'Life after Life' by Kate Atkinson which is so fantastic I can't wait to finish it but don't want to finish it at the same time. The book before that was The Never List by Koethi Zan, AppleTree Yard by Louise Doughty and before that was The GoldFinch by Donna Tartt which is definitely one of the best books I've ever read.

5. L&L: Can you give us any details about your next book?

CA: My tenth novel is called 'How To Fall in Love' and it's about a character named Christine who comes across a man on a bridge who is threatening to jump. In the panic that ensues she ends up doing a deal where she has two weeks to convince him that his life is worth living, that life can be beautiful. The problem is she is not feeling particularly joyful about her life at all, having just left her husband, and so they both go on a journey to try to fall back in love with life again.

Thanks so much, Cecilia!

Pictures of Perfection: Our 30 day challenge

Our novel, Your Perfect Life, is out in just under a month--29 days to be exact! (June 10th!) Woo hoo! One of the themes we explore in our book is the idea that no one's life is perfect, although it might seem like it is. Our protagonists, Rachel and Casey, who've been best friends since childhood, drink a magical shot and wake up in each other's bodies the morning after their twentieth high school reunion. And they find out very quickly that the grass is not as green on the other side as they might have thought.

So to celebrate the book's upcoming release, we've decided to have a little fun with this idea of "perfect" and challenge ourselves to post a picture every day that represents what perfection means to us. Maybe it will be a cocktail at the end of a long day or a picture of Josh Duhamel looking really, really hot or an unmade bed that we chose to leave that way. Look for our posts on Instagram and on Facebook and please join in and post your own photos too (be sure to add the hashtag #yourperfectlife) because we'd love to see what symbolizes perfection for you.

To see our first photo, head over to Instagram/Facebook now. It's the card Lisa's three-year-old gave her for Mother's Day yesterday. It equal parts made her laugh (because of what it says) and tear up (because she did such a good job trying to write her name) and he juxtaposition of these two ideas is just perfect.

And if you haven't already, check out how you can order a copy of Your Pefect Life!

Liz & Lisa's Book Tour Events!

Hi! We can't believe the publication date for YOUR PERFECT LIFE is just a little over a month away! (June 10th!) Pre-order info here >>

And guess what? We're going on tour!

And guess what else? Jen Lancaster, Tracey Garvis Graves, Allison Winn Scotch and Anita Hughes will be joining us at various stops along the way!  It doesn't get much better than that!

We hope to see your gorgeous faces at one of our events! Come one, come all and please bring friends because we need more than just our moms showing up! :)

Chicago & surrounding suburbs

Downtown Chicago    Saturday, June 7th & Sunday, June 8th-

Printers Row Lit Fest

Location: Printers Row Lit Fest is located on historic Printers Row, on and around the area of Dearborn Street, from Congress to Polk streets in Chicago. (Google map of area)

Deets: Great writers are the foundation of Printers Row Lit Fest, which aims to start a citywide conversation about books and ideas. Each year, Printers Row Lit Fest hosts more than 200 authors, performers and presenters in a variety of programs. More info here >>

Online Chat  Monday, June 9th @7pm ET

BookTalk Nation

Location: Google hangout

Deets: Virtual book signing via Google hangout with Allison Winn Scotch. She'll be asking us all the hard-hitting Qs you're dying to know. (Or just asking us about the season finale of Scandal.  Either way, it will be fun!)

Lake Forest, IL    Tuesday, June 10th @7pm

Lake Forest Book Store

Location: Sullivan Center

635 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills, IL  60061

847-996-6800

Deets: Talk & signing with Jen Lancaster. Like many of you, we worship Jen!  Come join us!

** You must register for this event: Register online here >>

Naperville, IL  Wednesday, June 11th @7pm

Anderson's Book Shop

Location: 123 W Jefferson Ave., Naperville, IL 60540 630-355-2665

Deets: Talk & signing with Tracey Garvis Graves!  TGG will be in da' house--we LOVE Covet, and feel so lucky that she's joining us!

Lincoln Park, IL   Thursday, June 12th @7pm

The Book Cellar

Location: 4736-38 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60625

773-293-2665

Deets: Talk & Signing. Want a night out in downtown Chitown? Come see us!

Southern California

Huntington Beach, CA  Monday, June 16th @ 7pm

Barnes & Noble

Location: 7881 Edinger Ave. #110, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

714-897-8781

Deets: Talk & signing. More info here >> We'll be kicking off the So Cal leg of the tour in the OC. Spice up your Monday by joining us!

Manhattan Beach, CA   Tuesday, June 17th @ 7pm

Pages Book Store

Location: 904 Manhattan Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA

310-318-0900

Deets: Talk & signing. More info here >> LA peeps!  You must come see us here!

La Jolla, CA  Thursday, June 19th @7:30pm

Warwick's Book Store

Location: 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla, CA

858-454-0347

Deets: Talk & Signing. (And maybe some wine too!) More info here >> We're hitting San Diego, our hometown, and can't wait to reunite with all of our peeps!

Laguna Beach, CA   Friday, June 20th @6pm

Laguna Beach Books

Location: 1200 S. Coast Highway

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

949-494-4779

Deets: Talk & Signing with Anita Hughes. We adore Anita and can't wait to chat with her--we can't think of a better way to spend a Friday night.  Bring your honey and join us for a date night!

Laguna Niguel, CA   Sunday, June 22nd @2pm

Laguna Niguel Library

Location: 30341 Crown Valley Parkway Laguna Niguel, CA, 92677

949-249-5252

Deets: Talk & Signing with Anita Hughes. More info here >> Another day with Anita!  How lucky are we?!

What Sarah Pekkanen said about Your Perfect Life

We could sing Sarah Pekkanen's praises all day long. She has it all--she's funny, smart, sweet, gorgeous (check out that picture to the left!) and talented. (In fact, her fifth novel, CATCHING AIR, is out today! So,  stop reading and go buy a copy, then come back and see what else we have to say!) So when Sarah not only agreed to read our novel, Your Perfect Life, but took the time to write kind words about how much she loved it, we were like two teenage girls who'd just been asked to the dance by our crushes. We were giddy as hell! And her perfect words are now on our back cover for all to see!

Here's what Sarah had to say about Your Perfect Life:

“Your Perfect Life puts a fresh twist on a ‘Freaky Friday’-scenario: What if you switched bodies with your best friend, and got the life you’d always secretly coveted? I adore Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke’s witty, winning style and gobbled up their debut novel.”

Thank you so much, Sarah! To celebrate, we're giving away a copy of CATCHING AIR. Just leave a comment to be entered to win. The contest closes on Thursday, May 8th at 8am PST.

Liz & Lisa's Book Club: Catching Air by Sarah Pekkanen

Calling all Sarah Pekkanen fans! Mark your calendars because tomorrow is a BIG day. May 6th is the release of Sarah's fifth (and we say, BEST!) novel, Catching Air--a story full of rich characters that will stay in your thoughts long after you've finished reading the book. So pre-order a copy for for someone you love, just in time for Mother's Day. We absolutely adore Sarah as a person because she's warm and hilarious (to have fun on her upcoming book tour, she plans to bring Ryan Gosling's head on a stick!) and we also love, love, love the way she writes. *swoon* We also have ONE copy (US) for giveaway. Just leave a comment to be entered to win. The contest will close at 8pm tonight (May 5th).

The scoop: From the internationally bestselling author of four books, including The Opposite of Me, a vibrant, compulsively readable novel about two married couples who pursue a dream to open a bed-and-breakfast in small-town Vermont.

In her previous works including The Best of Us, “rising star” (Library Journal) Sarah Pekkanen captivated readers by penning “refreshingly introspective, sharply realistic, and tenderly humorous” novels (Booklist) that had readers “flying through the pages” (Hoda Kotb, Today show). Now, in Catching Air, Pekkanen turns an unflinching eye on the tangled relationships of two pairs of thirty-somethings.

A chance to run a B&B in snowy, remote Vermont—it’s an offer Kira Danner can’t resist after six soul-crushing years of working as a lawyer in Florida. As Kira and her husband, Peter, step into a brand new life, she quells her fears about living with the B&B’s co-owners: Peter’s sexy, irresponsible brother Rand, and Rand’s wife, Alyssa…who is essentially a stranger.

For her part, Alyssa sees taking over the B&B as the latest in a string of adventures. Plus, a quiet place might help her recover from the news that she can’t bear children. But the idyllic town proves to be anything but serene: Within weeks, the sisters-in-law are scrambling to prepare for their first big booking—a winter wedding—and soon a shy, mysterious woman comes to work for them. Dawn Zukoski is hiding something; that much is clear. But what the sisters-in-law don't realize is that Dawn is also hiding from someone…

Relatable and dynamic, Catching Air delves deeply into the vital relationships that give shape to women’s lives.

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

Liz & Lisa's Book Club: Catching Air by Sarah Pekkanen

1. Catching Air is such a great title and we love the tie in to the novel. So which came first--the title or the idea of catching air when snowboarding/in life? Tell us the story behind it. 

I'm so happy you love the title, because this is the first book I've titled on my own (even though it's the fifth one I've written!) For some reason, titles are the hardest part of the process for me. They're like a specialized form of haiku - you have to inject so much meaning into a few small words. But CATCHING AIR came to me early on, a gift from the title gods. I knew I wanted to set the novel near a ski resort, so I began to Google ski terms, and stumbled upon CATCHING AIR. I knew the term would convey something my characters were seeking, and I also hoped it sounded catchy and memorable.

2. After reading your book, we now have a VERY strong desire to open a B&B. you made it sound so desirable. What kind of research did you do?

Ha! Well, it IS a lot of work (remember how stressed Kira became while planning for the wedding?) I actually read Running a Bed&Breakfast for Dummies (hey, if the title fits!) and did some on-line research. I knew I needed to weave in realistic details, such as the required visits by health inspectors, but for me the fun part was focusing on the very different guests who visited the B&B, and their interactions with my three main characters. In a way, the guests gave my main characters a chance to intimately glimpse other lives and relationships - you learn a lot about people when you're staying in close quarters - which was a kind of gift, as it helped them sort out what they truly wanted in life.

3. You usually check into a  hotel to finish the book you are working on. Can you share some details about that process? Why a hotel and is it always the same one? Do you have a routine? How many words do you typically write?

I do! I have a busy life, with three active boys who attend three different schools, so my writing time is very fractured. Sometimes I need a chunk of time to concentrate - this usually comes toward the end of the book, when I'm struggling to synthesize story lines - so I pack a little bag and head to a hotel for an intimate 24-hours with my laptop. Other than perhaps stepping out for a quick meal or coffee, all I do is sit there in my pajamas and write, write, write. Usually I go to one of the Kimpton hotels in D.C., since they're so pretty (and they have a complimentary wine hour in the evening) and I can get anywhere from 5,000 to 8,000 words written, depending on the complexity of the scenes.

4. We are still thinking about the characters from Catching Air. Are there any characters from your novels that stick with you more than others?

Thank you! I have such affection for all of my characters - they're kind of like my children, in a way. I feel oddly protective of them, maybe because I know they're doing their best, despite their flaws. As with my kids, it's impossible for me to pick a favorite from among my books and characters.

5. We just read that you're planning your next book tour. What can you tell us about it? (No pressure, but we hope you are coming to L.A. and Chicago!)

I think I will be coming to Chicago though not L.A. this time, sadly. Last year I did a mini-tour with Jennifer Weiner, which was amazing, and I learned so much from her (plus she's one of the funniest women on the planet, so we had a blast together!) I'm thrilled that my publisher Atria is sending me on my first solo book tour for CATCHING AIR. It will be a whirlwind, as I'll be in each city for about 24 hours, but I'll be hitting Lexington KY, Mobile AL, Memphis TN and New Orleans, as well as Bethesda, Baltimore. Arlington VA and Chicago. I've been giving a lot of thought to book tours and what I can do to make the experience enjoyable for readers. It's truly an honor when readers come out to see an author, so I want to do everything I can to make the experience fun. I don't plan to just stand up at a podium and read from my novel - in fact, I don't think I'll read from it at all! Instead, I'll tell funny stories about the creative process, and do giveaways of books by new authors that I love (including YOUR PERFECT LIFE!), plus a few other surprises.

Thanks, Sarah!

Stephanie Elliot on why she wrote her controversial novel, A Little Bit of Everything Lost

Today's guest: Stephanie Elliot Why we love her: She's the best. From supporting other authors on her Manic Mommy Reads & Reviews Facebook page to writing her own novels, she's a superstar.

Her latest: A Little Bit of Everything Lost

The scoop: At 19, Marnie plunged into first love with Joe, a guy who was completely wrong for her. Their romance was fast and exhilarating and like nothing Marnie had ever experienced or understood. Just as quickly as it began, it was over, with no explanation. He left her with unanswered questions and unexpected feelings of loss and regret, and a quiet grief she would carry with her for the next fifteen years.

When Joe returns, Marnie is a 34-year-old wife and mother to two rambunctious little boys, who is slowly healing from a devastating loss. All the emotions she suppressed from the past fifteen years surge to the surface, threatening to ruin her marriage and destroy her family. She'll need to confront the one person who hurt her the most to realize that love and loss sometimes go hand in hand… and that you have to live with some of your toughest choices for the rest of your life.

A Little Bit of Everything Lost is part coming-of-age/part love story. It's a story about a woman desperate to make peace with the past. It's for all women who have ever experienced the magnitude of first love, whether it was a lasting bond or a fleeting moment. Because first love - while it might not have been the best love - is a love none of us ever forgets.

What she's dishing on: Why she wrote her latest novel, which, in Stephanie's own words, has content that could be considered sensitive to readers.

Giveaway:  TWO e-copies. Just leave a comment to be entered to win. Contest closes on May 2 at 8am PST.

The Background Behind A Little Bit of Everything Lost

By Stephanie Elliot

When I began thinking about writing what would become A Little Bit of Everything Lost I was a stay-at-home mom to three very young children. I can tell you that I was bored and tired and thinking about all of the 'what-ifs' in life, and remembering what it was like to be free of responsibility back in college and not having a care in the world. I was also thinking back to someone that I had what I would refer to as a "not-really-real" relationship with, one that ended as quickly as it started, and one that ended without any resolve. It was one of those flingy type things that was never defined but left me shaken, for lack of a better description, someone that I never really understood, someone mysterious and elusive, and so I decided to write my own ending.

It turns out I didn't really write my story at all. I took very few pieces of the truth, and then found Marnie one day and created her story. In reading what other writers say about their books, I think many do this -- hear about something that happens in the real world, or they think about an incident in their own lives, and then they expand it into something larger. That's what I did with A Little Bit of Everything Lost. Marnie did have a relationship with Joe. So did I. But that's basically where the truths and similarities ended.

I wrote about some hard topics as well, and feared that it might put off some readers, which made me very apprehensive about putting this book on amazon. I wrote about these topics because I think women place a lot of blame on themselves for choices made when they are young and don't ever internally let go of the guilt they have. And while the past can't be undone, we should be able to understand that we are given choices because they are there for us to make.

I also wanted to show what it's like to be 19 again, to be so free in ourselves that we can do whatever we felt like, without thinking, and have those feelings and experiences. Everyone has a first love, and I feel that most women can relate to those first feelings of wanting to be with someone so desperately that we'd do anything to please that person, things we could never imagine in our whole lives doing. It's a universal feeling and I wanted to experiment with that so I didn't hold back in the writing of Joe and Marnie's relationship.

In Marnie's current state, at age 34, married with two crazy little boys, I wanted to show readers how it is for a lot of moms - the day-in and day-out of taking care of a family while a husband travels, how hard life can be. And what can happen when one person wants something that the other doesn't - how it can tear a family apart. These are the things that I wanted to explore in A Little Bit of Everything Lost.

What I hope that readers will take away from A Little Bit of Everything Lost is that we women are hard on ourselves, we make mistakes, we can forgive and let go of any guilt we may carry in our hearts from past or present mistakes in our lives (And Marnie makes a few!). And that no matter what someone's first love was like, whether it was fleeting moment, or a heartbreaking dramatic experience, or even if you're still with your first love, it's not something any one of us easily… or ever… forgets.

Thanks, Stephanie!

Guest Post: 5 Things I wish I'd known about publishing by Catherine McKenzie

The one thing we keep learning on our publishing journey is how much we DON'T know. So we turned to savvy bestselling author Catherine McKenzie for some advice--what did she wish she knew about publishing?  She gives some great advice! and she should know--she's had two fantastic releases in 2014.  Hidden, (Which we LOVED, btw) and Spun (Out TODAY and only 2.99!).

5 Things I wish I had known about publishing by Catherine McKenzie

Publishing Can Be A Full-Time Job. Don't Let It Be.

I'm fond of saying that I took my fun hobby of writing books (I work full time as an attorney) and turned it into a second job. And while this is a quip, it's one with a deep truth to it. There are so many steps to getting a novel out into the world after you get your book deal or decide to self-publish (and a million other steps once it is out in the world) that it can easily take up all your time. All your writing time, anyway. The important thing is: not to let it. Your job is to write books. While the rest of it is important and necessary, you need to continue to make writing a priority so you can get that second book done. And so on. Doing that is hard. It takes discipline. But that's how you got your first book done, right? So you know how to do it and you can do it again.

Promoting A Novel Can Be A Full-Time Job. Don't Let It Be.

This is very much related to the point above. Having a website, a blog, a Twitter feed, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, Stumbler (I just made that last one up (I think), but I like it! Dibs.) can take up all of your time. The polar vortex is made up. The Internet vortex is a very real phenomenon. Do not get sucked into it or you will never accomplish what you need to do: write your next book. Here's a tip. Limit all book promotion etc. to one hour a day. Have a running list of things you need to do and work at it like a job, but one you can do in an hour a day (this sounds like a late-night infomercial but it's important, and possible). If you limit your online presence to things that you're good at (not everyone can blog or be good at Twitter but everyone can be good at something online) and use tools like scheduled posts, you can avoid the pitfall of The Book That Never Got Written Because The Internet Ate It.

You Are Running A Small Business. Treat It That Way.

Even though we're artists (we are artists, right?) that doesn't mean your book business isn't your book business. Whether you go indie or traditional publishing doesn't change this (it just means you have a partner in your small business if you go traditional). This means lots of things--you should treat it like a business as much as you can, it can be precarious, it can be exhilarating--but mostly, to me, it means that no one will care about your business as much as you do. Of course my publishers care (a lot) if my books do well and they want to help them do so. But I'm the one who's going to notice if my book's sold out on Amazon, or if a link isn't working on my website or if the promotion someone was supposed to run didn't run on the day it was supposed to etc. It's a hard balance to strike: being the squeaky wheel that calls these things to your publisher's attention v. being that annoying author who takes up too much space. But ultimately, your name is the one on the front cover of your book, right? That's you out there. And your Inc. (oh, another terrible pun!) is yours.

You Are Never Going to Know Everything You Want To Know.

I've often thought that there should be a boot camp for authors once they know they are going to be published (again, this would apply to both kinds of publishing). There are books out there (What To Do Before Your Book Launch being a good example), but like in many things, there's nothing like experience, and every publisher has its own set of rules and regulations. For example, when my first book, Spin, came out, I didn't know it was okay to ask to see the marketing plan for the book--in truth, it didn't really occur to me that there would be one. Positive side: an amazingly pleasant surprise when I found a huge pile of my books on a front table next to Audrey Niffenegger's latest book. That being said, four books in, I know there are things I can ask and things I can't. I've accepted that even if I ran my own publishing company, there would be things I didn't know the answer to (just exactly how each bestseller lists work, for instance.). But figuring out those boundaries can be hard, though important.

Don't Forget to Celebrate.

Perhaps it's just my personality, but I've found over the years that I often don't celebrate milestones in the book business like I should. I think part of it has to do with the process. If, say, you got your book deal (yeah!) and a month later you were at your book launch (woohoo!) it would be easy to keep the celebration going. But in reality there's often a long, long time between those two events. In between there's lots of little cool things that happen--seeing the cover, getting your first pass pages, getting your first reviews--but there's a lot of work too. By the time the book actually comes out into the world, it can seem like it's just one more small step in the big process. But hey, you've published a book! And whether it's going to be read by millions or just your immediate family, that's something. Thanks, Catherine!

Never Say Never (Especially When You Have Kids)

I've made no secret of the fact that living in the Midwest has been an adjustment. The weather is this wild card I never had to deal with before. Moving here from southern California, I was spoiled rotten with my perpetual 75 degree, sunny days and my ability to complain when it was never quite cold enough to wear my favorite new sweater or to look "all cute" in my spiffy new wool hat I had no business buying in the first place.

And then there's the fact you can be a dog owner and not have to think about things like how to handle when your pooch has snowy paws or how to give him a proper walk when it's negative 20 degrees or it's  been raining, cats and you know whats, for two days straight.

So for this reason, I said I'd never get a dog while living here. Never, never, never. It wasn't even a maybe. It was a resounding (insert eye roll and cocky, I know something you don't tone) never. My thought was I'd wait until I eventually relocated back to Cali to rescue my four-legged friend. He could wait, I could wait and we'd all be a hell of a lot warmer when it happened.

But then I had my daughter who, of course, is a humongous dog lover. In fact, she could probably give Cesar Millan a run for his money with her dog whisperer ways. But still. Even though she's been like this since she was six-months-old, she's still only three and doesn't really know what she wants! So I was still saying that word, you know the one that always bites you in the ass because you should, well, never say it.

Until I didn't.

Until five days ago when I abruptly paused our newest binge watching obsession, Friday Night Lights, turned to my husband and said, want to go to the animal shelter and take a look?

Of course we both knew we could never go there and just browse, then head home and think about it. Like that time we were considering buying a treadmill. We both knew that if we stepped foot inside one of those kennels we would not be leaving there empty handed.

I casually texted Liz from the shelter, peppering her with questions. (As you all know, she's a self-proclaimed animal-a-holic.) She finally said, Wait! Are you looking for a dog for you? I could picture her face all scrunched up into a confused expression as she stared at the screen on her phone wondering what had come over her best friend.

And now we have Lily. (Liz also has a Lily she recently adopted which I took as a sign. Plus, of course we would both end up with dogs with the same name!) She's an eight-month-old, gorgeous pointer mix and we love her. She rode home in the back of our car, her tail thumping wildly as we blasted  80's Dance Party and never flinched once (not even when Ton Loc came on!), which I took as another sign.

In two days time, I already have enough "new dog parent eff up stories" to fill a dozen blogs. And I'll eventually share those with you, but for now, I'll share a valuable lesson learned:

Never say never. Especially when you have kids. Because once you become a parent, it's simply not all about you and your ridiculous blanket statements anymore.

Tell me your pet stories! Can't wait to hear.

What Beth Harbison said about Your Perfect Life

We love Beth Harbison.  Her books are witty and charming, and so is she!  We jumped with joy when she agreed to read an advanced copy of Your Perfect Life, and were so happy that she had this to say about it:

"Liz and Lisa's voices are warm and comforting, like a relaxed chat with great friends while wearing cozy PJ's and sipping wine. I highly recommend Your Perfect Life!"

Thank you Beth!  To celebrate, we are giving away an audio copy of Chose The Wrong Guy, Gave Him The Wrong Finger!

Leave a comment here to enter-contest closes Sunday, April 27th after 8am PST.