Posts Tagged ‘smart women’s fiction’
Happy Birthday Kathleen E. Woodiwiss!
It’s time to honor the birthday of author Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. Her title character Shanna had a father who put a lot of pressure on her to marry before her birthday.
“You have a year to settle your fancies,” he roared. “Your period of grace ceases on your first-and-twentieth year, the day marking your birth. If you have not wed into a family of the aristocracy by then, I’ll name the next ready swain still young enough to get you with child as your husband. And if I must drag you to the altar in chains, you will obey!”
Yikes! I hope author Kathleen Woodiwiss never had that kind of problem! Those kinds of decisions should be personal and be in one’s own time. I hope you enjoyed this little ditty in honor of another great author’s birthday!
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
www.LLLeibow.com
Fodder for Fiction Weekly Author Birthday Bash
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NORA EPHRON!
Today is Nora Ephron’s Birthday. Over the years, Nora Ephron has made me laugh (When Harry Met Sally), cry (Silkwood)– okay, mostly laugh (Sleepless In Seattle). She just has that way of making me see humor in my own insecurities and predicaments! I thought what better way than to share a brief excerpt from her book I Feel Bad About My Neck, Considering the Alternative (which if you haven’t read – stop reading this blog entry right now, buy the book and read it. You’ll love this collection of essays!) Enjoy!
“When I turned sixty, I had a big birthday party in Las Vegas, which happens to be one of my top five places. We spent the weekend eating and drinking and gambling and having fun. One of my friends threw twelve passes at the craps table and we all made some money and screamed and yelled and I went to bed deliriously happy. The spell lasted for several days, and as a result, I managed to avoid thinking about what it all meant. Denial has been a way life for me for many years. I actually believe in denial. It seemed to me that the only way to deal with a birthday of this sort was to do everything possible to push it from my mind.”
I Feel Bad About My Neck, Considering the Alternative, by Nora Ephron
I hope Nora’s days are filled with denial-ridden happiness for many years to come!
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
Oops! I Did It Again
The other day, I forgot to pull in my side view mirror before backing out of my garage. The edge of the mirror caught just so it popped out of the housing. Why is that door so narrow? Alright, I admit it. This is the third time I have made this same mistake. After the first time it happened, I made it a habit of folding in the mirrors when pulling in and out. I don’t know why I forget every once in a while. The annoying thing is, you can’t just replace the little mirror. Then entire housing needs to be replaced, too. $300 later, it’s as good as new. Ugh!
Okay, maybe I’m a space cadet, or as one dear friend once lovingly called me, “a brilliant air-head.” Maybe I’m careless. Maybe I’m so distracted by my happy chaos that I forget this one minor detail at the tune of three-hundred bucks a pop! Double-Ugh! (…or should that be Triple-Ugh!)
Okay, here’s the part where I can turn it all around and laugh at my stupid mistakes. Character’s telling details come in all shapes and sizes. Why not a character who repeatedly makes the same silly mistakes, is clumsy, always loses her keys – or breaks her side view mirror by hitting it on her way out of the garage – three or more times in the course of a story. This little foible could serve to identify a supporting character, could establish a pattern of obstacles for a protagonist, and could most definitely provide some comic relief.
Here’s my challenge. I dare you to share some of your most annoying hassles, mishaps, and blunders. Provide some fodder for fiction. Lay it on me!
Gallery Reading in the Press and Don’t Miss Lisa At Reading Day
I made the papers! My recent emotional experience, reading from my short story Forbidden Passion, at the Target Gallery is featured in two newspapers!
The Alexandria Gazette: http://files.connectionnewspapers.com/PDF/current/Vienna.pdft
The Vienna Connection: http://files.connectionnewspapers.com/PDF/current/Alexandria.pdf
You can read more about it the event http://llleibow.com/blog/2010/04/08/im-reading-for-sara-tonight/.
Also, I’ll be a special guest author at Washington County, Maryland’s Reading Day at the Valley Mall in Hagerstown, Maryland on Saturday, May 1st. If you’re in the area, stop by to see me. It should be a great event!
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
By Cheryl Norman
RUNNING SCARED, my romantic suspense from Medallion Press, started out a silly game. Good friend Marv Jones and I were training to run the Marine Corps Marathon (when I was younger and thinner), and every Saturday morning we did our long run of the week, a distance of fifteen to twenty-two miles, along the same route in south Jacksonville. Running several hours is a challenge both physically and mentally. We talked as we ran to monitor our pacing and breathing, but also to avoid boredom.
Before dawn one Saturday, we ran through an exclusive neighborhood and saw a suspicious car speed away. We began a game of what if that turned into a murder mystery. We added to it with each mile, naming the characters and fleshing out the plot. We laughed about it later then forgot it for several years.
Later I quit my job and decided to write fiction. What better story to start with than our silly murder mystery? Thus began my first novel, the story of a young woman training to run her first marathon when she witnesses a murder. Ten rewrites later and I finally knew Detective Rick Edwards and Ashley Adams and their dark secrets. I knew why they couldn’t fall in love with each other and why they would. I knew who killed whom, and why.
I’ve written many other books since my first version of RUNNING SCARED, but none took so long to revise. My friend Marv was able to read the finished manuscript but sadly died before seeing the book in print. I dedicated RUNNING SCARED to his memory. Little did we know that Saturday morning when we started spinning a tale of murder and intrigue to pass the time that I would someday write the novel and see it in print.
We writers never know when inspiration will strike. But I’m proud of the book RUNNING SCARED that evolved from that early morning training run. I think Marv is, too.
_______________________________
Cheryl Norman is the award winning author of Last Resort, Running Scared, and Restore My Heart. Her latest release is the witness protection romantic suspense Reclaim My Life. Visit her Website at http://cherylnorman.com . She also hosts the Grammar Cop blog at http://grammar.cherylnorman.com
Excellent Book Club Visit!
Double Out and Back was this month’s pick for a book club in Darnestown, Maryland. I had a lovely evening last night as their guest. They invited me to discuss Double Out and Back with them, prepared a delicious dinner Amelia from the book would have loved (Risotto—one of her favorites!) asked wonderful questions, let me gossip with them as part of a wonderful evening of friends sharing a love of books. I brought them some fun goodies, too! If you’d like me to participate in your book club’s discussion of Double Out and Back (no need to provide dinner!) contact me at Lisa@LLLeibow.com
If you’re not in the DC Metropolitan Area, I’m available via conference call, on-line chat, or Skype, too. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
www.LLLeibow.com
April 2010 WHAT I’M READING
This month, so far, I read The Photograph by Penelope Lively. The Photograph was an interesting combination of prose character portrait and mystery. I love the premise of an historian trying to put together the pieces of the life of the woman he should have known best – his wife. After her death, he discovers a curious and incriminating photograph of his wife holding hands with her sister’s husband. I found Penelopy Lively’s prose beautiful to read – this was wonderful character-driven fiction.
I also read Eva Moves the Furniture by Margot Livesy. This is the first I have read of Livesy’s work. It was a ghost story and historical fiction wrapped up into one. I enjoyed it, too.
Finally, I still have about two hours left before I finish listening to The Hemings of Monticello. However, my i-pod and several baskets of clean laundry await me after I post this blog. So, I should be done with it soon!
I’ll check back again next month to let you know what I’m reading. In the meantime, you can follow along with my progress at http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/262330-lisa-s-2010-reading-goals.
HAPPY READING!
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
www.LLLeibow.com
I’m Reading for SARA Tonight!
I was invited to read my work at an event in Alexandria, VA tonight. If you are in the area, come hear me at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. It’s a worthwhile cause. Come show your support!
Here’s more information about the event.
April 8 – Torpedo FactoryThursday, April 8
Second Thursday Art Night
6-9pm, FREE
Browse open studios, interact with artists, and enjoy refreshments at this free event!
From 6-8pm, Alexandria ‘s Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program will display t-shirts from their Clothesline Project in Target Gallery. The t-shirts are painted by women to express their messages about violence.
At 7pm, Target Gallery hosts artists from SPARK who will perform Spoken Word pieces inspired by SARA’s Clothesline Project.
Torpedo Factory artists kick-off their White Dress Installation, a display of artwork throughout the building exploring the symbolic meaning of the white dress. Get a first look at select work on display during this event.
From 6:30-8pm, The Art League Gallery presents the reception for Fierce Sonia’s show, Paper Dolls, and Found.
Click here for more information about Second Thursday Art Night.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYA ANGELOU!
Weekly Fodder For Fiction Author Birthday Bash
This week at Fodder for Fiction, we’re celebrating the inspiring poet and author, Maya Angelou. I’m sharing a brief shout of happiness, as described by her. I thought it was a fitting jubilant statement of how happy I am that her work has touched my heart. Thank you Maya! Many happy returns of the day!
“After a few squeaky misses I overcame my reserve and tore my tonsils loose with a yell that would have been worthy of Zapata. I was happy, Dad was proud and my new friends were gracious. A woman brought chicharrones (in the South they’re called cracklings) in a greasy newspaper. I ate the fried pig skins, danced, screamed and drank the extra-sweet and sticky Coca-Cola with the nearest approach to abandonment I had ever experienced. As new revelers joined the celebration I was introduced as la nina de Baylee, and as quickly accepted.” Excerpt, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Join me each week on Wednesdays for another Author Birthday Bash at Lisa Leibow’s Fodder for Fiction.
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
On the Radio…
Since the release date of Double Out and Back, I’ve been touring the blogosphere, and trying to get the word out! One of my favorite ways to reach readers is to chat on BlogTalkRadio shows. I thought it would be fun to share the podcast links to some of the highlights of my radio guest spots over the past several months – just in case you missed them live. Have fun listening!
The Literary Goddess Blog Talk Radio
Introducing Writers on BlogTalkRadio
All Romance eBooks What’s Hot in Romance! on Blog Talk Radio
A Book and a Chat BlogTalkRadio
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction