On April 10, 2013 I was featured in Gladys Edmunds’ USA Today weekly column called, Entrepreneurial Tightrope. The article, Novel Approach Helps Business, is centered around the business of writing novels, not the creative part. The article captures my journey to re-create the best of what big publishers do and have done for hundreds of years. While the actual writing remains the part of publishing that I love, I’ve learned to like the business side as well. Hope you stop over to USAToday.com and check out the article in full. It’s an honor to be featured in such a prestigious way and I thank Gladys for the opportunity to talk.

1. What was your favorite subject in school? Least favorite? – I was not a great student, so it’s more a matter of “least horrible” and “absolute worst.” Drama was probably my favorite, and math made me cringe.
2. In the book, the name of Carolyn’s love interest is “Jeep,” or “Money” as she pseudo-affectionately calls him. What’s your favorite character “pet name” from a book or movie? – I’m a Janet Evanovich fan, so I’ll pick “Ranger” … that can’t be his real name, right?
3. Coors Light or Chardonnay? – Coors Light in a sports bar. For dinner out, I’d pick the wine (although I’m a Pinot Grigio girl, not Chardonnay)
4. What teacher do you remember most? Why?    — My high school English teacher, Mrs. Herman. Her red pen was legendary and she taught me so much about writing and editing. Thanks to her, I will never use “this” without a proceeding noun.
5.  What advice would you give to young women just out of college? – Your first job can make or break your entire career. Save as much money as you can so if you’re forced to take a free internship you can afford it. Managing a Gap might look like your best option for money but it will set you on a path away from the professional career you went to college to achieve.
6. Is your first post-college love, someone to remember or someone to forget, why? – Well, I married him and we’re still married 22 years later, so I guess he’s someone to remember!
7. Talk about your first job—one to remember or one to forget? Why? – My first job definitely set me on the path for my career. I was very lucky in that my father secured it for me. The transition from college to office life is a tough one with many mistakes. I learned from some of them, but what it emphasized the most is how important networking is to getting the right job.
8. In thinking about your circle of friends right out of college—what do you remember most about the time you spent together? – I was working hard and spending all my free time with my now-husband, so I didn’t have a lot of time for friends.
9. How about villainous bosses? Was your first job a version of “Devil Wears Prada” or “Mentor from Heaven?” – My first boss didn’t know a lot, which I didn’t realize until much later in my career, but she was a good person, and she tried. I’ve had villainous bosses and good ones. The worst bosses, in my mind, are not the “Devil Wears Prada” type, but the insecure ones that constantly belittle and undermine you because they feel threatened by your talent. If you’re in a small organization and can’t escape, the stress can be life-altering.
10. Did your in-laws welcome you with open arms or scare you off with inside jokes and hoops to jump through? – Open arms… I married my husband to be part of that family.
11. Carolyn’s hopefully someday future sisters-in-law used “The House of Mirth” to talk about her in negative ways…did you ever feel like you were a character in a book? Not a book… but sometimes a soap opera!

I’m so very excited that, Angie of Lilac Wolf and Stuff agreed to visit on Kshoop.com today! Angie’s fantastic site is a must-see for any reader. Her reviews are deeply considered and clearly presented giving readers an ally in choosing books! She’s a reviewer to follow for sure! Today you can take a look at what she has to say about questions that were inspired by [amazon_link id=”B00AN99FIQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Love and Other Subjects[/amazon_link]! She is certainly the kind of person who has learned a lot about life and adjusted accordingly–easier said than done! So glad her life-path took her to reviewing books instead of crunching numbers! Don’t forget to check in with Angie on her blog, Lilac Wolf and Stuff–adorable graphics and design, BTW–cutest I’ve seen.

1. What was your favorite subject in school? Least favorite?
   1. English.  Granted I didn’t enjoy writing papers, but I loved reading the stories in the textbooks.  I was probably one of the few who looked forward to getting that new book every year.  Once, my senior year, my teacher noticed I always had a book with me.  He recommended “How Green was my Valley” and when he recovered from the shock of seeing me reading it, he offered me extra credit for a book report.  And as I mentioned, I didn’t care for the papers, so I jumped at any extra credit I could find.  BTW, it is an EXCELLENT novel.
2. In the book, the name of Carolyn’s love interest is “Jeep,” or “Money” as she pseudo-affectionately calls him. What’s your favorite character “pet name” from a book or movie?
   1. Oh I don’t know about this one.  I read so much that it’s hard to keep it all straight.  I’m not very good with remembering names in real life, I’m not much better in novels.  I will say this, I can’t stand when an author has a few characters with similar sounds starting several names.  Makes it near impossible for me to keep everyone straight as I read.  But I usually keep that to myself as I’m sure it’s just me. 
3. Coors Light or Chardonnay?
   1. EWWWW, neither.  My favorite drink would be a Mojito.  The Hard Rock Café has a Raspberry Mojito that is to die for!  At home I usually unwind with a little orange juice (got to get my vitamin C) and spiced rum.
4. What teacher do you remember most? Why?
   1. That would be Mr. Kullberg.  He was my history/economics/government teacher in high school.  I loved him so much because of his passion.  I mean, come on, the man made economics seem interesting.      
5. What advice would you give to young women just out of college?
   1. Don’t be in a hurry and spend some quality time being single.  It might be the only time in your life that you get to be alone.  Trust me, now if I get to pee without an audience I’m happy.  And if you don’t want to get married and have children, don’t.  It’s not like the world is running out of humans.
6. Is your first post-college love, someone to remember or someone to forget, why?
   1. Well, I was married before I graduated college.  And that was a mistake.  We divorced shortly after I received my MBA.  I dated a little and when I finally met my husband we clicked so well, that we just kept moving forward.  I’d say he’s memorable.  We’ve been together for 10 years and married for nearly 9 years.  We have 2 boys, so even if I wanted to, I can’t forget him.
7. Talk about your first job—one to remember or one to forget? Why?
   1. My first job, as with most girls, included babysitting.  I did love it.  Usually the kids were awesome.  I had the biggest crush on my mom’s boss, he resembled Christopher Reeve.  His little boy was super-adorable too.  However, I had neighbors who I told to never-ever call me again.  So it was a tossup.
8. In thinking about your circle of friends right out of college—what do you remember most about the time you spent together?
   1. This might sound weird, but I don’t have any friends from college.  I’m really a loner and as I get older I am realizing that I have trouble letting people into my inner circle.  I just really value my alone time.  And I know Facebook has made it easier to get in touch, but remember that name problem I have?  Yeah, can’t remember a single person…
9. How about villainous bosses? Was your first job a version of “Devil Wears Prada” or “Mentor from Heaven?”
   1. I remember my boss from a daycare I worked in when I was getting my bachelor’s degree.  I thought she was mean and scary, and I tried to avoid her at all costs.  But as I observed her, I realized she wasn’t mean, she was firm.  She cared about the center, and wanted everyone to give those kids the best care they could.  I’ve had many bosses who gain my respect and a few who make me shake my head in disbelief. 
10. Did your in-laws welcome you with open arms or scare you off with inside jokes and hoops to jump through?
    1. Well, my husband lost both his parents long before I met him.  But Gramps hugged me and told me I reminded him of a beautiful Hungarian woman he met when he was in the service.  Oh yes, I loved that man.  His aunts and the rest of the family also welcomed me with open arms. 
    2. In addition to his maternal family, Chris was “adopted” by the Andersons.  They are an older couple, who he met when he moved into their house with their granddaughter.  When she moved out and they broke up, they kept him.  Now they are my family too, and the boys grandparents.  They are the most inspiring people I know, always helping others.
11. Carolyn’s hopefully someday future sisters-in-law used “The House of Mirth” to talk about her in negative ways…did you ever feel like you were a character in a book?
    1. No, I don’t think I’ve ever really felt like a character in a book.  But I have had characters that I relate to more than others.  Usually the quiet ones who are afraid of making their families angry.  The family is usually pressuring the character to do something they don’t really fit into.  My family wanted me to be an accountant, the minute I decided I liked math.  Never mind that I’d been reading since I was 3, not once did anyone ask if I wanted to be an editor or writer.  I was told there was no way I could be a policewoman, and no one was happy when I did pursue child development.  Now I’m 38, and have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.  For now, I’ll just keep reading and taking care of my boys.

For all you readers out there looking for a new book there’s a place on the web you have to check out–Vera and her associates at Luxury Reading make finding your next great read easy. Maybe one day it’s children’s books you’re after then fiction, graphic novels, home and garden, or books that soothe your mind, body and soul! Not only does Luxury Reading carefully, elegantly sort through books to reveal insights into why a book works or doesn’t, Vera also hosts giveaways. Who can’t use the opportunity to win a book?

The reviews at Luxury Reading are a must-stop for any reader. Bookmark her site! Vera is a lover of books for their content, their feel, for everything that book-lovers understand inherently! Today, we’ve chosen some questions inspired by my latest novel, [amazon_link id=”B00AN99FIQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Love and Other Subjects[/amazon_link], and she has graciously answered them! Take a look below and learn a little more about Vera!

Thanks so much for stopping, Vera!

1. What was your favorite subject in school? Least favorite? My favorite was history. Least favorite was math.
2. In the book, the name of Carolyn’s love interest is “Jeep,” or “Money” as she pseudo-affectionately calls him. What’s your favorite character “pet name” from a book or movie? “Big” from Sex and the City. It was such a shock to discover he had an actual name in the end!
3. Coors Light or Chardonnay? Chardonnay
4. What teacher do you remember most? Why? My French teacher. I never really like French in particular, but she was always there for me as a mentor or when I needed to vent.
5. What advice would you give to young women just out of college? Learn to manage your finances and excel in it. So many of us don’t even think about this aspect of our lives and can easily get into trouble financially. Don’t depend on the men in your life to do it for you.
6. Is your first post-college love, someone to remember or someone to forget, why? Someone to remember J He’s my husband now.
7. Talk about your first job—one to remember or one to forget? Why? It took me a while to get a serious job after college, so meanwhile I worked at a clothing store. It’s definitely one to forget – it was not my scene and I was miserable doing it. Plus I usually left my entire paycheck there – couldn’t resist the clothes!
8. In thinking about your circle of friends right out of college—what do you remember most about the time you spent together? I’ve stayed friends with all my girls from college, so what I remember the most is just being separated in different cities, not being able to stop over whenever we wanted.
9. How about villainous bosses? Was your first job a version of “Devil Wears Prada” or “Mentor from Heaven?” No villainous bosses – thankfully the ones I encountered either ignored us employees or tried to mentor us in some way.
10. Did your in-laws welcome you with open arms or scare you off with inside jokes and hoops to jump through? They were very welcoming – although I met them before we were even engaged. I had to fly across the country to meet them since it was stressful to be in this completely new environment AND meeting new people, but it went well.
11. Carolyn’s hopefully someday future sisters-in-law used “The House of Mirth” to talk about her in negative ways…did you ever feel like you were a character in a book? No, but I’m still looking for a book to compare my life to!

Today I’m chatting with the famous and distinguished, Drey, of Drey’s Library. Over on her website, she eloquently explores books, their themes and her analysis of what works and what doesn’t for each she chooses to review. She also explores various parts of her life, offering a unique view into an IT guru/book-lover’s life! I’m so happy to have her here and find out more about Drey!

Charlotte Lynn has a Facebook Page that bursts with reviews of awesome books– a little something for everyone! She also reviews at A Novel Review with Laura Kay–they team up for an endless stream of recommendations and thoughtful perspectives on what works or doesn’t work for them in books. I’m so pleased to have the chance to turn the tables on Charlotte and ask her a few questions related to my newest release, [amazon_link id=”B00AN99FIQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Love and Other Subjects[/amazon_link]!

1. Thank you so much for joining me, Charlotte. To get us started, tell me about school for you. What was your favorite subject in school? Least favorite?

Of course, being an avid reader, English was my favorite subject.  I didn’t always enjoy the assignments or the required reading but I did enjoy discussing the books and hearing the rest of my classmates’ ideas and perceptions of the characters and plot.

Science is my least favorite.  I need to physically see something to understand it.  The equations and memorization did me in.

2. In the book, the name of Carolyn’s love interest is “Jeep,” or “Money” as she pseudo-affectionately calls him. What’s your favorite character “pet name” from a book or movie?

Dating myself, I have to say I loved Goose in Top Gun.   Lt. Bradshaw made me laugh and cry.  Top Gun is still one of my favorite movies.

3. Coors Light or Chardonnay?

Chardonnay.  Nothing like cozying up next to a fire with my family and a good book or my knitting and drinking a glass of wine.

4. What teacher do you remember most? Why?

Mr Z., my gym teacher during high school and also the girl’s basketball coach.  Even though I have no athletic ability he still included me and let me travel with the team.  Just feeling like I belonged made such a difference to me.

5. What advice would you give to young women just out of college?

Travel.  Travel while you are young and single.  Before life, family, and responsibilities make it hard.  Even if you have to stay in cheap hotels.  Just seeing the world is amazing whether it is 5 stars or 1 star.

6. Is your first post-college love, someone to remember or someone to forget, why?

Definitely someone to remember.  He is my husband.  We met when we were still in school and it never ended.  We’ve been married 13 years with two daughters and are still in love with each other.

7. Talk about your first job—one to remember or one to forget? Why?

I was fourteen and working for my dad in the restaurant that he owned.  I bussed, did dishes, and even a little cooking.  Definitely a job that trained me for the future.  Even though I was the bosses daughter I was expected to work hard, show up on time, and do whatever had to be done.  All of this shaped me for my life and my future jobs.

8. In thinking about your circle of friends right out of college—what do you remember most about the time you spent together?

My circle of friends out of college were not my best choice.  I spent a lot of time wasted with them.  My friends were very unmotivated and happy to just get by.  Looking back now I wish I had made different choices and live my life more fully.

9. How about villainous bosses? Was your first job a version of “Devil Wears Prada” or “Mentor from Heaven?”

Ha!  My dad was my first boss.  It was hard when I made him mad at work and then had to ride home with him and live with him knowing that he was upset with me.  But it was also good.  He knew my schedule and was very good about making it so I could work and still be a teenager.  Understanding when I wanted time off to go hang out with my friends or do a school activity.

10. Did your in-laws welcome you with open arms or scare you off with inside jokes and hoops to jump through?

My in-laws are amazing.  They welcomed not only me, but the rest of my family with totally open arms.  I have never felt like an outside with them and am so very lucky to have them in my life.

11. Carolyn’s hopefully someday future sisters-in-law used “The House of Mirth” to talk about her in negative ways…did you ever feel like you were a character in a book?

There have been days that I have felt like Stephanie Plum in Janet Evanovich’s books.  Like no matter what I do it will end poorly and make someone laugh.  But yet my family is always there to support me and pick me up.  I just need to find my Ranger to follow behind me and clean up the messes. 

Thanks so much, Charlotte! I think we all feel a little like Stephanie Plum once in a while…Readers–don’t forget to connect with Charlotte on her Facebook page and also at A Novel Review!

 It’s a pleasure to welcome Tiffany of Book Cover Justice to my blog today. Readers-when you’re done here (leave us a comment if you have the time!) take a little hop, skip and jump over to Book Cover Justice to check out Tiffany’s postings–they burst with variety, sharp analysis and are injected with a good dose of fun. I’m so happy to have the chance to ask turn the tables on Tiffany and get a look into the life and times of this self-described “book obsessed, stay-at-home mom!” That’s the best kind in my opinion.

Hi Kathleen! Thank you so much for featuring me on your blog. This is my first time being featured and I am pretty excited about it. 

1. Did your in-laws welcome you with open arms or scare you off with inside jokes and hoops to jump through?

A: I’m happy to say that my in-laws accepted me with open arms. Well, most of them. My husband has a very large family, he is one of eleven children, and there are a few that I haven’t really connected with for one reason or another. But thankfully, I get along great with most of them.

2. What was your favorite subject in school? Least favorite?  

A: I loved English class. I have always been an avid reader and I think I may have been the only one actually excited to be reading Romeo and Juliet. My least favorite subject was History. I just couldn’t keep the facts straight and really struggled.

3. In the book, the name of Carolyn’s love interest is “Jeep,” or “Money” as she pseudo-affectionately calls him. What’s your favorite character “pet name” from a book or movie?  

A: I have to go with “The Cuddler” from Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker. The main character’s best friend has quite the active love life and she is always giving her new male friends nicknames. The Cuddler comes up quite a bit in the story and I just couldn’t stop laughing every time.  

4. Coors Light or Chardonnay? 

A: Neither. I don’t drink alcohol, it does not treat me kindly. I’m more of a Pepsi girl.

5. What teacher do you remember most? Why? 

A: My second and third grade teacher, Mrs. Batcheldar. I was an extremely shy child and she always made an extra effort to help me break out of my shell. She even took me out for ice cream! I lost touch with her over the years but still think about her often. I’d love to find her.

6. What advice would you give to young women just out of college?

A: Keep working hard and don’t give up. Jobs are hard to find right now and you might have to take one that is less than perfect. Don’t give up on your dreams, no matter how long it takes to get there.

7. Is your first post-college love, someone to remember or someone to forget, why?

 A: I was already married before I went to college, so I will have to say that he is definitely a keeper 😉

8. Talk about your first job—one to remember or one to forget? Why?

A: My first job was a cashier at a clothing store. I was seventeen. I kept that job for about eight or nine months and liked it for the most part, so I have to say one to remember. I learned a lot from that experience and wouldn’t want to lose that. 

9. In thinking about your circle of friends right out of college—what do you remember most about the time you spent together?

A: I have been blessed to have the same group of friends now that I had when I was a child. I met them when I was ten and 20+ years later we are still going strong. I’ve made a few new friends along the way, but for some reason or another things just don’t work out and we lost touch. What I remember most about my friends though is just being able to call them up at anytime and either vent to a listening ear or laugh for hours.

10. How about villainous bosses? Was your first job a version of “Devil Wears Prada” or “Mentor from Heaven?”

A: I’d have to say a combination of the two. For the most part it was Mentor from Heaven. I had three managers and while one was very nice, the other two had their good and bad moments. You never knew which way it was going to go.

11. The Mary’s–Jeep’s sisters–used “The House of Mirth” to talk about Carolyn in negative ways…did you ever feel like you were a character in a book?

A: A character in a book, no. But my husband and I often laugh about how we should have our own reality show. We have a crazy family and two hilarious kids. We’ve heard more than a few times that our friends wish they could come live in our house because there is never a dull moment.

Thanks again for stopping by, Tiffany!

Today I’ve turned the tables on two of the most prolific bloggers on the web! Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are fresh off a new book deal and although they’re buried under more writing they still manage to churn out loads of fun author interviews on Chick Lit is NOT Dead! Lucky for us, they’ve graciously carved a few minutes out of their day to answer some questions. This little set of queries is inspired by themes drawn from my new women’s fiction–[amazon_link id=”B00AN99FIQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Love and Other Subjects[/amazon_link]. So, grab your coffee, sit back and get to know a little more about these two fantastic authors! Then we invite you to choose one question and answer it in the comments! Don’t forget to visit Liz and Lisa (more links below)–their site and soon-to-be born novel are tremendous!

1. What was your favorite subject in school? Least favorite? We both LOVED English.  In college, we even did some writing together on our word processor. #1990srule  Our least fave?  Math, for sure!  Liz had to sweet talk her way out of flunking Geometry!
2.      In the book, the name of Carolyn’s love interest is “Jeep,” or “Money” as she pseudo-affectionately calls him. What’s your favorite character “pet name” from a book or movie? It’s from a TV show, but sometimes we call each other Honey Boo Boo.  And not in a good way.
3. Coors Light or Chardonnay? hmmm…can we get a glass of Merlot instead?
4. What teacher do you remember most? Why?    We both loved our Communication professor in college.  He always loved to talk about this new cool thing called the “Information Superhighway”. (Yes, we are that old.)
5. What advice would you give to young women just out of college? The road to your dreams is paved by A LOT of hard work.  Make sure to listen and learn from those around you.
6. Is your first post-college love, someone to remember or someone to forget, why? Oh, man, are we going THERE?  Talking Exes?!  Let’s just say that we’re both happy we didn’t marry our post-college loves. But that being said, dating Mr. Wrong can sometimes be a blessing-you learn what you DON’T want in a relationship.
7. Talk about your first job—one to remember or one to forget? Why? We both started at the bottom and paid our dues–Liz in an inside sales-type job with long hours and Lisa as a production assistant on a popular talk show. We worked our booties off, but it was worth it.  The work ethic we developed then would come in handy while juggling jobs, kids, a website and writing books!
8. In thinking about your circle of friends right out of college—what do you remember most about the time you spent together? So. Much. FUN! And probably too much drinking! (Which makes it hard to remember all those special moments…damn!)
9. How about villainous bosses? Was your first job a version of “Devil Wears Prada” or “Mentor from Heaven?” We’ve both been really lucky!  Both of us have had people in our careers that have been incredibly generous and kind.  We hope we can pay it forward!
10. Did your in-laws welcome you with open arms or scare you off with inside jokes and hoops to jump through? Open Arms!  (Thank GAWD…)
11. Carolyn’s hopefully someday future sisters-in-law used “The House of Mirth” to talk about her in negative ways…did you ever feel like you were a character in a book? Unfortunately, we’ve both felt like Bridget Jones more than we care to admit!  LOL!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Liz and Lisa! Readers–be sure to visit these lovely ladies at the following sites:

Facebook: httpss://www.facebook.com/chicklitisnotdead and…

Liz and Lisa’s Website: Chicklitisnotdead.com

Books make terrific holiday gifts, but finding perfect books for friends and family is always a challenge. If only we could flip through a few sample pages on our own schedules. If only if the bookstore could come to us. Well guess what readers, we’re doing just that!

Twelve amazing authors have come together to offer you an amazing opportunity to sample their latest novels just in time for the holidays—12 awesome samples and quirky holiday-themed interviews in one FREE downloadable PDF.

Whether you like to read mysteries, romance, young adult, women’s fiction, or suspense—this group has a book for you.

[amazon_link id=”0066238528″ target=”_blank” ]First Snow[/amazon_link] – Christine Cunningham
After The Fog – -Kathleen Shoop
A Charming Crime – Tonya Kappes
Come Back To Me – Melissa Foster
Read Me Dead – Emerald Barnes
The Halo Effect – MJ Rose
Dancing Naked In Dixie – Lauren Clark
The Last Supper Catering Company – Michaelene McElroy
The Hurricane Lover – Joni Rodgers
The Hounding – Sandra de Helen
Milkshake – Joanna Weiss
The Ninth Step – Barbara Taylor Sissel

Each excerpt is prefaced by information about the book and its author. Concluding each excerpt is an order page with clickable links to several online retailers
You can download the PDF “Holiday Sampler” here https://bit.ly/eBookSamples, and share it with friends by sending them this link: https://bit.ly/eBookSamples.

So go ahead and sample these fantastic novels from amazing writers! And don’t forget to help spread the word!

Happy holidays and happy reading!