MINOR DRAMAS & OTHER CATASTROPHES by KATHLEEN WEST

Debuts February 4th! Perfect for fans of Where’d You Go, Bernadette &  Small Admissions, a wry and cleverly observed debut novel about the privileged bubble that is Liston Heights High—the micro-managing parents, the overworked teachers, and the students caught in the middle—and the fallout for each of them when the bubble finally bursts.

When a devoted teacher comes under pressure for her progressive curriculum and a helicopter mom goes viral on social media, two women at odds with each other find themselves in similar predicaments, having to battle back from certain social ruin.
 
Isobel Johnson has spent her career in Liston Heights sidestepping the community’s high-powered families. But when she receives a threatening voicemail accusing her of Anti-Americanism and a liberal agenda, she’s in the spotlight. Meanwhile, Julia Abbott, obsessed with the casting of the school’s winter musical, makes an error in judgment that has far-reaching consequences for her entire family.
 
Brought together by the sting of public humiliation, Isobel and Julia learn firsthand how entitlement and competition can go too far, thanks to a secret Facebook page created as an outlet for parent grievances. The Liston Heights High student body will need more than a strong sense of school spirit to move past these campus dramas in an engrossing debut novel that addresses parents behaving badly and teenagers speaking up, even against their own families.

Reviews ~

“A smart and delightful story of entitlement, friendship, and overparenting, with page-turning twists galore. West writes across lines of class and generation with grace and ease. A big-hearted debut."—Bruce Holsinger, author of The Gifted School

“As intriguing as it is timely. West provides a funny and shocking glimpse into American parenting through the lens of an out-of-control stage mother who has lost all sense of boundaries.”—Amy Poeppel, author of Limelight

"Helicopter parenting and high school politics at their worst—and funniest. A smart, fast-paced, and deliciously entertaining debut!"—Meg Donohue, USA Today bestselling author of You, Me, and The Sea

"West offers a sharp, unflinching look at her characters: teachers and administrators trying to do—and keep—their jobs; busy, high-powered parents who buy the best they can for their families; helicopter mothers who see themselves as the omniscient beings who control their children's lives; and the high school students themselves, who sometimes have to learn about kindness and mentoring, bullying and inappropriate behavior by judging their parents' and teachers' actions rather than those of their peers. An excellent, nuanced exploration of the world of high school and the students and adults who live within it."—Kirkus (starred review)

Q & A with Kathleen:

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started writing.

I’m a 41-year-old white woman living in Minneapolis. I have a husband, two sons, a dog, and I’ve driven a minivan for the last 10 years. The first time I remember thinking about being a writer was in the fourth grade. I wrote a short story about a pirate and some treasure, and when I shared it with the class, the teacher asked me if I was sure my parents hadn’t helped me. I took this as a great compliment.

What are some things you enjoy when not writing?

I love running. I’ve been a runner for thirty years. I also enjoy cooking, podcasts, my dog, and doing the New York Times mini crossword puzzle. Does that sound suburban, or what?

Do you have a ‘day job’ as well?

I was a teacher for 20 years before writing Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes. Now, I’m all-in on the writing game. It’s an easier leap to make when you have a partner with a steady job, as I do. At some point, I may return to teaching. I’ve always loved it.

Is there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or the decision to write?

I was reading Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng when I decided to finally take the plunge and begin writing a novel. It turns out I’m not ready to write a literary multi-generational family saga, and I bagged my Ng-inspired novel after a year. Then, I leaned into my humor and started something based on my daily experiences working in schools. When people compare me to Liane Moriarty or Amy Poeppel or Maria Semple, I’m thrilled. I love those writers. The novel A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan was also a huge inspiration for me.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

The biggest hurdle for me has been getting used to soliciting, processing, and incorporating feedback. As a recovering perfectionist, it’s hard not to read critique as condemnation. You can’t, however, publish a book without executing major revisions in response to feedback, so I keep pushing forward and reframing my own thinking about the writing process.

  

What are you working on now?

I have turned in my second novel, and while I wait for an edit letter (When the time comes, I’ll try to internalize the feedback without thinking every suggestion is code for, “You suck”), I’m brainstorming new ideas. I’m not the kind of person that has myriad ideas for novels floating about up there in my brain. It takes me a long time to explore and solidify a premise.

Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences?

Minor Dramas is definitely rooted in my experiences teaching in “elite” suburban schools. However, none of the characters are based on real people, and thank goodness, none of the events in the book happened to me. The only thing that actually comes from my life are the comments the principal gets when he calls parents as part of his investigation of Isobel Johnson, the main character. The parents’ responses are from an anonymous survey I was required to send to my own students’ families. I had 155 students that year, and I got about 20 responses to the survey – 10 from parents who really loved me, and 10 from those that really, really didn’t.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

It’s cheesy, but I repeated it to myself a lot when I was writing, querying, on submission, and still: As Wayne Gretzky famously said (and then Michael Schoot famously quoted), “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Favorite band or music?  Favorite book and/or movie?

I have compiled an excellent playlist on Spotify called “Mom on the Run.” I make my children listen to this in the car when their music puts me over the edge. It’s got Peter Cetera, Ace of Base, Tiffany, Kelly Clarkson… Basically, if you’re a white woman over 40, I think there’s a 90% chance you’ll think it’s the best exercise playlist of all time. Ferris Bueller is a movie I can rewatch, and I’ve loved too many books to name a favorite. Most recently, I’ve added A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti to my list of all-time faves.

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?

Thank you for reading! I’m so humbled and grateful.

To connect with Kathleen:

Twitter: @kwestbooks 
Instagram: @kathleenwestwrites
Facebook: Kathleen West, Author

CRAZY LITTLE TOWN CALLED LOVE, by yours truly, JILL HANNAH ANDERSON

A perfect "Galentine's" Day gift for your friends or girlfriend! 

Thirty-two-year-old Molly’s cushy life in Minneapolis tanks when her long-time boyfriend bails on her and their underwater-mortgaged home.

She needs a place to live and a new job—and the answer to both may be in a quaint town called Love. The town where her deceased mother grew up, a town where an old General Store and home have been willed to Molly’s family…a town with secrets and people with long memories.

Can she trade her acrylic nails for pounding nails to revive a fixer-upper store? Molly is ready for a do-over and a chance to prove to herself that she can make it on her own.

She puts elbow grease, heart, and half her savings, into giving the old place a facelift. As her business grows, so does her relationship with Jackson—the owner of the hardware store—and great-nephew to the woman who willed her business to Molly’s family.

The tourist town of Love brims with quirky townspeople and fun events. And it is at one of these events that Molly is first threatened.

Apparently, not everyone is happy to have her in town. As threats against her escalate, Molly has to decide if she’d be better off leaving Love or staying to fight for the life she’s created in the town that has stolen her heart.

2019 International Book Awards Finalist in WOMEN'S FICTION. 
Reviews

                                                                                                  

 "Fun, witty, and engaging, Anderson crafted a wonderful story of friendship, renewal, and second-chances that fans of women's fiction and her To-Hell-And-Back series will quickly devour. CRAZY LITTLE TOWN CALLED LOVE is a fast read that I truly enjoyed." -- Kerry Lonsdale, Amazon Charts, and Wall Street Journal  bestselling author    

                                     

 "Book 2 of The To-Hell-And-Back Club series follows Molly O'Brien from Minneapolis to the small town of Love, Minnesota. Molly finds friendship, fulfillment, independence, and yes, love, in this heartrending story. A hint of danger keeps the tension up and a bit of heat makes the pages fly! A fun, uplifting read for summer!" - Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year

 "In CRAZY LITTLE TOWN CALLED LOVE, Jill Hannah Anderson delivers characters you'll want to know, a quirky town you'll never forget, and the cold edge of suspense. Family secrets, the slow burn of romance, and a heroine to root for round out a heartfelt adventure you won't want to miss." - Kathleen Long, USA Today bestselling author of Broken Pieces

 "With her latest novel, Jill Hannah Anderson has created a warm and inviting town full of secrets, and layers, and richly drawn characters that all feel so real. I had all the feels reading this one ... right up to the heart-warming, tear-producing last page. I didn't want to leave that CRAZY LITTLE TOWN CALLED LOVE!" - Amy Impellizzeri, Award-winning Author of The Truth About Thea

Q & A with me, myself, and I:

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started writing.

I loved reading and writing for as long as I could do either of them. Our parents were big readers and closely monitored the TV so much that I rarely saw any of the popular shows when I was growing up. Shows like The Monkees and the original Star Trek are mysteries to me. Clearly, I survived! (Thanks to books.)

What are some things you enjoy when not writing?

I need to be active when I’m not writing since it's such sedentary work. I remember taking typing class in high school and thinking, “I’m never going to sit behind a desk and type all day.” Thank goodness the typewriter has been replaced by computers!

In the winter, I LOVE to curl! The sport of curling is much more fun than it looks, and the people who curl are so great. It’s the best part of winters in Minnesota.

I started running fifteen years ago, and while I don’t always “enjoy” it, I enjoy the challenge and appreciate the endorphins. I enjoy biking and being outside (if I could be outside all day, I would. Thank goodness for laptops!) The best time spent is with our large family. We have sixteen grandkids, and they’re growing up way too fast.

Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences?

In Crazy Little Town Called Love, Molly inherits an old General Store in a small town similar to one we owned for twelve years. Some of the story stems from my first-hand experiences like scooping minnows, something I never thought I'd do, and Molly's experience with bats. (Yuck!) The characters and their actions aren’t real, but the vibe of small-town living is.

If you read reviews about this book, many write about how fun the town of Love sounds, and that they’d like to live there. I would too!

Do you have a favorite character or scene?

Yes, Ernie. He's based on a real person who lived in the same town I do. Here’s what I wrote about him in the acknowledgments:

“My dear, sweet, kind-hearted Ernie is loosely based on Bill Flagg, who passed away two years ago at the age of ninety-six. I interviewed Bill because I was curious about this gentleman, not knowing what I’d do with the information, but sure I’d find a place for it someday. When I began writing this book I realized he was Ernie, in a sense, and he became my favorite character. And no, Love isn’t my small town (although we did own an old General Store for several years.) But maybe it will find a place in your heart and become your town.”

What are you working on now?

I’ve been working on my third book for about a year now. Most authors will tell you the same thing...after a few drafts of the book, I think, “There! I’m done.” And then you realize you aren’t. You find that you need to change some things or a lot of things. The plot changes direction, you’ve got too many words, not enough words…I’ve got a mile-long list for you as to why a book takes as long as it does to write.

This story is about Lily, a married mother of three, living her perfect life—a happy marriage, fantastic children, and a fulfilling career. Until the morning she’s viciously attacked while out for a run. After the high-school football hero is convicted for the attack, and behind bars, Lily's certain someone is messing with her life, trying to destroy her. Is she losing her mind? Or, is the wrong person behind bars? 

Do you have a ‘day job’ as well?

I retired last year and enjoy the freedom. Every. Single. Day. I know, you’re thinking, “What’s taking you so long to write your next book, then?” My answer? See above. Family time, and fun time, along with more volunteering, spending more time with my aging parents…you get the point.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Don’t give up. Seriously, that’s it. If you want it bad enough, keep at it. Hone your craft, connect with like-minded writers, and abide by the butt-in-chair rule (assuming you write sitting down!) You’re going to fail. You’re going to be rejected, you’re going to wonder why you’re subjecting yourself to this torture. But if you’ve got a story that won’t let you sleep at night…then you need to write it.

What are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?

Downfalls? It’s a lot of work. I mean A LOT. It’s hard, time-consuming, brain-draining, self-doubting, and hard. Did I mention it’s hard? J

The best parts? Everything else. The fulfilling feeling of completing a novel, the connection with other writers, the connection with readers—people who you want to hug but will probably never meet in person—and the people who take the time to review or recommend your book to other readers.

Oh, and writing from home with my iced coffee and pajamas!

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?

“Thank you” sounds contrite for how I feel. We write because a story won’t leave us alone, but having readers actually spend their valuable time reading (and hopefully, reviewing) our work is priceless. Knowing that someone I’ll never meet has read the words from my heart, and hopefully related to the story, is a fantastic feeling. So, thank you! J

To connect with me:

www,jillhannahanderson.com

https://www.facebook.com/jillhannah.anderson/

https://www.instagram.com/jillh.anderson/

https://twitter.com/JillHannahA

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jill-hannah-anderson

THE OVERDUE LIFE OF AMY BYLER, and her next book, THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK, by author, KELLY HARMS

The Bright Side of Going Dark, out in May 2020 ~
(Make sure to preorder this book!)

From the bestselling author of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler comes a fresh, funny, and thoughtful story about going off the grid in order to truly live.

As one of the most popular influencers on social media, Mia Bell has lived her life online for years. With her celebrity dog and gorgeous fiancé, she is planning the ultimate virtual wedding—expensive, elaborate, and entirely paid for by sponsors. But off-camera, her world is far from picture-perfect. After being jilted by her fiancé and faking her nuptials to please her sponsors, Mia finally has had enough. She heaves her phone off a cliff, ready to live—and maybe find love—offline for a change.

Mia’s sudden absence doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by techie loner Paige Miller, who hacks Mia’s account and begins impersonating the internet celebrity. Paige has her reasons. Her half-sister, Jessica, idolizes Mia and desperately needs something to believe in. If taking over Mia’s online persona is Paige’s only means of connecting to her sister, so be it.

Creating a like-worthy life is more fun than Paige expected. But when she grows too bold and is caught in the act, a fiasco ensues that could forever change Mia, Paige, and the people who love them. Because somewhere amid the chaos is an invaluable lesson—one that only real life can teach.

“Even casual users know how absurd and unrealistic social media can be—yet keep logging on day after day. Kelly Harms takes this dichotomy to new heights in a clever and unputdownable story of two women whose so-called online lives collide IRL. I laughed, I cried, I came away from the experience with a newfound appreciation for life—which is to say THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK is everything I’d hope for in a Kelly Harms novel, and more. I loved every page.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of I’m Fine and Neither Are You 

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, published in May 2019 ~

An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller, and a Goodreads Choice Award finalist.

Overworked and underappreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when the guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and escapes rural Pennsylvania for New York City.

Usually grounded and mild-mannered, Amy finally lets her hair down in the city that never sleeps. She discovers a life filled with culture, sophistication, and—with a little encouragement from her friends—a few blind dates. When one man, in particular, makes quick work of Amy’s heart, she risks losing herself completely in the unexpected escape, and as the summer comes to an end, Amy realizes too late that she must make an impossible decision: stay in this exciting new chapter of her life or return to the life she left behind.

But before she can choose, a crisis forces the two worlds together, and Amy must stare down a future where she could lose both sides of herself, and every dream she’s ever nurtured, in the beat of a heart.

“A laugh-out-loud funny, pitch-perfect novel that will have readers rooting for this unlikely, relatable, and totally lovable heroine, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is the ultimate escape—and will leave moms everywhere questioning whether it isn’t time for a #momspringa of their own.” —New York Journal of Books

“Librarians and book lovers will fall for Amy and Harms (The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane) writes a great light read full of tears, laughter, and charming, relatable characters.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“In the easygoing, character-driven style of Liane Moriarty and Barbara Davis, this story of an underappreciated single mom with more freedom than she's entirely comfortable with mixes the self-assured highs with the guiltiest lows of modern motherhood. Harms’s warm and witty novel will tickle fans of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.” —Booklist

Some Q & A with Kelly ~ 

What are you working on now?

My publisher and I have been working at turbo speed getting a new release to readers within a year of Amy Byler—that way no one has to wait too long between books. It’s called THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK—and the cover is so new this basically serves as my reveal today! I LOVE this book. I love every book, but this one is so quirky and I really, really love the characters—even though at first I wanted to shake them into submission! 

Paige, a reclusive brainiac who just can’t seem to get with the whole program, came to me fully formed, refusing to say her lines or do as I told her. Then I found out why Paige was the way she was:  to be the perfect foil to Mia, the young woman who’s entire life comes out of doing and saying exactly what she’s supposed to, and for an audience, at that. She’s a social “influencer,” and her phone is running her life. (Can anyone here relate?) Paige, a programmer extraordinaire, is running Mia’s phone. 

It’s a messy web that will result in utter chaos for both of them, but for the reader, I can promise at least a few laughs and that ah-ha feeling of what it would look like to get a bit of space from the digital madness and Gram-worthy pressures we feel in this modern life.

Is anything in your work based on real-life experiences?

All of it is, and none of it at the same time. I had a friend complain “I thought this would finally be the book you put me into!” but unfortunately for that friend, I think all my characters are bouncing around up there in my noggin already, just waiting to be cast in a story. They’re all aspects of me, amplified, explored, and exposed. Like Amy Byler, I’m a single mom. Like Nean from THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS OF SHIPWRECK LANE, I often leap before I look. Like Lily from THE MATCHMAKERS OF MINNOW BAY, I wish every friend I’d ever made could live next door to me forever, and like Mia Bell from my upcoming release, I secretly suspect that yoga is the secret answer to every question. (And if not yoga, then try cookies.)

Do you have a favorite chapter or scene?

The letters that Amy Byler’s teenaged daughter Cori wrote are by far my favorite part of THE OVERDUE LIFE OF AMY BYLER—because I had fun writing them and because they do such hugely important work within the story development. I love Cori—she was my best buddy when writing this book. I hereby vow to give Cori her own book someday. The trouble with Cori getting a sequel right now is that she’s just too healthy and high-functioning for me to have real fun with on a larger scale. But give me time, and I’ll see if I can’t undo that! 

For THE BRIGHT SIDE OF GOING DARK, I had to go deep, deep into my heart to write a scene that brought me to my knees. It came out in one big rush of words, and I had to honor that and try to keep my brain out of it. Later, my editor shared how it had affected her, and as she spoke about it, I honestly couldn’t figure out how I’d gotten through it successfully. A drop of magic, perhaps. I hope it touches my readers as much, and finds someone in a dark moment and lights her way, if only just by knowing they aren’t alone.

What are the biggest downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?

If you ask around, you’ll hear that lots of writers find the publishing industry itself to be a maze of confusion and frustration. Sometimes I do too, even after 20 years (!) in the business in one form or another. There are aspects of the work of publishing—touring, interviews (Hi!), social media—that are diametric opposites to the work of writing, making it hard to be both writer and businesswoman at the same time. 

And yet… wouldn’t it be boring if all I did was write in solitude and comfort similar to how men created some of the great works of the past? With a wife, a nanny, a salon, a benefactor? Maybe it would be great! But that’s not how this works for me. I have to leave my writing cave to have something to write about. I have to live in real life to speak to real readers. And though juggling can be exhausting, I’m not quite ready to give up any of the joys of parenting, partnering, or publicity in service of the words. So perhaps the very things that make it tricky are the same things that make it my dream career. All I know is that I'm sure having fun.

To connect with Kelly:

@kelly.harms on Instagram

facebook.com/authorkellyharms

www.kellyharms.com

RESCUE ROAD, by author Gayle Irwin

Freelance writer Rhiann Kelly shelved romance for years. Her dream of starting an animal sanctuary takes deep roots after finding the perfect location in southwestern Montana and purchasing the property for back taxes. Emergency medical technician Levi Butler knows his elderly friend left the ranch to him in his will. Levi anxiously awaits the probate to be complete so he can plan his retirement and begin his dream of raising and selling horses. 

When Rhiann and Levi find each other at the ranch simultaneously, sparks fly - and not the romantic kind. Yet their mutual attraction deepens, especially after Levi finds Rhiann injured in an accident. Meantime, land developer Dallas Patterson sets his sights on charming Rhiann to obtain the land. 

Can Rhiann and Levi work together to detour Patterson and find a solution in which neither needs to give up their dream or will the fence line of their hearts – and the property - separate them forever? Can their broken paths weave their hearts together as they travel the rescue road?

Some Q & A with Gayle ~

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started writing.

I’ve lived in the Rocky Mountain region for more than 40 years. I majored in journalism my first two years of college and in communications my final years, receiving a bachelor of science degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Idaho. My dream was to work as a public information officer for a federal natural resource agency, such as the National Park Service or National Forest Service. That never happened. Instead, I became a journalist, working for small community newspapers in Montana and Wyoming. The closest I came to that dream was serving as editor and reporter for the West Yellowstone News in West Yellowstone, Montana, where I covered national park, national forest, and community projects and issues. 

I was one of a handful of small-town reporters to cover the controversial wolf release in Yellowstone National Park during the mid-1990s as well as a visit to the Park by then-President Bill Clinton. Since those days, I continue to freelance write for magazines and newspapers and even had my own pet column in a few of those publications. Nature and pet rescue are the types of stories I enjoy writing as well as sharing human feature stories.

I started writing my first book in 2003, after a springer spaniel my husband and I adopted two years previously became blind due to a genetic disease. Her story, “Sage’s Big Adventure: Living with Blindness” was published in 2007. The first time I shared the book was at the West Yellowstone, Montana library to a group of children and their families. The story encourages children to be courageous and persevering, no matter what challenges come their way as well as to treat others who are “different” with kindness and respect.

I’ve written and published several other children’s books since then and each one weaves important life lessons into the story, concepts such as trust, friendship, and appreciation of nature.

What are some things you enjoy when not writing?

I like to travel, especially to America’s national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. I possess a great love for the outdoors and enjoy visiting beautiful places. I also enjoy nature photography and spending time at my mountain cabin or visiting my friends’ ranch.

Do you have a ‘day job’ as well?

Yes, I work part-time for a non-profit.

Where do you get your ideas?

My pets, especially my dogs, have been my primary inspiration since I began authoring books. I have two children’s book manuscripts started that I haven’t yet completed which I hope to do soon. The idea for my upcoming novel came from a writing course I took on writing fiction from the local college. Many of the women in the class were writing romance, or at least having romance as part of the narrative, and since I’d never written a romance book, I challenged myself to do so. Now, six years later (not as easy as I’d originally thought!) and many rabbit trails and revisions later, the story is ready for publication, to be released November 8, 2019.

Rescue Road developed from the many dog transports I’ve done for various rescue organizations and my passion for pet adoption. The story is a clean, contemporary romance with rescue woven into the story. Pages at the back of the book provide resources for people who may wish to adopt a dog or cat in the future.

Is there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or the decision to write?

When I was a pre-teen, I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books as well as the numerous animal books published at the time. I visited Laura’s home site in Mansfield, Missouri as a young girl and just this past year, I took a trip to Walnut Grove, Minnesota and DeSmet, South Dakota (yes, the woman still inspires me!).

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you’d change?

I would build in more time for edits and marketing. I realize how important a plan is and although I started with one, I didn’t follow it very well. All things take time, including writing, editing, and marketing, and the older I get, the faster time goes. Between working a day job, freelance writing, working on the novel, being a wife, pet-parent, daughter, friend, etc. etc., time just ZOOMS!

How do you market your work?

I use a variety of outlets for marketing. Those include guest blogging, social media (I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter – still learning Instagram), attending events such as book signings, craft shows, and rescue group/humane society functions, and speaking at women’s groups, among other ways.

What are you working on now?

Book 2 in my Pet Rescue Romance series; a character that’s introduced in the first book, Rescue Road, is my female protagonist in Book 2, tentatively titled Discovering Love at Compassion Ranch.

Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences?

Yes. I lived in southwestern Montana, which is the setting for the book; I worked in West Yellowstone which is referenced in the book; and I’ve served as a rescue dog transporter, which is one thing my primary female character does.

Do you have a favorite chapter or scene?

Two actually. 1. A romantic scene between my two primary characters, Rhiann and Levi. He sets up a romantic evening picnic by the river where the two first met, complete with an Italian dinner and candles. They are exploring their attraction for one another, so the scene is critical for these two who kissed dating goodbye many years before. 

2. Toward the end of the book, when they share another romantic scene, waltzing at a fundraising event, I created a lighthearted exchange: Levi tells Rhiann he placed an adoption application for two dogs she helped rescue and she banters with him by saying, “I’m going to have to do a home check and verify your references; remember, I don’t play favorites when it comes to dog adoption.” Readers will find banter like this woven into the story. Romance should not only be giddy and exciting, but also fun, I think, and with two independent characters like Levi and Rhiann, who haven’t dated for several  years, injecting humor here and there seemed suitable during the writing process.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep plugging! A person must have perseverance and must be able to be flexible and willing to learn and implement, not just the craft of writing, but the business of writing.

What are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?

I wish I could write fulltime. I love telling stories, therefore, I plan to continue writing and publishing books and freelance writing for magazines, and I hope to expand into more markets for my freelance career. The best parts about writing are twofold: sharing stories to encourage, inspire, and entertain, and working from home where I can be with my delightful pets and wonderful husband.

Place you’d like to travel?

Ireland. My husband and I have Irish ancestry (he more so) and I’ve known people who visited the country and have such wonderful things to say about their experience. I’ve never been overseas, and that is the one country I’d like to visit.

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?

I hope you enjoy Rescue Road and the other two books I plan for the series, and if your children, grandchildren, students, or other youngsters in your life like to read animal stories, I hope you’ll check out my children’s books!

To connect with Gayle:

In addition to my website (www.gaylemirwin.com), people can find me on my author page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GayleMIrwin/, follow me on Twitter at wyoauthor1, or on Pinterest at Waggin’ Tales.

HOLLY BANKS FULL OF ANGST, by Julie Valerie

Make sure to add this book to your Goodreads TBR list, and it's available to preorder!

***This book, which debuts on December 1st, is an Amazon First Reads title in November! The e-book is free for Prime members, non-prime members can read the e-book for only $1.99. (www.amazon.com/firstreads) 

***There is a 100 e-book giveaway on Goodreads right now through the end of the month!

Holly Banks could not have made a worse first impression on the seemingly perfect moms in her new affluent community, the Village of Primm. Turns out wearing pink piggy pajama bottoms while dropping off her kindergartener late to the first day of school wasn’t her best look.

Not to mention Holly’s worried her husband may be having an affair, she can’t get her daughter to stop sucking her thumb, her hard-won film degree is collecting dust, and to top it all off, the power-hungry PTA president clearly has it in for her…

To make matters even worse, Holly’s natural eye for drama lands her smack-dab in the middle of a neighborhood mystery—right as her own crazy mother shows up in Primm “to help.” Through it all, Holly begins to realize her neighbors may be just as flawed as—and even wackier than—she is, leaving her to wonder: Is there such a thing as a perfect mom?

Reviews ~ 

“There are many novels about women struggling to fit into upper-class communities, but debut author Valerie manages to create a story that feels fresh, with sparkling dialogue…A unique and over-the-top look at modern motherhood, full of funny and cringeworthy moments.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Valerie’s witty, rollicking novel is an ode to modern motherhood…A charmingly cautionary tale of the pursuit for domestic perfection.” —Booklist

“Julie Valerie does a great job relaying the anxiety that comes with starting your daughter in kindergarten in a new school and a new town. And she does it with the perfect mix of humor and humility.” —Laurie Gelman, author of Class Mom and You’ve Been Volunteered

“Seemingly perfect lives are usually anything but, as the eponymous protagonist of Holly Banks Full of Angst quickly learns. A sharp, witty, and altogether unexpected story about how striving can lead you straight to the end of your rope, Julie Valerie’s debut is not to be missed.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of I’m Fine and Neither Are You

Some Q & A with Julie ~ 

1. Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

The most difficult and time-consuming challenge of getting my first book published was the writing and rewriting the of book three separate times, one rewrite from every point of view (first person, second person, and third), as well as rewrites in both past and present tense.

Here's a list of each draft, noting which verb tense and which point of view was employed and why:

First draft: present tense, second-person POV (written this way to capture the "voice" and motivations of an antagonist who was challenging to write but essential to master as she's a vehicle for satire in the novel)

Second draft: present tense, first-person POV (written this way to lay down elements of humor and as a vehicle for understanding the wants, needs, and motivations of the main character)

Third draft: past tense, third-person POV (written this way to broaden the market of readers after the second draft version failed to capture the attention of an agent)

2. If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you’d change?

Though I wish it had gone faster, I wouldn't change a thing, as my journey toward publication was unique and necessary for me.

3. What are you working on now?

I am fast at work on Book Two in the Village of Primm series, due to my publisher a week before Book One pubs, and slated for release in 2020. It's undoubtedly a busy time, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

4. What are some things you enjoy when not writing?

As a busy mother of four, when I'm not "mom-ing" or writing, I enjoy reading, traveling, the study of wine, and section-hiking the Appalachian Trail with my best friend.

To connect with Julie ~

Everything you need is on her website.

She also has a newsletter, too. (The best way to stay in touch.)

Follow her Amazon Author Page. Pre-order Holly Banks Full of Angst, Book One in the Village of Primm series, 

releasing December 1, 2019, with Lake Union Publishing