As
a special holiday treat, I am checking back
in with the Top 7
Jen's Jewels from
the past two years. Find out what your
favorite authors have been up to and what
special surprises they have in store for
their readers. And don't forget
to look for the trivia question at the end!
Enjoy!
Back in 2003, I had the
amazing opportunity to appear on Live
with Regis & Kelly for the Reading
with Ripa book club  segment and
that is where I first met Meg
Cabot. Together
we sat at the roundtable with Kelly Ripa, Andy
Richter, and Laurie Gelman discussing at that
time, Meg's latest release, The
Boy Next Door. When I decided
to take the leap and try my hand at a career
in the publishing business, Meg was extremely
supportive. For that, I will always be
grateful. From her young adult books to
her adult series, Meg is able to appeal to a
wide range of fans with her unique voice that
makes her readers keep coming back for more. Truly,
she has to be one of the most prolific writers
that I know!
Jen: It is so wonderful to
be able to catch up with you! It's been
four years since we met and so much has been
happening in your career. Please get us
up to speed. How is your adult series progressing?
Meg: Thanks so much
for having me here again, Jen! I
love your site, and you, of course, are so great
to have me! I  remember our time together
on Regis and Kelly with
great fondness (except for Gelman's wife). I'm
just finishing up my two adult series! The last
book in the Queen of Babble series, Queen
of Babble Gets Hitched, will be out
next June, and the third book in the Heather
Wells mystery trilogy, Big
Boned ,
is out now (although I may have to slip in a fourth
book. I just have to find time to write it.)
Jen: I frequently visit your website. It
is always changing and it has such fun tidbits
about your releases and especially news about you! What's
the latest addition to your site? Are your
readers able to interact with you? Do you
personally answer all of your email?
Meg: I just
updated my homepage with my new author photo! I'm
excited about it because I just switched to a new
publisher for my teen books, Scholastic (which
is why I got new author photos). I'll also
be entering into a new genre, middle grade readers
(ages 8 and up) with my new series debuting in
March, Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. I'll
have a brand new addition to my website for that,
a completely interactive site designed just for
kids under 13 that will be going up in February.
For now, I have an interactive message board for
readers 13 and up, which is really where I communicate
with my readers. I actually can't personally
answer all my email, there's just too much of it.
Although everyone who sends me snail mail gets
a ton of goodies back, as well as an autographed
bookplate! Even prisoners!
Jen: What adult project are
you currently working on? Are there plans
in the works for any of your books to hit the
big  screen again?
Meg: I'm really
not working on anything for adults at the moment.
I do have a new series in the works (in my head),
but I'm finishing up the Princess Diaries series
(Book 9 comes out December 26, and the last book
comes out next year) as well as launching a new
teen paranormal series, and a new teen drama series
for Scholastic, so
I am kind of putting the adult stuff on the back
burner for the time being. When the new adult
series hits, though, you'll be the first to know!
Yes, actually, the Queen of Babble series
just got optioned by Jeff Sharp of Sharp
Entertainment (Proof/Boys
Don't Cry). And the Mediator series
has been optioned by Julia Pistor who did the Lemony
Snicket movie and the Spiderwick
Chronicles. I'm pretty excited!
Thanks again for having me, Jen, and I hope I
see you on Regis and Kelly again
sometime (if not in "real life")!
I first introduced
you to Kim Ponders back in October 2005 with the
release of her debut novel, The Art
of the Uncontrolled Flight. Harper
Collins asked me to review it and
I was so taken in with the premise that I just
had to interview her! Not only was she a Jen's
Jewels, but she also graciously agreed
to participate in a phone chat with my book club. With
my brother-in-law currently serving in Afghanistan,
I appreciate the inside look into the Armed Forces
that her books provide. Having the story
told from a woman's perspective really puts
a unique spin on war and what really goes on in
the military.
Jen: It's hard to believe
that it has been two years since our interview.
What surprised you most about the reception of
your first book and the publishing business as
a whole?
Kim: I was surprised at
how much work it takes to put a book out. It takes
about a year to get the marketing and publicity
in order just to launch the book. By then, I was
well into writing my second novel. Another surprise:
there are so many books out there! Yikes!
Jen: Your second book, The
Last Blue Mile, is also military
inspired. How did you arrive at the premise
for this novel?  Was it easier to write
your second book than the first or did you
find it more challenging because you felt pressure
to try to exceed expectations from your fans
as well as your critics?
Kim: I
was on contract for the second book, so there was
always a kind of pressure to finish it--not a bad
thing, really. It was a much different book than
my first book. I wanted to try writing more of
a traditional novel, alternating points of view
between the characters, so it felt very different
than the first novel, which played with time shifts
to show the dissociation of wartime. The
Last Blue Mile is about the Air
Force Academy--I wanted to show people what it's
really like inside that institution.
Jen: How has your career evolved?
What are you working on now? When can we expect
to see it on the shelves of our local book retailer?
Kim: Well,
I'm done writing about the military. Right now,
I'm working on a collection of short stories and
a memoir.
 Of all the books
that I have reviewed over the past three years,
the one that has had the most profound impact on
me is Magic Hour by
Kristin Hannah. It remains my top recommendation
for book club picks. The storyline is that powerful! I
was absolutely thrilled when Kristin agreed to
become one of Jen's Jewels! Her
column was one of my most popular ever. This
past summer, I had the pleasure of actually meeting
Kristin at the Romance Writers Conference in
Dallas. It was such a big treat for me to finally
meet the woman behind this spell-binding book.
Jen: The first time my
readers met you was back in March 2006. Please
fill us in on what has been happening in your career.
Kristin: Thanks
so much for all your enthusiasm about Magic
Hour. That
was really one of my favorite books. The central
 character, a little girl named Alice, absolutely
stole my heart. As to what's been happening
in my career in the many long months since its release,
the answer is plenty! I have changed publishers for
the first time in twenty years. My new publisher, St
Martin's,
is a lot of fun to work with, and my new editor has
been a fabulous partner. The new book, Firefly
Lane,
is set for publication in February. I'm
really excited to see what my readers think of this
one.
Jen: Has there been any
talk of making Magic
Hour into a television
special or a movie?
Kristin: Magic
Hour was optioned for
film. The
screenplay has been written and now the producers
are on to the next stage. Keep your fingers
crossed!
Jen: Can
you tell us a little
bit more about your
latest release? I can't
wait to read it!
Kristin: It's
a big, juicy, emotional
story about two women
and the friendship that
lasts throughout their
lives. Along the way,
there are lovers and
husbands and children
and careers, but their
friendship survives through
all that change until
an unexpected betrayal
threatens everything. I
hope people love it as
much as Magic
Hour. Thanks
again, Jen!
 As I have mentioned
in previous columns,
I facilitate a book
club for moms at my
local library which
is a lot of fun! On
a whim, I came up with
the idea to host a
dinner for one of my Jen's
Jewels. I
thought it would be
really cool for my
members to be able
to meet and talk with
a famous author! As
luck would have it,
I booked Michele
Martinez,
a former U.S. District
Attorney turned author. Her
first novel, Most
Wanted, was
a smash hit! Since
we spoke to her last,
she has published two
more books in her widely
popular Melanie
Vargas series.
Michele is such a class
act…accomplished,
articulate, and genuine.
I am so honored to
be able to call this
spectacular woman my
friend.
Jen: I
can't tell you
how many e-mails I get
from readers about your Melanie
Vargas series!
They love you!! Your
series is so hot! When
can we expect to read
the next one? Can you
give us the inside scoop
on the plot? Is there
a future for Dan  and
Melanie?
Michele: Book
four in the Melanie
Vargas series is
called Notorious,
and it's coming out
in February. It
starts off with a bang! Melanie
is about to go to trial
against a famous rap
music star who committed
murder in his younger
days. His lawyer
pulls her aside on
the courthouse steps
to give her shocking
news -- the rapper
wants to cooperate
against one of the
world's most dangerous
terrorists. The
next moment --boom! The
lawyer is assassinated
in a car bombing, and
Melanie is the sole
witness. The investigation
takes her from New
York to glamorous and
seedy Las Vegas in
pursuit of the killers
and the rap star's
dangerous accomplices.
Meanwhile, Melanie's
heart is in danger
as well. When
last we saw her in Cover-Up (2007),
she was so head-over-heels
for gorgeous and brooding
FBI Agent Dan O'Reilly
that she took some
foolish risks with
her career and her
peace of mind. In Notorious,
Melanie regains her
balance. But
you'll have to read
the book to find out
what that means for
her future with Dan!
Jen: My
day would not be complete
without my checking
in with you girls on
the The
Lipstick Chronicles.
For those who are not
in the know, please
tell us about your
awesome blog!
Michele:
Thanks, Jen! We
do indeed have the funniest
blog in cyberspace.
Authors Nancy Martin,
Harley Jane Kozak, Elaine
Viets and Sarah Strohmeyer,
plus our brilliant blog
sister Rebecca the Bookseller
and our wild secretary
Margie, post entertaining
new material every day
about life, love, laundry,
kids, husbands, hot
guys, shoes, fashion,
sex, and of course,
books! We always
get a rollicking discussion
going in the backblog,
so please tell all your
readers to stop by and
say hi.
(Also, please check in
on December 24 when Jen
Vido appears as a guest
blogger on TLC!)
Jen:
Besides your series,
have you worked on
any collaborative efforts
since we last spoke?
Michele: I'm
hard at work on an exciting "standalone" book
that is not part of the Melanie
Vargas series. It's
edgier and darker, full
of passion and crime
and sex, with an unforgettable
heroine who I know my
readers will identify
with. Unlike Melanie,
though, this girl is
from the wrong side of
the tracks and she lives
her life on the wrong
side of the law, but
she lives it to the max! I
also have short stories
coming out in two separate
anthologies in 2008. Details
about those will be posted
on my website, which
is www.michelemartinez.com,
and I hope readers will
check them out. Thanks
for letting me visit,
Jen!
 If you are a fan of
romance, which you
probably are since
you're reading
my column, then you
are familiar with the
name Carly
Phillips.
A Reading
with Ripa book
pick, her novel, The
Bachelor, soared
to the top of the New
York Times Bestseller
List when
Kelly Ripa gave it
her seal of approval,
so to speak. Her name
consistently heads
the top of the charts
for breaking sales
records. A talented
author as well as a
down-to-earth person,
Carly truly represents
the best of the romance
industry.
Jen: Carly,
it's so hard
to keep up with all
of your releases! Please
fill us in on your
new titles and what
we can expect to find
in the stores in the
next six months.
Carly: Hi,
Jen. Thanks for catching
up with me! As I hope
reader's already know, Sealed
with a Kiss, the
sequel to Cross My
Heart, is
in stores in paperback
now. In January comes Seduce
Me, which
is a reprint of 2001's
Harlequin Blaze, EroticInvitation
- so it's a reprint
with a new title and
new cover - so be aware!
And I'm working now
on Lucky
Charm due
out in October 2008,
the first story in
a new hero driven series.
I'm very excited
about this series about
three cousins damned
by centuries old curse
that affects every
male in their family
- if they marry for
love, they are destined
to lose their love
and their fortune.
It's been fun!
Jen: Your
website is always filled
with lots of fun contests
and interesting tidbits
about your life. What's
new on that front?
Carly: Thanks!
I love working on the
website. I have new fun
computer wallpapers for
readers, book videos
for Cross
My Heart and Sealed
with a Kiss.
I'll be putting up new
pages for Seduce
Me very
soon, with an excerpt
and a book video. Other
than that I'm a crazy
mom running around doing
carpooling.
Jen: Any
major appearances coming
up? Workshops? Conferences?
Carly:
Lots of conferences coming
up! Here's a brief outline
but I'll put more info
up on the website for
the New Year!
January 12, 2008
Orange County, CA Chapter Meeting
Speaking during the morning session
April 4 - 6, 2008
Phoenix, AZ RWA
Luncheon Speaker and Workshop Presenter
July 30 - Aug. 2, 2008
RWA National Conference
San Francisco
 Of all the authors
I have interviewed,
I have to say that
I was most surprised
by Kelley
St. John.
Who knew she was a
former writer for NASA?
How cool is that? You
never know what sparks
a person to give up
one career to become
a writer. Luckily for
us, she did because
there is nothing quite
like a juicy book from
Kelley! We also met
this summer and I was
so taken in with her
sincerity, not to mention
the sparkle in her
eyes when she talks
about her writing.
She truly loves what
she does and it shows!
Jen: Please
tell us about your
latest release, To
Catch a Cheat! 
Kelley: Thanks
for the kind words,
Jen – and thanks
for having me! I'll
let my main character,
Marissa Kincaid, tell
you about To
Catch a Cheat…
From Marissa: Isn't
it amazing how an event
(or several events,
in my case) in your
past can affect every
part of our future? At
the time, the circumstance
may not seem such a
big deal, then later
on you realize that it was
the pivotal moment
that changed everything. For
example, say you'd
been cheated on by
EVERY GUY YOU EVER
DATED. And okay,
maybe “cheated” is
too strong a word,
since some of them
didn't necessarily
cheat with another
person, but they still
put things before you. WAY
before you. And
by things, you mean
a career, or a mother
(the term “mama's
boy” comes to
mind), or a tuba. Do not ask
about the tuba. And
say the only means
that you see for rectifying
this situation is by…retribution. At
the time, creating
a cheater database
seems a terrific idea. But
that decision may also
come back to bite you
in the—well,
you get the picture. Because
if you do create
that database, and
then you happen to
put one guy on it who
may not be guilty as
charged, and then that
guy happens to retaliate
by creating a site
about liars, and his
site happens to feature
YOU...
Like I said, isn't
it amazing how an event
in your past (or now,
my present) can affect
every part of your
future? And doesn't
it make you wonder...is
that really such a
bad thing?
--Marissa
Kincaid,
creator of TheGuyCheats.com & Kelley
St. John, creator of
Marissa Kincaid
Jen: I
know you keep busy
serving on the Board
of Directors of Romance
Writers of America.
Please tell my readers
a little bit about
the organization of
which we both belong
and the benefits of
membership.
Kelley: I
can't say enough
positive things about Romance
Writers of America. The
organization is truly
dedicated to advancing
the professional interests
of career-focused romance
writers through networking
and advocacy, as is stated
on the RWA Web
site, www.rwanational.org For
me, RWA was
the key factor in getting
published. Through RWA,
I learned not only about
the craft of writing,
but also about the romance
novel industry. More
than that, I met many
of my closest friends
through RWA. If
you're interested
in writing romance, then
you definitely need to
join this amazing organization. RWA has
over 9,500 members in
144 chapters offering
local of special-interest
networking and education.
Jen: What
are you currently working
on?
Kelley: I'm
currently working on
edits for my next Harlequin
Blaze Sexth Sense trilogy,
coming out next summer,
as well as edits on
the next single title
release, The
Trouble with
Men,
which will come out
from Grand
Central Publishing next
November.
 As the saying goes,
I saved the best for
last. Elaine
Viets was a Jen's
Jewels earlier
this year when I introduced
many of you to her Josie
Marcus Mystery Shopper
Series.
There is nothing better
than a murder and a
little shopping. Right,
girls? Unfortunately,
as you may or may not
know, Elaine recently
suffered a stroke. She
most certainly is on
the road to recovery,
but I know how concerned
many of her fans have
been.
Jen: Elaine,
I know this year has
been full of ups and
downs. How are you feeling?
Elaine: I'm plugging
along -- way too slowly
for me, but the doctors
are happy with my progress.
Thanks for asking. I
really appreciate how
kind and concerned everyone
has been.
Jen: Your
latest release, Accessory
to Murder,
which I selected as
one of my TOP 5 PICKS
on my website in November
is  your best Josie
Marcus Mystery Shopper book
yet! Would you mind
telling us a little
bit about it.
Elaine: I'm
glad you liked it, Jen.
This novel, I raised
the stakes for Josie.
She could lose her best
friend and mystery shopping
partner, Alyce. Alyce's
husband is accused of
murder. Alyce believes
her husband is innocent.
She asks Josie for help.
Josie can't refuse her
friend, but she has to
hide the fact that she
can't stand the guy.
The "love her-hate
him" dilemma is
at the core of many women's
friendships. It's the
elephant standing in
the middle of your coffee
klatsch.
Jen: Currently,
what are you working
on? When can we expect
your next project to
be in the stores?
 Elaine: Clubbed
to Death,
my next Dead-End
Job book
will be published in
hardcover by Penguin in
May 2008. In this book,
Helen works at a country
club. I hope you and
your readers will enjoy
Helen's latest adventure
among the over-privileged.
Jen: What
message would you like
to leave my readers
with as we head into
2008?
Elaine: Stay
healthy, please. Use
this year to try for what
you really want -- that
college degree, the new
job, finishing the book
you've thought about
writing -- or reading.
And thanks to all of
you who sent emails,
cards and gifts when
I was sick. They meant
a lot.
A big thank you goes
out to these wonderful
friends of mine! I
hope you have enjoyed
checking back in with
the Top 7 Jen's
Jewels! As part of
the interview, each
author has donated
a select number of
copies of her book.
If you would like to
win one, please send
me an email at jensjewels@gmail.com.with
the correct answer
to the following question:
What is the name of the
television show where
I met Meg Cabot for the
first time?
In January 2008, I
will be bringing to
you an interview with
Amulya Malladi, author
of The
Sound of Language. You
won't want to
miss it. Thanks
for making my column
a part of your reading
journey! Happy Holidays!
Happy New Year…Jen
|
Meet
the Author: featuring Jen's Jewels