tag:www.trashionista.com,2009-09-19://92 2010-02-08T23:49:10Z Movable Type Pro 4.31-en tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172949 2010-02-08T22:27:02Z 2010-02-08T23:49:10Z

Carol Snow is the author of upcoming novel Just Like Me, Only Better (and I cant wait to read this!) Here, Carol talks about Just Like Me, her inspiration, and of course, a whole load of lookalikes... (Click here for...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Carol Snow is the author of upcoming novel Just Like Me, Only Better (and I cant wait to read this!) Here, Carol talks about Just Like Me, her inspiration, and of course, a whole load of lookalikes... (Click here for the book synopsis!)

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.
Struggling single mother gets hired as celebrity double for imploding young Hollywood starlet. That was thirteen words. Do I get extra credit?

What inspired you to write Just Like Me, Only Better?
Inspiration came in pieces. First: Ten years ago, during the heyday of Friends, I was at a housewife-populated Pokeeno party (don't ask) in Scottsdale, Arizona, when Lisa Kudrow walked in the door: there was her face, her hair, her height, her mannerisms. Only it wasn't Lisa Kudrow -obviously -- but if I had seen the same woman walking down the street in L.A., I would have sworn it was. When I asked her if anyone had ever commented on the resemblance, she said oh, sure: all the time. Plus, a kid had just asked for her autograph at an amusement park and didn't believe her when she said she wasn't Kudrow.

Second: A few Halloweens ago, in the midst of her meltdown, I dressed up as Britney Spears. To come up with costume specifics, I Googled her and could not believe just how bizarre her life was. Obviously, she had some, shall we say, "mental health issues." But the poor girl couldn't go anywhere without being mobbed by paparazzi just waiting for her to do something crazy. I thought: what is it like to live with that kind of scrutiny?

And, third: My husband works with a man who's a dead ringer for Jack Nicholson - and whose daughter works as an Angelina Jolie celebrity double at parties and corporate events. I don't know how that happens from a genetic standpoint, but it sparked some ideas!

Do you look like anyone famous?
When I was eleven, people said I looked like Nadia Comenici. Unfortunately, I couldn't do gymnastics like her. Also when was eleven (it was a big year, apparently), my eyebrows were frequently compared to Brooke Shields's. Since then, we have both embraced facial waxing.

]]> Where do you write your books?
I usually write on a couch in my office, with a cat on my lap and a computer on my knees. It's terrible for my posture but quite cozy.

What is your favourite chick-lit book?
Most of my favorite chick-lit books were published before the term was coined. Compromising Positions by Susan Isaacs had a huge impact on me. Not only was it compulsively readable, it gave me the first inkling of the kind of books I hoped to write someday.

Who is your favourite heroine, and why?
Kinsey Millhone, Sue Grafton's private eye, is self-sufficient, tough, crafty, and wry: in other words, not like me at all.

Do you have any tips for readers who would like to become published authors?
Ask yourself: Do I like spending long stretches of time alone? Do have large reserves of self discipline? Can I take criticism? Do I love writing more than anything else? If you answer "yes" to all of those things, great! Now spend the next 10-15 years honing your craft before worrying about publication. If you've already put in that kind of work and have a finished manuscript, you can fast forward to "Find a good agent." I've recommended Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents so many times, the guy should be giving me a cut of his royalties.

What are you currently reading?
I just finish Richard Price's Lush Life. It was dark, violent, and made me question humanity's capacity for altruism and redemption. I really liked it!

Are you working on anything else at the moment, and if so, can you tell us?
Yes. And no.

Thanks, Carol!
]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172948 2010-02-08T22:18:45Z 2010-02-08T22:22:47Z

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Fancy an all-expenses paid trip to New York? Well, here's your chance. Publishers Simon & Schuster are giving away a weekend in fabulous NYC in order to celebrate the release of Adriana Trigiani's new novel, Very Valentine, on February 9th.

To win, head on over to the site and fill out the online entry form. Want to know more about Very Valentine? Here's more info...

Meet Valentine, an unforgettable and passionate woman with a heart and a dream as big as New York City. Her dream? To design the perfect pair of shoes ...The Angelini Shoe Company, makers of exquisite wedding shoes since 1903, is one of the last family-owned businesses in Greenwich Village. Now, in the twenty-first century, the company run so devotedly by Valentine and her grandmother Teodora faces financial ruin. Juggling a romantic relationship with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family, and a design competition for a prestigious department store, Valentine accompanies her grandmother to Italy in the hope of finding inspiration. There, in Tuscany and on the Isle of Capri, she discovers her artistic voice and much more, turning her life around in ways she never expected.

You can read an excerpt of Very Valentine here, or check out Adriana's website. ]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172930 2010-02-05T03:38:14Z 2010-02-08T03:40:41Z

If you're a fan of Lucy Diamond (Hens Reunited, Over You), you'll be pleased to know that Lucy has another novel on the way. Sweet Temptation will be released in May 2010. Here's the synopsis:Maddie's getting it from all sides....

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com
Maddie's getting it from all sides. Her bitchy new boss at the radio station humiliates her live on air about her figure, her glamour-puss mum keeps dropping not-so-subtle hints that Maddie should lose weight and her kids are embarrassed to be seen with her after the disastrous Mums' race at their school sports day. Something's got to change...

Maddie joins the local weight-watching group expecting more humiliation but instead finds two unlikely allies - bitter divorcee Lauren who, despite running a dating agency, has signed off romance for ever and shy Jess, the beautician, who's desperate to fit into a size 10 wedding dress for her Big Day.

Read more about Lucy Diamond and her books at Lucy's blog.

]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172914 2010-02-04T15:26:27Z 2010-02-04T15:28:05Z

We've just read the news about the death of chick-lit author Susan Morgan (who wrote novels under the names of Zoe Barnes and Sue Dyson). For those who have not yet heard, Susan took her own life in October last...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com
The Daily Mail today reported that 52-year-old Susan, who wrote 45 novels, was also suffering from ill health. According to the article, a spokesman for her publishers Piatkus stated: 'She was one of the pioneers of chick-lit back in the nineties and has been entertaining her female fans ever since. All her stories were honest and believable with flawed but honourable heroines any woman would want to call a friend.

'She will be sorely missed by everyone who has had the pleasure of working with her through her career as a novelist.'

To read the full article, click here.

Susan and her books will be missed. Our thoughts go out to her family and friends. ]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172909 2010-02-03T05:05:57Z 2010-02-04T05:07:55Z

We absolutely adored Jaishree Misra's novel Secrets and Lies (click here to read Trashionista's interview with Jaishree) and now there's a second novel heading our way.Secrets and Sins is due for release in June 2010, an having thoroughly enjoyed the...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com We absolutely adored Jaishree Misra's novel Secrets and Lies (click here to read Trashionista's interview with Jaishree) and now there's a second novel heading our way.

Secrets and Sins is due for release in June 2010, an having thoroughly enjoyed the mysterious Secrets and Lies, we can't wait! Here's the synopsis:

Be careful what you wish for! Seven years ago, Riva Singh and Aman Khan had a passionate love affair. Despite their attraction, Riva rejected Aman for reliable Ben, the man who became her husband. Now, Riva is a bestselling London novelist, whilst Aman is a Bollywood superstar. Both have watched each other from afar but have stayed apart since their painful split. But Fate appears to have other plans for them as they are thrown together at the Cannes film festival. Aman is torn between his desire for Riva and his young family - not to mention the havoc an affair would have on his golden boy public image. Beset by guilt, Reva knows that their love could destroy everything that they hold dear. With so much at stake, will these star-crossed lovers follow their hearts - or their heads? ]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172867 2010-01-29T21:43:49Z 2010-01-30T21:47:16Z

Just when you thought you'd seen enough of them over the Christmas period, it seems as though celebrity memoirs will not be going away anytime soon. According to The Bookseller, publishers believe that the memoir market is 'here to stay',...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Just when you thought you'd seen enough of them over the Christmas period, it seems as though celebrity memoirs will not be going away anytime soon. According to The Bookseller, publishers believe that the memoir market is 'here to stay', despite poor sales last year.

Books from celebrity favourites such as Ant and Dec and Peter Kay will continue to grace the shelves, with some new additions in 2010. Michael McIntyre, Michael Parkinson, Russell Brand and Keith Richards will all each have memoirs released later this year.

Non-fiction director of publisher Hodder & Stoughton, Rowena Webb, told The Bookseller: "We certainly do think the celebrity memoir is here to stay . . . people are looking for strong stories, big careers and very often people who can write themselves. Those people who span the generations, books that the whole family can gather around and listen to."

And Katie Price, aka Jordan, will be releasing yet another memoir - entitled I'm Still Standing - pretty soon. (Like we didn't see THAT one coming.)

To view the full article, click here. ]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172866 2010-01-29T21:37:03Z 2010-01-30T21:41:06Z

Emily Barr, whose previous novels include Backpack, Plan B and The Sisterhood, is back with a new book that's out later this year. The Perfect Lie will be available on 13th May, and here's the gorgeous cover (left). The new...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Emily Barr, whose previous novels include Backpack, Plan B and The Sisterhood, is back with a new book that's out later this year. The Perfect Lie will be available on 13th May, and here's the gorgeous cover (left). The new cover matches that of The Life You Want, Emily's 2009 novel. What do you think? Or do you prefer the style of covers used for Emily's previous books (such as , right?) Let us know!

In the meantime, here's more about The Perfect Lie.

A girl flees to Venice to escape her dangerous past in this electrifying novel of intrigue, psychological tension and suspense...

For Lucy Riddick, Venice has always been the dream destination. A dream inspired by the pretty picture pinned to her mother's kitchen wall. To Lucy, Venice seems the ideal place to lose herself. And now she needs to do just that. The secret she's been keeping from her boyfriend and her friends has finally caught up with her and Lucy needs to disappear - and fast. There's no better time to pack her bags and head for Italy. But what if, when she sets foot in Venice, Lucy finds that the one thing she has been running from, the one thing she has been trying to escape, is already there, lying in wait for her? Time to run away again? Or time to end the chase, once and for all?

To find out more about Emily Barr and her books, check out her website.

]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172829 2010-01-27T20:38:42Z 2010-01-27T20:44:29Z

Jackie Dolamore is the author of recently released novel Magic Under Glass. Here Jackie talks about her love for the Victorian era, her inspiration, and her own magical tale.Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer. A dancing...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Jackie Dolamore is the author of recently released novel Magic Under Glass. Here Jackie talks about her love for the Victorian era, her inspiration, and her own magical tale.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.
A dancing girl discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman trapped inside a clockwork automaton.

What inspired you to write Magic Under Glass?
A lifelong fascination with the Victorian era, and novels set in creepy old houses full of secrets, most notably Jane Eyre. The structure of Jane Eyre was certainly an inspiration for the structure of Magic Under Glass, although it takes some very different turns. Also The Secret Garden and A Little Princess. The automata aspect of the book, on the other hand, was inspired by an exhibit of Japanese automata I saw at a museum, and an exhibit of mechanical music.

Where do you write your books?
At a desk. Yawn. A very messy cheap IKEA desk. Sometimes with my big heavy boy cat on my lap, getting his paws in the way.

]]> What is your favourite chick-lit book?
Hmm, that's a hard question. I think chick-lit was a big trend here in America and then the market got oversaturated and now people don't use the term "chick-lit" much. I tend to veer more toward historical and fantasy anyway. Sorry for the lousy answer!

Who is your favourite heroine, and why?
Emily Byrd Starr, from L. M. Montgomery's Emily books. I identified so fiercely with her love of writing, for one thing, but it was more than that...she had a sort of spirit and pride that I understood, that I felt as a child too, which adults rarely seemed to understand or capture, but L. M. Montgomery did. It was never overwrought or unrealistic.

Do you have any tips for readers who would like to become published authors?
The best thing you can do is strive for active improvement. Learn how to edit and take it seriously. Find some good critique partners... or at least some mediocre ones, if you can't find good ones right away. You'll learn as much from critiquing their work as you well from their critiques of yours. And don't be afraid to put your work out there.

What are you currently reading?
Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey, and the comic book series Fables.

Are you working on anything else at the moment, and if so, can you tell us?
My next book is a starcrossed romance between a mermaid and a winged man. I'm about to work on revising that with my editor, along with working on the first draft to a Magic Under Glass sequel!

Thanks, Jackie!]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172889 2010-01-27T01:19:52Z 2010-02-02T01:24:00Z

Book blog Book Chick City recently posted a great entry on the topic of book covers. Which brought us to thinking here at Trashionista - how important are book covers to you?Obviously the cover is one of the main points...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Book blog Book Chick City recently posted a great entry on the topic of book covers. Which brought us to thinking here at Trashionista - how important are book covers to you?

Obviously the cover is one of the main points of selling a book. Possibly the most important. Personally, the cover is the main thing that attracts me towards a book (unless of course, it's a book I've been waiting for, in which case the jacket doesn't really matter!) In addition, I've read quite a few books with covers that don't represent at all what the book is about.

With many authors having their covers changed or designed to fit in with a series (Emily Barr, Alexandra Potter, Wendy Holden), I do wonder if anyone else shares the opinion. So let us know!

Is the cover important to you when choosing a book? What is your favourite cover? Are there any covers you've disliked? We'd like to hear your thoughts!

]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172827 2010-01-26T20:13:34Z 2010-01-27T20:17:08Z

Well, it was to be expected what with Sophie Kinsella's popularity and her absolutely brilliant latest book (fine, I'm biased!) but the news is out - Twenties Girl is this week's new number one.According to The Bookseller, the paperback edition...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Well, it was to be expected what with Sophie Kinsella's popularity and her absolutely brilliant latest book (fine, I'm biased!) but the news is out - Twenties Girl is this week's new number one.

According to The Bookseller, the paperback edition of Twenties Girl - Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella's ninth book (16th including those written under Madeleine Wickham) sold 36,378 copies in the UK last week. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer is third on the list.

Click here to read the full article.

]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172826 2010-01-26T20:04:16Z 2010-01-27T20:06:42Z

Fans of Jill Mansell (author of Rumour Has It and Thinking of You) will be delighted to know that her latest novel is on its way. Take a Chance on Me will be released by Headline on February 18th. Here's...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Fans of Jill Mansell (author of Rumour Has It and Thinking of You) will be delighted to know that her latest novel is on its way. Take a Chance on Me will be released by Headline on February 18th. Here's a little bit more about Jill's latest offering...

Cleo Quinn doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to men, but now Will's come along. Handsome and attentive, he could be her Mr Right. Things are definitely looking up for Cleo... apart from one small problem with a rather large ego. Johnny LaVenture, sculptor extraordinaire and her personal childhood nemesis, is back in Channing's Hill and tormenting her as if he'd never been away. Meanwhile Cleo's sister Abbie has a problem of her own - husband Tom has become distant and withdrawn, and she's determined to find out why. But will the shocking truth mean the end of their idyllically happy marriage? The sisters are about to discover that the past can come back to haunt you, and that love can flourish in the unlikeliest of places...

To find out more about Jill Mansell and her books, check out her website.

]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172887 2010-01-25T23:59:14Z 2010-02-02T00:00:36Z

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson's bestselling novel, is set to hit the big screen this year. The book, the first in Larsson's Millennium trilogy, has sold 25 copied worldwide and has been decribed by the Guardian as...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson's bestselling novel, is set to hit the big screen this year. The book, the first in Larsson's Millennium trilogy, has sold 25 copied worldwide and has been decribed by the Guardian as a "full-blown literary and movie phenomenon."

The movie is due for release in cinemas in March 2010. If you haven't read the book, here's some more information about the story:

From the bestselling novel by Stieg Larsson comes this gripping new thriller which will have you guessing until the end.

Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared off the secluded island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger family. There was no corpse, no witnesses, no evidence. Nearly forty years later a journalist by the name of Mikael Blomqvist gets an unusual assignment. He's contacted by Harriet's uncle, Henrik Vanger, who wants him to find out what really happened to Harriet.  Mikael takes on the job, with help from mysterious biker girl and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.  This unlikely pair form a fragile bond as they dig into the sinister past of this family and find out just how far they're prepared to go to protect themselves - and each other.

Visit the official movie site to find out more.

Have you read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? And will yo be watching the movie?

]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172830 2010-01-25T20:54:04Z 2010-01-27T20:59:04Z

It's coming to the end of January, which means that those of us who made resolutions ('what are those again?' some might say) will either be smiling with success, or have given up on their new year plights a couple...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com It's coming to the end of January, which means that those of us who made resolutions ('what are those again?' some might say) will either be smiling with success, or have given up on their new year plights a couple of weeks ago. Even so, there's still time - and what with 'save more/spend less' being one of the top new year mantras, I thought I'd give you the heads-up on a rather interesting recent release...

Shoo, Jimmy Choo: The Modern Girl's Guide to Spending Less and Saving More is the new book from Catey Hill, money editor at the New York Daily News online. It promises to help you manage your finances and make way for a nice retirement. Whereas some of us have never owned a pair of Jimmy Choos (boo!) it might still make an interesting read...

Remember when Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw faced the brutal realization that she couldn't buy her apartment because she'd already spent her money on a closet full of Manolos? Well, if Carrie had met Catey first, she'd own her co-op and be on her way to a comfortable retirement!

Catey Hill is the online money expert for the Daily News Web site--and author of this humorous, practical "girlfriends guide" to personal finance for 20- and 30-something females. (The ones with the designer shoes...and maxed-out credit cards.) With a hip, "I've been there" voice along with worksheets and exercises, she helps women evaluate why they spend, get out of debt, and create a savings and retirement plan that even allows for the occasional splurge. Among the topics she covers: student loans, car payments, investing, saving for a home, and more.

To find out more about Catey Hill and Shoo, Jimmy Choo, check out Catey's website.  ]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172888 2010-01-25T00:05:44Z 2010-02-02T00:07:32Z

Those in the United States may have heard of Victoria Rowell, who played Drucilla Winters on The Young and the Restless. Well, Victoria's penned a book based on her former soap actress life. (After previously writing The Woman Who Raised...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Those in the United States may have heard of Victoria Rowell, who played Drucilla Winters on The Young and the Restless. Well, Victoria's penned a book based on her former soap actress life. (After previously writing The Woman Who Raised Me, a bestselling memoir.) Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva will be released in May 2010 by Simon & Schuster. Here's a little bit more about the book.

Calysta Jeffries is the hottest black actress in daytime and the diva of the soap opera world, known for her role as Ruby Stargazer on television's most popular soap opera, "The Rich and the Ruthless."

After fifteen years, three returns from the dead, two failed pregnancies, one alien abduction, and overcoming retrograde amnesia, Calysta still hasn't managed to snag the biggest award in daytime drama: the Sudsy. Now is supposed to be her moment. But Calysta's onscreen/offscreen rival Emmy Abernathy wins the award for the fourth time. The drama begins when journalist Mitch Morelli asks Calysta for a quote after the award show and her true feelings for her costar slip out.

Ripped from the headlines of Soap Opera Digest and straight off of the television screen, Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva will give readers plenty to talk about as they try to guess where the real world ends and Rowell's imagination begins.

To read more about Victoria Rowell, head on over to her website.

]]> tag:www.trashionista.com,2010://92.172885 2010-01-22T23:50:18Z 2010-02-01T23:52:46Z

Yep, Twilight author Stephanie Meyer is among one of the top authors in Europe for 2009, according to a recent analysis. The Bookseller reported that the results came from an anaysis of the top 10 international fiction bestsellers over 12...

Elle Symonds http://www.trashionista.com Yep, Twilight author Stephanie Meyer is among one of the top authors in Europe for 2009, according to a recent analysis. The Bookseller reported that the results came from an anaysis of the top 10 international fiction bestsellers over 12 months.

Stephanie Meyer, Dan Brown and Steig Larsson (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) came top of the list. Meyer came second, which 'ht the bestseller charts of five of the countries measured: Germany, Spain, UK, Sweden and Italy.'

Well, we're not exactly surprised!

Click here to read the full article and to view the entire list.

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