Guest Star: Melissa Clark

Please welcome my special guest on the blog today, Melissa Clark, author of Swimming Upstream, Slowly.

Summary:

After too many vodka tonics at her best friend's baby shower, twenty-seven-year-old Sasha finds herself having a ladies' room epiphany. How quickly life can change, she thinks to herself: one minute she's writing a master's thesis about a TV comedy show for kids–and the next, the program actually gets optioned with her as the star. But Sasha’s awe at the twists of fate proves to be premature. The real shock comes the next day, when her routine visit to the ob-gyn reveals that she’s pregnant—even though she hasn't slept with anyone in more than two years.

To her unbelieving ears comes the doctor’s diagnosis: Sasha’s body has unwittingly hosted a cellular hitchhiker, a medical anomaly known as “lazy sperm.” And now that this plodding genetic contribution has finally fulfilled its destiny, it will be up to Sasha to summon the courage to revisit her past loves even as her future slowly takes shape inside her. Which of her exes will be the father and how will he take the astounding news? And what will the end of the mystery mean to Sasha? The answers are revealed in this wonderfully inventive debut about the bonds that linger between people even after they part ways, and how the future can change in the twitch of a tail.

This book sounds fantastic and I'm excited to feature my interview with Melissa here. Check it out!

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

They seem to find me. I can't remember how I came up with "Sasha", but her last name is "Salter" and that is the last name of the friend who suggested I write my crazy idea as a book rather than a movie.

What's your favorite part about the publishing process?

I loved traveling to conferences and speaking on panels and doing readings. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this part. This, of course, comes second to the actual act of writing the book in the first place.

When you got that first phone call announcing your had sold a novel, how did you react? How did you celebrate?

I have a crazy publishing story...probably too long to include here, but I knew from a third party that the editor was going to call and make me an offer before she did, so when she called I had to pretend I knew NOTHING. It was the best and only acting job of my life. I can't remember what happened when I hung up. Probably a lot of screaming and an embarrassing victory dance.

If your book were to be made into a movie, who could you see playing the lead role?

Jennifer Garner, Natalie Portman, Drew Barrymore... depending on who is free.


What was your inspiration behind your latest novel?

I was having lunch with a friend and overate. I lifted my shirt to expose my bloated belly and the friend said, half joking, "Are you sure you're not pregnant?" and I said, "Yeah, right, from a lazy sperm." I went home that night and started outlining the idea for a movie. I decided, eventually, to write it as a novel instead.

For more information about Melissa's hilarious novel, please visit her website: www.MelissaClark.org or her book's website: www.SwimmingUpstreamSlowly.com

More Twilight Easter Eggs

So, I caved and saw Twilight YET AGAIN today. And being that this was my fourth viewing I was able to catch a few more easter eggs that I managed to miss the last three times. An easter egg is a hardly-noticeable little detail that filmmakers or authors drop into their films or books for diehard fans (or just extremely observant people) to find. For those of you who missed my first posting on Twilight easter eggs, be sure to check it out here.

And here are three more to add to the list.

**WARNING: TWILIGHT SPOILERS HERE!

1) Wolf picture in Bella's room - Toward the beginning of the movie, when Bella first comes home to her dad's house in Forks, she walks into her new bedroom and behind her, on the wall, next to the door, is a picture of a wolf. Total foreshadow of book 2, New Moon and the forthcoming film adaptation.

2) Vegetarian Soul mates - So this easter egg (or small detail) is unique to the movie. It is not in the book. But I noticed that in the four times Bella is seen eating (twice with her dad, once in the cafeteria, and once with Edward in the restaurant), she is eating something vegetarian. Veggie burger, spinach salad, mushroom ravioli, etc. I think the filmmakers added this detail (in the book she eats meat) to mirror Edward's so-called "Vegetarianism" (the fact that his family doesn't eat humans).

3) Sleep Disorders - Okay, this one might be a stretch. But if you look closely, when Bella is in the hospital hallway, talking to her dad about the "almost" accident (just before she sees Edward again) behind them on the wall is a hospital directory. The fourth department listed on the directory is the "Sleep Disorder" Clinic. This could be a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that Edward (and all vampires) never sleep.

Okay, stay tuned. Maybe on my 5th viewing, I'll find more!

Guest Star: Malena Lott

Today our special guest star is the fabulous Malena Lott, author of DATING DAVINCI, about finding love and la dolce vita in the last place you would expect.

A Quick Summary:

Ramona Elise is in a rut--a 36-year-old widowed mother of two, she can't seem to find what make her truly happy in life. Making sure her kids are happy isn't the hard part; Ramona's looking for the passion she lost two years ago when she lost her husband and her world turned upside down. When a handsome Italian immigrant walks into her English class, Ramona never expects to find--la dolce vita (the sweet life)--in a younger man...or in her self!

I was lucky enough to be able to ask Malena some questions about her latest release and her career as an author. Check out my Q&A below!

Q: I LOVE the title of this book. How did you come up with it?

A: The title came pretty quickly, early on. I love alliteration and really wanted to incorporate da Vinci since he’s the catalyst that starts Ramona’s renaissance. Since publishers have final say, I don’t get too attached to my working title, though. I do like getting credit for this one, though! Of course the book isn’t just about da Vinci and romance is only a part of the story, but I think it’s catchy and hopefully it will catch people's eye to learn more about the book.

Q: As an author, what's your biggest fantasy? (the clean kind...just thought I'd clarify)

A: Writers already have active imaginations, so this one is a no brainer. Vision board, here I come! Hit the top 10 of the New York Times bestseller list, have a long line waiting for me when I arrive for book signings, have my books optioned for films that actually get made and made well, and a few national TV appearances to boot. TODAY show, The View, Oprah, you know. Just the small stuff, you know? Not that I’ve given any of this much thought. Not a bit.

Q: Procrastination is a big obstacle for me as a writer. What about you? Do you have any tricks for beating it?

A: I have to say, I'm pretty lucky. Hugh (Jackman) typically promises a shirtless steak dinner (him, not me) if I meet my word count goal. If that's not enough motivation, Brad's aromatherapy massages usually get me in the mood, though sad to say, it's not for writing. Heck, usually my imagination can trick me into getting back on the laptop to write away into the sunrise. Like, "finish this and you'll be as famous as Sophie Kinsella and you'll never have to buy groceries again and you can spend all your time lounging on the beaches drinking frozen Flirtinis!" I'm so easy.

Q: I, too, dream of becoming the next Sophie Kinsella! What would you do if it really were to happen?

A: Well, after hiring the cook, the nanny and the housekeeper, I guess I'd start interviewing stylists and personal shoppers (loathe grocery shopping.) No, seriously, I don't think much about my life would change except that I wouldn't get "that look" from my darling husband when I've gone on a shopping spree and I'd get to vacation more and feel good that my kids can go to college easily and perhaps not have to work as much as I did. *Not* that I'm complaining. On second thought, maybe I would spring for the housekeeper. Loathe laundry nearly as much as grocery shopping. That reminds me, that load needs to be changed out. Be back in a sec.

Q: Thanks so much Malena, do you have a sample chapter that readers can take a peek at?

A: Thank you! And yes, you can read the first chapter at www.MalenaLott.com

I'm on an ABC Commercial (well, my voice is anyway)

So if you've been watching ABC lately, you might have seen the following commercial playing in between your favorite ABC shows. And guess what? I'm the one singing background vocals in it. That's right! A friend of mine composes a lot of TV commercials and asked if I'd come in and sing for this one and of course I said, "sure!"

I was super excited when I was sitting around with my family over Thanksgiving watching the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special and suddenly there was my voice coming through the surround sound. Very strange. And if it sounds like there are ten of me, that's because I sang it about ten times with different harmonies. I'm my very own choir. :)

Anyway here it is (my part comes in around second 15) Happy Holidays!