Author Archives: ReadingRenee

Interview with Jennifer Yih, author of the first book of the Shy Town Girls series

Posted in Book Titles by

 
Finally my interview with Jennifer Yih, one of the 4 fab and funny authors of Shy Town Girls. So Jennifer is the author of the first book of the Shy Town Girls series. I loved the idea of 4 collaborating girls and the book! Although angst was thrown in there was enough humor and life lessons to make it more funny! Pure chick lit in my opinion that is the best lit!!
 
How and who came up with this idea to write this together? I see many books with two authors and maybe more than one POV,but this was the best and most refreshing idea I have seen in a long time.
I’ve been working for Melissa for about three years now and just this summer she approached me with an idea she had for a book series. It turns out, it was the wonderful idea of bringing a Sex In The City-esque series to Chicago. She asked me if I’d be interested in writing the first book and I got started right away. Melissa, Katie Leimkuehler, Kate Clinesmith, and myself got together and created 4 different female characters. We narrowed it down to what they looked like, their favorite foods, family lives, and so on. After character development we brainstormed ideas about how we wanted the books to come off. As we developed the characters, I really got a feel for who Kate and Katie were, and how they related to their characters and vice versa. The book finished November 14th and went in for editing. 
 Image
I sort of have a vision of each author being a character, or at least having their personality traits. Is that true? 
 
Absolutely each character has major similarities to the authors. Bobbie, I believe, is very much of me…more so, parts of me overtime. (I knew it!!!) I hoped to overdramatize the insecurities, the optimism, the uncertainty, also her strengths and weaknesses as a overly loyal person with priorities that are some what out of whack. In the end, I hoped Bobbie would trust herself more than she did in the beginning.
 
Who is Barbara? Would you say she is funny like Holland Taylor from Two and Half Men or more serious like Candace Bergen? 
I’d say Barbara is more of a Holland Taylor, less serious than Candace. Barbara is a diva, but undeniably intelligent. I created her character based off my best friends Grandmother who was a Legs model back in the day, lived on Lakeshore Drive her whole life, and no matter where she went she looked like a movie star. Of course, she was dating a man 30 years younger than her, and looks hotter than any of us in our 20’s at 70 years old. My friends Grandmother used to come dancing out of her bathroom in a silk robe, hair in curler, make up done, with a glass of scotch, singing some old song I didn’t know. Her friends were just as fabulous as she was. (giggling on my end)
 
Charlie is a man we all love to hate. Was the moving out and breaking up hard to write? I felt like he was always thinking it was just a whim and she would be back. 
 
Yes, Charlie is a disaster of a man. He’s gorgeous, shallow, and manipulative. Although, Bobbie sees the goodness in him, he’s not an evil person, just a superficial…lost…weak…person. Bobbie is so much stronger and deeper than him, but she’s distracted and he plays her weaknesses. It wasn’t hard to write, it was real. I experienced a very similar situation to Bobbie with my ex model boyfriend. Every girl has a Charlie and for those that don’t…lucky them!
 
How did you come up with them being amicable? The car ride over to the new place had me on the fence about them, maybe this is it or maybe there is a chance..  
Old habits are hard to break. They’ve dated for a long time, lived together, the level of comfort is high. Bobbie also is his agent…they have a very dependent relationship on each other. (I think she has a voodoo doll in her closet somewhere… LOL)
 
Do you think that Bobbie’s work made her insecure? 
Absolutely. She’s competed with 5’10” models, but she knows her strengths and it hasn’t totally ruined her. In fact, she has so much hostility towards the industry and everyone in it. The job as a modeling agent was never a pursuit for her, she fell into it by “a friend of a friend”…it’d be hard for any girl graduating from undergrad to deny the offer at a high end modeling agency surrounded by fashion and the glam (temporarily)
 
What can we expect in the next book? 
You’ll have to contact Katie about that. Katie’s a great writer and also has created a hilarious character, Ivy. The next book is from Ivy’s perspective and she’s a bit “wilder” than Bobbie, but not to be underestimated….her energy and wit is addictive. (Can’t wait. Note to self, bother Katie asap)

Running on Empty (Mending Hearts, #1) by L.B. Simmons @LBSimmons33

Posted in Book Titles by

Running On Empty

I love a fluffy romance, this was not fluffy. It was like nothing I have read. One minute I am laughing at Alex and her BFF Harlow and then poof I am sad. Poor Alex she has been miserable for 3 years since her husband died in a tragic car accident. Alex and Derek were together since they were in High School and when he is gone she has to try to pick up the pieces. Day by day it is a struggle. The best friend who ever walked the earth is Harlow. She took care of Alex, her 3 girls and ran a business. Just like Derek, Harlow was her best friend since they were kids and they have done everything together. Harlow is a free spirit with a great sense of humor and a passion for not committing.

While Alex had the perfect life, she never really lived it thinking that maybe tomorrow wouldn’t be the same. Life is a constant struggle and then Blake shows up. Blake was her best friend from childhood. The had their first day of school together and every day in between. Blake moved to Colorado and return to Waco saying his Dad was going to retire and he may take over the business. Blake discovers Alex on the side of the road out of gas and gives her a ride. There is so much anger between the two of them it is painful. It seems that they hate each other because life got in the way. 

That is all I will say about the plot. There are two very angst filled chapters that may require ice cream. I tweeted the author because I was struggling and it was after midnight and I had to have ice cream to get through the chapter.

Well I loved this book from beginning to end. When the characters are so real that you need ice cream, the author had effectively communicated the message. Sometimes the messages are really really hard to take. I made a few clipping and they have nothing to do with plot or spoilers.

AToMR Tours View AToMR 2.jpg in slide show is the best host!!

Buy on Amazon

Twitter @lbsimmons33 

Stalk herView LBSimmonsPic.jpg in slide show

on FB

Like it on Goodreads 

My Clippings:

-You see, Harlow and I started our own staffing firm right out of college – Prestige Staffing. We started our own business so that we could smoke in our office all day long, consume adult beverages during work hours, and do nothing but giggle and gossip all day.

Like the hook-handed truck driver from Adventures in Babysitting! I am, however, pleasantly surprised by the delicious mirage that appears before me.

“Alex, if I have to pick you up, put you over my shoulder, and physically place you on my bike, I will. So yes, it’s gonna happen. You can either do so with dignity, or we can do it my way. Your choice.”

How much life you still have in you. Don’t let your fear rob you of the happiness that you deserve.”

 I look over at Blake and watch his lips as he silently mouths Guaca-mole. Damn you, Austin Powers. Stop it, I mouth back at him.

The tears washing my soul with a peace I had no idea I would ever feel again.

I guess that’s the sign of a true friend; you can literally go years without speaking, but when you meet again you just pick up right where you left off, never skipping a beat.

But you’ll never have your happy ending unless you’re brave enough to open the book and start your story.Which is unfortunate because you aren’t here. Am I crazy for waiting for you to give me the okay?