LATEST AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 2010
DANA WOOD
Dana Wood has been a magazine journalist for 20 years, including stints at Cookie Magazine and W. She was also Assistant VP of strategic development for the luxury products division of L’Oreal USA. She wrote the blog when she was 43 and pregnant with her first child. The book Momover: The New Mom’s Guide to Getting Back Together evolved from there. (Interview by Annmarie Ottman)
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Authors - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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February 2010
CLAIRE ALLAN
Journalist Claire Allan’s debut novel Rainy Days and Tuesdays was inspired by her own experiences with post-natal depression. Her fourth novel Got To Be Perfect will be out in October and she’s currently working on her fifth, tentatively titled The 30 Something Crisis Club. She lives in Derry, Ireland. (Interview by Shirley Benton-Bailey)
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March 2008
AMY APPLETON
Amy Appleton is a pseudonym for a bestselling London-based author who is keeping her identity under wraps for now. Her novel The Bride Hunter is out this month.
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October 2007
AMANDA ASHBY
Australian-born author Amanda Ashby's debut novel, You Had Me at Halo, is best described as paranormal chick lit. Amanda, who has lived in England for several years, has recently moved to Napier, New Zealand, with her husband and two children.
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July 2008
KATHLEEN BAIRD-MURRAY
Kathleen Baird-Murray is a former model and magazine beauty editor who wrote How To Be Beautiful: The Thinking Woman's Guide. Her first novel Face Value is now. She once lived in Australia while working for Marie Claire magazine but now lives in London with her husband and two children.
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October 2007
LAUREN BARATZ-LOGSTED
Lauren Baratz-Logsted's latest chick lit release is Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes. She also edited the This is Chick-Lit anthology (2006), a collection of stories from 18 authors in response to the critical This is Not Chick Lit book. Before being published in 2003, she worked as a bookseller, reviewer and editor.
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December 2007
JO BARRETT
Jo Barrett quit her job as a lawyer to write a novel - the very successful The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom. Born in Okinawa, Japan, raised in Texas and now living in New York, Jo's latest novel about revenge is out in January.
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January 2008
MARIA BEAUMONT
Maria Beaumont is the author of Motherland, Chicklit Club's Book of 2007, and also has just released a novel, Rubbish Boyfriends, under the name Jessie Jones. She lives in London with her husband, author Matt Beaumont, and two children.
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August 2009
DAN BEGLEY
Dan Begley is the author of Ms. Taken Identity, about a guy who writes a chick lit novel. He is a full-time writer who has also been a member of the English faculty at the University of Missouri-St Louis and Cor Jesu Academy. He lives in St Louis with his wife and is working on his next novel. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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June 2009
C.A BELMOND
C.A Belmond is the author of the Rather series, starring Penny Nichols. A Rather Lovely Inheritance was her debut novel in 2007, followed by A Rather Curious Engagement in 2008. The third in the series, A Rather Charming Invitation, is due to be published next year. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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December 2008
SARAH BILSTON
Sarah Bilston has followed up her debut novel Bed Rest, about a high-flying lawyer put on bed rest during her pregnancy, with its sequel Sleepless Nights. An assistant professor of English literature at a Connecticut college, she is married and has three children, including twins.
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July 2010
ALISON BOND
English author Alison Bond’s latest novel A Reluctant Cinderella is about a woman working in the male-dominated environment of sports agents. Bond has worked as an entertainment agent, including a stint at ICM. Her first novels, How to be Famous and The Truth About Ruby Valentine, were both set in the entertainment industry. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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February 2010
REBECCA L. BOSCHEE
Rebecca L. Boschee turned a bad customer experience into her debut novel Mulligan Girl. She lives in Arizona.
(Interview by Christy Goldstein)
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September 2009
MARILYN BRANT
Marilyn Brant's debut novel According to Jane is about a woman who receives romantic advice from the spirit of Jane Austen. The former teacher and book reviewer lives in Chicago and is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. (Interview by Leah Eggleston Krygowski)
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January 2010
GEMMA BURGESS
Gemma Burgess was born in Australia, then moved to Hong Kong and spent her 20s working as a copywriter in London. Her first novel The Dating Detox was released last month.
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August 2008
ELLIE CAMPBELL
This is the pen-name of sister writing duo, Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell. Pam lives in Surrey while Lorraine is based in Colorado. Like the women in their debut novel How to Survive Your Sisters, they come from a family of four sisters.
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July 2008
MARGO CANDELA
Margo Candela lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. She was a journalism major who turned her hand to writing novels. Her third novel, More Than This, is out in August.
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September 2009
CLAUDIA CARROLL
Claudia Carroll is the Dublin-based author of six novels, including her 2009 release If This Is Paradise, I Want My Money Back! She used to play the role of nasty businesswoman Nicola Prendergast on TV soap Fair City. Her book Remind Me Again Why I Need A Man was optioned for a TV series while I Never Fancied Him Anyway is to be a film. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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July 2008
LOUISE CANDLISH
Louise Candlish once worked as a book editor and advertising copywriter. She published her first novel Prickly Heat in 2004. The mother of one lives in London and is currently working on her sixth novel.
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July 2010
FIONA CASSIDY
This is the pen-name of Fionnuala McGoldrick. Her second novel, Anyone for Me?, is out in August. She lives in Northern Ireland with her husband and blended family. (Interview by Shirley Benton-Bailey)
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April 2010
JACKIE COLLINS
With more than 400 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Jackie Collins gives readers an insider’s glimpse into Hollywood lives. Her latest release, Poor Little Bitch Girl, is her 27th novel since her first title, The World is Full of Married Men, was released in 1968. Many of her books have been made into film and TV. The British-born “Queen of Steam” lives in Los Angeles. (Interview by Annmarie Ottman)
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June 2010
LAUREN CONRAD
Lauren Conrad is best known for starring in MTV's reality show, The Hills. Her first novel, L.A. Candy, about a new reality TV star became a #1 New York Times bestseller. The third novel in the series, Sugar and Spice, is out in October. Conrad lives in Los Angeles and is a regular magazine cover girl, including for Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly.(Interview by Angela Smith)
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Photo credit: Andrew MacPherson.
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September 2009
CLAIRE COOK
Claire Cook is the bestselling author of six novels, including Must Love Dogs and Life's a Beach. Her latest book The Wildwater Walking Club inspired her to start walking 10,000 steps every day. She lives in Massachusetts. (Interview by Angela Smith)Go to interview
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February 2008
EILEEN COOK
Eileen Cook's debut novel Unpredictable is about a woman who pretends to be a psychic to get her boyfriend back. The Vancouver-based counsellor also runs writing workshops.
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December 2007
GWEN COOPER
Gwen Cooper got a lot of publicity when news of her 'tell-all' about the South Beach scene of the 1990s broke. Now a full-time writer, the author of Diary of a South Beach Party Girl is working on another book about Miami in the 1980s. The Miami native now lives in New York.
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May 2010
RONNI COOPER
Ronni Cooper is a pseudonym for a newspaper columnist. Her first novel Rock Chicks is out in June. She has worked in nightclubs and now lives between the UK and LA, writing full-time. (Interview by Anna Bell)
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May 2009
FRAN CUSWORTH
Three years ago, Melbourne journalist Fran Cusworth moved across the country with her geologist husband and two sons to a remote coastal town in Western Australia called Hopetoun. Her experiences as the town got caught up in a big mining boom inspired her second novel, Hopetoun Wives, which is released this month. She is now back living in Melbourne and the nickel mine that brought hundreds of mining families to town has since closed.
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March 2008
LISA DAILY
Florida-based TV dating expert Lisa Daily has followed up her advice book Stop Getting Dumped! with her debut novel called Fifteen Minutes of Shame.
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March 2008
LUCY DAWSON
Lucy Dawson has been a journalist and magazine editor and her debut novel His Other Lover is out this month. She lives in Kent, England.
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October 2009
DEE DAVIS
Texan Dee Davis worked in association management before turning her hand to writing. She has since written 18 novels, including A Match Made in Madison and Set Up in SoHo, and won many awards. When not frantically trying to meet a deadline, Dee says she spends her time with her husband, daughter, cat and dog in Manhattan. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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December 2009
JONI DAVIS AND LISA HYATT
This American pair teamed up to write Feng Shui Love, which was published last month. They are already working on the sequel Feng Shui Love Child and a non-fiction guide to feng shui. Davis is an entertainment lawyer while Hyatt is a corporate flight attendant.
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March 2008
HOLLY DENHAM
Holly Denham is a receptionist at a London investment banking firm who got her start with the help of recruitment company director Bill Hutton-Surie and his wife Bonnie. You can read all her daily emails at www.hollysinbox.com. The first book Holly's Inbox was out last year; the sequel Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City is out in June.
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November 2008
LUCY DIAMOND
This is the pen-name of children's author Sue Mongredien. Recently married, she lives in Bath with her husband and three children. Her latest adult release is Over You.
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November 2009
MIRANDA DICKINSON
Miranda Dickinson’s first novel Fairytale of New York is out this month. The story, then called Coffee at Kowalski's, was spotted last year on HarperCollins' site for unpublished authors, Authonomy.com, and became one of its first titles to be offered a publishing deal. Based in England, she is also a singer-songwriter and a successful participant in the NaNoWriMo challenge.
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February 2010
LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL
Lorraine Duffy Merkl is a New York author, freelance journalist and advertising creative director/copywriter. Her debut novel, Fat Chick, was published in 2009. She also writes a bi-monthly column - New York Gal - for Manhattan Media’s Our Town and West Side Spirit newspapers. (Interview by Annmarie Ottman)
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August 2009
REBECCA FARNWORTH
Rebecca Farnworth's first novel Valentine was released this year. She is also a ghostwriter, penning the words for celebrities such as Katie Price. She lives in Brighton with her husband and three children.
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April 2009
LIZ FENTON AND LISA STEINKE
Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have been friends since college and both live in California. Like the two main characters in their debut novel I'll Have Who She's Having, Liz is married with two children and Lisa is single. They also have created the chicklitisnotdead blog.
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January 2008
JERRAMY FINE
Jerramy Fine fell for the Queen's oldest grandson, Peter Phillips, when she was a child and followed her heart from America to London to meet and marry him. Her memoir Someday My Prince Will Come was released earlier this month. Fine lost her chance at an earlier book deal for a novel based on her time at Guinness World Records when the company threatened legal action.
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April 2010
ZOE FISHMAN
Zoe Fishman is a literary agent who lives in Brooklyn with her husband, whom she met on the subway after four plus years of trying to get up the nerve to say hello to him. Balancing Acts is her first novel. (Interview by Jarin Eisenberg)
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February 2010
SARA FOSTER
Sara Foster’s debut novel Come Back to Me was published in early 2010. She has worked as a freelance book editor. Originally from England, she now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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July 2008
ZOE FOSTER
Australian Zoe Foster is a former magazine beauty editor and is now editor-in-chief of a new beauty website. Her debut novel, Air Kisses, is about Hannah who lands a job as beauty editor of Gloss magazine.
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May 2010
ILANA FOX
Ilana Fox is the author of two novels, Spotlight and The Making of Mia. She has worked for a variety of national newspapers and websites, including the Daily Mail, The Sun and ASOS.com. She lives in London with her clothes, shoes, bags, kittens and boyfriend. To find out more, visit: www.ilanafox.com or follow her at twitter.com/ilana. (Interview by Paula Phillips)
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January 2009
LINDA GREEN
Journalist Linda Green lives in Yorkshire with her husband and son. Her second novel 10 Reasons Not to Fall in Love is out this month.
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June 2010
JANE GREEN
Jane Green – one of chick lit’s founding authors with books such as Jemima J, Mr Maybe and The Other Woman – is releasing her 12th novel, Promises to Keep (aka The Love Verb), this month. She is English but moved to the United States almost 10 years ago – she lives in Connecticut with her husband and their blended family of six children. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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May 2009
NIAMH GREENE
Niamh Greene created demented housewife Susie in her two-part series. Her latest book is Letters to a Love Rat. She is a married mother of two, living in the south-east of Ireland.
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August 2008
ADENA HALPERN
Adena Halpern's debut novel The Ten Best Days of My Life takes a humorous look at the afterlife courtesy of a personal shopper cut down in her prime. She has also published a memoir called Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown. She lives in Los Angeles with her screenwriter husband and her wardrobe of six-inch heels.
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July 2009
NADINE JOLIE HAOBSH
Former beauty editor Nadine Jolie Haobsh released her debut novel Confessions of a Beauty Addict this year. She is also editor-in-chief of a blog (jolienadine.com) and creative director of a new skincare line. She is currently filming a beauty TV show based on her beauty advice book Beauty Confidential.
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December 2007
ROBYN HARDING
Robyn Harding is a former copywriter who lives in Vancouver with her husband and two children. She also spent a year in Chicklit Club's hometown of Perth, Australia. Her latest novel, Chronicles of a Mid-Life Crisis, is out in May.
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November 2007
KATE HARRISON
Kate Harrison is the author of four novels, including her latest release The Self-Preservation Society. Based in London, she has worked as a journalist and TV reporter and is now a full-time author.
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June 2010
EMMA HEATHERINGTON
Emma Heatherington is the author of Playing the Field and the late 2010 release Since You’ve Been Gone. She also writes romantic suspense under the pen-name Emma Louise Jordan, including The Truth Between. She lives with her husband and three children in Co Tyrone, Ireland. Her website is www.emmaheatherington.com. (Interview by Shirley Benton-Bailey)
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January 2009
LISA HEIDKE
Lisa Heidke's debut novel Lucy Springer Gets Even is out this month. She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.
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April 2010
RACHAEL HERRON
California-based Rachael Herron’s debut novel How to Knit a Love Song (aka Eliza's Gift) was released in March – the first in the Cypress Hollow Yarn series. She learnt to knit at the age of five and has a knitting blog www.yarnagogo.com. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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December 2009
LYNNE HINTON
Lynne Hinton is the author of the Hope Spring series - Friendship Cake, Hope Springs, Forever Friends and Christmas Cake - as well as The Things I Know Best and The Last Odd Day. She is also an Intentional Interim Minister presently serving in Washington. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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December 2009
MICHELLE HOLMAN
Michelle Holman is the author of three novels, Bonkers, Divine and Knotted. She lives in Cambridge, New Zealand. (Interview by Paula Phillips)
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December 2009
LISA HYATT AND JONI DAVIS
This American pair teamed up to write Feng Shui Love, which was published last month. They are already working on the sequel Feng Shui Love Child and a non-fiction guide to feng shui. Davis is an entertainment lawyer while Hyatt is a corporate flight attendant.
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April 2010
ISOBELLA JADE
Isobella Jade has written a memoir about her life as a petite model, Almost 5’4”. She also gives modelling advice on her blog and has written a graphic novel called Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior. (Interview by Paula Phillips)
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August 2009
JULIE JAMES
Lawyer Julie James decided to write full-time after two of her screenplays were optioned by Hollywood producers. She has since written three novels, Just the Sexiest Man Alive, Practice Makes Perfect, and Something About You, which will be released in March 2010. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son and is working on her fourth novel. For more information, visit www.juliejamesbooks.com. (Interview by Annmarie Ottman.)
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Updated May 2008
BRENDA JANOWITZ
Manhattan lawyer Brenda Janowitz's debut book Scot on the Rocks (How I Survived My Ex-Boyfriend's Wedding with my Dignity Ever-So-Slightly Intact) was among the Chicklit Club's award winners for 2007. The sequel, Jack with a Twist, is out in June. She also teaches creative writing courses at Mediabistro.
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November 2008
LORRAINE JENKIN
Lorraine Jenkin's debut novel Chocolate Mousse and Two Spoons was released earlier this year. She lives in Wales with her partner and two daughters and is currently working on her second novel.
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January 2008
MILLY JOHNSON
Milly Johnson is the author behind last year's The Yorkshire Pudding Club - which won her a Chicklit Club award for most promising author. The mother of two sons lives in Yorkshire where she is researching a book on local Barnsley wrestlers - part of that research is undergoing a WWE-like training regime. Her latest novel, The Birds & the Bees, is out this month.
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March 2010
VANESSA JOHNSON
Vanessa Johnson’s debut novel Lush was released in January. Born in New Zealand, she’s lived in Sydney and London, and worked in magazine publishing. She lives in Auckland with her husband and son.
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June 2010
BELINDA JONES
Belinda Jones is the author of travel-inspired novels, including Divas Las Vegas, The Love Academy and Out of the Blue. She has worked as a magazine writer and is currently based in Los Angeles. Her latest book, Living La Vida Loca, is out this month. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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December 2009
LINDSEY KELK
Lindsey Kelk is the author of the five-part series which so far includes I Heart New York (2009), I Heart Hollywood and I Heart Paris (2010). She works as a children's book editor in London. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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July 2010
BETH KENDRICK
Beth Kendrick earned her Ph.D. in psychology before pulling a professional U-turn to pursue her dream job of becoming a novelist. Her books include Second Time Around, The Pre-Nup, Nearlyweds, and Fashionably Late. She lives in Arizona with her family and a pair of unruly rescue dogs. You can visit her website at www.BethKendrick.com. (Interview by Annmarie Ottman)
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June 2009
ALISON KERVIN
Alison Kervin is a British sports journalist who created the loveable footballer's wife Tracie Martin and her hilarious rules of WAGdom in the novels The Wag's Diary and A Wag Abroad. Her latest novel, Celebrity Bride, is out this month - and she's already working on its sequel.
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January 2010
NICOLA KRAUS AND EMMA McLAUGHLIN
Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus met at New York University and wrote their best-selling debut The Nanny Diaries after a stint as nannies. They then went on to write another three books Citizen Girl, Dedication and the young adult title The Real Real before writing the sequel Nanny Returns. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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September 2008
MELANIE LA'BROOY
After the success of her debut novel, Love Struck, Melanie La'Brooy gave up her career in the art world to become a full-time writer. Her latest novel, The Babymoon - a sequel to her first - is out this month. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and son.
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December 2007
KATE LACE
Kate Lace is the pen name of Catherine Jones, the romance writer whose first book Army Wives was published in 1996 and is chairman of the Romantic Novelists' Association. The former army captain is married with three grown-up children and lives in Oxfordshire, England. The first two novels of her three-book deal with Little Black Dress have recently been released.
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February 2008
LESLIE LEHR
Leslie Lehr is an author and screenwriter whose movie script was put on hold during the recent Writers Guild of America strike. Her debut novel Wife Goes On is out this month. She lives in California with her two daughters.
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July 2009
MAUREEN LIPINSKI
Maureen Lipinski discovered she was pregnant just after finishing her debut novel A Bump in the Road. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.
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April 2008
SHARI LOW
Scottish author Shari Low's new book My Best Friend's Life is about two friends who swap lives. Low, a former nightclub manager, toilet roll salesperson and now a columnist with the Daily Record, also has two sons.
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June 2010
CHRISSIE MANBY
English author Chris Manby has just released her 14th novel, Getting Over Mr Right, changing her name to the more feminine Chrissie. Manby’s other titles include Spa Wars, Crazy in Love and Flatmates. She also writes under the pseudonym Olivia Darling, including her 2010 release Temptation.
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July 2010
MARISA MACKLE
Marisa Mackle was an air hostess who took up writing to while away time spent in hotels. She is now the author of 10 novels, including her most recent Living Next Door to Alice. She also writes a column for an Irish newspaper. (Interview by Shirley Benton-Bailey)
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Updated July 2008
CAROL MASON
Carol Mason's debut novel, The Secrets of Married Women, is out in December. From north-east England (where the book is based), she now lives in British Columbia, Canada, with her husband. She's had a varied career, including stints as a model, hotel receptionist and waitress, before giving up work to concentrate on writing a book.
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February 2010
CAROLE MATTHEWS
English author Carole Matthews has written more than 15 novels. Her debut, Let’s Meet on Platform 8, was published in 1997. This year she is publishing two more – It’s Now or Never and The Only Way is Up. (Interview by Christy Goldstein)
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May 2010
MARTEL MAXWELL
Martel Maxwell’s first novel Scandalous is a romantic comedy about two sisters, one of whom is a showbiz writer like Maxwell. She has interviewed scores of stars including Tom Cruise, Kylie Minogue, Sir Sean Connery and Nicole Kidman. She is now a freelance radio and television presenter and writes a weekly opinion column for the Scottish Sun. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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May 2010
SUSAN MCBRIDE
Missouri-based author Susan McBride moved into contemporary women’s fiction with her 2010 release The Cougar Club. She is also an official member herself, having married her younger man in 2008. She has also written the Debutante Dropout Mysteries, including Blue Blood and Too Pretty to Die, and The Debs young adult series. Visit SusanMcBride.com for more information. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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June 2008
CATHERINE McKINNON
Catherine McKinnon has a theatre background and has written her debut novel The Nearly Happy Family. She is originally from Adelaide but now lives in Sydney.
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January 2010
EMMA McLAUGHLIN AND NICOLA KRAUS
Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus met at New York University and wrote their best-selling debut The Nanny Diaries after a stint as nannies. They then went on to write another three books Citizen Girl, Dedication and the young adult title The Real Real before writing the sequel Nanny Returns. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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May 2010
TARA MOORE
Tara Moore’s debut novel RSVP was released at the start of 2010. The mother of two sons was born in Ireland but now lives on the East Kent coast in England. She is currently working on her next novel VIP. (Interview by Paula Phillips)
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May 2009
LIANE MORIARTY
Liane Moriarty has just released her third novel What Alice Forgot about a woman who lost a decade of memories. She lives in Sydney with her husband and son.
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October 2007
SINEAD MORIARTY
Sinead Moriarty is the author of four novels, including her latest release In My Sister's Shoes. She has worked as a journalist on trade magazines and lives in Dublin with her husband and two sons.
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January 2010
CLAIRE MOSS
Claire Moss was born in Darlington, north-east England, and studied at Sheffield University. She has lived and worked in Sheffield, Leeds and Tasmania, all of which provide the backdrop for her first novel Northern Soul Revival. She now lives in North Yorkshire with her husband and young family.
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May 2010
CLODAGH MURPHY
Clodagh Murphy’s second novel, a political romantic comedy called Girl in a Spin, is released this month. The Dublin-based author was named one of the Chicklit Club’s most promising authors after her 2009 debut The Disengagement Ring. You can find out more at her website. (Interview by Shirley Benton-Bailey)
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February 2008
KAREN NECHES
Earthly Pleasures is the first book by Karen Neches, who also writes novels including the Bottom Dollar Girl series under the name Karin Gillespie. She lives in Augusta, Georgia, and was the founder of the Girlfriend Cyber Circuit.
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December 2009
ANNA NICHOLAS
Anna Nicholas runs her own PR and marketing firm in London. She has written a series of memoirs about moving to Mallorca (or Majorca), including A Lizard in My Luggage and Cat on a Hot Tiled Roof. Her website is www.anna-nicholas.com. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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August 2008
LEE NICHOLS
Lee Nichols' debut novel, Tales of a Drama Queen, brought the unreliable but loveable Elle Medina to the chick lit world. Her fifth novel, Reconstructing Brigid, is out this month. She lives in Maine with her author husband and son.
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June 2010
SUSANNE O’LEARY
Susanne O’Leary’s fifth novel Swedish for Beginners is out this month. She was born in Sweden, trained as a fitness instructor, travelled with her Irish diplomat husband and now lives in Ireland. (Interview by Shirley Benton-Bailey)
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February 2008
EKENE ONU
Ekene Onu is the founder of Nouveau Africana, an online lifestyle magazine for African women. She was raised in Nigeria but now lives in Atlanta in the US. Her debut book The Mrs Club was launched in Lagos this month.
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June 2009
FIONA PALMER
Fiona Palmer, who lives in a rural West Australian town, has just released her debut novel The Family Farm. She is married with two children and has been a speedway driver.
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January 2008
LIZA PALMER
Liza Palmer's debut novel, Conversations with the Fat Girl, launched Warner's 5Spot line in 2005. She is also the author of Seeing Me Naked. A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents is her latest release. She lives in Pasadena, California.
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Feburary 2010
J.L PENN
J.L. Penn has self-published a Facebook-inspired story called Reunion. She lives in Maryland with her husband and daughter. (Interview by Paula Phillips)
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August 2009
LANA PENROSE
Lana Penrose detailed her culture shock experiences following her boyfriend to Greece in her memoir To Hellas and Back. She continues her story in Kickstart My Heart, out this month. Now based in Sydney, she has worked in the music industry, including as personal assistant to singer Darren Hayes (Savage Garden).
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February 2009
KATY REGAN
London-based magazine journalist Katy Regan used her experience having a baby with her male best friend as the basis for her debut novel One Thing Led to Another.
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April 2010
MELANIE ROSE
Nurse Melanie Rose self-published her first novel, which led to a three-book deal with HarperCollins. She lives in Surrey with her husband and four sons. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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July 2009
JILL AMY ROSENBLATT
Jill Amy Rosenblatt is the author of Project Jennifer and For Better or Better. She lives on Long Island and confesses to being a hopeless romantic.
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May 2010
JENNIFER ROSS
Jennifer Ross released her debut novel The Icing on the Cupcake this year. She has worked as a journalist for the Wall Street Journal and is currently enrolled in an acupuncture school. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three children. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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January 2008
ALLISON RUSHBY
Allison Rushby is the author of eight novels, including some young adult titles. She studied journalism and Russian at university before writing for wedding magazines. Her debut novel, allmenarebastards.com, came out in 2000. Her latest book The Inner Gentleman is written under the name Alli Kincaid. The Brisbane-based author is married with two children.
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July 2008
LYNDSAY RUSSELL
Lyndsay Russell's debut novel, Fat Chance, is about a plus-size woman who finds herself in a world where fat is in. The English author has worked as a newspaper journalist and radio broadcaster and published a children's picture book with her daughter.
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October 2007
OLIVIA RYAN
The first book in Olivia Ryan's Tales From series, Tales from a Hen Weekend, is out now. From Essex in England, Olivia herself married young, admitting her hen party wasn't a big affair. She has three daughters. (Since the interview, it has been revealed that this is the pen-name of author Sheila Norton.)
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November 2009
NICKY SCHMIDT
Nicky Schmidt’s debut novel Naked in Knightsbridge, about a down-on-her-luck girl who puts herself up for auction on eBay, is out this month. Schmidt works in publishing in London.
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June 2008
MELISSA SENATE
Melissa Senate is a former book editor who is now a full-time writer. Her debut book See Jane Date launched the Red Dress Ink imprint. Her latest novel Questions to Ask Before Marrying is out this month. She lives in Maine with her son, Max.
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May 2008
POONAM SHARMA
Poonam Sharma has written two novels Girl Most Likely To and All Eyes on Her. Now New York-based and also working as a real estate developer, she has an MBA from The Wharton School and has written two non-fiction books on entrepreneurship.
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June 2010
JANET SKESLIEN CHARLES
American Janet Skeslien Charles’ debut novel Moonlight in Odessa about eastern European mail-order brides was inspired by a trip she made to the Ukraine as a Soros Fellow. She now lives in Paris with her husband. (Interview by Carissa Chesanek)
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April 2010
TESS STIMSON
English author Tess Stimson has written nine books, including her most recent What’s Yours is Mine (aka Who Loves You Best). She has worked as a TV reporter, including a stint in the Middle East, and as a creative writing professor. She now lives in the American State of Vermont.
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November 2007
CAMY TANG
Camy Tang's Sushi for One? - the first in a four-part series - is out now. Originally from Hawaii, with a Japanese-American heritage, Camy majored in psychology and worked for a pharmaceutical company. She lives in California with her husband.
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March 2010
KATE THOMPSON
Belfast-born Kate Thompson spent many years acting on TV and in theatre before turning to writing novels. Her first novel It Means Mischief was published in 1999. Her latest, The O’Hara Affair, is the follow-up to The Kinsella Sisters. And she’s just about to return to the acting world with a role in an Irish soap.
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October 2008
PAIGE TOON
Paige Toon, author of Lucy in the Sky and Johnny Be Good, is a contributing editor to heat magazine. She lives in London with her husband and son. She was born in England but spent much of her childhood in Australia. She also spent a lot of time travelling with her racing car driver father.
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September 2009
WENDY WALKER
Wendy Walker is the author of Four Wives and Social Lives. The former lawyer and financial analyst has also edited some Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She lives in Connecticut with her three sons. Social Lives is released this month.
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March 2010
WENDY WAX
Wendy Wax is the author of six novels, including her latest release Magnolia Wednesdays. She has worked in radio and now lives in Atlanta.(Interview by Leah Eggleston Krygowski)
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March 2010
SARAH WEBB
Sarah Webb is the author of nine bestselling novels including her latest, The Loving Kind. She also writes the Ask Amy Green series for age 10+ and books for younger children. Find out more on www.sarahwebb.ie. (Interview by Shirley Benton-Bailey)
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November 2009
KAREN WHEELER
Karen Wheeler is a British fashion and beauty journalist. She moved to France and began a blog about her experiences at www.toutsweet.net, written under the pseudonym of Mimi Pompom. Tout Sweet, a memoir, is her first book and is subtitled Hanging Up My High Heels for a New Life in Rural France. (Interview by Angela Smith)
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June 2008
POLLY WILLIAMS
Polly Williams' latest novel A Good Girl Comes Undone is out now. The author of The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy and A Bad Bride's Tale has two sons and lives in London.
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November 2009
ALLISON WINN SCOTCH
Allison Winn Scotch is the author of The Department of Lost and Found, about a woman dealing with cancer, and Time of My Life, about a woman who finds herself seven years in her past. Her next novel The One That I Want is due out mid-2010. She is also a freelance magazine writer, and lives with her husband and children in New York. (Interview by Annmarie Ottman)
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July 2010
DANA WOOD
Dana Wood has been a magazine journalist for 20 years, including stints at Cookie Magazine and W. She was also Assistant VP of strategic development for the luxury products division of L’Oreal USA. She wrote the blog when she was 43 and pregnant with her first child. The book Momover: The New Mom’s Guide to Getting Back Together evolved from there. (Interview by Annmarie Ottman)