Book Club is BACK!

I was so sad last year when my book club went defunct. What can I say? We were just a bunch of overly busy, super extended, live all over the DC metropolitan area, kick-a*s ladies with a love for literature but schedules that would not always cooperate. But I refuse to give up and slowly, out of the ashes, a new book club is arising with a few of the old same friends and some new ones to come on board. This time we've created a bit of a closer parameter to where we all live in the city for a (hopefully) increase success rate.

So break out the wine and a year worth of great reading! To kick things off we're joining the rest of America's book clubs in selecting the #1 book club read in the Nation: the thriller Gone, Girl by NYT bestseller Gillian Flynn. If you haven't heard of it  yet I'm sure it's only a matter of time. If you're reading it on your own, let me know what you think and if you don't have a book club then come join ours virtually. My review will take place at the end of September so you have plenty of time to get through those pages, though I'm told once you get going you won't be able to stop.

When I put out a tweet asking for book club reads, even Lisa and Laura Roecker of The Liar Society fame said it had to be Gone, Girl hands down. And so it shall..

Here's what it's about:

Marriage can be a real killer. On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 
   As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

So what do you think? Have you read it? Are you intrigued? Does your book club have plans to read it and if not, what are you reading these days?

Swagger Song

This is a unique but very artistic video for a new song that I am sooooo digging at the moment. It's called "Little Talks" by a group named Of Monsters and Men. I was immediately intrigued by the name which makes me think of the book Of Mice and Men though I can't find online whether the Icelandic indie folk rock band was inspired by the novel or not. If so, extra brownie points for them as I adore that book as I'm sure you all do too.

Regardless of the inspiration for the band name, I hope you love this little ditty they've created. It's a fabulous swagger song to be-bop to as these summer days wane and the loveliness which is fall (and my favorite season) starts to get underway.

WTF Wednesday

This WTF Wednesday post includes the weird, the over the top, and the just not fair.

1. How can she play the guitar with this ICEBERG on her finger? In case you haven't heard, Avril Lavigne, at just 5'1, is now engaged (who knew she was even dating?!) and accepted this whopper of a  14 karat diamond ring. There are no words except, "WOWSER."

2. Did you guys get a chance to see rhythmic gymnastics during the London 2012 Olympics? All I could think of was Will Ferrell during his Old School ribbon dance. Only in real life it looked a lot more like this:

Will someone please explain to me how this possible? Seriously? I'm sore just looking at her.

3. Weird: Apparently post birth placenta eating is a new trend. Really?! According to this article about actress January Jones, she's one of many celebrities in on this very odd behavior. All I can say is, "WTF?"



4. The over top comes to us thanks to the longest bridal dress train EVER! It's nearly 2 miles long. Nope, that's not a typo or a workout but, rather, the length of the train which according to the article would require 4 football fields to cover and an entire NFL team to hold up. To top it off, she was hoisted up in a hot air balloon. High maintenance much?

5. First off, huge congrats to Jennifer Aniston for her engagement. I hope this means the gossip mags can finally stop writing articles about Jennifer vs. Angelina (though for the record I was always Team Aniston). Engaged or not, these pants take "boyfriend jeans" to a whole new--and low--level.

6.  I'm sure by now you've at least seen one if not both of the Hemsworth boys: Chris and Liam, pictured below. Talk about good genes. I'm not sure whether I'd rather date them or be related to them if it means I get to look this good! SO. NOT. FAIR.

So what WTF moments have you had or seen lately?

Hooked

I just started the book Hooked by Les Edgerton (review on that to come soon) and I just had to share his dedication page quote. It's lovely and inspiring and so, so, so, true! It's for all the writers who didn't have an easy path or a straight journey but, rather, the ones who took rejection, poured themselves into revisions, and kept at it until their book was as good as it could be--until it was an extension of themselves. It's for the writers who continue to stoke the fire in their belly to do what they were born to do: write.

Here it is:

"This book is dedicated to all the writers who didn't give up, no matter how long the odds or how fierce the struggle or how much the naysayers scoffed at their labor. To those who through their sweat, blood, and toil become our conscience and our heart and our soul, and who continually elevate us all as humans. You are a special breed, and I love you all."

The Words

I saw this movie and can't wait for it's opening. It's about a man (an aspiring novelist) on the brink between a dead dream and a dark secrete. I LOVE it. What do you think; does it look interesting (Bradley Cooper eye candy aside)?

WriteOnCon!!!!

That's right, today kicks off WriteOnCon--the free, online, children's writers conference. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it. There are forums to participate in, query and opening page critiques, sessions led by publishing professionals from literary agents to editors as well as published writers themselves. It takes place today and tomorrow, so what are you waiting for? It's free--and fun!