China Dolls Blog

Extra: Guest Author Amy Wallen

Michelle and Blossom — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:24:56 GMT

<>I love the title of Amy Wallen's new novel: "Moonlight and Moonpies." Here's what the novel's about:

Ruby Kincaid has her hands full these days. In addition to running the bowling alley after the death of her husband, Rascal, she has the daunting task of caring for her two boisterous grandchildren, since her daughter Violet disappeared without a trace four years earlier. It’s 1976 and Ruby and her nearest and dearest in Devine, Texas are watching their favorite soap opera at the bowling alley when they see Violet in a Buttermaid commercial. Expecting it will only take a little motherly guilt to rein in her wayward daughter, Ruby loads up the Winnebago and heads for Hollywood to try and bring Violet back to the Lone Star State.

Along for the ride are Imogene, Violet’s over-bearing and pretentious mother-in-law (who’s ready to assume the title of “celebrity-in-law”), and Loralva, Ruby’s wild sister who is itching to visit Tinsel Town because it’s where all the game shows are taped – and nothing’s going to stop her from making it to her favorite, The Price Is Right. Rounding out the group are Ruby’s grandchildren Bunny and Bubbie who are confused, sad, and excited at the prospect of finding their mother. They give Ruby the courage she needs to track Violet down and try to make things right.

Here's our interview with Ms. Wallen:

1) What was your inspiration for your book?

My Texas grandmother. She used to say to me, “How come you live out in California and you ain’t been on one of them game shows?” She was a wily woman with many sides to her. She’d been married 4 times and the last time to a good-looking hunk of a man who was 25 years younger than she. But unfortunately, he died before her. At his funeral she wanted to wear her red dress. We asked her why she wanted to wear a red dress to a funeral and she replied, “Because Richard always said it showed off my legs!” She was 90 years old at that time.

2) Are you working on anything now?

Yes, I have a contract with Hyperion for another book. It’s based in Burbank at a senior artist’s colony. So far, I’m having a lot of fun with it.

3) What is something about you that would surprise your readers?

I had to learn to bowl to write the book, I’ve never been on the Price is Right, and I took my first piano lesson at the age of 40. I’m 44 now.

Extra: Guest Author Melissa Senate

Michelle and Blossom — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:56:16 GMT

Every March, my friends and I make our yearly pilgrimage to Las Vegas for the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. Part of it is that we love basketball, but we also love the glamor, the adrenaline-fueled ambience, and that feeling that anything - ANYTHING - is possible. In Melissa Senate's new novel "Questions to ask before Marrying", Ruby Miller heads to Vegas to find the father of her sister's unborn child and learns the answers to all of life's little questions along the way.

Here's our interview with Ms. Senate:

What was the inspiration for your book?
A: I was inspired by three things: The first was my love of the movie Sideways. Oh, how I wanted to write a road trip book after seeing that wonderful film. The idea of two very different people trapped together in a car, being on the road, really gripped me. Enter my estranged twin sisters, one a conservative school teacher from Maine, newly engaged but with serious feelings for another man, and the other a professional muse and face reader from NYC who is searching for the father of her unborn baby (would help if she knew his first name). These two hit the road with many questions and get to know each other—and themselves—very well three-thousand miles later. The second backstory is my divorce, which I went through while writing this book. I wanted to go “back to the start” and explore what you know when he slips that ring on your finger. The third was a New York Times article, the most popular of 2006, a simple and practical list of questions couples should ask before marrying or (wish they had). The article gave me my title and honed the theme for me, which is that asking questions, even questions without answers or answers you don’t like, is the most important thing you can do.

Are you working on something right now?
A: I just signed on with a new publishing house, Simon and Schuster’s Pocket Books, for my next two novels. The first is about an unmoored New Yorker who discovers she has a half-sister she never knew existed in a small town in Maine. Off she goes. At this very moment, I’m finishing my second YA for Delacorte. It’s called: The Mosts and the Most Nots, about a Most (most popular) who is recruited by a Most Not to change her into someone who won’t make the Most Not list this year. Both girls go through a major emotional transformation. I was neither a most or most not in high school, but for some reason I love to write about girls on either end of the spectrum who change each other’s lives. This is pretty much the core of all my noves, YA or adult.

What is something about you that would surprise your readers?
A: That I used to dream about being a forensic scientist. In college, I was obsessed with true-crime novels, especially those by Ann Rule, like The Stranger Beside Me and Small Sacrifices. I don’t think anyone who knows me can see me as FBI Agent Senate, but I secretly could!

Extra: Guest Author Maggie Marr

Michelle and Blossom — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:00:23 GMT

So having just seen "Sex and the City", I can't help but feel a craving for more tales of fabulous women living fabulous lives. Fortunately, "Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club", Maggie Marr's tale of four high-powered women in Hollywood sounds like the perfect dish to sate that particular appetite.

Check out our interview with Ms. Marr:

1) What was the inspiration for your book?
Prior to becoming a full time writer, I was a motion picture agent for ICM. I worked full time repping writers and directors. So Hollywood is my home. I started hearing a character voice in my head and late at night when I couldn’t sleep or on the weekends, I would write down the story. My husband convinced me to give four chapters to my friend and colleague (and now agent) at ICM. I gave her four chapters without my name on them, guessing she’d pass and then I could go on about my life repping my screenplay writers and directing clients. But instead she loved it. I finished the manuscript and when she took it out, there were two houses that wanted the book…so I ended up going with Crown. And suddenly, I was a writer.

2) Are you working on something right now?
I am. I turned in a one hour television pilot. I also just completed a new manuscript, a stand alone book that is women's fiction. I really love this new book. It's my first manuscript set outside the world of entertainment.

3) What is something about you that would surprise your readers?
Hmmm....Unlike my characters in Hollywood Girls Club and Secrets of The Hollywood Girls Club I rarely can find the time for a mani-pedi. I hope that once both the girls are in school, I can squeeze this little bit of luxury into my life at least once a month. But right now, with two children under the age of five and writing full time some days I am lucky to grab a quick shower and get my hair up into a pony tail. Thanks again for touring me! Please let me know if you want a jpeg of the book cover or a publicity photo of me. Speak soon, Maggie Marr

Extra: Guest Author Sara Rosett

Michelle and Blossom — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:54:14 GMT

Reading all the stories about Hilary and Barack's secret meetings can't help but add to the image of our nation's capital as the center of intrigue with power brokers and mysterious government figures lurking in every corner. In Sara Rosett's new novel "Getting Away is Deadly", pregnant Ellie's sightseeing trip to Washington D.C. takes a detour when she witnesses a fatal accident in the Metro.

Here's our interview with Ms. Rosett:

1) What was the inspiration for your book?
I accompanied my husband, who is military pilot, when he went to Washington D.C. for two training classes and those trips inspired the book. I didn't witness a fatal accident in a Metro station, but I couldn't help thinking what dangerous places they were. And then I made the typical mystery writer leap-what if someone fell into the path of an incoming train? It would be a great place for a murder since there aren't any guardrails to prevent someone from falling into a train's path. I also saw the tourist sights and included some in Getting Away is Deadly, including the Lincoln Memorial, the museum of natural history and the air and space museum. Washington D.C., also seemed like an appropriate setting for a series about a military spouse and I knew I couldn't have Ellie move there, since I'd never lived around D.C. A book about a semi-vacation to D.C. seemed perfect. Little did I know that I'd end up moving to Maryland. I live about 25 miles from downtown D.C. now!

2) Are you working on something right now?
I've just turned in the fourth book in the series, Starting Over is Lethal. It will be out next April. I'm doing promotion for Getting Away is Deadly and also thinking about the fifth book in the Mom Zone series. I'll start writing it this summer.

3) What is something about you that would surprise your readers?
In the book, Ellie loves Hershey Kisses and is always popping one her mouth for a chocolate fix. People ask me if I eat as many Kisses as she does. I don't. I like them, but I don't keep a constant supply on me. Don't get me wrong, I love chocolate. Right now, I'm into dark chocolate covered pretzels.

Extra: Guest Author Wendy Tokunaga

Michelle and Blossom — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:53:44 GMT

    If there's an author after my own heart, it's Wendy Tokunaga. Wendy is like our Japanese soul mate, and her new book - Midori by Moonlight - is a story about a young woman who leaves Japan for San Francisco to marry the American man of her dreams, only to have her hopes dashed when her fiance dumps her for his ex. Broke, heartbroken, and too ashamed to go home, Midori decides to try and make it on her own. With the help of her platonic new Japanese transplant roommate, Midori tries to make a new life as a pastry chef - and maybe find another chance at love.

    Here's our interview with the wonderful Wendy Tokunaga:

    What was the inspiration for your book?
~ MIDORI BY MOONLIGHT is about 30-year-old fresh from Japan Midori Saito, who finds herself lost in translation in San Francisco searching for her American dream and the perfect dessert. It is inspired by my Japanese husband’s story of how he never felt he fit in Japan and ended up trading his native culture for a new one when he settled in the United States.

    Are you working on something right now?
~ I have recently turned in my second book to the publisher. Here is a brief description:
After receiving a puzzling phone call and a box full of mysteries, 33-year-old fledgling singer Celeste Duncan is off to Japan to search for a long, lost relative who could hold the key to the identity of the father she never knew. Lost in translation, she stumbles head first into a weird, wonderful world where nothing is quite as it seems; a land of gaijin worshippers, karaoke boxes, sushi fortune tellers, and unbearably perky TV stars. But when she learns to sing a Japanese song called “The Wishing Star” Celeste finds herself on a path to finding real love, understanding the true meaning of family and, most of all, discovering her own voice.

    What is something about you that would surprise your readers?
~ That I love to sing in Japanese.

China Dolls Invade "Strong Island"

Michelle and Blossom — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:09:27 GMT

It's the first time we've done an event on "Strong Island" or Long Island as the more serious would say. In a continuing effort to promote our paperback release, we were welcomed by the organization OCA-Long Island to speak at their monthly meeting. Check out the photos!

Reading a scene from "China Dolls"!

What a nice turnout and a lovely group! The OCA-Long Island event was the place to be on this night.

Gladys Yang, OCA-Long Island chapter president, welcomes us!

New "China Dolls" fans!

Meeting new friends!

We'd like to thank OCA-Long Island again for their wonderful hospitality and having us at their event!

Extra: Guest Author Jenny Gardiner

Michelle and Blossom — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:56:33 GMT

It used to be that the big milestones in my friends' lives revolved around their weddings. Lately though, I've been disturbed by a new milestone many of them seem to be experiencing: the mid-life crisis (or at least the mid-mid-life crisis). In Jenny Gardiner's new novel, "Sleeping with Ward Cleaver", her heroine Claire Doolittle wakes up one day and finds herself in the middle of the throes of a full-blown mid-life crisis.

Here's our interview with the lovely Ms. Gardiner:

1) How did you get the idea for your book?
The title came to me one day. I guess I have always been a sideline observer of relationships and we were talking about some couple or something and the guy was so paternalistic, and I said "Well, it'd be like sleeping with Ward Cleaver! Ugh!" And the more I thought of it the more I thought, that's a great title. I like that. Now, to write a book to go along with it!

2) Are you working on something right now?
I recently finished my WIP, MARY KATE GOES OVER THE FALLS, which my agent will start shopping soon. It's about a woman trapped in an abusive marriage who goes out to pick up her husband's dry cleaning and instead picks up a handsome hitchhiker along the side of the road, the lure of whom reminds her of the lip of Niagara Falls, said to taunt people into wanting to jump into the falls. The two embark on a road trip of self-discover, en route to Niagara Falls, where Mary Kate is determined to leap into the falls, her first ever act of defiance in life.

3) What is something about you that would surprise your readers?
Good question. Maybe that I'm REALLY outgoing. LIke I'm the person who talks up complete strangers in elevators. I know, weird, isn't it?

The China Dolls' Brush with NYC Politics

Michelle and Blossom — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:42:05 GMT

    So I had a lot of reasons to look forward to this past Thursday's book reading at the Borders at Kips Bay. First, the reading was at my very own neighborhood bookstore, whichis just around the corner from my building. Second, the reading was going to be one of our first readings for the paperback release of "China Dolls." Third, this was going to be our first Manhattan bookstore reading since last February when the hardcover came out. Fourth, did I mention the reading was right around the corner from my building?

     As it turned out, the most exciting thing about the reading was something completely unexpected: an appearance by New York City Councilman John Liu . Not only is Councilman Liu a wonderful, charming man (and an inspiring council member to boot) who took the time out of his busy schedule to come to our reading, but he had a surprise for us as well: he awarded us with Citations for outstanding achievement by a New York City citizen.

    A Citation? Us? All I was expecting was hopefully some interested listeners and readers and a scintillating question or two during the Q&A. As I sit here watching the nonstop news coverage of "Client No. 9", it's kind of nice to know that there are still some New York politicians who spend their time attending little neighborhood book readings instead of holding court with "Emperor's Club" employees.

"China Dolls" Launches in Paperback Release!!!

Michelle and Blossom — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:04:26 GMT

The beloved 'Dolls' turn one years old! I don't have children but when I saw "China Dolls" launch in its paperback release and sitting at the new paperback fiction section at the front of Barnes and Noble on 45th and 5th in Manhattan, it brought a tear to my eye. Oh, how fast did you grow?! A year ago, you were about to be born in hardcover into the world of publishing and bookstores and here you are, a year later, a paperback.

The paperback release of 'China Dolls' happened on February 5th and we're doing all types of booksignings and events again. Our first event was with AARI, who asked us to emcee and celebrate with them at their Lunar New Year reception. Take a look!

Blossom & I get back into the swing of things signing those 'China Dolls'.

Our fan William tells us he'd been waiting for the paperback to come out!

Blossom showing off her "AARI Appreciation" award presented to us by
AARI's Susan Wong.

Our new fan, Alvin!

The Dolls' in paperback!

Thank you for the appreciation awards!

Our AARI event is the first of many events to come in the next few months. We won't have another fabulous book tour like we did last year but there will be many local festivities for us so we'll be sure to be blogging more in the next couple of months. Sorry for the tardiness. I know many fans of expressed how disgruntled they are to not be able to read the blog more often.

Happy Lunar New Year!! Gung Hay Fat Choi!!

Back in the Saddle

Michelle and Blossom — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:37:53 GMT

    Back when CHINA DOLLS first came out, Michelle and I did book readings galore. Even after our book tour, we were averaging a signing a week. I won't lie to you though - we were exhausted after a while. Which was why it was a nice respite to take a break and focus on writing our next book. Well, after a five-month hiatus, Michelle and I decided to dip our toe back into the pool and do a reading at the KGB Bar for the NYC Writer's Circle.

    After I exited the F train and was hustling my way up First Avenue, I got an email from Michelle that she didn't think our audience was going to like our book. Bursting with curiousity - and not a little trepidation - I raced into the KGB Bar and asked Michelle what she meant. Turned out we would be doing our reading after an "opening act" reading that consisted of a lot of "thrusting", "bursting" and "climaxing." Or as Michelle put it so succinctly - "PORN."

     Okay, so this wasn't exactly what I was envisioning for our first reading in almost half a year. It didn't help that some of the audience members told Michelle we had a hard act to follow (no pun intended). Well, as it turned out, the reading was great (so maybe we put a little extra oomph into it) and the Q&A was a big hit (so maybe Michelle was a little extra "edgy"). It was fun to be sharing our experiences with our audience, as well as imparting a little hard-earned writing wisdom. In the end, Michelle and I had a great time - and we can't wait to start doing it all over again.

Extra: Guest Author Jana DeLeon

Michelle and Blossom — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:18:20 GMT

As anyone who knows me can tell you, I have a weakness for card sharks...which is why I can't resist the premise of J ana DeLeon's new novel " Unlucky." Mallory, the heroine of "Unlucky", is using her notorious bad luck to "cool" cards on her uncle's casino boat when she teams up with a dealer/undercover agent to catch a band of money launderers - and maybe see her luck turn.

Here's our interview with Jana:

1) What was the inspiration for your book?
My husband and I got married in Vegas in 2000. Before we left, I studied and studied blackjack combinations, determined to beat the house. Unfortunately, I have absolutely, positively NO LUCK. In fact, my luck is so bad that when I sit down at a table, not only don't I win, everyone else starts losing too. So I came up with Mallory Devereaux, the unluckiest woman in the world, who needs to make some money fast and decides to do it by "cooling" cards at a poker tournament of criminals.

2) Are you working on something right now?
I just accepted an offer last Friday for the first two romance/mystery hybrid books in a related series. The first is entitled GHOST-IN-LAW and features a woman being haunted by her dead ex-mother-in-law.

3) What is something about you that would surprise your readers?
I used to race motocross, and in fact am in to all kinds of extreme sports. In addition to motocross bikes, I've owned competition watercraft (Waverunners), shifter karts (like miniature Formula 1 cars) and a crotch rocket. I was sponsored by a Yamaha store in Dallas and other companies such as Oakley.

Extra: Guest Author Renee Rosen

Michelle and Blossom — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:12:42 GMT

It's hard enough to be a teenager, but imagine having to deal with coming of age while trying to hide a disfiguring birthmark on your right eye. That's the situation that Nina Goldman, the heroine of Renee Rosen's heartwarming debut novel " Every Crooked Pot", finds herself in - while she's also trying to deal with an eccentric father and being the youngest of three. Here's our interview with Ms. Rosen: 1) What was the inspiration for your book? Even though Every Crooked Pot is somewhat autobiographical, I never thought to write about growing up with a strawberry birthmark over my eye until I enrolled in a week-long writing workshop with Michael Cunningham. Michael gave us an exercise about childhood memories and I jotted something down about how my father once used my eye to get out of a speeding ticket. That incident is what inspired the opening scene of the novel. That was the starting point and from there, the characters took over and starting telling their own story. 2) Are you working on something right now? I am at work on a new novel though it's still too young in my mind to really share with anyone. Wish I could tell you, but right now it's changing on me day to day! 3) What is something about you that your fans don't know? I'm a horrible insomniac and can function pretty normally (though that's a relative term) on about four hours of sleep a night. If I get five or six, I consider it a great night's sleep.

We're Back...

Michelle and Blossom — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 11:00:53 GMT

It's true. The "China Dolls" have been MIA for awhile now and we apologize! We have been quite diligent and were hard at work on the second book. Basically, during that time, we cut off all ties with society and hibernated in Iceland and were stuck in an igloo with two computers. Okay...Okay...That's not quite true but it's been busy. Book Two, which is still titleless (ANY SUGGESTIONS OUT THERE?!), is finally in its editing phase now. We just had dinner with our fabulous editor Diana Szu at New York's Bar Stuzzichini for the first time last week (in months) to discuss book deux. We also got together to discuss "China Dolls", the paperback version, coming out in February 2008! It seems that the excitement will be played out all over again. There will be no book tour of course but it's always exciting to see a new product come out and in the bookstores!

I was in LA for like the eighth time this year. I was there for a wedding and for another China Dolls book event. This time, the book festivities took place in Cal State-Los Angeles and I was solo on the job. Being that we have been on hiatus with the events, I was a little nervous I didn't know what to say and Blossom wasn't there to help. I kept texting her: "Wish you were! I am going to forget everything!". Her words of encouragement back on my blackberry were: "What?! Don't forget your "schpeel"!.

The book store is nothing compared to all the other college campuses I've been to. Across the bookstore lies a massive food court with a Carl's Jr, Rice Garden, and some other type of fast food joint. I must say that those choices were much better than what I had in college which was, well, no choice. It was cafeteria food all day, all the time, which meant mystery meat all day, all the time. The bookstore itself was very...yellow. I guess those are the school colors? Anyhow, I felt a little like Phoebe on "Friends" performing "Smelly Cat" as I sat on top of this little stage area and had a microphone and a stool to do my book reading. There were some great students that came to the event. Many thanks to Fred (I wish I knew your last name!) and Nicole Abboud who graciously invited us to the event.

After the event, I realized....I miss college...Ahhh, the 10 cent chicken wings....the memories...

Okay, Blossom and I are out from hibernation. We will be emceeing the AARI banquet this coming week in New York and we will be sure to let everyone know how that goes. It's the first time she and I will be emceeing an event together!

Take Care!

Extra: Guest Author Judy Larsen

Michelle and Blossom — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:46:07 GMT

It's hard to imagine anything worse for a parent than the loss of a child, but that's the nightmare heroine Ellen Banks finds herself facing one perfect summer day. In Judy Larsen's new novel, " All The Numbers", she explores both the depths and heights of the human soul - the thirst for revenge and the ability to recover from unimaginable loss.

Here's our interview with Ms. Larsen:

1) What was the inspiration for your book?

Well, I was sitting on a dock at a lake in Wisconsin with my best friend, Her girls and my sons were playing in the water and a jet skier went by. And I just started thinking, "What if?" What if the kids had been out too far? What if the jet skier hadn't been paying attention? What would that do to me as a mother, as a friend? The story flowed from there. I think, in a way, I'd been writing it ever since my kids were born. That's the biggest fear for most parents--losing a child. So I explored it through my character.

2) What are you working on right now?

I’m deep into what I hope will be my next novel--through two different narrative lines, one set in the present and the other set between 1958-1971 it explores how women are too often defined by others’ expectations and judgments, rather than by themselves and their dreams. I'm calling it Unexpected Grace.

3) What is something about you that your readers don't know?

Hmm. Probably that I'm distantly related to the only person ever convicted of cannibalism in the United States. That doesn't come up very often.

Extra: Guest Author Laura Florand

Michelle and Blossom — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:40:47 GMT

So who hasn't dreamed about meeting some dreamboat in Paris? But what happens after the romance and the late night cafe trysts and the kisses atop the Eiffel Tower? That's the question that Laura Florand explores in her true story " Blame it on Paris", where a Georgia peach tries to learn to love escargots and her beloved Sebastien tries to adapt to the Deep South.

Here's our interview with Ms. Florand:

1) How did you get the idea for your book?

It generated itself. I was living this absolutely crazy, fun, rich story, and I had always written (usually fiction), so one day I saw a travel anthology was looking for travel stories on wine, and I decided to write a travel essay about one little bit of what was going on. Then the same publisher had another anthology, on Provence, and I had a funny story about that. And then I realized that I didn’t have just little bits of funny stories here and there, but that everything that had happened from the moment I first spotted that handsome Parisian waiter was a wonderfully funny and romantic true story that could really reach people.

2) What are you working on right now?

I just finished LA VIE EN ROSES, a novel set around Grasse, the centuries-old perfume capital of France. An American woman named Jolie finds herself with a house and part of one of the last great French rose fields on her hands. She falls in love with it, but she also finds that her ownership of it is being disputed by the great rose-producing Legrand clan. And the eldest son and heir in that clan is quite cute, in his difficult way…

It’s a pure take-off on one of my favorite fairy tales, from her family, whose fortunes reversed in the tech crash, to her father’s gift to her of this house and rose field in order to get out of trouble, to the sibling rivalry with her two sisters. I wanted to call it PRETTY AND THE BEAST, which is still quite my most favoritest title of all time, but everyone else just looked at me funny when I suggested it. I have that trouble with titles.

3) What is something about you that would surprise your readers?
I lived in Tahiti for a while and studied Tahitian dance under one of the grandes dames of dance, Louise Kimitete. Back in the U.S., I formed and led an authentic Polynesian dance group (NOT one of those fake-y Hollywood ones), and we performed in all kinds of places, some high-end and some hilarious. The group still exists, but I stopped leading it about six months ago, in pure exhaustion. My daughter was six months old at the time, and I was trying to handle that and the writing career, with my first book out and another one in the works. And I still teach full-time at Duke, so…it was a lot to juggle.

Extra: Guest Author Ellen Meister

Michelle and Blossom — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:01:55 GMT

Michelle and I had the pleasure of meeting our next guest author Ellen Meister in Atlanta last year at the annual RWA conference. Ellen is every bit as funny and sassy as you would expect from the author of " Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA", a novel about three friends juggling life in suburbia, man trouble and the prospect of George Clooney in their town.

Check out our interview with Ms. Meister:

1) What was the inspiration for your book?

The idea for the book came to me at a PTA meeting. I had only recently decided to stop procrastinating and pursue my dream of writing a novel, and as I smiled at all the other moms, it occurred to me that no one had any idea I had this great dream. In fact, no one in the room knew I had an inner life at all. Then it occurred to me that everyone there could be feeling something pretty similar. As soon as I had that thought, I knew I wanted to write about these types of women--to explore the pain, passion, heartache and joy hidden beneath facade of the perfect suburban housewife--and do it with humor and compassion.

From there I set out to construct a plot around an event that could affect the community as a whole and the women as individuals. Eventually, I got the idea to bring a Hollywood movie studio to their town, and select their schoolyard as a possible location for the filming of a George Clooney movie.

2) Are you working on something right now?

Yes, I'm working on my second novel, THE SMART ONE. It's the story of a divorced former artist named Bev Bloomrosen who's about to turn her failed career around and become a school teacher. But when she and her two sisters discover a dead body under the house next door, they come head on with the old childhood roles holding them back. It will be published by Morrow/Avon in 2008.

3) What is something about you that would surprise your readers?

I've never cheated on my husband, don't own a single pair of Manolo Blahnik's, and my mother is a teetotaler. In other words, if I wrote about my own life, I'd bore readers to death!

Dolling Up in Miami

Michelle and Blossom — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:06:18 GMT

The "China Dolls" took a trip down to Miami this past week. Well, one half of the 'China Dolls' anyway. Blossom held down the fort in New York while I headed to South Beach for the Asian American Journalism Convention. During my stay, I held an author's showcase and spoke on another book panel. Here's a quick look at what went down.

Getting ready for another book signing!!

Fellow journalist Victoria Lim stops by to support 'China Dolls'!!

Books are almost gone!! Colleague Cefaan (left) and fellow AAJer Christina take time to
snap a photo.

Going, going, gone!! Down to three books. Eventually, they were all gone. Yay!!

Extra: Guest Author Julie Kenner

Michelle and Blossom — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:41:22 GMT

So is there any spirited, independent woman out there who doesn't dream about letting her inner Buffy loose and kicking some serious butt? Kate Connor, the protagonist of Julie Kenner's new novel " Demons are Forever" doesn't just dream about being Buffy - she is Buffy...and a soccer mom. Here's our interview with Ms. Kenner:

1) What was the inspiration for your book?
It's a series, so this book is the third in the original series, but the
inspiration for the series as a whole came from the fact that I was a new
mom and wanted to do something "mom" related. At the same time, I was
trying to come up with an idea for a paranormal series. I had the idea of a
group of demon hunters, but as I thought about the two ideas, they merged
into a demon-hunting soccer mom. I loved it ... and Kate Connor was born!

2) Are you working on something right now?
I just finished a cool project that I'll announce on my website very
soon, and I've returned my attention to finishing DEJA DEMON, the fourth
book in the series that will be out in the summer of 2008.

3) Is there something about you that your readers do not know?
The Kate stories are in fact autobiographical. I'm really a suburban mom
of two who fights demons for a secret arm of the Vatican in her spare time.
No, really!!!!

China Dolls Hit Texas!

Michelle and Blossom — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:07:49 GMT

Howdy!

The 'China Dolls' took a visit down to the good ole' South this past weekend to attend the RWA Writer's Conference and to speak at three other book events. We spoke at the conference on a panel about multicultural fiction with two other talented authors: Nadine Dajani (Fashionably Late) and Cathy Yardley (Will Write For Shoes). We had a nice crowd of people come to the event including another fellow multicultural chiclit author Dona Sarkar-Mishra, whose book 'How to Salsa in a Sari' comes out in January 2008. Congratulations Dona!! It was so nice to finally see you!

For those of you who have never been to or heard of an RWA Conference, it's a place where romance and women's fiction writers all get together to share ideas, network and talk about their work and show it off! During our stay in Dallas, there seemed to be many other conferences going on as well and I think the most exciting conference other than the one that we were at was the Women's Peace Conference taking place at the Adam's Mark Hotel. Every night, we would find dancing and laughing at the Adam's Mark Conference room. In many ways, Blossom and I wanted to participate but were just too tired from our own festivities. We would just watch and be in awe!

The trip started off dramatic. We got off the plane at DFW airport at 11:30 AM and had to rush to get our rental car to try and make an event with the Dallas Bar Association at 1 PM. Luckily with my speed demon driving, we got to the Belo Mansion with a few minutes to spare and got a chance to meet a bunch of lovely lawyers. It was refreshing to see a bunch of attorneys sit down and enjoy lunch during lunch time unlike the lawyers we see in New York!

In addition to the conference and last but not least, Blossom and I felt quite honored to speak at a wonderful APEX/GDAACC event sponsored by State Farm Insurance. Angela Lang, the president of Asian Professional Exchange (Dallas), is one of the sweetest people that we've ever met. The event was held at the AIJA Restaurant in downtown Dallas and it was one of the nicest events that we've ever done. Over one hundred people filled the room and we could feel the warmth and welcome from everyone.

Here are some of the pictures from the event taken by a fantastic APEX member and photographer Scott Boriboun.

All for us? How cool!

We're excited to meet new friends!

Angela Lang, the president of APEX, introduces us and says some kinds words.

China Dolls is 'Something to talk about'....

So glad people were listening!

The 'China Dolls' with Scott, the fabulous photographer responsible for these lovely event photos.

Thank you State Farm for sponsoring the event!!!

Extra Guest Author: Tanya Stone

Michelle and Blossom — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:03:00 GMT

I'll be honest. The minute I heard the title of Tanya Stone's new novel - "A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl" - I was hooked. Now that, my friends, is a great title. Or at least the kind of title that can reel me in right away. Okay, maybe I am a sucker for bad boys (I never take the practical road), but you have to admit the premise is intriguing: three very different girls who learn about female empowerment after dating the same player.

Here's our interview with Ms. Stone:

1) What was the inspiration for your book?

The title. Once the title hit me, I was off and running. I had a lot to say about what that title could mean. What do we learn from those experiences we have with people who aren't good for us? How can a bad boy be good for a girl?

2) Are you working on something now?

Several things! I'm proofing the final pages for a picture book about Elizabeth Cady Stanton called Elizabeth Leads the Way. I'm doing a final read for a Young Adult biography of Ella Fitzgerald (both of these will be out next spring), and I'm in the process of writing a nonfiction book about the women who began astronaut training in 1961, only to be kept from officially joining the program--and my next Young Adult novel.

3) What is something about you that would surprise your readers?

Perhaps that I'm as passionate about nonfiction as I am about fiction. I love going back and forth between the two. My brain works better that way.