Tuesday, June 22, 2010

SECRET LIVES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES BLOG TOUR: AUTHOR INTERVIEW, REVIEW, AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
SECRET LIVES OF
HUSBANDS AND WIVES

BY JOSIE BROWN

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Suburbia is a jungle, filled with lots of vicious creatures.

Take the Paradise Heights Women’s League board. Lyssa Harper should have warned golden-haired DILF du jour Harry Wilder what he was getting into when she invited him to meet the mommies who run their suburban, gated community. At least he brought cupcakes. Since meeting the former Master-of-the-Universe turned stay-at-home single dad, Lyssa has been his domestic Sherpa, teaching him the ins and outs of suburban life. She just didn’t realize her friends would show up at his house unannounced with casseroles, leopard-print bikini briefs, and plans to rearrange his kitchen cabinets.

The truth is, if Harry and his wife, the neighborhood’s "perfect couple," can call it quits, what does that mean for everyone else? Lyssa’s husband, Ted, is a great father, but he pays her Pilates-pumped momtourage more attention than he does his own wife. Her friends gossip about the neighbors while ignoring their own problems: infertility, infidelity, and eating disorders.

When Harry sets boundaries with his new fan club, he is exiled from the neighborhood’s in-clique. But Lyssa refuses to snub him. What she never expects is the explosive impact her ongoing friendship with Harry will have on her close-knit pals—and on her marriage.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Josie Brown’s celebrity interviews and relationship articles have been featured in Redbook and Complete Woman magazines, as well as AOL, Yahoo, AskMen.com, Divorce360.com, and SingleMindedWomen.com. She lives in Marin County, California with her husband and two children.



AUTHOR INTERVIEW:


1. Here is some background on Josie and her personal life.

This is Josie Brown’s third novel. She is also the author of “True Hollywood Lies” and Impossibly Tongue-Tied. “ Her celebrity interviews and relationship articles have appeared in Redbook and Complete Woman, as well as AOL's Women Channel, Yahoo.com's Personals Channel, askmen.com, affluentmale.com and numerous news and media outlets. You can read more about her on her website: www.JosieBrown.com, and at her blog: www.AuthorProvocateur.com

2. Where did you get the inspiration or idea for this book?

I live in a county (Marin, in California) that has a lot of little affluent towns. Each has its own tone and flavor. In one in particular (I won’t name names), the mothers are casually elegant: monied, toned, and trophy wives (usually second wives) to affluent men. Their husbands may rule the boardroom, but they run the town. I saw a wonderful opportunity for a story that is an adult version of “Lord (Lady) of the Flies.” In Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, during his divorce, a high-powered male executive, Harry Wilder, makes the decision to stay home to raise his children. This changes the dynamics the town’s social hierarchy. This is all seen through the eyes of the narrator: my heroine, Lyssa Harper, who doesn’t realize that her relationship mirrors the same issues seen in her neighbors, including Harry, whom she befriends.

3. How did the title of your book come about?

I’ve had that title knocking around in my head for a looooong time. I was shocked to see that no author had used it before—although it had been the title for a TV movie in the early 1980s. It was just the perfect title for this subject matter, so I think I looked out, for sure!

4. Do you see yourself in your characters? Which characters are easiest or more difficult to write?

I see my sense of humor in my heroine, Lyssa. She is quite sardonic about her neighbors’ foibles. I would say that the easiest to write were the women who are her supposed friends—really, her frenemies, especially Margot, who is epitome of a mean mommy. Unfortunately I’ve met a couple of them myself, so it was an easy parody.

5. What are you currently reading?

When I write, I can’t read something new. However, I’m re-reading John LeCarre’s “The Night Manager.” Despite the fact that he writes spy novels, his books are prose as poetry: sublime phrasing and characters.

6. What is the next or current book/project you are working on?

I will have two books coming out next year. The one I can speak about because it’s been formally announced is “Extracurricular”, a story about a private school scandal that has its roots in a generation-old lie that surfaces and affects the lives of everyone involved. That is scheduled to come out September 2011. The other book, also a book of adults behaving badly, comes out April 2011. Both are with Simon & Schuster/Gallery.

7. What is something about you that you would want people to know about you that we probably don’t know?

Despite the fact that I write about lies, infidelities and marriages on the edge, I’ve been happily married for over two decades…and very proud of that. My husband and I are just as passionate as the day we married. It’s easy to write about heartache when It’s not so close that you can’t see to the other side.

8. What is your best advice to anyone, including young people, who want to be writers?

Write every day. If you want to make it your vocation, approach it as a craft, not a hobby. Don’t be afraid to get rejected—by agents, and even after you match up with one from editors. It’s all part of the process, and it’s not personal. It’s BUSINESS. That said, learn everything you can about it. Network with other writers. Don’t let their insecurities hold you back. Go for your own personal best.

MY REVIEW:

Life in suburbia filled with neighbors and friends, children who play together, men who golf and ladies who lunch. Ah, but we all know there is much more to this than that weak description. This fast and fun story is a perfect way to kick off summer reading at your place. In Josie Brown’s THE SECRET LIVES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES, Lyssa Harper decides to make friends with a recently separated Harry Wilder when his seemingly perfect marriage falls apart. Being a single parent is hard enough and she figures being male, makes it harder. Lyssa tries to introduce him to her friends to make him feel at home and to help him get through the agony of being newly alone and being a single parent.

When Harry meets Lyssa’s friends from the Paradise Heights Women’s League Board, it sets off a stampede to his door. Women pop up all over trying to “help poor Harry” in their stilettos and designer clothes. From bringing all matter of gifts, and helping him unpack and make things in his home more efficient like in his kitchen, to preparing hot meals and gifts of all kinds including clothes we won’t mention (but the word “leopard” is part of the description), the game is on!

When things get out of hand and Harry comes up for air, he lays down the law and regains his independence but at the same time makes enemies of the Paradise Heights gal pals. Lyssa, however, remains his support group much to the dismay of her friends. She is too naïve not to realize what their “friendship” will do to her social and marital affairs. Lyssa’s husband is a real peach…not the kind you like to enjoy in the summer or any other time for that matter! THE SECRET LIVES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES is a quick read and I laughed and found it a super way to start the summer…I wish now that they would at least make a TV movie out of it as I know just the people to cast for the parts of these interesting characters including the shallow, half-crazed group of women!


GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO SARAH AT SIMON
AND SCHUSTER, I HAVE ONE
COPY OF THIS INTERESTING
NEW BOOK TO GIVE AWAY!



--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THE INFORMATION AND/OR REVIEW FOR SECRET LIVES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES ABOVE

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND THEN COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY:
COMMENT ON SOME INTERESTING FACT YOU READ ABOUT AUTHOR JOSIE BROWN BY GOING TO "AUTHOR REVEALED" AT SIMON AND SCHUSTER HERE!


GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JULY 7

76 comments:

Jess said...

Thanks for your review. It sounds like the perfect summer read!

jedziedz(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

This book sounds unique and different and interests me greatly. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Colleen Turner said...

I read on the author's site that she feels her greatest achievement is her family. I really liked that as I feel the same.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I love books that take a fly on the wall look at suburbia. It is amazing what actually happens in those well manicured houses, and this book sounds like just the right book to read this summer.
Thanks for the review and giveaway!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

almost forgot...+5 for swagbucks!
candc320@gmail.com

Unknown said...

This book sounds very interesting. Please enter me in contest. Thank you. Tore923@aol.com

ben said...

Just bought this for the wife for our summer holidays - she was over the moon as, according to her, it sounds 'very juicy'. Thanks

Vera said...

Sounds very interesting and like a book I'd definitely give a try to! I like the whole premise of a single father trying to get along with the hordes of moms :)

vvperesk@gmail.com

Vera said...

I read the questions Josie Brown answered on Author Revealed and love that she lists Margaret Mitchell as one of her fave authors...that's my all time favorite author!

vvperesk@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I love stories about Suburbia scandal. This book reminds me of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, a guilty pleasure of mine.

Please enter me in giveaway.
monagarg@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

This brings memories of growing up as a pre-teen and a teen in suburbia.

Thank you for the this giveaway.


CarolNWong(at)aol.com

Anonymous said...

I read on the author's site that she is afraid of heights, water and fire. I can identify with that.

Katia said...

It's always entertaining to see a "mob" of women trying to "help" a male single parent.
kr_moreau(at)doglover(dot)com

Reading said...

Life in Suburbia, I love it. I live in a Suburban town in NJ and let me tell you, there is more gossip and back biting going on! If the book is anything like real life it will be quite a read.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

bermudaonion said...

I found it interesting that the little affluent towns each have their own personality. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I found it interesting that Josie is afraid of heights because I am too! milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith said...

Thanks for this review, plus!

Bill ;-)

http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/2010/06/help-settle-bet-ok.html
Author of "Back to the Homeplace"
and "13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories"

holdenj said...

It looks like a great summer read, I enjoyed your review and always knew there were all sorts of goings-on behind those gated community gates!
Thanks for the chance to win.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am amazed that Josie has read Gone With The Wind 22 times! And she relates that 15 times were prior to the age of fifteen! It is a good book!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Erika Powell said...

Great review. And I love that even though she is writing about heartache and infidelity she is happily married. That makes me smile

sports[dot]erikalynn[at]gmail[dot]com

I tweeted it here
http://twitter.com/Erika_Lynn_C/status/16806000158

ossmcalc said...

This sounds like a great book to read. When my ex filed for divorce and moved out, it was really hard on me seeing the women whom I thought were my friends, suddenly chasing him. Out of great curiosity, I would love to read this book.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Cindy W. said...

At Simon & Schuster's site I found that one of her favorite authors is Margaret Mitchell and her favorite heroin is Scarlett O'Hara.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

ossmcalc said...

I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/16807910544

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Cindy W. said...

Oooh...life in suburbia. Going behind the scenes maybe? Sounds like a fun read.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

ossmcalc said...

I learned that her biggest pet peeve is bigotry of any kind.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

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Bing Bingo said...

I really have interst to see new product

enyl said...

Tweete.
twitter.com@enylstil#husbands
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I like that Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives promises to appeal to the readers sense of humor.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I think it's intresting that Josie considers LeCarr writing to be "prose as poetry"
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

I like the premise of this story. I'm not familiar with the clique mentality but can relate the the "stay at home dad" idea. Please count me in for the giveaway. Thank you - Miranda
mdwartistry at yahoo dot com

rubynreba said...

I'm interested in reading this because the last few books I have read have not been light easy reads and this sounds fun!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I think it interesting that she says she is a fraidy cat - scared of heights, fire, water - you name it!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

throuthehaze said...

I think it is interesting that the author wrote it to be like adult version of "Lord of the Flies."
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

https://twitter.com/Romantic73/status/16926504445

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I read your review, Now I definately want to read it. It almost sounds or reminds me of Deperate Houswives. I'd love to win this book!

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100000641625482&v=wall&story_fbid=130254377005318&ref=mf chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/chirth7/review/43348695/

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&authorID=533391661&messageID=6672847747&hash

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I liked this one, because I thought I was a fraidy cat!
but she tops me I think.
Q. What’s your greatest fear?
A. Heights. Fire. Water. You name it. I'm a 'fraidy cat!

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

+ 5 swag bucks chirth7@yahoo.com

sorry this might be twice I can't remember

Unknown said...

+5 swag bucks chirth7@yahoo.com

bison61 said...

I like the first statement-Suburbia is a jungle, filled with lots of vicious creatures. sounds like a great summer read

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Linda Kish said...

It sounds like an interesting look into suburban life.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

She loves movies.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Benita said...

This book sounds like a great summer read. There's a lot happening and the characters seem well-defined. I'd love to read it.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I love the eight words Josie used to describe herself: "Happy, healthy, supported by wonderful family and friends."

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jenna said...

This sounds like a great summer read- a warning as well... to those who are in suburbia and those wishing to be "the perfect" couple.

papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com

Jenna said...

I think it is interesting that she is afraid of a lot of things (fire, heights, water). Pyschologically, it makes me wonder if she writes to experience these fears from a safe distance.

papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com

Jenna said...

+5 for joining swagbucks because of your info and links!

papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com

nfmgirl said...

I like that the book contains a "DILF". I don't think I've ever heard that term used before!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Pamela Keener said...

As always you provide a gr8 review that makes me want to go out and buy that book straight away.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net
Swagbucks + 5

Pamela Keener said...

She has reread Gone With The Wind 22 times, me not even once pershame.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Shirley said...

I loved your review. The books sounds great I'd love for something to make me laugh. I'd love to read this book.

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://twitter.com/Grandmamaof10/status/17567801418

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/shundelt45/review/43578318/

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001087052807&v=wall&story_fbid=136848066341342#!/profile.php?id=100001087052807&v=wall&story_fbid=126128020762291&ref=mf

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&authorID=540593519&messageID=6673152012&hash

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I piocke this because my daughter is also OCD was diagnosed in 1998.
Working was really hard on her at the time. this is what the author said: Q. What’s your greatest flaw? A. I am OCD!
shundelt@yahoo.com

urbanL said...

I think my wife would love this book, I'm entering for her.

jeff72768@yahoo.com

urbanL said...

http://twitter.com/jeff72768/status/17575545198

jeff72768@yahoo.com

urbanL said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/Jeff72768/review/43580886/

jeff72768@yahoo.com

urbanL said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000609680005&v=wall&story_fbid=120520747992726&ref=mf jeff72768@yahoo.com

urbanL said...

http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&authorID=540594583&messageID=6673158621&hash

jeff72768@yahoo.com

urbanL said...

this one kind of reminds we of my wife: Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
A. Ha! The portobello raviolis from Trader Joe's (Do'h! Now the secret is OUT...)
The love she has for raviolis. lol

jeff72768@yahoo.com

Nancye said...

This sounds like a great book! Sounds like Harry has it made with all of the "help" he is receiving from the women in the neighborhood.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/17681849351

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Josie Brown has read "Gone With the Wind" 22 times! (22 more times than I have read it! :)

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Priya said...

I thought it was interesting how Josie said she found inspiration from the towns in her county, but not from her own relationship with her husband.

swaid124(at)gmail(dot)com

Priya said...

I loved how she said she would love to meet Mark Twain because of the time period he lived in, not because of his books.

Thanks for a fantastic giveaway!

swaid124(at)gmail(dot)com

Colleen Turner said...

+5 for the 4th FB Fan!
candc320@gmail.com

Josie Brown said...

WOW! Just reading all these comments makes me feel as if I've got 70+ new friends. I want to thank Bookin' with Bingo for her great questions -- and her wonderful contest.

It's interesting what others pick up about you. My personal favorite comments are that I may be living out my fears through my writing (insightful, Jenna -- particularly since I've just written a scene, in my next book, where my heroine have to deal with two of those three) and that I my relationship with my wonderful husband, Martin, didn't influence this book. (We're too happy, therefore too boring to write about. Alas, pain and heartache makes from better conflict on the page.)

By the way, if you do pick up the book and have further questions, please feel free to email me at my site. I'm happy to say that, beside your local bookstore, it is also on the shelf at your local Target.

Warmest regards,
Josie Brown
author, SECRET LIVES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES
http://www.JosieBrown.com

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