20 Questions with Author Kristan Higgins

Kristan Higgins is The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and two-time winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award. Her contemporary romance novels include Fools Rush In, Catch of the Day, Just One of the Guys, Too Good To Be True, The Next Best Thing, All I Ever Wanted, and My One and Only.

Kristan joins us today to answer our 20 Questions. Enjoy!

Kindle or Nook? Old school…still like real books. But a Kindle’s in my future. 
 
iPhone or BlackBerry? Plain old cell phone. 

 
Coke or Pepsi? Don’t drink soda! More of a seltzer girl, actually… 

 
Coffee or tea? Oh, coffee. 

 
Ice cream or frozen yogurt? Ice cream! I’m a proud supporter of Ben & Jerry’s. I think their sales would tank if I ever stopped eating ice cream. 

 
Flats or heels? Heels. Three inches, or it doesn’t count. 

 
Facebook or Twitter? Facebook. 

 
Call or text message? Call. My friends like to text me as a form of torture, knowing I hate to text. Have to get over that soon, but for now, call, most def. 

 
Favorite song right now? Make You Feel My Love by Adele (written by Bob Dylan).

 
Celebrity crush? Gerard Butler, Danny Craig, James Franco (he’s young enough that I could’ve babysat him, but I don’t care). 

  
Movie you saw recently? Battle: Los Angeles. I enjoyed it! I like movies with lots of explosions. 
 
Favorite television show right now? Modern Family. 

 
Favorite snack food? Popcorn. 

 
Your most overused word or phrase? “Just”… I’m just saying, I just seem to just overuse the word. I don’t mean to…it just seems to happen. 

 
Your hidden talent? Very loud whistler. Need a cab? I’m your girl. 

 
Your biggest pet peeve? I have no pet peeves. I’m a saint. Wait…actually, I have a few…People who stand in front of an entrance in groups, oblivious to those who want to go in or out…my children making strange, repetitive noises…waiters who squat to take my order. I just think that’s odd. I don’t mind looking up. Plus, it’s going to take a toll on their knees someday, all that squatting. 

 
Favorite activity when you’re not writing? These days, it’s taking walks with the puppy. 

 
Favorite authors? Eloisa James, Elinor Lipman, Robyn Carr, Sherry Thomas, Susan Mallery…too many to name, frankly. 

 
Favorite books? Gone With the Wind; The Pursuit of Alice Thrift; Abide with Me.


Comment heard most often from your readers? “I woke up my husband, I was laughing so hard.” 

About Kristan Higgins
Kristan divides her time between her home in Connecticut and summers on Cape Cod. She is the mother of two children and the wife of a brave firefighter. Previously a copywriter, Kristan began writing fiction when her children graced her life with simultaneous naps...so much more satisfying than folding laundry. She holds a BA in English. Kristan loves to connect with readers on her website www.kristanhiggins.com and her Facebook page www.facebook.com/KristanHigginsBooks

About My One and Only
Harper James thinks she’s got life pretty well figured out. As a divorce attorney, she certainly sees a lot of what doesn’t work. Her good-hearted and obedient boyfriend, Dennis, is perfect husband material, so she takes control of the situation and pops the question. But before she can get a firm answer, she gets some news. Her stepsister is getting married…to the brother of Harper’s ex-husband, Nick. Will she fly to Montana to be maid of honor, even though Nick’s going to be best man? Are you kidding? Of course she will…even though it’s been twelve years since they’ve seen each other and even if he did break her heart. She can handle seeing Nick again. She’s almost positive.
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What do you think of our interview with Kristan Higgins? Have you read any of her books? Leave a comment to share your feedback with us. Thanks!

20 Questions with Author Lisa Heidke

Lisa Heidke's first novel, Lucy Springer Gets Even (2009), was quickly followed by What Kate Did Next (2010). Her third novel, Claudia’s Big Break, was published in January 2011. In February, Claudia’s Big Break was listed in the Sydney Morning Herald as one of the Top Ten Australian Bestsellers. Lisa’s fourth chick lit novel, tentatively titled Stella Does Good, will be released in January 2012.

We're so happy that Lisa is joining us today to answer our 20 Questions. 

Enjoy!
Kindle or Nook? BOOK!
 
iPhone or BlackBerry? iPhone

 
Coke or Pepsi? Coke

 
Coffee or tea? Tea

 
Ice cream or frozen yogurt? Neither

 
Flats or heels? Heels!

 
Facebook or Twitter? Both! Prefer Facebook

 
Call or text message? Text

 
Favorite song right now? Bruno Mars – The Lazy Song!

 
Celebrity crush? Rob Lowe


Movie you saw recently? Tangled. Loved it!
 
Favorite television show right now? Glee

 
Favorite snack food? Tim Tams

 
Your most overused word or phrase? ‘Yeah, okay, good!’

 
Your hidden talent? I would like to say singing.

 
Your biggest pet peeve? Slow drivers!

 
Favorite activity when you’re not writing? Reading...drinking wine...depending on my mood. Often I can do both at the same time.

 
Favorite authors? Marian Keyes and Emily Bronte.

 
Favorite books? Watermelon. Wuthering Heights. The Magic Faraway Tree. Watership Down.

 
Comment heard most often from your readers? Oh my God! That’s exactly how I feel. 

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About Lisa Heidke
Lisa lives in Sydney, Australia and has three children, Josh, fifteen, Noah, thirteen, and Mia, ten. To find out more about Claudia’s Big Break and Lisa’s other titles, as well as read her sporadic weekly blog, please visit www.lisaheidke.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @lisaheidke.
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What do you think of this interview? Have you read any of Lisa's books? Leave a comment to share your thoughts with us. Thanks!

20 Questions with Author Jenny Nelson

Jenny Nelson is the debut author of Georgia's Kitchen. Today, Jenny joins us to answer our 20 Questions. Enjoy!

Kindle or Nook? Neither; I read books on my iPad when I travel, but otherwise I’m paper all the way. 

iPhone or BlackBerry? Just got an iPhone to replace my Blackberry
 
Coke or Pepsi? Diet Coke

Coffee or tea? Black tea, the brisker the better
 
Ice cream or frozen yogurt? Both and lots of them!
 
Flats or heels? Flats for day, heels if I’m going out.
 
Facebook or Twitter? Facebook, though I do get in Twitter modes
 
Call or text message? Call. I think I’m the only person on the planet who doesn’t text.
 
Favorite song right now? I Didn’t See It Coming, Belle and Sebastian
 
Celebrity crush? Ryan Gosling 

Movie you saw recently? Cedar Rapids
 
Favorite television show right now? Boardwalk Empire
 
Favorite snack food? Popcorn or pretzels
 
Your most overused word or phrase? “Absolutely.”
 
Your hidden talent? I make a mean risotto.
 
Your biggest pet peeve? People clipping their nails on the subway.
 
Favorite activity when you’re not writing? Anything with my family
 
Favorite authors? Jhumpa Lahiri, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Michael Chabon, Jane Austen 

Favorite books? Unaccustomed Earth, The Great Gatsby, In the Time of the Butterflies
 
Comment heard most often from your readers? “You must be a great cook!”

About Jenny Nelson
Jenny Nelson has a BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado at Denver. She has worked as a web editor and producer for companies such as iVillage, Vogue.com and Style.com. She lives with her husband, twin daughters and dog in New York. Georgia’s Kitchen is Jenny's first novel. Visit http://www.jennynelsonauthor.com for more information and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

At 33, talented chef Georgia Gray has everything a woman could want—the top job at one of Manhattan’s best restaurants, a posse of smart and savvy gal pals who never let her down, and a platinum-set, cushion-cut diamond engagement ring courtesy of Glenn, the handsome entertainment lawyer who Georgia’s overbearing mother can’t wait for her to marry. The table is set for the ambitious bride-to-be until a scathing restaurant review destroys her reputation. To add salt to her wounds, Glenn suddenly calls off the wedding. Brokenhearted, Georgia escapes to the Italian countryside, where she sharpens her skills at a trattoria run by a world-class chef who seems to have it all—a devoted lover, a magnificent villa, and most importantly, a kitchen of her own. Georgia quells her longings with Italy’s delectable offerings: fine wine, luscious cheeses, cerulean blue skies, and irresistible Gianni, an expert in the vineyard and the bedroom. So when Gianni tempts Georgia to stay in Italy with an offer no sane top chef could refuse, why can’t she say yes? An appetite for something more looms large in Georgia’s heart – the desire to run her own restaurant in the city she loves. But having left New York with her career in flames, she’ll need to stir up more than just courage if she’s to realize her dreams and find her way home.
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What do you think of our interview with Jenny Nelson? Have you read her novel? Do you want to read it? Leave a comment to let us know. Thanks!

20 Questions with Author Erin McKean

Erin McKean is the debut author of The Secret Lives of Dresses. Today, Erin joins us to answer our 20 Questions. Enjoy!

Kindle or Nook? I use Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Goodreader, ibis reader, and the Bluefire reader ... all on my iPad!

iPhone or BlackBerry?
Palm Pre. Can't say enough good things about it. I love the keyboard!

Coke or Pepsi?
Coke. Diet Coke. I'm also a big fan of Cheerwine (a Southern thing).

Coffee or tea?
I drink gallons of ice tea a day. Not sweet tea any longer, though. Just plain ol' unsweetened English Breakfast with lots of ice.

Ice cream or frozen yogurt?
I'm going to pretend you didn't mention frozen yogurt. (Shudder.)

Flats or heels?
Either, as long as they're penny loafers. But honestly, mostly flats.

Facebook or Twitter?
Don't make me choose ... Facebook to be nice to friends and Twitter to
be funny for strangers.
 

Call or text message? I prfr to txt msg.

Favorite song right now? "Animal" by Miike Snow ... I'm usually a year behind, music-wise.

Celebrity crush?
Still Lord Byron. I mean, he was obviously a total jerkface, but still.

Movie you saw recently? Huh. I don't remember! That's sad.

Favorite television show right now?
A tie between "House" and "Eureka." I like me the science.

Favorite snack food?
The still-beating hearts of my enemies. :-)

Your most overused word or phrase? Well, I write a biweekly column for the Boston Globe, and in a recent column I used the word "multiple" ... multiple times.

Your hidden talent?
If I told you it would no longer be hidden.

Your biggest pet peeve? Noisy gum-chewing and people who throw lit cigarettes out of car windows.

Favorite activity when you’re not writing?
Sewing! And then writing about sewing.

Favorite authors?
Too many to count, but I am marking the days until Sarra Manning's next book comes out! Ditto John Scalzi. Whenever I need to feel better I read Georgette Heyer, Dick Francis, Clifford Simak, Dorothy Dunnett, or (especially) Lois McMaster Bujold. I've also loved recent books by Scott Lynch, Scott Westerfeld, Patrick Rothfuss and Marisa de los Santos.

Favorite books?
The dictionary and the thesaurus. :-) Okay, that's not true, but I am
very fond of those two.

Comment heard most often from your readers?
That I make them want to buy vintage dresses!
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About Erin McKean
Erin McKean is the founder of Wordnik.com and writes a biweekly column for the Boston Globe. Previously, she was the editor in chief for American Dictionaries at Oxford University Press and the editor of the New Oxford American Dictionary, 2E. The Secret Lives of Dresses is her first novel. For more information, please visit http://www.thesecretlivesofdresses.com and http://www.dressaday.com.
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Dora has always taken the path of least resistance. She went to the college that offered her a scholarship, is majoring in "vagueness studies," and wears whatever shows the least dirt. She falls into a job at the college coffee shop, and a crush on her flirty boss, Gary. Just when she's about to test Gary's feelings, Mimi, the grandmother who raised her, suffers a stroke. Dora rushes back home to Forsyth, NC, and finds herself running her grandmother's vintage clothing store. The store has always been a fixture in Dora's life, even though she grew up more of a jeans-and-sweatshirt kind of girl. Before she even knew how to write, Mimi taught her that a vintage 1920s dress could lift a woman's spirit. While working there, Dora befriends Mimi's adorable contractor, Conrad. Is he after Dora, or is he working from a different blueprint? And why did Mimi start writing down—and giving away—stories of the dresses in her shop? When Mimi dies, Dora can't get out of town fast enough and cedes control of the store to her money-hungry aunt who wants to turn it into a t-shirt shop for tourists. But ultimately, she returns to Forsyth, willing to battle whatever may stand in the way of her staying there. Dora can trade her boring clothes for vintage glamour, but can she trade her boring life for one she actually wants? 
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What do you think of our interview with Erin McKean? Have you read her novel? Do you plan to read it? Leave a comment to let us know. Thanks!

20 Questions with Author Kristin Harmel

Kristin Harmel is the author of the novels How to Sleep With a Movie Star, The Blonde Theory, When You Wish, The Art of French Kissing, Italian for Beginners and After. Her upcoming books include The Blue Hour (spring 2012) and the autobiography of Chubby Checker. 

Today, Kristin joins us to answer our 20 Questions. Enjoy!

Kindle or Nook? Neither: I actually have a Sony Pocket Reader, which is great for checking books out from the library. It’s also smaller than a Kindle or Nook, which makes it a little easier to throw in my bag when I head out.

iPhone or BlackBerry? BlackBerry. I love the feel of the keys (although I admit iPhones are cooler!)

Coke or Pepsi? Coke. Diet Coke, actually!

Coffee or tea? Coffee. I’m a caffeine-a-holic.

Ice cream or frozen yogurt? Ice cream.

Flats or heels? Heels! I’m only five feet tall. I need all the help I can get.

Facebook or Twitter? Facebook. I have a Twitter account but hardly ever use it.

Call or text message? Depends who I’m talking to and what I need to say. Texts are easier and more efficient; calls are more personal.

Favorite song right now?
“Let’s Twist Again” by Chubby Checker. I’m ghostwriting Chubby’s autobiography and have become good friends with him. Whenever I’m feeling a little lonely or down, listening to one of his songs makes me feel like he’s right here with me.

Celebrity crush? Yikes, don’t really have one! I’ve interviewed Patrick Dempsey a handful of times, and in addition to being completely handsome, he’s also very kind, warm and genuine. But am I allowed to have a crush on someone who’s married with kids? I think it’s more like a platonic crush, because one of the things I like so much about him is how dedicated he is to his family!

Movie you saw recently? “The Kids Are All Right”


Favorite television show? “Shameless” on Showtime or “Big Love” on HBO. Both are like nothing else on TV, and the writing is amazing.

Favorite snack food?
I could eat a whole jar of green olives in a sitting. I know, I’m gross.

Your most overused word or phrase? “No worries!”

Your hidden talent? I played the drums all through school.

Your biggest pet peeve? When people are cold/unfriendly. Why not just be nice?


Favorite activity when you’re not writing? Going to see to live music.

Favorite authors? Too many to name!! They include Emily Giffin, Tatiana de Rosnay, Anita Shreve, Jodi Picoult, Megan Crane, Jane Porter, Liza Palmer, Wendy Toliver, Josie Brown, Cecelia Ahern, Kristin Hannah, Sarah Mlynowski, Alison Pace, Melissa Senate, Nora Ephron, Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson and many, many more.

Favorite books? WAY too many to name. As a kid, I devoured the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Three Investigators series of books, and as a teen, I got really into F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Diary of Anne Frank, which I read dozens of times. I read constantly; if it’s written by an author I know I like; if a friend has recommended it; if I read a good review; or if the plot sounds interesting, I’ll pick it up.


Comment heard most often from your readers? I have a lot of readers tell me that they see some version of themselves in my characters, and that my books have motivated them to make some sort of change for the better in their own lives. That means the world to me.
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To find out more about Kristin and her books, please visit www.KristinHarmel.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.
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What do you think of our interview with Kristin? Post a comment to let us know. We'd love to hear from you!