How Author Malena Lott Gets La Dolce Vita

Posted on November 6, 2008 by malenalott

First off, a hearty Midwestern thank you to authors Joanne Rendell, Jenny Gardiner and Jess Riley for taking the time to share their personal insights into “the sweet life” with our readers. These three authors are a big part of the reason I wanted to start Athena’s Bookshelf – to bring light to great books by great emerging authors. We’ll be back to more book reviews next week, including reviews for The Amend Sisters, Where Am I Wearing, And Never Stop Dancing and more historical romance.

And now, for my route to the sweet life, la dolce vita…

This is going to sound strange for an author to say, since stories live in our heads all the time, but the best way for me to experience the sweet life is to get out of my head once in awhile. I’ve always prided myself on being a thinker and my creative outlet is not only escape for me, but therapy. But what I realized last year, while reading The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, is that my brain was pretty much controlling my life, and not in a good way.

Do you ever have too many thoughts going on at once? Catch yourself worrying about the past and fretting about the future? Conjuring up drastic scenarios that may never come to fruition? Yeah…I pretty much rock at that. And it’s all well and good if you’re creating those things for conflict for your characters, but something else entirely if it’s about your own life. The stress pool is a cesspool.

By practicing keeping myself in the present moment as much as possible, the past and the future melt away (unless the present is purposely planning for a future moment.) What’s left is the glorious present – whatever I happen to be doing at the moment. Making bacon for my 8 year old’s farmer’s breakfast this morning. Concentrating on the bacon and visiting with her, and not thinking about the dozen other things I need to do this morning. Getting ready for my launch party yesterday, I listened to Oprah’s Soul series, instead of worrying if anyone would show up at the launch party. (Thankfully many did!)

We’ve all heard the saying, “don’t worry, be happy,” yet it’s much harder to live it. But I’ve found when I do, then everything in life is sweeter. I really get to savor the small stuff and simply be present. Now I have to rush. Can’t take the kids to school in PJ’s, now can I?

Be sure and check out my web site to enter two great contests ending in November, for an Italian Cafe CD perfect for your next dinner party or a Sephora Makeup Kit for yourself or as a Christmas gift for a girlie girl on your list. Need some holiday baking and recipe ideas? You’ll find my favorites on the site, as well. Thanks for supporting Dating da Vinci, and I wish you the sweet life this holiday season and beyond!

Get the book on Amazon here.

How Author Joanne Rendell Gets La Dolce Vita

Posted on November 3, 2008 by malenalott

To celebrate launch week of Dating da Vinci by Malena Lott, we’ve asked some of our favorite women’s fiction authors to stop by and share their own idea of “the sweet life.”

Burnt Marshmallows: A Writer’s Dolce Vita

by guest author Joanne Rendell, The Professors’ Wives’ Club

“I wish I could get this novel finished….”

“I wish I could get an agent….”

“I wish my agent could find an editor who will buy my book…”

“I wish my book would get great reviews…”

“I wish it would be put on the front tables at Barnes and Noble…”

“I wish it would sell lots…”

“I wish I could get on the New York Times Bestsellers list…”

“I wish Oprah would call…”

Many people live by their dreams and aspirations and writers, like me, are no different. From the moment I started writing fiction, I dreamed. I dreamed of being able to finish a paragraph, a chapter, then a book. When my first manuscript was done, I dreamed of securing an agent and finding a publisher. I was lucky, although there were hiccups and rejected manuscripts along the way, these dreams came true. I found an agent and a publisher and now have a book out on the tables of Barnes and Noble and another book in the publishing world’s pipeline.

But even when our dreams come true, we still keep coming up with new dreams. As soon as my first novel The Professors’ Wives’ Club was launched this Fall, I cooked up a whole new set of dreams: seeing a review in O magazine; a mention in The New York Times; my name on the bestseller’s list; a call from the Today show. I couldn’t help it. I just kept dreaming.

Indeed, because of these new set of dreams, I spent a few weeks after my book’s launch worrying: worrying about sales, worrying whether I was doing enough to help publicize my book. In an attempt to get my name out there, I ended up writing a number of articles for publications and websites, including an essay about homeschooling for Babble.com which whipped up a storm of controversy. The piece was picked up by a number of media outlets and resulted in my family and I being featured in an article for The New York Times.

Yet, what I realized through the whole rollercoaster adventure in the world of “big media” was that, in spite of being exciting and dream-fulfilling, it wasn’t where I found the most happiness.

The day after seeing my article in the newspaper (and after fielding all the phonecalls and emails it prompted), my husband, five year old son and I took off for our little ramshackle cabin in upstate New York. In the evening, the temperature dropped and we built a fire and roasted marshmallows. The moon was bright and a few wispy clouds scudded across the otherwise clear sky. I wasn’t thinking about the Times piece, or the sales of my books, or the fact that, out in the country, Oprah wouldn’t be able to reach me! Instead, I simply enjoyed the sweetness of the marshmallows and my small family who were smiling and laughing in the glow of the dancing orange flames.

Dreams are vital, I realized as I tucked myself into my sleeping bag that night. Without dreams we might not dare to strike out, take adventures, or pursue those things we’d really love to do. However, it is the simple pleasures – and sticky burnt marshmallows – that make our lives truly sweet.

Thanks, Joanne! I could use a smore right about now. Continued success on your writing and making those dreams come true.

www.joannerendell.com

Get The Professors’ Wives’ Club on Amazon here.

The Professors' Wives' Club

Posted on September 8, 2008 by malenalott

The Professors’ Wives’ Club by Joanne Rendell

First line: “Even though the sky was heavy with rain clouds and an eerie morning gloom hung over the city, Mary didn’t take off her dark glasses.”

Rendell, the wife of an NYU professor who lives in faculty housing, turns out a thoughtful debut about very different women connected by their ties to the fictional Manhatten U. The theme of the book could well be described as “fighting for what you really want” as the wives not only fight to keep the university garden from being demolished for a parking garage, but fight to come into their own in their relationships and careers. The two wives who get the most attention are Mary, a professor herself, who is married to the evil dean who not only wants to destroy the garden for monetary gain, but hits his wife. Then there’s Sophie, mother of three, including newborn twins, who never let a thing like breastfeeding keep her from digging up secrets about the dean and the mystery of the garden, and acting as the glue that holds these women, and the story, all Continue reading →

The Professor's Wives' Club Release Day!

Posted on September 2, 2008 by malenalott

From the publisher:

A debut novel about the intertwining lives of college faculty wives.

Nestled among Manhattan University’s faculty housing, there is a garden where four women will meet—each with a scandalous secret that could upset their lives, destroy their families, and rock the prestigious university to its very core.

With its maple trees, iron gate, and fence laced with honeysuckle, Manhattan U’s garden offers faculty wives Mary, Sofia, Ashleigh, and Hannah much needed refuge from their problems. But as Mary’s husband, the power-hungry dean, plans to demolish their beloved garden, these four women will discover a surprising secret about a lost Edgar Allan Poe manuscript—and realize they must find the courage to stand up for their passions, dreams, and desires.

A/B Says: Expect an A/B review next week on this novel.

Visit the author’s web site: www.joannerendell.com

Buy it at Amazon.