The guest author we had scheduled for today is a no-show, so I thought I’d do something nice for author Lois Winston since she writes all those books about me. As I’ve mentioned previously, Lois also writes about other characters in other books. Don’t ask me why. It’s one of the mysteries of the universe as far as I’m concerned, but maybe every once in a while she needs a break from putting me in the line of killers. Lord knows, I do, but I guess that’s why she created Zack for me. :-)
The first book Lois ever published back in the spring of 2006 was Talk Gertie To Me, a multi-genre,
humorous women’s fiction, combining chick lit, hen lit, and romance. It
featured Connie, a menopausal Martha Stewart clone; her rebellious daughter
Nori; and Nori’s acerbic imaginary friend Gertie. The book received critical
acclaim and was the recipient of a few awards. And then it went out of print. Lois honed her humor chops with Talk Gertie To Me. The book definitely prepared her to write about me, my Communist mother-in-law, and my multi-married, (self-proclaimed) Russian princess Mama. So in that respect I owe a debt of gratitude to Gertie, Nori, and Connie. And Lois.
That’s why I’m telling you about Elementary, My Dear Gertie, the novella sequel to Talk Gertie To Me which was just released. But Lois has added a bit of twist into this sequel. Along with being one part chick lit, one part hen lit, and one part romance, Elementary, My Dear Gertie all parts mystery. Lois has sent Nori, her boyfriend Mac, and Gertie back to Ten Commandments, Iowa for Christmas, and it turns out to be anything but an ordinary Christmas.
Connie’s Christmas gift to Nori is a cross-stitched pillow with a none-too-subtle message about marriage and children. Mac is all for exchanging I do’s. He’s even bought the ring, but before he can pop the question, an explosion (the literal kind) hurls him and Nori right into the middle of a murder investigation. Of course, Gertie can’t help but lend her acerbic wit to the twists and turns as yet another scandal envelopes the not-so-pious residents of Ten Commandments.
Both Talk Gertie To Me and Elementary, My Dear Gertie are available as ebooks from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the iBookstore. You can read excerpts at Lois’s website http://www.loiswinston.com where you’ll also find Buy Links, but because I’m in a giving mood, I’ve also included them here:
Talk Gertie To Me: Amazon, B&N, iBookstore
Elementary, My Dear Gertie: Amazon, B&N, iBookstore
Now, maybe since I’ve done Lois such a huge favor, she won’t write me into so much trouble in the next Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery. Or is that wishful thinking?
By the way, comments are always welcome, but Lois won’t be able to respond until Sunday. She’s without Internet until then.
6 comments:
Internet on Sunday would be wonderful. Sandy had other ideas, though. We were supposed to be in Bermuda until Sunday. But instead we're dealing with no power, no phone, and only sporadic cell service. Power company is saying not to expect power until Nov. 9th. And another storm is predicted for Tues. Still, we're far better off than many, so counting our blessings even if we're doing it in the cold and dark.
Sorry about the no-power stuff. Sandy sure has cut a swathe of damage along the seabord. From Downunder, all we can do is empathise.
I love the idea of Gertie - an imaginary friend like we had at age four, but an adult one with acerbic wit. (Sometimes the only intelligent people we have to talk to our ourselves). Haven't read Talk Gertie To Me yet, but it's on my rather high TBR list.
Thanks, Vonnie. I hope you enjoy Gertie when you get to her.
You obviously have a way with titles. Do you come up with them first or as you're writing?
Thanks, Roxy. It really depends. ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN came about when the title popped into my head. Other times I get an idea for a book and struggle to find the perfect title. I've also had publishers request title changes for various reasons. TALK GERTIE TO ME was originally RESSURECTING GERTIE. When the publisher requested a different title, I ran a contest on my website for a new title.
Please check your email from Oct 14, Lois. Thanks,
Edith
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