Deb Eleanor’s Tuesday Housewarming Post

Eleanor BrownWelcome to Tuesday!  I’m Eleanor and I’ll be your Deb guide through Tuesdays this year.  Please do watch your step and don’t feed the camels – they tend to spit.

I’ve had a lot of jobs over my life – teacher, temp, secretary, wedding coordinator – but I’ve always been a writer.  I’ve tried my hand at poetry (but I will never subject you to any of it), chick lit, creative non-fiction, romance, and YA, but I’m happiest in what my editor calls “that sweet spot between literary and commercial” fiction.  In elementary school I wrote my first novel (well, let’s just call it a short story extended dance mix), about the army-jacket-wearing daughter of a movie star and her faithful golden retriever.  As I recall, she spent a lot of time hanging out in diners, and now that I look back on it, she was woefully neglected.

Fortunately, my writing has advanced at least a little bit since then, and my novel The Weird Sisters will be published by Amy Einhorn Books (publishers of The Help and The Postmistress, along with a gajillion other great books) on February 17, 2011.  The Weird Sisters is a novel about three adult daughters of a renowned Shakespeare professor who return home to the small college town where they grew up, partly because their mother is ill, but mostly because their lives are falling apart and they don’t know where to go next.  You can find out more at my home, home on the web.

The Weird Sisters, by Eleanor BrownRight now I live in a pile of cardboard boxes as my partner, the writer J.C. Hutchins, and I complete what feels like the longest move in history, from Florida to Colorado (though I am fairly certain my pioneer ancestors might argue that point).  I’m happiest when I’m in, on, or adjacent to water of some kind, and can usually be found with a book in one hand and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in the other.

You should also know:

I’m really tall.  When I met my editor, Amy Einhorn, one of the first things out of her mouth was, “You’re so tall!  Why didn’t you tell me?”, and I was all like, uh….I didn’t know it mattered?  So, yeah.  I’m around six feet tall, and yes, I totally will get that box of cereal off the top shelf at the grocery store for you.

I can completely kick your butt in Mario Kart Wii, but I’d rather we play Rock Band.  You can be lead guitar.  We’ll go on tour.  It’ll be awesome.

Most of the conversations I have will contain at least instance of my saying, “Oh!  I heard about that on NPR!”, and another of my looking something up on Wikipedia.

Walking into my house when music is on will leave you convinced that you’ve somehow stepped back in time to 1988.

I’m totally thrilled to be here on The Debutante Ball – I’ve been reading since its inception in 2007, and I’m looking forward to celebrating my fellow Debs’ books through the year.  Bring your tiaras and your pearls and join the party in the comments below!

22 Replies to “Deb Eleanor’s Tuesday Housewarming Post”

  1. Great post, Eleanor! I can’t wait to read your book — I’m a serious sucker for a) stories about twisted, messed-up families, and b) anything that plays off Shakespeare. Your book is tantalizing me with both.

    One thing I need to know: what flavor is that pint of Ben & Jerry’s?

    As for the flashback to the 80’s, I’m so seeing an all-Deb 80’s party in our future. I personally spent the summer of 2009 in major flashback mode — I saw Duran Duran live in L.A., and George Michael live in BOTH L.A. and N.Y.C. Rock on, baby!

  2. Good morning. What’s your fav 80s song? (The soundtrack to my high school and college days.)

    I’m on deck – so you’re a tall order to follow? (I’m 5’5″ in humidity.) First day of school here in CT, can you hear my hands clapping through my Deb gloves? 🙂 KIM

  3. @Elise – Coffee Heath Bar Crunch…is there another kind?

    Apparently we are all ready for a Debutante Ball all-80’s dance party! Sarah and Emily, bring on the leg warmers and the poofy hair!

    @Kim – At the time, I was all about Wham!, but I will listen to anything with a synthesizer and a saxophone. Sirius XM 80’s on 8 and First Wave are my faaaaavorites. What about you?

    @Jen – I’ll meet you there in ten minutes – the beach closest to me has a Ben & Jerry’s store for easy replenishment.

    @Sarah – re: Mario Kart Wii – it’s ON, baby. Bring your wheel and get ready for Moonview Highway!

  4. A book in one hand and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in the other means no spoon, which means you eat your ice cream directly out of the carton.

    I totally respect that.

    😉 Welcome! (From a fellow Tuesday Deb!)

  5. Wham! Bam! I am! A man! Job or no job, you can’t tell me that I’m not…

    Okay, I’m back. Eleanor, my very first novel was written in 7th grade, and was all about my romantic exploits with George Michael (he wasn’t gay then! I really had a chance!).

    I so approve.

  6. @Katie – Yeah, I just stick my face directly in the carton. It’s a little sticky, but worth it.

    Yay Tuesday! What are we? Fair of face? Full of grace?

    @Elise – I didn’t find out he was gay until I was like 25, and I was HEARTBROKEN. My friend Veronica and I had a complicated series of stories about my relationship with George and hers with John Taylor. So much for THAT happily ever after!

  7. @George – Come on, everybody looks good in pearls! But the tiara is a better shorthand for absolute power.

    Thanks for coming by and for the kind words about The Weird Sisters!

  8. I can’t wait to read WEIRD SISTERS! Sounds like a novel I would LOVE. It also helps to know that the author has such great taste in music. 🙂 Yay for the 80s. Even though I was just in elementary school, I was convinced I was such a cool kid with my pink boom box, jelly bracelets and hyper-colored shirts. xoxo

  9. You may be TALL, Eleanor, but Tuesday’s child is full of grace! Great buzz about The Weird Sisters and I’m looking forward to it. In the meantime, enjoy your new home in Colorado and here with us at The Ball.

  10. Fun post, Eleanor! I share your love of ’80s music, particularly “butt-rock” (which factors prominently into the second book in my contract.

    And if we ever meet in person, I’m totally going to have you reach all the high things in my cupboards.

    Tawna (alas, only 5’4″)

  11. Same – Sirius 80s, First Wave, Howard Stern (yup, I have a chapter about that in my book), Springsteen channel and Siriusly Sinatra round out my 5 buttons in my car. 🙂

  12. @Sarah – OMG Hypercolor. I tried a few years ago to explain that to one of my students – totally lost in translation. Why don’t they make it anymore?

    @Larramiefg – Thank you for coming by! And for believing I am full of grace, which, frankly, could not be further from the truth. But I’ll cling to it as long as Tuesdays are mine.

    @Tawna – Ummm….butt rock? Do I have to wait until the 2nd book to have this defined?

  13. @Eileen – Why was 1988 great? Other than it helped me make that awesome rhyme just then.

    @Julie – Ooo! I’m so glad you stopped by, and I’m excited that you’re excited. Although probably not as excited as I am. I’m really excited. Can you tell?

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