Back in August, we Debutantes got together over video-conferencing to work on the list of topics we wanted to talk about this year. Some of these topics were developed in previous years by other Debs. Some, we came up with on our own. None of them were developed with a global pandemic in mind. This week’s topic is “A Perfect Day,” which I’m finding hard to talk about now that…
My problem, friends, is that I’ve spent too much time being a realist. I was realistic about my prospects when I graduated college, and instead of throwing myself into writing novels, I became a journalist. Instead of going out to LA to pursue a film career, I took the more realistic path of starting a local company that produced weddings, corporate video and commercials. I’ve been a realist all my…
Do you want to know my number one writing fear? Writing this blog entry. Ha, ha. I’m mostly kidding. I have panic disorder, so “confronting my fears” is something I do with a lot of preparation and self-care. However, I feel like I might share my number one writing fear with pretty much every debut author who ever waltzed on to the scene, so I don’t feel alone in this….
I’m delighted to introduce the new social media maven for the Debutante Ball, Class of 2020! Please welcome and meet Kathleen West, whose debut novel Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes will be out from Berkley (Penguin Random House) on February 4, 2020. Kathleen is a writer, teacher, reader, and semi-professional minivan driver. A life-long Minnesotan, she holds degrees from Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. She currently lives in Minneapolis…
Publishing They Could Have Named Her Anything has already been more satisfying than I could have ever expected. I worked with a phenomenal illustrator to design the cover, deepened my work and artistic vision with my fantastic editor at Little A, got invited to panels with my literary heroes, and have read GoodReads reviews of my book that are lovelier than I could have ever imagined. And this month, I’ve already…
My book is out tomorrow. My book. Is out. Tomorrow. That is a weird thing to say. A weird thing to type. A weird thing to think. Just two years ago, I was writing The Perfect Assassin. I was carefully setting goals and timelines and getting up early and writing during naps and writing in the middle of the night – forget about sleeping when baby sleeps: write when baby…
Finish the first draft of my novel. (OK, second draft, but that’s only because the real first draft was so terrible it demanded an entire rewrite.) I love writing fiction, however, it’s way harder for me. I’d like to be halfway decent at it, and the only way to do it is to read more great fiction and write more fiction. Which means I am allowed to read a lot…
Happy Pub Day, Jenni!! Today is THE BIG DAY for fellow Deb, dear friend, and loveliest of human beings Jenni L. Walsh – Congratulations, Jenni, on the publication of your wonderful debut novel BECOMING BONNIE!!! Jenni’s book is full of intrigue and entertainment: Jenni takes the reader along for the ride as Bonnelyn Parker discovers who she is (deep down), what she wants (for real), and how far she will…
Today on the Debutante Ball, I’m excited to welcome Leah DeCesare to talk about her debut FORKS, KNIVES, AND SPOONS, which New York Times bestselling author Ann Hood said that, “Reading Forks, Knives, and Spoons is like having your best girlfriend take you by the hand and tell you a story. A story you want to sit and listen to until the very end.”There are three types of guys: forks, knives, and spoons….
“King’s descriptions of the food and entertainment are exquisite, her characters are beautifully drawn, and events and people of the times are deftly woven throughout . . . A delight to the senses, King’s debut novel is to be savored and devoured.” – Library Journal, starred review The first order of the day is to send a big, heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to our very own Crystal King on the release of her…
