Day Drinking With Authors

By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley is one of the best books I've read this year because of the unstoppable and fascinating voice Piper created for fashion designer Ann Lowe. We get into the nitty gritty of bringing Ann's fascinating and overlooked story to the world. This is one you don't want to miss. 

The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America's most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy.

1953, New York City

Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.

1918, Tampa

Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

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It's a 1970's classic cocktail - Grasshoppers and a beautiful 1970's set novel - Lady Sunshine.  Amy Mason Doan stops by to chat about musical influences, creating those razor sharp, right on the edge of disaster female teenage friendships and one of my all time favorite writer in lockdown with her family stories. Amy did some ingenious problem solving.  Grab yourself a cocktail and grab this beautiful day dream of a book - and have a listen. 

ONE ICONIC FAMILY. ONE SUMMER OF SECRETS. THE DAZZLING SPIRIT OF 1970S CALIFORNIA.

For Jackie Pierce, everything changed the summer of 1979, when she spent three months of infinite freedom at her bohemian uncle’s sprawling estate on the California coast. As musicians, artists, and free spirits gathered at The Sandcastle for the season in pursuit of inspiration and communal living, Jackie and her cousin Willa fell into a fast friendship, testing their limits along the rocky beach and in the wild woods... until the summer abruptly ended in tragedy, and Willa silently slipped away into the night.

Twenty years later, Jackie unexpectedly inherits The Sandcastle and returns to the iconic estate for a short visit to ready it for sale. But she reluctantly extends her stay when she learns that, before her death, her estranged aunt had promised an up-and-coming producer he could record a tribute album to her late uncle at the property’s studio. As her musical guests bring the place to life again with their sun-drenched beach days and late-night bonfires, Jackie begins to notice startling parallels to that summer long ago. And when a piece of the past resurfaces and sparks new questions about Willa’s disappearance, Jackie must discover if the dark secret she’s kept ever since is even the truth at all.

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Cut your rum drink with a little vodka and don't forget the lime (for health) and join me as I chat with Brooke Lea Foster about her fabulous new book ON GIN LANE.  This is the second book Brooke has set amongst the fabulous and wealthy vacationers of the 1950's - and this glamorous, glitzy world, rife with struggles is a world I will cheerfully go back to. We discuss how the setting of the Hamptons is near and dear to her family, creating female characters that make the conflict resonate with readers and what happens when you get not one, but two new editors while writing a book. 

After her fiancé whisks her off to the glistening shores of Southampton in June of 1957, one young socialite begins to realize that her glamorous summer is giving her everything—except what she really wants—in this new novel from the author of Summer Darlings.

Everleigh “Lee” Farrows thinks she finally has life all figured out: a handsome fiancé named Roland, a trust in her name, and a house in Bronxville waiting for her to fill it with three adorable children. That is, until Roland brings her out to the Hamptons for a summer that will change everything.

Most women could only dream of the engagement present Roland unexpectedly bestows on Lee—a beachside hotel on the prized Gin Lane—but Lee’s delight is clouded by unpleasant memories of another hotel, the Plaza, where she grew up in the shadow of her mother’s mental illness. Shaking off flashbacks, Lee resolves to dive into an unforgettable summer with poolside Bellinis, daily tennis matches, luncheons with her Manhattan circle, and her beloved camera in tow. But when tragedy strikes on the hotel’s opening weekend, the cracks in Lee’s picture-perfect future slowly begin to reveal themselves, and Lee must look deep within herself to determine if the life she’s always wanted will ever truly be enough.

From the regal inns to the farmland, the well-heeled New Yorkers to the Bohemian artists, the East End of Long Island is a hodge-podge of the changing American landscape in the late 1950s—and the perfect place for Lee to discover who she really is.

Grab it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MIYIFc
Or my favorite Indie Bookstore - QUEEN BOOKS - https://bookmanager.com/queenbk/?searchtype=keyword&qs=on+gin+lane

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Fresh starts! New Pen Names! Houses that feel emotions! Chocolate Martinis! Ellis Leigh stops by to talk about all of it.  When Ellis first told me about this Paracozy mystery about a house that cries, I was all in.  We discuss the challenges of writing a book that has to hit the sweet spot of so many genres - paranormal, mystery and romance.  Ellis is also very honest and extremely open about starting new pen names and new series. If you are an author considering something new, under a new name - this is for you!

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Elena stops by to talk about her illuminating novel A Train To Moscow. This is easily the most fascinating interview I've ever had. Elena's beautiful book takes place in Russia after the second world war and reveals a society that not only grinds it's citizen up but also leads directly to what we're seeing in the world right now.  This is a beautiful coming-of-age story and a nail biting and heartbreaking thriller. Absolutely beautifully written. This book gets my highest recommendation. 

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Kosoko stops by to talk about his fabulous Black, Queer Adult Rom Com  I'm So (NOT) Over You. We talk about the stupid shit we did in our twenties, subverting romance tropes (sometimes on accident). He shows off his amazing book pitching skills - seriously, authors take note. and the surprising way this book changed over the course of writing it. 

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Simone stops by to discuss her brand new New York Times Bestseller - THE BOOK OF COLD CASES!  We discuss what she learned from this problem child book. We also talk about what makes a scary scene scary and how she ramps up the fear factor in her books. 

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Farah stops by with a Starry Fuzzy Fizz (that includes a spiced simple syrup you're going to want to drink with everything) to discuss her new rom com - KAMILA KNOWS BEST. An Emma retelling with absolutely tons of bittersweet energy - and a dog prom. So, it covers all the bases. We talk about what she's learned on this her fourth published novel and how she manages several plot threads with HUGE pay offs. 

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Kianna Alexander stops by to talk about CAROLINA BUILT - a historical novel about the life of Josephine Leary. Jo Leary was a woman born into slavery who became a North Carolina Real Estate Mogul. Her story has been untold for years and Kianna talks about researching this woman's remarkable life. She also talks about her choices in telling Josephine's story,  focusing on love and family, rather than fear and racism.  Kianna also talks about her kinship with Josephine - how what Josephine struggled with in her marriage, life and family, are the things women struggle with today.  We also talk about that cover. WOW!!! 

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Zoe York stops by  - Gin and Tonic in hand - to discuss the third book in her fabulous non-fiction series - Romance Your Goals.  If you are a writer of any kind; trad, indie, romance, sci-fi - you name it, there is something in this series that will change how you think about your work and the business of writing. We talk about self-awareness as writers, and how to get it. When  and how to pivot. We also lose the thread on a couple of questions  which is what happens when you play a drinking game with Clifton Strengths and gin. 

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