Modern Girl Style

THE BLUE ZONE by Andrew Gross

When life is too perfect, things have to shatter. In Andrew Gross's first solo debut, THE BLUE ZONE, Kate Raab had it all. She had the ideal family, an inspiring career, and the man of her dreams. In one fretful phone call everything splintered. Kate's father, Benjamin Raab, had been arrested by the FBI for money laundering, tax evasion, and racketeering with the Columbian Mercado drug cartel. Kate's father was a gold merchant not a member of a drug mafia. She blamed her father's arrest on the fantasy of undercover agents and conspiring business partners looking to save their own hides. The truth, Kate thought, would come out, her father would be set free, and she could return back to having it all. As the family comes together to rally support for their father, a man quietly sweeps into their wealthy suburban neighborhood and unloads a machine gun into their home in order to wake them to the truth.

A line had been crossed. Kate knew she'd never have a chance to go back to her old life. The Witness Protection Program immediately forces the Raab family into a new life. Kate makes a hard choice to stay with the only man she has ever loved.  Life seems to smooth out for the next year until disastrous things begin to happen that revolves around her family. Can Kate trust her father? Is someone trying to kill her? Will she ever return back to a normal life? As chaos reigns, Kate learns of a family vendetta that runs deeper than blood. Now, can she learn the rest of the truth before it kills her.

Andrew Gross, co-author of seven novels with James Patterson, has got plot twists and killer pacing that causes every page to flip. The buzz of FBI codes, Witness Protection jargon, and medical-speak feels well researched and authentic. In his three book deal with HarperCollins imprint William Morris, Gross is an author who delivers on mystery and thrills. I suggest that you grab a copy of THE BLUE ZONE because Gross is going to be big author with tons of hit thrillers. Can't wait to get the book, download the first chapters now. Download BLUE_ZONE.excerpt.doc

The Interview

Andrew Gross is a man of big risk and thrills. Before he co-authored seven novels with James Patterson, Andrew received an MBA from Columbia and briefly went into the family clothing business.  After that he took a turn as the President of HEAD ski and tennis as well as working at the ultra hip French clothing line, Le Coq Sportif. Wow! So, um.., how does a guy go from being the President of a major trend setting sports company to writing novels? Passion. Not only is Andrew Gross a man of risk but, he is a man of heart.  When confronted on what was the single most important factor of a huge career change like his, without any sign of any hesitation in his wording, he shouts to the world: A supportive wife! He goes on to talk about the adoration of his family including three very successful kids.  And perhaps that is the big secret that everyone can learn from Andrew Gross: Follow your passion, love your family, love your work, and life will be glorious!

1.    Modern Girl did her research & found out that THE BLUE ZONE was inspired by having dinner with an obnoxious, rich, Ferrari-driving guy that was later arrested by the FBI for money laundering. What was it like having dinner with a real crook?

Actually, a lot of our friends are crooks. We find they’re the only people we can get to the house. (Well, not really.)  Not so far from the truth though. In business organizations, we’ve met a lot of people, CEO-types, some pretty well known, who’ve faced indictments due to (what’s a nice way to phrase it...) securities issues. In the case of Blue Zone, I used a type who was familiar to me. Successful, prosperous, admired, someone who seemingly has everything—whose life suddenly tumbles in a nanosecond. I was more interested in the story of the person left behind, in this case, his daughter, Kate—who has to deal with the shame, betrayal, etc, than following someone conventionally into the Witness Protection Program, which has been done before.

2.    Is it true that your first solo book was bought based on an outline? Yeah or nay, was THE BLUE ZONE an easy book for you write?

Yes, I got a three book deal with HarperCollins based entirely on an outline. But keep in mind I’d been completing a book a year for six years with James Patterson, In fact, Patterson heavily outlines all his books prior to writing. Eighty to a hundred chapters, including the dialogue, punch lines, twists and turns, etc. So my outline read like a novel. In fact, the HarperCollins people said it was the most detailed treatment of a book they had ever read. So, yes, BZ was easy to write from there. Like a road map. One chapter a day. It’s a technique I think people can borrow and benefit from.

3.    How do you write a book that’s impossible to put down? Is it merely the mechanics of pace, plot twists, suspense, etc or do you have a secret modus operandi that you might share?

Well, I think three things are key: One, pace. Which means you strip the story down to its driving dynamics and cut heavily anything that interferes. Short chapters, each ending with a lead in to the next.  The prose has to be stripped down too.

Two, A detailed plot. Lots of unexpected surprises—so the readers is not only not sure what will happen next, but is not certain anyone in the story is sacred. In Book Three of the Womens Murder Club with Patterson (Third Degree we killed off one of the most admired and loved characters. In BZ, someone dear to the reader is killed too. This “distrust” so to speak, keeps them turning.

And  3, create a main character that readers LOVE! Critics love irony and growth, readers love to becomes crucially invested in from the opening pages. Easier said than done of course. Humor, self-deprecation, overcoming adversity—a inner struggle. They all go to make someone human and believable and not ordinary. When a reader cares about a character—put them in danger and you have them hooked!

4.    How does it feel to have the Women’s Murder Club Series with James Patterson turned into an ABC mini-series? When you write do you ever think about how the novel might translate to film or television?

Well, I take some pride in it that I helped create the characters and the series, but I have no “interest” in the ABC pilot. To my knowledge, they merely took the existing characters and created their own stories. Patterson and I did, however, years ago, sell the first three books of the series (that I worked on) to NBC. Only First To Die was made. Horrible TV movie. But 16 million people watched. (And it paid well!)

5.    Can you provide a glimpse into your next book?

Sure. It’s a tentatively entitled Aftermath (I like—publisher’s not sure). It takes place in Greenwich, Ct, and is about a rogue hedge fund manager who suddenly disappears and all these unsavory things (a ala BZ) begin to happen to his wife and family, underscoring that there was a lot more to who he was than he had let on to his family.  It’s a bit steamier than BZ—as the wife takes up with a detective to find the truth and some sparks fly. A bit more like Judge and Jury with Patterson, if anyone read that. I’m pretty sure the pages will fly just like BZ and readers will find t a good followup.

Bonus Question!!!
You have stated in other interviews that rejection was the best thing that happened to you. What can you say to other writers & artists that are dealing with rejections?

Well, what I meant was my particular “rejection” was the best thing—of a still unpublished novel—because it founds its way into Patterson’s hands and my career took off from there. Dealing with rejection—in art and life—is one of the toughest things. My only advice is that it starts with one’s own belief in themselves. What’s inside. This industry has a reflex bias towards rejection. It’s always easy to say “no” as opposed to “yes.” It’s easy to say yes after other people have said yes.  My grandfather, a very successful woman’s apparel guy used to say, “This industry is full of people who are scared to sell selling to people who are scared to buy!” And he was right, Therefore, don’t let the bias towards saying “no” destroy one’s belief in themselves. On the other hand, (and this is key) one needs to have an objective and unbiased conception of just how good your own product is. Don’t let friends and family give you an inflated impression of what you have to sell. False belief is as bad as no belief. And I used to go at making my manuscripts better (taking no account any comments received) the same day I received it back. An hour of sulking-- then improve it! Never threw it in the desk drawer. Perseverance. Hope that helps!

Gwen Stefani likes to Print

Woman have loads of things to do in their lives. We've got careers, laundry, and shopping that we can never seem to escape. Maybe, a sweet escape is exactly what you need. A brief break from all the stress that life has to offer. So then what? Ah, well, why not get creative for an hour? Gwen Stefani, who has been on a tour, designing clothes, and raising a child, has got enough energy to even get experimental with her HP printer in her free time. Say what? No this isn't a joke but it might be a brilliant marketing ploy. Okay, it's great marketing but taking time out from hectic schedules is a must! Why not get creative with your printer & download one of Gwen Stefani's style sheets and turn it into a new t-shirt? Gwen is also sharing designs, paper dolls that you can customize, and her Sweet Escape Tour Book. The fun part is that you can print out these designs as 8x10 style sheets, cards, or as CD labels.  In that spirit, Modern Girl Style takes you center stage with Gwen Stefani at HP.   

Sample Projects

Available for immediate download are these Gwen Stefani approved HP projects.  Modern Girl Style selected her top three favorite projects.

Gwen Stefani T-Shirt Project.pdf
Making your own T-Shirt from the Gwen Stefani HP project is simple. Pick up T-Shirt iron-on transfer paper and follow the directions. Don't forget to flip your image horizontally before printing! This project takes about 5 minutes to complete!
Music is My Homegirl greeting_card.pdf
Spice up a blah thank-you card! Send a note for no reason. Greeting cards are endless! Make your own today!
Paper Doll Project.do
If you like picking outfits and thinking like a designer, then you must have more in common with Gwen than just her music. The paper doll section is super fun! 

How to Look Awesome in Photographs

Larissa, a Ford Model, a NYC fashion photographer, and hair & make-up artists will teach you in this quick video how to look good in photographs. The key element is to know your assets, play it up, and be confident. The rest will falls into place.

Playing the Field

At the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Bridgehampton Polo Challenge, you can bet on a great celebrity turn out. So what style was playing the field? Well, grab a pair of binoculars & have a look for yourself!

Mandy Moore is radiant with happiness. Perhaps she's got her eyes set on a new jock!

Mischa Barton looks haunting & sweet in her tangerine coat & modern retro print dress. Just Jared happens to have one of the more beautiful pics of her. Mischa watch out for the matching electrical cord!

Kim Rover & Brooke Shields are loving life with her simple laid back style. & oh, yeah, it's all about white.

If the VIP tent wasn't your first stop at the Polo match, then you must have visited the bar! Modern Girl Style takes you inside the tent! Colorful print dresses cut above the knee are the ladies choice. Of course, don't forget your Chanel or Louis Vuitton purse!

Of course, this all might seem a little bit well...overly dressed for some. Listen, the polo challenge has got something for everyone & this is how most folks are enjoying the game. Now it's just up to you on how you play the field!

Thanks to Rob Rich & Guest of A Guest blog for images of people keeping it real! Sometimes, as everyone knows, it's more fun to whoop it up in a crowd!

The Last Week for White

Old fashion proverbs state that after Labor Day weekend, white has to be tucked away until Memorial weekend. Okay, so lots of people never pay attention to fashion rules but Modern Girl Style wants to inspire you to play up the color white until the sun don't shine.

Cameron Diaz is fresh faced and sweet in this empire waisted dress.

Kristin Cavallari looks like an LA goddess in her jersey wrap dress. Now what exaactly does she do?

Halle Berry is ravishing with her long curls and embroidered-edged baby doll dress.

Becoming Jane never seemed so easy! Anne Hathaway in a Parameter dress.

Looking for more ways than one on how to beat the heat? Pick up People Magazine & hit the beach for a late August, end of summer get away.

Who wants to be Good?

Was work rough this week? Tired of traffic? Angry at long shopping lines? Life is hectic and sometimes we need to remember why we want to be good.  Charity Focus is an amazing website that provides daily inspiration that can help you to get over life's hurdles.  Charity Focus even has choices. Want to watch a video? Try Karma Tube. Need some conversation? Click over to Amazing Interviews. Most people want less emails, but trust Modern Girl Style. DailyGood, a daily email of inspirational goodness, is all so different. It really does make you feel good.

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. --John Milton

Daily Good is a clean, simple, and easy to read email subscription.  The emails reflect the need for a moment of silent consideration about the purpose of life.  Every day there is an inspirational quote, an inspiring story, and ideas on how to make personal changes in your own life. Modern Girl Style hasn't signed up for an email subscription that has been so rewarding in quite some time. At the end of the day, you are only as good as your words & your actions. So get connected to Charity Focus! It can even help the worst of bad girls reform into angels.

Meet Nicole Scherzinger minus the Pussycat Dolls

Yes, it has happened. Nicole Scherzinger is solo & free to fly in whatever artistic direction she's interested in. So, ah, like what direction might that be...Why not listen & find out for yourself. Drop a line on her single to moderngirlstyle@gmail.com and give a verdict!

Here is Nicole asking her fans to keep waiting for her solo album expected to hit soon!

THE LATE BLOOMER'S REVOLUTION by Amy Cohen

There are lots of takes on what it means to be a Late Bloomer. Even Owen Wilson has got an idea of what a late bloomer is in You, Me, & Dupree.

The Book & The Author

Amy Cohen's has written a memoir titled THE LATE BLOOMER'S REVOLUTION. Her memoir starts with an amusing anecdote about traveling to Prague with her mother, who seems cheerfully oblivious to the fact that the handsome young man who joins them for dinner is far more interested in her than her daughter. Unfortunately, Cohen's mother is dying of a brain tumor by the end of the chapter, and though the endless kibitzing of her father, who tries to fix Cohen's love life while dating a string of "older widows and comely divorcees," is entertaining, the other members of her inner circle pale in comparison. Like Candace Bushnell, Cohen was a dating columnist for the New York Observer, with stories that drew liberally upon her friends' experiences and commentaries €”and it's hard not to compare characters like John the TV journalist or George the rock star to "Mr. Big." Cohen's misadventures have a much deeper masochistic streak than Sex and the City, even if she copes with setbacks like a virulent face rash with as much self-deprecating humor as she can muster. If the results fail to overturn Bushnell's legacy as the reigning observer of Manhattan dating life, they make for a perfectly acceptable substitute.

The Interview

1. I will admit that I’ve put pressure on myself to be a millionaire by 21, married by 28, and moved into a beautiful beach house with kids by 31? Absolutely none of this has happen! LOL! Could it be that people like me who call themselves Late Bloomers have just been setting up the wrong expectations? What exactly is a Late Bloomer?

Basically, A Late Bloomer is someone who realizes his or her strengths later in life and also, typically, much later than they expected. For me, within one year, my mother died; I got fired from my sitcom writing job; my boyfriend broke up with me, and then I got a rash on my face for eight months and couldn’t go out of the house.  Losing all those things so quickly made me question who I was, and also made me start growing up a lot. It was through all that I was able to slowly – and I mean slowly – discover my strengths later in life.
Late Blooming can mean so many different things – for me it meant learning to ride a bike at 35 and also finally becoming close to my father (with whom I’d had a difficult relationship) in my early thirties.   I also finally learned to cook (which I now couldn’t love more) and got a dream job as a TV correspondent for a year.  Basically so many things I had all but given up on, came late.
As for unrealistic, A millionaire by twenty-one is rough (unless you’re an Olsen twin or the boy who plays Harry Potter), but I’ve gotten tons of letters from people who’ve read my book. They tend to want very basic things they see all around them – love, kids, a job they like.  I really struggled with not being married or having kids in my late thirties.  I think Late Bloomers will often be told they’re unrealistic or too picky, but I would encourage anyone who considers him or herself a Late Bloomer to just keep on believing, because, honestly, that’s the only choice you have.

2. What inspired you to write a memoir and not, let’s say, a poem, novel, or a TV show?

Well, for one, often I can barely understand poetry, let alone write it.  As for a novel versus memoir, I love memoirs and read many of them. When I was going through all my tumult, I could never find anything that captured my experience and what I was feeling, so I really wanted to write a book for all the people like me.  And now they’re all writing to me and we’ve forged a real sisterhood (and brotherhood, it’s not all women) and it’s just fantastic.

3. I understand it took you four years to write the Late Bloomers Revolution. Can you talk about your writing process? Do you think it will take that much time to write a book in the future?

It took me four years because I wrote a whole other draft about my mom dying.  It was totally bleak and as I said many times, should only be read with your head in the oven.   So yes, after a year and a half of writing, I threw that out (to the delight of my publisher) and started from scratch.
And I’m not sure how long the next book will take.  I’m thinking about maybe writing TV or films for awhile (which I used to do before my book) and then eventually start another book.  I feel like I just gave birth and everyone’s already asking when I’m going to have my next child and I want to say, “let me spend a little time with this one first.”

4. Can you shortly summarize the worst and the best pleasures of a first date?

Well, it depends on the first date.  The best part is when you’re actually interested.  As for the worst part, I’ll quote from my book: “When you are dating, you are often subjected to long and time consuming phone conversations.  Conversations that begin with the words  “Hello.  I’m your cousin’s husband’s mother’s doctor,” or, “I do accounting for the man who used to sell handbags in your father’s showroom five years ago, but he doesn’t know me very well.” Wanting to be a good sport, you talk to the person for anywhere from ten minutes to an hour.  Listening as they say things like: “All I know about you is you’ve got all your limbs and you’re not deformed. Right?” or “You wear a heart monitor to work out?  Let me ask you a question.  Do you ever wear your heart monitor when you’re having sex?” You agree to meet this person at a bar or restaurant, for the next forty-five minutes to three plus hours.  You are entirely alone. You smile politely as they say, “You didn’t know pornos were available on dvd?  Where have you been?  I have hundreds!” or, “My last girlfriend and I broke up less than a month ago.  She said if she finds me with anyone, she’ll kill me.” He drinks some wine.  “And her.”  After that you drink your wine quickly, eyeing the bottle in case you’ll need it for self-defense.”

5. Should people have expectations in their lives? Wait, what can we expect from you in the future!

I don’t know how anyone can not have expectations. I’ve heard there are monks in Nepal who train themselves not to have expectations, but other than them, I think it’s impossible.  I think expectations are great, they are very often goals, and we definitely live in a very goal oriented society.
    I think what’s more tricky is expectations that are somehow linked to time. Like wanting to be married by twenty-six or a millionaire by thirty. Those are rough and often lead to feeling like a failure, even before you’ve started.

Bonus Question!!!
If you could be married to a man that was born in a different century (i.e.: a fictional character from a Jane Austen novel, a politician like Winston Churchill, or Gandhi), whom would you pick?

Well, I could never pick Gandhi because I wouldn’t want to be married to a man who was thinner than I am.  So Mr. Darcy (as played by Colin Firth).

Ford Models on Clothes

Ford Models, leading model agency in the world, is giving a behind scenes look at NYC models. Ever wanted to be a model? This might be the place for you! If you're not into being a model, this down to earth gal, Jackie has got cheap tips on looking good!

GLOSS by Jennifer Oko

Beauty Myth or Fact Pop Quiz

A) GLOSS by Jennifer Oko is a sleek novel that will take you behind the gloss of morning TV, the lives of well-paid government speech writers, and the beauty industry.
Super-Fact!

B) Lip gloss will remove wine stains from Jimmy Choo shoes.
Oh, please, myth!

C) Jennifer Oko is "simply riveting" as stated by the New York Times. She writes "a quick, juicy read" as reported by the Boston-Globe and she is "sharp & fast paced" as reviewed by Publisher's Weekly.
Fact! Jennifer Oko is a riveting writer that writes a sharp, fast-paced and juicy read. Isn't that another reason to read GLOSS?

Who thought the world of fiction could be so fabulous & dangerous? Jennifer Oko has written a book that lies so close to the heart of big media that is easy to forget that her book is fiction. Her personal background and experience as a journalist & big media TV producer delivers to readers the sort of juicy details that only a network insider can provide. The characters in her book spring to life from the page and the story forces you to read it straight to the end. Want a quick smack of what GLOSS is all about? Good, pucker-up and read on!

 

It was a harmless human interest story for breakfast television—who would've thought it would land her in jail?

New York producer Annabelle Kapner's report on a beauty-industry job-creation plan for refugee women in the Middle East earned her kudos from the viewers, her bosses, even the network suits. But several threatening phone calls and tight-lipped, edgy executives suggest the cosmetics program is covering up more than just uneven skin.

All this intrigue is seriously hampering Annabelle's fledgling romance with sexy speechwriter Mark Thurber. Mark is handsome, funny and Washington's Most Eligible Bachelor (the people at People said so). Being with him makes her gossip-column material overnight.

Annabelle is just getting used to A-list treatment at Manhattan's hottest nightspots when a fit of journalistic idealism—and a daring Watergate-style raid—earns her a cozy spot on cell block six.

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but the celebrity prisoner trumps both. Annabelle starts a jailhouse crusade to expose the corruption she's uncovered, and the media are eating it up. The paparazzi, the pundits and every morning show in America all want a piece of her. But it'll take more than a few thousand "Free Annabelle" T-shirts to clear her name and win back her Beltway beau. Especially when she discovers just how high up the scandal reaches—and how far the players will go to keep their secret….

GLOSS isn't a book that easily slips into categories. It's chick lit, romance, mystery, satire, and more. At times, I felt like I was reading a Kafka novel or a story by the the French philosopher Voltaire (a few of my favorite writers).  Under the humor and the drama of GLOSS is a cautionary tale of modern life, but nothing stops this book from being an enjoyable and entertaining read!

Jennifer Oko is a modern woman that doesn't stop dreaming. She's a producer for CBS News The Early Show since 2002, she worked at Inside Edition's investigative unit, and she's aired many programs, including NBC Nightly News, A & E Investigative Reports, MSNBC Edgewise with John Hockenberry, and ABC's Good Morning America-Sunday.  A segment she worked on for GMA-Sunday won an Emmy Award in 1996 and her profile of Tina Turner won a White House News Photographers Association award in 2005.  She's been published in variety of magazines, including The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, Maxim, Allure, and Huffington Post.

The Interview

Modern Girl Style somehow managed to sidetrack Jennifer into a quick interview about writing, work, and her inspiration behind GLOSS!  

1.    GLOSS is a modern fable about the delicate balance between big business, politics, and media.  Your background as a producer, documentary filmmaker, and print journalist would seem to provide ample opportunity to be inspired to write GLOSS. Was there a particular moment or incident that triggered your need to write this book? If not, what inspired you to write this book?

Actually, the trigger for the story behind GLOSS was more about where I was in my life than anything else, although since my life was and is so seeped in media, I suppose there is a connection.

I started writing GLOSS right before my memoir LYING TOGETHER: MY RUSSIAN AFFAIR was to be released (LYING TOGETHER is about a year I spent working as a journalist in Russia and how the relationship I was in and the country I was covering both spiraled out of control at the same time). I had also just gotten married and between that and gearing up for the release of the book, it was a pretty heady time. 

Right after our wedding, we were living in Hanoi, Vietnam

while my husband worked a summer job (I had taken a short leave of absence from CBS News), and it since it was too hot to go outside in the morning (one day my thermometer read 109 degrees), I decided to sit at our kitchen table and see if I could write something that would be fun, entertaining…and not emotionally draining, which writing LYING TOGETHER certainly was. And while there was no particular news event that got me going, after more than a decade working in television news, I certainly had enough fodder to inspire me! I surprised myself to find how quickly the writing took off and how much I enjoyed it. By the end of a couple of weeks, I already had about 100 fairly polished pages.

As the story progressed, I was at no loss for more inspiration. The Judith Miller/Plamegate case was heating up, the Jason Blair scandal was fresh in our memory, the executive branch of our government had run amuck, etc, etc. It makes me think that it must be a walk in the park to work for a program like The Daily Show, there is just so much inspirational insanity going on, both in government and in the media.

2.    Annabelle Kapner almost falls for Washington D.C.’s Hottest Bachelor, Mark Thurber. However, she pulls back to wonder if it’s all just an image he’s projecting. Do you have any advice for woman that think they’ve found Mr. Right on the first date?

Ha! I would advise her to consider that she is probably wrong!

3.    Now that your satire on media has published, have you found it difficult to promote your book?

I’ve given birth to two children and published two books, so I can say with good authority that book PR is harder than childbirth, regardless of the subject. That said, with GLOSS, what attention I have gotten has been fantastic. It was a USA Today “hot summer reads", a Marie Claire “pick of the month” and loads of online reviewers have been saying the nicest things. The media loves to talk about itself, so I did get some good buzz on some industry sites like tvnewser.com and radaronline.com.

Even with all that, the book business is insanely difficult. I mean, think about what it takes for you, an avid reader, to actually buy a book— how many reviews and recommendations it takes for you to log on to amazon or go to your local bookstore and actually pay for a hardcover—and imagine then what it takes to sell one (if you aren’t writing about wizards, that is).  I recently read a funny anecdote on some blog somewhere that went something like this: Two writers are sitting at their computers, typing away. The scene seems to be identical in every way, except that one writer is in heaven and one writer is in hell. How can you tell which is which? The writer in hell has been published.

4.    When you sold GLOSS based on the first hundred pages & a book outline, you landed a two-book deal.  As a current CBS producer, mother of two children, and author, how will you balance your workload?

Well, for starters, let me just say that my next book is a comic novel about psycho-pharmaceuticals.

Beyond that, I find the insane constraints on my time actually help me as a writer. I can’t be as much of a procrastinator or a perfectionist (yes, you can be both) as I used to be in terms of my writing; I have to force myself to focus very hard and be efficient with the time I have. And it helps to have a husband who is willing to put up with my playing a disappearing act from time to time. 

5.    Can you give Modern Girl Style an insider’s peek into your second novel & briefly talk about your writing process?

I was serious about the psycho-pharmaceuticals. The book is tentatively called “Thank You, Eli Lilly,” but beyond that I am afraid to say what it’s about and post that on the internet, at least not until I make more progress. Progress has been slow. I’ve been a little distracted lately, what with the birthing of the baby and all, but the book is due in June, so one of these days I need to get cracking.

Which brings me to your second part of the question. Normally, I work three days a week at a real job and then have two writing days, plus sporadic hours on evenings and weekends. On my writing days, my husband takes the kids to daycare (well, Laila is only seven weeks-old now, so she hasn’t started yet, but this is basically how it worked pre-Laila), I head off to a yoga class, come home, shower, eat, and then go to Starbucks for three hours.

Then I come home, eat again (even though I have usually gobbled down a cookie or two—I always feel that I need to buy some goodies to justify my taking up table space for so long), and then maybe turn on my laptop for another hour or so before getting the kids. This, I should say, is an extremely idealized version of what really happens. It is what would happen if I were the me I’d like to be.

More often, I plan to go to yoga, but get caught up in procrastinating and checking email and then the clock is ticking and I realize it is lunchtime and I haven’t written a word. And only then do I get my butt to Starbucks and focus for am hour or two before I have to go pick up the kids. I eat the cookies, regardless.

I should add that I wish it were a lovely independent coffee house I was frequenting, but I don’t have one in my neighborhood. Cookies tend to be more tasty at independent coffee houses.

Bonus Question!!!
Modern Girl Style has to ask…What is your favorite lip gloss?   

Want to know a secret? I hate wearing lip gloss. I can’t keep it on. Especially if it’s flavored. I eat it all off within minutes.

Not enough, Want more? Jennifer delivers an awesome interview at MommyCast. Just take notes fast, because Jennifer Oko is flying off the hook with energy, wit, and style!