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In last week's Bookreporter.com newsletter, I asked readers to share their feedback on the Shades of Grey trilogy. Below are comments from fifteen readers who share very varying viewpoints . Most have included how they learned of the books, as well as their thoughts on the writing. All agreed to have their comments shared with just their first names. Thanks to all who wrote in; really fun to see what YOU had to say!
Claire Bidwell Smith lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. She is an experienced therapist specializing in grief. Claire has written for many publications including Time Out New York, Yoga Journal, BlackBook Magazine, The Huffington Post and Chicago Public Radio. She most recently worked as a bereavement counselor for a hospice in Chicago. Claire is currently working on her second book and also planning a series of grief workshops that will begin in 2012. Here, she talks about the experience of introducing the world to her late mother in her new book, THE RULES OF INHERITANCE.
Maryann McFadden has been a successful realtor for the past twenty years, but she always wanted to be a novelist. Her first novel, THE RICHEST SEASON, began as her thesis project when she returned to school for a Master’s degree. Her most recent novel, THE BOOK LOVER, was released on May 1st. Here, Maryann talks about her mother's unflinching honesty.
Tayari Jones was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia where she spent most of her childhood with the exception of the one year she and her family spent in Nigeria, West Africa. Although she has not lived in her hometown for over a decade, much of her writing centers on the urban south. Her new novel, SILVER SPARROW, releases in paperback today (May 8th). Here, she talks about how her mother helped her to write the first story she ever published.
Jana Riess, the author of FLUNKING SAINTHOOD and a longtime friend of TheBookReportNetwork.com, lives in Cincinnati and attended Erik Larson’s event this past Saturday afternoon at the Cincinnati Public Library. He is on tour for IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS: Love, Terror, and An American Family in Hitler's Berlin, which is just out in paperback. We asked her to share her thoughts on this event in the following Q&A.
Ceri Radford grew up in Britain and lives in France. She has since written about books, TV, society, male strippers and many other things besides for publications including The Daily Telegraph and Red Magazine. A SURREY STATE OF AFFAIRS is her first novel.
Paul Levine worked as a newspaper reporter, a law professor and a trial lawyer before becoming a full-time novelist. Obviously, he cannot hold a job. Paul claims that writing fiction comes naturally: he told whoppers for many years in his legal briefs. His books have been translated into 23 languages, none of which he can read. In Germany, for reasons he does not understand, he is published under the name "Polly Levine." For more about Paul Levine, author of the Jake Lassiter and Solomon vs. Lord series, visit his website at http://www.paul-levine.com. Here, he talks about the stories his mother read to him as a child.
Sandra Dallas has published nine novels, including her latest New York Times bestseller, TRUE SISTERS. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award for New Mercies, and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, for The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. The mother of two daughters --- Dana is an attorney in New Orleans and Povy is a photographer in Golden, Colorado --- Sandra lives in Denver with her husband, Bob. Here, she talks about a tragic event from her childhood, and the incredible way her mother coped.
Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her second novel, MUST LOVE DOGS, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. She is now the bestselling author of eight novels, with a ninth, WALLFLOWER IN BLOOM, coming from Touchstone in June. Find out more at ClaireCook.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
C.W. Gortner is the internationally acclaimed author of the historical novels THE LAST QUEEN, THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI, THE TUDOR SECRET, and his most recent release, THE QUEEN’S VOW. His books have been translated into fifteen languages to date. Today, he shares the story of how his Spanish mother inspired his passion for history and social service. To learn more about C.W. Gortner and his books, please visit him at: www.cwgortner.com.
