Interview with Marybeth Whalen author of The Wishing Tree

Marybeth Whalen took some time from her busy writing, cooking and taking care of her gorgeous family schedule to answer a few questions about The Wishing Tree, her latest book. On Friday, she’ll be back with answers about her favorite books, #literaryconfessions and more!

What was the inspiration for The Wishing Tree?

I ran across the concept of a wishing tree when I was doing some research on the history of guest books for my last novel (appropriately titled), The Guest Book. As I read about this idea, the story elements began to emerge and I knew this would be my next Sunset Beach novel. I love creating stories set at Sunset, with a unique element serving as a connection point between people, a la The Mailbox, The Guest Book and now, The Wishing Tree.

From the beginning to end, how long did The Wishing Tree take to write?

I wrote it from January to May. That’s pretty typical.

Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

My writing space is SO unglamorous. I write sitting on my bed with my laptop balanced on my lap. Sometimes I get really wild and move to the couch in the den. I have six children so there really is nowhere in the house for a “writing space.” As for a routine, I try to confine my writing time to when the kids are in school. When they’re home, I want to focus on them. I love that I can make writing fit around my family.

Are any of the characters based on people in real life? Or just figments of your imagination?

Elements of real people are always woven into my characters based on my own observations and interactions. In this book, the character of April is based on my real-life friend April. The rest are all hodge-podged together.

Will you be going on a book signing tour? If so, what are you looking forward to the most about the tour?

Not this time, though I have a few events I will be doing with book clubs and groups. I love meeting readers and hearing from them. It is a full-circle moment, to see your book in someone’s hands.

Do you want The Wishing Tree to be made into a movie one day? If so, who are the actors that would comprise your dream cast?

I’d love that! I actually have a Pinterest board and there are pictures of the actors I had in mind as I wrote. I always have to have someone in mind since writing, for me, is like transcribing a movie playing in my head. You can take a peek here: The Wishing Tree Pinterest Page

Marybeth- how do you find time to sleep?! You have 6 kids, you are an author, you are a co-founder of She Reads and you still find time to bake desserts that are homemade- seriously, how do you do it all? Do you feel struggle between mom life vs author life?

My first priority is being a mom. I work hard to make sure nothing impinges on that. Jacqueline Kennedy said “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much.” I think about that often and try to live that way. Not that life always stays neat and in order—it gets messy! But the baked goods and the carpooling and the listening ear and the meeting needs—that’s what I try to do first and best. After that, it just somehow falls into place and what needs to happen, happens. I’ve had to learn to let a LOT go and to know I’m not in control. Not even close. God fills my gaps. My life is a series of little miracles. The trick, for me, is managing to remember that every day.

The Guest House and now The Wishing Tree are both set in beach areas- what is about this type of area that makes it the setting you choose for the books?

I was just joking about this with a friend! I don’t have the time to go research anywhere else so I have to depend on a place I know well in order to render the sense of place I like to create in a story. So that means I can write about where I live in the suburbs or I can write about where I vacation each year. Where I vacation is much better so that makes it the obvious choice. And also, I truly love it there. It’s where my heart lives. Every time I’m there, I feel like I can really breathe. What better thing to share with others than that sense of your soul expanding? I try to create that on the page.

Are you working on a new book? If so, can you reveal anything yet?

I am just finishing my fifth novel which will be out, Lord willing, this time next year! I don’t want to say the title yet because I’m not sure the publisher will keep it. I will say it’s another Sunset Beach NC story with a unique element that serves to connect people. This one has been great fun to write and I can’t wait to share it!

*Thank you Marybeth Whalen for the interview.

To find out more about Marybeth Whalen, please visit her website, Twitter or Pinterest page. When Marybeth is not writing, or cooking or at the grocery store- she can be found at She Reads– helping women find great books to read.

The Wishing Tree by Marybeth Whalen

Ivy Marshall’s life is falling to pieces the same day she learns her younger sister’s life is coming together with a marriage proposal from her boyfriend. Ivy, while happy for her sister, cannot help wonder “what if” about her own life. What if she’d married the man her family wanted her to marry instead of Elliot? “What if” is a dangerous question, at times……

Ivy leaves Elliot to head back to Sunset Beach. Partly to help with her sister’s wedding, partly to get away from Elliot, and partly to think about life. Back in Sunset Beach, she does not want her family to know about Elliot- since they did not want her to marry him- they wanted her to marry Michael. Ivy figures she’ll see Michael at the wedding since his cousin is marrying her sister- but is surprised (and secretly pleased) to see that Michael is around for the summer.

Elliot is not taking Ivy leaving lightly- he takes to Twitter, one of her favorite social media sites, and begins tweeting to get Ivy’s attention. As the weeks go by, Ivy begins to see that Elliot is trying- he’s paying more attention- but what broke between them; she is unsure if can ever be fixed.

Ivy also has some hard truths of her own to deal with- her role in what lead to her family being hurt about her broken engagement, Michael, and the others she hurt in her past.

The Wishing Tree deals with hard issues with sensitivity and lightness: cheating, breaking hearts, growing up, disappointing family and finding yourself. Well-written, enjoyable, a story-line that is interesting and very readable.

Recommended.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Marybeth Whalen has done it again. Written a book that is light, funny; yet poignant and thoughtful. Themes of love, forgiveness, and moving on are discussed and weaved in and out of the story of Ivy and her life. Thought-provoking. Read- you will not be sorry.

*The author provided me with a review copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. All above opinions are mine alone.

Interview with Beth Albright author of The Sassy Belles

Beth Albright, author of The Sassy Belles, found time in her busy schedule to stop by and answer some questions. Interviewing Beth was a fun experience- and if her book, The Sassy Belles, is half as fun as finding our her answers- then we are in for a delight! The Sassy Belles is part of Deep South Magazine’s Summer Reading List– a list that has quite a few good books- whether you are from the South or just long to read about Southern life and Southern belles.

Interview with Beth Albright:

What was the inspiration for The Sassy Belles?

Literally, I was homesick. I had had many careers from being an actress on Days of Our Lives, to being a long-time radio talk show host all over the country. After my son was born, I opened an acting school for kids and after nearly 7 years, the Enron scandal happened in Houston, TX, and my school was collateral damage. I sat in a rainy parking lot waiting for my husband to run into a grocery store, when I pulled my directors notebook from my purse and scribbled out the very first words of what would become The Sassy Belles. “My name is Blake O’Hara Heart and boy do I have a story to tell. It wouldn’t be such a story if Vivi hadn’t done what she did.” I was homesick and needed my mom and sassy girlfriends around me—with some salty margaritas!

From the beginning to end, how long did The Sassy Belles take to write?

It took many years because I wasn’t serious about it. I wrote most of it after my acting school closed and we were living in Nashville. Then we moved to LA for the third time, and my son became a competitive pairs figure skater and I put it away for three years. But my mom kept pushing me to finish, telling me I really had something, so I finished, went to the San Francisco Writers Conference, met my agent and she sold a three-book deal to Harlequin/MIRA!

Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

I have a favorite chair, with my cat nicely sprawled behind my head on the back of the chair. Also, I love my desk and my writing space on the fourth floor of my SF townhome, but the chair in the bedroom seems to be where I land. My routine is hard…I had only about 5 weeks each to write the last 2 books in the trilogy. We wanted to keep a tight production schedule and I wanted to get the books out, so I wrote from about 9am till about 2-3am, taking breaks of course. With the next trilogy, I will be taking more time, but I am pretty diligent and focused when I write. I get inside the story and sometimes it’s hard to get me out!

Are any of the characters based on people in real life? Or just figments of your imagination?

All of the characters are good amalgamations of many of the people I know. I like to take traits of different people and put together new people. The character of Meridee is very much like my late maternal grandmother. She is closest to her actual character.

Will you be going on a book signing tour? If so, what are you looking forward to the most about the tour?

We just did a huge launch and book party at the Barnes and Noble in Tuscaloosa Alabama, where the books are based. We sold 200 books in four hours!! It was crazy. I definitely want to go on a huge book tour and I am hoping to put one together this fall when all 3 books are out! What I look most forward to is meeting my readers! I love people and love shaking hands, and talking with them!

Do you want The Sassy Belles to be made into a movie one day? If so, who are the actors that would comprise your dream cast?

Actually, the book is currently being packaged for a pitch for an hour long TV series!!! Vivi was written for Jessica Chastain!! I love Allison Brie as she appeared in Five Year Engagement as Blake! Betty White as Meridee for sure, Delta Burke for Kitty, Jessica Simpson (not pregnant) as Dallas. The men, oooh I love so many of them! Maybe Jon Hamm as Harry, Blake Shelton as Sonny, and Vince Vaughn as Lewis. Bonita would be played by Octavia Spencer and Arthur would be played by Denzel Washington! His character becomes huge in later books! I think that would be awesome!

The Sassy Belles is the first in the series. Can you tell us anything about the next two books, Wedding Belles and Sleigh Belles?

Wedding Belles, out July 30^th, to me, is the funniest of the three books. Here is the quote from the back of the book:

Seven months pregnant and head over heels in love, Vivi Ann McFadden is busy pulling together the final details for her wedding to Lewis Heart, famous play-by-play announcer for the Crimson Tide. But with two wedding-planners-gone-wild and a psychic giving her advice, a missing wedding ring and the ceremony happening on the same day as the wildly popular Crimson Tide kickoff game, chaos reigns supreme. Luckily, maid of honor Blake O’Hara Heart is on the job. She’ll tackle this wedding if it’s the last thing she does!

Sleigh Belles is much more poignant. While there are funny scenes, the story is a tale of tying to put pieces of a fragmented family back together for Christmas. You’ll need your hankies for sure. It is the most deep and emotional of the three books. Here is the back cover:

With her hair perfectly coiffed, nails freshly manicured and a heavy trail of perfume wafting behind her, local news reporter Dallas Dubois is sure she’s about to kick her career—and maybe her love life—into high gear. The director of the Tuscaloosa children’s Christmas play has fallen ill, and Dallas is ordered by her station manager to take the reins. Everyone is shocked—especially Cal Hollingsworth, who still remembers her as the Ice Queen from high school.

If nothing else, Dallas has never met a challenge that a little lip gloss and a Chanel knockoff couldn’t fix. But she has no idea how to relate to these kids, and their brutal honesty is giving her pause. Things are made even more complicated by the butterflies she gets whenever Cal is near….

But when long-lost family members reenter her life, Dallas’s icy veneer begins to melt. And with Cal by her side, she soon realizes that it’s what’s under all the hair spray that counts.

Now that you’ve read the interview- is your inner “sassy belle” just having a fit to read The Sassy Belles? If so, you are in luck! Come back on Friday- Beth will be revealing her #literarycrush, some Southern writers that she just LOVES, and more. There will also be a #giveaway of The Sassy Belles!

Beth Albright, author of The Sassy Belles, loves her sassy girlfriends and some salty margaritas ( Beth sounds like a very good person to be friends with!) For more information about Beth, please visit her website, The Sassy Belles Facebook page, or Twitter.

*Special shout-out goes to Beth for agreeing to this interview. Long live The Sassy Belles!

Island Girls by Nancy Thayer

3 girls. Sisters. Torn apart by jealousy. Family issues. Divorce. Brought together by their dad’s dying wish- he stipulates that the girls must live together in the Nantucket summer home for 3 months and then they may sell the house and split the proceeds.

Arden, Meg and Jenny- 3 girls who are as different as life can be- yet all 3 captured a piece of their father, Rory Randall’s heart. Where Rory did love his girls- his love did hurt the girls at times. Arden and Meg, Rory’s daughters from 2 previous marriages- saw firsthand how divorce can make people question love and commitment to a man. Jenny, Meg and Arden’s stepsister, lead a more charmed life with Rory- and yet finds herself questioning things as well.

The summer starts off rocky with the girls- their past misunderstandings rearing it’s head at times. Slowly, the girls forge a relationship, and attempt to be sisters. As the summer continues, memories of the last summer they were all together in Nantucket are discussed, secrets are revealed, and frustrations are aired. Will the girls make it together all summer? Will Rory get his dying wish? Read Island Girls to find out.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is my 3rd Nancy Thayer book. Nancy Thayer writes a beach story very well. Island Girls is no different. It’s a book to stick in your beach or pool bag- a book that has an interesting storyline, characters that are fun, and a setting that cannot be beat. Nancy takes family secrets, weaves them with a beach setting- and shows the reader a story that can and should be enjoyed.

*This was requested through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All above opinions are mine alone.

The Widow Waltz by Sally Koslow

Georgia Waltz has the life. 2 daughters she loves, a husband who she cannot picture life without, and an adorable little dog, Sadie. Life is pretty rosy for Georgia- till the day it isn’t.

When Ben Silver, Georgia’s husband, dies unexpectedly- Georgia and the girls are stunned. With how Ben took care of himself, they expected to have years with him. Georgia, while deeply distraught, knows this: Ben would have made plans to take care of her and the girls in the event of his untimely death. Except- the lawyer can’t find his plans. Money is missing. Georgia is beside herself- and yet knows she has to pull it together.

So Georgia makes a plan. She knows that it’s up to her- she’s got to find a way to make thing work. Cola and Luey also realize that being Daddy’s girls has been a great way to go through life- but that time is over.

With Ben dying, he left behind more questions than answers. Georgia finds that while she may not ever know all the answers to the questions- finding herself, being strong, learning to be independent- those are lessons that Ben’s death has taught her. And that is worth more than the money he should have left her.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is my first Sally Koslow book. I enjoyed it. Light and fluffy at times- and poignant at others. An excellent book for a book club to discuss- where each person could identify with the different characters.

Recommended.

*This book was requested through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All above opinions are mine alone.

Reconstructing Amelia Week 3 Questions/Discussion!

We are at week 3 in our discussion! Some of us have finished. Some have not. The library is still holding at least 1 person back from getting the book!

But- we are here. We are almost finished. YAY!

Week 3 Thoughts:

1. The principal- why did he target Amelia for the truth about the Magpies? Was it because Amelia is the good girl? The honor student? Or was it because Kate is not involved in the school- like some of the other’s parents- and might not in the position to complicate the principal’s life?

2. The school is closing ranks, circling the wagon. Why? Because they have blood on their hands and they know it? Or is someone higher than them pulling puppet strings?

3. Money. It makes the world go round. What is the problem with money in Reconstructing Amelia?

4. Is Amelia being “catfished” in a sense? #nospoilers- just let me know if you have a feeling.

5. Dylan and Zadie- best friends till the end? Or is Dylan a pawn? Or is Zadie the real pawn? Again #nospoilers- just thoughts!

6. How hard is this for Kate? To find this stuff out? To know that Amelia was being bullied?

7. Why is the principal less concerned about Amelia actually dying on school grounds- and when the word “bullying” was mentioned- it seemed to get his attention?

***Note: I have not read the last chapter of the assigned reading for this week. I USUALLY read the night before I post the questions- and I read most of them last night. But I still have 1 more to read- so more questions may be added.

Literary Friday ya’ll…

Friday- Friday -Friday!

Deep South Magazine and their #literaryfriday goodness: Carl Hiassen’s Most Memorable Characters, Wiley Cash news, and more. Plus, the Author Spotlight that was featured yesterday on Erika Marks on my blog, Traveling With T, made the #literaryfriday news!

Literary New England is getting “chatty” during the month of July- 2 author chats lined up: Nichole Bernier, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D, chats with @litnewengland July 2nd from 8-9PM EST. There will be a #giveaway! Then July 10, Erika Marks chats from 8-9pmEST- there will be a #giveaway for her chat as well. Use #LNEchat to participate.

Anita Loves Books is giving away a copy of Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman. #giveaway ends June 16th.

She Reads as part of their Books of Summer series features Meg Donohue. Read her Tell Me Something True: A Visit with Meg Donohue to find out some about All The Summer Girls.

Today, I reviewed Steamed to Death by Peg Cochran for Cozy Mystery Reviews!

The #giveaway is still going on for Erika Marks The Guest House. Comment on Erika Marks: Author Spotlight for a chance to win!

What are you reading for #fridayreads? I’m reading The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan, The Wishing Tree by Marybeth Whalen, Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight and hoping to get in Time Flies by Claire Cook.

Speaking of The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan- it is mentioned in OBSESSED- The 20 Next Big Things in Glamour’s July 2013 magazine.

Happy reading!

Steamed to Death by Peg Cochran (Plus RECIPE!)

Steamed to Death

ISBN:978-0425252208

Series: Gourmet De-Lite Mystery

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Cozy Mystery Review

Gigi Fitzgerald has signed soap-star, Felicity Davenport, as one of her clients for Gigi’s Gourmet De-Lite. Gigi is pretty excited as she hopes that this will help put her business on the road to success. Gigi is also excited because her and her best friend, Sienna, will be working together some to help Felicity re-brand her image (Gigi with weight loss and healthier living, and Sienna with public relations). All seems to be going well until Gigi sees an article in the paper questioning if Felicity has a new boy-toy and the boy-toy in question is Sienna’s husband.

Later, when Felicity’s body is found- the police question Sienna about her work relationship with Felicity. Gigi, being no fool, knows that Sienna could not have killed Felicity- and also knows that the police are considering her a suspect. So Gigi, Sienna and Alice team up to find who could have killed Felicity. The list is long- and each person has a motive. Could it be Felicity’s husband? Or her manager? Or the actress, Vanessa, that wanted more air-time on the soap opera where her and Felicity were actresses?

Gigi’s hands are pretty busy with trying to figure out who had the most to gain by Felicity’s death- but to add more to her plate- she has 2 men in her life. One is an incurable flirt, Declan, owner of a restaurant in town. The other is Detective Mertz, who Gigi would like to get to know better; but work seems to get in the way.

Does Gigi solve the mystery? We, as readers, need to hope so- or it’ll be the end of delicious recipes from Gourmet De-Lite!

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is my first Gourmet De-Lite mystery. Enjoyable. Characters that are interesting. Romance. Good plot. Funny at times. I would definitely consider reading more of Gigi!

Ice Cream Novelties

This is a fun, extremely versatile dessert that you can whip up on the fly for unexpected guests. It takes plain ice cream to a new level. It can be adapted in a myriad of ways—if you are serving children instead of adults, use Oreo cookies mixed with sprinkles or chocolate chips or whatever comes to mind. If you don’t care for Amaretto, you can substitute another liqueur or leave it out. Same with the nuts—try chopped pecans, pistachios or peanuts.

Vanilla ice cream

Approximately 3 handfuls of vanilla wafers

1/3 cup sliced almonds

2 – 3 TBL Amaretto

Put vanilla wafers in a plastic zip-lock baggie. Crush with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Spread out on a cookie sheet and mix in sliced almonds. Sprinkle with Amaretto if using.

Roll individual scoops of ice cream in mixture. Place coated ice cream scoops on a cookie sheet. Put in freezer for at least an hour to harden.

Peg Cochran writes Gourmet De-Lite Mysteries featuring Gigi Fitzgerald. She also writes as Meg London. To find out more about Peg, please visit her website.

Erika Marks: Author Spotlight

Today, I’m pleased to announce that Erika Marks is back with an Author Spotlight. In this, she confesses her #literaryconfessions and #literarycrush! Come see what else she revealed today!

Author Spotlight:

Erika, when you are not writing- what are some of your favorite things to do?

Being outside, for one! My husband is a biologist so we are big hikers and campers and gardeners. We are also a family of cooks and bakers, and are always looking to try new recipes.

Could you tell us some of your favorite authors?

There are so many! I would definitely include Alice Hoffman, Annie Proulx, Louise Erdrich, Karen White, Andre Dubus, Wendy Wax, Jo-Ann Mapson, Ann Hite, Stephen King, Elizabeth Berg, Anne Rivers Siddons.

What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

LIFE OF PI

Do you have any #literaryconfessions? (Mine is: Last summer I confessed that I’d never read Pride and Prejudice (although now I have!)

I’ve never read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE either! In fact, I’ve been slowing chipping away at a list of classics that I always wanted to read but never did, so my #literaryconfessions could take a while!

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Oh, I absolutely do! I remember all of my earliest literary crushes. Ben Mears from Stephen King’s ‘SALEM’S LOT, I always loved him for the way he swoops in and takes matters into his hands and ultimately saves young Mark, becoming like a father to him. Atticus Finch, definitely. Finny, from A SEPARATE PEACE. Pretty much all the Curtis boys in THE OUTSIDERS. And of course, Gilbert Blythe!

What are some of the books that will be in your beach bag for 2013?

There are so many I’m excited about! For starters, Susan Tekulve’s IN THE GARDEN OF STONE, Karen White’s THE TIME BETWEEN, Louise Erdrich’s THE ROUND HOUSE, Beth Hoffman’s LOOKING FOR ME.

What was your favorite childhood book?

I loved John Christopher’s Tripods trilogy (Will was definitely one of my early #literarycrushes!)

Was there a person or a book series that helped start your love of reading?

My sixth grade English teacher, Mr. McKee. He gathered a group of us—outside of class—and we read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy with his guidance and support. It was extraordinary. There’s no question his encouragement and passion for books and story made a huge impact on me.

If you were not an author, what would you want to be?

If I weren’t such a lightweight when it comes to blood, I would want to be a doctor or a vet.

If you could be a character in a book, who would you be? Why?

Oh wow—what a great question! I’d have to say Claudia from FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER. I mean, spend the night in the Met?! What could be cooler?

Now that you’ve read through the author spotlight- I have more to announce! Today begins the #giveaway for a copy of The Guest House, Erika’s latest book. It’s a lovely story- and one that should be read with a glass of sweet tea.

To enter the giveaway (sorry US only!) please comment on this post. Include your email (you may use the (AT) and (DOT)). The giveaway ends Thursday, June 20th at 11:59pmEST. While liking Traveling With T’s Facebook page or following the blog will not earn extra entries- it’s always appreciated. 🙂

ICYMI: Interview with Erika Marks

Traveling With T’s Review of The Guest House

Tuesday Mashup

LOTS to announce!

Rebecca @ Love at First Book is featured in Bloggers who WIN, a feature created by BookStore-BookBlogger Connection. She talks all about the magic of a book store in this feature!

Want to get to chat with Beatriz Williams- author of A HUNDRED SUMMERS? Yes, yes, you do! So join in Thursday night with Literary New England from 8-9pmEST and chat! You might even get lucky and win a book 🙂 Use #LNEchat to join in!

She Reads revealed their The Books of Summer list last week. 6 books that you need to read this summer! As part of their The Books of Summer, they will also be having author interviews and others fun news- here is a catch-up of what has been posted:

Grab It While You Can (Marybeth Whalen’s new book, The Wishing Tree, $3.99 in e-book!)

The Wishing Tree Soundtrack

Tell Me Something True: A Visit with Beatriz Williams

Tell Me Something True: A Visit with Amy Sue Nathan

Today I interviewed Erika Marks, author of The Guest House, on my blog. Here’s the interview- and Thursday- check back to see Erika’s #literaryconfessions and #literarycrush (PLUS a GIVEAWAY!)

ICYMI: My review of A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams!

Deep South Mag has posted their Twitter Chat Schedule, Summer Reading List 2013, and Summer Book Signing Calendar 2013 ( when you look at the summer book signing- you *may* see a familiar face 😉

Happy Reading 🙂