Peeking Between the Pages

...escape into the pages of a good book

Guest Post with Wendy Wax, author of Magnolia Wednesdays & Giveaway

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I am pleased to welcome Wendy Wax, author of Magnolia Wednesdays to Peeking Between the Pages today. I had received Wendy’s novel late and due to prior commitments my review of it will be at the end of this month but it is coming and I’m really looking forward to reading it. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. Let’s join Wendy as she talks about why she writes about women’s friendships…

I’ve been asked why I write books about women’s friendships.

I’d like to pretend that this was a conscious decision, but the truth is when it comes to writing I’m about as ‘unconscious’ as they come. Well, maybe ‘instinctual’ would be the kinder, gentler word. The truth is I didn’t sit down in front of my computer one day intending to write a book about women’s friendships or, even, about women who are friends.

I’m drawn to writing about women discovering who they are and what they’re made of; women becoming the people they were always meant to be. In real life this typically happens when really bad things happen and we’re tested, sometimes beyond what we think we’re capable of handling.

As a writer, I’ve done my best to mirror real life. I do this by making my protagonists’ lives fall down around them. They deal with cheating husbands and go through messy divorces. Some are traded in for younger models either at home or at work, a few have been humiliated on national television. There’s no end to the awful things I’ve used to nudge my characters onto their voyages of self discovery.

In the process I realized that in addition to learning to rely on themselves, my characters instinctively turn to other women when their lives started coming apart—just like so many of us do. Sometimes they have a sister or a close friend right there; sometimes they’re drawn to dissimilar women in similar situations and become close friends in the process; other times the women seem so different that the friendship that develops surprises everyone, including the women involved.

Somehow I went from kick-starting one character’s journey of self discovery to intertwining multiple characters’ journeys.

I didn’t really plan it that way. It just happened.

First Single in Suburbia seemed to center itself around three women who don’t fit in with the other mothers on a losing little league baseball team. Then, The Accidental Bestseller grew into a story about four writer friends who discover just how far they’re willing to go to help each other survive the publishing industry. With Magnolia Wednesdays, out March 2nd, I found myself drawn to four very different women, including a pair of estranged sisters, who unexpectedly bond during their weekly dance class at the Magnolia Ballroom.

As I tried to illustrate in The Accidental Bestseller, no one understands the unique highs and lows of publishing like another writer. The same is true for wives and mothers, for sisters and old friends. Chances are we could probably survive the journey without them at our sides, but who would want to?

After all, real life, like fiction, improves considerably when we have a good friend to share it with.
__________

Fantastic guest post Wendy! I love stories about women’s friendships. They always seem uplifting to me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us here today!
__________

About the book from Wendy Wax’s website:

Sometimes life comes at you in full swing…

At forty-one, Vivien Armstrong Gray has spent most of her life fighting to make it in investigative journalism, only to have it crumble after a bullet lodges in her backside during an exposé. As if the humiliation of being the butt of everyone’s jokes isn’t enough, Vivi learns that she’s pregnant, jobless, and very hormonal. Maybe that explains why she actually says ‘yes’ to a dreadful job covering suburban living back home in Georgia, a column she can only bear to write incognito.

Leaving her tiny apartment in New York, she unwillingly heads south to experience the suburban soccer mom existence through her widowed sister’s eyes. Surrounded by mini-vans and bake sales, she has lots of material for the column. Her sister’s ballroom dance studio becomes her undercover spot where she learns about the local life while posing as an ‘extra’ dance partner. But Vivi’s little stint starts throwing her for a loop as friendships develop, and a real relationship with her sister blossoms. As she digs up her long buried roots, and begins to secretly investigate her brother-in-law’s death, she starts to wonder if life inside the picket fence is so bad after all…

About the author from Wendy Wax’s website:


I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida and grew up on St. Pete Beach within spitting distance of the Gulf of Mexico. I went, appropriately enough, to Sunshine Elementary School where recess and art class sometimes took place on the beach, and the highlight of every school year was the annual fish broil.

It’s hard to be a type-A personality when you grow up in such a laid back environment, but I managed. Convinced that you were expected to know how to read BEFORE you showed up for school, I forced a neighbor friend to teach me to read at the age of five. I’ve been reading ever since.

Books, in all forms, are one of my greatest pleasures and best forms of escape. And they’ve had a major impact on my life.

I went to the University of Georgia after reading Gone with the Wind one too many times. For a while I re-read Margaret Mitchell’s classic yearly, saw the movie whenever it played within twenty miles, and could quote large passages from memory. Today I have a growing GWTW collection, and speaking at the Margaret Mitchell House last year was an incredible thrill.

After college I worked in radio, television, and film. Like Olivia in 7 DAYS AND SEVEN NIGHTS, I’ve done live talk radio. I hosted a show in the eighties called Desperate & Dateless, and while I was never locked in an apartment for a week with a webcam rolling like she was, I did fall in love. Happily, the man who swept me off my feet consults with financial types and understands the bottom line. Unlike Olivia’s nemesis, Matt Ransom, my husband has never, to my knowledge, advised anyone to ‘love the one they’re with.’ We live in Atlanta with our two sons.

__________
GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have 2 copies of Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax to share with my readers courtesy of Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting. To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
  • For 2 entries tell me about your best friend – is it someone who is there for you no matter what – someone you share most everything with?
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway.

The giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only as the books will be shipped directly from the publisher. I will draw for the winners on Saturday, April 3, 2010. Good luck to you all!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Yes, this book sounds good, good, good!

    Please enter me

    I am a follower

    I will post about it on Mon.

    forevereading at gmail dot com

  3. Loved that post! And another Floridian! I've spent a bit of time in St. Pete, so I can attest to that slow, laid back atmosphere. It works for vacation. Please count me in on the giveaway – the story sounds like something I would love! rnawrot at cfl dot rr dot com

  4. I really enjoyed this guest post, please enter my name in your giveaway. I'd love to read Wendy's book. Thank you!

    Sandee61

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

  5. This book sounds very ineresting.
    Please enter me to win.

    Love the title

    I follow

    fmlj94[at]yahoo[dot]com

  6. I'd love to read this book! Living in Atlanta – I love our local writers!

    My best friend – however trite it is – is my mom. We are too much a like in good and bad, which means that we understand each other perfectly.

    Contact me at readbabbette (at) yahoo (dot) com

  7. Please count me in. Thanks!
    I've known my best friend since we were 12 years old (and we're in our mid-50s now). We live in the same large city, but only see each other every couple months. But it's always like we just talked the day before. We're different in many ways, but love and care for each other in spite of those differences.
    cdirks1@sbcglobal.net

  9. First of all, you don't need to enter me in the drawing. I already have Magnolia Wednesdays here to read.

    I enjoyed the interview and info very much. I love the shoes on the cover! 😉

    I really liked women's friendship books, although I do kind of OD on them at times. I keep coming back though. Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for sharing Dar and thanks to Wendy for writing!

  10. I love stories about women's friendships too. Don't enter me – Wendy Wax is doing a signing here on Saturday and I plan to go an buy a book there.

  11. Sadly my best friend died a little over a year ago. We had been friends since childhood, and altho we no longer lived in the same town we talked frequently, and she was always the first person I called when something good, or something distressing happened in my life. Next to family, friendship is one of life's greatest blessings.

    thanks for this giveaway.

  13. My childhood best friend chose to not come to my baby shower almost 19 yrs ago and then never called me again….
    since then we have been on the move with the military so I have a new friend each time we move (sometimes not)….
    but now we are settled and Holly is probably my best friend

    reneesuz82(at)msn(d0t)com

  16. I rarely read books that center on "women's friendships," probably in part because I don't have many female friends.

    My husband is my best friend. My mother's toward the top of the list, too.

    carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

  17. I loved books about women's friendships and have enjoyed Wendy's books.

    My mom has always been my best friend and I am so blessed to now have my adult daughter as a best friend as well!

    I am a follower.

    nisethusfarATyahooDOTcom

  19. My best friend is not only 30 years my senior, but he is the opposite sex from me. I met him when my son was 2 and I was pregnant with my daughter. He was my neighbor. Now I am on his forms as next of kin. We have been through a lot in the 15 years we've known each other, and he will always be my first call when I need a voice.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  21. Wow – I grew up in St.Pete too:-D
    Please count me in & thanks for the giveaway.

    libneas[at]aol[dot]com

  22. My best friend is someone who I can go without seeing for months and months(due to the fact that we now live so far away from each other), but when we are together, it's as if we see each other every day. She means the world to me.

    libneas[at]aol[dot]com

  23. I tweeted: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/10282904349.

    My best friend is my sister, surprisingly. There's no one else I'd rather share my secrets with. Even though she has a big mouth, if I tell her to not tell anyone, she won't. She's always been there for me, and she knows exactly what I'm going through because she's been in the same situation herself.

    I enjoyed reading the interview. Thanks for the contest!
    Kelsey
    krae991@yahoo.com
    http://www.thedoortowonderland.blogspot.com

  25. Please enter me,
    thank you.
    kaiminani at gmail dot com

    My best friend is (cliched, I know) my husband. He has been with me through so much and he is there for me no matter what. He is the first person I want to call with any news or if I am down or happy. We have been together for 29 years.

    I tweeted
    http://twitter.com/BrokenTeepee/status/10284539618

  27. This was a Fantastic guest post Wendy. Since I was born and raised in GA. I am a GA FAN Yay!. Thanks for stopping by.

    Pls count me in the giveaway.

    I am a follower

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

  29. My best friend was my mother. I still find myself picking up the phone to call her and she has been gone for 11 years.

  31. +2 My best friend for 33 years is always there for me. We met in elementary school

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

  36. My best friend is one of most long-time friends as well. As her birthday approaches, I realize we've know each other over 26 years. It's a great thing to have this shared history, similar to stories you may share with a sibling, but a little different.
    Thanks for the chance to win.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

  39. This sounds terrific. My best girlfriend and I met when we were 12. I'm now 43. We live apart, but distance doesn't matter. Some people are just kindred spirits.

  40. I would love to read the book, so please enter me in the giveaway! The author also sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders.

    My best friend has been in my life for the past 15 years, and I couldn't imagine my life without her. She is always there, for the big things and little. Though I don't often get the chance to see her that much anymore, we still talk whenever we can.

    I am also a follower of your blog!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  42. I have 2 best friends. Neither of them lives near me, unfortunately, but both of them love me unconditionally. They make me laugh like no one else and offer me a shoulder when I cry. They have the biggest hearts ever and they know everything about me; I often find it hard to believe we haven't known each other forever.

    melacan at hotmail dot com

  43. I like that the author is from Florida, I love reading books by authors from my state.

    ykatrina at hotmail dot com

  45. It is interesting when I think about the friends I have had over the years. Although I still keep in touch with my best friends from 30 years ago, we are not as close as we used to be. My current 'best' friend is actually about 10 years older than me and we've been very close for at least the last 10 years. I know I can count on her to be there for me if I need it.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

  46. This book sounds fantastic, and I'm pretty much in love with that cover!

    My mum is by far my best friend. She's there for me no matter what, and we do pretty much everything together.

    I posted this on my sidebar: http://thedmlibrary.blogspot.com

    alannakurt at gmail dot com

    Thanks for this great giveaway!

  47. Hi Dar! Hi Wendy! That's a great guest post. I love stories about women's friendships too. This one sure sounds like something I'd love to read. 😀

  48. I love books about women's friendship and this book sounds wonderful. I enjoyed reading Wendy's guest post. Please add my name to the drawing.

    Sadly, I had a falling out with my best friend from junior high 8 years ago. It was one of the most difficult things that I've dealt with as I felt like I lost part of myself. My whole life changed and I moved at the same time and so much was going on in my life. It's been hard for me to replace that best friend. My husband is now my closest friend.

    redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom

  49. I'd love to win this, thanks for the chance!

    I also follow!!

    My best friend is the most amazing person. He and I consider each other friend soul mates. We get along so wonderfully – always laughing and talking. He's been there for me through SO MUCH, and I can always count on him to tell me exactly what he thinks. He's da bomb!!

  50. I very much enjoy reading books about women and their friendships!
    Please count me in!
    Thanks very much…..Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

  51. My older sister is my best friend!
    I can tell her anything and she still accepts and loves me.
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

  57. I would love the chance to read this book. Count me in, please!

    Thanks! :0)
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

  58. Magnolia is getting great reviews on Goodreads, 5 stars from my friend Kathleen. It looks like one to place on my to-reads list! You can find me on Goodreads under Kristi Vitale, Rancho Cucamonga, or email me at kristi@livevitale.com. My blog is http://www.livevitale.com, where I write about life, my favorite books, and showcase my photography.

    I'll tweet this givaway for you under Live Vitale on Twitter….and thankfully, my best friend is my husband, Mike. ;0)

    Thanks a bunch!

    Kristi

  59. Magnolia is getting great reviews on Goodreads, 5 stars from my friend Kathleen. It looks like one to place on my to-reads list! You can find me on Goodreads under Kristi Vitale, Rancho Cucamonga, or email me at kristi@livevitale.com. My blog is http://www.livevitale.com, where I write about life, my favorite books, and showcase my photography.

    I'll tweet this givaway for you under Live Vitale on Twitter….and thankfully, my best friend is my husband, Mike. ;0)

    Thanks a bunch!

    Kristi

  60. This is a book I would really like to read! I read Wendy years ago and enjoyed her.

    My best friend is like a sister to me. I literally can tell her anything. We have been hanging our for so long together that people who havent seen us in years are just amazed that we are still hanging out together – shopping, biking, garage saling…

    journeythrough books @ gmail dot com

  64. My best friend and I are always there for each other. We've both been crazy busy lately, but that doesn't change the chain between us, it's still there, even if it's not being tugged right now.

    misusedinnocence@aol.com

  65. This sounds like a great one to read on the patio now that it's warm. And one that I could definitely pass on to my best friend–my mom! We didn't like each other very much when I was growing up so it's even more special that we are so close now.

    litandlifeATgmailDOTcom

  66. Add me to the contest, the book sounds like a good one.

    undermyappletree at gmail.com

    I also linked the giveaway on my blog.

  70. My husband is my best friend. We are always there for each other, good times or bad.

    readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

  78. Love FL and water. When I win the lottery I am moving to the Sunshine State. LOL

    My sister Paula is my best friend and the other is my friend of 17 yrs, a guy, not boyfriend.

    I would love to win this book and thanks for the opportunity to enter.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

  79. This book sounds great and would love to win.

    I am a follower via GFC

    I am a subscriber via email

    I follow via twitter (@misskallie2000)

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

  80. Loved the guest post! This is a book I have to read. Thanks for the chance.

    rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

  81. Well, I have hung onto one best friend from high school. We have known each other for 45 years.She is a wonderful, reliable friend–like the sister I never had.

    rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

  85. Please count me in. I am a follower on Google Reader and my email address is acabrams[at]gmail.com.

  91. My best friend is my sister and we pretty much do share everything with each other.

    lillyswistek at gmail dot com

  92. This book sounds wonderful! I really enjoy stories about women dealing with the things life can throw at you and with friendships and relationships that help us to cope. Please enter me in this contest!

    Thank you for another great giveaway!

    ~Amy
    Aimala127@gmail.com

  93. My best friend is someone who understands how I'm feeling and what's going on with me even when I don't say much and she knows just how to make me feel better. And vice versa. I am always available to listen to her when she needs to vent or to boast and I know her favorite things to do to make herself feel better, even those things we hide from others, like loving tabloid gossip!

    Great question Dar!

    ~Amy
    Aimala127@gmail.com

  95. Sounds like a great book! Please count me in. Follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

  96. My best friend is Lea Ann. We have been friends since we were 8 years old. She has been there for me thru the years and I have been there for her. She is the best friend I could ever hope to have.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    #1

  97. My best friend is Lea Ann. We have been friends since we were 8 years old. She has been there for me thru the years and I have been there for her. She is the best friend I could ever hope to have.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    #2