Author Provocateur

Read, Drink, Schmooze

Despite the fact that I was nervous as all get-out I had a blast at Peg Alford Pursell's WHY THERE ARE WORDS salon.

I made new friends, and saw the faces of many pals (authors Wendy Tokanuga and Kate Perry, to name a few). It's always cool to be in a room where 80+ literati are hanging on your every word (albeit those words come out shaken and stirred -- and not necessarily because of the glass  of wine you've gulped down ahead of time, for some liquid courage).*

For the most part, writers aren't natural readers (except for Joshilyn Jackson -- who is also an actress. She is AWESOME, so if you get a chance to hear her read, take it). Through the years, I've grimaced through readings that sounded worse than a fifth grade book reports. The authors read too fast, too low, too embarrassed about their words.

If you write and get the opportunity to read out loud, you shouldn't be. You worked hard on your book, so read it loud, read it proud.

Your audience will be listening with bated breath.

Outspoken,

—Josie

http://twitter.com/JosieBrownCA
http://www.facebook.com/Josie.Brown.Author.Page

*

T*Thanks, Ed the Hook, for the correction!

 

  Josie's Latest Book: Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives

Simon & Schuster/Downtown Press

(ISBN: 9781439173176)

In bookstores June 1, 2010. Order it TODAY!

"Hollywood's got nothing on the cast of characters living in the bedroom community of Paradise Heights, who have the secrets, sex, money and scandal of an OK! Magazine cover story. Josie Brown is a skilled observer whose clever dialogue and feisty style make for truly entertaining reading." --Joan Collins, Hollywood Wives

Order today:

From Amazon

From Barnes & Noble

From Books a Million

From Borders

From Copperfield's

From Your Local Independent Bookstore

From Powell's

From Target

And the winner is...

I love contests.

Winning is one thing. Being the prize is another.

It is such a thrill to give something back to those who appreciate my books.

Those of you who participated in recent contests in which my book Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, was the prize, I thank you for taking the time and effort to do so. Here are the winners, and I thank the following book bloggers for arranging these.

They've got some motley crew of readers, who come from all over the country, and I had a blast looking up some of their cities as the entries came in. For example:

Not Quite Susie Homemaker:

Tethered Mommy / winner: Karen K., Monessen, PA .Who knew Monessen was the hometown of Frances McDormand, one of my favorite actresses of all time? Remember Fargo? "And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper...")

NotQuiteSusieHomemaker / winner: Andrea V., Providence, RI, where the first blood of the American Revolution in the notorious Gaspée Affair of 1772.

Simply Stacie: Linda K, Winchester, CA. Thanks, Stacie, for this great contest. You've got some motley crew of readers! They come from all over the country, and I had a blast looking up some of their cities as the entries came in. For example, did you know that Linda, our winner, lives in a town where a rich crazy lady built a 160-room Victorian mansion? A spiritualist prodded her to do it, after the deaths of her child and husband. There's got to be a story in that, for sure!

Author Leah Stewart's Facebook Fan page: Tiffany D., New Hampshire: A simple mill house, its first opera house was around as early as 1908.

To the victors go the spoils!

—Josie
http://twitter.com/JosieBrownCA

http://www.facebook.com/Josie.Brown.Author.Page 

  Josie's Latest Book: Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives

Simon & Schuster/Downtown Press

(ISBN: 9781439173176)

In bookstores June 1, 2010. Order it TODAY!

"Hollywood's got nothing on the cast of characters living in the bedroom community of Paradise Heights, who have the secrets, sex, money and scandal of an OK! Magazine cover story. Josie Brown is a skilled observer whose clever dialogue and feisty style make for truly entertaining reading." --Jackie Collins, Hollywood Wives

My R Rated Book Reading: Mature Audiences Only

Women behaving wildly is the theme at Women Who Write, the monthly book salon thrown by memoirist and club promoter Vicki Abelson in Montrose, CA.

In June, I was lucky to be invited as one of the guest readers, along with comedians Marc Maron and Paul Provenza, and musician James Lee Stanley (who entertained us with several of his many hits), and of course Vicki, who reads one more chapter of her work in progress from her fabulous memoir (I got to read a first draft, and I predict best-seller: lots of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll!)

Vicki tapes every reading. My portion of it can be seen here, below. However, be duly warned: realizing that my co-readers are seasoned performers who knew how to keep their audiences rolling in the aisles in laughter, I chose a funny and somewhat naughty read myself: not exactly R-rated, but a bit more than PG-13. 

So yeah, I'm blushing....and wishing my arms were better toned. ( I'm workin' on that!)

Enjoy!

That's showbiz,

—Josie
http://twitter.com/JosieBrownCA

http://www.facebook.com/Josie.Brown.Author.Page 

  Josie's Latest Book: Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives

Simon & Schuster/Downtown Press

(ISBN: 9781439173176)

In bookstores June 1, 2010. Order it TODAY!

"Hollywood's got nothing on the cast of characters living in the bedroom community of Paradise Heights, who have the secrets, sex, money and scandal of an OK! Magazine cover story. Josie Brown is a skilled observer whose clever dialogue and feisty style make for truly entertaining reading." --Jackie Collins, Hollywood Wives