« And Here We Have... | Main | It is soooo great to be here . . . »

January 3, 2006

Introducing Beth Kendrick!!

I'm just happy to be here!

I am thrilled to announce that it is my privilege to introduce the third of our lovely new Literary Chicks, Beth Kendrick!! Beth and I gave a talk last year at a major national convention, so I happen to have up-close-and-personal knowledge that she’s just as disorganized and last-minute as I am! I LOVE that in a person!!!

Beth burst onto the scene with MY FAVORITE MISTAKE (also known as “the butt book” because, well, just look at the cover. Seriously. She has some butt going on in the FASHIONABLY LATE (which is gorgeous) cover, too, which is ironic, considering in real life, Beth is one of those slender women who has no actual butt. Go figure! But we can’t hate her, because she’s just so damn fun.

She followed MFM with EXES AND OHS (no butt) and many raves and oohs and ahhs from everyone who read it!! Finally, in bookstores right AT THIS VERY MINUTE, her new book FASHIONABLY LATE is ready to steal your heart. So let’s hear from the divine Ms. K:

Q. Since we're friends, I happen to know that you're secretly "Dr. Beth." How does having a PhD in psychology influence your writing?

A. Well, for one thing, I have a pretty good understanding of just how nuts I truly am, which is pretty much par for the course for writers. (Work WITH the voices in your head, not against them!) My background is actually in developmental psych, which probably explains why I love books about family and romantic relationships. I’m fascinated by the ways that early childhood experiences shape our perspective and behavior as adults.

Q. What was the most fattening food you ate over the holidays, and in what quantity?

A. Hmm. This is hard-won title with many, many worthy competitors in the running. I went a little crazy this year. But I would have to say, in an ounce-for-ounce comparison of calories to actual nutritional value, the most fattening treat was my famous chocolate cranberry cheesecake. I make it every year for Christmas and the recipe would reduce any nutritionist to a babbling, teary-eyed mess.

Q. LOVE your website!! Tell us about your dogs.

A. I actually have two websites these days. There’s my Beth Kendrick site and then there’s my newly-launched, brand spankin’ new site for Beth Killian, my alter ego. My dogs are featured prominently on both sites, as I am obsessed with them. (My dogs, not the sites.)

There’s Murphy, the scruffy blonde terrier mix with a Napoleon complex we adopted in Los Angeles, only to find out he had a broken hip. (He’s since had surgery, physical therapy and endless mollycoddling to make up for his hard puppyhood on the streets of South Central.) Then there’s Roxie Hart (yes, we name our dogs after cabaret-signing murderesses), the red, perky-eared mutt—we’re not sure what breeds she might be; feel free to email me at beth (at) bethkendrick.com if you have guesses. And we just got our first foster dog, Friday. I use the term “foster” loosely, as I’m pretty sure he’s going to be a permanent addition to the family.

Yes, it’s true: Beth Kendrick will soon spiral into madness, a la those glassy-eyed animal hoarders you see on “Oprah.”

Q. Your new novel is called “Fashionably Late” Care to confess your own crimes of fashion?

A. Well, as a character in the novel says, “If looking frumpy were a felony, you’d be on death row.” I’ve committed some pretty egregious offenses over the years: the acid washed, peg-rolled Guess! jeans (accessorized with layered scrunchy socks, of course)…the black leather biker jacket I thought I could get away with but actually could not…oh, and let’s not forget the obscenely short, fuzzy, leopard print miniskirt I wore to my Shakespeare 101 final in college. Yes, I said fuzzy.

There were also some truly unfortunate hairspray-and-crimping-iron tragedies circa eighth grade, but thankfully, I’ve blocked those out.


Q. You also write chick lit for teens, and have an intriguing new series coming out in 2006. Tell us a little about it!

A. If you like drama, scandal, and zingy one-liners, you are going to love this series. It’s called “The 310” (which is the hip and happening area code in West Los Angeles), and it gives us a glimpse into the turbulent lives of three teenage aspiring actresses who have been accepted as clients by the hottest talent agency in town. For more info, see my 310 website: wwwbethkilian.com. While the series is marketed toward teens, I think my adult readers will enjoy it, too. It is by far the juiciest thing I’ve ever written. Kind of like “90210” meets “Gossip Girl.” Meets “Clueless.” Meets “E! True Hollywood Story.” Meets everything else exciting and funny and good you can possibly think of. Like chocolate cake for your brain. (Can you tell I love this series?)

Q. When the Literary Chicks take our group trip to Las Vegas, will you be a big gambler or more of a "see the sights" kind of girl?

A. I have horrible luck at games of chance (even Uno and Go Fish), so I will be hanging out at the craps table, getting vicarious thrills watching other people bet their retirement funds, cadging free drinks, and wishing that I could, just for a day, swap lives with a showgirl. I adore sequins and feather boas.

So there you have it – from Beth, the Literary Chick most likely to look GREAT in sequins and feathers!!

Hugs,
Alesia

Posted by Alesia at 11:18 PM | Comments (15)

Comments

Posted by: Lani at January 3, 2006 11:51 PM

Posted by: Beth at January 4, 2006 1:20 AM

Posted by: Beth at January 4, 2006 1:22 AM

Posted by: Alesia Holliday at January 4, 2006 8:22 AM

Posted by: Lani at January 4, 2006 8:37 AM

Posted by: Alesia Holliday at January 4, 2006 9:07 AM

Posted by: Hope at January 4, 2006 11:02 AM

Posted by: Jan at January 4, 2006 11:05 AM

Posted by: Alesia Holliday at January 4, 2006 11:16 AM

Posted by: Eileen at January 4, 2006 11:32 AM

Posted by: Beth at January 4, 2006 2:24 PM

Posted by: Alesia Holliday at January 4, 2006 3:24 PM

Posted by: Michelle C at January 5, 2006 8:16 AM

Posted by: Eileen at January 5, 2006 4:34 PM

Posted by: Helga at September 6, 2006 1:53 AM