Our guest today: Jess Riley
Why we love her: Her writing has some bite to it–it’s sharp and sassy.
Her latest: All The Lonely People
The scoop: WANTED: a whole new family to share holidays with. Please have a good heart and be a thoughtful, polite person. No sociopaths, no pedophiles, no fans of the Kardashians. We’re not weirdos, I promise. I love old Steve Martin movies, new Steve Martin banjo tunes, Indian food, and reruns of Bob Ross painting happy little trees. So if you’re looking for something other than the typical family dysfunction this Christmas, drop us a line.” After losing her beloved mother to cancer, 37-year-old Jaime Collins must confront the ugly fact that she and her siblings don’t actually like one another. At all. Fueled by grief and an epic argument at Thanksgiving dinner, Jaime decides to ‘divorce’ her siblings and posts an ad on Craigslist for a new family for Christmas. What happens next is a heartwarming, funny, and surprising journey to forgiveness and healing. Is blood really thicker than water? And how far do we have to go to find our way back home again? Dedicated to anyone who has ever wanted to unfriend a relative on Facebook, ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE is about family: those you make … and those you make peace with.
Our thoughts: We think you’ll love this novel about a seriously dysfunctional family–it will make you feel better about your own!
Giveaway: FIVE copies! Leave a comment here and you’ll be entered to win! We’ll choose the winners after 3pm PST on Sunday, January 20th.
Fun Fact: In college, Jess worked briefly at a medium-security men’s prison, which inspired her next novel.
Where you can read more about Jess: Her website, Facebook, or Twitter.
CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS…JESS RILEY’S 5 BEST EVERS
Best Song: If you’re someone I just met in real life, I’ll probably tell you I listen to The Middle East, or The Avett Brothers, or Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. And much of my iPod is indeed devoted to these artists. But when I’m driving alone in my car, what do I crank up and sing along to? “Say it Isn’t So” by The Outfield. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot. “Save a Prayer” by Duran Duran. Anything by Journey. Even “Master of Puppets” by Metallica, which I was belting out just the other day. Basically anything that would make you instinctively turn the volume way, way down when you pull up to a stoplight. Maybe when I turn 40 in a few years I won’t care so much what strangers in crosswalks and other cars think of my taste in music, but for now, I just don’t want to deal with the weird looks. (But here’s something: will I still listen to songs like Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills” when I’m 60? Or will I listen to The Black Keys on the oldies station?)
Best Book: Here I will list the books I read in 2012 that inspired dramatic emotional reactions:
Made this old cynic sob uncontrollably: Labor Day by Joyce Maynard
Made me laugh out loud on nearly every page: Bossypants by Tina Fey
Made me insanely jealous, because I wish I could write like that: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Made me wish I had a better attention span so I would actually read it: The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach
Best Movie: I love a very specific kind of sappy movie, and It’s a Wonderful Life meets the mark, hands-down. Funny, quirky, corny, with a surprising dark edge that ultimately leads you to a happy ending and positive message.* I watch it every Christmas and have to pretend I’m not actually crying at the end every time. *This also happens to be the tone I try to strike in my own writing, except without all the “Hee-haws!” and insinuation that life as a spinster librarian is about the worst end you could meet.
Best Life Moment: I LOVE hearing from readers—nothing is more gratifying, but another author recently said that in answer to this question and I don’t want to copy her … so I’m going to go with the nostalgic golden years of my childhood, when my mom and I lived with my grandparents inside a state park on the shores of Lake Michigan. I was trying to soothe my five-year-old nephew to sleep the other night, and this is what I told him about living with my grandparents when I was his age, in a soft, gentle voice: “Some of my aunts and uncles still lived at home, so there was never a shortage of people to read to me or play with. There would be epic badminton games on the lawn, and when cousins came to visit we’d build sandcastles on the beach. Grandma would take me for long walks through the woods, and in summer I fell asleep listening to the waves washing onto the dunes, hearing the whippoorwills cooing in the trees. The air smelled like wild raspberries and majestic white pines, and—”
Nephew, interrupting, sleepy but wired from the Little Debbie oatmeal pie he’d eaten before bed: “Did you know … that the largest state in South America is … BRAZIL!?”
Best Advice: Never rollerskate backward in a skirt, and never get a perm at Cost Cutters. Also, quitters always win (if you’re quitting smoking and negative thinking patterns).
Thanks, Jess! xoxo, L&L
Love the music! I am 46 and still listen to a lot of the songs she mentioned. I don’t think that will ever stop. The book sounds really good ( a lot like my family actually) and I can’t wait to read it.
sounds good! thanks for the giveaway chance!
As the years pass, I seem to cry more during It’s a Wonderful Life.
I love your thoughts that it will make us feel better about our own crazy families! Ach!
I would love to Unfriend half my fb!!!! Lol
I’d love to win a copy!!!
I love Gordon Lightfoot and have a crazy family! This book sounds great!
I’m fortunate in my family…. unlike a number of people I know.
sounds like a good book
I know there are times I’d like to “divorce” my family! This book sounds like it will be a great fun read.
This book has been on my to-read list!
I’m so excited to learn about this book. It’s going on my reading list (but a free copy would be welcome of course). Best of luck to Jess. Can’t imagine what the next book will be like!
you had me at dysfunctional family at Christmas….
I’m leaving a comment but I’ve already read Jess’ book. I just want to add that it’s a terrific read. Jess really knows how to pull you into a story and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, someone needs to turn this book into a movie. The premise is begging for Sold Film Rights.
Already have the book downloaded on my kindle! But so excited to see Jess here at chicklitisnot dead. Great combo!
Already have the book downloaded on my kindle! But so excited to see Jess here at chicklitisnotdead. Great combo!
Ha Ha! I don’t remember being interviewed…sounds just like my family and my mother even “divorced” me a few years ago. Must Read.
Would love to win this book. Been meaning to read it. She is wonderful writer.
This book sounds hilarious, I can definitely relate!
Sounds like a great story! Can’t wait to see what happens
I wonder if Jamie Collins and I are somehow related?
I have always secretly been jealous of those “friend families” that people have for all the important events in their lives.
This sounds hilarious.
Wow, this sounds remarkable! I like everyone else DO have family members that I wish I could “unfriend” and those that you look at like “if we weren’t related we wouldn’t even speak”. I can’t wait to read the book and find out how she tackles the touchy, emotional fueding family.
Love her!
Adding this one to my reading list and would love to win a copy.
sounds like a great read!
This looks good! I’d love to read more…
Not familiar with Jess Riley but I will check her out asap!!!
Love the premise of this book….sadly, I can totally relate!
Sounds like it will be a great read! Thanks!
I love Jess as a person and writer…simply brilliant!
I love the concept of this story! Thanks for the opportunity!
Sounds like a great read! I loved Driving Sideways.
I heard about this book. Can’t wait to read it! Hope to win a copy!
I love the idea of this novel, who doesn’t want to trade in their family at some point, I have wanted to trade in some of my relatives at one point or another, love the music choices.
Sounds like we have the same ipod! I can’t wait to read to this this. Loved Driving Sideways and am looking forward to reading All the Lonely People
It looks like a unique story.
I’ve heard lots of great things about this book! I’m looking forward to reading it. :)
What? Turn down Gordon Lightfoot? Seriously, I crank that dude WAY up! Can’t wait to read this one, Jess! Rock on!
Interesting title and premise.
So looking forward to reading this one; especially after my crazy holidays. Thanks for hosting another great author!
I love It’s a Wonderful Life, especially George’s friends Bert and Ernie.
This sounds like a “must read” to me.
I’ve been seeing this book around and I love the idea of it! (I am lucky and have a good family, though, so can’t complain, LOL). I would love to win this one!!
This is exactly what I need!! Actually my bf may need it more?!?! Sounds like a great story.
What an interesting premise! Can’t wait to read it!
Love her list and advice!! This book sounds amazing…I would love to win a copy for my best friend…this sounds scarily just like her family issues. She needs to read this!! Thanks for sharing :)
I would love to read this!
I really need to read this book, since I loved Driving Sideways. The main reason is that I just realized that I did divorce my family about three years ago. The reasons were many, pretty boring to anyone who doesn’t know my family dynamics. I can’t wait to read what happens in Jess’s book. Hey, it might even reunite me with my family………or not. But I do know it is a book I need to read.
sounds like a great premise for a book – would love to win a copy!
I LOVE all of this, Jess, especially being no fan of the KARDASHIANS! I say you start a movement, we have TWO members already!
I can’t wait to read YOUR version of HOLIDAY family dysfunction. For many of us it’s a daily way of life! Good luck with your novel!
This sounds like a good story :)
I already own this gem of a book, but I loved the advice! The part about having a better attention span for certain books resonated with me the most.
i already like her just because she likes it’s a wonderful life!!!!!
i constantly tell my kids that in the end you only have each other…for now they like each other..hope it continues! thanks for the opportunity to win!
I have been hearing wonderful things about this book. Got to read it!
An author wrote about the family into which your born and the family you choose. The latter wins.
Thanks fr the giveaway.
This really sounds like a lovely read. Plus, the title makes me think of the Beatles song with the same lyrics. :) Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Looks like an awesome book!
Ironic timing – I just had to “unfriend” a family member on Facebook for her political rants. If anyone says they have a perfect family they are LYING! :-) Sounds like a great story line – I’m excited to read it!
My family has always been dysfunctional. This is perfect for me.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I did not know this was even a website so I’m excited to add it to my list of blogs to read.
Driving Sideways was fantastic and I can’t wait to read All the Lonely People.
My cat is named Edmund Fitzgerald Orange after my favorite soap opera character (Edmund Grey on All My Children) and one of my favorite songs, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. It’s a Wonderful Life is one of my favorite movies. I like it when I read books by people that I think I would love to hang out with if I met them in IRL. Also, the best life moment? That’s seriously cute and adorable.
Jess called our book club for Driving Sideways… This one sounds great, too!
Hope I’m not too late!!! This sounds great!
I’d love to win a copy! xx
THis sounds great and perfect for just after the holidays to make you feel better about your own dysfunctional family. Definite need to read.
Nicole
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]! Thanks to all who entered! xoxo
Thank you. Sent my info.