Those of you who haven’t yet gone through the college admissions process will think that my novel, GETTING IN, surely exaggerates how crazy things get. Those of you who have survived to tell the tale know the truth – which is that everything I wrote about could easily have happened, and in fact may have to someone you know. I’ve spent most of my life writing non-fiction, and at first I thought about doing it again this time – writing an irreverent parents’ guide to surviving college admissions with your sense of humor and perspective intact. But the world hardly needs another guide book. And besides, to me the family stories were far more interesting than the question of where a particular kid happened to get accepted or get turned down. I made up funny subtitles for a novel, to get myself in the right frame of mind: A Comedy of Bad Manners, or A Novel of Desire, because the way we behave seemed a far richer subject than the process itself. I found myself rereading Edith Wharton, Jane Austen, Dawn Powell, and thinking about family and ambition and dreams and competition. I began to look at college as yet…

Most of us have money challenges: credit card debt, too much month at the end of the money, problems with guilt spending and retail therapy. Sometimes those money problems can feel overwhelming. That’s where girlfriends come in. They save us from having to face those problems alone. Our good friends sympathize and support us. They comfort us with chocolate. They help us stay motivated. I’m a firm believer in girl power and the value of bringing in the girlfriend squad to help us conquer our challenges. Which is just what my three friends do in my novel Small Change! When faced with money, life, and love problems these women band together, determined to start making changes. The ones they make eventually add up to a big difference in their attitudes and how their lives play out. The book is fiction, but the concept is real life. Pulling together with your friends is the best way to conquer those financial challenges. So, how exactly can your girlfriend squad help you? First, they can help you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to money. Most of us have a hard time finding our money management flaws. If you tend to…

May 2010 On Sale: May 4, 2010 Featuring: Zachary; Logan; Aura 320 pages ISBN: 1416994068 EAN: 9781416994060 Hardcover $17.99 Young Adult Paranormal Buy at Amazon.com Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready When her boyfriend dies a most untimely death, Aura–who can see ghosts–is forced to reconsider her relationship with the living and dead in SHADE. Love ties them together. Death can’t tear them apart. Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan’s band playing a critical gig and Aura’s plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend’s life. She never thought it would be his last. Logan’s sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He’s gone. Well, sort of. Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost. It doesn’t help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit….