1–What is the title of your latest release? GOODNIGHT FROM PARIS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? In Nazi-occupied France, an American film star takes on the most dangerous role of her life in a gripping novel about loyalty and resistance, inspired by a true story, from the Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Secret Stealers. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It’s inspired by a true story of an American actress living in Paris, so that had to be the location. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I think I would – she was a real person in history – a complex woman with a fascinating life story. I’d love to get to know her better. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Strong-willed, confident, brave 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That the Germans really imprisoned American women in a zoo outside Paris after the U.S. entered the war. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? A little bit of both actually. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Really fantastic gourmet cheese! 9–Describe your writing space/office! It’s in…

With Christmas nearly upon us, thoughts turn to gifts, gift-giving and what a “gift” truly means.  What could be a greater blessing than realizing the “American Dream,” proving that with hard work and determination, a person can come from anywhere with virtually nothing and achieve whatever success they desire?  The set of stories we’ll look at this month feature both “haves” struggling to fit into their world and “have-nots” determined to create for themselves a future better than their past. Moving chronologically, we begin with THE SATURDAY EVENING GIRLS CLUB: A NOVEL by Jane Healey.  The author follows the lives of four young immigrant women in Boston’s North End, who find friendship and hope for a better life amid pottery-making and conversation at the Saturday Evening Girls Club.  All must fight not just poverty and prejudice, but the traditional expectations of their conservative ethnic families. Enterprising Caprice longs to become an entrepreneur running her own hat shop; bookish Ada, to obtain a college education, stunning Maria to avoid becoming trapped, like her Italian Catholic mother, in marriage to an abusive alcoholic, while timid Theo yearns to escape the rigid requirements of her strict Jewish tradition.  The friendship and support forged…