If you didn’t happen to hear my radio interview broadcast of Feb 3, 2017 on the Doug Dahlgren show, here are about two minutes of my best answers and comments – the sound bites.
The Short Version
Pizza, Salad, 4 Movies and the Oscars
Last weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:
- Shallots
- Jalapeños
- Portobellos
For me, a spinach salad.
(Recent) Movies:
Hidden Figures
Gold
Fanny’s Journey
Lion
The OSCARS are coming!
Not surprisingly, La La Land has received lots of nominations. Although I enjoyed it, I don’t think it should be awarded Best Picture (but I expect that it will). There was much about that movie to like, but the story just didn’t do it for me. It was the ending that killed it – not to mention some aspects of the plot. A recent Wall Street Journal article sums up my feelings almost exactly (note: spoilers!)
I saw the four films listed above after seeing La La Land. Each are based on true stories, and I loved all of them except Gold (and I liked that a lot). What I didn’t like about Gold: the way Matthew McConaughey looked (he gained weight for the role), and the fact that I found the film too long.
The other 3 movies were fantastic, in my opinion.
Fanny’s Journey was in French with English subtitles (I saw it during the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival), so you may not know about it. I highly recommend it. Hidden Figures and Lion were very, very good, and I think each should win some awards. My pick for Best Picture? It’s a toss up between the two.
We’ll see what the Academy decides, tomorrow night.
List Post, février 2017
February is almost over, and I’ve forgotten to do a LIST POST! So here it is:
- I’ve been on a Radio Show (on Feb 3) and done three author events over the last weekend! Check out the Radio Show broadcast on my MEDIA page. An edited, short version of the best SOUND BITES is on the way…Stay tuned.
- Look on FACEBOOK for photos of my events (or scroll down), at Humpus Bumpus Books in Cumming, “Lunch Can Be Murder” Sisters in Crime event (and 30th anniversary celebration) in Smyrna, and Sunday Tea and Book Signing at Bookmiser in Roswell.
- My last Book Signing this month will be on Friday Feb 24 from 12 Noon to 3:00 at Bernard Dugaud Atelier de Beauté. Park in the back and enter there – you will find me and my books, and lots of French-speaking fun and talented people!
- MARDI GRAS is coming up… and I’ll appear at a local BOOK CLUB on Ash Wednesday, March 1, to talk about my novel DADDY’S GIRL. Two more Book Clubs have me on their schedules this spring. Let me know if you want me to appear at yours!
- Finally, the OSCARS are coming up, and I’ve seen 4 great films recently that I have yet to tell you about in “Pizza and a Movie” – but I will, before the 26th.
Pizza and a Movie (and a Radio Show)
We went to Corner Pizza once so far this year (in January), before going to see a movie, and here were our Pizza Toppings (I had a chicken salad sandwich):
- Green Olives
- Jalapeños
- Ham
Movie:
La La Land
I loved almost everything about this film, and really enjoyed it. The story, the singing, the dancing, the piano playing…but I wasn’t fond of the ending. I had something different in mind, an ending that would have been more satisfying and even would have made (more) sense. If you have seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about. I mean – why not?
Now for my upcoming radio show appearance on Friday – and yes, we do plan to go see a movie that night. But between now and 11:00 on Friday, February 3, 2017, I’m more focused on my interview with radio host and author Doug Dahlgren on The Doug Dahlgren Show.
Doug interviews an author on this program every Friday, and he asked me to appear on it a few months ago when we attended an event in Athens, Georgia. I’m looking forward to talking and answering questions about my book ALL THE ABOVE, as well as my novels.
I mentioned it today to a new friend whose mother is a famous published poet. We chatted about fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and languages. My friend offered a few words and expressions commonly used in, of all places, the fashion industry (she got them from a daughter in that business, and her mom the poet has used them in describing poems, too).
They are:
- underpinnings
- added value
- tailor-made
- exit appeal
I plan to use them on the broadcast on Friday when talking about ALL THE ABOVE. How? Tune into the show, and if you comment below about how I used them to describe the book or the writing of it, you may just win a signed copy!
List Post: janvier 2017
- My calendar is filling up! Click News & Events for my upcoming appearances, all in February: Book Signings in Cumming, Roswell, and Buckhead; a Sunday Tea; a Saturday Luncheon; and a Radio Interview! Sign up there to receive my bi-monthly newsletter (the January 2017 edition was just published).
- This month, I’m back to and hard at work on my next novel, a domestic suspense.
- And on Monday, January 30, I’ll attend the “Simply Buckhead Welcome Party” to benefit CURE Childhood Cancer with two lovely friends (and “Quiet Hero” moms). Hope to see you there!
Pizza, Salad, and a Movie: Manchester By The Sea
This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:
- Capers
- Jalapeños
- Chicken
I tried a new salad: “The V-8.” It was great!
Movie:
Manchester By The Sea
What can I say about this film, other than that it was sad? My husband said it reminded him of Ordinary People (which I liked better than this). Once I got used to the Boston/northern accents – which took a few minutes – I was involved with the characters. But overall, I didn’t enjoy this movie as much as I had hoped to. I knew it was a drama, and would probably be a tragic story, but I was looking for something else, something that just never happened.
And it left me feeling unhappy.
Let me know if you see it and you have a different reaction. I’d love to know what you thought.
Pizza, Salad, 4 Movies and a Book Signing
I’ve been busy!
Last weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:
- Black Olives
- Jalapeños
- Banana Peppers
(Yes, that’s my house salad on the left.)
I’ve seen 4 movies over the last couple of weeks, and I invite you to guess (in comments below) which one I saw with my husband on our Pizza/Salad night out. Here they are, in no particular order:
- Loving
- Arrival
- The Edge of Seventeen
- Allied
Here they are in order of how well I liked them:
- Loving
- Allied & The Edge of Seventeen (tie)
- Arrival
It’s movie season right now, and I’m looking forward to the one we have agreed to see this week. (Please guess that, too.)
Now for today’s book signing with my pal, poet and author Gelia Dolcimascolo. We had a super day at Crema Espresso Gourmet, meeting and chatting with readers, signing books, and posing for photos. It was chilly but not cold, and sunny, and after the rain we have had recently it seemed like lots of people were glad to get out. The place was packed!
If you missed it and want signed copies of our books, let me know – we have a few left.
Books make great holiday gifts!
Above: Two readers with Gelia and me
My side of our table
Below: Another reader (she bought a copy of each) and me
List Post, décembre 2016 + HOLIDAY POEM!
- Write my next novel
- Get ready for Christmas (at home, this year)
- Celebrate the holidays with family and friends
- And on Tuesday, December 13 – the Killer Nashville Facebook Page will host my guest blog.
I met KN blog coordinator Tom Wood back in September at the Decatur Book Festival, and he asked me to submit a post for later on…which I did, and Voilà!
I’d love for you to read it and Like it.
Now, for this year’s verse:
My holiday poem, I’ll try to make short.
The year’s highlights, to you, I’ll describe and report.
Two thousand sixteen will be history soon,
and I’ve time to consider that, this afternoon.
I began the year busy with two new endeavors:
got on Facebook, and found it both easy and clever.
I started my newsletter also, and found
it a way to update you all – all the year ’round.
In the spring, my last book, Daddy’s Girl, was released
and my number of novels out, by one, increased.
In the summer, just after it won an award
My nonfiction book, All the Above, struck a chord
With the public, when I penned an article in
the Atlanta newspaper (called the AJC). Then,
in the fall, I attended three festivals where
I met readers and authors and others who share
in the interest of stories, both made-up and true.
I had fun, and ’twas hard, to them all, bid adieu.
I will close with my wishes of love and good cheer.
Joyeuses fêtes de Noel and a Happy New Year!
Two women walk into a café…
…and stay for three hours (12:30 – 3:30) on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, to chat with customers and sign copies of their latest books!
Come to Crema Espresso Gourmet, 2458 Mt. Vernon Rd., Dunwoody, Georgia (across from All Saints Catholic Church) for lunch or coffee, and pick up Gelia Dolcimascolo’s fantasy novel, AURELIA AND THE LIBRARY OF THE SOUL, my suspense novel, DADDY’S GIRL, and my creative nonfiction, ALL THE ABOVE: MY SON’S BATTLE WITH BRAIN CANCER.
Books make great holiday gifts!
Aurelia and the Library of the Soul is a must-have for kids and adults, and is destined to become a classic. A prize-winning poet, Gelia has been The Writers Circle facilitator and LTC writing tutor on the GSU-Dunwoody campus for 25 years. Learn more about Gelia and her work at geliawrites.com
Daddy’s Girl is just the thing for readers on your holiday shopping list (and you)! All the Above: My Son’s Battle with Brain Cancer, a Georgia Author of the Year Finalist, is perfect for moms, dads, and anyone whose world has changed in a day.
We hope to see you at Crema!
Love, Julia and Gelia
List Post, novembre 2016
It’s almost time for turkey Thanksgiving! (What?)
It’s the middle of November, and I’m just now getting around to posting this month’s List! (I’ve been busy.)
Just before the U.S. presidential election, my monsieur and I headed to the Caribbean for a long-awaited vacation on a beautiful island paradise. It was gorgeous, fun, and relaxing!
On a “sunset cruise” together
The next weekend, I was off to moderate the nonfiction panel at the 2nd Annual Milton Literary Festival in Alpharetta, GA, where I also discussed my book ALL THE ABOVE.
Me, talking books
So…what do I have coming up?
See my Events tab for details, but in a nutshell:
- Book Signing, Crema Espresso Gourmet, Dunwoody, GA, Wed, Dec 7, 12:30-3:30
- Interview, America’s Web Radio Show, “The Prologue,” Fri, Feb 3, 11:00 a.m.
- Book Signing & Sunday Tea, Bookmiser Book Store, Roswell, GA, Sun, Feb 19, 2:00-3:30
- And in March I’ll appear at the Dahlonega Literary Festival, followed by a panel discussion appearance at the April meeting of the Atlanta Writers Club in Dunwoody, GA.
In between, I’ll be writing my next novel, and celebrating the holidays with my family and friends.
Joyeuses fêtes de Thanksgiving, et bon apétit!
JULIA MCDERMOTT 