Girlfriends by Susan Andersen
- Author: Marisa
- Published: Jul 23rd, 2008
Today we have a very special guest blogger, romance author, Susan Andersen. Ms. Andersen has been one of my favorite authors for many years, so when I discovered her My Space Page, well I just had to write and find out if she’d visit with us. And being the ever gracious and terrific person that she is, she agreed. Susan’s new book Cutting Loose releases July29th, and I already have my copy ordered. If Susan Andersen is a new author to you - she writes “contemporary romance with just enough suspense and comedy to keep things interesting. Her books have spent many weeks on the USAToday bestseller list, the New York Times Extended list, and have twice been included in RWA’s Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year. ” Of course you can read a sneak peek of Cutting Loose and also visit her website for more info – but before you do – today, Susan is blogging about Girlfriends.
Girlfriends by Susan Andersen
As a writer, I spend a lot of time alone–and usually that’s okay, because left to my own devices, I can be a bit of a loner. But like most women, I’ve got a secret weapon to pull me into the social stream–my girlfriends.
Girlfriends hold you up when you’re down. They make you laugh and hug you, hold your hand, or just sit quietly by your side when you cry. And, hey, who else will talk you into buying those shoes/clothes/you-name-it that you really want but are rationalizing yourself out of?
I have a few separate circles of women friends with the occasional intermix or crossover. I have my long-time friends that I’ve known forever and with whom I can pick up a conversation like no time at all has passed even if it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. I have writer friends that in the beginning I had only a vocation in common but with whom I’ve forged lasting friendships. My closest writer-chick circle is comprised of several of us who started out at roughly the same time. We grew up in the industry together and although we’re spread out over several states and two continents (so only see each other periodically) we talk frequently either online or by phone. I also have two event-specific groups comprised of women I rarely see outside those events but who fill the time we spend together with so much laughter and camaraderie that I always come away feeling refreshed and smiling.
But my dearest friend is Mimi. She and I met through my oldest brother, who worked with her husband Doug. We might have remained simply friendly acquaintances had she and Doug not bought a house on our block. Our husbands hit it off as well and we started getting together occasionally…then more often…then darn near every Saturday night until the kids got to that age where their events start taking up your every waking hour. And during those barbeques, shopping trips, card games and endless conversations, she became my best friend. We share a history that spans thirty years and encompasses husbands, kids and pets, books and food, joys and sorrows. She was there for me when my dad and my sister-in-law died. I was there for her when she went into labor with her second son. In fact, I thought for sure I was going to deliver him because she was too stubborn to go to the hospital until Doug got there to take her. Yeah, yeah, this is the pot calling the kettle black. But honest-to-God, she was on the phone lying to the doctor, telling him her contractions were ten minutes apart, while I–who’d been timing them –was yelling in the background, “Five minutes! They’re FIVE MINUTES APART!”
Cough. But I wander away from the point. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to find a friend who hits on all cylinders for you–who gets your humor and roots for your successes and commiserates with your failures. Who shares meals and comfort with equal generosity and who loves you simply for the person you are, warts and all. That’s what I got with Mimi.
And that’s the underlying premise of my new series, which I’m kicking off with my July 29th release of Cutting Loose, the first in my Sisterhood Diaries books. Jane, Poppy and Ava have been friends since the fourth grade and the three of them have inherited a rundown mansion. I hope you’ll join me in their adventures, in the struggles and joys they encounter and the men destined to be their soulmates whom they meet, wrangle and fall in love with.
But until then, who is special in your life? I’d love to hear.
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Marisa
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 4:46 am:
Hi Susan, I’m so glad you could join us on RNTV today. I’m a big fan of your work and I’m really looking forward
to reading Cutting Loose.
Friendship has been an ongoing theme lately here on RNTV; so I’ve had a lot of time to think about it. Everyone
here knows that my sister Maria is my go to girl. The one who gets me ‘warts and all’. But I’m also lucky enough
to have a mother who also ‘gets me’. She knows everything about me and still comes up loving me. LOL. We share very
similar tastes in music, books and movies, have similar senses of humor and can appreciate each other’s world views.
She’s an amazing woman who is always there for me no matter what. And if that weren’t enough my older sister, is also
one of my best friends. So when the O’Neill women get together it’s all for one, and one for all no matter what. We’re
a force to be reconkened with. And how lucky am I to have a posse of women to love me, get me, laugh with me, cry with me,
and watch my back no matter what.
Holly
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 6:48 am:
Hey Susan, I’ve been a fan since Beau entered my live in “Be My Baby”. And I’m really looking forward to reading Cutting Loose.
As for friends, can’t live with out them. My best friend Janey and I have known each other for over 15 years and can’t spend a day with out talking to each other. She helps me through all of life’s travails. And of course helps me celebrate all of life’s triumphs.
Susan Andersen
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 8:40 am:
Hey, Marisa, thanks for inviting me. As you can see I got past my self-inflicted tech problems. (A technical genius I am not)
My mother was my hero, too. She has dementia now, but she’s still Mom–at least at this point–she still has her sense of humor and the sheer niceness that makes her special. I envy you your sisters. I grew up with brothers and always wanted a sister. The closest thing I’ve got to one is my cousin Colleen. I just wished we lived closer.
Holly, your Janey sounds like my Mimi! It’s liberating knowing help/laughter/a warm hug is just on the other end of the line (or in my case down the block) isn’t it?
~Susan
Rachel
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 8:50 am:
Hi Susan, it’s exciting to see you on Romance Novel TV. I love your books. I don’t know about any one else but two of my favorites of yours are P.J. and Jared from your book Coming Undone. Cutting Loose looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun. I guess for me I have one best friend and we’ve been friends for over 10 years now. She moved to the other side of the country two years ago, consequently I have an unlimited calling plan so we can still talk a million times a day. She’s the kind of person you immediately want to tell when you find something funny, or weird. She’s the first person I want to tell good news to. She’s the first person I call before a date and after a date. She’s the greatest. I wish she still lived right around the corner.
Natalie
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 9:08 am:
I was just talking about this the other day, sitting around with a bunch of my girlfriends talking about how we couldn’t do life with out each other, and what a good thing it was that our husbands also got along. OR. They’d be in trouble. LOL.
Buffie
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 9:15 am:
Awww, Marisa, you post made me cry! That is too sweet. And I feel the same exact way about my mom.
Hey Susan! Welcome to RTNV. I am always happy to be introduced to a new-to-me author. I have just started reading contemporaries, so I’ll have to check your books out
As far as girlfriends, I could mention my mom or my sister, but for this post I think I’ll talk about my BFF Beth. Beth and I have been friends since we were in 8th grade. Needless to say, that has been a long time! We lived across the street from each other and shared many things together. During our summers off from school, we would bake those little cheapo pizzas and watch The Young and The Restless. We took walks around the neighborhood and lamented the fact that neither one of us had boyfriends. We have been through engagements, college, weddings, and children together. In fact, each of us have two boys and the oldest are about the same age and the youngest are about the same age. See, we even figured out how to extend our friendship to our offspring. Beth is the sweetest, kindest person I have ever met. She is sincere, loving, and is always there when I need to complain or cry or just be silent. Yep, that’s my BFF.
cheryl c.
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 9:26 am:
I love reading books that feature girl friendships. I really liked the 2 showgirl friends in your books Skintight and Just for Kicks.
AndreaW
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 1:38 pm:
Hi, Susan! Welcome to RNTV! Congrats on your newest release!
Well, besides my husband, my sisters are my best friends. They are a bit younger than me (15 and 16 years), but we are very close. It’s funny because I used to change their diapers and now they’re my best friends.
Susan Andersen
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 4:18 pm:
Rachel, thanks for the welcome. Coming Undone has a special place in my heart, too. PJ was supposed to be just a walk on character in Hot & Bothered, but that little girl grabbed hold of my imagination and refused to let go. I knew before I finished writing H&B that I had to write Jared and PJ’s story. And I was thrilled to find out in March that Coming Undone was nominated for a RITA in Contemporary Single Title, the highest award in Romance Writers of America. I’m up against some beaucoup stiff competition, but even if I don’t win, (the awards ceremony is Saturday August 2) I’ve had a blast being a nominee. If you haven’t seen this already, check out the trash talking video a bunch of the nominees made. It should make you laugh. You can find it at my website: http://www.susanandersen.com
Didn’t mean to self promote on and on. I’m just very pumped over the honor given a book that I’m really proud of.
~Susan
Susan Andersen
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 4:25 pm:
Natalie, it sounds like you’re blessed with a BUNCH of best friends. That’s gotta be comforting! And it’s so lucky when the guys get along as well. Relationships can be so tricky and so many times the women like each other but the men don’t or visa versa.
Susan Andersen
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 4:29 pm:
Hi, Buffie. Thanks for the welcome. And it is always cool to hear about women who’ve had their friends since they were kids. I just recently reconnected with an old friend. Joey and I were really good friends in junior high school, then drifted apart when we went to high school. (bigger school, we both got in to our boyfriends–you know how it sometimes goes) We recently ran into each other at our gym and have started walking every Wednesday. Saturday we’re meeting to go to our high school reunion together. I won’t tell you which one. Suffice it to say it was a loooooooong time ago.
Susan Andersen
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 4:33 pm:
Cheryl, thanks. I came to connected books late and my longest one featured guy pals. (The Marines) It was fun to do a women friends series. And I’m really enjoying this newest chick friends one. I’m just finishing up Bending The Rules, which is book two in the Sisterhood Diaries books.
Susan Andersen
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 4:37 pm:
Andrea, thanks for the welcome and the congrats! I envy those of you with sisters. I grew up in a more spit and scratch world. I have two brothers and dad, and my grandfather lived with us from the time I was about 7. That was fun, lemme tell you–six of us in a little one bathroom house. You should have seen it when my aunt and uncle and two cousins lived with us for a period while my uncle was getting back on his feet financially. We had allotted bathroom times and if you missed or were late for yours, too bad. You didn’t get another opportunity to bathe until the next day. Actually, it wasn’t all that bad. I didn’t know any different at the time. ~S
keoweegirl
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 5:49 pm:
Hi Susan! Welcome to RNTV! I love your books. You can count me among those who fell in love with PJ when I read H&B. We had to wait a long time for PJ and Jared’s story but it was so worth it. Good luck on RITA night!
I don’t have any sisters (four younger brothers) but I’m blessed with some terrific girlfriends who hold a special place in my heart. One is a woman I met at work 24 years ago. We immediately clicked and, even though we now live in different states, we remain best friends. I know she would be here in a heartbeat if I ever needed her (in fact when my husband suffered a stroke 13 years ago she was on a plane the very next morning) and I would do the same for her.
Surprisingly, some of my closest girlfriends (other than my best friend, Deb) are women I met online in 2001. We were all members of a message board for women over 40 and for a year we “talked” through the board almost every day. We got to know one another without all the preconceived notions that come with meeting someone in person. In 2002 we decided to meet in person and all flew to Chicago for a girls only weekend. It was a huge success and since then we have gotten together every year in a different city. We still talk almost daily and I count them among my very closest friends. We’ve been through births, deaths, cancer, weddings and divorces together and each occurrence has only made our friendship stronger.
~PJ
Susan Andersen
on Jul 24th, 2008
@ 6:22 pm:
Thanks for the welcome, PJ! Your online group sounds cool–and quite familiar. That’s what my writer friends group is like. We first met on an authors loop when we all wrote for Avon. We met in person for the first time in Anaheim in ‘98. From there personalities sort of narrowed down the group that I hang out with most often. Don’t get me wrong, I liked everyone. But you know how you are just drawn more to some people than to others? So a group of us made plans to stay after one of the national conferences and see the sights around the hosting city for a few days. We’ve planned additional get togethers since then. This year we’re spending an extra four days in San Francisco and I’m so looking forward to it because it’s been about a year and 3/4 since I’ve seen them. We’re from all over. A few of us live in the Pacific NW–two in Oregon and me in Seattle. Then we have one from California, one from Nebraska and one from Australia. We’re on an email loop but it doesn’t compare with actually seeing each other face to face.
All of which is a long way of saying I can readily appreciate your Over 40s group.
yolanda spearman
on Jul 28th, 2008
@ 9:18 am:
I have a few separate circles of women friends with the occasional intermix or crossover. I have my long-time friends that I’ve known forever and with whom I can pick up a conversation like no time at all has passed even if it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. I have writer friends that in the beginning I had only a vocation in common but with whom I’ve forged lasting friendships.
Chris - Beatrice D'Souza
on Dec 19th, 2008
@ 9:15 pm:
I was wondering who the charachters are in your seond book “Bending the Rules”? I am just reading “Cutting Loose” and I was wondering if Poppy falls in love with Detective De Sanges, please reply. Thanks heaps… Chris