Who doesn’t love a little glitz and glam? Come on, I think I’d make one heck of a BFF to Paris. Okay, probably not. I’d keep asking when she was going to work and why it’s necessary to spend all that money on fake hair when you can just grow it yourself. But that doesn’t mean I’m not fascinated by the lifestyles of the rich and famous. I watch E! News like everyone else.
This is why I’m thrilled to showcase the latest uber luxurious book by GCC member Jennifer Banash. Her latest novel IN TOO DEEP, the second in the Elite series, debuted through Berkley just last month.
As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:
The Bramford building’s newest resident and small-town transplant Casey McCloy is adapting to life in the Big Apple and loving it. She’s got the look, the attitude, and a delish new boyfriend, Drew Van Allen. But she’s starting to have second thoughts as to whether the “New York” Casey is the real Casey. And she’s not so sure she likes herself much anymore. She’s not the only one.
Madison Macallister has always had her Manolo Blahniks firmly planted on the top rung of the social ladder—until that corn-fed cow Casey stole Drew away from her and made her look the fool. So what if Madison wasn’t exactly dating Drew at the time? She wanted him. And everyone knows that Madison gets what she wants, like Drew—and a little revenge.
Here’s what Jennifer had to say:
Q: In AMOR AND SUMMER SECRETS, Mariana discovers a hidden family secret. Are you a good secret keeper?
Jennifer: No, I am AWFUL! Seriously, you should never tell me anything if you don’t want it to get around to absolutely everyone. I am a notorious gossip, but only IF the gossip is really juicy. If it’s just random stuff, then it’s probably safe with me 😉
Q: What is the favorite place you ever traveled to, and what was the coolest thing you saw/did there?
Jennifer: My favorite place I’ve ever traveled to is Paris. It is the one place I’ve ever visited that not only lived up to all of the ridiculous expectations I’d set up in my mind before I even left the states, but surpassed them. I try to go every year for a few weeks at least. I spent three whole summers in France, and they were the best months of my life. It’s my dream to own an apartment there someday in the 18th—where they shot the movie Amelie.
I totally agree, Jen! I’ve been to Paris twice—the second time was on my first wedding anniversary. Very romantic.
Q: I often tell the story of how a psychic once predicted that I would go on to write children’s books. Have you ever visited a psychic?
Jennifer: Nope, I’ve never visited one personally, but an old roommate of mine did, and she got taken for around $1,000! Supposedly she needed to pay so much in order to get a “curse” taken off her love life. Sigh. It was a little ridiculous. I think psychics are largely disreputable because they often make it a practice to prey on people who are desperate, and offer false hope for an exorbitant price. I have gotten my tarot cards read though, and that was fun!
Q: My character Mariana spends her summer in Puerto Rico connecting with her father’s heritage. Have you ever researched your family tree?
Jennifer: I’m Sicilian, Czech, and Scottish. I’m mostly Italian and come from a very Italian family (like a movie—screaming over the dinner table, total chaos, you get the picture), so I’ve always aligned myself with that particular culture, and never researched the other side of my family very much. The way I identify myself in general is:
1) New Yorker (well, ex-NY’er now!)
2) Italian American
Q: Where were you when you found out that your book was going to be published?
Jennifer: I was in my kitchen, talking on the phone to my editor. I was shaking in my shoes because I had just asked for more money, and I thought she was going to just say forget it to the whole series. It was really stressful for me, because I didn’t have an agent at the time—I sold THE ELITE series completely on my own—which I DON’T recommend doing! I wasn’t exactly elated afterward, just exhausted! I think I took a nap when I hung up, LOL!
Thank you, Jennifer! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!
