Winner of Lauren Strasnick book + win Denise Jaden’s debut LOSING FAITH!

HER AND ME AND YOU winner!

Congratulations to the winner of Lauren Strasnick’s latest book, HER AND ME AND YOU…

Carly!
(aka Carly Reads)

Congrats, Carly! Please contact me here with your mailing address. I’ll forward it along to Lauren, and you’ll receive your book directly from her publisher.

And now…

GCC presents Denise Jaden!

It’s GCC time again! This week, I’m delighted to bring you my fellow Tenner…

Denise Jaden

Welcome, Denise! (Readers: Be sure to check out the LOSING FAITH giveaway at the end of the interview!)

The Girlfriend

Name:

Denise Jaden

Short Bio:

Denise Jaden lives just outside Vancouver, Canada. When she’s not writing, she can often be found homeschooling her son or dancing with her Polynesian dance troupe. Losing Faith is her first novel. Find out more at denisejaden.com.

The Book

Losing Faith
September 7, 2010
Simon Pulse
**On shelves now**


A terrible secret.
A terrible fate.
 
When Brie’s sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie’s world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don’t know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don’t line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith’s final night…a secret that puts her own life in danger.

Up Close and Personal

1.   PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Was being a published author a dream of yours? If so, how does it feel to have achieved your dream?

Being a published author has only been a recent dream of mine, say in the last seven years or so. Still, it is a major accomplishment, and when I look around and see so many writers trying so hard to get published (many whom I would consider more talented than I am!) I am truly humbled by it all.

2.   CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?

I’d love to be able to personally connect with teens and young people and somehow make their world easier for them. I know *I* had a hard time as a teen, and the world certainly hasn’t gotten any easier for that age. I’d love for my books to make even just one person feel understood and not alone in the world.

3.   GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?

What am I NOT grateful for might be an easier question! I am so incredibly blessed. I have a wonderfully supportive and encouraging husband, the best son in the world (I know, I’m a bit biased here) and I’m seeing a piece of my heart (my first book) hit the shelves. I also have better friends than a person could rightfully ask for and an extended family who are made of awesome. Truly, truly blessed!

Author Fun!

4.   SECRET SQUEE MOMENT: What is the coolest thing that’s happened to you since becoming a published author?

My best moment was still when I received my first offer of representation. Hearing someone in the world–a publishing professional no less!-use the “L” word about my writing for the first time.I’ll never forget that moment.

5.   ALL-TIME MOST MEMORABLE BOOK: What book had the greatest impact on you growing up?

To be honest, I didn’t read a lot growing up. I always thought of reading as “work” and I think I missed out on so much because of that attitude. I do, however, have fond memories of ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT’S ME MARGARET? By Judy Blume. It made me laugh out loud and feel a sense of camaraderie.

6.   THE REAL DEAL: If you could go back in time and give your teen/tween self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Only one? Well, okay. Even though I know I wouldn’t have listened, I would still tell my teen self not to worry so much about what other people think of me.

Thanks to Denise for a terrific interview.   I’m delighted to be offering up a free copy of LOSING FAITH to one lucky commenter courtesy of Denise’s lovely publisher. This publisher giveaway is open to US only. Comment below by Monday, October 25, 2010 for your chance to win!

Entry Filed under: Girlfriends Cyber Circuit