On New York’s NBC Channel 4, Bill Goldstein recommended Major Pettigrew as just the right book for spring. I shared air time with Cathleen Schine’s wonderful The Three Weissmans of Westport. View here.

Listen here to my recommendation of three novels of manners that were not written by Jane Austen. While Jane is the true master, the novel of manners, in the hands of other authors, continues to show up the world for what it is. Small domestic squabbles mirror the largest of world issues and we don’t seem to get any better at being kind, do we? I was very grateful to be invited onto NPR’s famous All Things Considered, to read this piece.

I recently returned to New York to be interviewed on the Leonard Lopate show, on local NPR affiliate, WNYC.  Leonard knows how to grill a writer and get straight to the heart of a book.  Great fun and a dream fulfilled for an NPR fan from Brooklyn.   Listen here.

Major Pettigrew has obviously been on a campaign to win hearts and minds and has achieved his mission in an unexpected record time. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand has just made it onto the NY Times Bestseller list at #14 (tied with #13). In addition, Indiebound, which represents the nation’s independent bookstores, has him at #3 on their bestseller list.  The Washington Post debuted him at #9 and he is popping up on other lists as we speak. I am overwhelmed at the response to what was supposed to be a small literary debut.  Thank you to all who have written to me to say how much you’ve enjoyed the book.

Read an interview with me at Bookbrowse where this week, Major Pettigrew is an Editor’s Choice.

Hello, Just starting to read your new novel that I picked for my book club to read in May. Will you be putting together a question guide for book clubs in the very near future? If so how would I find it online? Thank you very much and looking forward to reading your book. I read only wonderful reviews on it. Best of luck to you,  P.

Thanks for emailing me with your question.  I have to confess I’m not a huge fan of reading guides, which remind me too much of school and homework.  However, I’ve had to lead book club discussions myself and I know it’s a big responsibility to put together good notes.  I always found first person interviews with the author were useful (there are a couple posted here).  Also, just for you, I tried to think about what themes interested me enough to include them.  I came up with inheritance (an endless source of both comedy and tragedy), parents and their adult children (King Lear having the ultimate in bad offspring), defining community by exclusion of  the ‘other,’ and of course, that comment your neighbor made last week that  you didn’t realize, until half an hour later, was a complete  insult.  These themes and some good salty snacks should keep the conversation going.  If all else fails, discuss whether love is ageless.  Thank you so much for picking Major Pettigrew for your book club.

Diane Rehm invited me onto her very popular NPR show to discuss my debut novel. Any nervousness on my part was quickly dispelled. Diane is such a professional and so used to putting guests at their ease. I had a fabulous time and the hour flew by as if it were no more than a few minutes. Listen to a free iTunes podcast.

As a stay-at-home mother, and part-time writing student, in Brooklyn, I would make time whenever possible to listen to WNYC’s Leonard Lopate interview writers as they came through New York City to promote their newest books. It is a dream come true for me that this this Tuesday, at 1pm, I will be sitting in Leonard’s studio discussing Major Pettigrew. Look at me – I’m already calling him Leonard! Please listen and maybe even call in.

Author Tim Hallinan asked me to write a guest blog for his series on creative writing process.  Tim maintains a website full of useful advice for those of us struggling through the novel writing process.  Check out his great advice about how to pile up pages.

Bookbrowse asked to interview me about Major Pettigrew. Check out the interview and their wonderfully rich book-centered website.

Waterstones, the UK’s leading bookstore chain has selected Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand as one of its twelve New Voices for 2010. I am so happy to be included in a list that, for the first time, features all debut authors.

Janet Maslin, of the NY Times said of Major Pettigrew, “It’s about intelligence, heart, dignity and backbone. ‘Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand’ has them all.” The Times of London said, “words can’t convey the slow-burning pleasure of this novel.” It has been a very exciting few days at the Simonson household as we approach tomorrow’s launch date with these wonderful reviews to bolster spirits. Launch jitters were calmed by a little champagne and a lot of teasing from the teenage members of the household; who are determined to remain unimpressed until they see the movie version! Thank you to everyone who has supported the Major. Fingers crossed and here we go…