Jessica Gordon is the smoothest person in the District...plus a giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

The first time I ever visited Washington DC was in November, 2008. Immediately, I fell in love with it and less than a year later, moved from Northern New Jersey to Maryland (in a town close to DC). Before I moved, I read Sammy's Hill and Sammy's House, both by Kristin Gore. They gave off a great feel for the District and got me even more excited about moving out that way soon. Almost a year after I moved, I read The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen, which also took place in this area allowing me to fall in love with it all over again. A few years later, I was introduced to Becoming Mrs. Walsh by Jessica Gordon (reviewed here). I was thrilled that it took place in DC and that it showed a different aspect of the District that I didn't have much access to. It was also a great story that I still hope will have a sequel someday. Around that same time, I got to interview Jessica Gordon and enjoyed learning more about her. Today, she's back, thanks to Chick Lit Plus. This time, she's sharing about why she set her debut novel in the District. Additionally, Chick Lit Plus has a $25 SpaFinder gift card for a lucky reader in the US or Canada.

Read an excerpt from Becoming Mrs. Walsh.

Visit Jessica at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Chick lit in the District!

I decided to set Becoming Mrs. Walsh in Washington, DC, also known as the District, for a few reasons. The first reason, admittedly mundane, but nonetheless important, I live here. I think being a district resident is important to having a good understanding of life here. When authors set stories in their hometown I get a sense of excitement trying to piece together the author's life. Often times you will find a book set in Boston (or another city) and see that the author and her husband and three cats live in that same city. It is fun to see authors writing about places they know because it is a level of understanding that isn't the same as researching it. Sure, through meticulous research you can certainly set a place elsewhere but something about living and breathing in the town even if you visited there it helps make the story come alive.

I also like the paradox of DC and chick lit. Often chick lit books are set in New York. However, DC has an underestimated but vibrant fashion, culinary, and social scene. The Walsh family's socialite status gives readers an all access pass into the glamorous lives of DC's elite. Many television shows and books center on the 'political' aspects of the city or one finds suspense-induced spy novels set here but you rarely get good chick lit using DC as a backdrop. And because of this I wanted the book to be in DC. I like that the book spans the city and its suburbs (and some other surprise places) because the way the book is written you get a sense of the relationship of DC and its nearby towns.

Having a novel set in DC allows the reader a look into a city primarily known for one famous address, but to see another side of it, with actual people such as Shoshana with a non-political job, family, and life; it introduces the reader to another side of the city. I like that Shoshana is from Iowa and it is her take on the city. Many residents here are from somewhere else, making DC very unique. And the people here are from all over, not just east coast, in fact most people I know are from somewhere other than the northeast or mid-Atlantic.

DC is also a worldly city with people speaking different languages, beautiful European design throughout the city found in its bridges and older buildings. The city is extremely navigable and has a small town feel though it is such a major epicenter. I enjoy getting the flavor of a place through the everyday resident balancing life, love, work, and family. I hope readers enjoy this too and get to know a little behind the scenes of the district!


Thanks to Jessica for visiting with us again and to Chick Lit Plus for sharing a SpaFinder gift card with our readers.


How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


US/Canada only. Giveaway ends March 4th at midnight EST.