Jane Green takes the cake (or at least her books do!)...plus a book giveaway

Photo by Ian Warburg

We are pleased to have Jane Green back for a visit so that we can celebrate the pub day for her latest novel, Tempting Fate. I read it recently and still can't stop thinking about it. (A review is coming soon, I promise!) It proves once again what a fantastic writer Jane is and how her descriptions paint a full picture of the story right in front of my eyes. Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have THREE copies for some lucky readers in the US and/or Canada!

In case you didn't know, Jane was our first nominee for the International Chick Lit Month Hall of Fame back in 2012. We always love having her visit CLC. This time, she's here to talk about birthdays! Her beautiful writing style isn't just reserved for her books, as you'll see in her interview today.

Visit Jane at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

What is a must-have for your birthday cake? 
It used to be the seven layer caramel cake from www.carolinescakes.com, but I gave up sugar in November so no cake for me anymore. I thought I would miss sugar tremendously, but after the first couple of weeks I stopped thinking about it. Luckily, I have never been a huge cake lover, so suspect I won't terribly miss the birthday cake, although a candle stuck into an apple doesn't feel quite the same...

What did you do for your last birthday? 
Around 14 close friends came over and we had a wonderful dinner on the terrace in the garden. We strung tiny lights across the pergola above, and lit candles everywhere, and it was sheer perfection - my favorite people in my favorite place - it doesn't get better. I always cook, but on my birthday I had it catered, and had people help serve and clear up. It meant I was truly a guest in my own home, and didn't have to worry about anything burning.

Share a favorite birthday memory. 
I loved my fortieth. We had forty friends at home for a party, everyone dressed up, and we had a gorgeous dinner outside (clearly, outside eating is a theme for my birthdays). I wore a hot pink and orange chiffon full-length dress that was very 70's retro - it sounds awful but I felt beautiful. I have never worn it since, but am desperate to - it is perhaps my most favorite item of clothing. My parents and closest friends from England flew over, and it was, truly, the most glorious birthday I have ever had.

Where is your favorite place to celebrate your birthday? 
Home, clearly, and more specifically, my garden. A May 31 birthday makes that a regular option, thankfully. Our stone terrace has a wisteria-covered pergola over it, with lanterns hanging from the beams - it feels more like Tuscany than Connecticut, and the magic of eating out there never fails to amaze me.

When was the last time you had an actual birthday party for yourself? Tell us something unique or memorable from that party.
My husband was still my boyfriend at my fortieth, and no-one had brought up the subject of marriage, even though it was clear to us, and to all who knew us, that this was clearly on the cards. One of our friends, in fact, the man who introduced us many years ago, stood up to make a speech, and kept repeating how wonderful it was to be here at our wedding...I mean, oops, Jane's birthday...and should he invite the judge in now...it was hilarious, and mostly because it did in fact feel much more like a wedding than a birthday party. Given that we never had an engagement party, and in fact did get married ten months later, I like to think of that as our unofficial engagement. I think everyone else thought so too.

If you could help one of your characters celebrate their birthday, what would you do with them? 
I think I might have them do something I would never do - perhaps a surprise trip to a fabulous destination in the Caribbean...

Thanks to Jane for a wonderful visit and to St. Martin's Press for sharing her book with our readers. Thanks also to Sarah Hall Productions for their help with this interview.

~Introduction by Melissa Amster

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 30th at midnight EST.

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