Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Laurie Gelman is at the head of her class...plus a special giveaway

We're pleased to welcome Laurie Gelman to CLC today. Melissa A enjoyed her debut, Class Mom (reviewed here), and is excited to read the follow-up, You've Been Volunteered (published July 16th.) Thanks to Over the River PR, one winner will receive copies of You've Been Volunteered and Class Mom, a fabulous “Ron’s Gym and Tan” T shirt, and the chance for Laurie Gelman to Skype into their book club!

Laurie Gelman (yes, her husband is that Gelman of Live with Kelly and Ryan fame) is a New York City-based writer and mother of two who spent 25 years as a broadcaster in both Canada and the US – including stints on Good Morning America, The Early Show on CBS, and The Mom Show – before trying her hand at writing novels. Her first book, Class Mom garnered rave reviews from several places including The New York Times, People magazine, and Good Housekeeping, and it was just included in Parade’s list of books Mom will love. Gelman’s writing has been compared to Lauren Weisberger’s, Maria Semple’s and Sophie Kinsella’s. Visit Laurie on Twitter and Instagram.

Synopsis:
If you’ve ever been a room parent or school volunteer, Jen Dixon is your hero. She says what every class mom is really thinking, whether in her notoriously frank emails or standup-worthy interactions with the micromanaging PTA President and the gamut of difficult parents. Luckily, she has the charm and wit to get away with it—most of the time. Jen is sassier than ever but dealing with a whole new set of challenges, in the world of parental politics and at home.

She’s been roped into room-parenting yet again, for her son Max’s third grade class, but as her husband buries himself in work, her older daughters navigate adulthood, and Jen’s own aging parents start to need some parenting themselves, Jen gets pulled in more directions than any one mom, or superhero, can handle.

Refreshingly down-to-earth and brimming with warmth, Dixon’s next chapter will keep you turning the pages to find out what’s really going on under the veneer of polite parent interactions, and have you laughing along with her the whole way.
(Courtesy of Amazon.)


What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
I have been told that I write very realistic dialogue. I really loved that compliment!

How is Jen similar to or different from you?
I am the voice in Jen's head but she is much braver than I am. She really says what she thinks while I only think it. I probably get in less trouble that way.

If you were to cast Class Mom and You've Been Volunteered as a TV series, who would play the leading roles?
Well, I, along with most humor/chick lit writers, would love to have Tina Fey play my main character. Dream on, right? For the rest of the cast, I'm open to suggestions.

What is a favorite memory of yours from elementary school?
Once a week, my third-grade teacher, Mrs. New, would invite two students to have lunch with her in the classroom so she could get to know us better. I remember when it was my day I felt so special.

What is the strangest thing currently residing in your purse or handbag?
My spinning shoes. I really need to take them out.

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
I have gone blue in the face telling everyone how much I loved Bohemian Rhapsody. I haven't loved anything as much since then.

Thanks to Laurie for chatting with us and to Over the River PR for sharing a fun prize package with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Giveaway ends August 5th at midnight EST.

22 comments:

Anh N said...

This book is so relevant and relate-able. Thank you for the giveaway.

Peggy Russo said...

I actually loved everything about elementary school (things changed by middle school LOL) but one of my favorite things was the library. Back then the library was only about books. We didn't have computers and smartboards and such. The librarian read a story, sometimes there was an activity related to the story and then we got to pick a book to borrow for one week. I never missed school on library day.

cindy r said...

LAURIE is a treasure!

Michelle L said...

I loved elementary school. I remember the teacher reading Charlotte's Web to the class, and, I had my first boy crush, Buddy. LOL!

John Smith said...

"Tell us a favorite memory from elementary school." In 1st grade we grew potato plants!

Mary Preston said...

I can remember a day where it rained so hard school was cancelled.

Grandma Cootie said...

My 5th grade teacher had spent a year teaching in Japan, so once a week we had special time to learn a few Japanese words, customs, etc.

susieqlaw said...

Flag Day was the most important day of the school year. Each year on Flag Day, the whole school had a special Flag Day ceremony. One year, I got to read my essay on Flag Day at the ceremony.

holdenj said...

Looking back, I really appreciated that all the way thru sixth grade, the teachers took the time to read out loud to us. Thanks, I am so excited to read these!

diannekc said...

I really liked elementary school. I remember having a really great teacher in the fifth grade that made learning fun.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the holiday musical programs we performed in during elementary school. One year I was Frosty the Snowman.

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Linda May said...

I loved Kindergarten, my teacher was a real sweetheart. Thanks for this amazing chance.

Mary C said...

Favorite memory is the class trip to the new branch library for our first library cards.

rbooth43 said...

Elementary School was fun for me as I learned to read and that started so many avenues for me, I learned that you can travel through different times, different places and learn different things by reading books! Reading is my passion!

bn100 said...

playtime

dstoutholcomb said...

I enjoyed being in the 5th grade choir. I also played a bell in a 4th grade play.

denise

Nancy P said...

I liked field trips, especially once to the fire station.

Bridget O'Neill said...

I remember not being allowed to chew gum in elementary school, but in kindergarten, when we were learning about the letter g, we got to chew gum. I thought it was such a huge treat!

Lelandlee said...

I met my best friend in 1st grade

Xia Lee said...

I started my acting career in 8th grade

Kelly Rodriguez said...

I loved when my mom volunteered at my school and made the popcorn on popcorn Friday.

rubynreba said...

My favorite memory was when we gave a class play in 2nd grade. It was a circus!