I read this book for endorsement, and here's what I said:
I was thoroughly entranced by this book by Debby Mayne. I've loved her books for a long time, but this one had so much in it that hit close to home for me. My daughter is a hairdresser, and Debby's character hit the mark--her motives for helping women feel better about themselves, her artistry and abilities. And this book has a large cast of unique characters, who display almost the whole gamut of human frailties. And the book was full of humor and pathos. I highly recommend it.
-Lena Nelson Dooley, award-winning author of Maggie's Journey, Mary's Blessing, Catherine's Pursuit, and Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
Welcome back, Debby. How did you come up
with the idea for this story?
I wanted to write about something that a lot of women could
relate to, and then I remembered watching my mother-in-law get ready for her
fiftieth high school reunion. She went on a diet, had a makeover, and bought a
Cadillac. Even people who haven’t been to reunions often feel insecure about
seeing people they haven’t seen in many years. I used that as a theme for this
story and the other two books in the series – Bless Her Heart and Tickled
Pink.
If you were planning
a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would
you invite and why?
Margaret Daley, Sandie Bricker, Jenny B. Jones, Kristin
Billerbeck, Loree Lough, and Diann Hunt. These women make me smile. All of them
are kindhearted, talented, fun, funny, and super intelligent.
Now let’s do that for
a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you
invite and why?
You (of course, and we’d split a meal like we did at Bubba
Gump’s at the Mall of America), Martha Rogers, Rhonda Gibson, Paige Winship
Dooly, Cathy Marie Hake, and Janet Spaeth. Y’all are fun, interesting, smart,
and make me laugh.
That would be a fun
party! Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so
many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this
time in your career?
I want to keep my writing fresh and improve with each book,
and I think that requires refilling the well with other artistic activities.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve had back-to-back deadlines with different
publishers, making it a challenge. I’m backing off the frantic pace just a
little bit so I can spend time walking on the beach with my husband, doing
crafts with my granddaughters, and reading some of the books on my
ready-to-topple stack.
Tell us about the
featured book.
In Pretty is as Pretty Does, Priscilla
Slater goes to her ten-year high school reunion with equal parts dread and eager
anticipation. Even though she’s a successful owner of a chain of hair salons
and no longer has the mousy brown hair, crooked teeth, and discount-store
wardrobe, she still feels like the ugly duckling. But when she arrives at the
reunion, Priscilla soon realizes that her old classmates aren’t exactly as she
remembers them. With humor and a just a touch of sassiness, Priscilla finds
herself facing her own truth—and she may be surprised at what she discovers.
In this series, readers will go on the life journeys with
these characters through their twentieth high school reunion. Priscilla Slater
was voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” but is that what really happened? Laura
Moss found a way to hang out with the movers and shakers in high school by
dating a guy everyone liked but no one wanted to date … and she married him.
Former beauty queen and “Miss Everything” in Piney Point Trudy Baynard has been
forced to deal with divorce, the real world, and pounds that have found their
way to her thighs. Tim Puckett didn’t attend Piney Point
High School
Please give us the
first page of the book.
(Priscilla Slater)
We are thrilled to
announce
10 year reunion
on June 7, 2003, at
7:30 PM
in Piney Point High’s
Newly renovated
gymnasium.
Attire: Sunday best.
PS: There will be a
pre-party
At Shenanigans in Hattiesburg
Starting at about
5:00 PM.
Wow. Ten years. As I read my high school reunion invitation
a second time, I can’t help but smile. Although I own one of the most
successful businesses in my hometown of Piney
Point , Mississippi
Knowing the
people I went to high school with, this is going to be one crazy event—that is,
if everyone attends. I’m not surprised Laura added a pre-party to the
invitation. Her husband has never attended any social event before pre-partying
his face off—even in high school. Pete Moss graduated with the distinct honor
of high school lush, and as far as I know, he continues to hold that honor,
which is ironic since I don’t remember Laura touching a drop of anything
stronger than her mama’s two-day-old sweet tea.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Website: http://debbymayne.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/debby.mayne
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DebbyMayneThank you, Debby, for visiting with us again. And I know my readers will love this book.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Pretty Is as Pretty Does: Class Reunion | Book 1
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