Author Jess Riley stopped by to share a little background on her new book Driving Sideways, which officially went on sale this morning. I’ve been a long-time reader of Jess’s blog, and am happy to say that every bit of her humor and warmth carry over into her debut novel. (Yes, I already started reading my copy, and I’ve found myself both laughing out loud and sharing passages to the closest people, cats, or pieces of furniture because it’s that good.) Enjoy what she has to say here, and then keep reading to find out how you can buy or win your own copy of Driving Sideways.
People sometimes ask me how much research I did for Driving Sideways. And I reply, “Research? I was supposed to do research?”
I’m kidding of course. As one who has had neither kidney disease nor an organ transplant, I had to do a ton of research before I started writing. I also took the Driving Sideways roadtrip twice: once before writing the novel, and again after I had a publishing contract, just to make sure I got it right.
The second time I headed west, I met my gracious blogging host Caryn for lunch…she was so funny and charming and had the most beautiful hair. I’d been driving in a Toyota for more than thirty hours by then, and my hair was actively campaigning for reassignment to someone else’s head. But because she is quite possibly America’s Sweetheart, she didn’t seem to notice and invited me to guest blog on her site today. (Thanks Caryn!)
As I write this, there is just one calendar day before the book’s launch. Here are some of the thoughts that have been bouncing around my head a day before the book is finally released:
My handwriting has really deteriorated since the third grade. I just know I’ll sign someone’s book and later they’ll be like, “Who’s ‘Jeff Bubby?’”
I read three different excerpts to my Dad’s English classes at my alma mater, UW-Oshkosh, last Thursday. And I was shocked at how bawdy some of the humor is. Really, I would like to take a black marker to my grandmother’s copy. Also, the women planning the book launch party? They said this to me: “Yes! You were right about the bathroom humor! You’re so shy and genteel in person, and then we read the reference to the five-alarm bucket of chicken wings and the hives and it was like, WHOA!”
In case anyone asks, there are several reasons for this: 1) the main character, Leigh, struggles with a terminal illness and the accompanying surgeries, daily medications, and lifestyle changes. Thus, she is understandably obsessed with the human body and its various functions. Call it ‘morbid preoccupation.’ 2) Roadtrips can be exhausting and monotonous. After several hours in the car, your sense of humor can deteriorate to very basic levels. I think you know what I’m talking about. And, 3) I am a six year-old with severe ADD at heart.
Also, I have one last grant proposal to write some time in the next two weeks. Procrastination, I shake my fist at you!
I want to close by asking if any of YOU have any questions about the ‘behind the scenes’ of the publication process…I’ll check in a few times and do my best to answer. Thanks for reading and helping me celebrate release day!
Enjoy what Jess had to say? You can pick up copies of Driving Sideways and read more about it on the Random House website, from Amazon.com (complete with a preview of the first scene!), from Barnes & Noble, or at your local bookstore. Even Target’s got copies (online now, in stores on June 19th)!
Now, for what you really want to know: Just how can you, dear reader, win a free autographed and personalized copy of Driving Sideways for your very own? Just comment below and tell Jess and me why you want the book. Be creative, silly, or painfully honest — we want to know! All entries must be in by midnight M.S.T. next Monday, May 26th. I’ll post the results on Tuesday or Wednesday.
If you already have your own copy, feel free to comment anyway. Congratulate Jess, thank her for sharing her experiences, compliment her hair (which, for the record, is so much nicer than mine), ask questions, or just tell everyone else how great the book is.
Happy reading!
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Ilana said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 7:33 am
This sounds great! I really want the book because this fall I am teaching an online biology seminar entitled “Biology in Literature”. Currently, I have Jodi Picoult’s “My Sister’s Keeper” chosen because it illustrates a terminal illness, organ transplants and IVF and how it affects people’s lives. I’d love to read this one and see if perhaps I could assign this instead. And I think my students would really appreciate the ‘bathroom humor’.
Robin said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 8:09 am
Congratulations, Jess! Enjoy this very exciting day and I wish you the best of luck! After this whirlwind, what are you working on next?
Jess said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 8:35 am
Caryn, thanks for hosting me today!
Ilana–thanks!! Biology in Literature sounds fascinating…and I had to laugh about the ’students appreciating bathroom humor,’ because I spoke to three of my Dad’s classes last Thursday (he teaches college English), and they DID enjoy the somewhat bawdy passages I read!
Robin–thanks to you as well! My next book is halfway finished–it takes place in a prison, and focuses on relationships between staff working there. I taught in a medium-security men’s prison in college, and there is a bounty of hilarious and scary things that happen in such a setting. So I knew I had to write about it!
emily said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 9:13 am
caryn, it’s so funny to come to your blog and read all about this, because i just saw you were reading it (on goodreads this morning!). it sounds like a hilarious book! congratulations jess!
Kath Calarco said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 9:48 am
Thanks for adding to my “to be read this summer” pile, Jess, but yours is going to take precedence over those that have been teetering since long before the end of Spring semester. Love the story angle – you’ve chosen an unusual subject, and in a day when all books seem to lead to the same conclusion, I’m hoping yours will be a road less traveled. Way to go!
Congrats on your release!
Alyson Noel said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 9:49 am
Congratulations Jess! Great title, great cover, and the story sounds wonderful– best of luck!
Pam said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 9:53 am
I just keep falling more and more in girl-love with Jess. *sigh*
When she hits the NY Times list, the blog party starts here!
Kath Calarco said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 9:54 am
P.S. Just read Marian Keyes blurb of your book. You had me at “irreverent and wonderful.”
Amy said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 10:43 am
The cover is beautiful and the story sounds wonderful! As one who has taken many roads trips, several of them with a six-year-old, I totally understand about the “basic” humor. Can’t wait to read it!
Jess said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 11:59 am
Thanks everyone! I’m blushing right now.
Caryn, I was truly befuddled by the little avatars appearing near our names…before I scrolled up to see mine, I figured it would be a shadow head with a question mark (because I didn’t upload anything or whatever), and then I saw what mine looked like: a crazy person! LOL!!
Caryn Caldwell said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Ilana, it’s hard to beat a reason like that!
Jess, you mean that doesn’t reflect how you’re feeling today? And here I thought that WordPress.com was good at choosing avatars based people’s moods. There goes my faith in technology!
Kristabella said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Yay Jess! I’m not entering, since I have my own copy and am hosting a contest on my site, but I will declare my love for Jess! Which is saying a lot because I tend to hate all people from Wisconsin!
But she is awesome in person and pretty, and funny, even if she is a lightweight when it comes to alcohol! Congrats Jess!
bookmom said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Off to check out Amazon………but first. Congratulations and YAY for Jess! The books sounds wonderful, warm and irreverant. *G* My kind of book. *G*
Jess said,
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I am feeling so warm and fuzzy!!! Thanks all of you!
bunnyb said,
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 5:07 am
Congrats Jess!! Woohoo
Sounds like a peachy (warm and fuzzy) read!
Keri Mikulski said,
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 8:11 am
Congrats, Jess.. Sounds like a great book. I want DRIVING SIDEWAYS for my South Jersey Mom magazine Chick Lit Pick column. I’m always on the hunt for good books for my readers and me.
lainey said,
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Happy release day, Jess. the book sounds awesome. Congratulations!
I’m in for anybody who has great hair and is a 6 year-old with ADD at heart-especially if they can drive sideways!
Adaora said,
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I want her book because I’m a sucker for good stories. Am itching for another good shopping spree soon!
Enter me in the draw!
Caryn Caldwell said,
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Keri and Adaora, those sounds like great reasons. You are hereby entered.
Joanne Rendell said,
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 6:18 am
Yay, to Jess’s fabulous book. And yay to Caryn for being such a great-haired host!
Eileen said,
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 11:29 am
Have you noticed how Jess looks like Tina Fey? Just sayin. I LOVE LOVE this book.
Caryn Caldwell said,
Friday, May 23, 2008 at 9:28 am
My God, Eileen. You’re right. How funny.
Larramie said,
Friday, May 23, 2008 at 11:30 am
Please don’t wait to win this book, buy it now for the long weekend and you’ll enjoy the best road trip of your life!
Marilyn Brant said,
Friday, May 23, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Ooooh, Caryn! I just popped over from Pam’s blog and discovered you were hosting a contest!! I LOVE contests, esp. when I can win a cool book…which is exactly why I want a copy of Jess’s. I keep hearing/reading about it everywhere, and it sounds like the kind of original story I’d love to delve into. Plus, I’m a WI native–despite my current IL residence–which makes for a special, life-long sense of solidarity. (And who is this Kristabella person who doesn’t like people from Wisconsin??!! I’m going over to her blog now…
Caryn Caldwell said,
Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 10:44 am
Thanks for the visit, Marilyn! You are hereby officially entered.
LaDonna said,
Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Jess, enter me in that contest for your book okay? I want a copy because it sounds fabulous, and it’s right up my alley. I wish you much success too! You go!
Z said,
Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 8:25 am
I want this book because 1) I like to read, and 2) it sounds frickin’ hilarious… and poignant… and right up my alley. Oh, and 3) I like to win contests.
Caryn Caldwell said,
Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Good reasons, LaDonna and Z! You are now entered. I’ll post the winner on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Gretch-a-sketch said,
Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I could seriously use a good read and Driving Sideways sounds like it might just fit the bill. I’ve hit a bit of a wall with my latest reads…nothing is holding my attention for very long, and I know if Jen Lancaster endorsed it, chances are I’ll like it.
Also, I’m a poor, poor college student who has no money to buy the books I so desperately covet, so you should have pity on me. 
Melissa Walker said,
Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I’ve just suddenly heard all about this book and I really can’t wait to read it! The cover alone makes me want to lie on a blanket in the park and soak it in… sounds so fun!
SoCNoC and a Contest Winner! « The Book Lady said,
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 9:05 pm
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Ilana Stephens » An interview with Caryn Caldwell said,
Friday, May 30, 2008 at 5:55 pm
[...] – an autographed copy of Jess Riley’s Driving Sideways. Given the online interviews that Caryn, Pam and Robin have done with Jess, I can hardly wait for her book to [...]