Today I am excited to share an excerpt from The To-Do List and a fun interview with the author, JC Miller. Don’t forget to check out my book review too!
The To-Do List by JC Miller
Publication Date: January 1, 2015
Book Blurb
Between unending housework and thankless efforts to appease a loutish husband and acid-tongue teens, Ginny Cooper’s to-do list never seems to get done. Her guilty pleasure—fantasizing about her husband’s demise—her weakness—the drive-thru at Arby’s. On the job as head librarian at the county’s obsolete library, tedium reigns. One afternoon Ginny innocently stumbles upon a dating website, where the rabbit hole awaits.
Who is Ginny Cooper? She is every woman who knows the exact number of calories in a Snickers bar, every woman who has ever struggled with her weight. She is every woman who has grappled with the gray areas, every woman who has wanted to escape her own life. At times the reader will want to reach between the pages, shake her, and talk some sense into her. But Ginny will have to navigate her own road. And through it all, we root for her.
Ginny’s childhood memories of her fading hometown provide a bittersweet backdrop for The To-Do List.
Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon Global | Barnes & Noble
Interview with JC Miller
Hi JC, a huge, warm welcome to Living Life With Joy! Thank you so much for participating in this interview.
1. Would you like to start by introducing yourself?
Thank you so much. I’m happy to do so.
2. Can you tell us a bit about your latest book and the inspiration behind it?
I drew inspiration for the protagonist of my latest book, The To-Do List, from a woman I used to work with years ago. I didn’t know her well and never socialized with her outside of work, but always found myself wondering about her backstory. Behind her cheery tone, there was something awfully sad about her.
3. Being a writer is a great job but what’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
In college I had a number of “interesting” jobs—the worst one was as a dishwasher for a high-volume restaurant. I worked the graveyard shift from11:00 pm to 7:00 am, scrubbing pots bigger than I was. I lasted 2 weeks before they put me on day shift. Eventually I was promoted to salad girl!
4. Can you tell us a bit about what you’re working on at the moment?
I’m working on my 5th novel, Heliotrope. It’s set in a small Northern California college town, in the mid 1970s, when SNL was the hip new underground TV show, and no one could had ever dreamed of personal computers, cell phones or the Internet.
5. Do you have any writing superstitions or rituals?
I play Scrabble online and often feel compelled to win at least one game before I start work.
6. What are 5 things you can’t live without in your wardrobe?
Yoga pants, yoga pants, yoga pants, yoga pants and yoga pants.
7. What’s your happiest childhood memory?
I had a blessed childhood, not perfect, but pretty close. I have great memories of long lazy beach days, swimming in the ocean, playing in the sand and eating ice cream sandwiches.
8. Where is your favorite place in the world?
Hands down, my home.
9. Do you have any pet peeves?
Don’t get me started! 🙂
Thank you so much for participating in this interview, I’m delighted to have you on my blog and truly appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions!
My pleasure! Thank you!
Connect with the Author – JC Miller
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon
About the Author:
JC (Jeanne) holds an MA in education and is a founding member of JAM, an editorial-consultation team. An avid reader and table tennis enthusiast, JC resides in Northern California.
The To-Do List Book Excerpt
They pile into the minivan, Kelly up front with her mom, Kevin in back still sulking about cereal. Ginny drives a half-mile, stopping at the corner of Shady Glen and Cedar, where Elliot, an eighth grader—like Kevin, but without the sullen expression—waits in front of his house.
Elliot’s mom, Bronwyn, stands by the front door, hands on hips. She glares at Ginny. Unlike Ginny, Bronwyn is slim and punctual, arriving early to pick the kids up after school. Ginny has never been invited inside her home, but she imagines a tightly run ship. She pictures Bronwyn in June Cleaver pearls, apron-clad, baking flax-soy cookies for Elliot every day. The bitch.
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