You all know I love to read. If I could really DO something with my life, I would want to write a novel. I have ideas, plenty of them. I can sit for hours and hours and think of plots and characters and settings. The problem I have is when I actually try and sit and write it all out. I’m stumped. Ahhh… someday.
When I come across an author who writes the exact same way I think… well, that’s pretty special to me. I was lucky to find such an author in Claire Cook.
Claire is already a best-selling author and her new book, Best Staged Plans, is due to be released on June 7, 2011. Not only is Claire the kind of author who grabs your attention from page 1, she is the kind of author who really wants to know her audience. I’ve been so fortunate to become a facebook and twitter friend.
So let me tell you about this book. I’m sitting in my bedroom reading and I’m getting kind of creeped out because it was as if I was reading about my life. How on earth did Claire know so much about me? The main character of the story is Sandy, a middle-age home stager. Me? I’m Carolyn, a middle-age interior designer.
Sandy is trying to sell her house and figure out where the next stage of her life will take her. Meanwhile, she takes on the job of staging a boutique hotel for her best friend’s boyfriend. While this is all going on, she learns some lessons on being grateful for what you have. Me? I’ve worked on large scale luxury hotels, but a bed & breakfast or a boutique hotel would be my dream job. I, too, have learned some lessons along the way. Life sometimes throws you a curve that you don’t expect. Just like the staging of a house or a hotel, once in a while you need to take note of yourself and the things you can improve upon.
The characters are you and me. They are your neighbors and family members. They are the people you meet at school, they are your children’s parents. I love how you can read a book and know exactly who each person reminds you of.
Best Staged Plans is the kind of book you take with you to the beach this summer and while reading you start to make plans of your own. I must admit it got me all riled up again to work on my own house. Part entertainment + part inspiration = an amazing read that is going on my Favorites List.
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