Girlfriendology video interview with PAULA YOO, author of "Good Enough"

At first I thought, a 'young adult' novel. I don't need to read that. Then I opened it up and became enthralled with Patti Yoon, the high schooler, daughter of immigrants and overachiever who longs to fit in and strives to stand out.

The first novel by PAULA YOO, "Good Enough" is a charmer. From her first big crush to the funny antics of her church group, she becomes a fun character to watch over as she survives high school and the pressure to attend an ivy league school.

Paula's pretty much a charmer too. She has a great smile and plays amazing violin. She is friendly and easy going. You can tell in the video interview, that she enjoyed writing about Patti and that you'll equally enjoy reading "Good Enough." Watch the Girlfriendology interview with Paula:



THANKS Paula - for your time, for playing the violin over and over again in the Joseph-Beth store (Thanks to them too!). Thanks to Greg & Greg of www.callgregcreative.com. And, THANKS to you for reading Girlfriendology!

Girlfriend Interview with PAULA YOO, author of "Good Enough"

Maybe it is my denial of my real age, but I fell in love with the new teen novel, GOOD ENOUGH, by Paula Yoo. Her main character, Patti, is an overachiever who longs to fit in and strives to stand out. Funny, touching, sweet and silly, we can all relate to Patti and her life (even if high school was a few decades ago!).

I had the honor of interviewing Paula last night at Joseph-Beth Booksellers on her national book tour. The video will be up in the coming week (a little grace time for my editors!), so come back and view the energy, music and humor of this fun author! Thanks Paula! (And check out GOOD ENOUGH!)

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Live Your Adventure with video guest and girlfriend CARLA NEGGERS

Suspense, a little bit of romance and a strong female character reside within the pages of CARLA NEGGERS new novel, THE ANGEL. We had the honor of interviewing Carla on the release date of her new novel. And it was an honor. Carla is a NYT best-selling author and she believes in adventures - for her book characters and for her fans. (And she was very nice to work with - Thanks Carla!)

Check out Carla's website for her "Live Your Adventure" contest where you can win a prize to pursue your adventure! And read THE ANGEL.



Just a teaser ... Suspenseful and evocative, The Angel is a riveting novel of dangerous myths, haunting secrets and the shattering truth concealed within them. It is Carla Neggers at her best!

And win a copy of "THE ANGEL" on Girlfriendology by just sharing a girlfriend story! Visit Girlfriendology for our May contest rules. And visit Carla's site for her "Live Your Adventure" contest. Okay girlfriends - go live your adventure! (Right after you watch this video!)

Inspirational Girlfriend - JENNIFER DAVIS, Director of Beaded Hope

"You don't have to be Bono or Oprah to make a big change in the world." Jennifer Davis

Jennifer Davis is a mom, wife, beader and girlfriend. She also (INHO!) is an "Oprah" or "Bono."

A few years ago she decided she need to do more, she wanted to make the world a better place for her children and others. She started BEADED HOPE as a non-profit organization to employ women in AIDS-rampaged South Africa to create beautiful beaded jewelry, accessories, ornaments and home decor. Through trips and calls to South Africa and in working together she developed friendships with the women who had no other opportunities to earn money to feed their families. And, she has built the business of Beaded Hope to return the profits to support medical supplies in South African.

I had the privilege of interviewing Jennifer recently and discussing Beaded Hope with her at Red Tree Gallery (in Cincinnati). Watch the video to see the beautiful person who is making a difference in this world as well as the beautiful beaded items created by Beaded Hope 'girlfriends' in South Africa.

And, as a bonus for Girlfriendology, Jennifer is offering at 15% discount on Beaded Hope items until June 1. Just enter the promotional code: "GOGIRL" Thanks Jennifer! (Oprah would be proud of you!)



Thanks also to Red Tree Coffee Shop and Art Gallery, as well as the Gregs of CallGregCreative!

Win a Girlfriend Birthday Gift in May Girlfriendology Contest!

This month is a BIG month here at Girlfriendology! We have more PRIZES than ever before to give out! Enter our May Girlfriendology Contest and just by telling a girlfriend story (about a Birthday - could be an event or gift you received/gave) you can win one of these great books:

REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs by Kaira Sturdivant Rouda. Kaira spoke with us on a recent podcast about how YOU are the secret to a successful career and life.

THE ANGEL by Carla Neggers - a romantic suspense novel. We had the opportunity to interview Carla for our latest Girlfriendology video!

NOVEL DESTINATIONS: Literary Landmarks From Jane Austen's Bath to Ernest Hemingway's Key West by Joni Rendon and Shannon McKenna Schmidt who were our first two girlfriends AND guests from the U.S. and 'across the pond' to join us for a podcast interview this past week.

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AND ... watch next month for free copies of:

COMFORT FOOD by Kate Jacobs (author of The Friday Night Knitting Club) - what a nice, sweet, caring girlfriend Kate is! She talked with us for an upcoming podcast about how much her girlfriends mean to her and how her girlfriends have supported and inspired her. (Plus "Comfort Food" bags!)

PAPER CRAFTING WITH CAROL DUVALL - We'll interview Carol for our podcast and hear the wit and wisdom from 'the queen of crafting!'

So, leave a comment with a girlfriend story (preferably this month on a 'birthday' theme), email us at ideas@girlfriendology.com or leave us a message at 206-202-9005 (make sure to leave your email address in your message). Thanks Girlfriends! We'd love to send you one of these PRIZES!

Have a dream? Start a Girlfriend group!

Big or small, dreams are passionate goals that can transform our lives. And, the people who help us in reaching them, are indispensible mentors and cheerleaders. In many cases, girlfriends are the ones who help us see and reach our dreams. And, when you bring a group of girlfriends together, with the goal of challenging and helping each other, magical things can happen.

I know. Several times in my life, as I was following my entrepreneurial goals, I found (or started) a gathering of like-minded women to help each other. Shown here are a few of my WE (women entrepreneurs) group. Each have different skills, experiences, personalities and passions. Our dreams and businesses are diverse, but our friendship and support for each other keep us together and actively stretching ourselves.

WE meet monthly to discuss our updates, challenges, achievements and goals. WE hold each other accountable and offer grace if we were not able to achieve what we had hoped. WE listen, cheer, share, brainstorm and support.

Meet my WE girlfriends: Tina (top left) is the owner of Casa DeLorenzo - and makes exquisite custom pillows, as well as offering Interior Design Services. Jennifer is the Director of Beaded Hope - Beaded Hope's mission is to fight HIV/AIDS one person at a time by providing South Africans with the opportunity to earn an income, support their families and nurture their creativity while preserving age-old beadworking traditions.* (Jennifer - Sorry for the closed eyes photo!) Judy is a writer with lots of experience, promise and ideas for PublishSmart. Joyce (bottom right) is opening an online store of beautiful heirloom clothes and gifts for children - watch for HeirloomsToBe.com!

Do you have dreams? Aspirations? Creative ideas you'd love to pursue? You don't need to go it alone - bring along your girlfriends! Start a girlfriend group and dream together. Share the successes and struggles, joys and jolts along the way. But you'll love the company along with you on the journey!

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NOTE: Jennifer also 'stars' in our upcoming Girlfriendology video which should be posted early next week. However, in the meantime, she is offering a discount on BeadedHope.com for Girlfriendology girlfriends! Just enter "GOGIRL" in the discount code for 15% off until May 15th. Thanks Jennifer!

Girlfriendology interview of NYT best-selling author CARLA NEGGERS

Tonight, at our local Joseph-Beth Booksellers store, I had the privilege of interviewing a New York Times best-selling author of romance suspence books. CARLA NEGGERS was in town for her national book tour. We were thrilled to interview her on the actual date of the release of her new book "The Angel."

Come back and watch our video interview with this wonderful author and inspiring woman. And, check out her site for her "Live Your Adventure" contest. Share your adventure dreams and you may be the lucky one to receive $1000 to live your adventure. Go for it! Thanks Carla! (And Barb and Kathy!) And thanks to you for visiting the Girlfriendology blog.

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NOTE: Join in the May Girlfriendology Contest for a chance to win CARLA NEGGER's new book "The Angel" and stop by QUICKLY for the April contest. We have more prizes this month - send in your stories NOW! (Thanks Girlfriends!)

Meet my girlfriend Jennifer Davis, Dir. of BEADED HOPE

As girlfriends, we often are each other's best 'cheerleaders.' I think this happens because we love our friends unconditionally and we can see all their best traits. Fortunately, through our eyes their beauty, talents and special qualities all shine. And that's a very good thing!

Today we taped a video with my girlfriend JENNIFER DAVIS. Jennifer is the director of BEADED HOPE, an organization that gives women in South Africa a job creating beaded art, then sells it here in the U.S. and returns profits to support an AIDS hospice in Mamelodi, South Africa. (I've had the honor of going to the hospice and it is both impressive and emotionally ovewhelming.)

We'll have the video on this blog and YouTube, etc. later this week so come back and check it out. We taped at girlfriend Wendy's art gallery and coffee shop - RED TREE (a very cool place in Oakley/Cincinnati, OH).

I'm glad you have a chance to meet Jennifer through this message and the upcoming video. She's making the world better one bead (and girlfriend) at a time. I am proud to be a Jennifer 'cheerleader'! What girlfriend do you cheer for? Let her know that you're proud of her and that the world is a better place because of her. She'll no doubt feel the same way about you!

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P.S. Mother's Day is coming (along with Girlfriend birthdays, etc.!) so check out Beaded Hope for gifts. Enter "GOGIRL" into the promotional code and receive a 15% discount. Looking and feeling good simultaneously would have been plenty - but to also give hope, that's something I can definitely cheer about! Thanks Jennifer! Thanks Red Tree!

KRIS RADISH Video - Meet a great girlfriend author!!

Well, here it is ... the first Girlfriendology Video! Check it out as I interview girlfriend author KRIS RADISH! She was in Cincinnati for her new book - "Searching for Paradise in Parker PA."



Check out our Girlfriendology podcasts for our previous interview with Kris and visit www.KrisRadish.com for Kris' tour schedule, upcoming events and more info on her books. Thanks Kris and Cincinnati Joseph-Beth Booksellers!

Hangin' with best-selling girlfriend author KRIS RADISH

I had the honor of interviewing best-selling author KRIS RADISH tonight (see blog below for her great books!). She's in Cincinnati (at Joseph-Beth Booksellers) on her book tour for "Searching for Paradise in Parker PA" and took time out of her wildly busy day to talk with me about touring, her new book and the amazing women she's met on the book tour. Sign up for her newsletter to find out more about her upcoming Radish Retreat, etc. What a great girlfriend she is! Thanks Kris!!!

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p.s. The interview video will be posted hopefully by this weekend. Also, listen to her previous podcast and send in questions for our next conversation. We'll interview Kris on a future podcast when she's back home after the tour.

Searching for Paradise with girlfriend author KRIS RADISH

We first met best-selling author KRIS RADISH through her wonderful girlfriend books:

* Elegant Gathering of the White Snows
* Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn
* Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral
* The Sunday List of Dreams

How could you not love a woman and her books that celebrate female friendship and demonstrate the power and potential of women as they lead ordinary, extraordinary lives?!

Kris spoke with us several months ago on our podcast and gave Girlfriendology her first sneak peak at Addy Lipton and the women (and men) of Parker, PA in her brand new book: Searching for Paradise in Parker PA.

Join Kris tonight in Cincinnati at Joseph-Beth Booksellers (Rookwood) at 7:00pm for a guaranteed wild book signing!

And, we'll videotape Kris at her book signing tonight so come back to Girlfriendology for our girlfriend videocast!

For a good laugh (and update on GirlfriendologyToo)

Some girlfriends are shoppers, some are chefs, some girlfriends love to read while others prefer yoga or running, and some girlfriends are 'crafty' and some aren't. For those girlfriends who are crafty, and especially those wonderful creative women who love to make gifts and/or greeting cards for their girlfriends, I started another blog - GirlfriendologyToo. It focuses on 'the creative side of girlfriends.' Check it out for ideas on things you can make for and/or with girlfriends. And feel free to post comments, questions and ideas. I'd love to hear from creative women! (And everyone is creative!)

Actually, that is why I started Girlfriendology - to share inspiration, generate appreciation and encourage celebration of girlfriends. Sharing ideas with each other is one of the wonderful benefits of having female friends. Together we can solve problems, create new ideas and basically make life a lot more fun.


Speaking of creative girlfriends AND making live fun ... for a good laugh, I just found out one of the Carol Duvall Shows that I taped (for HGTV and DIY Network) is online. I really don't care for watching myself on TV but hopefully you'll enjoy! Check out these image transfer projects on Carol Duvall - part 1 & part 2 as well as my book, The New Book of Image Transfer. (Doesn't my hair look funny?! And is "mender" really a word?!)

Back to all the different 'varieties' of girlfriends and their unique qualities/personalities. Isn't the world of girlfriends great?! Show your appreciation by sending a note to your girlfriends and telling them how special each one of them is to you. It is almost National Women's Friendship Day (Sept. 16th). Celebrate it everyday of the year! Thanks girlfriends!!