Off The Record

When Jennifer O'Connell , a fellow member of the GCC, and author of the critically adored new book, OFF THE RECORD, "toured" Shaking on her website, she asked Renee and me the following two questions:
1. What song would you love to find out was written about you? and 2. If you were going to be the inspiration for a song, what would its title be?

Well, Renee answered 1. "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You," by Colin Hay, and I answered, "Your Song," by Elton John (and embarrassingly, I think I wrote the same thing in my diary when I was in high school after I'd first heard it.) As for question #2, what's the title of a song you would inspire, Renee said: "Skinny and Mean, But I Love Ya Anyway" and I replied: "Hey, That Tickles!"

I thought these were really great and telling questions, and though I'm sorry to say R&R failed to come up with equally thought provoking questions to ask Jennifer for her GCC tour, what we'll do instead is give you as much dirt on the author and the book as we could dig up, and the responses that this provoked in us.

Okay, so here are her critical deets and our comments: Jennifer O’Connell received her BA from Smith College and her MBA from the University of Chicago. (Ed. Note: V. Impressive) She lives outside of Chicago (Ed. Note: V. Cold) and is currently working on her fourth novel (Ed. Note: V. Jealous)

When Kirkus reviewed OFF THE RECORD, here's what they wrote: “Decadent fun... O'Connell makes this sweet treat go down smoothly" (Ed. Note: Sounds V. Dirty, always suspected they were horndogs at Kirkus)

The book focuses on Jane Marlow, an estates attorney from Chicago whose life is thrown into disarray when she finds out she's the surprise inspiration for the chart topping song, "Janey 425." (Ed. Note to Self: Inspire Song about Self) Jane must now figure out what life it is she wants to lead (Ed. Note: V. Uncomfortably Familiar Dilemma) and if she's willing to live "off the record." (Ed. Note: Not Sure What this Means)

I'm sure anyone who recalls the hit song "867-5309eee-ine" will also love this book, so do yourself, Jenny, Janey and Jennifer O'Connell a favor by checking out her great new book and fun website!