1. I think if I was casting Deirdre I would think of maybe Sandra Bullock of Jennifer Anniston. But, in my brain I kept seeing Owen Wilson as the one playing the part of Tag.

2. It was not right for her to use Tag's social media, and I don't think she would of done it sober, but I had total compassion for why she made the choices she did. I do believe she should of been entitled to use them, since it sounds to me like she basically created them and even Tag. It was a dysfunctional situation from the beginning, so very hard to pick out right or wrong!

3. Though I love to watch DWTS, I would never survive the first week of rehearsals on it, if ever given the chance. Dancing is just a spectator sport for me! For it to be fun for me I would have to be a guest judge or announcer! The only thing that would even possibly entice me to do it is if it was a fundraiser for someone I loved!

4.I never tried to re-create myself purposely, but due to the change in the economy I found myself unexpectedly in a completely different line of work. I struggled with it at first, and found myself wanting to define myself by who I used to be, but over time have come to love the new job and that role in my life and feel this is where I am to be right now.

1. Casting, I was thinking maybe a Kate Hudson and I like the Owen Wilson Character. Or Sara Ramirez (Greys Anatomy) or Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Reynolds as Tag. Problem is I forget their ages and hair color already…

2. I dont think she would have done this if she was sober. I think she stepped over the line however sometimes when you are stuck in a rut it takes a dramatic event to come out of the situation and begin something new. She was also dishonest with signing all the letters from Tag. As far as who owns the list depends on her contract.

3. I dont dance and I would totally be embarrassed, however I would do it just for the experience and all the great exercise you would get everyday. I also have 5 kids so the time away would be fun to have my own place and healthy food available. It would be fun for a while and I would hope it would get me back on track to being in shape. I used to be a personal trainer 12 years ago. I would love the strict regimine and the time to do something just for me again. Then I would go home and my family would be proud of me again.

4. I went to college and got a Marketing Degree. Then fell in love with exercise and nutrition. I changed careers during my first marriage and then before I turned 30 I recreated myself yet again and go remarried to a man with children. Then I became a stay at home step mom and then eventually had 2 of my own back to back. As the weight crept on…11 years later needless to say the PT career was no more. I became a teacher's aide since my youngest (9) is autistic. I love my job because I can be with the kids but it doesnt pay well. Starting next month I signed up for an American Sign Language course at the local community college, so that when Erick moves on to middle school I will have another career to add to the one I have or I can do interpreting full time. I still struggle with my weight. I can relate to the book, but the exercise of dancing 5 hours a day sounds like heaven to me. I also like the catering part of the DWTS.  I think as a mom its about finding the balance of putting yourself (health) first and then kids. But sometimes its easier to just help others. I think Deirdre may figure out her own identity. Have to read more!!!

1. As for casting, I would have no idea who to pick.  Some of the peoples names others have mentioned I recognize, others I don't.  I'll have to look them up. 

2. I don't think Deirdre would have done it if she was sober.  As for using Tag's social media it wasn't right but I can see why she did it. 

3. Would I consider a stint on DWTS fun? NO!  Would I even do it in the first place? NO!  Is there anything on God's green earth that would entice me to commit to something like that? NO!  Enough said!!

4. I don't know if it was recreating myself or not.  About 20 years ago I got into a destructive relationship with a friend.  She was a man basher.  She was married and her husband had an affair and though they supposedly worked thru it, she was always bringing it up and saying terrible things about him and the other women.  Then this became her attitude toward all men.  She also had a very weird and dysfunctional sense of humor.  It took quite awhile for me to realize that her attitude was influencing me.  And that it was not good.  My own marriage started to suffer because I was adopting her attitude.  I had to remove myself from the friendship, it wasn't easy and I know she was hurt but she was dragging me down with her.  My life since then has been so much better and I'm such a nicer person now, just ask my husband!

I enjoyed reading your comments so much!! And Ariel, once again, such great questions, and I'm glad you got some rain in Texas!

1. As for casting, I see the characters SO clearly as I'm writing them that it's hard for me to imagine Deirdre as anyone but Deirdre, Tag as Tag, etc., so I'm probably the last person to answer this one. BUT I have to tell you that I've recently signed copies of an earlier book for two of the actresses mentioned above who are actually considering one of my novels for a movie. I've had several movies since Must Love Dogs almost happen and then fall apart, so I don't want to jinx it by telling you who and it's also supposed to be confidential at this point, but I have to say, as far as casting goes, you are GOOD!!

2. As for Deirdre's choice, my guess is that Tag's vodka was a big contributing factor. And I also wonder whether she would have ever done something like that to anyone except a sibling. As a teenager, you might "borrow" you sister's clothes without asking, but would you ever do it to a friend? Do our brothers and sisters get the best and the worst of us? These are things I wanted to explore, though as an author I believe in leaving enough room for my readers to draw their own conclusions, rather than telling them what I think they should think, if that makes sense.

3. I would be just crazy enough to give it a try, not just for me but for non-celebrity midlife women everywhere! I'd just try to have fun and pray that I wasn't the first dancer voted off! I used to teach dance aerobics waaaaaay back in the early '80s, so maybe that, and a lot of Advil, would get me through the first week.

4. Each of my 9 novels (and even my 10th, Time Flies, which will be published next June) deal with a woman reinventing herself in some way. I think it's the story of all of our lives, and it certainly has been the story of mine. Being a novelist is absolutely the career I almost didn't have.

Leigh Ann: My novel The Wildwater Walking Club is about who lost her job because of the economy and has to figure out what she has to do next. I'm so glad you've come to enjoy your new job.

Victory: I agree that the enforced exercise of DWTS would be great! The
toughest thing about being a novelist is that you have to spend so much
time sitting. What an interesting life you've had and I'd love to hear
what your next chapter turns out to be.

Linda: I think that's definitely a kind of reinvention. Rising above the negativity and surrounding yourself with people who will help you grow in positive directions are two of the biggest challenges. Good for you!

Audra: I agree that it's hard to make new friends as an adult, and that's so great that you're trying. What works for me is making the first effort, doing the first nice thing.

Theresa: I so agree that we keep reinventing ourselves! As for your next chapter, if you haven't been there yet, you might want to check out the Reinvention page at ClaireCook.com – it might trigger something for you!

Again, thank you so much for posting, everybody!

1.  I just can't help it – I can't see anyone but Jennifer Lopez (her hight, her hips, and I loved her in Maid in Manhattan), and Hugh Grant.  This is who I see as I read the book!

2.  I don't think she would have applied for DWTS if she hadn't been under the influence, but I think she did it under the influence because she was uninhibited in her life-long hidden dream to be a dancer, something she felt she could be good at and that she loved.  I don't think she had the right to use Tag's social media without his consent, and because she had quit and ran off.  She had quit her job with Tag and wanted a life of her own but she couldn't really wrap her mind around that kind of independence because Tag had become her resource for everything (including the credit card she continued to use!)

3.  When I was a little girl I wanted to be a dancer on Hullabaloo!  (that ages me, doesn it?!)  I'm closing in on 58 now and although I'm the right weight for my height and I have no arthritic pain, the best professional in the world could not turn my Hullabaloo dream into a reality at this point!  Oh my goodness, I'm laughing out loud!  

4. The biggest recreation I've ever gone through was at age 21 when I was nearly an alcoholic and hooked on cigarettes, and I almost lost my job because I had crying spells from being so depressed.  I'll spare the long story, but I gave my mess of a life to Jesus Christ.  I figured I wasn't doing a good job of handling it, and He seemed to love me even as a big mess.  When I prayed I said "But I can't do religion though," and I swear I heard in my heart that He said "Good; I can't either."  Whoa – that's when I learned that the gospel is all about relationship and family, not religion and fear.