Ann Pearlman (Author of The Christmas Cookie Club)

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Ann Pearlman

欧宝娱乐 Author

Born

Washington D.C., The United States

Website

Twitter

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Social Sciences, Graphic Novels

Member Since

July 2011

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Ann Pearlman was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for INFIDELITY which was also made into a Lifetime movie. Her first novel, THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CLUB has been translated into 6 languages and is a national and international bestseller. A GIFT FOR MY SISTER, following characters first introduced in The Christmas Cookie Club won a prize for best fiction. THE LOTTERY, the third in the series, was published in the fall of 2014.
Ann also writes non-fiction. INSIDE THE CRIPS is the story of a gang member from L.A. and KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING sent Ann on a national TV, (Oprah) radio and print tour. She wrote a cookbook with her friend, and hostess of her cookie club, Marybeth Bayer, THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE COOKBOOK. OTHER ...more

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What鈥檚 your advice for aspiring writers?

Ann Pearlman I鈥檓 often asked how I write, how I am sufficiently disciplined to actually get books completed, so I thought I鈥檇 share some of my tricks and routines.鈥辞谤别I鈥檓 often asked how I write, how I am sufficiently disciplined to actually get books completed, so I thought I鈥檇 share some of my tricks and routines.

First, I鈥檝e been writing since eighth grade, jonesing for the feeling I received completing an assignment. We were asked to write thank you notes for a painting our school received. The painting was of two girls sitting on a beach, behind them was the sea, stretching to the horizon. As I wrote about the sea I was transported into a sensation of taking dictation from the universe. Re-experiencing that sensation propels my writing. I write because I love it; I write because I want that feeling again. Weeks later, when I鈥檓 editing, I cannot tell which prose was awe-inspired and which was written prosaically.

For years, I didn鈥檛 have the luxury of writer鈥檚 block, stealing time to scribble notes in between my job, and running my kids around various activities after school. Each moment stolen to write was precious.

Then I discovered the glory of automatic writing: Get up early, before anyone else is up, and immediately write, do not edit yourself, just inscribe the words that come to you. The only experience between dreams and writing were brushing my teeth and coffee. My language was richer so I habituated myself to write first thing in the morning. Slowly, I rescheduled my life around my writing, instead of pushing it between the edges of my other requirements. My kids growing up made that easier.
So I wake with the sun. I write at least five days a week. At least four hours a day. I don鈥檛 let myself be interrupted until I鈥檝e done several hours. Then I鈥檒l eat breakfast, answer calls, emails, twitters, etc.

Other tricks: I have words that I have forgotten, igonored in a bowl. I notice them once again in something I鈥檝e read, write them down, and put them in a bowl. Occasionally, I pick one out to flutter (see, that was one鈥�) into my prose.
If I get stuck, I drum. Yes, I play a Djembe hand drum and the repetitive rhythm seems to encourage ideas. So does jumping up and down on a trampoline.

I work out. This is important. After years on the computer, if I didn鈥檛 work out, do yoga, and use an ergonomically correct keyboard, I suspect I鈥檇 be crippled by carpal tunnel syndrome.

Music provides an added layer of texture to my setting. Writing Inside the Crips, I listened to the hip hop and gangsta rap ( Snoop Dog, Ice T, N.W.A. ) that set the rhythm and the texture of Colton鈥檚 life. Writing a scene that takes place in Detroit in the 70鈥檚, I listen to The Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Martha Reeves, etc. Sometimes when I鈥檓 writing, sometimes when I鈥檓 driving or working out my ipod surrounds me with sounds that ebb the time and place into my soul. I ended up so entranced by the rhythm and rhymes of rap that Tara in A Gift for My Sister became a rap artist.

Writing is as much a part of me as breathing. Writing, even if it鈥檚 in my journal, imparts meaning to each day.
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What are you currently working on?

Ann Pearlman Today, I completed the final edits, cover, etc. for The Lottery which is the third novel in The Christmas Cookie Club series. Now I wait to see the va鈥辞谤别Today, I completed the final edits, cover, etc. for The Lottery which is the third novel in The Christmas Cookie Club series. Now I wait to see the various pieces coalesce into a new book which should launch in mid October. I'm excited to see it printed and launched. And of course, I'm eager to hear the reaction of all the readers of The Christmas Cookie Club and A Gift for My Sister who've been waiting to learn what happens next to my characters who I've grown to love so much. (less)

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Ann Pearlman鈥檚 books

Average rating: 3.3 · 5,509 ratings · 985 reviews · 19 distinct works 鈥� Similar authors

	The Christmas Cookie Club 3.24 avg rating — 4,626 ratings — published 2009 — 52 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang by Ann Pearlman (欧宝娱乐 Author), Colton Simpson, Ice T (Foreword) 3.96 avg rating — 510 ratings — published 2005 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Gift for My Sister 3.12 avg rating — 363 ratings — published 2011 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Infidelity: A Love Story 3.57 avg rating — 94 ratings — published 2000 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	His Eye is On the Sparrow 3.92 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 2013 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Lottery 3.86 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Christmas Cookie Club Pa liked it 3.00 avg rating — 24 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Cookie Club 3.13 avg rating — 8 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Other Lives: An Illustrated Short Story for Adults really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Gift for My Sister 3.20 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Ann Pearlman's Blog

A Christmas Cookie Club Party during Covid! Yes, we did it!

Last year, as I ended the story about our annual Christmas Cookie Club party I wished everyone a wonderful holiday season. 鈥� And a peaceful 2020.鈥�

Well, we haven鈥檛 had a peaceful year.聽聽In fact, 2020 is probably the most chaotic, frightening and tumultuous year for our country during our lifetimes.聽聽And yet, we develop ways to keep our cherished traditions and friendship groups alive.聽聽For me, and

Series by Ann Pearlman

Christmas Cookie Club (3 books)
by

Ann Pearlman (欧宝娱乐 Author)

3.23 avg rating — 5,010 ratings

Ann is Currently Reading

Ann Pearlman is currently reading

How to Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics

by Michael Pollan (欧宝娱乐 Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

read in July 2018

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Ann Pearlman said: " Interesting history of LSD and its use as a therapy especially for addiction. I was glad to hear that it is being explored again to as an adjunct to therapy. I was most interested in the 'trip' via drums and breathing techniques. As someone who drums ...more "

Jul 16, 2018 01:28PM · see review

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Ann鈥檚 Recent Updates

Ann Pearlman has read Mating Calls: The Problem with Lexie and Number Seven by Jessica Anya Blau	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 21, 2024 05:37PM · like · See a Problem? We鈥檇 love your help. Let us know what鈥檚 wrong with this preview of Mating Calls by Jessica Anya Blau. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you鈥檙e looking for? Preview 鈥� Mating Calls by Jessica Anya Blau <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ann Pearlman has read Owl in Darkness by Zoe Rosenfeld	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 22, 2024 12:37PM · like
Ann Pearlman rated a book liked it Heartburn by Nora Ephron	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 05, 2024 01:27PM · like
Ann Pearlman rated a book really liked it The Aging Brain by Thad A. Polk	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Very informative, interesting and relatively easy to read book on how our brains age. And things we can do now, as well as possible future scientific interventions. Highly recommend!
Mar 10, 2024 11:43AM · 1 like · like · see review
Ann Pearlman rated a book it was amazing From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America by Elizabeth Hinton	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 23, 2024 06:32AM · like · See a Problem? We鈥檇 love your help. Let us know what鈥檚 wrong with this preview of From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime by Elizabeth Hinton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you鈥檙e looking for? Preview 鈥� From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime by Elizabeth Hinton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ann Pearlman rated a book really liked it Thick: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom (欧宝娱乐 Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 23, 2024 06:23AM · like
Ann Pearlman has read The Passenger (The Passenger #1) by Cormac McCarthy	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 09, 2024 02:14PM · like · See a Problem? We鈥檇 love your help. Let us know what鈥檚 wrong with this preview of The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you鈥檙e looking for? Preview 鈥� The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Feb 06, 2024 11:59AM · 1 like · like · view books
Ann Pearlman rated a book really liked it The Life Within Us: Stories by Michael Lieberman (欧宝娱乐 Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Lieberman's book of stories cover a wide variety of characters, plots and images making for fascinating mini voyages. I also appreciated and realized quickly he grew up in Pittsburgh and his was interested to have a glimpse of his experiences there a ...more
Feb 04, 2024 12:32PM · 1 like · like · see review · See a Problem? We鈥檇 love your help. Let us know what鈥檚 wrong with this preview of The Life Within Us by Michael Lieberman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you鈥檙e looking for? Preview 鈥� The Life Within Us by Michael Lieberman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ann Pearlman is now following Michael Lieberman Author of The Lobsterman's Daughter
Feb 03, 2024 02:54PM · like

More of Ann's books…

Quotes by Ann Pearlman (?)

“I am the head cookie bitch and this is my party.”
― Ann Pearlman, The Christmas Cookie Club

16 likes

“Every day we walk a razor thin line between the ordinary and the tragic."...First line of Gift For My Sister.”
― Ann Pearlman

4 likes

“And some man can't be the door to what you want. All a man can do is love you, be family with you, help you fulfill your dreams.”
― Ann Pearlman, A Gift for My Sister

3 likes

See all Ann Pearlman's quotes »

Polls

December is our Yuletide/Christmas selection. Get your votes in by Thursday, November 10th.

A Christmas Party

Georgette Heyer

4 votes, 80.0%

Christmas in Cornwall

Marcia Willett

1 vote, 20.0%

Christmas Camp

Karen Schaler

0 votes, 0.0%

The Christmas Cookie Club

Ann Pearlman

0 votes, 0.0%

Comfort & Joy

Kristin Hannah

0 votes, 0.0%

Christmas in Plains: Memories

Jimmy Carter

0 votes, 0.0%

5 total votes

4 comments

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Readers and Reading: March 2010 reads	50	81	Apr 25, 2010 03:50PM
Every one's Choice: 3 Winners for December	42	33	Dec 02, 2010 05:30AM
The Seasonal Read...: Winter Challenge 2010-2011 Completed Tasks (do not delete any posts)	2578	1098	Feb 28, 2011 09:05PM

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Ann鈥檚 Quotes

“Every day we walk a razor thin line between the ordinary and the tragic."...First line of Gift For My Sister.”
― Ann Pearlman

4 likes

“I consider the luck of simply being born, of being plucked out of the cosmos and bestowed with eyes to see, and nerves to feel, and ears to hear. Our senses. Our speech. Our breath. How crucial and insistent our ceaseless moving lungs from our first cry to our last.”
― Ann Pearlman, A Gift for My Sister

1 likes