Media Room for Love Is the Punch Line

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Love Is the Punch Line, Kathleen Jones’ debut novel, will be published by Moonshine Cove on April 7, 2018.

HE COURTED HER WITH PUNCH LINES

Middle-aged stand-up comedian Josh Steinberg, the “Jewish Comedy King” and formerly the star of his own popular TV series, finds himself struggling to keep his career alive, playing seedier and seedier clubs. Plump, balding, and plain-looking, he has never had much luck with women. That is, until Josh meets Holly Brannigan while performing his stand-up act in a club. Holly, an attractive, intelligent, and divorced 50-year-old businesswoman, becomes instantly smitten with Josh and even finds his unconventional looks wildly sexy.

The lonely and vulnerable Josh soon falls in love with Holly, even though she’s not the statuesque type he usually goes for. But Josh, terrified of being hurt and discarded by yet another woman, hides his feelings for Holly by making fun of her in his stand-up act. And Holly, taking Josh’s words to heart, starts to wonder if she means anything to him at all.

MEDIA COVERAGE FOR LOVE IS THE PUNCH LINE

PRAISE FOR LOVE IS THE PUNCH LINE

“When aging comedian Josh meets business woman Holly, sparks fly, but it’s not an easy road to happy ever after. Love Is the Punch Line is a sweet love story with lots of twists and turns that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Holly and Josh’s story will leave you emotionally invested and rooting (though sometimes also frustrated!) for these two. So, can this Jewish washed-up comedian and smart and sassy Torontonian find their happy ever after? You’ll just have to read it!”

– Alicia Montgomery, author of the True Mates series

“Being a funny man isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Balding, pudgy, and massively insecure, Josh Steinberg is a struggling comic actor whose greatest career success is far behind him.  He’s lonely and physically exhausted, while his romantic history-the subject of many of his jokes- is an emotional train wreck. With his TV career in tatters, he makes his living performing at second-rate comedy clubs, where a chance encounter one night with a female fan leads to unexpected consequences.

“Holly Brannigan is a successful businesswoman in her 50s whose personal life has hit the skids. When she meets Josh, she thinks he’s a big, sexy teddy bear, but wonders why he’d want to date a “boring” middle-aged woman like herself. For his part, Josh can’t imagine why Holly finds him attractive. Will these two get past their insecurities long enough to forge a lasting relationship?

“Author Kathleen Jones successfully brings readers into the gritty, often brutal worlds of stand-up comedy and the Hollywood film industry, where talent means little unless it is combined with youth and beauty, and where love is often an illusion.”

–Kathleen DuHamel, author of the Deep Blue Trilogy

“A spinning yo-yo of ups and downs in hysterical pursuit of middle-aged romance for L.A.’s Jewish King of Comedy and the Irish shiksa from Toronto who heckles him into loving her.”

– B.A. East, author of Patchworks

“This is an authentic romance novel. Josh, a Jewish middle-aged, rather run-down guy, and Holly, a middle-aged, active woman have very little in common. He is a late-career comedian struggling with trust issues, she is a business woman recently out of a relationship with a younger man.

“Their relationship develops amidst her job appointments and his gigs in clubs of dubious quality. When his idea of writing a movie script comes into play, he will have to deal with his self-doubts regarding his appearance, work and the way he relates to Holly. Self-image and middle-age issues also assail Holly as she tries to put them in perspective.

“Working through these variables, their love builds not in a linear way, but in a realistic, fragmented pace. Their feelings and sexuality are described in a non-judgmental way with delicate details.

“I liked how Jones treated the story and how the romance follows a different path.”

–Lisa Torquay, author of The Lass Defended the Laird

“Kathleen Jones’ debut, Love Is the Punch Line, is a surprising novel. It’s the story of stand-up comic Josh Steinberg, who is on his way to being washed up at fifty-four, and Holly Brannigan, who, for some unfathomable reason finds the pudgy comedian appealing. Filled with characters that seem as if they just walked out of a sitcom, Love Is the Punch Line might just tickle your funny bone.”

–Anne Clinard Barnhill, author of At the Mercy of the Queen, Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter, and The Beautician’s Notebook

AUTHOR BIO

Kathleen Jones was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in English literature. For thirty years, she toughed it out in the corporate world, chiefly as an editor for various Canadian book publishers. Sometimes, Kathleen had the opportunity to do work that she enjoyed, but too often, she didn’t. Towards the end of her career, the type of work that interested and challenged Kathleen began to slip away, and she became less and less happy.

Then one day, Kathleen realized something: creative, out-of-the box thinkers like her don’t belong in the corporate world, and if she wanted “meaningful” work, she would have to create it for herself.

That was when Kathleen decided to pursue the only work that she’d ever really wanted to do since she was a child: the work of a novelist!

Today, Kathleen is a full-time author who writes for a number of popular book blogs. She also contributes monthly book reviews to Goodreads. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Love Is the Punch Line is Kathleen’s first novel.

Visit Kathleen online at https://kathleenjones.org/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/joneslepidas and sign up for free updates at http://eepurl.com/ceSobT 

Media Contact:

Kathleen Jones

Email: joneslepidas@bell.net

Address: 5 Southmead Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1L 2H7

Phone: 416-752-4856

Author site: https://kathleenjones.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joneslepidas

Contact Kathleen today to request an interview or review copies.

INTERVIEW TOPICS

I waited 50 years before realizing my dream of becoming a published novelist.

Since I knew that I probably couldn’t support myself by writing novels, I joined the corporate world and put off my dream until midlife.

My first novel was based on a personal relationship.

I based the novel, very loosely, on a “puppy love” type romance from middle school.

Knowing that the odds were against me, I did everything I could think of to sell my first novel to a publisher.

I read dozens and dozens of book publishing blogs; hired a substantive/line editor, copy editor, and proofreader to polish my manuscript; researched dozens of agents and publishers online.

AUTHOR PHOTOS

You are welcome to use these photos of me:IMG_7566-Edit-4.jpgDSCN2567.jpg

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

  1. Why did you put off your writing career until your 50s?
  2. Have you always wanted to write, or did you only take an interest in writing in midlife?
  3. Exactly how old were you when you started writing fiction?
  4. Did your corporate career involve writing and/or book publishing?
  5. What did you do for a living when you were younger?
  6. Did you start writing fiction when you were employed at a full-time job? If so, how did you find the time?
  7. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
  8. Where did you get the idea for your first novel?
  9. Is your first novel based on your personal life?
  10. Did you do any research for your novel?
  11. Did you do anything to increase your chances of finding a publisher for your novel?
  12. How did you find an editor, copy editor, proof reader, and cover designer?
  13. How did you find a publisher?
  14. Did you think you would find a publisher for your novel?
  15. Why did you write an unconventional novel?
  16. What are your plans to promote your novel?

PRESS RELEASE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2018 | Toronto, Ontario

Visit at https://kathleenjones.org/ for contact details, review copies, photos, and an author bio.

         WHO SAYS THAT ROMANCE IS ONLY FOR THE YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL?

He courted her with punch lines.

Can a plump, balding, 54-year-old, washed-up comedian win the heart of a smart and attractive 50-year-old businesswoman? Can that still-pretty 50-year-old lust after a less than hunky funny man?

Holly Brannigan becomes smitten with Josh Steinberg the moment she spots him in a comedy club. Josh soon falls for Holly, too, but there’s one big problem: he’s been dumped by too many women in his past. Terrified of being hurt again, Josh hides his feelings for Holly by making fun of her in his stand-up act. Holly is crushed. Can these two overcome their hurt and heartbreak and learn to trust each other? Find out in Love Is the Punch Line, available from Moonshine Cove in April 2018.

Like her characters Josh and Holly, author Kathleen Jones is a late bloomer. She had always wanted to write novels, but she needed to pay her bills, so she put off her dream to enter the corporate world. After 50 long years, Kathleen’s lifelong dream is finally coming true: her first novel, Love Is the Punch Line, will be published by Moonshine Cove in April 2018. Read more about Kathleen at https://kathleenjones.org/

PRAISE FOR LOVE IS THE PUNCH LINE

“When aging comedian Josh meets business woman Holly, sparks fly, but it’s not an easy road to happy ever after. Love Is the Punch Line is a sweet love story with lots of twists and turns that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Holly and Josh’s story will leave you emotionally invested and rooting (though sometimes also frustrated!) for these two. So, can this Jewish washed-up comedian and smart and sassy Torontonian find their happy ever after? You’ll just have to read it!”

– Alicia Montgomery, author of the True Mates series

“Author Kathleen Jones successfully brings readers into the gritty, often brutal worlds of stand-up comedy and the Hollywood film industry, where talent means little unless it is combined with youth and beauty, and where love is often an illusion.”

–Kathleen DuHamel, author of the Deep Blue Trilogy

“A spinning yo-yo of ups and downs in hysterical pursuit of middle-aged romance for L.A.’s Jewish King of Comedy and the Irish shiksa from Toronto who heckles him into loving her.”

-B.A. East, author of Patchworks

“I liked how Jones treated the story and how the romance follows a different path.”

–Lisa Torquay, author of The Lass Defended the Laird

“Kathleen Jones’ debut, Love Is the Punch Line, is a surprising novel. It’s the story of stand-up comic Josh Steinberg, who is on his way to being washed up at fifty-four, and Holly Brannigan, who, for some unfathomable reason finds the pudgy comedian appealing. Filled with characters that seem as if they just walked out of a sitcom, Love Is the Punch Line might just tickle your funny bone.”

–Anne Clinard Barnhill, author of At the Mercy of the Queen, Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter, and The Beautician’s Notebook

-ENDS-

Contact: phone: 416-752-4856 | email joneslepidas@bell.net | 5 Southmead Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1L 2H7

 

 

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