December 2006



Feature
Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, the mother-daughter, mystery writing team, share how they got started and what it is like writing books together.

“The week after Warren died, the opportunity to write radio scripts came my way, and I grabbed it. Writing for radio was very good training for me. When every second counts, you learn to write succinctly, and that is key to writing good suspense novels.”—Mary Higgins Clark

“I was more interested in acting. I started re-typing my mother’s books and enjoyed talking to her about the plot and characters.When I was in L.A., I had recorded some audio books, and someone suggested I give writing a try.”—Carol Higgins Clark


Book Corner
Ellen Meister, Jericho resident and author of the recently released novel, Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA, talks about being a novice author and why George Clooney was her hunk of choice.

“I started writing this book at the end of 2000, and Desperate Housewives didn’t come out until 2004, so the secret lives of suburban housewives was not yet a pop culture theme. However, Long Island is certainly fertile ground for a writer’s imagination.”

FYI
Fighting the “thin-ideal”—why it’s important to your health. And speaking of health: Have you had your heart checked recently? A new study shows a woman’s risk of developing heart disease is not equal to that of a man’s. Holiday shopping? Check out the Champions for Charity event at the Americana in Manhasset. A new grant aids victims of domestic violence and a new health website to check out.

Health
More than just the winter “blahs”, Dr. Norman Rosenthal discusses Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a very real and very distressing disorder which affects men, women and even teens.

The difference between SAD and general depression is the seasonal nature of SAD. Women are affected three-and-a- half times more often than men, at least until menopause. Symptoms of SAD usually last from November through March.

Holiday Gift Ideas
It’s that time of year again—finding the perfect holiday gifts for family and friends. Check out a few suggestions, from kitchen gadgets to jewelry.

Profile
An up-close and personal interview with musician, radio show host and former Garden City native, John Tesh.

“It was always my plan [to leave television and go back to music], a n d everyone who ever really knew me, knew it was my plan. I woke up every morning with that itch that I couldn’t scratch, knowing I was hosting ET for the money, and that’s a bad place to be.Once you figure out where your heart is, the next step is trying to find a way of making money at it to support your family.”

Happenings
Consult our extensive guide to what’s new and interesting in the arts, education and more this month on the Island.

Support Groups
An extensive listing of Long Island area support groups primarily geared toward women.

Long Island Woman wants to hear from you.
To comment on a story, suggest one of your own, contact the editor or any of the writers, send your e-mail to editor@liwomanonline.