marilynhorowitzauthor writer

Bad Girl Pie by Marilyn Horowitz

Bad Girl Pie follows the tumultuous journey of Dorothy Sherlock, a celebrity cookbook ghostwriter. After the death of her father, Dorothy has a vivid dream warning her that she must write her own book or risk becoming a ghost herself. Spurred on by her best friend and agent, Suzanne, Dorothy embarks on writing a book about how eating dessert first can help with weight loss. With her book outline complete, Dorothy heads to Cancun for a week of tango dancing, where she meets a sexy fireman. Their passionate interlude reignites Dorothy's long-dormant desires, a flame that had been extinguished since her heartbreak over a fellow tango dancer. Dorothy finishes her book and Suzanne promptly betrays her by selling it to a Food Network diva. Devastated, Dorothy seeks comfort in her ex, but after a steamy reunion, she finds out that he has been living with his cleaning lady. The final blow comes when Dorothy learns her father cut her out of his will. Overwhelmed, she takes a near-lethal dose of Oxycontin, but survives, finding humor in her paradoxical situation. This moment of levity marks the beginning of her recovery. In her quest for a fresh start, Dorothy receives an unexpected opportunity to co-write a tango book with a renowned teacher preparing a famous actor for a film role. Despite her initial skepticism about the book's commercial prospects, Suzanne’s remorse and a promise of success persuade Dorothy to take on the project. When the actor heads to Hollywood, he insists that Dorothy join him as his on-set tango coach. While filming the climactic dance scene, the actor freezes and Dorothy steps in, leading to an unexpected cameo. This boosts the book's success and establishes Dorothy and her co-writer as a formidable team in the tango world. Yet, Dorothy realizes that while tango is a passion, it is not her career. She decides to quit and reflect on her next steps. One evening, as Dorothy cleans up her computer files, she finds a recipe for Bad Girl Pie, a decadent confection. She shares it with Suzanne who immediately recognizes its potential as the foundation for a new bestseller and lifestyle brand. This discovery gives Dorothy her second chance at true success.-------------------------------------- **A feminist, Jewish and smart and dynamic main character who goes through hell and back to take a courageous step to claim her life and her dreams. This is empowering, funny and sharp!**