Novelist and Author Provocateur
About Josie
Almost three million copies of Josie Brown’s novels are in readers’ hands.
Josie is the author of the 20-novel Housewife Assassin’s Handbook series; the 8-novel Totlandia episodic series; the 3-novel Extracurricular episodic series; and the 2-novel True Hollywood Lies series; as well as The Candidate and The Baby Planner.
Her novel, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, was optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer for television.
3 Episodic Novels
A dark family secret leads to a
college admissions cheating scandal at
a private school, setting off a crisis of conscience for the parents, teachers, administrator
and the students involved—and a catharsis
for one couple about their marriage.
"Delicious, hilarious, and addictive."
—Samantha M. Bailey, Woman on the Edge
"Sharp, smart, and sexy, Brown's timely
new series about the cut-throat world
of college admissions is a must-read."
—Meredith Schorr, The Boyfriend Swap
"A++ for Extracurricular!”
—Julie Valerie, author of Holly Banks Full of Angst
"Josie Brown brings it."
—Eileen Goudge, author, The Diary
Novel Series
Twenty Novels
Every desperate housewife would love an alias. Donna Stone has one, and it's government-sanctioned.
But terrorism makes strange bedfellows. Jack Craig, the wild card Acme operative paired with Donna brings, new meaning to that old adage “Honey, I'm home…”
8 Episodic Novels
Friendship. Lies. Seduction. Betrayal.
Welcome to Totlandia.
For San Francisco's ultra-competitive elite, ten open spots in its most exclusive children's playgroup is the ultimate parenting prize.
But not everyone is PHM&TC material.
The club's founder, Bettina Connaught Cross, adheres to strict membership rules.
But four candidates have a secret that
would knock them out of the running.
Can these hopeful moms keep up appearances long enough to outlast the competition?
Or will their chances–and their private lives–
go up in flames?
Totlandia” novellas serve as the perfect
quick read for busy moms or anyone looking
to escape with some gossipy fun.”
—Examiner
Stand-Alone Novels
THE CANDIDATE
Seduction and intrigue are rampant on
the campaign trail when a political campaign adviser discovers that Washington's power broker elite
have embroiled his presidential candidate in
a plot involving an act of terrorism on US soil.
SECRET LIVES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES
A divorce that rocks a planned community
reveals secrets and lies in other marriages as well.
THE BABY PLANNER
While secretly longing for a child of her own,
San Francisco's most prestigious baby planner
throws herself into helping her clueless clients
on how to prepare for their pregnancies.
HOLLYWOOD HUNK
There's only one thing worse
than playing personal assistant to a handsome, egotistical, oversexed actor:
falling in love with him.
Fun Stuff
By doing so, you'll get my book,
Hollywood Whore.
“When a film director's obsession with
a phone sex operator threatens
his latest production—
not to mention his marriage—
His talent agent thinks he knows
how to handle the situation:
buy off "the voice that launches
a thousand erections."
Instead, he falls in love with her.
But how will he feels when he discovers
that she's the wife of
his new hot actor client?
"Josie Brown does an outstanding job capturing the glitz and glamour
of Hollywood while illuminating
the stark loneliness present
beneath the façade.Filled with
good-natured humor and witty repartée.”
—Romance Reader's Connection
BOOK 1 - THE HOUSEWIFE ASSASSIN'S HANDBOOK
DIGITAL: 9780974021409
Amazon - Apple Books - BN - Kobo
Every desperate housewife would love an alias. Donna Stone has one, and it's government-sanctioned. But terrorism makes strange bedfellows. Jack Craig, the wild card Acme operative paired with Donna brings, new meaning to that old adage “Honey, I'm home…”
PRAISE
"Brown's unorthodox surprises did make me laugh.
I taught it in a class about comic novels." —Jane Smiley
TOTLANDIA: BOOK 1 - FALL - THE ONESIES
DIGITAL: 9780989558884
Amazon - Apple Books - BN - Kobo
The Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club is the most exclusive children's playgroup in all of San Francisco. For the city's ultra-competitive elite, the club's ten annual spots are the ultimate parenting prize. But four of the six candidates vying for the remaining four slots have a secret that would knock them out of the running. Can these hopeful moms keep up appearances long enough to outlast the competition? Or will their chances–and their private lives–go up in flames?
EXTRACURRICULAR - BOOK 1
DIGITAL: 9781970093063
Amazon - Apple Books - BN - Kobo
It's your child's senior year. A private prep school's reputation is at stake. A math teacher refuses to grade his final exams on a curve. Students have only one more shot at the SAT before college applications are due. And a few desperate parents have much more money than brains.
Twenty-two years ago, Audrey Thorpe made a mistake that has haunted her for the rest of her life. And now her dirty little secret will soon be the downfall of everyone and everything she holds dear: love, family, friends, and her private high school alma mater.
BUY AUTOGRAPHED BOOKS
You can order personally
autographed print books.
Besides being autographed,
the store's pricing is discounted
from where you'd find them elsewhere.
In my podcast, I interview other authors
on their process. The most recent include:
Hank Phillipp Ryan - HER PERFECT LIFE
Liza Taylor Nash - IN ALL GOOD FAITH
Kristin Contino - A FULL HOUSE OF WINDSOR
Tess Gerritsen and Gary Braver - CHOOSE ME
Daniel Pyne - WATER MEMORY
Jason Pinter - A STRANGER AT THE DOOR
Lee Goldberg - BONE CANYON
Jule Valerie - THE PECULIAR FATE OF HOLLY BANKS
There are over fifty interviews.
A great place to find out what I'm thinking
on any given day.
It may be about a current event,
a new contest,
a new recipe,
a great new experience,
or a wonderful locale I've run across
and want to share with you.
If you love my books,
you'll certainly appreciate
my sense of humor here too.
Listen to Josie's AUTHOR PROVOCATEUR Podcast with HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN on her new book, HER PERFECT LIFE, then
Hank Phillippi Ryan’s latest thriller, HER PERFECT LIFE, Lily Atwood, is an award-winning on-air television reporter with a seemingly perfect life. A job she loves that earns her incredible celebrity status, a seven-year-old loving daughter, Rowen, who goes to a posh private school; and the perfect beautiful home in a safe neighborhood. But not everything is as perfect as it seems. Lily has several dark secrets—including the fact that her older sister disappeared when Lily was Rowen’s age.
This chilling psychological standalone has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, which called it "a superlative thriller." It has also garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and is now nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Novel, and the iconic Mary Higgins Clark Award.
Like protagonist Lily, Hank is also a television news reporter. She and I discuss how the idea of this plot came to her; what about Lily’s on-air career mirrors her own; and how she overcomes the doubt every author faces: writing that next novel.
2021 CONTEST WINNERS:
Catherine O - A Full House of Windsor
Phyllis RBC - Choose Me
Ann S - Black Coral
Kristin B - Water Memory
LL - Stranger at the Door
Suzy D - Bone Canyon
ARTICLES BY ME
I've had the pleasure of interviewing
a few actors and directors.
I've also had the joy of discussing novels
with the authors that wrote them.
You'll find all of these profiles here.
ARTICLES ABOUT ME
I'm always grateful when other journalists
want to ask me questions about my work.
You'll find out what I think
about my stories and characters here.
OUT NOW:
THE HOUSEWIFE ASSASSIN SERIES
Book 1: Handbook
Coming 2021:
Book 2: Guide to Gracious Killing
Book 3: Killer Christmas Tips
AND
THE TOTLANDIA SERIES
Book 1: Fall, the Onesies
Book 2: Winter, the Onesies
Book 3: Spring, the Onesies
Book 4: Summer, the Onesie