About Josie
Novelist, journalist, and playwright Josie Brown is the author of
-
23-novel Housewife Assassin’s Handbook series (Signal Press; previously optioned for television);
-
​8-novel Totlandia episodic series (Signal Press); ​
-
3-novel Extracurricular episodic series
(Signal Press); and -
2-novel True Hollywood Lies series (HarperCollins); as well as
-
Stand-alone novels The Candidate and The Baby Planner (Simon & Schuster)
-
Her novel, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives (Simon & Schuster), was optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer for television.
23 Mystery 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…”
​
"The last book that made me laugh: The Housewife Assassin's Handbook. Brown's unorthodox surprises did make me laugh. I taught it in a class about comic novels."
—Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author
​
"This book hits all the right notes...I now want a week at the beach to read them all...I'm completely smitten." — Barbara Vey
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.​
"Sharp, smart, and sexy, Brown's timely
new series about the cut-throat world
of college admissions is a must-read."
—Meredith Schorr, As Seen on TV
“Josie Brown has a new trail of secrets, lies, andparents behaving badly—and you’re gonna love it." —Jen Tucker, The Day I Wore My Panties Inside Out
​​​​
"Josie Brown brings it."
—Eileen Goudge, author, The Diary
​
"A++ for Extracurricular!”—Julie Valerie, author of Holly Banks Full of Angst
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
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.
FREE! THE FIRST 2 BOOKS IN THE TOTLANDIA SERIES WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR MY
NEWSLETTER
Four candidates vying for the few remaining slots in San Francisco's most exclusive children's playgroup have a secret that would knock them out
of the running. Can they keep up appearances long enough to outlast the competition? Or will their chances–and their private lives–go up in flames?
​
"Laugh-out-loud funny and sometimes touching, Totlandia novels serve as the perfect quick read for busy moms or anyone looking to escape with some gossipy fun.”
—Examiner.com ​
​
"There are touching moments, parts that made me laugh out loud. I felt like I was reading a television show!”
—Divine Secrets of a Domestic Goddess
​
"If you are a fan of the Real Housewives shows, it's a good bet you will eat this story up!" —The Writer Revived
​
"The way that the other members of the group protect one another will break your heart one moment and have you giggling to yourself the next." —Playdate Crashers
​
"Josie Brown writes Totlandia with her usual storytelling flair. Guilty pleasure, anyone," —Melissa Amster, ChickLitCentral
​
"I almost hate to admit it, but I can’t wait for the next in the series.” —LuxuryReading.com
​
"I found myself cheering them on and hoping they make the cut, even though part of my mind was thinking how ridiculous it all was. The author did an amazing job at giving each character a distinct voice and their own trials throughout the book" —Simply Stacie
​
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.
​
In my podcast, I interview other authors
on their process.
Past Interviews Include:
Jane Healey - GOODNIGHT FROM PARIS
Jane Smiley - A DANGEROUS BUSINESS
Michelle Cox - A SPYING EYE
Joy Jordan-Lake - A BEND OF LIGHT
Rhys Bowen - WHERE THE SKY BEGINS
Lee Goldberg - MOVIELAND
Meredith Schorr - As Seen on TV
Samantha M. Bailey - WATCH OUT FOR HER
Lisa Barr - WOMAN ON FIRE
Rea Frey - SECRETS OF OUR HOUSE
Kaira Rouda - SOMEBODY'S HOME
Yasmin Angoe - HER NAME IS KNIGHT
Lee Goldberg - GATED PREY
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
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.
​
Enter for a Chance to Win
1 of 3 $50 Gift Cards
To YOUR favorite Bookstore!
IN BOOK 23 of the
HOUSEWIFE ASSASSIN SERIES:
Donna and Jack Craig are on an around-the-world mission to retrieve nine digital directories listing names of intelligence operatives—one belonging to the United States, the other eight belonging to its allies and enemies—as they are sold by the highest bidder by an anonymous terrorist.
At the same time, Jack thinks he has reasons to question Donna's love for him. Will saving their country cost the Craigs their marriage?
​
​
WINNERS
Manner, Missiles & Mayhem
Excerpt Contest
Many H - Ami-May S - Lena B
​
Author Provocateur
Podcast Listener Contest
2022
Pat C - Watch Out for Her
Linda K - Movieland
Linda H - As Seen on TV
Wendy R: HA21 Excerpt Contest
Karen M: HA21 Excerpt Contest
Lee R - Woman on Fire
Mary C - Secrets of Our House
Amy H - Somebody's Home
2021
Katherine H - Her Name is Knight
Al H - Gated Prey
Anne S - Her Perfect Life
Angela T -All In Good Faith
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
OUT NOW:
THE HOUSEWIFE ASSASSIN SERIES
Book 1: Handbook
​
Coming 2023:
Book 2: Guide to Gracious Killing
​
AND​
THE TOTLANDIA SERIES
Book 1: Fall, the Onesies
Book 2: Winter, the Onesies
Book 3: Spring, the Onesies
Book 4: Summer, the Onesies