Author Spotlight: Lian Dolan and Helen of Pasadena

Helen Fairchild, is leading a privileged Pasadena existence: married to a pillar of the community; raising a water polo- playing son destined for the most select high school; volunteering her time on the most fashionable committees. It only bothers Helen a tiny bit the she has never quite fit in with the proper Pasadena crowd or finished that graduate degree in Classics or had that second baby. The rigid rules of society in Pasadena appeal to Helen, the daughter of Oregon “fiber artists”, even if she’ll never be on the inside. And then along comes a Rose Parade float, killing her philandering husband and leaving Helen broke, out of her “forever” house, and scrambling to salvage her once-rarefied existence. Enter Dr. Patrick O’Neill, noted archaeologist, excavator of Troy, and wearer of adorable nubby sweaters. A job as Dr. O’Neill’s research assistant is the lifeline Helen needs to re-invent herself professionally, personally, and romantically. Helen’s world widens to include a Hollywood star, a local gossip columnist, an old college nemesis, a high-powered Neutron Mom, an unforgiving admissions director, the best Armenian real estate agent in the biz, and, of course, the intriguing Patrick O’Neill. While uncovering secrets about Ancient Troy alongside her archaeologist, Helen discovers something much more: a new sense of self and a new love.

Read the Reviews!
"Lian is 'sassy, the smart one'."
— New York Times, on the Satellite Sisters

"[She has] a humorous take on day-to-day issues facing women everywhere."

— Oprah.com

"She’s down-to-earth, witty and doesn’t take herself too seriously."

— Daily Candy

"Every reader will see something of herself in Dolan’s likeable heroine, Helen of Pasadena. Offering up every woman’s worst fear, Dolan pulls the rug out from under Helen, and we get to watch as she recovers and rein¬vents herself with wit, charm and smarts. Dolan’s Helen is reminiscent of Nora Ephron’s Rachel Samstat: strong, determined and fearless."

— Sally Bjornsen, author of A Single Girl’s Guide to Marrying a Man, His Kids and His Ex-Wife

PURCHASE A COPY OF HELEN OF PASADENA HERE!

Lian Dolan is a mother, wife, sister, friend, daughter, novelist, writer, and talk show host. She writes and talks about her adventures in modern motherhood for her website, http://www.chaoschronicles.com/ and her weekly podcast, The Chaos Chronicles. Lian has always used her voice to take on all aspects of motherhood, from common-sense parenting to all-consuming school volunteering to overcoming handbag envy. She is known for her humorous take on the day-to-day issues that face women everywhere. The Chaos Chronicles is currently being developed by Nickelodeon as a half-hour comedy.


Prior to The Chaos Chronicles, Lian spent a decade hosting Satellite Sisters, an award-winning talk show that she created with her four real sisters. Satellite Sisters has won 11 Gracie Allen Awards for Excellence in Women’s Media, including Talk Show of the Year in 2006. On air, Lian has interviewed everybody from Bill Clinton to Nora Roberts to Maya Angelou. Lian is the Executive Editor of the Satellite Sisters website.


In addition to her work on air, Lian is a writer and a weekly relationships columnist at http://www.oprah.com/. Previously published books include “Satellite Sisters UnCommon Senses,” published in 2001. Her writing has been featured in many national magazines including regular columns in O, The Oprah Magazine and Working Mother Magazine.


Lian has appeared numerous TV shows including The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning and The Oprah Winfrey Show.


She lives in Pasadena, California with her husband and two sons. Her dream is to ride on a Rose Parade float. To read more about Lian Dolan, please visit http://helenofpasadena.com/.