Long gone are the days when blogs are just an amusing side-note to print as a way of promoting books. Case-in-point: Liar’s Diary Blog Day. Today, some 300 bloggers are joining together to promote the paperback release of Liar’s Diary, by Patry Francis. Anyone who has published a book knows that, after the years of writing and editing, after the galleys have been proofed, after the cover is finalized, the work of promotion begins. This latter–and these days, essential–part of the publishing process takes a great deal of time and energy. Which is where the bloggers come in today. Francis was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. In the face of multiple surgeries and grueling treatment, she is unable to promote Liar’s Diary on her own.

So Susan Henderson of Litpark decided to organize bloggers to talk about Patry, and about her book.

Now, about the book, from Patry’s blog:

Though my novel deals with murder, betrayal, and the even more lethal crimes of the heart, the real subjects of THE LIAR’S DIARY are music, love, friendship, self-sacrifice and courage. The darkness is only there for contrast; it’s only there to make us realize how bright the light can be. I’m sure that most writers whose work does not flinch from the exploration of evil feel the same.

From Joanne Wilkinson for Booklist:
When free-spirited Ali Mather takes a job as a music teacher at the high school, the entire building is abuzz with talk of her unconventional love life. She’s married to a loyal and patient man but carrying on not-so-secret love affairs with a used-car salesman and a fellow teacher. Hyperefficient school secretary Jeanne Cross, married to Gavin, a prominent surgeon, is both fascinated and repulsed by Ali’s unapologetic attitude. Although Jeanne has been unhappily married for years to a controlling man who is overly critical of their son, she has trouble admitting that her family is not as perfect as it may appear to outsiders. Then Jeanne finds with Ali the close friendship she has always longed for. But Ali’s insights into the dark side of the Cross family, including Gavin’s sexual proclivities, cause Jeanne to retreat further into herself, putting both her son and Ali in danger…a disturbing portrait of a hollow family done in by secrets and lies.

Read Patry’s blog here.