Girls Night In

Originally started in the UK, the Girls' (and Boys') Night In collections gather together hip fiction for the twenty- and thirtysomething sets. The U.S. version collects 21 stories from such popular chick-lit authors as Meg Cabot, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Isabel Wolff, Anna Maxted, and Lisa Jewell. Packed with stories from today's hottest authors, and with proceeds going to the charity War Child, this collection is a must-read for chick lit's many enthusiasts.

Chapters

1. Party Planner by Meg Cabot

2. Traveling Light by Carole Mathews

3. Cat Lady by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

4. Changing People by Sophie Kinsella

5. New York by Jill Davis

6. Revenge by Emily Barr

7. Here Comes Harry by Jessica Adams

8. Know it All by Sarah Mlynowski

9. In Agony by Isabelle Wolff

10. Dating the Enemy by Lauren Henderson

11. From This Moment by Megan McCafferty

12. What Goes Around by Louise Bagshawe

13. Rudy by Lisa Jewel

14. The Truth is Out There by Marian Keyes

15. Here We Are by Linda Curnyn

16. Siren Songs by Stella Duffy

Girls' Night In

Girls' Night In is a global short-story compilation series written mainly by female novelists, with all proceeds from the sale of the books going to charities War Child and, for one volume, another children's charity, No Strings. The first book was the brainchild of novelists Jessica Adams, Chris Manby, Freya North and Fiona Walker. Publishers include HarperCollins UK, Penguin Australia and Red Dress Ink USA. Team editors over the series include Jessica Adams, Maggie Alderson, Nick Earls, Imogen Edwards-Jones, Lauren Henderson, Chris Manby, Carole Matthews, Sarah Mlynowski and Fiona Walker. The series has been translated into Dutch and French and inspired a children's companion series, Kids' Night In. The literary agency representing the series in the UK and Australia is Curtis Brown, managed by Jonathan Lloyd and Tara Wynne respectively.

The first book in the series, Girls Night In, was launched in London in June 2000 and subsequently in Australia in October 2000, with writers including Maggie Alderson, Wendy Holden, Lisa Jewell, Marian Keyes, Kathy Lette, Alecia McKenzie and Freya North. Later that year, sufficient funds had been raised to help War Child build the first Girls' Night In safe play area in the Dardania neighbourhood of Pristina, the capital of Kosovo.

Girls' Night

Girls' Night is a 1998 British comedy-drama directed by Nick Hurran. Loosely based upon the real experiences of writer Kay Mellor, the film stars Julie Walters and Brenda Blethyn as two sisters-in-law, one dying of cancer, who fulfil a lifelong dream of going to Las Vegas, Nevada after an unexpected jackpot win on the bingo.

Premiered to a mixed response by critics at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival, who noted it a "rather formulaic tearjerker [with] two powerhouse Brit actresses", Hurran won a Silver Spire at the San Francisco International Film Festival and received a Golden Bear nomination at the 48th Berlin International Film Festival for his work.

Story

Dawn and Jackie, two workers in an electronics factory, have been best friends since childhood and share practically everything. So it is no surprise to anybody when Dawn shares her big bingo win with Jackie. Eventually Dawn discovers the results of her tests and knows for sure that she has terminal cancer. Dawn has always dreamed of going to Las Vegas so, on impulse, Jackie buys the tickets and off they go on one last great adventure together. In Las Vegas they meet the enigmatic Cody who is attracted to Jackie but immediately understands the situation and helps the two friends to enjoy their dream holiday in Las Vegas by taking them on a trip into the desert. The two friends return home for Dawn to make her peace with her friends and family before her ultimate demise. Dawn's death, even though expected, devastates Jackie leaving her friendless and alone, or does it?