Winner of "J'Adore New York"

I let Melissa Patafio pick the winning number again and she came up with 47. (I had already assigned numbers to each entry, but she did not have access to this list.)

The winner is The Simply Luxurious Life! Congrats!!!

Thanks again to everyone for participating, Isabelle Laflèche for the interview and book to give away and Melissa Patafio for her great interview questions and for helping to pick the winner.

There's another giveaway going on now, for "Free to a Good Home" by Eve Marie Mont. Ends Monday evening. US/Canada only.

Interview with Eve Marie Mont and book giveaway!

Eve Marie Mont is an English and Creative Writing teacher who lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband and her adopted shelter dog named Maggie. She recently wrote "Free to a Good Home," which was released July 6th. Melissa Patafio (who also grew up with a dog named Maggie) and I had the opportunity to ask her a few questions. Plus, she has two signed copies to give away to some lucky readers in the US and Canada.

MP: You rescued your dog Maggie 13 years ago, how did that experience help you to write "Free to a Good Home?"
EM: I am a firm believer that love can be found anywhere, so throughout "Free to a Good Home," there’s a strong theme of adoption, whether it’s adopting a dog, a child, or even a surrogate daughter at the age of sixty-three. We adopted Maggie from a no-kill shelter in Maryland. She had already been “adopted” three times before, and each time she’d been returned as a “problem dog”: she hoarded, she chewed, she wouldn’t stay in her crate, etc. But once we brought her home, she was never a problem to us—she was awesome! Since that day, Maggie has become such an integral part of our lives. She’s experienced all our joys and sorrows right along with us, ready to offer support and love whenever needed. I think it’s that idea of unconditional love that inspired Free to a Good Home. Many of the characters in the book feel like they’re “damaged goods” because of what they’ve been through. But by reaching out and having faith in second chances, they each find a measure of happiness in a place they never expected.

MA: What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing "Free?"
EM: Besides Maggie, the other inspiration for the book was my mother-in-law, Anne Mont, who just passed away this May after a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. I created her fictional counterpart, Margaret, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, as a way to deal with the feelings my husband and I were experiencing as we struggled to provide love and care to his mom. For anyone who’s read the book, you’ll know that Margaret is bitter and ornery and not very good at accepting her lot in life. Fiction diverges greatly from truth because my mother-in-law was the sweetest and most selfless person I have ever met; as someone described her at her funeral, she was “grace personified.” Watching her condition progress as I wrote the book was definitely the most difficult aspect of writing it.

MP: Any plans to make your book “required reading” for your high school English classes?
EM: No. As an English teacher, I am sorry to say the book has no educational value whatsoever.

MA: What was the journey to publication like for you?
EM: I knew absolutely no one in publishing, had zero contacts, so I had to start from scratch. I wrote a book that I thought was pretty good, agonized over the query letter, did research on women’s fiction agents, sent queries and sample chapters to dozens of them, then got ignored or rejected for the better part of a year. So I wrote another book: rinse and repeat. I was so frustrated that I followed up with some of the agents who hadn’t responded yet. One of them said, “Hey, we must have missed this the first time around, but I like what I see.” (I’m paraphrasing here.) That person ended up becoming my agent, the lovely and talented April Eberhardt from Kimberley Cameron and Associates. From there, she and I worked to polish the manuscript, and April sold it in four weeks to Jackie Cantor at Berkley Books. Cue the cartwheels and caviar! (Kidding… too old for cartwheels, too poor for caviar.)

MA: If “Free to a Good Home” were made into a movie, who would you want to star as the main characters?
EM: While I love this question in theory, I am wary about linking a celebrity face with a specific character in the book. I intentionally left the description of Noelle vague so people could imagine her however they wanted. I just did my first Skype book talk yesterday, and readers’ perceptions of what Noelle looked like varied widely, which I liked. I didn’t have anyone in mind as I wrote the characters, so I hope people can use their imaginations and insert whomever they like. (I know this is a lame answer…)



MA: What is one of the most interesting or remarkable things about Maggie?
EM: She is one of the spunkiest dogs I’ve ever met. Even though she was relatively small as a young dog, she went up to this huge German Shepherd and was like, “You wanna piece of me?” Actually, she’s gotten into several scraps with larger dogs and has come out no worse for wear. At thirteen years of age, she still surprises us every now and then with a random burst of puppy power. And, she has a white lightning-shaped patch on the back of her neck, like Harry Potter. She’s the coolest!

MP: Do you plan on adopting any more animals in the future?
EM: Yes, yes, yes! As I’ve said, Maggie doesn’t always play nicely with others, so we have no plans to get another dog now. This is a good thing, as I’m such a sucker for dogs I’d probably have adopted five or six by now. But we know at some point she will pass on, and we definitely plan on adopting more dogs, probably two together this time so they can be pals and keep each other company while we’re at work.

MP: Many people are not able to rescue an animal because of allergies, landlords, time, etc. Can you recommend a way for the people in these situations to help even if they can’t adopt?
EM: Yes, this is unfortunate. I would never advocate adopting a dog if you don’t have the time or space to give that dog an excellent quality of life. But for those who love dogs and can’t have one themselves, most shelters welcome volunteers to come play with their animals, take them for walks, help with grooming, etc. There are so many great charities and rescue groups, too, so donations are a great way to lend support. And I find half a Benadryl does the trick for my cat allergy (without making me too sleepy).

MA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
EM: Well, reading, of course. Lots of reading. My husband and I are also big movie buffs. And lastly, cooking and eating. My husband does the cooking part, and I do the eating. No, that’s not entirely true. I really like cooking, but my husband’s so much better at it than I am. But I’m learning. Right now, I’m working on a women’s fiction novel about a woman who reluctantly takes a cooking class with an ex-boyfriend turned chef, so I plan to have fun experimenting with recipes and eating my creations, whether they are failures or triumphs.

MA: What is your favorite book of all time?
EM: Jane Eyre! I am currently revising a YA book inspired by Jane Eyre, so I’ve had to read the book very closely several times, and it’s just so romantic and atmospheric and swoony. All these paranormal books on the market right now owe a nod to Charlotte Brönte.

Thanks again to Eve for her very thoughtful and interesting answers to our questions and for offering the books to give away.

Thanks to Melissa Patafio for the terrific and thought provoking questions she brought to the table.


How to win "Free to a Good Home":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: Who is/was your favorite pet? (If you've never owned a pet, talk about an animal you know through someone else.)
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Open to US/Canada residents only. Giveaway ends Monday, August 2nd at 6 pm EST.

Winning Wednesday--July 28th

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please.) Thank you!

NEW!!! Win "The Hellraiser of Hollywood Hills" by Jennifer Colt from Chick Lit is Not Dead. (Deadline: Unknown)

Also new! Along the Way is giving away "She's Gone Country" (Deadline: August 25th) and "Hearts on a String" (Deadline: August 21st)
Both are for US/Canada only and no P.O. Boxes.

Learn more about Isabelle Laflèche and enter to win "J'adore New York" from Chick Lit Central. (Deadline: Tomorrow at midnight EST)

Win "Good-bye to All That" by Margo Candela from Chick Lit Club. US only. No P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: August 5th)

From Leah Stewart: Write a review of "Husbands and Wives" and send her the link at leah@leahstewart.com, and you can win 10 copies to give to your book club or as gifts. (Deadline: July 31st)

Win an audiobook of "The Island" by Elin Hilderbrand from At Home with Books. US/Canada only. No P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: August 8th at midnight PST)

Two opportunities to win "Hearts on a String" by Kris Radish:
Bless their Hearts Mom. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Friday at midnight EST)

Luxury Reading. US/Canada only. (Deadline: August 10th at midnight EST)

Also from Luxury Reading: Win “Just Don’t Call Me Ma’am” by Anna Mitchael. US only. (Deadline: August 9th at midnight EST)

Win "Feng Shui Love" by Joni Davis and Lisa Hyatt, along with a few other related prizes from Chick Lit is Not Dead. (Deadline: Tomorrow)

In honor of "Sweet Valley Confidential," Booking Mama is hosting A Super "Sweet" Giveaway! US/Canada mailing addresses only. (Deadline: August 8th at 11:59 pm EST)

Win a beach bag of summer books from 5MinutesforBooks.com. US/Canada only. (Deadline: August 4th)

Luxury Reading is giving away a copy of "She's Gone Country by Jane Porter. US residents only. (Deadline: July 29th at midnight EST)

Win a summer beach basket from SheKnows. US/Canada only. (Deadline: August 16th)

Pre-order "Good Enough to Eat" by Stacey Ballis and enter to win a big package of kitchen items. See Stacey's blog for more details. (Deadline: July 29th at midnight CST)

A chance to win "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" is over at A Bookworm's World. US only, no P.O. boxes. (Deadline: August 7th, 6 pm EST)

Peeking Between the Pages has your chance to win "Sea Escape" and "Life Without Summer" by Lynne Griffin. US/Canada only. No P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 31st)

Enter to win a copy of "Winging It" by Jenny Gardiner" from Books on the House. US/Canada only. (Deadline unknown)

Win "Pictures of Lily" by Paige Toon from I Want a Free Book, Every Month on Facebook. UK Only. (Deadline unknown)

Review "Seven Year Switch" by Claire Cook and enter to win a beach bag with all seven of her novels (signed) and a beach towel (Deadline: July 31st)

Heather Wardell has paper and electronic copies of "Seven Exes are Eight Too Many". (Deadline: July 31st)

You can also win "Seven Exes..." through Goodreads. (Deadline: July 31st)

Allie Larkin is hosting a photo contest for a chance to win a $50 iTunes gift card!: "Stay" on Vacation. (Deadline: End of summer)

Coming soon: Your chance to win "Free to a Good Home" by Eve Marie Mont!

Book Review: Heart of the Matter

By Melissa Amster

Imagine how the incidents of one night could change your world. That is what happens for both Tessa and Valerie, the two women whose lives are upended by a tragic accident in "Heart of the Matter," by Emily Giffin.

Tessa is a suburban housewife and stay-at-home mom, living in a neighborhood similar to Fairview (of "Desperate Housewives" fame) and trying to "keep up with the Jones'." Valerie is a single mom who wishes she could give her son the father he never met, but tries to give him the best life possible in the meantime. That is, until she lets him go to a sleepover party where a tragic disaster changes both their lives. Nick is Tessa's husband and the surgeon who helps Valerie's son, and then gets too involved.

I really liked this story, despite the heavy subject matter. (I even found myself tearing up when the accident happens, but that's my mom side coming out.) It was interesting how Ms. Giffin chose to write Tessa in the first person and Valerie in the third, but made them both easy to relate to. The dialogue was realistic and the descriptions made me feel like I was in the same room with these women. There's even a surprise visitor or two from one of her previous books, and they even got to stick around for more than a cameo appearance. I also like how her description of Tessa's neighborhood rivals Amber's neighborhood in "Swapping Lives" by Jane Green. Having been to neighborhoods similar to "Fairview" (or Wellesley, in this case), I know there's an element of truth involved.

The only thing I would have changed is that I would have given Nick his own voice, as well. It would be interesting to see what was really going on in his head the whole time, instead of wondering along with the women involved. In any case, I like the paths this story took and the risks that were taken with such a topic. I could tell that it was well researched on the medical end of things and have to wonder if there was psychological research going on too.

I definitely would recommend "Heart of the Matter" to fans of chick lit, as well as fans of a more dramatic story. I hope Ms. Giffin continues to produce such great work and look forward to seeing what she comes out with next year.

Winner of "The Icing on the Cupcake"

Thanks for all your participation! Even though there can only be one winner this time, I hope you all will take the time to check out "The Icing on the Cupcake." It's a fun story and definitely inspiring, not only to people who like to bake.

To find the winner, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator.

It chose number 6, which is Susan, who said "My cupcake flavor would be called Lemon Raspberry Lusciousness and it would be lemon cake with vanilla buttercream frosting and fresh summer raspberries on top."

Congrats!!!

Thanks again to Crystal from BookSparks PR for providing the giveaway copy.

Want to win a new book? Check out the interview Melissa Patafio and I did with Isabelle Laflèche and enter to win "J'Adore New York.". Giveaway ends Thursday at midnight EST.

Interview with Isabelle Laflèche and book giveaway!

Isabelle Laflèche is the author of "J'Adore New York." It's her first novel and I've already read some great reviews. Recently, Melissa Patafio and I had the opportunity to ask her a few questions about the book, the writing process and some of her interests. She also gave me a signed copy of "J'Adore New York" to send to one lucky winner.

MP: How much of J’adore New York is based on your personal experiences working in the New York corporate world?

IL: The novel is based partly on my own experiences. I was also inspired by several friends who worked in big law firms, television shows such as Ally McBeal and movies.


MP: When did you decide that there would be a follow-up to J’adore or did
you know from the beginning that there would be a second book?

IL: I decided there would be a sequel once I had completed the last scene. I decided to leave the ending somewhat open so that Catherine could live on. I’m really happy that I did, as several readers have been writing me asking for more!


MA: What kept you motivated during the process of writing this book?
IL: The feeling that I had a compelling story to tell. I wanted to share some of my own experiences dealing with a major career change and I felt that this would make a good novel.

Although J'Adore New York is a call for introspection and the need to reevaluate one's values, I also wanted to entertain people and make them laugh.


MA: How did you feel when you finished writing “J’Adore…?”

IL: Ecstatic! I must admit that I also felt a tinge of sadness the day my editor told me the manuscript was completed. Writing and editing this novel had become such an integral part of my every day life; it felt as thought a gaping hole had been left behind when it was over.


MA: Casting couch time: If “J’Adore New York” were optioned for film, who would play the main characters?

IL: My dream cast (and I dream big!) would be:

Catherine: Marion Cotillard

Antoine: Ryan Reynolds

Jeffrey: Hugh Jackman

Rikash: My dear friend Yanic Truesdale, who played the role of Michel in The Gilmore Girls.



MP: Who is your style icon?
IL: I have a few but I would say Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel for her audacity, Diane Kruger for her impeccable style and Jenna Lyons, the president of J. Crew, for her great eye.

MP: What designer would you absolutely love to wear for a red carpet event?
IL: A Dior haute couture gown with a Chanel bag.

MA: What is your favorite thing about New York?
IL: Its energy. No other city can compare, you immediately feel the buzz as soon as you set foot there. I would say the amazing shopping comes in close second!

MP: On a similar note, what is your favorite city in the world to visit?
IL: Other than New York, Paris is my favorite. Everywhere you look, there is beauty and it’s quite intoxicating. Whether it’s the magnificent architecture, the lovely shops, or the succulent food, presentation is always flawless.

I’ve just come back from spending a week in France doing research for my next book. While I was there, I dropped into Ladurée’s tea salon for a snack and, to me, this represents quintessential French style; nibbling on rose flavored macaroons while sipping tea in a gorgeous baroque style setting. It just doesn’t get better than that.

MA: What is something about you that most people would find surprising?
IL: I create entire scenes for my novels while lounging in my bath!

I want to thank Melissa Patafio for the questions she contributed to this interview. We'll be working on more interviews together in the near future and she may even be flying solo on a few.

Special thanks to Isabelle Laflèche for answering our questions. We really enjoyed doing this interview with her. I also want to thank her for the book to give away.

How to win this book.
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite city in the world to visit?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Giveaway ends Thursday, July 29th at midnight EST.

Winners of "Not Ready for Mom Jeans"

Watch this video for the results.



Congrats to the winners!

Thanks again to everyone for participating and to Maureen Lipinski for the interview and books to give away.

For another chance to win a book, check out my review and giveaway for "The Icing on the Cupcake" by Jennifer Ross. US/Canada only. Ends Sunday at midnight.

Book Review and Giveaway: The Icing on the Cupcake

By Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

What do you get when you combine Elle from "Legally Blonde" with Jenna from "Waitress?" The answer is Ansley, the heroine of "The Icing on the Cupcake" by Jennifer Ross. And why is she like these two women? The story starts with her as a sorority girl who gets dumped by her fiancé (I know Elle doesn't even make it to the level of being engaged, but it all happens early enough in the story) and decides to make a drastic move away from everything and everyone she knows. Her passion is baking cupcakes (Jenna made pies, but still...) and each kind gets its own special name, usually related to love or heartbreak. She decides to open her own cupcake shop in Manhattan and toils for many long days to get everything just right.

There's another story intertwined with Ansley's. Her grandmother, Vivian, is given a voice throughout the book. It starts when her husband dies, leaving her with a financial mess to iron out. She decides to contact the daughter she abandoned 46 years ago, which is how she is put in contact with Ansley. She also bakes cupcakes and writes letters about gardening to an IRS agent. In the meantime, Ansley is trying to figure out the real reason behind her grandmother's abandonment of her mom.

When I first started "The Icing on the Cupcake," I didn't know what to expect. However, I kept reading on and found it humorous, intriguing and easy to follow. The cupcakes made throughout the story sound so tasty that if Ansley's cupcakery were real, it would give Magnolia Bakery a run for its money. Both Ansley and Vivian were enjoyable characters and were able to evoke sympathy from me.

I do have a couple of criticisms, but nothing that kept me from enjoying the story. The first is that the story seemed to end abruptly, as I would have liked to see what else happens for Ansley. It seemed like everyone had closure except for her. The back cover had mentioned New York's dating scene, but not much happens with it throughout the book. Maybe I read into the summary the wrong way. The other concern I had was about the recipes that are peppered throughout the book. They all sound really good, but seem very complicated unless you're an expert baker. Ansley talks about all the little details of baking in order to get things just right (such as making sure the eggs don't get cooked by the carmelized sugar or how the consistency of butter should be for the cake vs. the frosting). While I appreciated the detail and was able to visualize each step of the baking process, I think it would take years of baking school (or a natural baking talent) for someone without the skills to master these tasty treats on their own.

Overall, I enjoyed "The Icing on the Cupcake" and think that any fan of chick lit would appreciate and savor this delicious tale. I would categorize it as a light beach read.

I want to thank Crystal from BookSparks PR for this review copy....and for providing a copy to give away to one lucky reader! (Open to US/Canada residents only.)

How to win this book.
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: If you could create a new cupcake, what would the flavor be and what would you name it?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Giveaway ends Sunday July 25th at midnight.

Winning Wednesday--July 21st

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Thank you!

New today! Win "Tuesday Tells it Slant" by Holly Christine from Chick Lit is Not Dead (Deadline: Friday)

Another new one! Win a signed copy of "The Cougar Club" by Susan McBride from Brittany Roshelle. (Deadline: Monday)

Also new! Win a beach bag of summer books from 5MinutesforBooks.com. US/Canada only. (Deadline: August 4th)

Win "Not Ready for Mom Jeans" by Maureen Lipinski from Chick Lit Central. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Tomorrow at midnight EST)

Luxury Reading is giving away a copy of "She's Gone Country by Jane Porter. US residents only. (Deadline: July 29th at midnight EST)

Always With a Book is giving away "Tuesday Tells it Slant" by Holly Christine. US only. No P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: Friday at 6:00 pm EST)

Win a summer beach basket from SheKnows. US/Canada only. (Deadline: August 16th)

Pre-order "Good Enough to Eat" by Stacey Ballis and enter to win a big package of kitchen items. See Stacey's blog for more details. (Deadline: July 29th at midnight CST)

Win "Love in Mid Air" by Kim Wright from Chick Lit is Not Dead. (Deadline: Tomorrow evening)

Comment on Theo's Big Memoir Giveaway for a chance to win signed individual memoirs or a whole set. (Deadline: July 27th)

Comment on Jenny Nelson "Georgia's Kitchen" on Facebook for a chance to win "After You" by Julie Buxbaum. (Deadline unknown.)

A chance to win "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" is over at A Bookworm's World. US only, no P.O. boxes. (Deadline: August 7th, 6 pm EST)

Win "Sand in My Eyes" from Always with a Book. US Only, No P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: Tonight at 6 pm EST)

Like to write? Enter the Extra Shorty Contest, hosted by ChickLitShorties.com for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. (Deadline: Tonight at midnight EST)

Peeking Between the Pages has your chance to win "Sea Escape" and "Life Without Summer" by Lynne Griffin. US/Canada only. No P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 31st)

Enter to win a copy of "Winging It" by Jenny Gardiner" from Books on the House. US/Canada only. (Deadline unknown)

Win "Pictures of Lily" by Paige Toon from I Want a Free Book, Every Month on Facebook. UK Only. (Deadline unknown)

Review "Seven Year Switch" by Claire Cook and enter to win a beach bag with all seven of her novels (signed) and a beach towel (Deadline unknown)

Win "The Castaways" by Elin Hilderbrand from A Bookworm's World. US/Canada only, no P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 24th at 6 pm EST)

Heather Wardell has paper and electronic copies of "Seven Exes are Eight Too Many". (Deadline: July 31st)

You can also win "Seven Exes..." through Goodreads. (Deadline: July 31st)

Win "Free to a Good Home" by Eve Marie Mont from Peeking Between the Pages. US/Canada only. (Deadline: July 24th)

Allie Larkin is hosting a photo contest for a chance to win a $50 iTunes gift card!: "Stay" on Vacation. (Deadline: End of summer)

Stay tuned for a giveaway of "The Icing on the Cupcake."

Winners of "A Vintage Affair"

For this giveaway, I asked Isabel Wolff to give me 3 numbers. I had already assigned them to each entry prior to her response.

From Isabel: "The 3 numbers are 16, 19 and 27! Thanks, Isabel"

Congrats to: JHS, Debbie and Meg!

Thanks again to everyone for participating. I hope you'll still check out "A Vintage Affair" and let everyone at Chick Lit Central know what you think of it.

Thanks also to Sharon Propson for coordinating the interview and providing the books to the winners and, of course, to Isabel Wolff for her time and answers to my questions.

Want to win another book? Check out my interview with Maureen Lipinski and enter to win "Not Ready for Mom Jeans".
US/Canada only. Ends Thursday at midnight EST.

Interview with Maureen Lipinski and book giveaway!

I recently had the opportunity to interview Maureen Lipinski, author of "Not Ready for Mom Jeans", which I enjoyed reading and recently reviewed. Maureen also has three
signed copies to give away to readers in the US and Canada.

Writing/Your book:

MA: What authors or books inspired you to write?
ML: I will never forget the first time I read Marian Keyes’ “Watermelon.” I was in college, and my eyes just bugged out at the hilarious, touching and resonant prose. Her book reminded me that writing can—and should—be fun. It inspired me to seek out my own writerly voice and stop saying, “someday.”

MA: Do you have any plans for a sequel?
ML: There aren’t any current plans for a continuation of Clare’s story, although I would someday love to do another follow-up. I’d love to check in on her and see how she’s coping with toddlerhood. Which, in my opinion, is even more challenging than babyhood.

MA: Were any of Claire's parenting experiences taken from your own experiences?
ML: Although Clare’s journey is her own, I certainly took a few scenes from real life. I’ve experienced the dirty looks at the grocery store, leaving a restaurant early due to bad baby behavior and the terror when my son finally became mobile.

MA: If "Not Ready for Mom Jeans" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
ML: I love this question! I’ve always been a big fan of Rachel McAdams, and I’d love her see her in the role of Clare. For Jake, that’s tough, but maybe John Krasinski. (My Office love knows no bounds.) I always saw the character of Reese as Reese Witherspoon. (Original, I know!) And for Julie, Christina Hendricks.

Side note from MA: I was picturing Reese Witherspoon the first time Reese showed up in this book. And I'm a fan of "The Office" too! And now I'm interested in who would be cast as "Mule Face."

MA: What was the first thing you did after your first book, "A Bump in the Road" was published?
ML: Well, the very first thing I did when I saw my book on the shelves was to scream and run out of the store like a crazy person! After a few moments, I returned and just stared, slack-jawed, at the wall of pink books in front of me.

MA: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
ML: Other than writing, writing, writing, it’s this: know that being an author and being a writer are two very different hats. Hone your writing skills, your storytelling skills, but be aware that there’s a whole additional piece to success, which is promotion, book signings and connecting with readers.

Fun:

MA: What were you like before you became a mom?
ML: Much more well-rested and sane. Ha! I was just about the same person, save for those extra few hours of sleep. I also didn’t fear the post office nearly as much, since my son seems to always find it the perfect place to have a total meltdown.

MA: What is the biggest party or event you have ever organized?
ML: In my previous life in fundraising, I once helped to organize an event in downtown Chicago at the Ritz Carlton, complete with 500 guests, custom designed invitations and a huge silent auction. It was both thrilling and intimidating!

MA: What is the cutest thing your son has said or done recently?
ML: He loves to grab one of my books, point to my picture on the back and tell me, very seriously, “That’s Mama.”

MA: What was it like for you to speak at a book signing?
ML: Completely nervewracking! I’m the girl who stood in front of the class in high school and stammered her way through presentations with a bright-red face. Thankfully, I’ve somewhat outgrown that and can speak in front of people without them worrying about calling an ambulance. At least, I think.

I want to thank Maureen for taking the time to answer my questions, and making me laugh with some of her answers. Also, for offering up the books for the giveaway.

How to win "Not Ready for Mom Jeans":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is the cutest or funniest thing you've heard a child say (your own or someone else's)?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

US and Canada only. Giveaway ends Thursday at midnight EST.

Jen takes on the Capitol

Ever since Jennifer Weiner posted her tour schedule for 2010, I had been eagerly anticipating her visit to DC. I was not disappointed tonight, even when I drove in crazy rush hour beltway traffic only to miss the first few minutes of her speech and a chance at any of the cupcakes she was offering. Hearing her speak again far outweighed my lateness and the lack of cupcakes. She was just as funny as last year.



She spoke about different topics, such as the premise of "Fly Away Home," her issues with "The Bachelor," publishers who made the mistake of rejecting books that have become bestsellers, her Nana's role in "In Her Shoes" (the movie), meeting Shannen Doherty in a bathroom, how Sylvie Serfer spoke to her in her head and her two and a half year old daughter's attempts at walking while eating a banana. She read an excerpt from "Fly Away Home," which was from the beginning so she wasn't spoiling anything. And she answered my question about the possibility of more sequels. (Answer: Kate Klein from "Goodnight Nobody" is coming back soon.) She also did a funny imitation of her agent, who apparently resents such imitations. I know she had a lot to say, but this is just a summary. Overall she inspired me to write. (Even when she asked me if I had written anything and I had to answer that I haven't....yet.)



After the speech, reading and Q&A, everyone was called up in groups to get their books signed. Unlike some authors, she was open to signing every book her fans brought, whether they were old or new. She also took pictures with those of us who had cameras. It was nice that Borders had a system of calling people up so we could mingle instead of standing in a long line forever. I got to see Sarah Pekkanen again and also met another fellow blogger, Megan from Write Meg! We had a fun time chatting and she's one of the few women whose boyfriend was brave enough to accompany her. :)



When it was my turn to meet Jen, I thought I'd get all starstruck and tongue-tied. However, she made me feel at ease by complementing my hair, which hadn't succumbed to the humidity tonight. Then I told her how I was from Chick Lit Central and she became even friendlier. It was so nice that with all the book bloggers out there, she knew who I was. That's when she asked me if I was writing anything. And I finally got the picture I was denied in NYC last year. She even personalized her signature in my book to be more than just "Enjoy!" :) It was even more of a delight to meet her this year and I plan to see her again at future book signings.



On a final note, I brought a friend with me this year. It was really nice to have someone along who likes chick lit as much as I do (that's what we initially bonded over when we became friends last year). We had fun chatting in the car both there and back. She even helped me laugh through the stress of all the traffic and super long red lights. I was glad she got to meet Jen this year and I introduced her to Sarah Pekkanen, as well.

Overall, it was a great evening and I didn't even miss the cupcakes in the end. (I just indulged in Party Cake ice cream when I got home.) And I'm still on a "I met Jennifer Weiner" high. :)

Winner of "Fly Away Home"

To find the winner, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator.

The number it selected is 10. Congrats to Anita!

Thanks again to everyone who participated. I hope you all will read "Fly Away Home," as it is a great story!

Thanks also to Emily Gambir for making this giveaway possible!

For another chance to win this novel, visit my friend Stephanie at her Manic Mommy blog by Friday.

In the meantime, I have a new giveaway going on for "A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff.

Interview with Isabel Wolff and book giveaway

"A Vintage Affair" was a recent "Recommended Reads Main Selection" from Barnes & Noble. I was fortunate enough to be contacted by a publisher named Sharon Propson about doing an interview with Isabel Wolff about this highly recommended new novel that was recently released in the USA. I was honored to receive such an opportunity to get to know this lovely woman better. And Sharon has 3 copies to give to some lucky readers in the USA and Canada.

Your book/Writing:
MA: How did it feel to have "A Vintage Affair" listed as the Barnes & Noble Recommended Reads Main Selection title?
IW: I was completely gobsmacked - I had no idea that it was such a prestigious promotion or that my novel would be in such distinguished company - so I was utterly thrilled. But the main thing I felt was undying gratitude to all the Barnes & Noble booksellers who chose it out of so many books. If any of you are reading this - I not only thank you - I kiss you!!

MA: What were the first steps you took toward writing novels? (Classes, workshops, self-discipline, etc.?)
IW: I've never done any creative writing courses, but I was a journalist for a long time, and I'm sure that being a professional writer helped when it came to writing fiction. I had learned how to conduct research thoroughly, and how to sew it in to the writing in a light but interesting way; I'd also learned how to structure and shape a story, and to write under pressure - so I'm sure all that helped. But the main thing that got me started as a novelist was in 1997 when I was asked to write a comic girl-about-town column for the Daily Telegraph - Tiffany Trott. I had no idea that it would ever become a book, but HarperCollins liked it and asked me to turn it into a novel, which became 'The Trials of Tiffany Trott'.


MA: What were some challenges you came across while writing "A Vintage Affair?" How did you work through them?
IW: It was a challenge to write a novel that was semi-historical, and which would go from past to present in a fluent way - so I lighted on the poignant story of Mrs Bell's little blue coat as the device by which I would do this. But I think the main challenge was the seriousness of the themes. All my novels have a lot of poignancy in them alongside the comedy, but in 'A Vintage Affair' I knew that the period story would go back to the War and would in fact involve the Holocaust. I was worried about introducing such a sombre strand into a book that is, essentially, lighter fiction. There's also a tragedy in the contemporary part of the novel, and I had to be careful that these two sadnesses - Mrs Bell's and Phoebe's - did not overwhelm the story. I therefore had to make sure that there were enough lighter elements - largely through some of the characters who come into Phoebe's shop; and of course through the gloriously glamourous vintage clothes that Phoebe sells - particularly the colourful 'cupcake' dresses - each of which has a story of its own. Above all I wanted 'A Vintage Affair' to be a touching and uplifting read with a lot of powerful emotion along the way. I would say that it's a story of fashion, friendship, regret and redemption.


MA: Can you relate to either Phoebe or Therese? Are you similar to either of these women?
IW: I relate to them both inasmuch as they are both struggling with losses in their lives; but in their cases they each feel a huge degree of personal responsibility alongside the grief because they feel that they betrayed their best friend - unto death. Nothing quite as terrible as that has happened in my own life, but I tried to engage with both women in a profound way, to imagine their pain and regret - regret that in Mrs Bell's case has lasted 65 years - so that they feel real and authentic to the reader. Phoebe and Therese are both suffering, and both are hoping to be redeemed, and this search for redemption - in particular Phoebe's determination to uncover the mystery of what happened to Mrs Bell's schoolfriend Monique in 1943 - is what drives this book.


MA: If "A Vintage Affair" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
IW: Kate Winslet would probably be my first choice for Phoebe in looks, sensibility and style; I think the beautiful French actress Stephane Audran would make a fabulous Mrs Bell. I can see Matthew Macfadyen as the eccentric but attractive journalist Dan and Greg Wise as the suave lawyer Miles.

Just for Fun:

MA: Do you own any vintage articles of clothing? If so, what is your favorite? Or do you have a story behind one of these items that you'd like to share?
IW: I've always worn and collected vintage and still have a Biba mini skirt that I bought when I was at school - the best 50p I ever spent. When I was a student I bought a 1920s black lace flapper dress and loved it to bits - literally - it fell to pieces because the fabric was so fragile and I didn't store it properly. My favourite vintage garment is the dress that my grandmother had made to wear to my mother's wedding. It's made of thick grey 'sateen' - a kind of grosgrain satin - and I've worn it quite a bit over the years. In fact I wore it to the UK launch of 'A Vintage Affair'. When my own daughter, Alice, is older, I shall give it to her.


MA: Where is your favorite place to purchase clothing?
IW: My favourite vintage dress shops are both in Notting Hill - 'Dolly Diamond' and 'Rellik'. I live round the corner from Portobello Road and love browsing the vintage stalls on the market there - especially the vintage handbags. The problem with vintage clothes though is that they tend to run small because women were smaller in years gone by so I find that it's hard to get things to fit. My favourite non-vintage clothing store is Marilyn Moore, and I like American Vintage too. I also love the vintage website Zuburbia.

MA: What do you consider to be the most important elements of a friendship?
IW: Affection and of course loyalty; also reciprocity, by which I mean a deep interest in each other's lives. I think tact is very important too - just because we know someone very well doesn't give us the right to question their taste in clothes, music and men etc. - we hope for our friends to make us feel a better about ourselves, not worse. True friends will not sit in judgment on us, but will support us, more or less whatever, just as we support them. A shared sense of humour is an important element too.


MA: What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday evening?
IW: In the summer time we love going to Holland Park Opera - it's open air and quite wonderful - we've just seen a fantastic production of Don Giovanni. I also like going to the National Theatre not least because I love being down on London's South Bank. If we're not going out then we play table football.

MA: What is the last thing you had a really good laugh about?
IW: Watching Mr. Bean with my children.

Now that you know more about Isabel Wolff and some background behind her book, please comment below for a chance to win a copy. For US and Canada residents only.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is the most vintage item you own (doesn't have to be clothing)?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Giveaway ends Monday, July 19th at 6:00 pm EST.

Thanks again to Isabel for taking the time to answer my questions so thoughtfully.

Also thanks to Sharon Propson for providing books for the giveaway.

"A Vintage Affair" is published by Bantam Dell in hardcover

Winning Wednesday--July 14th

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Thank you!

New today! Win a signed copy of Simply from Scratch by Alicia Bessette. (Deadline: Tonight at midnight EST)

Another new one! Win "Stay" by Allie Larkin from Chick Lit is Not Dead. (Deadline: Friday)

I'm giving away a copy of "Fly Away Home" by Jennifer Weiner. US only. (Deadline: Tonight at midnight EST)

Want another chance to win "Fly Away Home?" Visit Manic Mommy. She has 2 copies! (Deadline: July 16th)

Chick Lit is Not Dead is giving away "Gimme a Call" by Sarah Mlynowski. (Deadline: Tonight)

Another chance to win "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" is over at A Bookworm's World. US only, no P.O. boxes. (Deadline: August 7th, 6 pm EST)

Order "Sand in My Eyes" by Christine Lemmon for a chance to be entered in her Barnes & Noble Beach Bag Giveaway! (Deadline: July 16th)

or

Win "Sand in My Eyes" from Always with a Book. US Only, No P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 21st at 6 pm EST)

Win a signed copy of "Husband and Wife" by Leah Stewart from Julie Buxbaum. (Deadline: Thursday)

Win "I Heart Hollywood" by Lindsey Kelk from Novel Escapes. (Deadline: July 19th)

Like to write? Enter the Extra Shorty Contest, hosted by ChickLitShorties.com for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. (Deadline: July 21st at midnight EST)

Sign up for Trisha Ashley's newsletter for a chance to win a signed copy of one of her books. (Deadline: July 15th)

Win "Promises to Keep" by Jane Green from Readaholic. US Only. (Deadline: July 15th, morning time)

S. Krishna is giving away two of Lynne Griffin's books. US/Canada only. (Deadline: July 17th, 11:59 pm EST)

Want another way to get your hands on Lynne Griffin's books? Then visit Caribousmom. US/Canada only. (Deadline: July 20th at 5 pm PST)


Peeking Between the Pages also has your chance to win "Sea Escape" and "Life Without Summer" by Lynne Griffin. US/Canada only. No P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 31st)

Enter to win a copy of "Winging It" by Jenny Gardiner" from Books on the House. US/Canada only. (Deadline unknown)

Bless their Hearts Mom is giving away "Tuesday Tells it Slant" by Holly Christine. USA only, no PO Boxes. (Deadline: July 20th at midnight EST)

Another chance to win "Tuesday..." is from Always With a Book. US Only, no PO Boxes. (Deadline: July 23rd, 6:00 pm EST)

Win "Pictures of Lily" by Paige Toon from I Want a Free Book, Every Month on Facebook. UK Only. (Deadline unknown)

Review "Seven Year Switch" by Claire Cook and enter to win a beach bag with all seven of her novels (signed) and a beach towel (Deadline unknown)

Take five...books to the beach, that is. Enter the "Take Hachette to the Beach" Giveaway, hosted by Luxury Reading US/Canada only. (Deadline: July 20th at midnight EST)

Win "The Castaways" by Elin Hilderbrand from Bless Their Hearts Mom. US/Canada only, no P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 16th at midnight) or
from A Bookworm's World. US/Canada only, no P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 24th at 6 pm EST)

Heather Wardell has paper and electronic copies of Seven Exes are Eight Too Many". (Deadline: July 31st)

Win "Free to a Good Home" by Eve Marie Mont from Peeking Between the Pages. US/Canada only. (Deadline: July 24th)

If you're into more paranormal chick lit, enter this giveaway for "Strange Neighbors" by Ashlyn Chase hosted by Luxury Reading. US/Canada only. (Deadline: July 14th at midnight)

Win a set of Jennifer Weiner trade paperbacks and a hardcover of "Fly Away Home" from Redbook Magazine! (Deadline: July 19th, 11:59 pm EST)

Win "Free to a Good Home" Eve Marie Mont by telling her about your best pet adoption story. U.S. shipping addresses only. (Deadline: July 19th, 8:00 am EST)

Allie Larkin is hosting a photo contest for a chance to win a $50 iTunes gift card!: "Stay" on Vacation. (Deadline: End of summer)

Stay tuned for a giveaway for "A Vintage Affair" by Isabel Wolff!

Book Review: Pieces of Happily Ever After

I had heard many good things about "Pieces of Happily Ever After" by Irene Zutell, so I decided to check it out for myself. I got what I expected, and more.

"Pieces..." is about Alice Hirsh, whose life begins to come apart at the seams on the day her husband's affair with his celebrity client makes the cover of the "National Enquirer." Aside from being stalked by paparazzi (as the jilted wife, of course), she has to deal with her mother going though Alzheimer's (and swearing a lot), her daughter's love-hate relationship with her, a porn studio behind her house and a crazy neighborhood that goes all out with Christmas decorations. Along the way, she makes some interesting friends and acquaintances, including a former porn star and a psychic.

I really liked the message that came out of this story. It's about being open-minded, trusting your friends, and creating bonds with family. I feel that anyone in a situation similar to Alice's could really benefit from reading this novel. I admired Alice's determination to make her life as normal as possible and to not stop living just because of lousy circumstances. I also enjoyed all the colorful characters and not knowing what might happen next, but hoping for something good. Irene Zutell creates a down to earth heroine with whom I could easily sympathize. I wanted her as my friend throughout the story. There were a lot of laugh-out-loud moments too, courtesy of her five year-old daughter, Gabby. I also loved how Alice made up dialogue inside her head.

The only critique I have is very minor. Throughout the novel, Alice refers to her mom as "Mommy." I know it's a term of endearment, but it made her sound like a young child. I don't know of any adults who refer to their parents as "mommy and daddy." Perhaps Ms. Zutell made this choice so that Alice could possibly help her mom regain some memory. Otherwise, it could have been metaphorical for her situation reducing her to a helpless child. It doesn't stop me from liking the book though.

I definitely would recommend this to anyone who wants a fun story that is easy to follow along and difficult to put down. I hope Irene Zutell sticks with writing and continues to produce more intriguing novels!

Book for review was provided by BookSparks PR.

Winners of "The Opposite of Me"

Thanks for all your participation! Even though there can only be two winners this time, I hope you all will take the time to check out "The Opposite of Me." It's such an amazing novel and I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Sarah's next novel, "Skipping a Beat," will be on bookshelves early next year.

To find the winner, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator.

For the signed copy: 23, which is Purplg8r

For the ARC: 21, which is rhapsodyinbooks

Thanks again to Sarah Pekkanen for the interview and the signed book and to Crystal Patriarche for the ARC.

While you're here, check out my review of "Fly Away Home" by Jennifer Weiner and enter the giveaway.

Book Review and Giveaway: Fly Away Home

By Melissa Amster

**GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED**

Jennifer Weiner has done it again...created another masterpiece of literary fiction. I was immediately drawn into the story of Sylvie, Diana and Lizzie from page one. There were times I forgot I was reading a book, as I got so caught up in their lives that I thought they were people I actually knew.

"Fly Away Home" is about a senator's wife who finds out on CNN that her husband had an affair, her older daughter, an overachiever who is unhappy in her marriage and her younger daughter, a drug addict just out of rehab who is trying to repair her life. The story is told from all three perspectives, yet the reader sees new things about each woman through the others' eyes. And there's comic relief too, in the form of Sylvie's mother, Selma. (I think I appreciated her more because I'm Jewish, but she's still quite a character anyway.) Toss in a few interesting male leads, some hot "romantic" scenes (that rival the ones in Sue Margolis' books) and incredible descriptions of food and scenery and you have a fantastic book.

The only thing I wish were different was that Ms. Weiner should have expanded the story even further, giving readers an epilogue or just more time with these women. Sure, there's closure, but I think there's room for a sequel.

Overall, I loved this novel and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a story that will grab them and not let them go.

I want to thank Emily Gambir from Engleman and Co for providing a review copy....as well as one book to give away to a US reader.

How to win "Fly Away Home":
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite Jennifer Weiner book?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Giveaway ends Wednesday, July 14th at midnight EST.

For another chance to win this fabulous novel, visit my friend Stephanie at her Manic Mommy blog.

Winners of Jane Green books

Since Melissa Patafio helped with the interview, it was only fitting that she help pick the winners. I already assigned numbers based on the entries and book preferences.

"For Promises I am picking number 8...my lucky number!!!!
And for Dune Road I am choosing number 35, because it was the last 2 digits of my address on the street we grew up on together!"

Winner of "Promises to Keep": Carol Wong
Winner of "Dune Road": UPDATE: The original winner did not contact me to claim their book, so I have picked a new winner. I used the Custom Random Number Generator and got 15, which is Bonnie!

Please note: Going forward, I am no longer accepting entries without e-mail addresses included. Thank you.

Congrats!!!

Thanks again to everyone for participating. Thanks also to Melissa Patafio for her help with this interview, Sue Redston for facilitating the giveaway and Jane Green, for her time and her interesting answers.

Want a chance to win another book? Check out my interview with Sarah Pekkanen and enter for a chance to win "The Opposite of Me."

Interview with Sarah Pekkanen and book giveaway!

I recently got to meet Sarah Pekkanen in person. She is as delightful as her book, "The Opposite of Me." We met up at a Starbucks and then moved over to Einstein Bagels, thinking it would be quieter there to film the interview. We were mistaken, as we had to compete with people working at the counter and the song "Waiting for a Star to Fall," but I put together a transcript for our video-taped interview.

Sarah brought along a copy of "The Opposite of Me" (reviewed here), which she signed right in front of me so that I could give it away to one lucky winner! In addition, Crystal Patriarche from BookSparks PR sent an advanced reader copy and another lucky winner will receive that.

Before I present the interview, I wanted to point out a few things:
* Her last name is pronounced "Peck-a-nin." I thought it was "Pih-can-in" until I asked.
* I learned something interesting about the cover art. It was originally going to be two girls with their hair braided together. Then another author did something similar for their book, so the designers had to scrap it and start over again. I love what they came up with! I also learned that no models were actually used for the photograph.
*I am not meant to be on film. (I don't like how I look or sound in that format and I tend to blink a lot. My wedding video wasn't spared either!) However, I encourage you to watch the taped interview because Sarah is a great speaker and I think you'll enjoy seeing her personality come through on each answer. She even made my husband laugh at one point.

I want to thank Sarah for taking the time to meet with me and for the book for the giveaway.

I want to thank Crystal for the ARC she contributed to the giveaway.

I also want to thank my husband for filming the interview.

Without any further ado, I present our interview (from June 25, 2010):



It sounds fine if you turn the volume up high. If that doesn't work for you, here's the transcript.

How to win these books:
Please comment below with your e-mail address.

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite Michael Jackson song?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Winner will be picked at random on Monday, July 12th.

Winning Wednesday--July 7th

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Thank you!

New today! Win "I Heart New York" by Lindsey Kelk from Novel Escapes. (Deadline: July 12th at 11:59 pm)

Also new today! Win "Pictures of Lily" by Paige Toon from I Want a Free Book, Every Month on Facebook. UK Only. (Deadline unknown)

Another new one! Comment on Chick Lit Plus' review of Hook, Line and Sink Him by Jackie Pilossoph to win a copy. (Deadline unknown)


Learn more about Jane Green and win either "Promises to Keep" or "Dune Road" from Chick Lit Central (Deadline: Tomorrow at midnight EST)

Sarah Strohmeyer is giving away personalized copies of "The Penny Pinchers Club" and two more books of your choice. See her Facebook page for more details. (Deadline: TONIGHT)

Win a copy of "Thin, Rich, Pretty" by Beth Harbison from Chick Lit is Not Dead. (Deadline: July 8th)

Review "Seven Year Switch" by Claire Cook and enter to win a beach bag with all seven of her novels (signed) and a beach towel (Deadline unknown)

Take five...books to the beach, that is. Enter the "Take Hachette to the Beach" Giveaway, hosted by Luxury Reading US/Canada only. (Deadline: July 20th at midnight EST)

From Leah Stewart: If you buy HUSBAND AND WIFE between now and Friday, July 9, at 5 p.m. EST, she'll send you a free signed copy of one of her first two books. Email your receipt to leah@leahstewart.com. If you've already read H&W and liked it, send her a link to your review on Amazon, B&N, or Goodreads, and she'll enter you in a drawing to win 10 copies for a book club or to give as gifts.

Win "The Castaways" by Elin Hilderbrand from Bless Their Hearts Mom. US/Canada only, no P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 16th at midnight) or
from A Bookworm's World. US/Canada only, no P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 24th at 6 pm EST)


Win "Twelve Rooms with a View" by Theresa Rebeck, also from Bless Their Hearts Mom. US/Canada only, no P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 12th at midnight)

Heather Wardell has paper and electronic copies of Seven Exes are Eight Too Many". (Deadline: July 31st)

Win "Free to a Good Home" by Eve Marie Mont from Peeking Between the Pages. US/Canada only. (Deadline: July 24th)

Peeking Between the Pages also has your chance to win "Sea Escape" and "Life Without Summer" by Lynne Griffin. US/Canada only. No P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 31st)

If you're into more paranormal chick lit, enter this giveaway for "Strange Neighbors" by Ashlyn Chase hosted by Luxury Reading. US/Canada only. (Deadline: July 14th at midnight)

Win a set of Jennifer Weiner trade paperbacks and a hardcover of "Fly Away Home" from Redbook Magazine! (Deadline: July 19th, 11:59 pm EST)

Win a copy of "Sand in My Eyes" from Luxury Reading. US Residents only. (Deadline: July 12th at midnight)

Speaking of Lemmon...or lemon, in this case...win "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" by Aimee Bender from Tutu's Two Cents (Deadline: July 13th) US only and no P.O. Boxes.

Win "The Castaways" by Elin Hildebrand from A Sea of Books US/Canada only and no P.O. Boxes. (Deadline: July 9th, 11:59 pm EST)

Win "Free to a Good Home" Eve Marie Mont by telling her about your best pet adoption story. U.S. shipping addresses only. (Deadline: July 19th, 8:00 am EST)

Allie Larkin is hosting a photo contest for a chance to win a $50 iTunes gift card!: "Stay" on Vacation. (Deadline: End of summer)

Winner of "Carrie Pilby" book and post-its

Caren Lissner posted this as a comment on the blog with her interview.

Thanks, Melissa, and everyone who participated! Scully, that's quite a story...I guess that guy was a real charmer. I'm sorry about your doggy. I had a beagle for 14 years...she was wonderful.

OK, I've chosen number 8 at random. Melissa randomly paired people with numbers, so whoever is that number is the winner and will receive a signed copy of the book, plus some fresh Carrie Pilby Post-It notes to doodle on, soon!

By the way, I have a personal blog at www.addledwriter.blogspot.com and my webpage is at www.carenlissner.com. Keep reading, and for writers, keep writing!

Congrats to Laura Rachel Fox!!!

Thank you, Caren, for a great interview and for facilitating the giveaway. I enjoyed "speaking" with you.

Thanks again to everyone for participating. I hope you'll still check out "Carrie Pilby" if you're interested. It's a great story!

I have an interview/giveaway with Jane Green going on now and an interview/giveaway with Sarah Pekkanen that will be posted later this week.

Interview with Jane Green and book giveaway!

Jane Green is the author of thirteen novels, read by women all over the world. I love her books so much that I recently wrote a tribute about her. And now she has so graciously taken the time to answer some questions that I came up with. I also asked Melissa Patafio, a close friend and Jane Green fan, to help with these questions. Jane has also offered to give away signed copies of her books to two lucky winners. The first is her newest book, "Promises to Keep." The other one is "Dune Road," which came out last year and was a great story with a mystery wrapped inside.


Melissa Amster (me): You usually have your books set in Connecticut (or the New England region), London, or a combination of both. Have you considered setting a story in a new location?

Jane Green: Absolutely. I’m slightly fed up with Connecticut myself, so I can only imagine how my readers must feel. The tricky bit is finding enough time to get to know a new place, but we are spending some time this summer in California, in the wine country, and I am wondering if that will be the setting for the new book.


MA: I recall you saying that your books have grown with you (i.e. writing about single characters early on and now writing about characters who are married with children). What has your journey been like as a writer?
JG: In many ways it is harder now, although as a writer I think I am probably better – more rounded, and certainly I spend more time writing, and particularly editing. But changing as a person – becoming softer, more vulnerable, through motherhood, divorce, remarriage, has unquestionably affected and changed my writing, which is, I hope, a good thing.

Melissa Patafio: How do you go about writing a story with characters that are so emotionally and realistically connected to issues (Ellie-“The Other Woman”, Jemima) in cases where you haven’t experienced these things yourself?
JG: I have always had a tremendous amount of empathy, although most of the things I have written about have touched me in some way – even if I haven’t lived it, I have been close enough to it to understand it.

MP: Do you always know how a story will end before you start writing it or does the ending change multiple times before you finish the book?
JG: I always have a rough idea of the beginning and the end, but how I get there is the interesting bit. I only ever plot in thirds, because generally, by the time I finish the first third, the characters will have taken over and the story will have changed entirely.

MP: How did you celebrate when your first book “Straight Talking” went to a bidding war and became an immediate success?
JG: I remember buying my first ever proper grown-up car. It was a little red BMW, pre-owned, which was very zippy and cool. Everyone said I ought to be careful because statistically the police were far more likely to stop a woman in a red car, and sure enough, within the first week I had been pulled over by the police for erratic driving. Sadly, no alcohol was involved. It was just my driving.

MP: What was your inspiration for writing “The Beach House” and how were you able to write “Nan” as such a genuinely lifelike character?
JG: I moved into a tiny little beach cottage for a Summer, and loved living by the beach. I fell in love with my landlord, while living there, and we went for walks every night, and a woman would pass us, on a bicycle, with long white hair, leaving a trail of cigarette smoke. I was fascinated by her, and used that snapshot to develop Nan.

MA: Would you want someone to make a movie of one of your books? If so, which book would you choose?
JG: Yes please. Whichever one they would like, pleeeaaaassseee. Although in truth, Jemima has always struck me as being the most filmic. I would also love either Promises to Keep or The Beach House, with Helen Mirren as Nan, perhaps.

MA: What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you during a book tour?
JG: My husband pops up, from time to time, in airports. I walk through baggage claims on the other side of America looking for my name on a sign, and occasionally, the man holding that sign, entirely unexpectedly, is my husband, who has surprised me.

MA: Now that summer is upon us, what is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
JG: Coconut.

MP: If you were to have any career other than writing what would you like to do?
JG: Interior Designer or chef. Or garden designer. Or...artist. Easier perhaps to just say something creative?

Thanks again to Jane for answering our questions and to her assistant, Sue Redston for facilitating this interview and giveaway.

How to win "Promises to Keep" or "Dune Road."
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Also, if you have a preference, please indicate that in your entry. Otherwise, you'll be entered to win either book.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite Jane Green book?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Giveaway ends Thursday, July 8th.