To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry and then used Random.org to pick two numbers.
Congrats to:
7-Kelly F.
11-Catherine
(How funny that the winning numbers make us want a Slurpee...)
Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.
Thanks to everyone who participated! Thanks to Kaira for offering the copies of her book for our giveaway.
To us, Liz and Lisa are the rock stars of the chick lit blogosphere! They not only blog together and bring in some really cool authors, but they also host some amazing giveaways and even do fun features on their blog. We can only hope to be as cool as they are one of these days. And even better...they write novels together! They wrote one a few years back called "I'll Have Who She's Having" and now they have just produced "The D Word," which is already garnering rave reviews!
However, we do have some things in common with them. They grew up in the same town and now live halfway across the country from one another. We grew up in the same neighborhood and then moved to opposite sides of the country. (Oddly enough, we're from Chicago, but Lisa is the one living there now and she's from California.) They blog together from a distance, just like we do. They go way back, just like we do. Liz and Melissa P. both live out west. Lisa and Melissa A. both had baby girls within the past year. Their names sound and look similar, our names are the same...you get our drift. We admire their enthusiasm for chick lit and we definitely share that love with them.
Check out what they had to say about how they have celebrated 4th of July together over the many years they have known each other. And then check them out on Facebook, Twitter and of course, their fabulous blog!
To top it off, Crystal Patriarche from BookSparks PR has one e-book of "The D Word" and one e-book of "I'll Have Who She's Having" to give to some lucky readers anywhere.
Liz & Lisa's Five 4th of July memories
We love us some 4th of July. In fact, it's probably one of our all-time fave holidays. Something about the combination of sun, fireworks and an adult beverage or two makes our hearts a flutter. But as we've matured, so have our 4th of July activities. And since we've spent most of the past twenty-four of them together, we thought we'd show you how we've evolved.
1. High School: The Water tower We were so desperate to get away from our parents that we thought four-wheeling our scrunchie-wearing selves up to a deserted water tower was the only way we could chug our Strawberry Boones and Brass Monkey in peace. *gag*
2. The college years Back in those days, all we needed was a beer bong and a pair of roller blades to have fun on the 4th. Especially in Newport Beach-where the streets were filled with thousands of other nineteen-year-olds with the same agenda. Now we're the ones calling the police at 10:01pm. How things change.
3. The pretend adult phase Newly graduated, Lisa was playing house with her college boyfriend and couldn't wait to "entertain". So she put out her best bowls filled with M&Ms and the martini shaker Liz gave her for a housewarming gift. Meanwhile, we both turned a blind eye to our boyfriends hitting on the bikini-clad beach crusin' hotties on the Hermosa Beach boardwalk.
4. Almost grown-up: San Diego Being prego really put the brakes on our 4th of July. Both of us have spent a 4th of July(or two-Liz) watching everyone else party it up while we treated ourselves to an extra smore. And it *almost* prepared us for....
5. Finally adult: San Diego Now the only floaties in the pool are on the kids’ arms as they learn to swim. And we don’t exactly look how we used to in our bikinis- or should we say tankinis. We're so exhausted by the end of the fireworks show that we couldn't lift a shot glass to our mouth if we tried. But after twenty-four years, we're still celebrating together. And you know what? The 4th of July has never been better.
Special thanks to Liz and Lisa for stopping by to share their 4th of July memories and to Crystal for including us in this blog tour and for sharing the e-books for the giveaway!
How to win "The D Word" or "I'll Have Who She's Having": Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.) Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post): 1. Please tell us: What is the most amazing, funniest or craziest thing you and your best friend have done together? 2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too). 3. Follow Liz and Lisa on Facebook and Twitter. Let us know your name on either/both. 4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it. 5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
Laurel Osterkamp is the author of "Starring in the Movie of My Life" (reviewed here), a book about two very different women in very different stages of their lives. I am so excited that Laurel stopped by CLC today, because I absolutely loved the book and I know you all will too! Laurel lives in Minneapolis with her husband, son, and daughter, and is working on a fourth novel. Follow her on Twitter and check out her blog!
For some lucky readers, Laurel has two copies of "Starring in the Movie of My Life", either in paperback (US/Canada only) or e-book (International).
Watch the trailer for "Starring..."
What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing "Starring in the Movie of My Life"?
Just finding the time and energy to write was the biggest challenge. I never get as much done as I think I’m going to.
What is your usual writing routine? I usually write during my kids’ naptimes on the weekends or during the summer. I’m a teacher, so the summers are great for writing. I like to listen to music, usually an I-Tunes mix I’ve made with songs that somehow connect me to the story. For me, taking time to write is a luxury, so above everything else I just try to enjoy it.
What was the most difficult thing about switching back and forth between Melody (an 18 year old character) and Sam (a 35 year old character)?
I don’t know if it was difficult, but there were times when I preferred one character to the other. At first I had so much fun writing Melody because she’s so sure of herself and unafraid of what other people think. Samantha took a while to find her voice. However, around half way through the book, Samantha’s story really found its direction, and Melody’s began to falter a little. In the end though, I was happy with how they both turned out.
How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?
If I’m not working, exercising, spending time with my family, or doing household tasks, then I hope I’m relaxing…reading a good book or watching TV, and preferably eating chocolate.
If you were not a writer, what job would you have?
Well, I’m am a high school teacher, but my dream is to one day be able to make enough money with writing that I can focus just on that. But a long time ago I wanted to be an actress, and I spent years performing with various comedy/improv troupes.
What do you do if you get Writer's Block?
I pick up a novel and start reading. I almost always get inspired with an idea after just a few minutes.
If "Starring..." were made into a movie, who would you want to cast in the roles of Melody, Sam, Collin, and Nate?
I’d cast Haley Steinfeld from True Grit as Melody because she’s young, powerful and strong. For Samantha the actress needs to be warm and likeable, so I’d go with Amy Adams. Orlando Bloom would be Collin, no question, because Samantha compares the two of them in the book. She also compares Nate to Owen Wilson, but Nate has to be younger than her, so I’d probably cast Scott Michael Foster, from Greek.
What do you consider to be your guilty pleasure?
Boots! I get teased over how many pairs I have.
What inspired you to write the complicated stories of Sam and Melody?
Melody was inspired by some of the students I’ve had. Some have come from such terrible situations, yet they can be so smart and strong and really rise above. However, they’re still young and don’t realize how fallible they are. So while Melody’s story with Mr. Linden is entirely made up, her personality and tough home life aren’t.
Samantha’s background is more like my own, and I wrote partly from experience while telling her story. There are lots of differences between her and me, but somehow issues of motherhood, career, love and marriage crept into her chapters, and those are all things I’ve dealt with in the last several years. Plus, she loves movies and so do I!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you like to go and why?
As I write this I’m preparing for the first solo vacation my husband and I will take since our son was born, six and a half years ago. We’re going to Seattle and up along the coast to Olympic State Park. I’ve always wanted to go there; I’ve never been, and it looks beautiful. Once we get back my answer I’m sure will be different…perhaps the Florida Keyes. I’ve travelled abroad quite a bit, but there are lots of places here in the U.S. that I’d still like to get to.
Special thanks to Laurel for allowing me to get to know her better and providing the books for the giveaway. Thanks also to Samantha Robey from Chick Lit Plus for including CLC as a stop on Laurel's blog tour.
How to win "Starring in the Movie of My Life": Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.) Also,please indicate where you are located in your comment. If live in the US or Canada and do NOT do this, you will only be considered for an e-book. Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post): 1. Please tell us: Have you ever had a crush on one of your grade school or high school teachers? 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. 4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.) 5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.)Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.
Paperback is US/Canada only E-book is international Giveaway ends July 5th
“Starring in the Movie of My Life”, by Laurel Osterkamp, is a story about two women in very different stages of life. Samantha Linden is 35 and is newly married to Nathan, a high school teacher who is ten years younger than Sam. She works in a video store and dreams of making her own movies someday. Sam and Nathan live in a building managed by Sam’s old boyfriend Collin, and sometimes it’s a little too close for comfort. Samantha is also hiding something that not even Nathan knows about, but does Collin know her secret?
Melody Madsen is an 18 year-old high school student with a dangerous crush on her English teacher, Nathan Linden. Her feelings for Mr. Linden started when he saved her from being sexually assaulted by the star basketball player at a school dance. Melody has a less than ideal home life and has never really had anyone pay much attention or care what happens to her.
The story becomes a twisted and tangled mass of deception, lies, heartache, and confusion. It was hard to put down from the moment I started it. The story weaves in and out of the past and present and each chapter alternates between Sam’s and Melody’s voices. I love the way Laurel gives us enough background information on the characters but manages to keep it relevant to the present day story. This book definitely took me by surprise and really held my attention the whole way through. If you are looking for a great read then this is it!
Laurel dropped by CLC today for an interview. You can also win a copy of this novel either in paperback or e-book (see post for details). Giveaway ends July 5th.
To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry and then used Random.org to pick two numbers.
Congrats to:
22-Kim
46-Bee
Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.
Thanks to everyone who participated! Thanks to Amanda for sharing her insights with us and her books with you!
I am a member of Seeded Buzz and have decided to participate in a seed, as it pertains to this blog. Dorian presented the seed: “When books are better than the movies.”
This topic could be looked at in two different ways. The first is that books are always better than movies! :) I’m a bookaholic and a movie buff, so it’s strange for me to choose one over the other. However, movies lay everything visual out for you and you don’t have to think as hard. Books, on the other hand, present a world of imagination. There’s the story and then there’s your idea of how the story is playing itself out. You can cast whomever you want as the characters. You can picture them to be wherever you want them to be located (based on a few hints from the author). Everything is left up to where your mind wants to take you.
Books can be taken anywhere. Movies can’t unless you have some fancy device where you can watch them and not disturb anyone else. Books may be pricey, but it’s a one person fee and you can share them amongst your family and friends. Movies are an expensive way to spend an afternoon or evening these days, unless you’re willing to wait for the DVD. Then you don’t have the whole theater experience anymore. Books open up a world while movies show you the world the way the creative forces think it should be. I could go on and on about this side of the topic, but I’m sure you could also come up with ways that books are better than movies.
The other way I saw it was that most of the chick lit novels I’ve seen on the big screen (or on DVD) have not had the prowess that the books originally contained. I’ll share my thoughts on a few popular chick lit novels that have become movies in the past few years. * “The Nanny Diaries”: I read the book many years ago, but I remembered a lot about it. I felt that the movie captured the general feel of the book and did a good job adapting it. I thought it was cute and entertaining overall, but I’m sure it left some parts out. * “In Her Shoes”: I loved the book and thought the movie was decent, but it left out a huge chunk that happened to be my favorite part of the story. I also didn’t picture Cameron Diaz as Maggie. She did an okay job, but I thought someone better could have been chosen for that role. Toni Collette, however, was perfect as Rose. * “The Devil Wears Prada”: Other than Meryl Streep playing Miranda Priestly to perfection, this movie was lacking what the book originally made me feel. I was getting annoyed with it and felt like I had to justify to my husband that it really was a good story and just didn’t translate well to the big screen. * “Confessions of a Shopaholic”: I thought it was cute, but it left out some parts from what I remember. I didn’t like that they Americanized the story. It was meant to take place in London and they should have played it as British. Isla Fisher did a good job as Becky. She was very spunky and fun to watch. * “Something Borrowed”: I enjoyed watching this one, even though they changed a lot of things around. They made it more about Ethan (John Krasinski’s role) than the book ever did. Ginnifer Goodwin was amazing as Rachel and she and Colin Egglesfield (Dex) had fantastic chemistry. Kate Hudson was even believable as Darcy. There were a lot of funny moments as well as emotional ones. I can’t wait to see how “Something Blue” adapts to the big screen!
And of course I couldn't leave this one out....
* “Bridget Jones’s Diary”: A really good adaptation of the book. I think it’s one of the few stories where I almost liked the movie better. I don’t know that I would have picked Renee Zellweger to play Bridget. Why not get someone authentically British. Colin Firth and Hugh Grant were great though. And the secondary characters were also authentically British and added that flair to the movie, as well.
There is only one movie I liked better than the book...."Where the Heart is" (Billie Letts). It's not really a chick lit novel, but it is definitely a chick flick. The book was great, but the movie is even better. I like the changes the movie made to the story and I love all the actors and actresses in it. It's just a perfect movie, in my opinion, and definitely one of my favorites.
To find our winner, we assigned a number to each entry and then used Random.org to pick one number. It chose 5.
Congrats to Eline!
Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.
Thanks to everyone who participated! Thanks to Cassandra for visiting with us and to Samantha from Chick Lit Plus for including us on the blog tour and sharing this e-book for our giveaway.
Lorena Bathey found after writing her first book that characters were visiting her mind and wouldn't leave. She was introduced to Marissa, Andrea, Lily, Deidre and Beatrice and her first novel, "Beatrice Munson," came to life. After finishing that book, she was inspired to write more novels and she knew that pursuing her passion was the best way to live her life. So a writer she became.
After meeting the love of her life, they embarked on the thrilling life to follow their dreams bringing their families along for the ride. Today Lorena has nine novels in her writing queue all with screenplays in the works.
She's here to talk to us today about creating a strong female protagonist with whom women can relate. For some lucky readers, she is also giving away one copy of "Beatrice Munson" in hardcover (US/Canada only) and one as an e-book (anywhere).
What makes a protagonist someone that you want to read about? What characteristics are needed to have readers decide to care what happens to her? I believe that a great protagonist has layers, but at the core of how she is written is believability.
Opening up a book and reading the first page can bring such excitement. That first page sets the stage for how much time you will have to allocate to read this book. Will you be staying up late cursing time moving so fast when you just want to read or will you struggle to get through each line? With the first sentence the author pulls you into their world and you either go willingly or kicking and screaming.
When developing a character I first see her in my mind. Her physical makeup often gives me insight into who she is as a character. I see her and then I hear her. The voice of the protagonist is imperative to how the story flows and whether you care enough to continue reading. Her speech pattern, inflections, and vocabulary will allow you to create a background to who you think she is. And this will allow you to connect with her.
The strength of a protagonist is that they make you feel like they could be your friend. You understand them and want to know more. Think about the books you have loved throughout your life, aren't the ones that hold a special place filled with female protagonists that you wish you could have lunch or coffee with?
Once you connect with the protagonist then you must see her falter, hurt, struggle, and fight to be better than she was at the beginning of the story. You need to see horrible things occur so that you can root for her. She needs to undergo physical, spiritual, emotional or even psychic pain so that you can see her fall and overcome difficulty.
Why is this? Why do we need to watch someone we have grown to care about go through hardships and pain? Because we love to see the underdog win, the meek become strong, and the girl gets her guy. We love this because when we read we associate ourselves with the characters. We believe that if our protagonist can have that fairy tale man, win the lotto, chase away the vampires, then we can to.
It is the connection to the protagonist that makes the story worth reading. As we read, we picture the scene and probably even see ourselves in the protagonist herself. Seeing her overcome, win and get what she is seeking means we can do the same. While we know somewhere in us that the story is make believe, the ideal of someone good winning feels good to us and somehow inspires us.
Let's face it a great protagonist can draw us into any world and allow us unfettered access to any imaginary scenario. And that is the kind of good book and great characters we all seek.
I hope you will introduce yourself to my protagonists; Marissa, Beatrice, Andrea, Deidre, and Lily in my new novel, "Beatrice Munson." You can order it at Lorena B Books, and it is available in either paperback or e-Book. You can also order it at Smashwords with the coupon code WD65M, with which you will receive 20% off. (Coupon expires July 27th.)
Special thanks to Lorena for sharing her wisdom with us, as well as sharing her book for the giveaway!
"How to Win Beatrice Munson": Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.) Also,please indicate where you are located in your comment. If live in the US or Canada and do NOT do this, you will only be considered for the e-book. Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post): 1. "Beatrice Munson" is about a woman whose high school nemesis moves back to town. Please tell us: Have you become friends with your high school nemesis? Or do you still hold a grudge? 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. 4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.) 5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.)Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.
Hardcover is US/Canada only; E-book is international. Giveaway ends July 3rd at midnight EST.
We both got this one from Meghann Burnett (Jen Weiner's assistant) to review for our blog. (Melissa P. and I will be doing a joint review, so stay tuned!)
Or better yet, what could be in your mailbox....A copy of "Here, Home, Hope" by Kaira Rouda! (She's got two to give away to some lucky readers!) This is only open to US/Canada residents. To enter this giveaway, simply tell us what novel you have read most recently or why you really want to read "Here, Home, Hope" (reviewed here). Please include your e-mail address or another way we can contact you.
US/Canada only. Giveaway ends June 29th at midnight EST.
By Melissa Amster I've been a huge fan of Sue Margolis' novels ever since I picked up "Apocalipstick" back in 2004. When I found out that she had a new book due to arrive this summer, I was chomping at the bit! Thanks to Caitlin Mulrooney-Lyski at Penguin Books, I got my chance to read an ARC of Ms. Margolis' latest novel, "A Catered Affair" (in exchange for an honest review, of course). As soon as I received it, I couldn't wait to read it and got started right away!
I really liked the premise of this story. It had chick lit written all over it. Tally was an interesting woman who was easy to relate to, whether or not one has been in her shoes or has ever felt the way she has. The secondary characters were all distinguishable in personality and they each had their own stories too, such as her mother who was posing as a phone suicide prevention counselor; her sister, the lesbian comedian; her stereotypical Jewish grandma, who managed to almost get herself arrested and her best friend, the single mother who was writing a rather complex novel. And I must not forget about the gay men, which is almost standard for all her novels. I liked how Ms. Margolis fit in a lot of pop culture and humor, as well. The dialogue was natural and flowed nicely. I liked that it was guided more by conversation than by introspection. I found it a quick page turner, as I wanted to see how things would turn out for Tally and the people around her. It definitely fit the mold of a typical Sue Margolis novel in these ways.
However, this story did stray from Ms. Margolis' norm in one way. After reading all her previous novels, I was expecting at least three really steamy "romantic" scenes that would go on for a couple of pages. This was not to be the case. I had to wait a long time to get to even to one "romantic" scene and it was rather rushed and not as detailed as the ones she has done in the past. (It was still pretty hot though!) I hope she is not straying from her norm of writing these scenes, as I look forward to them as much as I look forward to her entertaining stories overall.
The other concern I had while reading "A Catered Affair" involved a man with Tourette's Syndrome. She wrote it as very comical or possibly satirical. I didn't find myself laughing though, as it seemed over the top and I worried it might offend someone who has (or knows someone who has) Tourette's. There are only a few scenes involving this man and it's such a side story that doesn't even impact the rest of the novel that it could easily be skipped over if one didn't want to read how he had been depicted. Thankfully, she didn't do it in a mean offensive manner (such as over the top swearing), but it still made the man out to be a joke.
Overall, it was an enjoyable novel and I was able to relax and have a few laughs while reading it. Ms. Margolis even addressed another concern of mine that I had presented in a past review, but I won't say what it was as I do not want to spoil the story. Having said that, there was a bit of predictability. Still, she tossed in a few surprises on the side and like with some other romantic stories, I did want the outcome she gave Tally. The predictability is more noticeable if you've read her other novels. Therefore, if you're looking for the "romantic" scenes that have made me blush, you're best off starting with one of Ms. Margolis' other novels. If you want a good story that has all the other elements of fun and enjoyable chick lit, this one should definitely be on your shelf!
To find our winner, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Holly Chamberlin to pick one number at random. Here’s what she had to say:
How about 13?
This entire experience has been so positive! I am very thankful to the two Melissas for asking me to participate. I really hope the winner of this contest enjoys the new book, SUMMER FRIENDS, as well as the re-issue of THE SUMMER OF US. In the end, life is all about friendships.
Love, Holly Chamberlin
Congrats to Kritter!
Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.
Thanks to everyone who participated! Thanks to Holly for visiting with us and sharing her books for our giveaway.
Our next debut novelist is Amanda Strong, author of "with just one click...", which was inspired by some situations her friends got into on Facebook. She has come to CLC today to talk about the hazards and thrills of social networking. She also has two copies of her novel to share with some lucky readers anywhere in the world!
Amanda grew up in Massachusetts and was inspired by such classics as "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Great Gatsby." After graduating from Ithaca College, she focused on her small business, but then realized that she just had to write and got back into it, working into the late hours of the night when her family was asleep. She currently lives near Boston with her husband and two kids. You can find her doing her own social networking on Facebook and Twitter. Check out her blog, as well!
Have you been “friended” by an ex? Have you spied on your spouse or significant other’s Facebook page? Have you crossed the line with one of your “friends”? In my case, all of the above, and that is why I wrote, With Just One Click. To clarify, none of these stories are about me, but they have happened to friends, or friends of friends, and more frequently than you’d think!
Facebook was the catalyst for me to dust off my pen and paper and pursue my passion … writing. Over the past few years, I heard stories about the complicated friendships and relationships formed on Facebook. The sordid details were more like a Hollywood script than typical suburbia life. The stories surfaced over and over; the people would change, but the same universal subjects popped up like, reconnecting with an ex, spying on your significant other or not trusting your partner’s friends, and crossing the line with a friend, leading to infidelity. The main stars of these plots were everyday people, someone’s sister, wife, mother, friend, or neighbor. These scenarios appear relatable and could potentially happen to any one of us given the right situation or circumstance.
I learned social networking really doesn’t have many rules to live buy, thus creating an enormous amount of freedom for each friend. When I began this book, I felt in some ways Facebook ruined lives. Now, I’m not a Facebook hater at all, but when you see firsthand one of your closest friend’s marriage destroyed over a reconnection on Facebook, you can become bitter about social networking. Or when you hear one of your friends can’t be friends with her own husband, because she’s too suspicious and can’t help from stalking her own husband’s Facebook page. Or when a friend is friended out of the blue by an ex, and you see the curiosity and memories eat away at them, and the “what ifs” flooding their head. When you watch all these examples hover around the people you care about creating hurt and indecision, some negativity is bound to occur.
As a friend, I witnessed the demise of a marriage in front of my eyes as an unwilling spectator, watching innuendo and speculation on Facebook turn into heartache. After that moment, I realized how comfortable people were on social networking sites. Almost forgetting so many people can see every word or picture you post. I wanted to highlight these relatable situations but in a fictionalized setting, hoping readers themselves would come to their own conclusions about social networking and relationships.
In the book, I follow three women’s journeys, navigating through social networking and pivotal times in their lives. Chloe, a successful movie reviewer and serial dater, is added as a friend by her first love ... the one who left her standing at seventeen with a note in her hand as he simply walked away. She’s faced with a decision… confirm or ignore a person she once hated, resented, and loved. Morgan, a loyal stay-at-home mother and wife, is blindsided one day with a discovery ... one of her husband's friends is his single and very flirtatious ex-girlfriend. Brynn, a lonely mom to two distant teenagers and workaholic husband, becomes immersed in Facebook ... the one place she finds solace, hope, and herself again. When she revisits the past with one of her friends, her world is turned upside down with regret and indecision. Three lives changed forever with just one click. Confirming a friend isn't as easy as it seems ... but do these women have more in common than just Facebook?
Beyond the juicy relationships, I touch upon the positives of social networking, like the friendships and the community setting where people can interact with friends they may otherwise never have been in contact with. I personally felt it was important to be neutral and not sway towards saying Facebook is good or bad. People will have their opinions on this subject, and they will not always agree. I hope the reader will come to their own conclusions about the three women’s choices.
What surprised me after finishing the book and creating these stories was that I felt differently than I did in the beginning. Mainly, Facebook is a forum used by individuals, each creating their own experience, always different and unique for that person. Social networking is a tool, whether you choose to join or not, I think a person has to be honest with themselves about what they want out of the experience. Ultimately, each person is in charge on Facebook. With or without temptation, they themselves are the ones making the decisions on their behalf, not the social networking site they happen to be signed up on.
Special thanks to Amanda for sharing her thoughts with us...and her book with you!
How to win "with just one click...": Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.) Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post): 1. Please tell us: What is the biggest social networking faux-pas (or snafu) you have ever made? 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. 4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.) 5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.
Three for three...Lisa Becker is visiting in July, as well!
And as an added bonus, Lisa Lim will also be visiting us...in July, of course! She's also doing an e-book giveaway (International) on her blog. (Ends 7/8.)
We heard about this book recently (thanks to Chick Lit is Not Dead), and wanted to tell you about it. :)
Stay tuned for more e-book updates as we continue to hear about what's new and hot on the Kindle (and Nook) market!
It's debut novelist week at CLC. Our first interview this week is with Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar, author of "Little Miss Teacher" (reviewed here). Cassandra is originally from Pennsylvania, but studied education in Delaware and now lives there with her husband, daughter, two cats and a dog. She enjoys shopping, traveling, reading, running, baking, and watching movies. She teaches high school English, which was inspiration for her first chick lit novel.
Since we're a stop on Cassandra's blog tour this month, Samantha Robey of Chick Lit Plus has one e-book of "Little Miss Teacher" to give to a lucky reader anywhere in the world!
If you like what you've read today, follow Cassandra on Facebook.
What was your journey to publishing like? The first word that comes to mind is painful. After working on a project for so long, and investing so much in terms of effort and love, it's rough to go through the rejection process time and time again. Once I finally published "Little Miss Teacher" as an eBook through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Smashwords, I felt exposed. Even though I wanted to share my work, actually putting it out there for anyone to criticize is scary. However, I made myself get over that. Some people might not like my book, but so what? If it makes anyone laugh, cry, feel nostalgic either for high school or for her early twenties getting started in her career, then I have accomplished something of which I can be proud.
How did you celebrate when you got "Little Miss Teacher" published? I don't know that I really celebrated. Since I'm a full time teacher and a part-time doctoral student, I haven't had much of a chance to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I've known my whole life that I would write a book; I've been creating stories before I even learned to write! Publishing "Little Miss Teacher" is exciting but nerve-racking. I hope readers will enjoy Candace's story. I have ideas for a second book, but I'm only going to write it if readers want more of Candace.
How is Candace similar to or different from you? A lot of people who know me and who read the novel (including students) were quick to look for parallels, since Candace is a high school English teacher, just like me. Looking back at the beginning of my teaching career, it's easy for me to relate to Candace as she struggles through that first year of teaching. Candace is like me (and most women) in that she can be self-conscious at times and question her decisions. Candace has close friends and a wonderful, loving family, just like I do. Still, Candace is a very different person from me.
If "Little Miss Teacher" were to be made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles? Tough question! Whenever I read a book, I form a perfect idea of what each character looks like in my head. When the movie comes out, I love to match up my ideas with the actors' appearances. As I wrote "Little Miss Teacher," I didn't think about any particular actors (although I knew I'd want to be an extra in the movie, sitting in the background of the teachers' lounge grading papers or something!). The actress I think who could best pull off the part of Candace is Danielle Panabaker; she's smart and pretty, an excellent young actress. I can easily see Bradley Cooper in the role of Jake; he's handsome and charming in a way that could easily attract a younger woman. As for Charlie, Paul Walker would be perfect, but he'd need to be 22 again. So, I picture a 22-year-old version of Paul Walker!
What keeps you motivated when writing? I always think about the finished product. Like most writers, I've started a thousand projects that I never finished. Sometimes, the characters just don't become real, and you have to abandon them. To avoid this, before I start writing, I like to think about a loose structure of the book- I'll identify the major events of the plot and how I want things to turn out at the end. As I wrote this book, Candace really evolved in front of me. When she was proud, so was I. When she was hurt, I felt upset, too. Part of my motivation to finish this project was to help her get through her journey of finding herself.
Who is your celebrity doppelganger? Back when I first started teaching, the "Scary Movie" franchise was huge. Students always told me I looked like Anna Faris's character; she dyed her hair dark brown for that movie. I never saw it, though! Anna Faris and I are almost the exact same age; I think she's about three weeks older than I am. So, I think they saw young, white, and dark haired, and decided that we looked alike. I can't think of any actual celebrity doppelganger. I wish I could say Salma Hayek, but I definitely can't!
What do you like best about living in Delaware? Tax-free shopping! Woo hoo! I also like living near the University of Delaware and not too far from the beach. Lots of people who live here don't appreciate it, but I honestly love Delaware.
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you as a teacher? Another hard question... like Candace, many of my funny moments have also been pretty embarrassing! Once I was wearing a flowing dress and walked by a fan that was on the ground. Thank goodness, I caught it in time and had only a brief Marilyn Monroe moment. If I hadn't, I think I would have had to transfer schools. I sure wouldn't want to be known as the teacher who flashed her class!
What is the first chick lit book you ever read? I think it must have been Helen Fielding's fabulous "Bridget Jones's Diary." I absolutely love this book. I remember being unable to accomplish anything until I finished reading it; it swallowed me whole and held me captive. This is my favorite kind of book to read, a book that makes you stop everything because it's just that entertaining.
What are your plans for summer vacation? Depending on how "Little Miss Teacher" is received by the public, I just might write a sequel! I am also traveling to Australia and New Zealand. And, of course, I will read, read, read.
Special thanks to Cassandra for sharing her thoughts with us and to Samantha for arranging the interview and providing the e-book for the giveaway.
How to win "Little Miss Teacher":
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.) Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post): 1. Please tell us: What is the first chick lit book you have ever read? 2. Please tell us: Who is your favorite or most memorable teacher (of all time)? 3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too). 4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it. 5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.) 6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.
By Melissa Amster I almost became a teacher. I went to college to study special education. Then I realized it wasn't the right path for me. As an adult, I substitute taught a Sunday school class a few times and realized how right I was in not aiming for a teaching career. You have to have just the right amount of patience and flexibility to be a teacher. And reading Candace's story in "Little Miss Teacher" by Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar allowed me to have a glimpse into the career path not taken, and also confirmed my beliefs of what character traits are truly needed.
Candace details her first year of her job as a high school English teacher, starting in October and going through the last day of school in June. Throughout this time, she deals with rebellious students, immature teachers, her own dating disasters and her best friend's mysterious behavior. In doing so, she comes to some realizations about herself as both a teacher and a woman on the brink of adulthood.
What I liked about "Little Miss Teacher" was that Candace was easy to relate to. I could even see myself being friends with her. She reminds me of what I was like in my early to mid-twenties. (I found it funny that she'd go to work sick instead of delegating, as I could see myself doing that too.) Candace was an earnest overachiever. She was also wise for her age and down to earth, not afraid to admit that she wasn't perfect. I also liked Ms. Sachar's use of description, as everyone and everything was easy to visualize. I sometimes felt as if I were right there with Candace. I especially enjoyed reading about the holidays through Candace's eyes. I am all about holidays and Candace conveyed my enthusiasm for [most of] them. I thought it was clever that each chapter was a lesson. Finally, I liked living vicariously through her when she had "girls' nights" with her best friend. It seemed like she knew how to have fun.
Overall, I found "Little Miss Teacher" to be an easy read and I did like wondering what would come next. I even laughed a bunch of times or nodded along in agreement. I wish Candace had been given more to do than just teach. She could have led an extracurricular activity. Those were the reason I liked high school and looked forward to going. I would have loved for someone like Candace to run my speech team when I was in high school. She had the right personality and qualities to lead a speech team to victory. It was a fun story, but I see the audience being women who just graduated college and are starting in their first jobs. I may have appreciated this more if I had read it during that period of my life. I think I have too much with which to compare it now. I did like being able to reminisce about my single days and first job by experiencing it through Candace (in different degrees though).
Cassandra dropped by CLC for her book tour. Learn more about her and enter to win a copy of "Little Miss Teacher" here.
I love her blog too! She definitely was an inspiration to me when I was starting out. She's a Chicago girl who moved away from the area (just like us). Now she lives close to Melissa P. in sunny AZ. (They're both lucky they can hang out and read together if they so desire.)
Manic Mommy also has a huge giveaway going on. Just check her blog every day and enter to win books! Good luck!
Finally, from Charlotte Allen at Avon/UK:
We hope to have Julia visit CLC sometime soon. Charlotte has hooked us up with great authors in the past and we look forward to more visits from British authors she knows in the future, as well.
To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Arlene Romoff to pick five numbers at random.
Here is what she picked:
15, 25, 29, 41
Congrats to: Carol Wong, Alison, Jane and Nancye
Update (6/22/11): One of our winners did not reply by the deadline, so we chose a number from the Custom Random Number Generator to find our final winner. They will also have 48 hours to claim their prize....
Congrats (this time) to: 8-Michele Weiss
Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.
Thanks to everyone who participated! Thanks also to Arlene for opening up our eyes (and ears) to what it is like to have hearing loss and Donna Spurlock from Charlesbridge for offering the books for the giveaway!
By Melissa Amster If the soothing cover of Kaira Rouda's debut novel, "Here, Home, Hope" didn't interest me, then the concept definitely would have. Luckily, both did the trick and I was swept away into Kelly Johnson's life from page one.
Kelly is the wife of a successful attorney and a stay-at-home mother to two adolescent boys who are away at camp for the summer. While getting her teeth fixed, she has an epiphany (which feels more like a mid-life crisis to her), which is the result of a breast cancer scare. Her plan is to find ways to make changes in her own life and remind herself of these changes through post-it notes. In doing so, she changes the lives of her friends and even goes about starting her own business. Along the way, she experiences happy moments and gets involved in the sad situations of those she cares about most (outside of her own family).
I loved this book so much. It was like talking to a close friend and being privy to the intimate details of someone else's life, even though they were completely fictional. Kaira Rouda makes Kelly seem so real that I kept checking to make sure this wasn't some autobiographical tale. I love her use of description of both people and places. It all adds to the realistic feel of this story. The dialogue was natural, as well. I had mentioned in another book review about how I love stories about female entrepreneurs. This story definitely fulfilled that thrill of mine. I even love the job that Kelly makes her own. It sounds like so much fun!
I don’t really have anything to critique about this story, other than perhaps it was too perfect. No fault in that, right? I am a hopeful woman who enjoys a nice and happy ending to a story. I’m sure there are many others like me out there. However, there are also women don’t feel a happy ending in any book (or movie) is realistic. Still, the book dealt with realistic issues, the biggest being anorexia, but I won’t spoil any of the other topics. It even allowed me to put something that had nothing to do with me, but had been bothering me personally, into perspective.
Through Kelly, Ms. Rouda allows us to realize that just being a wife and a mother is not the "end all, be all" to life. Sure, it's wonderful if you have it. However, she encourages women to be more than just their roles in a family. Kelly is someone women from all walks of life can relate to, even if they've never been married or raised children or if those days are long past them now. She speaks to a woman's need to take care of herself, even while taking care of everyone else in her life (whomever that may be to each woman). She definitely spoke to that side of me that wants something for herself, even while "having it all," so to speak.
I can’t begin to praise “Here, Home, Hope” enough. Every chapter brought about a new surprise and it kept me on my toes the entire time. I honestly wanted to see what would happen to each of the characters, even the ones that didn’t show up on every page. It had a Jane Porter feel to it, as well. The writing style was very similar to hers. It was introspective and conversational. Ms. Rouda didn’t assume anything about where the story would go or the audience when she wrote it. She just wrote it with a lot of feeling and a down to earth perspective on life. It was inspiring and thought-provoking. Reading about all Kelly did to enhance her life made me want to do the same (not the things she did for herself, necessarily). I just hope I can start (and stick with) a plan! I highly recommend this novel to all women of all ages. Men might like it too, but there's definitely something about it that is a real draw to women readers. I hope you will be inspired by it in some way, as well.
No, we're not trying to sell cosmetics here. Our guest blogger, Jencey Gortney, has stopped by to tell us about one of her favorite authors, Mary Kay Andrews, and pay a tribute to her great work!
I discovered Mary Kay Andrews out of a simple desire to visit a prominent author in the area. I went to hear her talk at the Barnes & Noble in Buckhead (part of the city of Atlanta). She was touring for her book "The Fixer Upper." I enjoyed her talk and learned about the writing process. I also picked up the book "Hissy Fit." I read "Hissy Fit" last summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved how her writing, the visual imagery, and how well researched the books are. I couldn’t wait for her latest release "Summer Rental."
Mary Kay portrays a history in her writing by researching the setting that helps create the story. Her characters are people for whom you want to fight. You can identify with their circumstances and wanting to help them sort out their situation. She also creates imagery that can be pictured and visualized by the reader. Her main character has been a female in her twenties or thirties who is somehow down on her luck. In all of her previous books she has used Georgia for her setting in cities such as Savannah and Madison. In her latest book the setting changes to Nags Head, North Carolina. I have heard that it might be back to Savannah for the next book.
One thing that really grabs me about her novels is how easy they are to read. The pages turn themselves as you read the book. I loved "Summer Rental" and "Hissy Fit" but her other titles are worth checking out, as well.
I have come to love Mary Kay Andrews' writing. I even consult her in person when I have the chance to see her. I am also friends with her on Facebook. She would love for you to come and friend her too, as well as follow her on Twitter.
Synopsis of "Summer Rental": Ellis arranges the perfect getaway for a month at the beach. At least she thought she had organized the perfect getaway at the beach. The house is not what she thought it would be and it has seen better days. Once Ellis has access to the house she tries to spruce it up for her friends who are sharing the house Dorie and Julia. They are excited to have this month of August together in Nags Head. The women are all struggling with various aspects of their lives: Ellis being downsized from her job; Julia trying to make a decision about her career path; Dorie about picking up the pieces of her marriage. A stranger suddenly comes to the house needing refuge but has a secret past. This stranger becomes part of this group of friends. The women are in for one big adventure at the beach.
Jencey Gortney has loved reading ever since she was little. More recently, she has developed a love for Chick Lit. She is a teaching assistant in her everyday life. She lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area. She is currently working on her first novel. She blogs over at Writer's Corner (her book blog) and also writes book reviews for Chicklit Club. She wrote a book review for us last year, as well.
"How to Win Beatrice Munson":
