Becoming BFFs with Dee DeTarsio...plus a book giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed**

After growing up in Ennui, Ohio, and graduating from Ohio State University, Dee DeTarsio vowed ‘never to be cold again’ (in a tantrum more worthy of Suellen than Scarlett) and ended up in Tucson, Arizona, producing the news for the CBS affiliate, oddly enough called KOLD-TV. Dee moved to San Diego where she worked in the SeaWorld entertainment department as a Producer/Writer. (Penguins are mean!) She then became a Producer/Writer with NBC for a live, comedy/variety show. After working for Children’s Hospital, Dee totally sold out and became the Marketing Director of a cosmetic dermatology group where she got free Botox. Her husband is a Director of Photography and travels around the world while she stays behind as the indentured servant of their two children. Though her father was never famous and her mother never beat her (that hard!) she suspects one of her sisters is a vampire.

Dee is offering five Amazon Kindle e-gifts of her new novel, THE KITCHEN SHRINK...if your life’s a mess your house could probably use a makeover, too. (Readers don’t need a Kindle to read--you can accept the gift via a free Kindle app for your computer or smart phone!)

If you like what you read today, you can find her on Twitter and Facebook.

BFFs by Dee DeTarsio

Now I lay me down to sleep,
Wonder if she’ll leave that creep.
BFF heed my prayer,
Happy ending, no despair.
On the last page...oh, how I shall weep.

Every night, we could all have a contest about who has the most to worry about. With all that important soul-searching going on, have you ever caught yourself sparing perfectly good, precious, problem-solving synapses worrying about your friend, Rachel Walsh, or Rebecca Bloomwood, or Rose Feller, or Rachel White, or...?...and wondering what she’s up to?

BFFs, Best Fictional Friends, all have two things in common, just like our real friends: they are flawed and we love them. Our imaginary friends allow us to indulge in an entertaining escape--and along the way may just help us through the maze to our own happily-ever-after. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

One of my favorite BFFs is the potty-mouthed, gorgeous, resourceful Luciana Vetra from "The Botticelli Secret" by Marina Fiorato. Through a smart, intriguing, suspenseful plot, it is the character of Luciana that kept me up nights. She is a part-time model and full-time prostitute in 15th-century Italy, with the most hilarious look at life via her inner dialogue. She is irreverent, foul-mouthed and so earthy it is a sheer joy to see what she does next. I would love to share a cup of espresso with her at a little piazza in Florence…although I am sure she would give me three reasons, Ragione Uno, Due, Tre, why I should pay, compliment her dress and hair, and then leave her alone!

BONUS: I am so excited to have had the chance to see this amazing painting by Botticelli, Primavera, which hangs in the Uffizi museum in Florence, Italy. This painting is the cornerstone of the conspiracy that is central to the plot of The Botticelli Secret. It was an amazing trip, an ethereal painting and a pinch-me-I’m-dreaming magical moment--the next best thing to meeting my BFF in person.

(Although there was that little incident where the man of my dreams lost me at the Uffizi. I clearly said, "I'll wait right here for you," which he somehow interpreted as me saying: "I'm going to go down those three sets of stairs, through a museum shop, past the security guard and out the green door." All's well that ends well...and with a glass of vino!)

Multitaskers, Unite! As much as I love "The Botticelli Secret," I also manage to find time to lament that I will never be able to write like that. I’ve also been two-timing Luciana. I love keeping company with the thoroughly entertaining Isabel Spellman (thanks Lisa Lutz!), all of the Walsh sisters (PLEASE friend me, Marian Keyes!) and I have a new BFF, India Black, (courtesy of the wonderful Carol K. Carr!).

Up next: Ros...Coming this summer!

You are also invited to check out:

The Scent of Jade, finalist in the San Diego Book Awards Association--a romantic romp through Costa Rica--with a blonde Juan, a monkey and a love potion...

‘Til Somebody Loves You, Romantic Comedy Quick-Pick, A modern fairy-tale about a damsel in distress who can save her own day!

Special thanks to Dee for telling us about her BFF and offering the e-books for the giveaway!


How to win "The Kitchen Shrink":
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: Who is your Best Fictional Friend?
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.

Giveaway ends July 10th at midnight EST.