Lennie Ross blows us away and she has some books for a giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed**

Lennie Ross fits in well with the Los Angeles scene in which she inhabits. On her journey to becoming a screenwriter, she has worked as a producer, talent agent and assistant casting director for roughly ten years. She also has experience as an actress, story editor and playwright. She can now add "chick lit novelist" to her impressive resume with the debut of her first novel, "blow me." She also writes a blog about dating in L.A., which will put her on the map as the west coast's answer to Carrie Bradshaw, if it hasn't done so already. Lennie dropped by CLC and we are excited to share our interview with you. She also has something to share with you...three e-books of "blow me" to some lucky readers anywhere in the world! (And if you live in the US or Canada, you can get it in paperback, if you so desire.)

If you like what you've read today, visit Lennie on Facebook and Twitter.

MP: What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing "Blow Me?"
LR: That’s an easy question. The biggest challenge was that it was my first time writing long format. Prior to this, I mostly wrote screenplays, plays and magazine articles. So, I did not know the format. With screenwriting there is a standard format, both in the layout of the page and the length of document, as well as certain style points one must employ such as the three-act structure. I wrote this book blind, as I had no writing friends who worked in long format. I had no idea how long my novel should be, how many words per pages, or any of the other little nuances such as chapter length, etc. Now, I have a much clearer idea, which will make writing the next one much easier.

MP: How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?
LR: When I’m not working on my blog, setting up book signings, and dealing with the day to day of marketing a novel, I am working out (tennis and Pilates being my favorites), playing with my cats, cooking or gardening. I find creative endeavors and physical activities a good way to get the creative juices flowing.

MP: What is your usual writing routine?
LR: I have a regular job (though with irregular hours) that I have to juggle my writing time around. For years I wrote in the evening, though I prefer to start in the morning. I read somewhere that we have the best creativity and problem-solving brainpower in the morning, right after breakfast. So, I like to sit down at my computer with a cup of tea and knock out my pages between 10am and 2pm.

MP: If you were not a writer, what would you be doing instead?
LR: When I was a child, I dreamed of being three things: a travel writer (which I did very briefly), a fashion designer (which I did as a hobby), and an actress (which I also did for some time). My parents wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer, but I’m far too creative for that type of job. I would probably be an actress or TV host. I would love to host a reality show or talk show. I think that would be so much fun.

MP: How do you deal with writers block?
LR: Ernest Hemmingway boasted that he never had writer’s block because he would always leave his work in mid-sentence. That way, he would always have a place to start when he returned to his work. Quite a nifty little trick and I bet it works… at least you would get one-half sentence written before you might hit a block. I usually know so well what I am going to write before I sit down to write, that I rarely get writer’s block. What I get is restless. It’s very difficult to sit at a computer for 4-6 hours a day and just write. So, I take a lot of breaks, making tea, playing with my cats. Interrupted thought process is supposed to be good for creativity. Some people would just call that procrastination, and I guess in a way it is, but it works. If that fails, I go for a walk, read a book or go to a movie for creative stimulation.

MA: If "Blow Me" were made into a move, who would you cast in the lead roles?
LR: Oh, if I were so lucky! Well, if “Blow Me” were made into a movie, I would not stand in the way of production and make demands or even suggestions on who to cast. I know enough about the movie business to know they don’t like that! But, in my dreams, I would cast Pamela Anderson as Skylar and Julia Roberts as Dawn, and either Cameron Diaz or Jennifer Aniston as Chloe.

MA: Since you blog about dating, what was your most memorable first date?
LR: Memorable good or memorable bad? I have had so many first dates that it would be difficult to pick one that stands out as either the best or the worst. Oh, wait. I remember one specifically that stands out. When I first moved to Los Angeles, 15 years ago, I was taken to a shooting range on a first date. Now that was memorable. It was as though he were saying “Welcome to Los Angeles. You’re going to need to know how to handle a gun.” As a naïve, tree-hugging, peace-keeping young woman from Canada, I found that to be quite a memorable first date.

MA: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
LR: I was in Australia in January to see the Australian Open and my friend wanted to take me to one of the most popular restaurants in Melbourne, so he said that he was bringing a VIP from Hollywood to the restaurant to ensure we got a reservation. I didn’t know this in advance. The entire night I was waited on hand and foot, and at the end of the evening, the waiter was practically on his knees confessing to me that he was a huge fan of mine and that he had seen all of my movies. Rather than burst his bubble and tell him I am not Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock (I was actually photographed for one of the tabloids as the “anorexic” Sandra Bullock after her break up with Jesse James), I just let him believe that he had met whomever it was he thought I was. It was really funny and awkward and I can only imagine how uncomfortable it must be to be a celebrity.

MA: Who do you admire most?
LR: My cats for being so clever that they have trained a human to wait on them hand and foot. Oh, you mean what person or author do I admire most. For authors, I admire all those women who have accomplished what I am seeking to accomplish, such as Candace Bushnell, Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner. When I grow up I want to be a combination of all three. There are so many talented female authors, I admire them all and would be honored to be in their league.

MA: What is your must-use hair styling product?
LR: That’s funny. I used to be all about product. Now, I don’t have the time or energy to even do my own hair. Until recently, there weren’t many blow dry bars in Los Angeles, so I used to have someone come to my house. The blow dry bar concept was part of my inspiration for this book. I just love getting my hair blown out, so I made the lead character in my novel, Skylar, a hair stylist. I’d say my must-use styling product is Kim Vo and whatever color he uses to hide my gray.

Special thanks to Lennie for chatting with us and for offering the books for the giveaway!

How to win "blow me":
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 hair styling product can you NOT live without?
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.

International giveaway (Residents in US and Canada get a paperback option)
Ends July 26th at midnight EST.