Breaking the ice with Mandy Baggot, plus a book giveaway (the only strings attached here)

**Giveaway is now closed**

Mandy Baggot lives near Salisbury in Wiltshire with her husband, two daughters and two cats named Kravitz and Springsteen. Her first foray into the world of writing involved New Kids on the Block and the England football squad. She is a huge fan of white wine, rum and coke, Bruce Willis, "Neighbours," ice dancing (watching not participating!), horse racing, rock (especially Bryan Adams and Lady Gaga) and country music and mashed potatoes. She has auditioned for "X Factor" and longs to perform a duet with Bryan Adams. In each of her books, there is a character named Milo. She has written three books that have been published already: "Excess All Areas," "Knowing Me Knowing You" (reviewed here) and "Breaking the Ice."

Her next novel, "Strings Attached" will be released in November. However, one lucky reader anywhere in the world has a chance to win their choice of a paperback or Kindle version of this book!

You can find Mandy at Facebook, Twitter and her website, where you can even listen to her singing. She's here today to tell us what sends her into a fit of giggles.

Check out the trailer for "Strings Attached":



Funniest chick lit novel?
Oh I’m going to be really boring and predictable but, for me, there is no chick-lit book funnier than Sophie Kinsella’s first Shopaholic novel "The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic." Kinsella is brilliant at making Becky Bloomwood completely mad-cap but still keeping a sense of realism to her skits that we can all relate to.

Funniest book character (chick lit or any kind)?
For the same reasons as above – Becky Bloomwood!

Funniest song?
They Might be Giants – "Birdhouse in Your Soul." Great tune but what was it all about?!

Funniest quirk you had as a child?
Hmm I had a few of these! I sucked my index finger instead of my thumb (and still do this sometimes when I’m tired!) and I had a plastic toy figure that belonged to a play-set I used to take everywhere – actually I still do!

Funniest thing you heard a kid say?
The other day my youngest daughter was describing pictures in her school book and I was trying to help her get to the word ‘angel’. So I said ‘you know, who helps God and carries the people up to Heaven when they die’ and she said ‘Abraham’. Bless!

Funniest thing that happened to you recently?
A delivery man rang the doorbell (that doesn’t work right now) and I was just finishing off my Zumba exercise in another room. I walked into the lounge and he was peering through the window (obviously to check if someone was in because no one had answered) and there I was in nothing more than my bra, knickers and a fetching leopard print scarf! Embarrassing!

Favorite inside joke you have with anyone you know?
Me and some other members of Loveahappyending.com have taken to spelling LOL (Laugh Out Loud) as LOLL. We got a bee in our bonnets about spelling one day so I said I was going to spell it with two Ls and the phrase would now be (Laugh Out Loud then Louder).

Favorite comedian?
Michael McIntyre. He is a Brit comedian, a very camp straight man who tells jokes about life in general and is frighteningly good at dancing!

Favorite humorous quote? (from a movie)
"Sir this channel is reserved for emergency calls only…"
"No sh*t lady, does it sound like I’m ordering a pizza?"
Die Hard (1988)

Funniest TV or movie character?
Howlin’ Mad Murdoch from "The A Team!" He made that show!

Special thanks to Mandy for entertaining us with her zany sense of humor and sharing her upcoming novel with a lucky reader.

How to win "Strings Attached":
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 funniest song you've ever heard?
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. Please read our posting guidelines, as well. (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 October 30th at midnight EST.