How we benefit from Jen Tucker's bad day...plus a book giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed**

Jen Tucker claimed she only wrote for kids, until a rather "off" day (and some encouragement from her publisher) inspired her adult memoir, "The Day I Wore My Panties Inside Out." She has been writing since the age of four by creating little books to leave under her mom's pillow. As an adult, she went on to work at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana and then wrote two children's books. She's a mother of three who considers herself to be a "married single parent" because her husband travels so much. And having a young daughter means she never gets to escape from all things Hello Kitty related. Jen is really friendly and enjoys writing e-mail "novels." She is also extremely funny, which is why she fits in perfectly with our humor theme this month.

Because she is so kind and giving in every aspect of her life, she extends her kindness to our blog by offering to give two copies of "The Day I Wore My Panties Inside Out" to some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

You can find Jen on Facebook, Twitter and at her website.


Funniest chick lit novel?
My friend Erin told me that I had to pick up a book that she could not stop laughing about, and referred to as “true chick lit.” When I read the first sentence of this novel, I was hooked. How could I not be? “Loreen Murphy hadn’t meant to hire a male prostitute in Las Vegas.” I answered that sentence aloud with my own retort of, “NO! She did NOT!!” I even covered my mouth as I laughed, knowing this was going to be the start of something great! Beth Harbison’s "Secrets of a Shoe Addict" reeled me in and it was jackpot gold! If laughter is the best medicine, then Beth Harbison has the right prescription.

Funniest book character (chick lit or any kind)?
Hands down, or should I say credit cards down, the funniest character has to be my girl, Rebecca Bloomwood. Even though you know she needs a serious crash course in debt dieting with Suze Orman, you want her to outwit the nitwit bill collector! Sophie Kinsella, on behalf of women everywhere who have maxed out of their credit cards because they couldn’t resist (*AHEM* not that I know anyone like that), thank you.

Favorite comedy film?
Can I cheat and tell you that I have two? I guess I just did! The funniest “old school” comedy film has to be "Caddyshack." We have watched that movie every year, for 20 years, while on vacation at the beach with my husband’s family. We use the one liners at dinner (“You gonna eat your fat?”) and on the golf course (“Oh Mrs. Crane, you’re a little monkey woman.”). That cheeky gopher strutting his stuff to Kenny Loggin’s lyrics shows the potential of a Solid Gold dancer. He steals the show.

From this century, my other movie choice would be "The Hangover." Baby Carlos, Mike Tyson tiger-napping, a naked dweller in the trunk of a car, and the “Doug” song. Need I say more?


Funniest TV show?
"Modern Family," hands down. I think it is the most cleverly written show on television. The character’s quirks and sticky family situations keep me howling. It is the freshest comedy to come along in a very long time. There is no way I can be mad at my husband, Mike, for having a crush on Sofia Vergara. I mean, have you seen her? Yowza!

Funniest song?
I am laughing as I type… Weird Al’s "Bedrock Anthem." It is a parody of The Red Hot Chili Pepper’s song "Give it Away Now," which is married with a salute to "The Flintstones." You must look this one up on YouTube right this minute! Well, empty your bladder first and then watch it. You will thank me, on both accounts.

Funniest quirk you had as a child?
I think around the age of eleven I went through a phase where my friends said my laugh sounded like a machine gun. Yeah, that was not good for a girl to hear who already suffered from preteen image issues.

Funniest misunderstanding?
My friend Vicki is a super busy girl. We text several times a week. One of the funniest misunderstandings I have been a part of came from one of our finger-led conversations. Forgive the text lingo below, but I wanted to set the mood.

JEN: I love you Vic, have a great week!
VIC: You 2! I luv you lots like tater tits.
JEN:???
JEN: WTH? You luv me like tater tits?
VIC: DAMN YOU AUTO CORRECT!
VIC: I luv lots like TATER TOTS!
VIC: STUPID SMART PHONE!!!

Strangest thing you find funny?
So I think I might be a weirdo, because I don’t know if I find strange things funny. I have a really good sense of humor, but I am baffled thinking of an answer to this question. Mike thinks it’s funny to watch videos of people stupid enough to document themselves getting hurt. Then, they show the entire world via the internet their obvious Mensa memberships. I can’t stand that! My son Ryan thinks the words “tenderloin” and “beef brisket” are hysterical. Seriously Ryan?!? Our oldest son, Wil, records his burps on his Nintendo DS and plays them for me at different speeds and tones. I think all three of these humans are strange, and funny. Does that count?

Funniest TV or movie character?
The funniest character has to be the one portrayed by Wesley Snipes in the movie, "Too Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar." He transforms into Noxeema Jackson, a drag queen on her way to California to compete in a Hollywood pageant along with characters portrayed by Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo. Three macho guys in gorgeous designer duds, and they pull it off with such finesse that you will be jealous they walk in heels better than you. The one-liners by Snipes will keep you in stitches. Rent this now!

Favorite joke?
This is a joke my best friend Nancy told me years ago. Please note that I am blonde, and so I am allowed to repeat this joke according to the blonde code of conduct manual.

A blonde calls 911.
“Quick! Please send the fire department! The house across the street is burning down!”
“Yes ma’am! Right away! We need to know where it is. How do we get there?”
“DUH! Big red truck?!?”

Special thanks to Jen for making us laugh and for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win "The Day I Wore My Panties Inside Out":

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 your funniest wrong-facing wardrobe moment? (Inside out, backwards, mismatched socks/shoes...anything goes!)
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 9th at midnight EST.