To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Random.org to pick SIX numbers.
Congrats to:
GRAND PRIZE: Book and Mug with the book logo!
14-Kristen (kly.327)
2nd Place: Book and Tote Bags with the book logo!
3-EmmaK
25-Nancye
3rd Place: Book and Charley's favorite candy!
2-Juliet Madison
8-Annie (swtiine)
29-Kim W.
Here's a message from Cindy Roesel:
“Viewer Discretion Advised” has been my baby for years. Well, now she’s taken her first little steps into the real world and I have all of you to thank for embracing her. I love being part of Chick Lit Central as a member, reviewer and now as a debut author. I’m so thrilled I was able to share my novel and that you chicks showed interest in participating in the contest to win a copy of the book and some extra goodies! I hope you’ll leave feedback on my website and tell me what you think. I want this to be the start of a very long relationship. Once again, thanks to Chick Lit Central for supporting the publication of “Viewer Discretion Advised” and congrats to the winners.
FYI: “Viewer Discretion Advised” will available on kindle later this week!
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 for participating and sharing what you'd like to see in chick lit novels.
Thanks to Cindy for being all around wonderful and for sharing her book and prizes with our winners.
Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Book Review: The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service
Just like the doggies in the window on the cover of THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE, you won’t be able to resist Beth Kendrick’s new novel of the same name. I’ve been writing reviews long enough for CLC that you should know by now I’m a dog fanatic, but if you don’t, well, I am. This book had me excited with the title, thrilled by the cover and once I started reading it, well, let’s just say, you have to go buy a copy immediately!
Lara Madigan rescues dogs finding loving homes for them. She’s essentially a matchmaker, fixing up four-legged canines with their two-legged soul mates. At the beginning of the novel, Lara’s engaged to Evan Walker who, surprisingly, isn’t thrilled to share his, excuse me, their, house with all the dogs. Despite the written contract Evan has signed with Lara promising to be a “dog person,” he is more of a people person. They are in love, but Evan regularly gets angry at all the dog toys, shedding and slobbering.
Lara soon moves out and in with her mother at mom’s ultra-fancy exclusive posh gated community where she soon becomes the Dog Doyenne to the “Real Housewives of Mayfair Estates” catering to their every canine need. Soon Lara’s training neighborhood dogs, getting a “flabrador” on a diet, and showing a Bernese mountain dog on the conformation circuit. The dogs even seem to take on personalities of their own. The reader soon recognizes Eskie, Mullet, Ivory, Cleo and Murphy. But before you think it’s all work and no play for Lara. That she’s destined to be the matchmaker and roam single, pairing up others, a rescue comes into her life that may bring her to her perfect match. This is THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE.
Beth Kendrick’s storytelling skills are delightfully tight. I love how she creates a cast of characters of super rich, neurotic, funny, likeable ladies, but at the same time places high value on the friendships amongst the women. Her wonderful coterie of characters is deliciously fleshed out. Beth, I do have to single you out for having a character who watched THE BOURNE IDENTITY at least 18 times. I think we are tied. Matt Damon is dreamy!
THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE and all Beth Kendrick’s novels are available on Amazon. You can find her Facebook and Twitter. We're also doing an interview with Beth this week, along with a giveaway (US only), so stay tuned!
More by Beth Kendrick:
Friday, April 27, 2012
What's in the mail today?
Melissa A:
From Lori Verni-Fogarsi:
"Momnesia"
From William Morrow:
"In the Bag" by Kate Klise (plus a cute luggage tag with the book cover on it)
"The Rock Star in Seat 3A" by Jill Kargman
From BookSparks PR:
"So Far Away" by Meg Mitchell Moore
From Kensington:
"The Reluctant Matchmaker" by Shobhan Bantwal
From Quercus:
"Alice Brown's Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating" by Eleanor Prescott
e-books:
From Samantha Stroh Bailey:
"Finding Lucas"
Kathryn got this too. It's currently 99 cents for Kindle!
From Wendy Levitt:
"At the Corner of Wall and Sesame"
Gail:
From Sourcebooks:
"I Have Iraq in My Shoe: Misadventures of a Soldier of Fashion" by Gretchen Berg
Kathryn:
From Simon and Schuster:
"Objects of my Affection" by Jill Smolinski
Becky:
From Penguin UK:
"A Rural Affair" by Catherine Alliott
From Random House UK:
"The Making of Us" by Lisa Jewell
From Little, Brown:
"This Is How It Ends" by Kathleen MacMahon
From HarperCollins UK:
"Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues" by Trisha Ashley
From Lori Verni-Fogarsi:
"Momnesia"
From William Morrow:
"In the Bag" by Kate Klise (plus a cute luggage tag with the book cover on it)
"The Rock Star in Seat 3A" by Jill Kargman
From BookSparks PR:
"So Far Away" by Meg Mitchell Moore
From Kensington:
"The Reluctant Matchmaker" by Shobhan Bantwal
From Quercus:
"Alice Brown's Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating" by Eleanor Prescott
e-books:
From Samantha Stroh Bailey:
"Finding Lucas"
Kathryn got this too. It's currently 99 cents for Kindle!
From Wendy Levitt:
"At the Corner of Wall and Sesame"
Gail:
From Sourcebooks:
"I Have Iraq in My Shoe: Misadventures of a Soldier of Fashion" by Gretchen Berg
Kathryn:
From Simon and Schuster:
"Objects of my Affection" by Jill Smolinski
Becky:
From Penguin UK:
"A Rural Affair" by Catherine Alliott
From Random House UK:
"The Making of Us" by Lisa Jewell
From Little, Brown:
"This Is How It Ends" by Kathleen MacMahon
From HarperCollins UK:
"Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues" by Trisha Ashley
Winners of "All the Difference"
To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Random.org to pick FIVE numbers.
Congrats to:
13-Sheena
20-Cher B
43-marybelle
53-Margaret (singitm)
69-Kat (k_duncan21)
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 for participating and talking time travel with us.
Thanks to Kaira for a fabulous interview and for sharing her book with our winners.
Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.
Congrats to:
13-Sheena
20-Cher B
43-marybelle
53-Margaret (singitm)
69-Kat (k_duncan21)
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 for participating and talking time travel with us.
Thanks to Kaira for a fabulous interview and for sharing her book with our winners.
Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Books of the Week--April 26th
Thanks for checking out our newest feature...Books of the Week! There are seven of us and we can't keep up with the many review requests we receive, even though we'd love to read everything sent our way. Therefore, we have decided to give some books their time in the spotlight and introduce you to them through this new blog feature. We will be featuring two books a week. We hope you will take the time to check these books out. (Click the titles to find them on Amazon.) If you read them and want to write a guest blogger review for us, please e-mail us and we'll be glad to work with you!
Authors: We will let you know whether or not we'll be able to review your book upon your request, and hope you'll be interested in this feature as an alternative.
"The Stork Reality"
By Malena Lott
What to expect when you’re expecting? For a career-driven couple that didn’t plan on having children, it’s a nine-month roller coaster ride.
Creative director Taylor Montgomery gets the surprise of her life when she finds out she’s pregnant the same day her best friend, Hilarie, finds out she’s not. Taylor never wanted to be a mom, but it’s all Hilarie has dreamed about. "The Stork Reality: Secrets from the Underbelly" updates the original novel about the journey to motherhood and how pregnancy changes marriage, work, and even close friendships. Taylor experiences the stork reality as she maneuvers the wild new world of moms-to-be and comes to terms with what it means to be a family.
This humorous, poignant novel will appeal to women and moms in all stages and celebrates that no two pregnancies, moms or approaches to motherhood are the same.
"The Stork Reality" is available for $2.99 on Kindle.
Visit Malena Lott on Facebook and Twitter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Escape" By Barbara Delinsky
One Friday morning, New York lawyer Emily finds she needs to escape. Escape from a suffocating job and a personal life that just hasn’t turned out the way she expected it to. She suddenly realises that she barely sees her husband James, let alone gives them a chance to discuss their unsuccessful attempts to start a family and how they feel about it. She’s been living a life and going through the motions without pausing for breath or reflection, or to work out whether it is the direction she wants to go in.
She walks out of the office, switches off her phone, packs a bag and leaves. She doesn’t even tell James she is going. But when a new path leads her back to her past and an old lover, suddenly life seems more complicated rather than less. Is she carving out a new life for herself, and where does that leave her marriage and everything she has left behind? Sometimes we all need to escape from something, but for Emily, she needs to remember who she is and how she got there in the first place. Sometimes we don’t quite know why we’re escaping until we’ve found where we should be instead.
Follow Barbara Delinsky on Twitter.
Authors: We will let you know whether or not we'll be able to review your book upon your request, and hope you'll be interested in this feature as an alternative.
By Malena Lott
What to expect when you’re expecting? For a career-driven couple that didn’t plan on having children, it’s a nine-month roller coaster ride.
Creative director Taylor Montgomery gets the surprise of her life when she finds out she’s pregnant the same day her best friend, Hilarie, finds out she’s not. Taylor never wanted to be a mom, but it’s all Hilarie has dreamed about. "The Stork Reality: Secrets from the Underbelly" updates the original novel about the journey to motherhood and how pregnancy changes marriage, work, and even close friendships. Taylor experiences the stork reality as she maneuvers the wild new world of moms-to-be and comes to terms with what it means to be a family.
This humorous, poignant novel will appeal to women and moms in all stages and celebrates that no two pregnancies, moms or approaches to motherhood are the same.
"The Stork Reality" is available for $2.99 on Kindle.
Visit Malena Lott on Facebook and Twitter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One Friday morning, New York lawyer Emily finds she needs to escape. Escape from a suffocating job and a personal life that just hasn’t turned out the way she expected it to. She suddenly realises that she barely sees her husband James, let alone gives them a chance to discuss their unsuccessful attempts to start a family and how they feel about it. She’s been living a life and going through the motions without pausing for breath or reflection, or to work out whether it is the direction she wants to go in.
She walks out of the office, switches off her phone, packs a bag and leaves. She doesn’t even tell James she is going. But when a new path leads her back to her past and an old lover, suddenly life seems more complicated rather than less. Is she carving out a new life for herself, and where does that leave her marriage and everything she has left behind? Sometimes we all need to escape from something, but for Emily, she needs to remember who she is and how she got there in the first place. Sometimes we don’t quite know why we’re escaping until we’ve found where we should be instead.
Follow Barbara Delinsky on Twitter.
Celebrating spring with Vanessa Diffenbaugh's "flowers," plus a book giveaway
 |
| Photo courtesy of Infinity Portrait Design |
**Giveaway is now closed**
Today, Vanessa Diffenbaugh is visiting us and we are celebrating the early April paperback release of her debut novel "The Language of Flowers" (reviewed here). Vanessa Diffenbaugh is a native Californian now residing in Massachusetts with her husband and three children. Aside from teaching arts programs to children living in low-income communities after completing her college degree, Vanessa is also the founder of the Camellia Foundation, which assists youth making the transition out of the foster care system.
To celebrate the paperback release of "The Language of Flowers, Random House is offering a copy to TWO lucky readers anywhere in the US.
To find out more about Vanessa visit her at her website, The Camellia Network, The Language of Flowers Pinterest Page, Facebook and Twitter pages.
Who are three authors who have inspired you?
Toni Morrison
Jeanette Winterson
Sandra Cisneros
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Peppermint
What inspired you to want to become a writer?
I have wanted to be a writer since my mom gave me my first diary when I was 6 years old. My first entry: I have 206 chicken pox!
If "The Language of Flowers" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Victoria: Jennifer Lawrence
Grant: Ryan Gosling
Elizabeth: Julianne Moore
Renata: Meryl Streep
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
Past—it would make research so much easier!
What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Find one or two writers (or readers) whose opinion you trust, let them read your work, and then listen to what they say. Really listen—even if (and especailly if) it is exactly the thing you don’t want to hear. Then go back to your draft, and keep working.
Characters really make the story for us. What 3 words would best describe your hero, and what about her called out to you and made you want to write her story?
I would describe Victoria as tough, resourceful, and loving (even though this last one she doesn’t believe about herself!). I wanted to tell her story because I wanted to explore what it is like to learn how to love and trust when you haven’t been loved as a child.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Eating ice cream in bed!
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Co-founding a non-profit, Camellia Network (camellianetwork.org) with a mission to create a national network that connects every youth aging out of foster care to the critical resources, opportunities and support they need to thrive in adulthood.
What project are you working on now?
I’m writing a new novel—stay tuned!
Special thanks to Vanessa for a lovely interview and to Random House for sharing "The Language of Flowers" with our readers.
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 favorite kind of flower?
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.
US only. Giveaway ends May 1st at midnight EST.
Book Review: True Love Way
Just about everything old is new again in Marlo Spencer’s life. She’s the Queen Bee of retro and the main character in Nancy Scrofano’s debut novel, TRUE LOVE WAY. She’s celebrating the renaissance of 50’s, 60’s & 70’s television, movies and collectibles in her cozy southern California apartment and trying to hook up with Josh, an old flame from the past, no matter how many lies and secrets get in the way.
That’s what kind of annoys me from the beginning. I mean, come on! He dumped you twelve years ago and you haven’t heard from him since! He ran off to Paris and now you want closure? Okay, I’ll give you that because you’re a really nice person and you have great friends and your BFF, Nik is going to protect you, even though you don’t recognize that he really likes you. And you did have a “pact” with Josh...if he returned, you would see him.
Nancy Scrofano intricately weaves complex relationship paths throughout TRUE LOVE WAY and that’s makes for interesting fiction. Some might seem predictable at first, but don’t be fooled. I’m not giving anything away.
In addition to celebrating Nancy’s novel, TRUE LOVE WAY, it’s the celebration of the new publishing house, Simon and Fig. TRUE LOVE WAY has been published by Simon and Fig, overseen by writer-turned publisher, Lucie Simone. This is her first project as a publisher and we wish her well. We wish them both good luck.
Both Nancy and Lucie can be found on their Facebook (Nancy/Lucie) and Twitter (Nancy/Lucie) pages and websites (Nancy/Lucie). TRUE LOVE WAY is available on Amazon and you can always find Nancy Scrofano at The Chick Lit Bee.
You might also like:
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Winners of "The Greatest Love Story of All Time"
To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Random.org to pick THREE numbers.
Congrats to:
21-Annie (swtiine)
41-BRN2SHOP9
65-StereoQueenBee
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 for participating and telling us the fun places to visit in your town. Thanks to Lucy for making us laugh and smile and to Penguin UK for sharing the books with our winners!
Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.
Congrats to:
21-Annie (swtiine)
41-BRN2SHOP9
65-StereoQueenBee
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 for participating and telling us the fun places to visit in your town. Thanks to Lucy for making us laugh and smile and to Penguin UK for sharing the books with our winners!
Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Getting discreet with Cindy Roesel...plus a fun giveaway!
We've said it before and we'll say it again...there's a celebrity in our midst! Yes, our very own review associate, Cindy Roesel, is an AUTHOR! She's no stranger to fame though, as she is also an Emmy award winning anchor, reporter and producer! Now she has a debut novel, "Viewer Discretion Advised," to add to her list of amazing accomplishments. Cindy lives in sunny Miami with her adorable shih tzu dog, Sassy. You can find her at her website, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
Not only is Cindy giving away SIX copies of her novel, but she also has some fun prizes to go along with it! And better yet...this giveaway is open worldwide!
GRAND PRIZE: A mug with the book logo along with the book
TWO 2nd place prizes: Tote bags with the book logo along with the book
THREE 3rd place prizes: Charley's favorite candy along with the book (Hint: It's also Melissa A's favorite candy)
What are your biggest motivations to write? What keeps you going?
First and foremost, I’m a storyteller. I just love telling stories. I enjoy observing people, overhearing their conversations and then adding my imagination and turning it all into narrative. A lot of that comes from having been a journalist for so long. You could say when it comes down to it, I’m really nosey!
What do you do when you get writer’s block?
I don’t believe in writer’s block. I write when I have to write. It may not be my best, but I do what I have to do. Actually, I refuse to acknowledge the possibility of its existence.
What kind of research did you do for "Viewer Discretion Advised?"
My fifteen year career as a journalist with deadlines has been the absolute best preparation for writing my novel, “Viewer Discretion Advised.” It continues to serve me well in my writing career.
Which authors have inspired you?
There have been so many authors who have inspired me. I believe it is important to read novels out loud. I love their stories, but I find reading Charles Dickens, Joseph Conrad and Flannery O’Connor out lout a treat for the rhythm and dialogue.
As far as contemporary writers, I’m blessed to be among so many exciting women (and a few men) chick-lit writers at CHICK LIT CENTRAL, especially for them making April 24th a special day to celebrate the publication of VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. Thanks to all of you for supporting me on this journey. I am humbled by this whole process.
Characters really make the story for us. What 3 words would best describe your heroine & what about her called out to you to write her story?
Charley is resilient, bright and loyal.
People at home watching the news may think they know the anchors they see on the screen, or what we in the business call the “talent.” But there’s a whole other world behind the camera. More than likely that person on TV is a lot different from the way she/he seems. There’s a bunch of people doing much of the work for that person. In some cases, the talent do nothing, but show up and read.
Charley is the News Director so she oversees both on-air and behind the scenes employees. She personifies a hardworking woman who does it all. She takes pride in her profession, getting the facts correct and not letting anything less than the best get on the air.
I thought it was important to write a character that fully showcased all aspects of Charley’s personality, the positive ones and her flaws. Charley is fair, but she won’t let anything get in the way of her goals for the sake of ratings. She finds herself at crisis with her values in her new position and that’s part of the conflict of the novel.
If "Viewer Discretion Advised" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
If it were to become a movie, that would be the most AMAZING THING IN THE WORLD!
When it comes to casting the movie, I’d like to see Claire Danes play Charley in the next three-five years. After that, I’d love to see Jennifer Lawrence play Charley. Beyond that I have absolutely no idea about casting! Maybe when people read the novel, they can leave casting ideas on CLC or my website!
What is your most unique trait or quirk?
I REALLY like peach diet snapple. The beverage guy at the supermarket orders the 2qt. size for me by the case. I actually have his number programmed on my phone.
What is your favorite month, and why?
APRIL. It’s my birthday and it’s when spring really blooms. It’s the whole concept of seasonal rebirth and renewal which resonates within me.
What is your theme song?
I WILL SURVIVE by Gloria Gaynor (nothing could be cheesier but more perfect)
Since you obviously read a lot of chick lit, what theme would you like to see more of in chick lit novels to give them an original flair?
I’d like to see more of the tough issues many of us are facing in our daily lives reflected in chick-lit books. Amy Hatvany has done that well with her novels without making them too dramatic, and now she’s signed a new three-book deal. She’s been able to incorporate both alcoholism and mental illness into her previous books and still produce what is considered chick-lit. A lot of us have aging parents with early on-set dementia or Alzheimer’s, even serious financial issues. These are some contemporary issues I’d like to see tackled. But the bottom line is, as long as there is something for all readers and that seems to be the case, it’s a win-win for both the readers and the writers. So, everyone is happy and ultimately, that is our goal!
Special thanks to Cindy for all the support she's given to CLC with her awesome reviews and for sharing her novel with us and her cool prizes with our readers.
Just tell us what theme would you like to see more of in chick lit novels to give them an original flair. (One entry per person.) Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you should win.
Giveaway ends April 29th at midnight EST.
Book Review: A Surrey State of Affairs
Constance Harding (please don’t call her Connie) is a 53-year-old “Home Counties” housewife living in Surrey, England. She is part of the upper crust (think Upper East Side in New York) and spends her time, when she isn’t meddling in people’s lives, as part of her church bell ringing ensemble, as well as volunteering with Church Flowers. With encouragement from her son Rupert (in perhaps an attempt to divert his mother’s attention to things other than his private life), Constance begins a blog detailing the daily happenings in her life, including her frustrations with Rupert (25), daughter Sophie (18), and husband Jeffrey. Over the course of the year that readers follow Constance, her world gets shaken up and she learns that life is full of surprises.
Ceri Radford, Assistant Comment Editor for The Telegraph in the UK, first brought the character of Constance Harding to life in a fictional blog in 2008, where she pretended to be Constance. As a result of strong reader response, as well as developing an affinity for fiction, Ms. Radford turned the blog into the full-fledged novel that is now “A Surrey State of Affairs.” It is certainly one of the most creative and unique ways of bringing a novel to fruition. It is completely written in a blog style and follows Constance throughout one, rather tumultuous at times, year in her life. As a character, I found it difficult to relate to Constance and was actually not very fond of her in the beginning. She came across as pretentious and very hoity-toity, too concerned with what is “proper” (which apparently involves men wearing cufflinks). However, aware that this may perhaps stem from a personal bias, I kept an open mind and continued reading. I was rewarded for my persistence, as Constance eventually grew on me. As a side note, I would never last in high society because expectations and rules of conduct would drive me insane, which may be why I enjoyed Sophie, who also seems to shirk the nuances of high class society. If I had to describe Constance in one word, it would most definitely be: clueless. The reader is guaranteed to know pivotal information way before she does due to her uncanny ability to not see what is going on in front of her. At times, it is almost sad how oblivious she is to the things going on. In many ways though, it is this same naivety that makes her endearing and charming. Despite first impressions of Constance, I did find that her strongest redeeming quality is that she honestly wants the best for those around her and loves her family very much, although her attempts at meddling often backfire in humourous ways. I do wish that there had been more of Rupert and Sophie, as these were the characters I was most fond of.
As a whole, I enjoyed the story but am unsure about the use of the “blog” as a storytelling device. I cannot pinpoint exactly what it was about the format that didn’t feel comfortable to me; it may simply be that I’m just more traditional. My only other point of query is the realism that a woman who comes from a background with aristocratic ties would actually write a blog for strangers to read. It didn’t seem to jive with my perception of Constance, although, that perception, of course, may not be the same as the author’s.
Ms. Radford originally created Constance as a satirical commentary on current events, but has managed to turn the character into a more fully developed traditional woman finding her way through the modern world. This is definitely worth your time so pick it up at your nearest bookstore (virtual or otherwise)!
You might also like:
Monday, April 23, 2012
Winner of "The Wedding Beat"
To find our winner, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Random.org to choose one number. It chose 35.
Congrats to Bonnie (bluedawn95864)!
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 for participating and telling us your favorite wedding stories (or for helping Devan cast the movie version.) Thanks to Devan for a fabulous chat and to Penguin Books for sharing "The Wedding Beat" with our winner!
Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.
Congrats to Bonnie (bluedawn95864)!
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 for participating and telling us your favorite wedding stories (or for helping Devan cast the movie version.) Thanks to Devan for a fabulous chat and to Penguin Books for sharing "The Wedding Beat" with our winner!
Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.
The newest addition to CLC
You've probably seen a new face on our Facebook page recently, either posting some of our regular items (giveaways, birthday announcements, etc.) or coming up with fun chick lit questions for all of us to answer. Her name is Tracey Meyers and she's our special features coordinator. She'll be helping us out on Facebook and Pinterest, as well as starting some new projects for our group, such as a book club. She's also our resident "memoir junkie" and will be reviewing various memoirs throughout the year. Her latest review was for "Let's Pretend this Never Happened" by Jenny Lawson. Get to know Tracey a little better and stop by her blog when you have a chance! You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter, but she has some privacy settings in place.
Three of your favourite chick lit authors:
Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, and Meg Cabot. I'm also a fan of Jane Green.
Chick lit novel you want to see on the big screen:
"Boy Meets Girl" by Meg Cabot would be hilarious.
Something about you that would surprise people:
I enjoy skydiving and other similar extreme activities. I pay attention to sports and enjoy going to various sporting events. Also, the fact that I enjoy reading seems to surprise some that have known me my whole life.
Some of your hobbies:
I enjoy running and participate in various races. I also enjoy knitting, and have way more knowledge about yarn than I could have every imagined I would. Watching sports, surfing the web, catching up on my favorite TV shows and watching movies. I also love to write!
Favorite place to vacation:
I don't necessarily have a favorite place to travel to. I enjoy traveling, but haven't gotten the chance to in the past couple of years. I would especially like to explore various places overseas. In the past I've been to England, Ireland and Israel. One day I'd like to go to France, Italy, Australia, Vancouver B.C. and Spain. (Just to name a few places.)
Three of your favourite chick lit authors:
Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, and Meg Cabot. I'm also a fan of Jane Green.
Chick lit novel you want to see on the big screen:
"Boy Meets Girl" by Meg Cabot would be hilarious.
Something about you that would surprise people:
I enjoy skydiving and other similar extreme activities. I pay attention to sports and enjoy going to various sporting events. Also, the fact that I enjoy reading seems to surprise some that have known me my whole life.
Some of your hobbies:
I enjoy running and participate in various races. I also enjoy knitting, and have way more knowledge about yarn than I could have every imagined I would. Watching sports, surfing the web, catching up on my favorite TV shows and watching movies. I also love to write!
Favorite place to vacation:
I don't necessarily have a favorite place to travel to. I enjoy traveling, but haven't gotten the chance to in the past couple of years. I would especially like to explore various places overseas. In the past I've been to England, Ireland and Israel. One day I'd like to go to France, Italy, Australia, Vancouver B.C. and Spain. (Just to name a few places.)
Book Review: Down to Earth
Imagine waking up in the morning, saying goodbye to your loved ones as they head off to start their days, and then going on a parachute jump. Sounds like an average day, right? Think again. Imagine landing from the jump in another day, time and place than where you started. And think of how you'd feel if everyone accused you of abandoning them when you just saw them earlier that morning! If you can do that, then you will totally be able to relate to Michaela Anderson, the heroine of Melanie Rose's latest novel, "Down to Earth."
Michaela goes on a parachute jump with some co-workers in the spring of 2002. As she is in the middle of her jump, a gust of wind sweeps her up and she lands in the autumn of 2008! There are posters declaring her missing and everyone is angry with her for disappearing and not telling them where she went. Michaela has to figure out where the last six-and-a-half years went so that she can piece the rest of her life together. With the help of an attractive pilot and his science obsessed friend, she gets closer and closer to the truth of her mysterious disappearance. And what she finds will shake up everything she believed to be true in the world.
When I first heard the premise of this novel, I knew I just had to read it. I love stories about time travel, either related to some crazy scientific experiment or because of amnesia. Thanks to HarperCollins UK, I was given the opportunity to read and review this, and I found a new author to like at the same time! Once I picked up "Down to Earth," it was nearly impossible to put down! The premise was so different from the amnesia themed novels I have been enjoying. This is because Michaela doesn't have amnesia. At least she doesn't think she does. She was in the air one moment and had landed in a different time at the next. It was pretty mind-boggling to say the least. I was theorizing along with Michaela and everyone else as to what could have caused her disappearance. It was just so fascinating. She kept finding all these surprises along the way, as well. It was enough to keep me at the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. I really liked all the supporting characters in her life, even when I wasn't sure I'd initially like them. They didn't take away from her story, but instead added to it. I wanted to see her foster these relationships, even when a huge dilemma was involved. Like the title of the novel, Michaela was extremely down to earth. She didn't act superficial or silly. She was very easy to like and relate to. I like how she always tried to do the right thing, regardless of whether it was also right for her or not.
As much as I didn't want to have anything to criticize about this story, I did find some little things bothersome. I felt like the main reason leading to her disappearance was kind of dropped after it had been a mystery for so long. It was investigated, but then it was pretty much accepted and nothing more was really said after that. I guess I was looking for something more definitive. I also felt like a lot of the scientific and spiritual discussions went over my head and I tended to zone out during those parts. There was also something involved with a numbers sequence that seemed a bit inaccurate, unless Ms. Rose was writing it in the perspective of the person who made that discovery. Perhaps this character had some misinformation?
Overall, "Down to Earth" was a great story and I enjoyed being swept up in it the same way Michaela was swept up by the gale of wind! Even though it wrapped up a bit neatly, I felt there were so many directions it could go that I still was surprised by the ending. If you haven't read any of Ms. Roses' novels, I definitely recommend you start with this one. And if you have read and liked her other novels, you won't be disappointed by this one! I know I can't wait to read her other novels now!
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Friday, April 20, 2012
What's in the mail today?
Melissa A:
From Cindy:
Amy got this too.
From St. Martin's Press:
From Penguin:
e-books:
Free from Amazon:
From Hal Katkov:
Amy:
From Hyperion:
Kathryn:
From BlackBear Media:
Becky:
From Penguin UK:
From Cindy:
Amy got this too.
From St. Martin's Press:
From Penguin:
e-books:
Free from Amazon:
From Hal Katkov:
Amy:
From Hyperion:
Kathryn:
From BlackBear Media:
Becky:
From Penguin UK:
Kaira Rouda has made a difference in the world of chick lit and has a book to give away!
Today we welcome back best selling author Kaira Rouda and her second novel "All The Difference," which came out on March 19th of this year. Kaira Rouda is an award-winning entrepreneur and author. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four kids and is at work on her next novel. She’s a social media addict and would love to connect with you on her website, Facebook and Twitter page. She also has an e-novella, "Mother's Day," available for 99 cents on Kindle.
Kaira has FIVE digital copies of "All The Difference" to share with some lucky readers anywhere in the world. We're also part of CLP Blog Tours, which has another giveaway to win a $10 Amazon gift card!
How did you celebrate when your first book, "Here, Home, Hope," was published?
Oh my goodness, I think I am still celebrating! We had a big launch party at this special store in Malibu called Room at the Beach. There was a huge silent auction benefitting one of my favorite charities – Human Rights Watch. A fabulous caterer donated passed hors d’oeuvres and wine was flowing. The weather was perfect and all in all, it was a magical evening. Next up, a summer spent visiting bookstores and friends in 22 states. Yes, you read that right. I think I will call it the mother of all book tours. At least it was for me! I had a blast reconnecting with old friends, meeting new ones and visiting so many awesome book stores. What a summer!
And all of that, was just last summer.
Now, with the release of my second book, I’m still celebrating, but it’s in a more quiet manner so far. We’ve moved to a new city, and I’ve been focused on settling my kids in school and finding my way around. I don’t have a big group of friends locally to celebrate with, so I’ve been enjoying online celebrations. It’s as if I’ve been having a virtual book launch party this time around. By the next book, IN THE MIRROR, I’ll be ready for another big splash, I hope!
Who are your favorite authors of all time?
That’s such a tough question, as you know, because authors, by nature are big readers so I’ll discover a new author to love at any moment. Classic favorites include: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Susan Isaacs, Jennifer Weiner, Jenna Blum, Amy Hatvany, Robert McCloskey, Sara Paretsky, Truman Capote….well, you know, I could just keep going.
How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
I am a go with the writer. I tried to outline once and well, that just through everything off. I am rather odd in that the title is usually the first thing that pops into my head about the story and then everything follows. The writing – the flow – is the most amazing part of this whole journey I am on right now. I love it when my characters take over and direct the story. I should say, most of the time. Sometimes, a few have gone rogue and you have to pull them back.
Can you tell us what the most difficult scene to write in "All The Difference" was, and how you got through it?
While I was writing "All The Difference," our house was being remodeled. Larry, an electrician, was over working on some things and I casually asked him about the gas grill and how often they explode. I asked him a few more questions. He got a really strange look on his face and suddenly said he had to leave for lunch. He thought I was planning to bump off my husband; I was just hoping for some research help.
"All The Difference" is quite different from "Here, Home, Hope," as it has murder, suspense, it’s told in third person from multiple perspectives and there’s one, unnamed voice with a very sad past who haunts the story throughout. I can’t name the hardest scene to write, but I do know writing the unnamed woman’s story was the saddest. I feel the emotions of the character while I’m writing her sections; and if you read the book, you’ll understand why I felt sorry for her
If "All The Difference" was made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Ha! These are the best questions to imagine. Laura would be played by Rachel McAdams; Angie would be played by Emily Blunt and Ellen would be played by Eva Longoria. Maddie would be played by Kristen Stewart and Janet would be played by Jamie Lee Curtis. Hey, an author can dream, right?
Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so what do you do to work around it?
Of course. My work around is to get up and do something. I love walking on the beach – especially with my dogs. That’ll clear your mind and get the creativity back on track.
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
My favorite books from early childhood were written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey, especially Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal. Later on, I moved to Little House series, The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew and all the typical kids’ series. I also loved poetry, especially Emily Dickinson.
If you could travel in a time machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
I wouldn’t. I’d stay right now – I’m having the best time of my life.
If you could take us on a tour of where you live in Laguna Beach, CA where would we go first?
Oh gosh, that’s such a fabulous question and there is so much to see here! I’m new, so I’m discovering places and adventures every day. It’s funny, we lived in the Midwest – Columbus, Ohio – for more than 20 years before moving to the West Coast. We would vacation in Laguna Beach and now I pinch myself because I’m actually living where I would visit on holiday. Where to start? We’d meet at Main Beach and enjoy the ocean for as long as we wanted. As I mentioned, it’s my favorite place to be. Next, we’d walk across the street and be in the heart of the most charming seaside village you’ve ever seen. Great restaurants and shops abound. Once you visit, like me, you’ll never want to leave!
Any advice you can share the aspiring authors out there?
Write.Almost every day I meet someone who says she has a book, or her story is a book, or she wants to write a book. My advice: start writing. Read books by authors you admire, especially in the similar genre to what you’d like to write. Take classes, go to workshops, go listen when another author has an event at your local bookstore. But whatever you do, write.
Special thanks to Kaira for visiting with us and sharing her latest novel with our readers.
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: If you could travel in a time machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
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 April 25th at midnight EST.
Book Review: Surprise Me!
What do you get when you combine fabulously funny characters, a whirlwind romance, heartbreak, and emotional eating? You get the recipe for a wonderful and enlightening novel, "Surprise Me!" by Nancy Goodman.
Genie Burns is the founder of Surprise Enterprise, an event planning company she runs with business partner Stephen, which provides surprise parties in unique settings. Genie is convinced that she is destined to end up with her best guy friend Danny (if only she could feel romantically towards him), until the fateful day she meets Jeff at a coffee shop. Thus begins a romance that sweeps Genie off her feet, but soon becomes anything but simple. Finding herself unable to understand or control her over-indulgence in food, Genie is faced with a difficult path as she confronts past hurts and must make the ultimate decision about her relationship.
Nancy Goodman first had literary success with the self-help guide “It Was Food vs. Me...and I Won.” She cleverly uses the fiction novel as a means to reach out to a wider audience with her insightful message about conquering emotional eating. Ms. Goodman does a fantastic job at bringing the characters to life. Genie is so completely flawed, but it is understandable considering her past. She is written in such a way that the reader is able to empathize without being overwhelmed with pity. I found myself analyzing her and why she has her particular fears and need for control (the amateur Dr. Phil in me, for example, sees that a surprise party planner who doesn’t like surprises for herself and appears to have traits of OCD makes sense when considering that she likely wants to control her surroundings after experiencing a situation at such a young age where she had absolutely no control).
As supporting characters, I loved Stephen and Lori, who are welcome comic relief; I found myself laughing at so many of the things they say. I also loved Stephen’s blunt manner when calling Genie out on her “stuff.” I think we all could benefit from having someone like him in our lives. I enjoyed Genie and Jeff’s relationship at the beginning, but found it heartbreaking as it played out. I give my kudos to Ms. Goodman for her ability to take the reader along on the roller coaster ride. I was able to relate to Genie’s struggle in not wanting to end her relationship but also knowing that it was not necessarily healthy. I believe that most readers will be able to identify with this dilemma and therefore connect with Genie. The best characters, after all, tend to be the ones that you can see in yourself. As a final note, I knew who the surprise was for at the big reveal (I’m one of those people who revels in figuring these things out) but wasn’t sure who was planning it. I liked that I was surprised and felt satisfied by the way things turned out.
Overall, Ms. Goodman is an outstanding storyteller. My only issue is that I sometimes felt like I was being hit over the head with the message about learning to control emotional eating. I understand that this is an important issue that is close to Ms. Goodman’s heart, so I don’t want to sound disparaging. Sometimes, though, subtlety works best. I do hope that on her next fiction endeavour, Ms. Goodman does not put such an emphasis on this topic.
If you’re looking for a novel with realistic characters, an engaging story, and one that also sheds light on an issue so many women struggle with, this is the one for you. Happy reading!
"Surprise Me!" is currently available for $2.99 for Kindle.
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Thursday, April 19, 2012
Books of the Week-April 19th
Thanks for checking out our newest feature...Books of the Week! There are seven of us and we can't keep up with the many review requests we receive, even though we'd love to read everything sent our way. Therefore, we have decided to give some books their time in the spotlight and introduce you to them through this new blog feature. We will be featuring two books a week. We hope you will take the time to check these books out. (Click the titles to find them on Amazon.) If you read them and want to write a guest blogger review for us, please e-mail us and we'll be glad to work with you!
Authors: We will let you know whether or not we'll be able to review your book upon your request, and hope you'll be interested in this feature as an alternative.
"The Divorced Lady's Companion to Living in Italy"
By Catherine McNamara
Marilyn Wade, half-Hungarian divorcee and mother of unflinching teens, moves to Milan to remap her womanhood. But sexy glamorous Milan is about as unfeeling as a Prada bag. The streets are full of mile-high models, immigrants and remarkable men in suits. Who will she meet as she acquires a taste for grappa-laced espresso in bars and learns Italian in a room with George Clooney?
Marilyn’s entanglements involve punishing grammar lessons, stolen D&G heels and kisses with astonishing views, a kinky Hong Kong benefactor and a stirring love scene set in Venice. Will she ever find herself and a way to conjugate Italian verbs?
Visit Catherine McNamara on Facebook and Twitter.
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"The Book Club Cookbook" (2012 edition)
By Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp
Whether it's Roman Punch for "The Age of Innocence," or Sabzi Challow (spinach and rice) with Lamb for "The Kite Runner," or Swedish Meatballs and Glogg for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," nothing spices up a book club meeting like great eats. Featuring recipes and discussion ideas from bestselling authors and book clubs around the country, this fully revised and updated edition of the classic book guides readers in selecting and preparing culinary masterpieces that blend perfectly with the literary masterpieces their club is reading.
Find "The Book Club Cookbook" on Facebook and Twitter.
Authors: We will let you know whether or not we'll be able to review your book upon your request, and hope you'll be interested in this feature as an alternative.
"The Divorced Lady's Companion to Living in Italy"By Catherine McNamara
Marilyn Wade, half-Hungarian divorcee and mother of unflinching teens, moves to Milan to remap her womanhood. But sexy glamorous Milan is about as unfeeling as a Prada bag. The streets are full of mile-high models, immigrants and remarkable men in suits. Who will she meet as she acquires a taste for grappa-laced espresso in bars and learns Italian in a room with George Clooney?
Marilyn’s entanglements involve punishing grammar lessons, stolen D&G heels and kisses with astonishing views, a kinky Hong Kong benefactor and a stirring love scene set in Venice. Will she ever find herself and a way to conjugate Italian verbs?
Visit Catherine McNamara on Facebook and Twitter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp
Whether it's Roman Punch for "The Age of Innocence," or Sabzi Challow (spinach and rice) with Lamb for "The Kite Runner," or Swedish Meatballs and Glogg for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," nothing spices up a book club meeting like great eats. Featuring recipes and discussion ideas from bestselling authors and book clubs around the country, this fully revised and updated edition of the classic book guides readers in selecting and preparing culinary masterpieces that blend perfectly with the literary masterpieces their club is reading.
Find "The Book Club Cookbook" on Facebook and Twitter.
Only the "greatest" for Lucy Robinson, plus a book giveaway
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| From Eva Bell Photography |
**Giveaway is now closed**
Lucy Robinson grew up in England, where she initially decided to be an actor, until she arrived at University and realized that she was somewhat lacking in talent. She took it in stride, and turned her attention to working first in theatre production and then on documentaries. As her career escalated, her love life did exactly the opposite. Rather than take this in stride as well, she chose to begin blogging about the ridiculousness that was her love life in 2009. Everything blew up from there. People adored her blog so much that she found herself being advised to write a novel, and then offered a publishing deal! After finishing her first novel ("The Greatest Love Story of All Time") while living in Buenos Aires, she wrote another while travelling around South America (no title as yet, TBP Jan 2013). We can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!!!
Thanks to Penguin UK, we have THREE copies of "The Greatest Love Story of All Time" to share with some lucky readers ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!
You can find Lucy at her aforementioned blog, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
Too much! While editing my second novel and starting my third I’m working on two TV documentaries; one for the BBC and one project of my own. I play in an orchestra once a week, I’m getting back into exercise after two years of travelling (somewhat challenging, that bit . . .) and I’m also involved in a mentoring scheme. Oh and my boyfriend and I are in the middle of a ghastly DIY project that is taking months! Oh dear. I would have preferred it if my answer included words like ‘massage’ and ‘weekend minibreaks’ and ‘cooking for friends’ and other such aspirational activities. One day, maybe . . .
Which authors have inspired you?
Actually I’d never really read any chicklit before I wrote "The Greatest Love Story of All Time." It was a totally personal attempt and all things considered I’m very lucky it worked. Now though I try to read chicklit as often as possible as I have a lot to learn from my contemporaries. I think Marian Keyes is queen of the genre for a very good reason – she’s streets ahead. So engaging, warm and funny; her characters are so simply but brilliantly drawn. I also recently discovered Lucy-Ann Holmes who I find absolutely hilarious – her language is as atrocious as mine. Nice to have a bit of solidarity there.
What did you do to celebrate when first published?
Unfortunately, due to being far too busy, I’ve been unable to find time to organise the fabulous Sex and The City-style launch party that I wanted (I was going to throw a big, glamorous Gin Thursday) but hopefully things will calm down in the summer and I can attempt it then. My celebrations when I got the book deal were also a bit low-key for my liking – I was in the middle of moving to Argentina and once again, I didn’t have time to celebrate. When I got the call from my agent I was sitting in a field with my horse, saying goodbye to her. So I gave her a hug and some carrots and then she wandered off: that was it. Not very glamorous.
How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
I’d say a mixture of both. My third novel has probably been more heavily-planned than the other two but that’s because it’s more ambitious in scope. Being a control freak I feel a lot safer if I’ve got a clear plan mapped out but I’m learning that it really doesn’t work like that. As the characters come to life, they start telling the story themselves. So as often as not I’ll literally watch my hands typing things; starting big new plot twists apparently without consulting me. Those sorts of developments are the best, in my experience. Totally spontaneous and straight from the characters’ mouth.
Can you tell us what the most difficult scene to write in "The Greatest Love Story of All Time" was, and how you got through it?
The first scene was the hardest by a long shot - it was awful! I’d been roughly planning the storyline in my head for a few weeks and had eventually decided to start writing one Sunday evening just before Christmas. I went off to bed with my laptop (I do a lot of writing in bed) and was all fired up and ready to go and then...nothing. Panic! After about an hour of paralysis I went back to the sitting room where my housemate Kieran was watching TV. “I can’t write this novel,” I cried. He made me tea and fed me biscuits and sent me back to my room looking slightly afraid. After another agonising hour I decided to start writing about the main character and as soon as I wrote down the name ‘Fran’ I was away. I wrote pages about her and her life and what goes on in her head. Once I had that, it was easy. That’s how I’ve started both the second and third novels too. Character first, story second.
If "The Greatest Love Story of All Time" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
I made a trailer for the book recently so I had to cast actors to play Leonie, Stefania and Dave which was quite odd – I felt very protective over those three and was quite sure I’d never find anyone who felt right. (Fortunately, I was wrong! You can watch the trailer here) But my fantasy famous cast… Well, for Dave, it’s easy. I was watching Hotel Rwanda a few months ago and suddenly in wandered Joaquin Phoenix with a mop of unruly hair and piercing blue eyes with a fag (cigarette) in one hand and a news camera in the other. Good looking but in an unusual, rugged way. He was wearing an old T-shirt and had scruffy trainers on and I nearly passed out with excitement. I sent my friend a crazed message about having found Dave and she thought I was having an affair or something. But for the others characters, I really, honestly don’t know. I’m hoping your readers might make some suggestions!
What is your favourite birthday memory?
2011, my 31st, was pretty good. I was in the middle of travelling up the Argentinian Andes but when I got to Bariloche I took an overnight bus back to Buenos Aires to go and spend my birthday with the friends I’d made while living there. My friends made me late breakfast, then I had a skype with The Man who had locked himself into a meeting room at work and was having champagne and cake on my behalf. He paid for my friends and I to go for lovely lunch at Helena, my favourite café, and then we went vintage shopping. That night I had a big Asado (BBQ) and, after eating several tonnes of the world’s best steak, we went dancing until 4am which I thought was quite impressive given my advanced years. It was odd not to be at home but as foreign birthdays go it was about as lovely a day as I could have imagined.
What TV show, book, or movie reminds you most of your own life?
Writing a book has made me realise that most books/films/tv shows involve a heightened version of reality which (thank goodness) bears little relation to real life. I always wanted my life to resemble something I'd seen in a film and used to feel like I was getting it wrong, somehow, when it wasn’t all drama and madness and ecstasy. I remember when I met my boyfriend, The Man, panicking on the phone to a friend about the fact that I wasn’t having a heart attack or spontaneously breaking into poetic verse/song/dance – but as she pointed out, healthy relationships (and normal life) just aren’t like that! They’re slow, gentle and, however lovely they might be, they’re imperfect. So nowadays I’m quite happy not to resemble a story line from Friends or "Bridget Jones's Diary."
If you could take us on a tour of your town, where would we go first?
We'd start at The Breakfast Club in Camden Passage, Islington, London. It is a tiny little place that wins the Lucy Robinson prize for best breakfast AND best tunes in London. I'd treat you to an outrageously good plate of egg-related deliciousness and then we'd mince around Camden Passage looking at antiques and old books and posh food in gorgeous little cafes. We'd probably buy some vintage clothing and then - if I'm being realistic - we'd go back to the Breakfast Club for lunch.
Funniest thing that happened to you recently?
I was on a bus a few days ago and a couple of yoofs (sic) got on and sat behind me. They commenced bitching about a girl from their school who, it seemed clear, they didn't like. Then one of them came out with "Man, she is MOIST. She is MOISTER THAN WATER." Grammar aside, I was doubled over with laughter by the sheer absurdity of this expression. But I of course got straight on my iPhone, like the old Granny that I am, and consulted the Urban Dictionary. It turns out that being moist involves being uninformed and generally idiotic/embarrassing. Wow. I'm not sure I'll be taking that one into my next novel.
Special thanks to Lucy for visiting with us and making us laugh and to Penguin UK for sharing Lucy's book with our readers.
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 we should do if we were to visit the town where you live.
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 April 24th at midnight EST.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Winners of "The Song Remains the Same"
To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Random.org to choose THREE numbers.
Congrats to:
54-Lilian
100-StereoQueenBee
127-Crystal (capatenaude)
Here's a message from Allison Winn Scotch:
Hi guys,
Thank you so much for taking the time to enter the contest and possibly even pick up (and read!) the book. I've been doing this for a long time now, and I understand how busy we are all these days. We have kids, we have reality TV, we have US Weekly. There isn't always time to foster our love of reading, so I am truly indebted and beyond grateful to those of you who still remember that getting lost in a book is better than a Randy Jackson "you go dawg," critique, and almost always more satisfying than a new Brangelina cover story. It may NOT be more satisfying than spending time with your kids, but eventually, bless their hearts, they pass out in bed, which leaves you with time just for you. So THANK YOU readers, who choose to read in that YOU time. I mean it. There is nothing more valuable to an author than a reader, and I am grateful to each and every one of you.
Allison
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 for participating and sharing your favorite songs with us.
Thanks to Allison for a wonderful interview and to Penguin Books for sharing her book with our winners!
Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.
Congrats to:
54-Lilian
100-StereoQueenBee
127-Crystal (capatenaude)
Here's a message from Allison Winn Scotch:
Hi guys,
Thank you so much for taking the time to enter the contest and possibly even pick up (and read!) the book. I've been doing this for a long time now, and I understand how busy we are all these days. We have kids, we have reality TV, we have US Weekly. There isn't always time to foster our love of reading, so I am truly indebted and beyond grateful to those of you who still remember that getting lost in a book is better than a Randy Jackson "you go dawg," critique, and almost always more satisfying than a new Brangelina cover story. It may NOT be more satisfying than spending time with your kids, but eventually, bless their hearts, they pass out in bed, which leaves you with time just for you. So THANK YOU readers, who choose to read in that YOU time. I mean it. There is nothing more valuable to an author than a reader, and I am grateful to each and every one of you.
Allison
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 for participating and sharing your favorite songs with us.
Thanks to Allison for a wonderful interview and to Penguin Books for sharing her book with our winners!
Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Rockin' to Devan Sipher's "beat," plus a book giveaway
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| Photo by Stacey Luftig |
Today we welcome Devan Sipher and his debut novel "The Wedding Beat." Devan grew up in Southfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. He graduated from the University of Michigan and received a master of fine arts degree at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. For the past five years Devan has been a writer of the "Vows" column at The New York Times.
Courtesy of Penguin we have one copy of "The Wedding Beat" to giveaway to some lucky reader anywhere in the US.
Visit Devan at his website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
Who are three authors who have inspired you?
There are so many authors who have inspired me. From John Irving to Jane Austen. If there was one book I would particularly recommend for readers on this site, it would be "Marjorie Morningstar" by Herman Wouk. That’s already three names, but the three authors who probably had the most influence on "The Wedding Beat" are Helen Fielding, Jonathan Tropper, and Sarah Dunn.
What is your usual writing routine?
Eat. Pray. Sleep.
How did you celebrate your book deal?
A friend took me out for Chinese food and a Woody Allen movie. Which sounds like a punchline in a Woody Allen movie.
If "The Wedding Beat" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
If it were up to me, I’d want Jason Segel or Paul Rudd cast as Gavin. As I wrote the book, I pictured Sarah Jessica Parker as Melinda, but that’s because I had a crush on her since I was about 12. Anne Hathaway (in her curly-haired mode) would be dream casting. And if Emmy Rossum was just a little older, and I was a little younger. Oh, wait, that’s the answer to a different question.
What TV show, book, or movie reminds you most of your own life?
I’d like to say “Sex and the City” or “Entourage,” but I think it’s more “So You Think You Can Dance?” Every day’s a challenge to be met.
Characters really make the story for us. What three words would best describe your hero, and what about him called out to you and made you want to write his story?
Romantic. Enthusiastic. And hopeful. That’s how I would describe Gavin, and that’s what was appealing about telling his story. He’s also pretty funny (even when he doesn’t intend to be).
Who was (or still is) your childhood crush?
SJP now and always. There was a girl in seventh grade who broke my heart and who looked a lot like her.
How did you decide to write chick lit?
I have to confess, I’ve always been a sucker for chick lit and chick flicks. Even before the names existed. As a kid, I read Erica Jong and Judith Krantz right along with J.R.R. Tolkien and Ian Fleming. And Bridget Jones’s Diary is one of my all-time favorite books and movies.
Do you base characters on yourself?
For six years, I was a single guy writing about weddings at The New York Times, so there’s more than a little bit of me in Gavin, the protagonist of "The Wedding Beat." But I’m in all the characters to some degree. That’s the fun of fiction. I get to be a little schizophrenic in a socially acceptable way.
Is there anything you would like to ask our readers?
Yes! I want to know who you would cast in the movie. And what was the best wedding you ever attended?
Special thanks to Devan for his fun answers and to Penguin for sharing "The Wedding Beat" with our readers.
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. Answer ONE of Devan's questions (movie casting choice or best wedding). You could answer both, but no extra points given.
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.
US only. Giveaway ends April 22nd at midnight EST.