On the set with Samantha Stroh Bailey, plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today, we are pleased to introduce you to Samantha Stroh Bailey. Her debut novel, "Finding Lucas," is NOT about finding a DVD of the Corey Haim film from the 1980's. It is about finding a lost love and is available for $2.99 on Kindle. Based on e-mails alone, I can attest that she is extremely nice. I hope you will enjoy getting to know her better. You can start by finding her on Facebook and Twitter and visiting her blog.

Samantha Stroh Bailey has been a writer ever since she could pick up a pen. In fact, she even sent her first manuscript, "Freddy the Flame," to publishers when she was ten years old. Sadly, it was rejected, but a passionate novelist was born. After 15 years of teaching ESL to adults, including at the University of Toronto, she decided to live her dreams of being a fulltime writer and editor. Now the owner of Perfect Pen Communications, she not only gets to write novels, but also writes and edits for magazines, websites, businesses, students and other writers. Her work has appeared in Now Magazine, The Village Post, Oxford University Press, Abilities Magazine, on mommyish.com and many other publications. Samantha also has a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics.  She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

Even though Samantha's book isn't about the Lucas who became a high school football player, she's here to chat about movies with us. She also has FIVE e-books of "Finding Lucas" to give away to some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

Favorite romantic movie:
My favorite romantic movie has got to be Reality Bites. I was mad for Ethan Hawke— his dirty hair, bad attitude and slacker lifestyle. The movie came out just as I was graduating from university so I could totally identify with the characters and their angst. I loved that it was funny, snarky and original. But a close second is the little known film Nina Takes a Lover, with Laura San Giacomo. Totally unique and unexpected, the film still makes me think years later.

Favorite teen movie:
Sixteen Candles. Oh, Jake. Need I say more?

Favorite movie soundtrack:
Dirty Dancing. I’d love to come up with a totally cool soundtrack, but the first movie music that came to mind was Dirty Dancing. Growing up, I’d been a competitive dancer, and I have always loved the bad boys. Patrick Swayze swept me away, and I still get chills when I hear “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” and “Cry to Me.”

Favorite movie based on a chick lit novel:
Bridget Jones’s Diary. There have been some great films based on chick lit books, but Bridget Jones’s Diary is one of the best ever made. Renee Zellweger was perfect in the role of Bridget, and I can watch that movie again and again. It was also one of the first chick lit books I’ve read, and I fell in love with the genre because of Helen Fielding.

What is the first movie you ever saw as a kid?
E.T, and though I would love for my kids to see it, I’m not sure I have the emotional strength to watch it again. It broke my heart.

Since your book is called "Finding Lucas," did you ever see the 1980's film, Lucas, starring Corey Haim and Charlie Sheen? If so, what did you think? If not, is it something that would interest you?
I absolutely saw Lucas and loved it. I can still remember how much it touched me. It’s funny, when I wrote “Finding Lucas”, I didn’t even think about the movie. I named my character Lucas because it is one of my favorite names. But like in the film, “Finding Lucas” is about accepting our differences and being proud of them.

What movie should have won an Oscar but didn't?
Brokeback Mountain. I think that it is one of the most important and beautiful movies ever made.

Who would you cast in the lead roles if "Finding Lucas" were made into a movie?
I love this question! Jamie would have to be played by Ginnifer Goodwin, but she’d need to dye her hair blonde. There is something so vulnerable and real about her. Derek is a cad, and I think Bradley Cooper would play him brilliantly. Andrew would have to be played by John Krasinski because he is unwittingly sexy, easygoing and gentle. I can see Megan Fox playing Jamie’s best friend, Hanna, because she is gorgeous and intimidating.
I can only hope that they would want to be in the film, and that one day, someone wants to film it.

Special thanks to Samantha for entertaining us today and for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win "Finding Lucas":
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 movie should have won an Oscar, but didn't?
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 June 18th at midnight EST.