Jackie Pilossoph has hit the chick lit jackpot and has a book to give away

**Giveaway is now closed**

The best things in life are free....and Jackie Pilossoph is out to prove it with her latest novel, "Free Gift with Purchase" (reviewed here). Jackie is full of crazy stories (like getting fired on her birthday, while holding the cake given to her by her co-workers) and loves to share them with a big helping of humor on the side. Even after going through her share of rough times, she finds a way to come out on top, whether it's through writing or making love connections for others (as she believes in true love and craves romance and is responsible for over 10 marriages). Jackie describes herself in so many ways; just to name a few, she is a mother, work-out fanatic, reader, ice cream binger, and movie lover. She enjoys going out with her girlfriends and dishing on dates or sharing celebrity gossip, over a glass of sangria. For those of you living in the Chicago area, you should definitely find a way to connect with her. There's no doubt that she has plenty of room for new friends! (Melissa A would totally be hanging out with her if she still lived there...especially since they also have the Jewish connection.)

Jackie is here today to chat about writing and she has THREE Kindle versions of "Free Gift with Purchase" to share with some lucky readers anywhere in the world. And there's no purchase required this time! (Although she wouldn't complain if you bought her books...) Even a Kindle is free...if you don't already have it and want to download it to your PC.

Well, what are you waiting for?!? Jackie is ready to meet you on Facebook and Twitter. And don't forget to visit her fabulous website and blog (where her love for storytelling is evident and you can also find movie reviews).

Do you base characters on yourself?
Absolutely! That's what makes my protagonist so well developed. That said, I take some of myself, plus a lot of things I WANT to be and put them in my character. It actually makes me a better person sometimes, because I'll say, "Emma would never do that. Why can't you be more like HER?"

What did you do to celebrate when you were first published?
For my past two books, I had a community book launch event and both events were really fun and crowded. But this time, I'm actually going to have a book party at my house, just for close friends (all women by the way) and for the women who have shown me support for the past few years. I feel like I want to give them a night of free drinks and dinner because they deserve it. That will be the best celebration I can think of.

What five authors or people, past or present, have been important to your writing? What
question or comment have you always wanted to say to them?
1. Nora Ephron: I was very sad that she passed away. I would have loved to have met her and said, "Thank you for giving me such inspiration." I have always strived to write like her.

2. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon: These guys motivated me to no end when they wrote Good Will Hunting and won best screenplay. I would say, "You guys are awesome, AND you're both hot!"

3. John Favreau: I would say to him, "Good job on Swingers." This is another example of a guy who took a chance, believed in his project, and then made the movie, which catapulted his career.

4. Kathryn Stockett: I read an interview with her awhile back. She said she had a book signing and 5 people showed up, and three of them were her family. I would say to her, "You're an amazing writer and you inspire me!!"

5. Candace Bushnell: There is no bigger fan of Sex and the City. Carrie Bradshaw is a role model for me and she's not even real!! Ha! But she's strong and when she falls, she doesn't give up. And she's funny and finds humor in things. And she's vulnerable and not afraid to let people see that. I try to be like that because I think women respond to it. Plus, she's sexy and defiant, and at the same time she's a romantic-just like me. Obviously I will never meet Carrie Bradshaw, but if I ever met Sarah Jessica Parker and/or Candace Bushnell, I would say, "Thank you for creating Carrie and Sex and the City, which is my all time favorite show. I know every word to every episode. And by the way, I loved both movies."

If "Free Gift With Purchase" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
There are so many great choices, I can't even count. Emma is very pretty on the outside, but she's really down to earth and she's real. Underneath her extreme vulnerability, Emma's not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, and she gets really tough and gets her act together throughout the book. It's very motivating. Right now, there are a couple of really big name actresses who are reading "Free Gift With Purchase." My fingers are crossed!

What is your favorite thing about living by Chicago?
There are so many amazing things here in my favorite city of all time. From the Bulls and the Cubs, to the amazing restaurants, to the architecture to the beautiful skyline on Lake Michigan. I don't know where to begin. But, hands down, my favorite thing about Chi-town are the people. I love Chicagoans. They are conservative (they have a bit of that Midwestern shyness) until you get them talking. I've always loved that Saturday night live skit with the bar guys talking about "Da Bears." It's really accurate! I adore these people!!

Who was your celebrity crush when you were growing up?
Joe Namath, baby!! He was one hot guy. (I grew up in Pittsburgh, if you're wondering why. Joe is from around there.)
I also loved Michael J. Fox in Family Ties.

What is your favorite carnival food?
I love funnel cakes. Isn't that universal across the board?

What’s the most interesting comment you’ve received about your books?
I'll tell you a good one and a bad one.

Bad one: I was at a book fair selling books and a woman comes up to me and says, "Oh! I read "Hook, Line and Sink Him." Then she just stood there. So, I go, "So, what did you think?" And she says, "Hmm...what did I think?" Keep in mind there are now about five women standing there waiting for her reply and she's not finishing her sentence and I'm cringing. Finally, she goes, "It was alright." Funny: Six months later, I sent out an email to a bunch of people asking if anyone knew of a college student who might want to be an intern for me, and that same woman responded, "It would be so much fun to work with you! Would you consider hiring me?" Yeah, right.

Good one: A woman came up to me and said, "Your book was like eating candy. I couldn't stop. Each page was like eating another piece, like I was unwrapping the candy." Something like that. Now, that's nice, huh?

Special thanks to Jackie for the fun (and funny) girl talk and for sharing "Free Gift with Purchase" with our readers!

How to win "Free Gift with Purchase":
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 episode of Sex and the City? OR Which character from SATC is most similar to you?
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 August 27th at midnight EST.