Jen Lancaster claims her chick lit turf.... plus a giveaway!

Photo by Jeremy Lawson

**Giveaway is now closed**

Introduction and interview by Tracey Meyers

This past July, I met Jen Lancaster at a book event that featured four prominent Chick Lit authors.  At the time, I had only read one thing that Jen had ever written - a blog post she wrote about a guy who wanted her to help him make amends with his wife after he cheated on her.  From that one post I had formed my impression of her - a tough, no nonsense chick with a larger than life personality, whom I could never imagine being a softie.

Upon finally making it to the front of the line to meet Jen,  her first words to me were something to the effect of, "I was wondering when I was going to get mine" as I handed her a homemade baby strawberry pie and asked her to sign what I affectionately call my "author apron" since I didn't have any a book of hers to sign, just like what I had done with the other authors in attendance that evening. (Yes, Jen, I'm the pie chick!)

In the brief moment I got to speak with her, what I found out is that behind her snarky, tough wit and humor, there's a genuine and caring individual who is sincerely appreciative of the success her readers have afforded her. 

Today, we celebrate the publication of Jen's second novel, Here I Go Again (reviewed here).  Despite many people telling me I must read her memoirs, and the fact that I have two of her memoirs in my possession, this book is actually the first Jen Lancaster book I have ever read.... and now I know why she's a must-read author! She's here to talk about her writing experiences and tell some crazy and funny pet stories (she has a bunch!)

Jen can be found on her website, Facebook and Twitter. You can also view the trailer here. (It's definitely worth a watch...or two!)

Thanks to Penguin Group, THREE lucky (and we mean VERY lucky this time) readers located in the US will win a copy of Here I Go Again!


If Lissy Ryder, from your new book Here I Go Again, had a pet, what kind of pet would it be? What would its name be? What would its personality be like? 
Lissy would have the kind of pet that looks cool but requires very little interaction – I imagine her with an exotic cat. She’d name this cold, dismissive, prone-to-bite something like Miss Dior or Chanel or Tawny Kitten. I could also see her with something ridiculous and attention-seeking, like Paris Hilton’s kinkajou or the IKEA monkey (with bonus shearling coat.)

You have several pets. If you were to write a book about them, what do you think the central plot would be?
I should specify what I have so readers understand exactly what a softie/sucker I am when it comes to rescue pets. I have two pit bulls, a black shepherd, and five cats – a pair of sisters and a trio of brothers. The girl and boy cats are the feline versions of the Bloods and the Crips. They actively despise one another. Except instead of trying to assassinate one another, they just pee on everything to claim it as part of their turf. Awesome.

Last year I was headed out on book tour and my cat Gus managed to nail every single bra I’d packed, so I spent the first night in Seattle trying to unsuccessfully exorcise the evil smell with hotel shampoo. Didn’t work. So, the book about my menagerie would be This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things or perhaps Yes, I’m Aware I Smell Like Urine; Shall I Sign Your Book Now?

Shhh!!!! Don't tell anyone, but when it comes to my pets I:
I have unlimited patience. Whereas I pace like a caged tiger when stuck waiting in line and I have a hair-trigger any time I deal with a customer service agent, I’ll happily endure every bit of their abhorrent behavior as I continue to train them. I never give up on them. Just know that when you’re downwind from me at an event, I’m actively - if not successfully - working on the naughty behavior you may smell.

What do you think someone should consider the most before adopting a pet?
Pets are not an accessory. They’re living, sentient beings and require a commitment for their entire lives. And sometimes they’re expensive and sometimes they’ll wreck your nice things, but if you return the love they’re so anxious to give, you won’t sweat their minor indiscretions.

Here I Go Again, is your eighth book and second novel. What prompted you to write another novel?
My goal is to make the transition into fiction full-time. As much as I enjoy writing memoirs, I’m at the point where I’ve kind of figured out my life. The best books have an element of conflict and I’ve worked really hard to eliminate sources of conflict. I don’t want to manufacture drama in order to write about it; that doesn’t feel genuine.

The beauty of fiction is that the bizarre can happen to a character, yet I don’t actually have to live through it. That’s so liberating! For example, when I wrote If You Were Here, my characters had just purchased their first home. In real life, my husband Fletch and I had done the exact same thing. I originally wanted to write a memoir about renovating a house ourselves but I realized we’d get divorced. So while I happily wrote about toilets raining from the ceiling and having to eat Spaghetti-os hobo-style from the can due to having no kitchen, a skilled professional was stripping my wallpaper and painting my cabinets. (Also? Not divorced!)

What do you find most amazing when you see how successful your writing career has been?
I’m amazed every time people actually come to my book events. Because when I started? That wasn’t the case. There’s nothing more awkward or disheartening than looking at a sea of empty chairs. What blows me away is when fans tell me they’ve been reading since my old allaboutjen.com website I started back in 2002. I’m so grateful to them for sticking around and it’s because of them that I keep striving to be better. (P.S. Lest you think I’m Mother Theresa, I also like that this career has enabled me to buy stuff. Just so we’re clear.)

If you could co-author a book with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why that person?
I’d say my chick lit idol Helen Fielding but we’d likely not get much work done, what with all my squealing and genuflecting. FYI? When I found out there was going to be a third Bridget Jones book recently, I completely lost my mind. Like, I couldn’t concentrate on anything because I was so excited. Rumor has it that Bridget has taken to Twitter. And now my life is complete.

What is the #1 thing on your life "to-do" list?
Someday I want to sit in a darkened movie theater and read the credit that says Based on a Book by Jen Lancaster. Memoir, fiction – I’m not picky.

Until then, I’d be satisfied if I could get the cats to stop peeing in my laundry. 

Thanks to Jen for knowing exactly how to make us laugh and Penguin for sharing Here I Go Again with our readers.

How to win Here I Go Again:
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 craziest or funniest thing you've seen any animal (a pet or even at the zoo) do?
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. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.
6. 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 February 3rd at midnight EST.

Chick Lit is Not Dead and Booking with Manic are also doing giveaways for Here I Go Again.

Both are US/Canada only and end on February 4th.