Monday, May 16, 2011

Another visit from a Melissa...plus a book giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed**

At CLC, we're always excited to have authors that share a first name with us. Last year it was Melissa Senate and this time it is Melissa Ford! Not only does she share our first name, but she also lives near Melissa A. (and like Melissa A., she's also Jewish).

Her blog, Stirrup Queens, has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top ten motherhood blogs. Her highly-praised first book, "Navigating the Land of If," is a work of non-fiction about the emotional landscape of infertility. She is also a contributing editor at BlogHer.

Melissa is here today to talk about her novel, "Life from Scratch". She also has three copies to give to some lucky readers in the US or Canada.

If you like what you've read here, visit Melissa on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo credit: Mary Gardella of Love Life Images

Melissa P: What inspired you to write "Life From Scratch"?
Melissa F: The idea for the book came to me while I was crossing a library parking lot, holding a stack of cook books I had checked out. What if a woman used the year post-divorce to teach herself how to cook? A half hour later, during my next errand to the food store, I wondered what if that woman became a blogger and that’s how she found the voice she lost during the marriage. I think you start from a place of writing what you know and dive off into imagination from there.

Melissa P: What was your biggest challenge while writing "Life From Scratch"?
Melissa F: Probably getting enough writing time! I'm terrible at jumping back into writing when I've been away from a project for a few days so I had to keep up a steady stream of writing in order to keep with the flow.

Melissa P: What is your usual writing routine?
Melissa F: I usually start off by writing a blog post. I don't always post these practice posts, but they're to get me warmed up to do book writing. Sometimes I'll also read something in the genre I'm writing, just to get in the mood. I try to write daily -- even if it's just for a half hour.

Melissa P: How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing or blogging?
Melissa F: Playing with my twins. I do a lot of volunteer work during the day while they're in school. And I bake... a lot. I have to give away a lot of the stuff I bake because I bake more than we can eat. Recently, I started back up with guitar lessons and I'm supposed to be practicing daily.

Melissa A: If "Life from Scratch" were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
Melissa F: I could see Jennifer Garner as Rachel. A much younger Javier Bardem as Gael. Honestly, I think that while you sometimes need someone familiar to anchor a project, I like the idea of having people I don't know in the roles.

Melissa A: What is your favorite thing about living by DC?
Melissa F: The architecture. DC is gorgeous. There's no sky in New York -- it's blotted out by the tall buildings. But you can see the sky everywhere in DC because our buildings are so short.

Melissa A: Who is your favorite celebrity named Melissa?
Melissa F: I was going to answer the porn star who shares my name because I love it when people email me, thinking they'll reach her (I'm so sorry, boys). But instead I'll go with Melissa Etheridge. This question made me realize that we need more celebrities named Melissa.

Melissa A: Who is your favorite fictional character named Melissa?
Melissa F: I literally can't think of a fictional Melissa beyond Zeus's nurse.

(Note from CLC: We think that this should be changed immediately! Attention all writers: Start giving us more characters named Melissa in books, movies, and TV! ;) )

Melissa A: What is the biggest challenge with having twins? Favorite thing about having twins?
Melissa F: The biggest challenge is that you only get to go through a life stage once. It sometimes feels like time moves even faster when parenting twins. My favourite thing is watching them interact; watching their relationship. They're good friends who enjoy playing with one another and are very protective of one another (they can also tease each other like no one else!).

Melissa P: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Melissa F: I have always wanted to go to the Azores since I saw pictures of the islands in a National Geographic book when I was a child.

Thanks again to Melissa for sharing her thoughts with us and for contributing the books for the giveaway!


How to win "Life from Scratch":

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 learn one new skill over the course of a year, what would it be?
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. (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 about editing their settings. :)





US/Canada only. Giveaway ends May 22nd at midnight EST.

Also by Melissa Ford:


58 comments:

Jane said...

This book looks just want I like to read.

BRN2SHOP9 said...

If I could learn a new skill I think it would be teaching.

Margay Leah Justice said...

I love how writers get their ideas! That is so fascinating to me.

Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I follow via gfc

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I follow via fb

Margay Leah Justice said...

There are actually two skills I would like to learn: to watercolor and to play the violin.

Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Margay Leah Justice said...

I am a GFC follower.

Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Lindsay said...

Looks like a good book!

lindsay.castnerATgmailDOTcom

Lindsay said...

If I could learn a new skill it would be sewing.

Lindsay said...

I am a blog follower.

Unknown said...

This sounds likean interesting and entertaining book. I love the idea of a woman coping with the loss and pain of divorce by teaching herself to cook! It's a terrific and absorbing distraction that hopefully brings a sense of accomplishment.

Thank you for hosting a giveaway of this book!

Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

1. I would love to learn to pain with oils and watercolors. (I'm not sure 1 year is enough time! lol )

I'm a GFC follower of this blog!

I'm a member of your Facebook group Chick Lit Central

Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I don't think that my first comment posted, so trying again.

I like that the author starts from something that she knows in real life when she staarts to write and that she has the main character do something positive like learning to cook.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I would pull myself away from my books so that I could starting writing!!!


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

My Twitter name is Carolee888 and I tweeted:



http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/another-visit-from-melissaplus-book.html Giveaway of 'Life from Scratch'

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow you on Facebbok.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Colleen Turner said...

Twins! That has got to be quite a handful, but a happy one! I am fully impressed that you can be a mother of twins and an author...you go! I can't wait to read the book!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

If I could learn any skill in a year it would be to dance! Really dance, like ballroom style (I have two left feet so it would probably take a year to get even remotely good at it :)).
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a Facebook fan (Colleen Turner).
candc320@gmail.com

Nina said...

Love the concept of one finding their voice through blogging! I think if I were to learn a new skill it would be to increase my computer knowledge, so I don't have to beg for help everytime something goes wrong!! :)
nina565(at)aol(dot)com

Jeryl M. said...

Sounds like a good book. I'd like to read it.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I would like to learn to dance.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I am a facebook fan.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I am a follower of this blog.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

PoCoKat said...

A new skill..I would like to learn how to knit.

pocokat AT gmail DOT com

PoCoKat said...

I have twins as well...mine are grown now though...enjoy every minute when they are young!

pocokat AT gmail dOT com

PoCoKat said...

Belong to Chick Lit Central on FB

pocokat AT gmail DOt com

PoCoKat said...

GFC follower

pocokat AT gmail DOT com

PoCoKat said...

Shared post on FB

pocokat AT gmail DOT com

karenk said...

would love to play the piano :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

i'm a follower :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I'd like to learn to draw

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Margie said...

Sounds good! THanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I'd like to play the piano.

Margie said...

like Chick Lit on Facebook
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

blog follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

JHS said...

A new skill? Well, my next goal is to purchase and master an alto flute. LOVE the rich sound, and it would broaden my skill set since I already play flute and piccolo!

JHS
Colloquium

jhsmail at comcast dot net

Kat said...

I have always wanted to learn to play the piano. Not necessarily a useful skill, but, there it is... :)

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

I am a follower of the blog.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

Posted on FB.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

I am a member of CLC on FB.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

leonel said...

leonelescota AT gmail DOT com

follow, facebook...

I wanna learn how to play the violin!

Unknown said...

wow! Can't wait to read t his one.
schlarmette[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

If I could learn a new skill it would be a language. Fluently....
schlarmetteATgmailDOTcom

Unknown said...

I follow via gfc
schlarmette[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

I am a facebook group memeber
schlarmette[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

I follow via twitter as well... will hop on over to share.
schlarmette[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

I'd love to learn to play guitar!

unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail (dot) com

a real librarian said...

This looks great! Thanks for the chance to win! If I were to learn a new skill, it would be playing the guitar.

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

sheen said...

I follow the website If I had to learn a new skill it would have to be changing a tire
wapneski@yahoo.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

This sounds very good and I'm just making in at the skin of my teeth. Hmmm...a skill would be to play piano. (I hated the lessons as a child and regret not sticking with it now) Thanks!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I am also a follower.

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Nancye said...

I would like to learn to be an excellent cook and enjoy it! (Right now I hate to cook and my food is just okay.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I am a follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis

http://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/72505777469915136

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I joined you on Facebook

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net