Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Making FRIENDS with Holly Chamberlin this SUMMER...plus a book giveaway!

By Melissa Patafio

**Giveaway is now closed**

Holly Chamberlin, author of "Summer Friends" (pub date 6/28), is visiting us at Chick Lit Central today! The New York City gal graciously took some time to chat with us about how she likes to spend her down time, getting through writer's block, and how she ended up in Maine. Read on to find out more about Holly and we hope you will enjoy "meeting" her as much as we did!

Holly is giving away a copy of the newly re-issued "The Summer of Us" (complete with interview and reading group guide) and a copy of "Summer Friends" (complete with interview and reading group guide, as well) as a pair to one lucky reader in the US or Canada.

If you like what you read today, visit her on Facebook and Twitter. You can also check out her blog.


What is your usual writing routine?

My writing routine isn’t set in stone, though sometimes I think that it should be. Generally, the first hours of the day involve kitty care, kitchen clean up, other daily household chores, and then checking email and reading the news online. Only then do I turn to work, which on any given day can involve research, editing, and writing. Some days include a nap; after this break I seem to be super productive for a solid hour or two. I refuse to work in the evenings. Working from home requires the setting of boundaries between the business and the personal life. And then there are the days when any sort of writing schedule is disrupted by, say, a doctor’s appointment or a visit from an out-of-town friend or family member. It can be hard to get back into a productive routine, even when the disruption is a pleasant one. One day ‘off’ can prove disastrous.

How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?

When I’m not writing – i.e., working – I read, watch certain television shows (I’m currently into AUCTION HUNTERS and am addicted to FAMILY GUY, THE OFFICE, and SEINFELD), keep the three storey house in order (no mean feat), and read some more. The most important thing I do when both working and not working, is spend quality time with my cats. I am typing these answers with one hand as I’m holding Cyrus on my lap with the other.

Do you ever suffer from "writer's block"? If so, how do you remedy it?

Writer’s block is all too real. In my experience, the only way to hold back the panic is to read as much as possible until the block crumbles. If words keep pouring into my brain, eventually some of them will form themselves into thoughts appropriate to my story and force themselves out through my fingers. Weird.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I don’t like to travel anymore, for a variety of reasons, but if those reasons didn’t exist and I had lots of money, I would go back to Ireland and Rome, finally explore England and Scotland, and visit Vienna.

If you were not a writer, what would you do?

If I weren’t a writer and an editor, I would love to be a painter. As it is, I can’t draw a straight line so maybe I would be a professor of European painting or English history. When I was little, I wanted to be an archaeologist when I grew up, but later realized I couldn’t have long nails on a dig so that dream went bust.

If "Summer Friends" were made into a movie, who would you like to see in the lead roles?

Tough question. I love Michelle Williams, so maybe she could play a college aged Maggie. Otherwise, I’d leave casting decisions to the experts. If there were a role for Colin Firth, however, I would beg for him to be hired.

You grew up in New York and then moved to Boston, so how did you end up in Portland, Maine?

The short answer to how a New York City gal ended up in Maine is – love. I left NY in 1996 to marry Stephen, who lived in Boston. In 2003, we moved to Maine. Life is full of surprises! Now, my New York City gal mother lives down the block from us. She still doesn’t quite know how that happened.


What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing "Summer Friends"?

This is an interesting question because for reasons I still can’t entirely understand I had a terribly tough time writing SUMMER FRIENDS. I spent what seemed like endless hours rewriting every single line and often despaired at being able to produce a coherent story. A friend suggested that maybe it wasn’t the right time for me to be telling that particular story, which idea gave me pause. I still don’t know the reasons behind my distress, but my editor thinks that SUMMER FRIENDS is the best book yet so . . .

Do you always know how a story will end when you start writing it? Or does the ending change as you go?

Yes, I always know how the story will end, but what I don’t know, in spite of plotting and outlining ahead of time, is exactly how that ending will come about. The characters reveal themselves to me as I write and so their stories change and develop. Evolution or creation is a hard process to describe.

What songs are on your playlist right now?

I don’t have an iPod, so I don’t have an actual playlist. I like blues and jazz, the music of Frank Sinatra, Madeleine Peyroux, Jane Monheit, Diana Krall, Amy Winehouse, Adele, and other singers and musicians like them. I have little idea about what’s going on in the world of rock, rap, pop, etc.

Thanks again to Holly for chatting with us today and for giving away her books at CLC!

How to win "The Summer of Us" and "Summer Friends":
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: Would you ever (or have you ever) relocated for love? (Or, why do you live in your current city/state/province?)
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 to edit their settings.



US/Canada only. Giveaway ends June 21st (First day of summer) at midnight EST.



More by Holly Chamberlin:



49 comments:

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I wouldn't relocate for love.

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I follow via Facebook.

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I follow via Twitter

Anonymous said...

I would relocate for love depending on circumstances. I will post on both fb and blog.

jenceygATmsndot com.

Felicia said...

I believe I would relocate for love. I'd love a chance to win these books. I am a follower via Google Reader, facebook and twitter.

Felicia

felicialso @ gmail. com

Kritters Ramblings said...

Yes - I moved to where I live now for the boy's job change.

kdurham2@gmail.com

Kritters Ramblings said...

I follow via GFC

Kritters Ramblings said...

I follow on facebook

Heather said...

I have relocated to be with my now husband!
ra6352 (at) gmail (Dot) com

Heather said...

I am a follower!
ra6352 (at) gmail (Dot) com

Heather said...

I shared on facebook!
ra6352 (at) gmail (Dot) com

Heather said...

I am a member of Chick Lit Central!
ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

Kat said...

The perfect books for the upcoming summer season!

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

It really depends on the circumstances whether or not I'd relocate.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

I am a follower of the blog.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Jeryl M. said...

Sounds good.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Kat said...

Posting on FB.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

I am a member of CLC.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Jeryl M. said...

I would not relocate for love because what happens if it doesn't work out.

I am a follower.

I am a facebook fan.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Margay Leah Justice said...

I have made a move for love before, but I always came back to the state I grew up in.

Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Margay Leah Justice said...

I'm a GFC follower

Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Nina said...

I think I would relocate for love! If not for love then what for? Haha.
nina565(at)aol(dot)com

Tiffany Drew said...

I would move for love. I hate to think of ever having to do it, but I would.

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Tiffany Drew said...

Shared on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=138071029601388&id=1212566230

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Tiffany Drew said...

Tweeted:

http://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/81047972787388416

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Tiffany Drew said...

Facebook member :)

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

karenk said...

yes, i would ;)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

i'm a follower :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Linda Kish said...

I did relocate for love. It got me out of Los Angeles and down to San Diego. It didn't last but I stayed in San Diego for another 20 years where I had my son and raised him. In L.A. I was told I couldn't have kids. So, I guess it ended up being a good move.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

jennysararyan said...

I would of course relocate for love, as long as love followed...

jennysryanATgmailDOTcom

Kim W. said...

These sound like great books -- can't wait to read them!

1. I DID relocate for love...or was it lust at the time? LOL My relationship was only a few months old when my boyfriend was offered a job in another province. Figuring we were young and didn't really have much to lose, but a whole lot maybe to gain, he accepted the job and I went with him. That was 10 years ago and in that time we've gotten married and had 2 beautiful kids!

2. I am already a follower of this blog

3. I have posted this contest on Facebook

4. I already belong to CLC on Facebook

Kim W. said...

ALMOST FORGOT! kewalker1972@gmail.com

These sound like great books -- can't wait to read them!

1. I DID relocate for love...or was it lust at the time? LOL My relationship was only a few months old when my boyfriend was offered a job in another province. Figuring we were young and didn't really have much to lose, but a whole lot maybe to gain, he accepted the job and I went with him. That was 10 years ago and in that time we've gotten married and had 2 beautiful kids!

2. I am already a follower of this blog

3. I have posted this contest on Facebook

4. I already belong to CLC on Facebook

Literary Chanteuse said...

Yes! I would relocate for love! I am a GFC follower!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

schlarmette [at]gmail[dot]com

1. I did relocate for love, though engaged at the time.
2. I follow this blog GFC
3. I am a facebook member
4. I will post this on my facebook blog fan page now for all of my fans to see.

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

I did relocate for love - my husband moved us for his schooling and promised we would move back when he was done, in 3 years. It is now 17 years later .... and we have not moved back. That must be love, right? This sounds like a great book!

I am a GFC and FB follower.

StereoQueenBee said...

1. Please tell us: Would you ever (or have you ever) relocated for love? (Or, why do you live in your current city/state/province?)

I almost did... but that didn't work out.

2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).

I already follow this blog.

3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Posted this contest on Facebook AND Twitter (stereoqueenbee)

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.

Am already a member on FB

Margie said...

We live where we do....we both started out here, parents were in the area, and good jobs were here.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

like Chick Lit on Facebook
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
(Marjorie)

Kat Bryan said...

I wouldn't move for love. I still live 10 miles from where I was born and always have. Guess I like it here!
winterset AT peoplepc.com

Dolly said...

I did once move for love...to IOWA! now THAT was love!

I'm a GFC and FB follower.

jcsites2002 at hotmail dot com

Dolly said...

tweet

http://twitter.com/#!/DollyJ007/status/82335628708159488

Unknown said...

I haven't relocated for love, but my mother sure did! She fell in love with a Scotsman and they spend about two-thirds of their time in Scotland and the other third in Canada or traveling. Sounds crazy, but they've been happily married for 11 years!

I'm already a follower of Chick Lit Central.

jennie.the.author @ gmail.com

Nancye said...

I have never relocated for love, but I would (albeit reluctantly)go where I needed to for my husband.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis

http://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/83250973623066625

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

GFC Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I joined you on FB

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net