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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Interview with Lisa Lim, plus a book giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed**

Lisa Lim has been working in call centers for over ten years, which has inspired her debut novel "Confessions of a Call Center Gal" (reviewed here). She loves dogs (and has three of them), shopping and reading chick lit (naturally). She's also the mommy of two little girls. The picture she gave us is only half her face because she's camera shy. That may be why hiding behind a phone (or the Internet) is a good thing for her. Lisa has come to talk to us today about her book and share some other fun facts about herself. She also has eight (since it's her lucky number...it represents prosperity) e-books to give away to some lucky readers anywhere in the world.

If you like what you've read today, find her on Facebook and check out her blog!

MP: What inspired you to write Confessions of a Call Center Gal?
LL: I’m a chick lit junkie and I've read countless of chick lit novels. The women usually have fancy jobs, and they fancy men who hold fancy jobs. And I wanted to read about a woman I could relate to. A protagonist who is regular chick with a very ordinary job, who falls for a guy with an ordinary job. Although, the guy is anything but ordinary (I like to think).

And I know this sounds cliched, but my English teacher in college prefaced every writing assignment with this advice – “Write what you know.” And I know too much about call centers. One only need to hear the word "call center" and everyone’s blood pressure skyrockets through the roofs. Callers go ballistic and become verbally abusive over the phone, and often feel entitled to unload their personal demons on us. I've seen many of my co-workers on the verge of tears . . . and I wanted to tell our story.

MP: What do you do in your spare time when you're not writing?
LL: I have three pooches that I adore to bits. They're shelter dogs and my motto is "Don't shop! Adopt!"
I enjoy walking my furry companions but I find it mildly annoying when people ask, “Oh are you walking the dogs or are the dogs walking you?”
Me: *Dry laugh*
Oh, I also love scarfing down bean burritos. Mexican food. *Nom* *Nom*
By the way, I want to marry a bean burrito.
And he will have Mexican Monterey cheese hair.

MP: What’s your typical celebration ritual when you sell a new book or get exciting news about an existing one? Anything strange or quirky we should know about?
LL: Um, did I mention I love bean burritos? I blast the Mariachi music and gobble up bean burritos.

MA: If you could choose one dessert or snack food that you could eat as much as you want of (and never gain an ounce!) what would it be?
LL: Bwarhahahaha. I think you already know the answer to that one.

MA: What was your favorite book growing up and why?
LL: Anne of Green Gables, Sweet Valley High, oh and of course Peter Pan. That book is chock full of memorable sayings that I cherish. *COUGH* If I may? Here goes ~
“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”
“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.”
“To love would be an awfully big adventure.”
“To live will be a great adventure.”
“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!”
“Wendy,’ Peter Pan continued in a voice that no woman has ever yet been able to resist, ‘Wendy, one girl is more use than twenty boys.”
~ by the great J.M Barrie

MA: If your book were to be turned into a movie, who would your dream cast be?
LL: Ohhh this is fab fun. The lead protagonist Maddy would be played by Zooey Deschanel (500 Days of Summer) and Zac Efron, Zac Levi or Henry Cavill would be cast as Mika—the Belgian stud.
Rex Lee or Jo Koy as Truong Nguyen. And definitely Sean Connery as Archie.

See this video I made with my "dream cast":




MP: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?
LL: No other emotion quite compares to laughter, and I hope my readers get plenty of laughs. And I’m going to quote from a reader who reviewed my book—“They are folks from all walks of life, all education levels, all career levels who did not plan to but ended up in a call center as a means to pay the bills . . . food for thought.”

**Disclosure~If you find politically incorrect shows like The Office and Chelsea Lately detestable, childish and offensive, then this book is probably NOT for you.**

Special thanks to Lisa Lim for chatting with us today and for providing the e-books for the giveaway!

How to win "Confessions of a Call Center Gal":
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: Have you had a crush on or dated a co-worker?
2. Please tell us: If you could eat one kind of food and never gain weight from it, what would you choose?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).

4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. 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.)
6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

Giveaway ends July 25th at midnight EST.

35 comments:

  1. I have never had a crush on a co-worker

    ReplyDelete
  2. If I could eat one thing and never gain weight it would be cake.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Really looking forward to reading this! Thanks for the chance at winning a copy :)

    Yes, I have dated a co-worker. But that was a long, long time ago.

    I would eat chinese food and I would eat it for every meal lol.

    GFC follower Tiffany Drew

    Facebook member Tiffany Drew

    Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/93697454523944962

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been wanting this book for a while! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm a GFC follower

    Bonus Q's:

    1) Yes He was a knight. Yes it's true! I worked at Medieval Times Diner Theater and I was a wench and he was a knight only problem was he was dating other wenches too lol!

    2)Hands down Chocolate!!! I could live off it!

    Thanks!
    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is such a funtabulous book! It made me want to work in a call centre!:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have had a couple of crushes on co-workers, but you know what the say "don't mix business w/ pleasure"

    DEFINITELY chocolate

    I am already a follow of this blog, GFC Amy Bromberg

    I have posted this contest on my facebook wall "Amy Lazarus Bromberg" and tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/#!/abbeautycall/status/93748025243082753

    I am a member of Chick Lit Central and subscribe to your emails

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'd love to win a copy of this. My daughter-in-law was a call center girl and I've heard her stories.

    I had a crush on a fellow worker back in my younger days.

    My favorite food, if there were no restrictions? Baked macaroni and cheese.

    I follow this blog.

    I'm a subscriber to CLC on Facebook

    I will post this on Facebook.

    I'm ready for some laughs!

    gaylelin@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I dated a co-worker at my first job when I was 19...didn't last very long!
    ra6352 (at) gmail (Dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Definitely chocolate!!!
    ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

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

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am a member of Chick Lit Central!
    ra6352 (at) gmail (Dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I did date a co-worker but that was close to 30 years ago.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would love to be able to eat ice cream without gaining weight.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like a good book.

    jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. When I was in college and worked in a store, I had a little bit of crush on of my coworkers who later became the assistant manager.

    If could eat one thing and never gain wait it would be either chocolate chip or Oreo cookies.

    I subscribe to this blog.

    I am a Facebook fan.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sounds like a wonderful book. I would enjoy reading this one. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have never had a crush on or dated a co-worker.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  20. If I could eat one food and never gain weight, it would have to be ice cream.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow on GFC.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  22. I can't wait to read this book...

    I've had LOTS of crushes on co-workers and have dated several co-workers and surprisingly it only turned out negatively once .... but REALLY BAD!!!!

    If I could eat ice cream, preferably cookie dough, so I could eat it with and without the dough bits, without gaining weight, I'd be very content.

    I share on FB and get email.

    writeoncindy (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Please tell us:
    1.Have you had a crush on or dated a co-worker?
    Not dated but have some flirting, jeje (yes I am doing by now, jeje)
    2. Please tell us: If you could eat one kind of food and never gain weight from it, what would you choose?
    Chocalete as some of you...
    3. Member of the blog
    4. Posted on my wall FB
    5. Done

    I work on a call center by now... and in someway is exciting...
    Email: smdiazz33@hotmail.com
    Enjoy the summer!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. This book sounds really good, I'd love to read it!

    I did have a coworker crush once upon a time, hehe.

    I would eat all the macaroni and cheese I could find if I wouldn't gain weight.

    Follow via facebook :D

    I am a follower here via GFC.

    Tweeted this!

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    bookbrats at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would love to read this one!!

    MonieATreadingwithmonieDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  26. I used to work in a call center, and I'd love to read this book! Thanks for the chance to win.

    susanaudrey33 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have dated a co-worker, and when we broke up it worked up rather well and we remained friends. I've also had a crush at work, and that was kept all to myself. :)

    susanaudrey33 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. If I could eat one certain thing and not gain weight, I think I would have to choose chocolate. Typical chick answer, huh? :)

    susanaudrey33 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm a GFC Follower (Susan Audrey). :)

    susanaudrey33 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Sounds good! bethsilverm@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thank you for including me. =)

    tiredwkids at live dot com

    1. No. I didn't have the time.
    2. It's a toss up between chocolate and cheesecake.
    3. I'm a follower.

    ReplyDelete