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Sunday, July 10, 2011

We "clicked" with Lisa Becker...plus a book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Lisa Becker had endured her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates, many of which inspired "Click: An Online Love Story." She is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for you!

She's here to talk about the benefits of online dating. Plus she has three e-books to send to some lucky readers anywhere.

Online Dating Inspired "Click: An Online Love Story"
By Lisa Becker


I first met my husband while wearing my pajamas. Really! No, we weren't at some kinky singles party. I was sitting comfortably in my apartment and he was hanging out in his. But, I will never forget his email introduction via an online dating service, which invited me to check out his profile. It was sweet, endearing and intriguing enough for me to log on to learn more about him. After a week of emails, followed by a week of phone calls, we met for our first date - a traditional dinner and movie outing. Even before I opened the door to greet him, I knew he was "the one." Considering he lived 30 miles away, I'm not certain our paths would have typically crossed. But after 11 years together - including 8 years of marriage (which in Los Angeles is apparently no small feat!) and two beautiful daughters, I have no doubt he is my soul mate.

After my now-husband and I met online, I was recalling some of the hilarious experiences that I had during the whole online dating experience. How could I forget the guy who started every story (no joke!) with “My buddies and I were out drinking one night.” I decided to capture some of them in writing and, from there and based loosely on my own experiences, my novel Click: An Online Love Story emerged. The entire story is told in emails between our heroine, Renee Greene, her three best friends and the gentlemen suitors she meets online. The format felt like a modern way to tell the story that fit the topic, and allowed readers to develop an intimate relationship with the characters.

Clearly, I’m a big fan of online dating and find it to be a useful tool for young professionals who are busy working and finding it difficult to make the right connection at the gym, bar, coffee shop or grocery aisle. I say, people today are “married” to their cell phones and laptops, so why not use that technology to really get married, right?

While Click doesn’t end with a wedding (sorry for the spoiler!), during Renee’s road to happiness, we find many advantages to online dating. My five favorite are:

·On Your Own Terms – Online dating provides a relaxed, anytime and on your own terms experience. Share as little or as much information as you want. Avoid people you are not interested in. Communicate at your convenience. But, don’t send a message at 2:30 am. Nothing smacks more of desperation than an email from someone trolling the Internet for a date in the wee hours of the morning.

·Multi-Tasking Enabled – Flirt while filing your taxes. Chat and trim your nails. Meet a mate while making breakfast. It’s a well-known fact that women are great multi-taskers. Take full advantage of that skill. As Shelley, the over-sexed character in Click says to the about-to-try-online-dating Renee, “A whole host of hot and horny single men that I can review, chat with, judge and mock – all while sitting in my office looking very busy. Maybe I should give it a try myself.”

·Trade the “Meat Market” for the “Meet Market” – Now you can avoid the “meat market” scene of bars and clubs and instead enjoy a “meet market” – an international bazaar (but let’s hope not too bizarre) of prospective mates. The Internet allows you to make an online introduction to thousands if not millions of people around the world. So, if you want to meet someone in Katmandu, well then, can do!

·Save Time, Money and Energy – Let’s face it. Dating isn’t cheap. It takes time, money and, likely your most valuable and scarce resource, energy. With the “try before you buy” environment of online dating, you don’t have to meet for a drink, grab a coffee or sit through a long dinner only to discover there’s no physical attraction, you have nothing in common, conversation is lacking, etc.

·Rejection Made Easy – In Click, Renee gets an email from someone halfway across the world looking to meet someone willing to move for him. After sending a polite and diplomatic “thanks but no thanks” email message, she proclaims to her friend, “It’s so much easier to reject someone over that Internet than in real life. Score one for online dating!” While rejection is easier for both parties when done online, it’s important to remember that people still have feelings.

As I've said many times before, if it happened for me, there's hope for you. So log on and take a chance. To purchase "Click," please click here. To follow updates on
"Click" and share your stories about online dating, visit the "Click: An Online Love Story" Facebook fan page.


Special thanks to Lisa for blogging with us today and providing the e-books for the giveaway and to Samantha Robey from Chick Lit Plus for inviting us to be part of Lisa's blog tour.

How to win "Click" (e-book):
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 ever used an online dating site? If so, did it work out for you? If not, would you consider using one or did you already meet that special someone a different way?
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.

Giveaway ends July 14th at midnight EST.

34 comments:

  1. I can't wait to read Click! My nephew and his bride met two years ago on Match.com, and just welcomed their new, beautiful baby daughter!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't wait to read this one! Have wanted to try dating sites but haven't gotten up the nerve.

    gfc follower
    twitter follower
    facebook group

    debr97 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have never used on online dating side. I would be hesitant to do so. because you do not know if the people of the other end are telling the truth or if they are serial killers!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I tried it and it was working well despite some red flags. Never again!
    I would love to win this.

    Subscribe to CLC so I follow this blog.

    Follow on Facebook.

    Share on Facebook.

    gaylelin@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds like a fun read ! I've used online dating, and i was as successful for me as "real-life" dating :)

    twitter, fb group member, follower on google

    leonelescota at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have never used an online dating site, but I did meet my husband in a random online encounter :) I'd love to read Click, so thank you for the chance at winning a copy!

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  7. GFC follower Tiffany Drew

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  8. Tweet

    http://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/90117120649732096

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  9. Facebook member Tiffany Drew

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the opportunity to enter to win this book!

    1. Never
    2. GFC follower
    3. Member of CLC on FB

    littleone AT shaw DOT ca

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have not used an on lie dating service because I was already married by the time this whole dating on line started but I would love to read this!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am a GFC follower

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm really looking forward to reading this one. I love these author interviews. They make my day

    alison.fees@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've never used an online dating site however I have met a few guys online through chat rooms. Yes a couple were weirdos! I did however meet my husband on almost 11 years online :)

    GFC - Alison Fees
    Twitter - bfees2
    Facebook - Alison Fees
    I also get the emails.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for posting this Chick Lit Central. I hope your followers enjoy my little novel. In fact, I hope they LOVE IT, so much so, they are compelled to shout it from rooftops. Thanks again for the support.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like a good book.

    jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I never used an on-line dating service. My husband and I were introduced by my ex-best friend who is also his ex-wife but they were already divorced before we got together.

    I am a GFC follower.

    I am a facebook fan.

    jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. My email is amyrbromberg@gmail.com

    I met my husband on Jdate.com, the most known, and used, Jewish singles dating network. After we were dating for 2 weeks, he tells me that his sister and I went to sleep away camp together and we at each other's sweet sixteens. Small world, VERY, small Jewish world :) I would definitely recommend Jdate.com to others.

    I just posted the contest on my FB page and here's my tweet.

    http://twitter.com/#!/abbeautycall/status/90212713506152449

    Of course I am a member of Chick Lit Central!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Click sounds like a fun read! Can't wait to get at it.

    My dating days were well before this online stuff so, no, I have never done it. Would I? Maybe.

    I follow your blog.

    I already joined CLC on Facebook.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    suzebomb(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Be sure to pick up the book and good luck to those entering the giveaway. It was a funny good read!

    ReplyDelete
  21. . Please tell us: Have you ever used an online dating site? If so, did it work out for you? If not, would you consider using one or did you already meet that special someone a different way?

    Yes I have and it did work briefly...

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

    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 on FB. (Sabrina-Kate Eryou)
    Posted on 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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

    Already a member.

    5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

    Added Melissa Jo Chang.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I can't wait to read CLICK!

    I used Match.com back in 2000, when it was considered SCAREY! I met a guy and dated him for nearly two years, but I didn't work out.

    Share and follow on Facebook.

    writeoncindy (at) yahoo (dot) com

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Yes! I met my husband through eharmony!
    ra6352 (at) gmail (Dot) com

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  26. I don't know. I think you can. I ended up marrying a guy I originally dated in high school. Twenty years later so while there was still a get to know you again period I knew enough about him to be comfortable already yet still be smitten.... I like smitten and I worry when you chat for a time on line building two one sided relationships that the actual feelings will be different when you meet. Neat concept for a book though.


    1. Please tell us: Have you ever used an online dating site? If so, did it work out for you? If not, would you consider using one or did you already meet that special someone a different way? Yes, I did briefly around 12 years or so ago. I did not work for me either the smitten was not there or we did not click for some reason.

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

    3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it. – Will do on my Facebook page. http://facebook.com/twinshe

    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.) – Already a member!


    Thanks!

    Sheila
    Sbrennan1955@yahooDOT.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. This book could come in handy! :)

    ladykathryn@rogers.co.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I actually just joined an online dating site for the heck of it. Not sure if anything meaningful will come of it, but it's worth a shot.

    ladykathryn@rogers.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am a follower through GFC.

    ladykathryn@rogers.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am a member of CLC

    ladykathryn@rogers.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Posting to fb

    ladykathryn@rogers.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. 1.Have you ever used an online dating site? If so, did it work out for you? If not, would you consider using one or did you already meet that special someone a different way? Well I use many of them but if you don't PAY, it doesn't work, use to send emails, smilies, etc. BUT as I said if you don't pay it is loosing time... and what's happen.... I never pay at them, at the moment. But I have met different people from chats...
    2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too). I am, of course
    3. Posted on my wall at FB
    4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook: I am a member.
    My mail is: smdiazz33@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I`m fond of writing stories, and I always write them with the help of my heart, nothing to hide. That means I tell people what I realy experience, feel or think, so I prefer to read the books those authers do the same - tell us the truth.. our perfect writer is in their number.

    ReplyDelete