Tuesday, October 18, 2011

What Talli Roland laughs about...plus a book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today we are in for a treat as we get to know author Talli Roland and find out what makes her laugh. Talli was born and raised in Canada but now lives in London where her debut novel, "The Hating Game," reached the top of the UK charts. Her latest novel is "Watching Willow Watts" and she has two e-books of it to share with some lucky readers worldwide. (Both her novels are currently 99 cents for Kindle.) Talli is also thrilled to announce that her next novel, "Build a Man," will be available as an e-book on December 7th, and in paperback in the New Year.

To learn more about Talli and get to know her better, visit her at her website and blog, as well as Twitter and Facebook.

We are so glad that she could join us and would like to thank her for taking the time to answer our questions. Enjoy!


Funniest chick lit novel?
This is a tough one, because I’ve read loads of fantastic chick lit novels that had me laughing. Lucy Anne Holmes’ "Fifty Ways to Find a Lover" stands out as one that kept me consistently amused as I turned the pages.


Funniest book character (chick lit or any kind)?
There are so many, but I love the Nurse in "Romeo and Juliet." She’s bawdy and cracks loads of jokes brimming with sexual innuendo – and she gets away with it. In a play that’s so focused on tragedy and romance, I enjoy the levity she brings.

Funniest TV show?
I am a big fan of "Seinfeld," every though it’s not as popular here in the UK as it is in America. I love the dry humour, the self-deprecation, and all the fabulous over-the-top characters.

Funniest song?
You have to listen to the "Daily Mail" song, which spoofs one of Britain’s most popular conservative tabloids. I must have watched it on YouTube a good twenty times, and it never fails to make me laugh because it’s so spot on.

Funniest thing that happened to you recently?
Given I write from home and only leave the flat for the heady confines of the supermarket, that’s a difficult question. However, I do live on a very busy street, so there are plenty of characters about. One day, I sallied forth to get some milk and ended up bumping into a man I like to call ‘Screamy Running Man’. Each day, this person runs at full tilt, screams, then takes off again. Dressed in a suit and tie, he looks fairly ‘normal’, so I’d always wondered if this was some kind of therapy for him. Now was my chance to find out. After asking why he was yelling at the top of his lungs, he looked at me thoughtfully, opened his mouth . . . and screamed.

Sigh! One day I’ll find out, I’m sure.

Funniest misunderstanding?
Since my in-laws are Egyptian and I don’t speak Arabic, there is always ample opportunity for misunderstanding. On my last trip to Cairo, I thought I was saying to everyone – for the two weeks we were there – how beautiful things were (it was one of the only words I knew!). The food was beautiful, the scenery. . . you get the picture. Instead, it turned out I was telling everyone and everything ‘you’re beautiful’. No wonder all those people had been giving me funny looks. I couldn’t believe my husband hadn’t corrected me!


Strangest thing you find funny?
Er, do I really want to reveal this? I must admit I find bow-ties amusing, for some reason. They’re so jaunty and cute, and I’ve discovered over the years they usually indicate the wearer is quite eccentric.

Favorite comedian?
I love Miranda Hart, a British comedian. She’s an exaggerated version of Bridget Jones, and every episode she does always makes me giggle. Her antics when it comes to men and cake are legendary.

Funniest TV or movie character?
It’s got to be Kramer from "Seinfeld!" His manic energy and crazy ideas are so out there, it’s hilarious. He lives in his own little world and he’s very happy. You can’t fault the man, really.

Favorite joke?
Oh no! I am the world’s worst joke-teller because I can never remember the punch-line. Heck, I can never remember any jokes. I’ll leave you with this groaner: Last night there was a big fight in our local fish and chip shop . . . a lot of fish got battered. (I know, I know. I’m sorry!)


Thanks to Talli for amusing us with her wit and candor and for sharing her e-book with our readers.

How to win "Watching Willow Watts":
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 funniest misunderstanding you've experienced?
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. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

Giveaway ends October 23rd at midnight EST.

15 comments:

Talli Roland said...

Thanks for hosting me, ladies!

Len Lambert said...

I enjoyed reading this! Thank you Chick Lit Central and Talli! I love Miranda, too, Talli! And I'm a big Talli-fan. I've got two of her first books...I'm definitely going to get Build a Man as well! All the best, Talli! :)

Charlotte said...

Wow.. This sounds awesome. I follow you on chic lit and posted on fb.

C.semenchuk@comcast.net

Erin said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I follow your blog. erins826 at gmail dot com

BRN2SHOP9 said...

Wow Good question. I know that I have had some very funny misunderstandings but at the moment I cannot think of any specific stories.

I follow via Twitter, Facebook, and GFC.

brn2shop9 at gmail dot com

Literary Chanteuse said...

One time with a group of friends sitting in a restaurant at a table with benches, at an overcrowded table. I had a comfortable seat mind you and one friend was sort of hanging of the edge. Anyway the waiter came and asked if we needed extra seating and looked directly at me and I was like no I'm fine... everyone else cracked up cause it was really obvious that we needed extra seating. I felt embarrassed and didn't really think. Needless to say we got the extra seating and all was well.

I'm a follower.

Margaret
singitm(at)homail(dot)com

Stephanie said...

Great post! I'll be reading your books, Talli. Now suscribed to Chick Lit Central blog, author@booksarecool.com, and following you on Twitter. Tweeted about the contest (I'm @llamamum).
Funniest misunderstanding? Oh boy, there have been loads since we moved to France. Maybe the time I went into the butcher's and asked for bear (ours) when I should have said bone (os)- for my dog by the way! Or when I told a neighbour that we had lots of animals on our farm - llamas, alpacas, goats, dogs, rabbits and a slut. I'd meant to say cat, 'chat', at the end there, but I used the feminine version of the word which is 'chatte', and this means tart or prostitute!

Mary Preston said...

Someone thought it would be funny to tell me that our new boss liked to be called by his first name. I did wonder why he gave me strange looks when I kept calling him John. It look a long time for me to redeem myself.

GFC & FB: Mary Preston

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Anonymous said...

Can't wait!!

Jeryl M. said...

I would like to read this book.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I cannot think of funny misunderstandings I have ever had right now, but I can think of a lot my children have had. For instance, when my stepson was little he used to think the song set Diddle Diddle Dumpling mice on John instead of my son Jon.

I am a Facebook follower.

I am a subscriber.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Talli! Enjoyed the interview.

smdrazic(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Great interview. Love Talli Roland!!

Marie Rearden said...

Loved THE HATING GAME! Talli's hilarious. Definitely wouldn't mind WILLOW. :)

Okay, big misunderstanding. To set it up. 1. My Hub's a runner. 2. My sister-in-law is Indian, as is her brother and mother.

So, Hub's was gearin' up for a big race. We were excitedly yapping and laughing about an inside joke we had about it when the sister-in-law walks into the room (with bro and mom). "What's so funny?" She asks with a smile.

Hubs and I exchange a smirk, look back at her, then I said, "Nothing big. It's a race thing."

Silence...

Then from all three screamed, "A RACE thing!?"

Mortified!

StereoQueenBee said...

1. Please tell us:What is the funniest misunderstanding you've experienced?

Not sure...

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.

Facebook - Sabrina-Kate Eryou
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. Please read our posting guidelines, as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Am already a member.

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com