Monday, January 2, 2012

Kate Rockland rings in 2012 and has a book to give away

**Giveaway is now closed**

Kate Rockland takes us on the set of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at the beginning of her latest novel "150 Pounds" (reviewed here), which is headed to bookshelves on January 17th. She also has something very exciting in the works for this spring, but you'll have to read her interview to find out what that is! Kate lives in Hoboken, NJ (which is quite a happening town, especially on Halloween) with her husband, son, and a cat named Elizabeth Taylor. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Times. She proudly admits that she weighs 150 pounds.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have THREE copies of "150 Pounds" to give to some lucky readers ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!


You can find more about Kate (and how "Rock" is part of her last name because she totally "rocks" when it comes to chick lit) by visiting her blog, as well as her Facebook and Twitter pages.

Which authors have inspired you?
I started reading strictly chick lit in high school, mainly Marian Keyes. Her book "Watermelon" was my favorite. I love the ups and downs the main character goes through when her man leaves her. I once wrote her a fan letter, and her husband wrote me back, which I found too funny! I went through kind of a dark East Coast male writer phase, reading everything by Stephen King, John Irving, and Harlan Coben. Then in college, my mom introduced me to the British Lit madams, Ngaio Marsh, Elizabeth George, and P.D. James. I still love a good murder mystery, preferably over a cup of tea!

What is one piece of advice you have for future writers?
Never give up. Try to write a little bit every day, even if you’ve had too much wine to drink. Keep a stickie pad of paper next to your bed and write down ideas from dreams. My first book "Falling Is Like This" was rejected many, many times before St. Martin's offered me a two-book deal. It’s like dating: You have to kiss a lot of frogs!

What was the inspiration behind "150 Pounds?"
I gained and lost fifty pounds twice in two years. When I got married, my husband started to explore cooking. The women in my family do not cook. The most we’ll do is boil an egg. So I quickly put on fifty pounds as a newlywed. Luckily, my husband loved my curves. It sucked having to buy all new clothes, though. So I did weight watchers. Then, as soon as I got back to 135 pounds, I got pregnant last year! Boom! 50 Pounds again. It took nine months to take off the weight, which I did with walking. Then, as soon as I got back to about 145, I got pregnant for the second time. I think I’ve given up on ever wearing my string bikini again, and I’m okay with that. I began to think about how women and their weight are so closely linked. To men, they don’t really pay any attention to their bellies or their scales. The “freshman 15” seems to only apply to one gender, which isn’t fair. Also, women go through these colossal weight changes when they hit puberty, and when they have pregnancies. When I’m sad, I eat Hagen Daaz coffee ice-cream. My moods, emotions, and life revolves around my weight. I think it’s like this for a lot of women. Also, "150 Pounds" is my battle cry. I’m so sick of the media showing us skinny celebrities as if that’s the norm. The average sized American woman is a 14. Not a 0. I’d like in my lifetime to see that reflected in movies, commercials, and print media.

Are you currently working on anything new you can tell us a little bit about?
I’m writing a book about a woman who becomes a surrogate for her sister, but I don’t have the characters in my head very strong yet. They haven’t started "talking to me," if you will.

Who do you relate to more: Alexis or Shoshana?
I love Shoshana. Obviously Alexis is not very likeable, although I hope the reader likes her a little bit more in the end of the book than the beginning. Shoshana is a "friend collector," as am I. I’m outgoing, loud, and funny. I love to eat. Food is life and happiness, in my mind. She listens to music from the sixties and dresses kind of crunchy, which is not really me, but the warmth she has is a lot like me. However, I could never live with three female roommates! I’d go crazy.

Was Oprah okay with you giving her a cameo and some dialogue in "150 Pounds?"
Let’s hope so. I can’t afford a lawsuit. I haven’t made back my advance from St. Martin's yet!

If "150 Pounds" were optioned for film, who would play Alexis and Shoshana?
I think Kate Hudson would make a great bitchy Alexis. She did a great job in “Something Borrowed.” I’d love to get Nikki Blonsky to play Shoshana, from Hairspray. She’s curvy, funny, and has a loud voice. She’d be perfect. Nikki, take the role!

Why do you think most people choose weight loss or exercise as their new year's resolution. Do you know of anyone who has stuck with that kind of resolution throughout the year?
I think people choose weight loss as their New Year’s resolution because commercials for diets bombard us with guilt. We also live in a very visual culture. I think people should stop torturing themselves and come up with better resolutions, like they’re going to stop being so judgmental of themselves, and love their bodies just the way they are this year. Unless your doctor says they’re concerned for your health, live a little! My New Year’s resolution is to drink more wine and eat more chocolate.

What is the strangest, craziest or most "out there" new year's resolution you have ever made?
One year I promised myself I’d be more adventurous, so I went to Hawaii by myself. I rented a car, and drove around, into mountains, and even took surfing lessons. I remember a huge turtle swam right underneath my board. I got third degree burns from not wearing SPF. But I still made it to Hawaii! Maybe my resolution should have been to wear SPF. I’m really glad I traveled alone. It was lonely at times, but I can always brag about having done it.

Now that it's the beginning of a new year, what month are you looking forward to the most?
May, because not only is it the beginning of summer, but my second child is due. I can’t wait to find out if they’re a boy or a girl!

How to win "150 Pounds":

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 be famous for blogging on any topic, which topic would you choose?
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 January 8th at midnight EST.


36 comments:

Tracie Banister said...

Sounds like an amazing book! Would love to win a copy! Thank you, Kate, for putting out such a healthy message about women and their weight. All shapes and sizes are beautiful!

Tracie67 AT aol DOT com

Marian Pearson Stevens said...

The book sounds awesome, Kate! Love the message for the sisterhood. A blog that comes to mind(having never dipped into blogging myself)is --never stop trying to reach for your heart's desire. I'm a ChickLit groupie. Thanks for kicking off our New Year!

Danielle said...

What a great article! It's always fun to get to know the author! The book sounds really good, Kate and I would love to win a copy! It's funny that you said you couldn't cook, because I can't cook to save my life! I can make a mean salad and mac and cheese, but that's as far as I go.

If I could be famous for blogging any topic, it would be for an Autism blog. I specialize in this area and would love to give advice to parents, teachers, and anyone that would listen about this topic.

I am already a follower of your blog and am already a member on Chick Lit Central on Facebook.

Thanks for the contest!

Djbroyer@gmail.com

faithspage said...

I would love to be fashion blogger, not high fashion. Tricks and Trends.
follow on gfc, fb, and twitter

kyfaithw at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Loved Marian Keyes Watermelon, too!

ljreese3 at gmail dot com

If you could be famous for blogging on any topic, which topic would you choose? Reviewing Books!

I'm a follower of the blog and on FB

Tweeted @Smartlit1

Elissa said...

This book looks so good. I think a blog about finding the comedy in everyday life would be something to be known for!I follow this blog and I'm a FB fan so that should be 3 entries! Thanks!

Elissa said...

Of course I forgot my email...

elissadotbullardatgmail.com

Happy New Year!

Dolly said...

I was once a size 14 ('normal'); I was never a 0 - I skipped right from a girl's 6X to Jr.s (which never did fit right...I was really Ladie's, but who wants to wear THAT when you're 10????) I wish for that utopia where women are judged for what's inside their heads and not everything but that.

Dolly said...

Oh, if I could be famous for blogging on any topic,I wish it could be how I found a solution to stop animal cruelty.

I'm already an email, FB, etc. etc. follower. Love you guys!

karenk said...

love the cover...and the title.

i would blog about...books :)

i'm a follower, too.

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

BlackLabRVAdventures said...

I think there's blog post potential here - 150 reasons to buy this book.
Great post, Kate. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

Happy New Year!
Heather(underscore)HummelatYahoodotcom.

Reading Mind / The Loyal Book said...

I'd love this book. I've had food-related problems and issues for a log time now and I'd love to read it.

My New Year resolutions actually involves starting a blog...about books, my lifetime addiction!

Also, I'm part of ChickLit on FB (Lucia Pannacci)

aliasgirl at libero dot it

Literary Chanteuse said...

I would love to blog about books. I just don't think I can be as good at it as all the lovely bloggers already out there doing it plus I just don't think I have the time. Would love to help bring attention to all the not so famous authors and books. I'm a follower.

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

Lilian said...

One look at the cover and I am already drooling.

1. Please tell us: If you could be famous for blogging on any topic, which topic would you choose?
My life? I think I am hilarious (or maybe I am just delusional), and if I were to get famous over anything, it might as well be about myself. Yes, I am conceited.

2. I already follow~

3. https://twitter.com/circustoybox/status/153977490677837824

4. already a member (Lilian Cheng), and I didn't think twice about email settings..until they hit my inbox


lilianxcheng AT gmail.com

bevsclark said...

If I could be famous for blogging on any topic, I would like to be a snarkier version of Dear Abby.

I sent a facebook request.

bevsclark at gmail dot com

Jeryl M. said...

I would like to read this book.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I would like to be famous for blogging about the funny things kids say.

I am a Facebook follower.

I am a subscriber.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Mary Preston said...

Maybe I could be famous for blogging about chocolate. Just imagine the taste testing.

I follow.

FB: Mary Preston


marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a great book -- one of my goals for 2012 is to stop diet mania and focus on being healthy. I think one of the biggest myths being perpetuated on our society (besides that you have to be a size 2 or smaller to be beautiful) is that you're not healthy unless you're skinny. In reality, you can be healthy at any size.

If I could be famous for blogging on any topic it would be a vegetarian food blog -- but there are already enough masterminds out there that I don't see that happening any time soon!

I posted this giveaway on Facebook (Lilya Davidovna) and on Twitter (@LilyaDavidovna). I joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook and read the guidelines too. :)

lilyadavidovna(at)hotmail(dot)com

Heather said...

If I could be famous for blogging it would be for scrap booking!
Ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

Nina said...

I am a TV junkie, so I have to say I would love to be successful blogging about that! Then again, I am also an ego maniac so being successful blogging about just myself would be pretty neat too ;) Hahaha...
nina565(at)aol(dot)com

Kristen said...

I would blog about celebrities so that I could justify reading "US Weekly" every week to myself. :)

Love the message about real women!

I follow on email and FB.

kly(dot)327@gmail.com

holdenj said...

Sounds like a great book, what a wonderful interview!

I am a follower.

Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

StereoQueenBee said...

1. Please tell us: If you could be famous for blogging on any topic, which topic would you choose?

Food, especially desserts!

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

Am a follower.

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 a member.

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

Ananda said...

Chicklitcentral..you are an INSPIRATION!I'm on my holliday and out of town,but had to get online and check you out..and you have another AWESOME giveaway!!OMG you're the BEST!
Ok,now to answer that question..if I could be famous for blogging,I would chose topic BOOKS of course LOL
Well,you know how it feels...being addicted to books and your blog!!

Twitted about the giveaway
https://twitter.com/#!/BookstoRemember/status/154352042243129344

Still don't have a FB but will get one when I get back from my holidays:)
Love ya all and wish ya a terrific new year..Keep up the GREAT work!!!

Oh and my e-mail is
love2slim(at)yahoo(DOT)com

Thank you so so much for all the great giveaways,reviews,recommendations and for being so awesome!Don't know what I would do without you guys! xx

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I would like to blog about hearing loss in the young adult populations

BRN2SHOP9 said...

forgot to say that I follow via facebook, twitter and gfc

brn2shop9 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would like to be famous for blogging about recipes I create.

I'm a follower.

cat123hen(at)aol(dot)com

Gail A said...

I'd love to be famous for blogging about life at it happens. Weird stuff tends to happen in my general vicinity and usually makes for great stories

I'm a FB follower

I'm a subscriber

gailnbob(at)telus(dot)net

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

This is a tough decision between fashion, books and cooking... I think I would have to go with fashion though. I would love to have an amazing wardrobe to blog about everyday! :)
I'm a follower through GFC
I'm a fan on Facebook!
My email is: amber_johnson2004 at yahoo dot com

Shannon said...

Please oh please let me win this book! :)

I am a follower of your blog because I love chick-lit.

If I could be famous for any blogging topic I would have to say I would want it to be my teaching blog. :)

Shannon
http://www.extremereadingandwriting.wordpress.com

shannonabc123@gmail.com
@shannonclark7

Anonymous said...

Hmm, think a guy could win this draw? Well, let's see.
I'd like to be famous for my travel blog. Of course as a famous blogger I'd be traveling all the time, excellent.
I retweeted your original message on Twitter.
I also joined the Chick Lit Central facebook group.
I'll sign up to follow the blog in a minute and I'll be following you on Twitter as well.
carlscott(at)prodigy.net.mx.
Not much more I can do
Thanks...Carl

Kim W. said...

1. I would probably blog about books!!! And more books!! And....more books!!

2. I follow the CLC blog

3. I posted this contest on FB

4. I belong to CLC on FB

kewalker1972@gmail.com

Vicky @ A Backpack Full of Adventures said...

I've seen this book on Goodreads the other day, I'd love to win a copy! Thanks for the opportunity :)

Email: booksbiscuitsandtea(at)hotmail(dot)com

- If I could be famous for blogging any topic, I would still like to be a book blogger. :)
- old follower (GFC, follower name: Vicky)
- I tweeted about it: https://twitter.com/#!/alouetteuette/status/156014126173388800
- I joined you on Facebook a while ago (FB username: Vicky's Reviews)

Thank you! x

Courtney said...

Sounds like a great read!

If I could be famous for blogging I would definately have to blog about people with disabilities. I currently work in a group home with 8 ladies who are deaf and have devoplemental diabilities and I have learned a lot from them since working here.

Love following this blog as well as Facebook.

Reposted on Twitter!

courtney (dot) marie (dot) turner (at) gmail (dot) com

Nancye said...

This sounds like a great book! Count me in.

I gave blogging a go once before and I never could keep up. I guess if I were a blogger, I'd probably blog about family, kids, and books.

GFC Follower

I like you on Facebook

I Tweeted
@NancyeDavis
https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/156231336405897216

FB Post
FB ID: Nancye Epperson Davis
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/nancyecdavis/posts/214592898628917

Thanks for the giveaway!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net