Monday, February 28, 2011

All You Need is Love...plus a book giveaway


**Giveaway is now closed**

Shana Mahaffey lives in San Francisco, California, in part of an Edwardian compound that she shares with an informal cooperative of family, friends, and five cats (two hers, three residing in other apartments in the buildings). The causes she holds closely to her heart are for wildlife preservation, natural resource conservation and marine mammals. She has written several short stories for various publications. Her first novel is "Sounds Like Crazy" and she has come to tell us why she made sure to include a love interest for her main character. She also is offering to send two copies of her book to some lucky readers anywhere in the world.

If you like what you've read here, check out her blog, follow her tweets and visit her on Facebook.

Why Does the Love Interest in Novels Interest Us?

Why is it that a novel isn’t complete without a love interest? From Science Fiction to thrillers to fiction someone is either looking for love, falling in love, or in love. If the writer has done his or her job, we hitch our wagons to the main character and look eagerly or fall blissfully. When it comes to “in love,” unless the book is a thriller, mystery, or some kind of quest—inward or outward—where the two lover are in it together, the “in love” state is usually a state of delusion and the relationship is most likely a “fixer” that requires a hammer, screwdriver, or in most cases, a chainsaw.

In my novel, Sounds Like Crazy, my main character, Holly, was “in love” with Peter. The book is not a mystery or a thriller and Holly and Peter weren’t on a quest. So, you guessed it, they had a chainsaw variety relationship—i.e., they had no business being together. Holly was an emotional cripple and Peter fit the bill of quintessential jerk, turd, douche (a term I seem to hear a lot these days), or a man who “meets expectations.” Do you like that last description? I mean it, meets expectations. Without any awareness on her part, Holly sought out the guy who fit her understanding of a loving relationship. Peter fit the bill to a “T.” Sound familiar?

Originally, Sounds Like Crazy didn’t have a love interest. I figured a woman with Multiple Personality Disorder (or Dissociative Identity Disorder to use the current DSM IV term), Holly’s condition, had enough on her mind, or I should say “in her mind,” to deal with. Then I did a plot review with Martha Alderson, author of Blockbuster Plots. During our session, Martha said, “You need a love interest in your book.”

“Why?” was my very confused response. Why indeed? I certainly didn’t want to go “there,” because given that I like to live and breathe the characters I am writing about, there meant I’d have to explore my own understanding of a loving relationship. Nevertheless, there I went in the form of Peter.

The funny thing is, writing about Holly and Peter’s relationship was harder than writing about a woman with five alternate personalities living inside her head. Go figure! I had to revise this part of the book more than a dozen times. Finally, I had the perfect man: The narcissist, the liar, the cheater, the dangler of carrots, the promiser, the man who embodied every cringe-worthy trait you find in those guys in the books, and movies, and TV shows. The one who when you read about or watch the woman falling for his shtick, chasing after him, outwardly you groan and inwardly you get it. At least most of you do, because you’ve done it at least once. And those of you who haven’t, have nursed girlfriends and guy friends through the aftermath of this kind of human wrecking ball.

Now, I’ve always been good at professional life. I’ve never been so good at personal life, at least when it comes to relationships. I always chose the wrong guy. They were all nice men. They met my expectations, because my expectations were unavailable men who saw me the same way I saw myself—a flawed woman who had a big fat ass. IMHO of course.

What I learned writing about Holly and Peter’s relationship is that to heal, Holly needed seriously upgrade her understanding of what she deserved when it came to love. And the only way she could upgrade was if I did the same thing. To do this, I needed to take a hard look at my current relationship with my own Mr. Wonderful, who upon a giant step back for big picture viewing and reflection, was a mirror image of Peter with minor differences like a partner, children and a country making ours a long distance relationship.

If Holly deserved better, didn’t I? You bet. And in a perfect twist of fate, my “a ha” moment came when on his next visit, Mr. Wonderful commented on my recent weight gain (we’re talking 10 pounds here. TEN POUNDS!), “I don’t find you attractive right now with the extra weight.” My immediate thought? “WTF? You the liar and cheater with big ears, and bad spelling, and paranoia, and fill in the long list of blanks are going to give me grief about ten pounds!” My spoken response? “Get the F*(& out of my life.” I’d discovered through Holly and Peter it was all about the pattern. No more fall in love, then when it ends, feel bereft, chase, and basically destroy something I’m not even sure was in me or I wanted in the first place. I wanted a different pattern this time.

So why is it we relate to the bad relationship and we find hope in the triumph of the elimination of the bad relationship on the way to the nice guy we all dream of?
I believe it’s because deep in our hearts we all want that heart stoppingly, blissfully in love relationship to be one that is real and positive. Something that brings out the best in us. Makes us want to be a better person. We all want the person who brings a smile to our faces when we think of them and a thrill in our heart when we see them. Discovering Peter in Sounds Like Crazy and exploring the relationship between him and Holly, including the moment of triumph we readers want every character to find/experience, certainly made me look in my own mirror. It helped me understand why indeed every book needs a love interest, that and a whole lot more.


Thanks to Shana for sharing her point of view with us, as well as offering the books for our giveaway.


How to win "Sounds Like Crazy":
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 if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: Who is your favorite love interest in any novel you have read?
2. Please tell us: What other element should chick lit books contain in order to keep you interested?
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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Giveaway ends Sunday, March 6th at midnight EST

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Book Review: The Chocolate Lovers' Diet

By Melissa Amster

I mentioned in the past how much I loved "The Chocolate Lovers' Club" and how I couldn't wait to read the sequel. I finally obtained a copy this year and devoured it just as much as I did the first. It not only made me crave chocolate even more, but now I really want Carole Matthews to write a third novel about this fascinating foursome.

I don't want to spoil too much about the previous novel, if you haven't read it yet. All I can say is that "The Chocolate Lovers' Diet" picks up where it left off and the story soars right away. Each woman has to deal with similar issues related to what happened in TCLC. With the help of delicious chocolate and their strong bonds of friendship, they don't have to experience any of their situations alone.

I can definitely say that I enjoyed TCLD as much as, if not more than, TCLC. I loved revisiting these friends and seeing what happened after the first story ended. Their camaraderie filled me with a feeling of genuine warmth and made me wonder if I am that good of a friend to my girl friends. There were a lot of surprise twists and things that I didn't expect to happen at all, which kept me on my toes throughout. The dialogue was snappy and humorous and the chocolate was described to absolute perfection, allowing me to realize that there can never be too much of a good thing. I also like that Ms. Matthews tied things in from TCLC so that my memory was instantly refreshed as I was reading TCLD. It didn't feel like almost two years had passed between when I read the first one until now.

My criticisms are that the story went on a bit long (over 400 pages) and some parts felt far-fetched and unrealistic (again, I can't say what it was without including spoilers). However, that didn't take away from how much I enjoyed this story.

If you haven't read "The Chocolate Lovers' Club" yet, check that out so that you can follow it up with a delicious "Diet." You won't be disappointed!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Winner of "Skipping a Beat"

To find the winner, we assigned a number to each entry and then asked Sarah Pekkanen to pick a number at random. Here's what she had to say:

How about number 42?

Thank you all so much for your kind comments and enthusiasm for Skipping a Beat! I'd love to connect with you on Facebook or Twitter, so please find me there and we can continue chatting about writing and books. Thanks to the two Melissas for creating this amazing place for us to all learn about new books - I was honored to be a guest!
xoxo,
Sarah


Congrats to Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields!

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks again to Sarah for enlightening us on how to write under rather unique conditions and for giving away a book through our blog!

Thanks to everyone who participated, as well.

For another chance to win "Skipping a Beat," visit Colloquium.
US only, no P.O. Boxes
Ends March 6th at 11:59 pm PST

Don't miss out on our other giveaways:

"Confetti Confidential" by Holly McQueen
US/Canada only
Ends March 1st at midnight EST

"Everleigh in NYC" by Cathleen Holst
US/Canada only
Ends February 28th at midnight EST

*Winners will be announced either as soon as Melissa A. has a chance to do it or in the original blog post, if Melissa P. gets to it first. An announcement will go up on Facebook, if it's the latter.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Winning Wednesday--February 23rd

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!


New giveaways:

"Skipping a Beat" by Sarah Pekkanen:

*Chick Lit Central
US/Canada only
Ends tomorrow at midnight EST

* Chick Lit is Not Dead.
Ends tomorrow at 6 pm PST.

* Colloquium
US only, no P.O. Boxes
Ends March 6th at 11:59 pm PST

"Confetti Confidential" by Holly McQueen
Chick Lit Central
US/Canada only
Ends March 1st at midnight EST

"Everleigh in NYC" by Cathleen Holst
Chick Lit Central
US/Canada only
Ends February 28th at midnight EST

"Colorful Chick Lit" Package Giveaway
Livin' La Vida Latina
US only
Ends March 5th

"Haunting Jasmine" by Anjali Banerjee
The Book Chick
US/Canada only
Ends March 8th

"The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel" by James Thayer, $10 B&N Gift Card or $10 Amazon Gift Card
So Many Books, So Little Time So Here's Mine
Book: US only
Gift Cards: US/Canada only
Ends February 26th at 10pm PST

"The Wrong Mother" by Sophie Hannah
Free Book Friday
Ends tomorrow at midnight PST

"The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus" by Sonya Sones
GoodReads
US only
Ends March 10th

Third blogoversary giveaway
The Book Chick
Anywhere BookDepository.com ships to
Ends March 11th at midnight EST

"Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough" by Ruth Pennebaker
Peeking Between the Pages
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends March 5th


Previously posted (still going on):

"Born Under a Lucky Moon" by Dana Precious
* Woman's Day
Ends March 27th

* Luxury Reading
US/Canada only
Ends March 4th at midnight EST

"The Upside of Down" by Rebecca Talley
I am a Reader, Not a Writer
US only
Ends March 8th

"Cowboys Never Cry" by Tina Welling
Luxury Reading
US only
Ends March 4th at midnight EST

"The Science of Kissing" by Sheril Kirshenbaum
So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends February 25th, 11:59 pm EST

"The Frog Prince" by Jane Porter and other goodies
Jane Porter
Ends March 30th

"The Accidental Adult" by Colin Sokolowski
Manic Mommy
Deadline unknown

"Committed" by Elizabeth Gilbert
Luxury Reading
US/Canada only
Ends February 28th at midnight EST


"I Heart..." series by Lindsey Kelk (complete set..all signed)
I Heart...Paris
UK only
Ends March 1st


Help Kaira Rouda get 800 fans, win "Here, Home, Hope" and Dogeared Jewels and Gifts Karma Necklace
Kaira Rouda Books on Facebook
Ends when this page reaches 800 fans

Dreams can come true...plus a book giveaway



**Giveaway is now closed**

Cathleen Holst is a bonafide "Georgia Peach," as she was born and raised in Atlanta and has no intention of living anywhere where sweet tea is unavailable. She resides in the Atlanta suburbs with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. Like Jerry Seinfeld, she is obsessed with Superman. Her writing influences include Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk, Helen Fielding, and Fannie Flagg. Cathleen has dropped by Chick Lit Central to talk about her dream of being published, which has finally come true with her debut novel "Everleigh in NYC." She even has one copy of this novel to give away to a lucky reader in the US or Canada.

If you like what you've read here, visit Cathleen on Facebook and
Twitter.

Dreams. No matter how far-fetched, you need them.

My debut novel, EVERLEIGH IN NYC, just recently made its debut—on Christmas Eve 2010, as a matter of fact. Pretty awesome gift, huh? When I think back to my childhood, writing was definitely a dream of mine. One of many, actually. At one time, I wanted to be a singer. Trust me, I followed the better dream. Despite my affinity for belting out tunes around the house, no one wants to hear me sing, not even my family. I decided to leave that to those who can actually carry a tune. Another was a teacher. But once I discovered my astounding ineptitude when it came to anything math related, that dream was doused. I also wanted to act. And many nights, alone in my room, I would act out my appearance on The Tonight Show (with Johnny Carson) after winning my first Academy Award. Oh the dreams of a child.

Writing was something I enjoyed immensely, but never really shared with anyone outside my family. Like most budding authors, I doubted my skills as a writer. I still have my doubts, I think most writers do. But if the dream of becoming a published author was ever going to come to fruition, doubt was something I had to overcome, even if only a little. This town wasn’t big enough for the two of us. One of us was going to be sent packing. And it certainly wasn’t going to be me, by gum!
Sounds like I stood up and stared doubt right in its grimy, failure loving face, doesn’t it? It wasn’t quite that easy. It took years for me to get to the point to feel comfortable enough to share my writing with anyone. If the writing was a class essay, I had no problem, because, even though the words were all mine, it wasn’t necessarily something I’d created. Tell me my writing isn’t up to snuff, and that’s fine. I can work on that. But if someone told me I couldn’t tell a story. Ouch. Those words cut deep. What good is being able to string a bunch of words together if they didn’t form an entertaining story? I avoided feedback at all costs. But I kept at it, albeit secretly. I wrote as often as I could. And the older I got, the less time I had to write.

At twenty-one, I became a mother for the first time. This left zero time to write as I was often working twelve hour days at a local carwash. Needless to say, money was beyond tight. It was non-existent. I never stopped reading during this time, so my love for the written word never faded. Fast forward fifteen years, and two more children later, I made the conscious decision to sit my behind down and write. I wrote, and I wrote, and I wrote. It was during this time that I decided to write with the intention of becoming published. Why not, I thought. Just like the main character in my novel, I finally decided now was as good a time as any to follow my dream. However, I didn’t make publishing THE goal. I just wanted to complete a manuscript and see where it took me. Just like I didn’t make becoming a New York Times Bestseller a goal. If it happened, it would be amazing. More than I ever imagined. But I thought making something so lofty a GOAL that I’d be setting myself up for colossal disappointment. I liken it acting. An actor, I’m sure, goes into the business with dreams of one day winning an Academy Award, but expecting it will surely bring on a crippling amount of stress, not to mention depression when those expectations are never met.

Write for the love of writing. Nothing more, nothing less. Stephen King said something along those lines in his book “ON WRITING”. “It’s wonky, and immoral.” And if you haven’t read this book, you need to. I think it’s a MUST read for all budding authors.

So finally, half a year later (I’m a painfully slow writer—something I’m working on.) I had completed my first draft of EVERLEIGH IN NYC (originally titled THE STORY OF EVERLEIGH CARLISLE). After three more drafts, I began the submission process. No luck. Only rejections. And I was okay with that. The story needed work. I sat down and began a complete rewrite of my story, which took me another seven months. The rest, as they say, is history. I signed a one book deal with a small, independent publishing house.

Oh, happy day! My book was going to be published. My creation. My indelible mark on the world. Someone else thought enough of my story to give it a chance. It was a dream come true, the day I held that book in my hands. All the hard work, the headaches, the sacrifices, they suddenly all seemed so worth it. I just hope the rest of the world agrees.


Special thanks to Cathleen for sharing her thoughts with us and for offering her book for our giveaway!


How to win "Everleigh in NYC":
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 if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What is your biggest dream?
2. Please tell us: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Monday, February 28th at midnight EST.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Winner of "Wedding Cake to Turin"

To find our winner, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Lynda Renham-Cook to pick two numbers at random. Here is what she had to say:

Number 4

Thank you again to Chick Lit Central, all the readers who are a great inspiration and Melissa A & P. A lot of the feedback I have been receiving has been inspirational in helping me write the next novel.

A great reading year to everyone.
Lynda


Congrats to PoCoKat!

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone for participating and to Lynda for sharing a day in her life with us, as well as the book for the giveaway.

Don't forget about our current giveaways:

"Skipping a Beat" by Sarah Pekkanen
Ends Thursday at midnight EST

"Confetti Confidential" by Holly McQueen
Ends March 1st at midnight EST

Both are US/Canada only

Book Review and Giveaway: Confetti Confidential

By Melissa Amster


**Giveaway is now closed**

The topic of weddings seems so far off for me these days, as I've been married almost seven years and have been focusing on raising children since then. There are times when I go back to watch my wedding DVD and reminisce about how special the day was though. Those times make me glad that I had a competent wedding planner who made sure things went smoothly, every step of the way. Even given all the insanity that Isabel Bookbinder had to deal with when planning weddings in Holly McQueen's latest novel, "Confetti Confidential," I still think I would have trusted her to plan my wedding if she existed in real life.

In the third installment of Ms. McQueen's Isabel Bookbinder series, we find Isabel working as an assistant to a well known wedding planner. However, when she takes on a family friend's wedding at the same time and some mix-ups occur, she loses her job in the process. However, she still goes on to plan weddings on her own and ends up with even more headaches between trying to do something special for her best friend (and soon-to-be sister-in-law) and trying to manage a celebrity bride engaged to a millionaire. Isabel tries to work around the obstacles in her career and personal life at the same time, which all builds up to her biting off more than she can chew.

I had a lot of fun reading "Confetti Confidential." It was an enjoyable story that kept me guessing at every twist and turn. Isabel is a sympathetic character with whom I was able to easily relate. Even though I didn't read the first two stories about her, I still was able to understand her personality and there was enough background from the previous stories that it didn't feel confusing. (I would be interested to read the other stories to see what other crazy situations Isabel landed herself into.) The supporting characters were all well-defined and added a nice balance of comedy and drama to the story. Another thing I enjoyed was all the letters and scenes that showed up at the end of certain chapters. I wasn't sure if they were part of the story or just Isabel's own imaginings, but I love how certain lines were crossed out and others put in their place.

The only criticism I had was that one part of the story didn't seem as neatly tied up as the others. I felt like I was left hanging at the end of her last conversation that related to that situation. I'm thinking that Ms. McQueen is leaving things open for another story, in that sense. It would be fun to see Isabel come back in future books and have her make another dramatic career change, at the same time.

Overall, I recommend this to anyone who wants a humorous and entertaining story. Isabel has been compared to Becky Bloomwood of the "Shopaholic" series, and I can see why.

Thanks to Mellony Torres of Simon and Schuster for the review copy, as well as for offering to give away five books to some lucky readers in the US and Canada.

How to win "Confetti Confidential":
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 if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us:

If you are married...what was your favorite memory from your wedding day?

If you are not married (but would like to be)...what is one must-have for your dream wedding?

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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Tuesday, March 1st, at midnight EST.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Writing while on a Chuck E. Cheese wine buzz...plus a book giveaway



**Giveaway is now closed**

You may remember Sarah Pekkanen (pronounced "peck-a-nin") from our interview with her last summer. Or you may have heard many accolades for her books all over the internet. Either way, Sarah is a sensational writer and we're glad to have her back here. This time, she is talking about writing under rather unique conditions. She also has one signed copy of her newly released novel, "Skipping a Beat" (reviewed here) to give away to a lucky reader in the US or Canada.

If you like what you've read here, follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Here’s what I used to imagine writing my novel would be like: I’d stroll into a charming little coffee shop, order a vanilla latte, and open my laptop. The words would gracefully unfurl from my fingertips while I nodded in delight at my own cleverness. I’d complete a chapter, take the last, frothy sip of my overpriced beverage, and head home, content and tired, but eager to return the next day and craft another gorgeous chapter.

Huh.

Here’s what my journey to writing a novel was like: I was dragged into Chuck E. Cheese’s by my kids, my laptop wedged under my armpit. I scanned my surroundings, searching for a centrally-located table with maximum surveillance opportunities. I ordered a glass of wine (oh, yes! My local Chuck E. Cheese’s serves wine!) and piled a small mountain of tokens on the table.

“One token at a time,” I instructed my kids. I typed a few words, glanced up as a kid rushed back for a token, and resumed writing. I was interrupted every thirty seconds, but soon I settled into a rhythm: type a bit, get a visual on the kids, type a bit more.

In subsequent months, I wrote more of my book in the dentist’s waiting room while my kids got their teeth cleaned, and in the carpool line for school (don’t worry, my car was in Park.) When my agent called to announce she was sending my novel out on submission, I picked up my battered laptop and took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda and frantically re-read my manuscript, searching for typos, while mainlining M&Ms (er, perhaps that last bit wasn’t really relevant. Plus, it’s now making me crave M&Ms. Excuse me just a moment).

But here’s the crazy thing: I actually prefer writing on the fly to the inherent expectations of the coffee house culture. I think it’s because we writers are so good at messing with our own minds. We type a sentence, mock and ridicule ourselves because it’s so lame, then begin to wonder if we’ll ever write a decent sentence again. We decide we probably won’t, so we wander off in search of a snack. Then we beat ourselves up both for breaking our low-carb diets and for not having the discipline to sit down long enough to hit our target word count for the day. It’s emotionally exhausting.

Writing at places like Chuck E. Cheese’s somehow makes the process less precious. All the pressure is off, because who in their right mind would try to craft a novel while a giant mouse dances a few feet away and crazed, glassy-eyed children careen around, screaming in either joy or terror (all screams sound alike at Chuck E. Cheese’s)? Somehow, the writing comes more easily there. And I don’t mind the noise, because I used to work in crowded newsrooms and am used to the screams of editors (which, for the record, were not usually screams of joy).

Writing works best for me when it fits in around the margins of my life. Now that I’m on my third book, I’m better able to handle longer writing stretches, and I’ve even ventured out to coffee shops at times. I’ve found I also adore writing first thing in the morning, during those quiet, golden hours when everyone in my house is asleep.

But I still return to the way I first learned to write a book, in little snatches and pockets of time. Just the other day, I scheduled an admissions test for my son to attend a new school.

“It’ll take about an hour,” the school official told me. “Do you mind waiting?”

I thought about my laptop, and the deadline for my next book, and I smiled as I said, “I don’t mind waiting at all.”


Thanks again to Sarah for showing how it is possible to write in noisy spaces and for offering her book for our giveaway.


How to win "Skipping a Beat":
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 if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What is the strangest thing you've been able to do under noisy or chaotic conditions?
2. Please tell us: What is/was your favorite game at Chuck E. Cheese (or any video game place for that matter)?
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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Thursday, February 24th at midnight EST.

For more chances to win "Skipping a Beat," visit Chick Lit is Not Dead. Ends Thursday after 6 pm PST.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Winners of "Why I Love Singlehood"

To pick our winners, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Elisa and Sarah to pick two numbers at random. Here is what they had to say:

Hello again everyone. Thanks so much for stopping by and for all the great comments --we enjoyed reading them! We hope that you all had a great Valentine's Day and continue to live with love in mind. Melissa A & P, thanks so much for hosting us. The winning numbers are 6 and 21. Congratulations!
Best,
Sarah and Elisa


Congrats to PoCoKat and Michele!

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Thanks again to Elisa and Sarah for sharing their favorite Valentine's Day memories with us and for giving away the e-books through our blog.

Don't miss out on our current giveaway:
"Wedding Cake to Turin" by Lynda Renham
International giveaway
Ends Monday at midnight EST

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Winning Wednesday--February 16th

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!


New giveaways:

"Why I Love Singlehood" by Elisa Lorello and Sarah Girrell (e-book)
Chick Lit Central
Ends tomorrow at midnight EST

"Wedding Cake to Turin" by Lynda Renham
Chick Lit Central
Ends February 21st at midnight EST

Special Giveaway from Sarah Pekkanen:
When you order "Skipping a Beat" from any retailer - like amazon.com, indiebound.com, etc - on or before Friday, February 18, and email the receipt to contest@sarahpekkanen.com, you will be entered into a sweepstakes for these prizes:

$25 gift certificate to Starbucks
Save a homeless dog! I'll donate $100 to the animal charity of your choice (in honor of my rescue lab Bella, who kept my feet warm while I wrote)
Signed copies of The Opposite of Me and Skipping a Beat and a copy of my short estory All is Bright
Win the Steve Madden shoes from my book trailer - I'm giving away two pairs (size 7 or 8 only)
Pick 3 books you've been dreaming of reading, and I'll buy them for you
$35 Sephora gift card
20 Hummingbird Bakery Cupcake notecards with recipes
Grand prize: A spanking new ereader!

If you've already purchased Skipping a Beat, just email the receipt to contest@sarahpekkanen.com and you're entered.


"Heart of the Matter" by Emily Giffin and Flip Video Camera
Chick Lit is Not Dead
Ends February 20th at 6pm PST

$25 Gift Card from Amazon
Colloquium
Ends TONIGHT at 11:59 pm PST

"Born Under a Lucky Moon" by Dana Precious
* Woman's Day
Ends March 27th

* Luxury Reading
US/Canada only
Ends March 4th at midnight EST

"The Upside of Down" by Rebecca Talley
I am a Reader, Not a Writer
US only
Ends March 8th

"Cowboys Never Cry" by Tina Welling
Luxury Reading
US only
Ends March 4th at midnight EST

"The Science of Kissing" by Sheril Kirshenbaum
So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends February 25th, 11:59 pm EST

"I Think I Love You" by Allison Pearson
BookTrib
Ends February 18th

"The Frog Prince" by Jane Porter and other goodies
Jane Porter
Ends March 30th


Previously posted (still going on):

"The Accidental Adult" by Colin Sokolowski
Manic Mommy
Deadline unknown

"Committed" by Elizabeth Gilbert
Luxury Reading
US/Canada only
Ends February 28th at midnight EST

"Dreaming in English" by Laura Fitzgerald
The Book Chick
US/Canada only
Ends February 18th at midnight EST

"I Heart..." series by Lindsey Kelk (complete set..all signed)
I Heart...Paris
UK only
Ends March 1st

"Separate Beds" by Elizabeth Buchan
Chicklit Club
US only, no PO boxes
Ends February 17th

Help Kaira Rouda get 800 fans, win "Here, Home, Hope" and Dogeared Jewels and Gifts Karma Necklace
Kaira Rouda Books on Facebook
Ends when this page reaches 800 fans

"The Science of Kissing" by Sheril Kirshenbaum
Books and Needlepoint
US/Canada only, no P.O. Boxes
Ends February 17th

A Day in the Life of an author...plus a book giveaway



**Giveaway is now closed**

Lynda Renham-Cook is a part-time writer living in Oxfordshire with her husband and one cat. She also works in the health care field. She talks openly about being childless (not by choice) and offers support to others who are in the same position. Her most recent published novel is Wedding Cake to Turin (also available for Kindle). She has dropped by to share a guest post about a day in her life and also has offered to give away one copy of "Wedding Cake to Turin" anywhere in the world.

If you like what you've read here, check out her blog, become her friend on Facebook and "like" her Facebook page for "Wedding Cake..."

"I Don't Like Mondays"

It is just a few weeks into 2011 and I am ready to kill the cat and cook it for dinner. I joke not. Every afternoon is my writing time. Sadly writing still does not pay enough so that I can stay home and write all day. So, until that day comes I spend all morning in the office and write in the afternoon but as we hit 2011, I realise I am not coping. So, this afternoon I thought I would check out the Gwyneth Paltrow site of how to balance life as a working woman and housewife. I mean, if you can get some celeb advice why not? After all they are just normal women like us, right? Somehow Gwyneth manages to look very serene so she must be well-balanced and organised and her hair always looks great and she never looks harassed. Unlike yours truly, who looks like she has been dragged through a bush. After browsing the very easy to navigate webpage I found a nice article on how GP and her friends get through the day so smoothly. It seems I am doing a lot wrong.
First, it seems, I need to seize ‘Lynda time’. Would that be the time, I wonder, between cleaning up the cat sick and trying to flatten my hair down. Oh no, I see it now I am not getting up early enough. Must change the alarm from 6.30 to 5.30 and if you believe I am doing that you’ll believe anything. Now I have to agree with Gwyneth that exercise is my priority too, but sadly after checking out the cost of a personal trainer I find my measly salary does not quite cover one, so let’s skip that and continue with the old routine of dragging myself from the bed, moaning until I grab my first cup of caffeine. So how does a day in the life of Lynda compare to a celebrity? Be warned, it is sordid and sad and does not have the celeb feel good factor.
Up at 6.30, usually moaning, drag myself downstairs and sit like a zombie on the couch while my husband prepares breakfast. Nothing to healthy about this I am afraid. A bowl of granola with some berries and yogurt, followed by my caffeine shot. A quick shower if there is time. If hubby gets there first then my shower has to wait until I get home. A quick pull up of the hair, earrings plonked on, a speedy look at the time and I am out of the door, forget any make up malarkey or quick email check. It is still dark and cold. I climb into my car and start the harrowing journey to work. This usually involves the odd curse and finger salute when other drivers won’t let me out onto the main road. Then it is a slow crawl to work. I arrive flustered, throw my coat off and sit in front of my computer and panic. It is a new job so I am keen to do well. Today the computer crashed and I didn’t get half my work done. Sheer depression drives me to a chocolate biscuit. I leave work much later than I should and decide not to get shopping on the way home as I really need to finish an article. I arrive home in a rush, walk into the house and come face to face with carnage. It looks like a murder spree took place while I was out. Dead birds litter the floor and feathers are sticking to the furniture. Wet dirty paw prints are all over the floor and the kitchen units. I scream at the cat who flees outside. I look at the clock and realise that I am already running late and I have not had lunch yet. I curse the cat again and shout out of the window he is dead meat if he returns. I search through the shed for the spade to clear up the birds and remember my darling husband still has it since the snow drifts. I curse again and spend a good thirty minutes getting up the courage to pick up the dead birds with kitchen towel. Finally, I hoover up and wash the floor. I decide to skip lunch and just have a yogurt. Finally I jump in the shower and then go to make a cup of tea. I cannot find the tea as my husband has muddled up all the boxes. I curse again and go upstairs to get clothes. On the bed are my husband’s clothes thrown across the bed. I curse again and then feel the tears start. Why can’t people make an effort? I really am not sure if I am including the cat in this. At last, almost two hours after arriving home I sit down, take two painkillers for a headache and finish my article. Soon it will be time to cook dinner. The cat sleeps contently on the couch again, his massacre obviously a distant memory now and I sit with the song “I don’t like Monday’s” going over and over in my head while pointing a shotgun at him.


Thanks again to Lynda for sharing her day with us and for offering the book for the giveaway.


How to win "Wedding Cake to Turin":
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 if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What is your LEAST favorite day of the week and why?
2. Please tell us: What is the craziest thing your pet has ever done? (If you don't have a pet, share a story about someone else's pet with whom you are close.)
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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Giveaway ends Monday, February 21st at midnight EST

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Winner of "Helen of Pasadena"

To find our winner, we assigned a number to each entry and then asked Lian to choose one number at random. Here is her response:

I pick 47. A lucky number for me.

Thanks for all the support, Chick Lit Central. And to the CLC regulars, much gratitude for the comments. After years of being a chick lit reader, it's a scary/wonderful experience to be on the other side as a chick lit writer! I appreciate you taking the time to check out "Helen of Pasadena" and my guest post. Happy reading to the winner!

Love & Roses,
Lian


Congrats to Nancye!

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks again to everyone for participating and to Lian for her non-fashion conscious chick lit writing tips and for providing the book for the giveaway.

Don't forget about our other giveaway:

"Why I Love Singlehood" by Elisa Lorello and Sarah Girrell
E-book...can be sent anywhere
Ends Thursday at midnight EST

There's another one coming tomorrow...Stay tuned!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Winner of "The Accidental Adult"

To find our winner, we assigned a number to each entry (keep in mind that you only qualified if you "liked" The Accidental Adult on Facebook and then commented to tell us). We then asked Colin Sokolowski to pick a number at random.

From Colin:

#12 please (Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers)

Chick Lit Central fans are accidental adults? Who knew? It’s great to see I’m in good company among other reluctant grownups. Thanks to the Melissas for sharing my work and for their followers who clicked through to my book’s web site.

Never assimilate!
--Colin


Congrats to Laura!

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks again to everyone for participating and to Colin for his excellent blog post and for giving away a copy of his book through our site.

Looks like Manic Mommy still has a chance for you to win this book, as we haven't seen a winner posted on her blog yet. Enter to win ASAP!

In the meantime, don't forget about our other giveaways:

"Helen of Pasadena" by Lian Dolan
US/Canada only
Ends TONIGHT at midnight EST

"Why I Love Singlehood" by Elisa Lorello and Sarah Girrell
E-book...can be sent anywhere
Ends Thursday at midnight EST

Happy Valentine's Day...plus an e-book giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed**

Believe it or not, you don't need a romantic partner to enjoy Valentine's Day. Elisa Lorello and Sarah Girrell have partnered on a new book called "Why I Love Singlehood" and have come to Chick Lit Central on this most anticipated (and alternately most dreaded) day of the year to tell us their favorite Valentine's Day memories that do NOT involve romantic partners. They also have two e-books to give away to some lucky readers. (All you need is a computer if you don't have an e-reader.)

Here is more information about our special guests:

Elisa Lorello is the youngest of seven children and grew up on the North Shore of Long Island in a musical family. She went to school at UMass-Dartmouth to pursue her writing degree, picking up teaching skills at the same time. In January 2010, her first two novels Faking It and Ordinary World hit the Kindle store bestseller list. She currently resides in North Carolina and teaches academic writing at NC State.

You can join her group for "Faking It" fans on Facebook and check out her blog titled "I'll Have What She's Having".

Newcomer Sarah Girrell has a background in art history, writing and rhetoric. A self-proclaimed foodie and freelance photographer, Sarah met Elisa while attending the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth for Art History and Writing/Rhetoric. With a shared love for the craft of writing and the humor of the every day, the two immediately connected. After earning a medical degree near Ithaca, New York, Sarah and her husband backpacked through parts of Asia where they spent two months living with and teaching English and math to monks and orphaned refugees. Since then, Sarah has returned to her native Vermont with her husband where she is a chiropractic physician and writer. When she's not fixing spines or writing, she likes to take photographs and draw pictures, which she features in her online gallery.

Love Stories


Sarah:
I grew up in a family of women. Three women, to be exact: single mom, older sister, and me. And although I won’t say we never had our down days, we certainly weren’t man-haters or shrinking violets. For as long as I can remember, February 14th went like this: Mom (who was by no means a morning person) would get up extra early and set the breakfast table (which only happened one or two other times a year). Each place had a card from Mom, a small trinket, and a tiny portion of candy (to be hoarded for lunch or later). We’d each wear one piece of red clothing, and come home for a dinner that was entirely red and white. (The obvious bonus being that this typically meant pasta for dinner and a respite from veggies.) And then, dessert. There was always dessert on Valentine's Day: cake or cookies that appeared seemingly by magic. My sister and I would pretend to be surprised, and Mom would claim the dessert was a gift from the Valentine’s Chicken (hey, if Easter gets a bunny, why shouldn’t Valentine’s Day get a chicken?), and we’d all indulge a bit and chat about our day before separating for homework or, in later years, retiring to the couch to watch a favorite chick flick.

February 15th would be like any other day. We would wake up late, spill coffee, slop milk, find out that we’d forgotten to wash our favorite shirt, rush out without lunches packed, and spend the car ride to school worrying about having forgotten to brush teeth and wondering whether or not we’d remembered to put on deodorant, feed the cat, and grab the right schoolbooks. The only thing that February 15th had on the 13th is that, generally speaking, we did all this in a slightly better mood because we’d spent the day before being gentle to ourselves, loving and laughing a little, playing for a few spare minutes, and reminding each other simply that we were loved.


Elisa:
Many years ago, I remember being profoundly impressed by the idea of contemplating oneself as being surrounded by the very things one wanted to bring into his/her life. At the time, I wanted a relationship. A romantic relationship with a man, to be exact. But rather than contemplate myself with Mr. Dream Guy, I thought about how I wanted to feel. What I was really longing for was to be noticed. nurtured. appreciated. courted.

And so, rather than trying to get a man to give me these things, I created them myself. During the following months, I spent a few extra moments in front of the mirror and complimented myself on my hair or my outfit or my smile. I bought bath salts and votive candles and soaked in pure bliss. I wrote (and mailed) myself love letters on high-quality stationary. I gifted myself with flowers. I took myself to the movies, for long walks on the beach in the morning and moonlit strolls at night. I danced in the dark. I wore a lot of pink and red. For the first time ever I courted—and fell in love with—myself. And it changed everything.

That year, for Valentine’s Day I took myself to see "Chocolat" and cooked myself a special dinner. I bought myself a card and a rose and left them on the table for me when I got back.

It was the best Valentine’s Day ever.

Today, I’m single and happy to be so. I may not treat myself to roses and chocolates every Valentine’s Day, but I honor the commitment I made to always create the very things I wanted by paying attention to how I feel.


Sarah and Elisa:
In our novel "Why I Love Singlehood," Eva’s quest to find out what (and who) the love of her life is takes her along a path full of twists and turns, some hilarious and some heart-wrenching. We always believed that "Why I Love Singlehood" wasn’t a book about dating or about being single versus being married; rather, it’s a love story—between friends, colleagues, family, and partners. It’s about the love that emanates from us as well as the love that surrounds us. It’s love as a way of being than a thing to get. The love we create.

This Valentine’s Day (and beyond), we invite all of you—male and female, single and partnered—to celebrate love as a way of being.

It just might be your best day yet.


Special thanks to Elisa and Sarah for sharing their favorite Valentine's Day memories with us and for proving that you don't need to be romantically involved to enjoy the day! Thanks to them for also providing the e-books for our giveaway.

How to win "Why I Love Singlehood":
(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 if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What is your favorite Valentine's Day memory?
2. Please tell us: What is/was your favorite thing about being single?
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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Giveaway ends Thursday, February 17th at midnight EST

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Book Review: Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives

By Melissa Amster

How can I resist a book marketed as similar to "Desperate Housewives," especially when it has a lot of sex and scandal? Therefore, I was drawn in to "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives" from page one!

Josie Brown takes us into a suburban community of high society women who like to gossip--a lot--and label those not like them as "undesirables." Lyssa Harper risks converting from high society to an "undesirable" when she takes the newly divorced Harry Wilder under her wing. At first, the other women take to welcoming in their own rather seductive ways, but when Harry pulls the plug on their overt gestures, he becomes an "undesirable." And Lyssa feels her loyalty is split between her friends and her willingness to be there for Harry every step of the way, even to her own husband's chagrin.

I had a delightful time reading this story. It was full of the promised sex and scandal (and yes, the sex was detailed enough to make me turn a few shades of red...just the way I like it in my chick lit novels). Lyssa was very easy to relate to, as she was the most down to earth of all the moms and not afraid to put all her faults out there. It had a realistic appeal to it, as there are tight knit suburban communities where people risk becoming an "undesirable" if they cross the wrong person on the high society end. I liked that the unlikeable characters were not satirical, as it went well with the realistic feel. It was easy to visualize people and places, based on Ms. Brown's detailed descriptions. While some of the twists and turns felt as predictable as "Desperate Housewives" sometimes tends to be, there were still a few surprises to keep the excitement flowing throughout.

The only criticism I have is completely minor and personal, as Ms. Brown used product placement to endorse my most hated restaurant of all time (IHOP). She could have sent her characters to Denny's or made up a random pancake house. However, she redeemed herself by also giving Trader Joe's a nice mention.

I definitely recommend "Secret Lives..." to anyone who wants a juicy and scandalous story that also examines relationships and friendships in a manner that all readers can relate to, even if they haven't been in Lyssa's shoes. It was also good entertainment while waiting for "Desperate Housewives" to return from their month-long break. I'm looking forward even more to reading "The Baby Planner," now that I have read something so enjoyable in Ms. Brown's writing style.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Winner of "Committed"

To find the winner, we assigned a number to each entry and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose 14.

Congrats to Snitz!

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Thanks to Lindsay Prevette from Viking/Penguin for the book to give away!

Don't forget about our other giveaways going on:

"The Accidental Adult" by Colin Sokolowski
US only
Ends Sunday at midnight EST

"Helen of Pasadena" by Lian Dolan
US/Canada only
Ends Monday at midnight EST

Winning Wednesday--February 9th

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!


New giveaways:

Brand new! "Emily and Einstein" by Linda Francis Lee and Bloomingdales bag
Linda's Facebook Page...Tell her your favorite place to shop!
US/Canada only
Ends Friday.

Another new one! "Following Polly" by Karen Bergreen
Chick Lit is Not Dead
Ends Friday at 6 pm PST


"The Accidental Adult" by Colin Sokolowski
* Chick Lit Central
US only
Ends February 13th at midnight EST

* Manic Mommy
Deadline unknown

"Helen of Pasadena" by Lian Dolan
Chick Lit Central
US/Canada only
Ends February 14th at midnight EST

"Hush" by Kate White
Colloquium
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends February 11th at 11:59 pm PST

"Committed" by Elizabeth Gilbert
Luxury Reading
US/Canada only
Ends February 28th at midnight EST

"The Murderer's Daughters" by Randy Susan Meyers
Booking Mama
US/Canada only
Ends February 13th at 11:59 pm EST

"Dreaming in English" by Laura Fitzgerald
The Book Chick
US/Canada only
Ends February 18th at midnight EST

"The Kitchen Daughter" by Jael McHenry
Facebook page for "The Kitchen Daughter".."Like" and comment on the post!
Ends Saturday at noon EST


Previously posted (still going on):

"I Heart..." series by Lindsey Kelk (complete set..all signed)
I Heart...Paris
UK only
Ends March 1st

"Separate Beds" by Elizabeth Buchan
Chicklit Club
US only, no PO boxes
Ends February 17th

Help Kaira Rouda get 800 fans, win "Here, Home, Hope" and Dogeared Jewels and Gifts Karma Necklace
Kaira Rouda Books on Facebook
Ends when this page reaches 800 fans

"The Science of Kissing" by Sheril Kirshenbaum
Books and Needlepoint
US/Canada only, no P.O. Boxes
Ends February 17th

Jimmy Choo, who?!? Plus a book giveaway...



**Giveaway is now closed**

Lian Dolan is one of the five Satellite Sisters, a group of real sisters who started out with a radio show and website in 2001 and now connect with a blog, podcast, books, social media, personal appearances and an online community. They have won EIGHT Gracie Allen awards for excellence in women's media, including "Talk Show of the Year." Lian has written her first chick lit novel, "Helen of Pasadena"(reviewed here), and has come to Chick Lit Central to explain how to write about fashion without being fashion conscious. She has even given us one copy of "Helen of Pasadena" to give away to a lucky reader in the US or Canada.

If you like what you've read here, check out her Satellite Sisters website, book website and blog. You can also visit her on Facebook and Twitter.

How to Write a Fashionable Chick Lit Novel... even if You're Not!


When I sat down to start my first novel, Helen of Pasadena, there were many aspects of the writing that I had to worry about: plot; character development; dialogue, creating a hot love interest. But nothing terrified me more than getting one of the essentials of chick lit right: The Accessories.
I’m not part of the Shoe & Handbag crowd here in my hometown of Pasadena. I covet other women’s Tory Burch flats, but I don’t buy them. If I had my druthers, I’d wear clogs to every event and still carry a back-pack with all my stuff. Maybe it’s disinterest or maybe it’s my bunions. Either way, I was in no position to write with authority on any aspect of fashion. My knowledge of designer clothes is only slightly more evolved than my knowledge of designer footwear. In order to make up for my Jimmy Choo deficit, I used a three-pronged approach to getting the style details right in my book:

Made Conversation: In the past, I’d never lean over to another mom and say,“ Oh, I love those shoes. Who are they?” because if those shoes couldn’t be sold in a European Comfort Shoe store, I didn’t care. But once I started writing Helen, I needed some fancy footwear, at least on the page. So I asked! At soccer games, PTA meetings, on the way back from communion. And women spilled! I even made some new friends! Because, “Oh, I love your shoes!” is the magic phrase for many women.

Read the Paper: I tried to study fashion magazine for everything from evening wear to belts, but I found the sheer volume of ads overwhelming. And, how could I decide which brands were chic and which brands simply had large ad budgets, but no real class. So, I decided to let the New York Times do the winnowing process for me. Everyday in the New York Times (or your city newspaper), there are ads on pages 2 and 3, just inside in the front section. These ads feature high- end luxury products with just the right pedigree. On Sunday, the style section is a bonanza of fashion advertising.

Found Myself a Rachel Zoe: Maybe I don’t dress like a celebrity stylist, but I have a friend who does. I admire Sally’s fashion bravado when it comes to clothes, even though I could never wear a single item she puts on with ease. So, I enlisted Sally to be my stylist for the book! We’d go out on our walks, and I’d ask, “Hey, Sal. What do you think a mid-fifties, divorced real estate would wear?” And Sally responded, “A Dana Buchman suit in winter white.” Or, I’d say, ‘Hey, Sal, I need the perfect evening gown for a Greek- themed charity benefit seen. Any thoughts? And Sally piped up, “Vintage Mary McFadden!” What a friend. Her only payment was acknowledgement in the book!

So, if you’re in the midst of writing your own Chick Lit novel and face a fear of fashion, use my three-pronged approach and relax. We can all be fashionable...on paper!


Special thanks to Lian for teaching us how to "fake" our fashion knowledge and also for the book for our giveaway!


How to win "Helen of Pasadena":
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 if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: In what ways are you not fashion conscious?
2. Please tell us: What have you had to fake knowledge about in order to impress someone?
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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Monday, February 14th at midnight EST

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Winner of "Spin"

To find the winner, we assigned a number to each entry and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose 72.

Congrats to Karen K!

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone for participating! However, if you are one of the people who said they never saw "The Princess Bride," we suggest you go and rent it immediately and watch it over and over again so that you can keep falling in love with the story, the characters and the great quotes! :)

Thanks to Catherine McKenzie for the book to give away!

Don't forget about our other giveaways going on:

"Committed" by Elizabeth Gilbert
US/Canada only
Ends TONIGHT at midnight EST

"The Accidental Adult" by Colin Sokolowski
US only
Ends Sunday at midnight EST

Monday, February 7, 2011

Book Review: Tuesday Tells it Slant

By Melissa Amster

Have you ever wished for a chance to start your life with a clean slate, or at least re-tell it in a more desirable fashion?

While researching for a paper about Emily Dickinson, Tuesday Morning comes across a line that says "Tell all the truth but tell it slant." She then decides to go through her diary (named after her favorite "Babysitter's Club" character) and remove the undesirable entries, replacing them with more desirable versions of how her life was in the past. She also performs some other drastic attempts to forget her old past. This ends up having a strong effect on her life going forward, until she is confronted by someone from that version of the past.

This was a more complex novel than I was expecting. It looks cute and comes off as a quick read (which it was, as it only took me two days), but there's more to it than meets the eye. The structure made me think of "The Time Traveler's Wife," as there's no specific order to the story. The past is so mingled with the present that each chapter encompasses several different periods of Tuesday's life. They're all scattered about and I didn't really get a feel for the order overall. I also was reminded of "50 First Dates" in how Lucy kept a diary so she could remember the things in her life that disappeared when she went to sleep each night. At one point, she changes her diary to write Henry out of it altogether, making their separation that much easier on her.

Tuesday was a very well-written character and she reminded me of myself a lot. I like how candid she was, showing the reader all her little flaws. She just seemed very real and genuine and I could see myself easily becoming friends with her. Her editing of her past reminds me of something I do with my personal blog (leaving out some less desirable people, behaviors and moments as I see fit). I also enjoyed the pop culture references from the late 80's and early-mid 90's.

On the critical side, I noticed a lot of spelling and grammatical errors that should have been caught before the story was published. And as I mentioned before, I didn't get a feel for why the moments in the story had to be scattered around instead of going in order. Ms. Christine could have still found a way to get her point across by making it the climax between the past and present, instead of just injecting it into what felt like random spots of the story.

Overall, I thought this was a very creative and insightful story, one that I have not seen much of in the chick lit field. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a quick read and a different way to look at their own life. I think you might find a little Tuesday in you too.

Winners of "I Heart New York"

To pick the winners, we assigned a number to each entry and then asked Lindsey Kelk to choose two at random. She chose: 3 and 82.

Congrats to Michele and Linda!

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Thanks again to Lindsey for a fun and fabulous interview and for providing the books for the giveaway!

Don't forget about our other giveaways going on:

"Spin" by Catherine McKenzie.
US/Canada only
Ends TONIGHT at midnight EST!

"Committed" by Elizabeth Gilbert
US/Canada only
Ends tomorrow at midnight EST

"The Accidental Adult" by Colin Sokolowski
US only
Ends Sunday at midnight EST

We have a man in the house! Plus a book giveaway...



**Giveaway is now closed**

Are you an accidental adult? If not, you're probably married to one, dating one or just broke up with one. Colin Sokolowski wrote the book on reluctant grownups. Literally. It's called "The Accidental Adult: Essays and advice for the reluctantly responsible and marginally mature." And he's here to share a guest column with Chick Lit Central fans about having a work wife (even though he does have a real wife..and three kids..at his home in Minnesota). He also has one signed copy of his book to give to a lucky reader in the US. (Sorry everyone else!)

If you like what you've read here, check out his blog, and "like" his page on Facebook.

My Work Wife

To most people who know me, I think it’s fairly evident. I love my wife Kelly. A lot. She’s beautiful, funny, smart, talented and she has impeccable taste in life partners. Like all marriages, mistakes are made from time to time. But I always forgive her and move on.
Now that my re-declarations of devotion are out of the way, I also need to confess something else. And it’s precisely because of the security and trust I feel in my marriage that I can say this.
Turns out, I have a work wife.
Her name is Bridget. But to protect her anonymity, let’s call her Holly. Even though Holly is about a decade younger than me, our demographics have a lot in common – we’re both happily married to supportive spouses, we have young kids and we’re living in St. Paul/Minneapolis suburbs.
So what makes her my work wife? First, let’s define our terms. A work wife, or work husband for that matter, is someone who provides a completely harmless, entirely platonic relationship that helps keep you sane 40+ hours a week, while also providing for your many workplace needs. In my case, these needs typically include:
• CHEEZ-ITs at 10 a.m.
• Gum at 10:30 a.m.
• Help manipulating Excel spreadsheets and interpreting reports. (Math sucks.)
• Wardrobe advice. (Are my white ankle-high socks geeky, or should I just go sockless for the rest of the day?)
• Commiseration and cheap therapy when work gets ugly.
• Postage stamps.
• Change for the Coke machine.
Yes, Holly fulfills all of these needs for me. And she does it without attaching those messy, ridiculous demands often placed on traditional marriages. Pressures like remembering to leave your spouse with a full tank of gas or properly soaking and scraping your chili-caked bowl in the sink before throwing it into the dishwasher.
Instead of writing me unnecessary little notes like, “Don’t forget it’s your turn to drive to dance tonight,” Holly writes me helpful notes like, “Here’s how much of your budget you’ve already spent. You owe me one billable hour for figuring this out.”
Like most of my previous relationships with women, I was very slow in realizing I had this formal connection with Holly. It wasn’t until a few months ago when I finally realized she had become my work wife. We were standing in our office parking lot, and she was helping me identify which one of my brake lights had burned out. In full accidental adult mode, I stepped to the back of the car to see where she was pointing, and the open (but locked) driver’s door swung shut, leaving me locked out of my running car, with no spare key. Of course, Holly knew what to do. She called AAA and assured me her membership services could apply to my car as long as she stayed with me and signed for it. Acting remarkably similar to my real wife, she even told the tow truck guy not to scratch my car when he was snaking his unlocking device through the window. I drive a 1998 sedan with 145,000 miles and 155,000 scratches on it. That’s funny stuff Holly.
Clearly, I value my work wife. So what does Holly get out of the relationship? I think one time I proofread something for her. Another time, after she complained that her office windows were too streaky, I wrote a “Wash Me” message in soap from the outside. (She was three months pregnant with twins and totally missed the humor of my hijinks.) And once I thought about brushing the snow off her car after work, but then I got distracted. Really, I think it’s the thought that counts.
But whatever I bring to the relationship is not what’s important here. What matters the most is that my work wife will continue to be there for me 9 -5, Monday through Friday. At least I hope she stays put. I’m bound to lock myself out of my car again, and like most accidental adults, I still don’t have AAA.


Thanks to Colin for his insightful blog post and for contributing a book to our giveaway.


How to win "The Accidental Adult":
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 if you can receive messages there.)

Mandatory: "Like" The Accidental Adult on Facebook and comment here that you've done so.

Bonus:
1. Please tell us: Do you have a "work spouse?"
2. Please tell us: How are you an accidental adult?
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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US only. Giveaway ends Sunday, February 13th at midnight EST.

For another chance to win this book, visit Manic Mommy. (Deadline unknown)