Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Dina Silver is the "Hallmark" of chick lit quality and has a debut novel to give away!

**Giveaway is now closed**


Today, we welcome Dina Silver and her debut novel, "One Pink Line" (reviewed here). A graduate of Purdue University, Dina has spent the past fifteen years feeding her red wine habit by working as a copywriter in the advertising industry. In addition to writing ad copy, she formed Dina's Ideas, a greeting card company, in 2003. Dina serves as the sole writer and designer for the business and has penned over 300 greeting cards since its inception.

She currently divides her time between writing, caring for her nine-year old son, and ordering lots of takeout.After seeing the bulk of her professional prose on brochures and direct mail pieces, she is delighted to have made the transition to novelist this year.

Thanks to Dina we have TWO copies of "One Pink Line" to give to some lucky readers anywhere in the US.

You can visit Dina at her website, Facebook and Twitter.


How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
I definitely go with the flow. I never start with any sort of plotline, timeline or character study. I’ve had the most luck with just sitting down in from of the computer, writing what’s on my mind, and then piecing everything together once I’m through.


What are your biggest motivations to write? What keeps you going?
Really just the stories. I’ve written two novels (the second, "Kat Fight," will be released this spring), and both of the stories were in my head, dying to be told. That sounds cheesy, right? But I swear! They both come from a different place, and I was so eager to get each story down on paper. Once I began, the motivation was simply to get them done.
That, and the fact that my husband periodically pops his head in while I’m writing and asks if he can quit his job yet.


What kind of research did you do for “One Pink Line?”
I didn’t need to do a ton of research for "One Pink Line" because a girlfriend of mine and her life experiences were the inspiration for the book. She opened up to me about herself one day, and what she told me turned out to be one of my favorite things: a great love story! After hearing details about her youth, I took her to lunch one afternoon(equipped with a pad of paper and a bowl of French onion soup), and picked her brain. I specifically asked her not to give too many details, just the chain of events that lead her to where she is now. It was important for me to be true to her story, but to make the book my own, and make certain that is was pure fiction.


How did you decide to write chick lit?
Simply…I love a good love story. I’m a huge fan of groundbreaking chick-lit-ers like Helen Fielding, Melissa Banks, and dare I say Jane Austen. Being able to fuse a poignant romance with wit and a great ending is something I strive to do with each book.


What do you do when you’re not writing?
Unload the dishwasher, watch inappropriate television with my nine-year old son, clean the litter box, do laundry, vacuum cat hair, snack, run to Target, shower (only when absolutely necessary), chat on the phone, and my absolute least favorite thing in the entire world…go to the grocery.


If “One Pink Line” were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I love and hate that question because of course I’ve thought about this a thousand times, but I haven’t come up with the perfect cast yet! Obviously, Ethan is the most important role to fill, so here are a few hunky men I’ve imagined could play him:
Chris Pine
Chris Evans
Jim Parrack (Google him)
And I think Armie Hammer would make an awesome Kevin.


Funniest thing that happened to you recently?
Everything is funny to me, but funny things really don’t happen to me.

What is your favorite birthday memory?
Well, let me start by saying that I LOVE my birthday. A little less each year, but whatev. On my fortieth birthday my husband planned a surprise party for me with some of my favorite peeps. And I was honestly really, really surprised! So it was awesome.

What is one item you can't live without?
Wine. (Sounds pathetic, but you said item…not person or pet.) Okay, and maybe my computer.

If you could live anywhere in the world, besides where you’re currently living, where would it be, and why?
I think I’d have to say Santa Barbara, California. First of all, I love California. Second, I love the combination of casual-glamour in that city. The people are laid back and friendly, and the scenery is to die for.


Special thanks to Dina for chatting with us and sharing her book with our readers!

How to win "One Pink Line":
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 one item you can't live without?
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.

US only. Giveaway ends January 23rd at midnight EST.

25 comments:

Soft Fuzzy Sweater said...

I can't live without my old, worn comfy soft sweater. Looks like hell but I will NEVER give it up!



annfesATyahooDOTcom

Elissa said...

I have a blanket that I've had for years. It's so worn out but I still love it!

I follow this blog and I'm a FB fan.

elissa.bullardatgmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

We just did a whole blog post on our blog, Says Me Says Mom about things we can't live without. However, one of the things I can't live without is the DVR because I don't care what is on, I want to watch what I want when I want.

I am a Facebook fan.

I am a subscriber.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Stephanie said...

I can't live without my computer.

I'm a gfc follower.

Skk25@aol.com

Maureen said...

I don't think I could live without my computer.
I follow on GFC - Maureen
I like your page on facebook - maureen carol
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

karenk said...

i would miss my computer...

thanks for the chance to read this fun novel :)

i'm a follower, too!

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Cassandra @ Book & Movie Dimension a Blog said...

Thanks for the giveaway!
Dr. Pepper Diet Cherry Vanilla.
Go through 2 cans of soda a day.
E-mail:
bookandmoviedimensionblogger
(at) yahoo (dot) com

Barbara said...

It would have been my 3DS Game system, then knitting, then it would have been my computer. But now? It would be my Kindle Fire. It is everything rolled into one! Don't think I can give that puppy up..

Lilian said...

1. Please tell us: What is one item you can't live without?
Internet.
2. Followed~
3. Twittered: https://twitter.com/circustoybox/status/159416093742596097
4. Joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook.

lilianxcheng AT gmail DOT com

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I can't live without my books.
I follow via twitter, facebook and gfc

brn2shop9 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to win a copy of this book.

I can't live without my computer.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

bn100 said...

I can't live without my computer.

I follow this blog.

Thanks for the giveaway.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

The one thing I can't live without would be my computer.

Follower/ FB fan

jordanweber at live dot com

Nina said...

Just checked out her greeting cards, very adorable!
Is it bad to say I can't live without my DVR? Which would then lead to not living without my ("my") cable. Which would lead to the TV. Which would lead to electricity...(I failed at picking on thing, didn't I?!)
Nina565(at)aol(dot)com

rubynreba said...

I can't live without my my kitties cuddling with me!

I am a follower.

Facebook fan.

pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Marthalynn said...

Aside from the obvious, like family and friends, I can't live without coffee. Or at least I wouldn't want to try...

I'm a follower :)

marthalynn16 (at) Gmail (Dot) com

Carl Scott said...

I'd have a hard time getting by without my laptop, wouldn't we all?
carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
I am a follower of this blog.
I retweeted about his giveaway https://twitter.com/#!/chicklitcentral/status/160852001335427073
4. I am a memeber of Chick Lit Central on Facebook.
That should get me some entries. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

Heather said...

I can't live without my iPad!
Ra6352 ( at) gmail (dot) com

BlackLabRVAdventures said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BlackLabRVAdventures said...

I can't live without my Canon T3i camera. Don't ever leave home without it.

Heather_Hummel(at)Yahoo(dot)com

Nancye said...

I couldn't live without my computer.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

GFC Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I Tweeted!
@NancyeDavis

https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/161663780122673152

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Facebook Post
ID: Nancye Epperson Davis

http://www.facebook.com/nancyecdavis/posts/2889653052324

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I like you on Facebook

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net