Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Jillian Medoff shares the love and we're giving away her latest novel!

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today we welcome author Jillian Medoff and her new novel, "I Couldn't Love You More" (reviewed here), just published on May 15th. Jillian is the acclaimed author of "Hunger Point" and "Good Girls Gone Bad," both of which received great reviews. A huge seller in the US, "Hunger Point" was the basis for the Lifetime movie starring Barbara Hershey and Christina Hendricks (Mad Men). Although Jillian is proud of "Hunger Point," had anyone asked, she would not have selected such a bright pink (any pink, frankly) for the trade paperback edition. Her books have been translated into many different languages, including French, Spanish, Hebrew, Turkish, Hungarian, Japanese, Polish, and German, but her big wish is for an edition in Tagalog. Jillian has a BA from Barnard and an MFA from NYU, and is grateful for having studied with such luminary writers as Mona Simpson, Jonathan Dee, Robert Coover, and Alice Walker. She also attended Master Classes with Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, and Grace Paley. A former fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Blue Mountain Center, VCCA and Fundacion Valparaiso in Spain, Jillian taught at NYU and the University of Georgia, but for only, like, five minutes. Jillian lives in New York with her family.

Thanks to KMSPR and Penguin, we have THREE copies of I Couldn't Love You More to giveaway to some lucky readers anywhere in the US and/or Canada.

You can visit Jillian at her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Which authors have inspired you?
Although it's difficult to choose, I'd have to say Philip Roth and Mona Simpson. Both are fearless writers whose mastery of the craft of fiction is awe-inspiring. They write brilliantly about complex family relationships, which is very difficult to do, and their voices are clear, indelible and true. Roth writes in a raw, often brutal way about flawed people, but he respects his characters, so they’re vulnerable, and that vulnerability can break your heart. Simpson's style isn't as aggressive, but she's just as honest. Her characters are complex and haunted, and her observations about the way we live are as powerful as a punch to the gut.
As far as chick lit authors that have inspired me, I’d have to say Jennifer Weiner. I think she is smart, talented, fearless, and very generous to other writers.

Chick lit character you’d be best friends with:
Probably Bridget Jones; although she’s kind of stuck in the 90’s, I think we’re a lot alike.

Describe your writing in three words:
Honest, perceptive, hilarious

Which music group gives off a chick lit feel for you?
Unlike 99.9% of humanity, I don’t listen to music unless I’m running—which is only three times a week for forty minutes. I know this is weird, and probably un-American, but I find music very distracting, particularly when I’m writing or reading. One reason may be because I have sensitive ears and can’t tolerate loud noises, but my husband is convinced that I’m just being difficult. So I don’t know many current groups, but of the ones I know, Katy Perry seems the most chick litty.

If "I Couldn’t Love You More" was made into a movie, who would you cast as the leading roles?
Hmmm, let’s see…
Eliot Gordon: Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, Hilary Swank
Sylvia Gordon: Isla Fisher, Drew Barrymore
Maggie Gordon: Kate Hudson
Grant: Ben Affleck, Mark Ruffalo
Finn: Brad Pitt (why not? Live large, I say)
Eliot’s mother: Susan Sarandon

What is your favorite movie based on a chick lit novel?
Definitely Bridget Jones’s Diary, hands-down favorite.

Characters really make the story for us. What three words would best describe your heroine, and what about her called out to you to write her story?
Eliot Gordon is flawed, generous of spirit, and human. From the moment I started writing about her, I loved her desire to do the right thing, even if it was for the wrong reasons. She’s kind and good-natured, although too trusting and naïve. I knew she would be the perfect character to experience a huge lapse of judgment because her redemption would be that much more rewarding. You can’t help but love Eliot.

TV series that feels like chick lit:
Desperate Housewives? Or maybe Grey’s Anatomy before they did the sing-a-long episode.

What do you do when you get writer’s block?
I’ve actually been very lucky. I don’t get writer’s block, although I do have issues related to never having enough time to write. I work four days a week at a corporate job, so I try to write every day, but it’s very difficult when you’re also raising a family. My books take several years to complete, and I work with the same set of characters for very long periods of time. Some writers would hate that, I think.

What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Work without a net, and by that I mean trash your outlines. When I start a novel, I have a general idea of where I want to end up, but I never know how I'll get there. Part of what compels me to write day after day, chapter after chapter, is the discovery process, seeing the characters evolve as I get deeper and deeper into the story. It means many more revisions (I go forward and back, forward and back over a period of years for each book I write), but I think my novels are richer for it.

Special thanks to Jillian for chatting with us and to KMSPR and Penguin for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win "I Couldn't Love You More":
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 TV show gives off a chick lit feel for you?
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/Canada only. Giveaway ends June 3rd at midnight EST.

26 comments:

cupcake said...

This book looks so good! Thank you for the contest.

http://cupcakeonbooks.blogspot.com

Dee DeTarsio said...

Thanks for the post--Jillian is awesome and I can't wait to read her novel! (I also love her author photo!) (OK, and I may have tried to duplicate it. Awkward.)

BRN2SHOP9 said...

Last night Jennifer Weiner posted she was reading this. I can't wait to read it.

2 broke girls has a chick lit feel to it.

I follow via GFC, twitter and facebook.

Nina said...

Admirable to see her balancing a corporate job, writing and a family! And Hart of Dixie on The CW definitely gives me chick-lit vibes! They're rerunning episodes during the off-season on Monday nights, so there's no excuse for you guys not to check it out! ;) It's great! hahaha.
nina565(at)aol(dot)com

Marthalynn said...

Just visited Jillian's website and wow, what an interesting woman! Cool to hear that she calls Atlanta "home" :)

New Girl gives off a bit of a chick lit feel for me because it has such great female characters!

I'm a follower.


marthalynn16 at gmail

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this story ;)

i'm a follower, too!

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Bonnie K. said...

I like her choices for actors. Looks like a good summer reading to have.

bluedawn at gmail dot com

I'm a follower of the blog.
bluedawn at gmail dot com

I shared this contest on facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=313729398712030&id=596580232

Bonnie K. said...

Please delete my previous post that shows at May 29, 2012 5:56 PM; I didn't write my full email address. Sorry.

I like her choices for actors. Looks like a good summer reading to have.

bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

I'm a follower of the blog.
bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

I shared this contest on facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=313729398712030&id=596580232

Linda Kish said...

I would love to win a copy of this book.

2 Broke girls...one of my favorite shows

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

sneakerdoodle said...

I'd love a chance at this book!

I think the Gilmore Girls had a chicklit vibe. They were always so witty and the characters were heartfelt and humorous.

I follow with GFC :)

I also follow on FB

mrspaulafranco@gmail.com

Erica said...

I'd say New Girl has a great chick lit vibe.

I am a follower on FB and twitter!

wordywon AT gmail.com

Kristen said...

I am really excited about this one! Saw it on Jennifer Weiner's Twitter. :)

I think a lot of people think chick lit is like The Hills (remember that one?!?), but I think it's more like New Girl.

I follow on FB and email!

kly(dot)327(at)gmail.com

bn100 said...

Gilmore Girls

I follow the blog.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

jillianmedoff said...

Thanks to you all for the wonderful support of my new novel. I love hearing from you, so please drop me a line at jillianmedoff@gmail.com. Also, I'm happy to send personalized signed bookplates to anyone who wants one! I really, truly appreciate the generous comments about I Couldn't Love You More, and can't wait to get to know you all better. Yours, Jillian

EFC Chrissy said...

I'd love to win Ms. Medoff's book. I can't believe she doesn't listen to music to write to or read to! I couldn't imagine that!!! (I can imagine not listening to cartoons in the background though.)

email: everyfreechance@gmail.com

I do follow your blog! Love it! And I follow you on twitter. (@EveryFreeChance)

Na said...

Desperate Housewives has a chick-lit feel to it because of the relationships between the women and how they balace things in their lives.

GFC: Na
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lilian said...

1. Please tell us: What TV show gives off a chick lit feel for you?

Sex in the City...and maybe New Girl (because it has that lighthearted humor topped with quirky female characters)

2. I'm a follower!

3. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lilboxism/status/208211767300587520

4. Joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook.

lilianxchengATgmailDOTcom

Lisamarie said...

Have this book on my to-read list!

I am a follower...blog, FB & Twitter.

Definitely 2 Broke Girls is Chick lit


tropicalsunlover05 at yahoo dot com

A Soccer Mom's Book Blog said...

This is a great read! The reviews are awesome, I cannot wait to read this book!
I follow your blog
I shared this contest on fb, and follow chic-lit on fb.

asoccermomsreview1@gmail.com

Kat said...

Would love to read this!
1) Definitely Grey's Anatomy, but more so Gilmore Girls when it was still on.
2) I follow the blog.
3) Posted on FB.
4) I am a member of CLC.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) said...

What a pretty book! I love the sand castles on the front. :)

My favourite TV show with a chick lit feel has to be My Boys or Gilmore Girls ... both off the air, but still great.

I follow via GFC - Kristilyn.

readinginwinter(AT)gmail.com

Sharon said...

I'd really love to win this book.

I think 2 broke girls feel like chick lit.
I follow this blog.
I'm on your fb page.
I'm going to add Shannon Flatley Mattis

Kim W. said...

1. Sex and the City hands down!! But if you are looking for a current show, I'd have to say Grey's or Private Practice.

2. I follow the CLC blog

3. I posted this contest on FB

4. I belong to CLC on FB

kewalker1972@gmail.com

Maureen said...

Even though it is a crime show I think Rizzoli and Isles gives off a bit of a chick lit feel.
I follow on GFC
Tweet: https://twitter.com/MaureenCE/status/209373465810178049
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

mep said...

Gilmore Girls. HBO's Girls. New Girl -- Just now seeing that all these shows I really like have "girl" in the title. Not sure how I feel about that.

Anyway, I've seen Jennifer Weiner's tweets about I Couldn't Love You More and I would LOVE to win a copy!

I follow on Twitter. (I'm @nottobrag)

mep AT nottobrag DOT net

Jennifer said...

I tweeted! Keep hearing fantastic things about this book. Would love a copy. Clevertitletk at gmail dot com.