Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Lucie Simone's thirst for education, plus a book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today we welcome back Lucie Simone and her latest novel, "Picture Perfect." Lucie has a passion for travel, yoga, and writing. She has a degree in Journalism, a Master of Fine Arts in Television Production, and is a certified yoga teacher registered with Yoga Alliance. Her love of comedy resulted in a stint studying improvisation, which, ironically enough, taught her to be a better writer. Her short story, "A Taste of Italy," won the New York Book Festival competition for best e-book and is a bestseller at Amazon UK. The release of her debut novel, "Hollywood Ending," a romantic comedy about life in Hollywood for the not-so-rich-and-famous, marked the launch of her small press, Simon and Fig, which publishes Chick Lit, Lad Lit and Women’s Fiction exclusively. Lucie lives in Los Angeles.

To learn more about Lucie visit her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Thanks to Lucie, we have TWO e-books of "Picture Perfect" to give away to some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

What's Cool about School!
It’s September, and to a lot of folks, that means it’s Back-to-School time. When I was a kid, I dreaded the end of summer and the return to school, to waking up at 6am, to riding the school bus, to doing homework, to taking tests, to eating cafeteria lunches. I was desperate to prolong my summer vacation. Summer was this blissful retreat when the sun was bright and the grass was lush. When making a pitcher of Kool-Aid and lounging by the pool (even if it was only five feet in diameter and twelve inches deep) was the only thing on the agenda. Reading Judy Blume books and catching fireflies at night. Jumping through sprinklers on hot days and staying up late to watch scary movies in the den.


But my mom always knew how to make the transition to a new school year a little less painful. It usually involved a trip to the mall and a burger from Orange Julius. A few quarters for the arcade and a new pair of shoes. And before long, I’d be excited to start wearing long pants again. I’d look forward to meeting new kids in my classes and filling my Trapper Keeper with paper and pens. Wrapping my books in disassembled paper bags and drawing pictures on them.

And once I actually got to school, I somehow managed to enjoy myself. Goofing off with my friends at recess, exchanging notes in the back of class, whispering over who the cutest boy was, making papier-maché volcanoes and dioramas out of shoeboxes. Sure, there were things I didn’t like about it. Math, for instance. And there was always one teacher who needed an attitude adjustment. You know, the crotchety old lady who smelled like bug spray and seemed hell bent on terrorizing everyone into submission. But overall, returning to school was fun.

In fact, I loved school so much that I didn’t quit after high school. I didn’t even quit after college, going on to pursue my master’s degree. And I would probably still be in school today if I had the time for it. I’d study all sorts of things that I fluffed off during my schooling years. I’d study world religion, philosophy, French poetry, renaissance art, Greek mythology and the Russian language. Why? Because I somehow graduated with a Master of Fine Arts only to discover how much I don’t know...about life, history, art, other cultures, and so much else that makes up our world. And of course, let’s not forget all the Back-to-School paraphernalia I’d get to play with, too! I know I would have a blast filling up my Trapper Keeper with gel pens, subject dividers and college-rule paper. Not to mention the sparkly stickers that would adorn the front. I am a girlie girl, after all.

What about you? Would you go back to school if you could? And what would you study?


Special thanks to Lucie for reminding us about why school can be fun and sharing "Picture Perfect" with our readers. Thanks also to Chick Lit Plus for including us on Lucie's book tour!

How to win "Picture Perfect":
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.) 

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: If you could go back to school now, what kinds of classes would you take?
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. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.
6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.


Giveaway ends September 24th at midnight EST.

http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/08/picture-perfect-by-lucie-simone.html

26 comments:

Samantha said...

Thanks for being in the tour!

Kritters Ramblings said...

If I could go back to school, I would take some more lit classes, sounds weird, but my love of reading classics and more lit things has just now developed.

kdurham2@gmail.com
i follow this blog via gfc
i am a fan on facebook

Lisamarie said...

I would take more English classes...I loved when we were able to do creative writing in regular english.

tropicalsunlover05(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm a CLC Follower on Facebook, Twiiter & now Pinterest!

Literary Chanteuse said...

I think I would take something geared around the music business. Definitely on the business side.

-blog follower
-tweeted
-member of CLC group on fb
-follower on twitter & pinterest

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jessica said...

1. Hmmm I think I would take more computer classes.
2. I am a follower of this blog through GFC.
3. I posted this on twitter.
https://twitter.com/xxpaperhearts/status/248534245830713345
4. I'm a member of Chick Lit Central on facebook.
5. I follow you on twitter and pinterest. twitter= xxpaperhearts I follow on pinterest through facebook.

Thanks!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Nova said...

If i could go back to school, i would take computer, photography, and writing classes.
sparkle40175@hotmail.com
I follow CLC on facebook
I follow CLC blog by email

Linda Kish said...

At this point in my life, I have no desire to try to study again. If I was 20 or more years younger maybe I would go back to school to get a nurse practitioner degree/license. Now, being retired... not so much.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

karenk said...

i would take more electives.
thanks for the chance to read this fun novel.
i'm a follower, too :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

bn100 said...

Nice cover. I'd take more art classes.

I follow the blog.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

pascale said...

So easy! If I went back to school, it would be to study writing.

Of course I follow this blog!pascale(dot)poitras(at)verizon(dot)net

Marthalynn said...

I could be an eternal student! I would love to take language classes right now.

I follow

marthalynn16 at gmail

Kat said...

1.I would take psychology, as the study of the mind and the way people behave really interests me. I've done it already but want it more advance.

2.I'm already a follower.

3.Facebook

4. Already follow on facebook

5.Followed on twitter

EFC Chrissy said...

If I could go back to school...I would probably go back to college and study math, engineering, or English Lit. (Those would be totally different from my current degrees. And probably much more interesting!)

everyfreechance@gmail.com
I follow via GFC - Love the blog!!

Eline said...

Thanks for this giveaway!

1. I would take some creative classes like writing or painting. I wish I was better in those things :p

2. I follow this blog with a lot of love ;)

3. I posted this contest on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/ElineTack
and on my blog http://flavia-books-and-more.blogspot.be/

4. I already join the group on facebook :)

5. I follow on twitter

elinetackAThotmailDOTcom

Anna Garner said...

What a fun post! I haven't heard the name Trapper Keeper in eons. I would love to go back to school, but it'd be hard to pick one area of focus. :-)

Libby

anna dot garner 6305 at googlemail.com

blog follower & facebook fan

Dolly said...

I'd love to be an attorney.

FB & blog follower.

jcsites2002 at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would like to be an English major.
gardnerad@juno.com

Unknown said...

I would get a second masters in Public Administration. So that I could change the world one child at a time ...at a very large child protection agency.

FB and blog follower

mrsmelissatATgmailDOTcom

Anonymous said...

Spanish - I live in Miami, FL and would love to speak to my latin friends in their first language.

Cyndee said...

If I went back to school;I would go to Culinary school(yes, become a chef) and photography. Trapper Keepers..I just found a couple of them my Mom saved. I took the paper out and may use them.
I follow! Fb,Pinterest,RSS,Goodreads.
Fb Group member.
Cyndee Thomas
cyndee(dot)thomas0(at)gmail(dot)com

Jeryl M. said...

I would take creative writing classes.

I am a subscriber.

I am a Facebook follower.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

A Soccer Mom's Book Blog said...

I would love to go back to school and taking baking (not cooking) classes
I follow this blog via gfc.
I posted this contest on Twitter
I follow you on twitter and facebook.
asoccermomsreview1@gmail.com

Savannah Page said...

Sometimes I get the bug to go back to college for some fun courses to audit. I always find myself dreaming of my English and Psych classes. I'd also love to go back and do a lot more sociology.

Follower on Twitter!
info[at]savannahpage[.]com

Diane Russom Harrison said...

If I were to go back to school, I would study forensic psychology and criminal justice. I would love to be an FBI Profiler when I grow up!

dharrison63038@aol.com

Maureen said...

If I went back to school I would take photography and art classes.
I follow on GFC.
tweet: https://twitter.com/MaureenCE/status/250363984769863680
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

Kristen said...

Buisiness classes! Oh, my goodness, would they be helpful now. :)

I follow on FB and email!

kly(dot)327(at)gmail.com