Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Girl talk with Gemma Burgess...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by 
Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

The last time Gemma Burgess visited with us was in early 2011 to chat about her novel, A Girl Like You. Since that time, she and I have stayed in contact. I have enjoyed hearing what she has been up to, between having her first child and writing a new series about 20-somethings living in New York. The first novel of that series, Brooklyn Girls, will be hitting shelves next week! In honor of this, and her previous novel, we are doing a very girly "This or That." Think of it like a slumber party when you're looking through the latest fashion magazines with your BFFs.

Gemma Burgess has been all over the place. She currently lives in New York City with her Irish husband and their baby who was born in Switzerland. Prior to this, she was born in Australia, grew up in Hong Kong, went to a French International school and was a copywriter in advertising in London. Her new series, Brooklyn Girls, is about a group of friends in their early 20s. When life is so fun, but so hard. When you’re usually crying, broke, hungry, lost, heartbroken and a little drunk. When you figure out not just what you want in life, but how you’re going to get it. The first novel is like the title track of an album, as it is named for the series. Gemma has FIVE signed copies for some lucky readers in the US and/or Canada! If you've been wishing to read her previous novels but couldn't find them in the US, both The Dating Detox and A Girl Like You will be available on Kindle starting in mid-July!

You can find Gemma at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Manicure or pedicure?
Pedicure. I can handle bare nails, cut super-short and buffed. But I NEED nice toenails. It's like having clean teeth: I don't feel right without them. I like Essie Sugar Daddy or OPI Black Onyx.

Heels or flats?
I adore heels, but I wear flats. I wore very high dark red Miu Miu heels to get married, then changed into silver sequined Converses for the reception. That pretty much sums me up.

Dangly earrings or posts?
Neither. I am the most boring jewelry person in the world. I only wear engagement and wedding rings.

Retail or thrift?
I loved thrift as a teenager - a pair of hobnailed boots two sizes too big that I wore constantly for years stands out in my memory, and a very nasty army coat that my mother only got off my back by - literally - cutting it off when I was watching TV one day... but these days, retail. Usually online.

Casual or dressy?
Both. Either. All. Everything. I love clothes. I am a girly girl. I am just as happy in the perfect pair of denim shorts as I am in a killer dress.

Makeup or natural look?
Makeup to look natural. I *love* make-up (see: girly girl) and even write about it for magazines sometimes. Current obsessions are NARS Tinted Moisturizer and Edward Bess bronzer. I am constantly searching for the perfect blonde eyebrow pencil.

Hair down or ponytail?
Down the day I wash and blow-dry it, ponytail the day after. I also like messing around with French rolls and chignons but I have a feeling I don't do a great job a lot of the time.

Cosmopolitan or Glamour?
Glamour though I'm more of an Allure, Vogue, Vanity Fair and NYLON girl at heart.

Thanks to Gemma for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers.

How to win Brooklyn Girls:
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:
1.Please tell us: What do you love most about being a girl? (If you're a guy, what is the most girlish trait you possess?)
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.


US/Canada only. Giveaway ends June 30th at midnight EST.

35 comments:

S.Sabia said...

How fun! I love series, I'm adding this to my to-read list now!!

sfsabiaATgmailDOTcom

S.Sabia said...

There are so many things I love about being a girl but I think the #1 this is handbags! I am as obsessed about handbags as I am about books.

I follow the blog.
I've shared on Facebook and Twitter.
I'm a member on Facebook.
I follow you on Pintrest and Twiiter.

sfsabiaATgmailDOTcom

TinaB said...

I love pretty clothes and shoes, nice handbags, yummy smelling lotion.
I follow u on fb and pinterest
Brannanflooring@aol.com

rubynreba said...

I love the pretty jewelry, pastel colors, nail polish, being a Mom, cosmetics, great smelling lotions and perfumes and lots of other things!

I am a follower.

Facebook follower.

pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Unknown said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I lvoe being a woman for so many reasons, but mainly the cute shoes!

I follow email, FB, pinterest and Twitter.

sumsum085@aol.com

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this novel.

I'm a follower

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Kim W. said...

Honestly? Not very girly girl myself. I do, however, love reading about fashion and girly things! I guess I would have to say I love being a mommy....can't be one of those if you're not a girl, right?

I follow the CLC blog already and belong to the group on Facebook and follow on Twitter!

Really looking forward to this book!!

fredamans said...

I love being a girl, and am such a girly-girl. I am a shoe-fiend, love dressing up, wearing make up and having all the glittery bells and whistles on.

freda.mans[at]gmail.com

I follow via gfc

tweeted; https://twitter.com/fredalicious/status/349583839288492034

A Facebook group member.

Follow on Twitter @fredalicious and Pinterest: Freda Mans

Jessica said...

1. I love having long hair the most. =] If I was a guy I wouldn't be able to have long hair and not get weird stares.
2. I follow this blog through GFC.
3. I tweeted this https://twitter.com/xxpaperhearts/status/349602319781998593
4. I'm a member of Chick Lit Central on facebook.
5. I follow through twitter and pinterest.

Thanks!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I love being a girl because I have the option to dress up or be casual. I love being a mom and having two daughters who are now grown up and are also my friends.

I follow this blog.

opesopinions@gmail.com

Mary Jo Burke said...

Not much of a girly girl myself, but am raising two. They love makeup, shoes, and clothes. I try to convince them being a girl means extra brain cells. They're not feeling it.

maryjo(at)maryjoburke(dot)com

Suzanne said...

I love being able to read Chick Lit books and not have anyone look at me funny (if I were a guy, I think I'd get some looks!!).

I follow the blog.
I'm a member on FB

suzannefine @ yahoo.com

Sheena said...


For me I'd say wearing lipgloss, putting on fruit scented lotions or perfumes, and reading lots of great chick lit books!

I follow on facebook and twittwer and also follow the blog.

wapneski@yahoo.com

EFC Chrissy said...

I'm not a girly-girl but I do like jewelry and getting my nails done. I'm anxious to see how my daughter ends up - girly or tomboy or like me, a bit of both.

I follow the blog, facebook, twitter, pinterest, email, etc

everyfreechance@gmail.com

rhonda said...

I love really feminine almost Cinderella like fancy clothing.follower lomazowr@gmail.com face book follower &Twitter follower@rhondareads will tweet

JJT said...

I really like girls! Hope that counts.
Jtretin at aol dot com

Jilleen said...

I loved the post! Great interview. I have to say the thing(s) I love most about being a woman is bags, skirts and shoes!

I follow via email and GFC
I follow FB
I follow Twitter
I follow Pinterest

Thanks again
Jill at Seaside Book Nook

seasidebooknook at yahoo dot com

Kelly RS said...

Shoes! LOL - although handbags are just a "step" behind. Just join you on FB.

Kelly RS said...

sorry forgot my e-mail.


Shoes! LOL - although handbags are just a "step" behind. Just join you on FB.


krshwltrATgmail.com

bn100 said...

dressing up and looking nice

I follow the blog

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Patricia said...

Loved learning about Gemma and this new series. Can't wait to read the first installment.
patricia DOT mariani DOT esq AT gmail DOT com

Patricia said...

1. Jewelry, jewelry, jewelry --- the absolute best thing about being a woman.
2. Follow this blog.
3. Twitter post: https://twitter.com/CapitalismRox/status/349716163124662272
4. Already a member of Chick Lit Central on Facebook.
5. Follow on Twitter.
patricia DOT mariani DOT esq AT gmail DOT com

Linda Kish said...

The book sounds great. I hope I get lucky.

I'm not a girly-girl. I do like being a mom, though.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Hailey Fish said...

Sounds awesome!

What I love about being a girl, the fact I can wear cute dresses and wear lots of jewelry.

I follow on Twitter and Pinterest.

I'm a member of CLC on FB

fishiegirl22@yahoo.com

Karen said...

What I love about being a girl (woman) is that I can be pretty and refined and demonstrative. Plus, I'd hate to have to be a guy!

I follow this blog.

I start with email and then go to the website.

I'm a member of CLC on Facebook.

I started Twitter and Pinterest accounts just for CLC but haven't figured out how to post giveaways yet!

Karen.dyer@gmail.com

Tiffany Drew said...

What do I love most? Being a mom, of course :)

GFC: Tiffany Drew
FB: Tiffany Drew
Twitter: @enterthedrew
Pinterest: Tiffany Drew
Tweet: https://twitter.com/enterthedrew/status/350363638529396738

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

GoGreen said...

Click on Blogger icon for email address.

The thing I like most about being a girl is being able to wear beautiful dresses.

I posted the contest on Twitter. (@greenurlifenow)

I am a member of CLC on FB (Bonnie Yee)

I am following on Twitter. @greenurlifenow

GoGreen said...

Oops, am a blog follower.



Bonnie

MrsB2011 said...

Sam_smith73@hotmail.com

Thing I love most about being a girl- being able to wear a beautiful wedding dress

I follow on twitter - sam_smith73

Eline said...
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Eline said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
StereoQueenBee said...

1.Please tell us: What do you love most about being a girl? (If you're a guy, what is the most girlish trait you possess?)

Ironically I love pedicures but I rarely have the time to get one.

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

Am already a follower.

3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Facebook - Sabrina-Kate Eryou
Twitter - stereoqueenbee

4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Am already a member.

5. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.

Follow on Twitter - stereoqueenbee

6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

Amanda McKelvey-Lloyd

I would love to win this - I am soooooo excited about this book!

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

1. I love getting all dolled up and pretty!
2. I'm a follower
4. I'm a follower on FB
5. I'm a follower on Pinterest and Twitter

missamberljohnson at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I love being a mom! Especially to a daughter who loves to dress up :)

I follow the blog
I'm a member of CLC on Facebook
I follow on twitter

bjoneill@hotmail.com

Melissa said...

Thanks for participating and telling us all the girly things you love. Chick lit definitely celebrates all things girly! :)

Thanks to Gemma for chatting with us and sharing her book with our winners.

Random.org chose FIVE winners from all entries with contact info.

Congrats to:
23-karenk
25-Kim W
53-Sheena
61-Chrissy TheEveryFreeChanceReader
109-Tiffany Drew