Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Reader Spotlight: Book Queen

This year, we're doing "Reader Spotlight" posts on a bi-weekly basis. We want to feature readers who have been actively following CLC for a while. We're hoping you can get to know some new friends this way. One of the joys of having CLC is that readers have connected with each other, as a result. That's one of the reasons it was started up in the first place...to bring chick lit fans together from all over the world! We've made some amazing friends because of this blog and we hope you'll get to do so too!

See our previous Reader Spotlight posts.

Note from Melissa A: I can't resist an opportunity to connect with someone named Melissa who likes chick lit. It's like we're instant soul sisters. After seeing a rather interesting answer to one of our bonus questions, I e-mailed her to ask more about it and we ended up sending e-mail novels back and forth, even if a month goes by between each one. Melissa is a total sweetheart and she posts the funniest things on Facebook, where her friends call her the "Book Queen." (That even goes along with people calling me a "Book Fairy." See...soul sisters!) You can also reach out to her on Twitter and Goodreads. I hope you all get a chance to connect with her!

Name: Melissa Seng
Age: 39
Location: Morris County, NJ

What are your top FIVE favorite chick lit novels of all time? 
1) Getting Over It by Anna Maxted 
2) Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
3) Bitter is the New Black by Jennifer Lancaster
4) Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
5) This is actually a 3-book answer, all by Wendy Markham: Slightly Engaged, Slightly Settled, and Slightly Married. I can't decide which of the three I liked the best, so I'll just say the trilogy.

What do you do when you're not reading?
When I'm not reading, I'm either eating, sleeping, or sipping on an iced chai latte from Starbucks. Seriously. I'm currently unemployed. Three years ago, I very severely broke my leg and went out on disability. When I finally had recovered, my position could no longer be held open for me. Then I had a whole barrage of other illnesses and injuries happen, all within the last two years...yes, there's a black cloud right outside my window. (kidding) -- So, when I'm not reading, I'm doing all that I can to keep busy, find a new job, and make some money for books...I mean, bills!!!! I enjoy crafting. My Mother is a Stampin' Up rep, so I am busy making greeting cards, book marks, and invitations with her. Something I really, really enjoy is editing and proofreading. I started a little side gig within the past two years. I edit research papers for friends, college students, high school students, etc. My latest project is helping a doctor I used to see edit a novel she is currently writing. I'm finding that I really, really enjoy doing that, which is kind of why I found your site and Jennifer's and have befriended tons of authors, etc. via Facebook. I want to get my name out there, and maybe read, review, write summaries and reviews, or even help edit new manuscripts and books for authors. It's a stretch, but who knows what will happen. Prior to all of this, I was a life insurance underwriter...zzzzz! Throughout high school and college, I was a nanny and pre-school/pre-k teacher. I try to spend as much time as possible with my two beautiful nephews, as well.

5 comments:

Laura @ The Shabby Rabbit said...

Nice to meet you, Melissa! Good luck with your job search..the side gig sounds promising!

Getting Over It is one of my favorite's too!

Janine said...

I enjoyed reading about you. You and Melissa do sound like boo soul sisters. I wish you the best of luck with your dream of editing or helping authors. If there is one place where that could help you, it's right here. I hope the right person sees this spotlight and sets that ball rolling.

Carol Fragale Brill said...

Melissa, Nice to get to know you a little. Best of luck with your career goals.
I write book reviews for New York Journal of Books. Message me on Facebook if you'd like to learn more about how that came about.
Carol Fragale Brill

Geralyn Corcillo said...

Melissa, I am sorry to hear you've been followed around by Eyore-like clouds for the past few years! But you sound in wonderful, resilient spirits! What an exciting time for your "side gig." With so many indie artists and writers out there, with some marketing, you should have clients aplenty :)

Melissa Seng said...

Thanks, everyone! Nice to meet all of you.
Carol, I will be messaging you soon.