We love memoirs over here at Chick Lit is not Dead,  especially the ones that read like good fiction.  You know, when you have to keep stopping and reminding yourself that these things ACTUALLY HAPPENED to the author!

When Liz picked up Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal by Julie Metz in Target a few weeks ago, she was immediately drawn to Julie’s amazing story. Because let’s face it ladies-there’s a part of us that loves to read about other people’s dirty laundry!

Julie’s life changed forever when her husband collapsed in her kitchen and died in her arms, leaving her a single mother in a small town.  But that was only the beginning-she soon began to find out that he had hidden another life from her.  Her narrative is honest and insightful, her storytelling pitch perfect.  And as we did many times, you’ll wonder what the hell you’d do if it had happened to you. You’ll cheer for Julie as she begins to pick up the pieces of her broken life and rebuild.

But don’t just take out word for it-Perfection quickly became a NYT bestseller upon it’s release. AND Oprah thought Julie’s story was so compelling that she invited her to be a guest!  In fact, Julie’s episode is re-airing this Friday, July 30th.  Make sure to set your Tivo! Or you can find it here.

And we’re so lucky that she’s sharing not five, but EIGHT things we didn’t know about her.  And we were excited to discover that, like us, she has more books than she knows what to do with.  And wait until you find out at what age she got her drivers license!

We also have three SIGNED copies to give away to our fabulouso readers. You know what to do-just leave a comment and we’ll select the winners randomly this Friday evening.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: 8 THINGS LIZ & LISA DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT…JULIE METZ

1. I move houses more than I’d like…and every time I do…like now…I wish I didn’t own quite so many books. But once they are unpacked it’s like seeing old friends again.

2. I never really had a granny, but my old kitty Sweetie Pie kind of takes her place. She’s a bit dottery but absolutely lovable, and still likes to show up for meals, ours most of all and always has something to say.

3. A lot of readers ask me when someone will make Perfection into a movie…the answer is, soon. I just sold the film option, so stay tuned!

4. I like telling my daughter a story about college, how we stole tea trays from the dorm kitchen one winter evening, and went sledding. Some apricot brandy was involved.

5. As a young woman I loved traveling alone and was surprisingly fearless. I still remember so many of the people I met on European trains and the chocolate covered cookies we shared—cheap and filling.

6. I finally quit smoking at 34…it took at least ten tries.

7. I learned to drive late, at 27. I have been to a hypnotist on two occasions hoping to overcome my fear of city driving.

8. I have a bit of a green thumb that always surprises me. I think it’s because I talk to the plants. My mom always said it worked, so I have continued the tradition.

Thanks Julie! xoxo, Liz & Lisa

To read more about Julie, head on over to her Facebook page or find her on Twitter.

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

It’s that time again… Writing Wednesday where we “talk shop”. And today we wanted to let someone else do the yapping for us (sometimes we get tired of hearing ourselves blog!) Plus, we crave inside scoop about the biz as we shop our manuscript and anxiously await representation, praying we make more desktops than slushpiles (so far, so good although we did recently suffer one rejection that really bummed us out).

So today we decided to give Jennifer Colt, the author of The Hellraiser of the Hollywood Hills: A McAfee Twins Novel, the floor. She’s been published by a major publishing house, she’s tried self- publishing and she’s been independently published (and not necessarily in that order).  And now she’s on to e-books. And we wanted to know if she could pick only one type of publishing, which would it be?

And Jennifer has graciously offered to give away FIVE signed copies of her latest novel, The Hellraiser of the Hollywood Hills! (We’ll randomly select the winners this Friday!) It’s a story that the Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat Pray Love says she got a big kick out of and can’t wait for the next. The premise? Terry and Kerry are identical twins and private eyes who run Double Indemnity Investigations where they keep tabs on philandering husbands, among other things.  But before they know it, they find themselves the number one suspects in a kidnapping investigation. All while they act as glorified babysitters to the Hollywood megastar they’re accused of stealing. JUICY!!

And now, here’s Jennifer!

L&L: You’ve done it all- what are the pro’s and cons of each type of publishing?

JC: This is a loaded question! It would take pages to answer fully, but here’s basically how it breaks down:

1) Major publisher: They have money and market clout, but they’ll probably spend neither on you if you’re a first-time author. You will need to do most of all the marketing and promotion on your book.

If you’re lucky enough to be picked up by a major publishing house, it means you’ve been championed by an individual editor and vetted by an acquisitions committee, and that the art, marketing, and publicity departments now have a stake in your success. Reviewers will be more likely to give your book a shot. Booksellers will not shun you the way they sometimes do self-publishers (they won’t roll out the red carpet, either – you’re still an unproven quantity).

But it’s important to understand that you will still do most of the shlepping, pitching, and self-promotion. Even established authors like Barry Eisler say they spend 20% of their time on writing, 80% on promotion.

If your sales are good, the publisher will take notice and likely spend/expend more effort on your behalf going forward. If you’ve started out as a paperback author, they may give you a promotion to hardcover!

2) Independent publishing: Most people should not do this the first time out. The print-on-demand business is now so sophisticated, the marketing and distribution so good, there’s no need to lay out the extra monies on physical books that you’ll have to inventory.

That said, if you want to do it I can help you. I’ve started a business now called writerrevolution.com. There are advantages to going this way, such as having your own ISBN and being treated as a real publisher, but you have to be very committed to it. It’s time-consuming and costly, and you should know exactly where your market is and how many books you can sell. (Again, that’s something I can help you identify.)

3) Self-publishing: This is the way to go for many people. It in no way prevents you from being picked up by a major. If you have a great book that is well presented, if reviewers have nice things to say about it, you are in virtually the same position as a first-time author who has a publishing contract, except that you haven’t received an advance. However, your individual royalties will be higher.

If your book or series is a success, you can be sure you’ll be considered by big publishers. You’ve done a lot of the legwork, and they can ride on what you’ve already accomplished in the way of introducing your work to the marketplace. I consider it to be like showcasing your independent film at the film markets. If it’s well received and there’s a defined market for it, a major distributor may pick it up.

In the case of apps like Kindle, you can price your book in such a way that people will be more likely take a chance on you as a new author. It’s a way to build a readership. By now I suppose everyone knows the story of JA Konrath, but in case you don’t…

Joe Konrath (aka Jack Killborn) is a real pioneer in this area. He had so many unpublished manuscripts lying around that, after first offering them for free on his website, he took advantage of the new Kindle technology to sell them at under $2.00 per download. He claims that his slasher book Serial was downloaded more than 70,000 times. With all of his Kindle offerings, he’s making much more money now than he did with the traditional publishers. Plus, Amazon is now playing the role of publisher, offering him an advance on his next book.

Full circle, anyone?

Times have changed and they continue to change, very fast. You can get whiplash trying to keep up.

Notwithstanding the foregoing…

DON’T LISTEN TO ME.

I mean it. I have to get a little woo-woo on you here and say that only you know what’s right for you to do. Consult your gut. Take it out to lunch; have a frank discussion with it. Maintain a “beginner’s mind” and forget the experts. They (we) can only tell you what our experience is and was. Who knows what’s in the cards for you? It’s all a learning experience.

L&L: How did you get an agent AFTER you self-published?

JC: I’ve done all of the above in terms of publishing. I started out in the dark ages of POD with iUniverse, using such bad covers it’s excruciating to see them still up on bookseller sites. (I didn’t yet understand that with the Internet, whatever you do will be there forever.) While writing the series, I queried agents. I didn’t get any interest from them, but I continually sent the finished books out to review sites.

I got some great notices, so I cribbed catchy phrases from them for a new query letter, which finally got me the attention of a terrific agent. (It’s important to target your queries to agents who work with your type of writing. Do the research and give them what they’re looking for only.)

Because I hadn’t expected to hear from her so soon, I had fibbed a little and said the third book, The Vampire of Venice Beach, was ready to go. She panicked a little when she learned that it needed more work, but I didn’t cave. I knew I had to finish it properly so I made her wait.

Then she took the books out to auction – what an exciting day! She called and emailed me several times during the day to update me on the bidding war. At the end of the day we took the offer from Broadway Books, which was the highest.

What bothered me was that they kept calling the series a “trilogy.” I was busy writing the fourth book at that time, and certainly wanted it to continue. I was afraid they’d make me wrap up all the storylines at the end of the third book but they didn’t. I guess they wanted to leave their options open.

In the end, the books didn’t earn out, meaning that they never went into profit. Instead of letting them die (I couldn’t let them snuff out my characters!) I published the next two books on my own.

I’ve really been missing my girls, the McAfee Twins. I keep getting mail from fans wondering where the next book is. I think I’ll write a sixth and do the CreateSpace/Kindle thing with them. The problem is finding the time!

L&L: What are you working on now?

JC: I have an abiding interest in all matters spiritual. That’s how I spend my spare time, reading and contemplating those things, so I’ve finally decided to write a book about them. I’ve dubbed it a “spiritual memoir” because it’s the story of how I’ve learned to integrate these ideas into my experience over the course of a lifetime. It’s almost finished.  (I mean the manuscript, not the lifetime!)

Don’t be frightened by the subject matter – the book is a hoot. The tentative title is Minor Mercies & Big-Ass Miracles. I go into some detail about the techniques I’ve used in obtaining a book deal, etc., such as affirmative prayer, visualization, etc. I know everyone’s heard about that stuff ad nauseam, but I’ve kept a journal for thirteen years that tracks their effectiveness. For instance, I include a copy of the mock press release I wrote for myself before I even had an agent, alongside of the actual press release that came out nine months later. The real press release mirrors my fake one almost verbatim, including the advance amount.

I especially want to get this book out there because I think it could help people who are struggling. (And who isn’t these days?) I’d better go get to work on it now!

For more information about Jennifer Colt, head over to her website!

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

Okay, so you know how we love us some feng shui.  In fact maybe we’re more than a little obsessed with all things fountain, crystal and sage. Lisa believes it was feng shui that led her to her husband and Liz can be known to go ape sh*t if someone so much as blinks at the fountain in her wealth corner.

So when we discovered a book called Feng Shui Love by Joni Davis and Lisa Hyatt, we were smitten. The cover is sassy, the story is wildly entertaining and it’s written by two women! Can you think of a better combo? *wink* *wink*

We couldn’t! And that’s why we asked these two debut authors to be the next Lit IT Girls featured on Chick Lit Is Not Dead. (Oh, and we also couldn’t resist the fact that they’re also Housewives fans!)

We fell in love the story and know you will too. Lily Chamberlayne is on her second honeymoon when her heart gets ripped in two by her husband (some romantic trip, huh?). Turns out, her hubby was having a very cliche’ affair with his trashy assistant. So Lily, the eternal optimist searching for true love, packs up and moves in with her childhood friend, Brooke, who’s also newly single. Throw Lily’s eccentric feng shui loving mother into the mix (she shows the girls how to get the men they want by simply rearranging some furniture) and and you’ve got laughter, love and lots of available men!

And if you leave a comment you’ll be entered to win one of FIVE feng shui prize packages which include an autographed copy of Feng Shui Love , a Feng Shui Love t-shirt, a crystal heart for your love corner and a bagua card bookmark! As usual, we’ll randomly select the winners in two days (this Thursday).

Now, here’s our Lit It Girls, Lisa & Joni:

1. How long did it take to write your book?
FOREVER!!! Originally we thought we’d just whip it out in a few months, but then divorces, single motherhood, dating again, long procrastination breaks, and unproductive writing retreats to the beach all seemed to keep getting in the way… In the end, maybe 3 years?? We lost track.

2. How long did it take you to get your book published? What were your rock bottom moments along the way?
Our situation was a little unique, Joni is an Entertainment Attorney and after reviewing multiple client book deals, we decided to go with an independent publisher the first time out of the gate, and luckily Joni ran in the same circles with the head of our publishing company, who had expressed interest in the story before we were even finished with it. As for the rock bottom moments, one in particular was when we actually sent the wrong final draft file back that was ready to go to print. It ended up being distributed at our book launch, and included a rather embarrassing typo. The sentence was supposed to read something like “I’d be so much more excited for you if I didn’t feel like crap” but with all the final editing back and forth, it ended up reading “if I didn’t feel like I have to crap”. We can still hear Joni’s sister’s words ringing in our ears, “Girls, I told you not to use that word at all, that’s what you get for not changing that crap!” Fortunately it was just a very small preview amount slotted for our party and has since been corrected… Thanks Dave!

3. How did you get teamed up with your publisher? Why did you feel your publisher was a good match for you?
We actually met with him early on by chance, and had the opportunity to regale him with some of our funny feng shui stories of how our main character was using it to revamp her life, and he said if we ever finished it to let him know!  So I guess you could say we had him at hello.

4. Knowing what you know now about publishing your first novel, what would you have done differently?
We should’ve had more of a web presence before the book was even released. Heck, we should have more of a web presence now! Your site has definitely inspired us, we’re making a mid-year resolution to get on it!

5. What did you do to celebrate your book deal?
We both immediately put the book cover photo in our wealth and fame areas!

6. Who is your writer crush?
Lisa: For me, there are just too many to narrow down to one.  Joni: I know it’s an extreme departure from chick lit, but I’d have to say Edgar Allan Poe. I’ve been to his house, I can recite Annabelle Lee by heart, and I’ve even turned my daughter into a big fan. When it was her turn to choose in kindergarten story time, she brought The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe. The teacher laughed watching her struggle to carry it in!

7. What’s your biggest distraction or vice while writing?
It doesn’t take much, we’re both Pisces. It’s in our nature to be easily distracted!

8. GNO drink of choice?
Any red wine will do for us. We’re just happy when we can still get together for a GNO.

9. Favorite trashy TV show?
Real Housewives any city, Rock of Love, and we can’t wait for The Ultimate Merger. Donald Trump as a matchmaker?? …That we’ve got to see!

10. What celeb would you love to have a Twitter war with?
Honestly we can’t imagine twit war-ing with anyone since we’re both extremely non-confrontational, not to mention technologically challenged.

To get more scoop on Feng Shui Love, check out the Facebook page!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

I recently announced that I’m pregnant (felt so good to come out of that closet!). In fact, I’m 17 weeks today (due January 3rd) and becoming more and more shall we say “amazed” by the things that my body is doing.

And because it’s always great to have another excuse reason to spout off about something, Liz & I decided I should write a regular feature called, “Maternity Mondays.”

So… I’m hoping all you moms out there will weigh in and remind me that I’m not alone in this- that you went through it too! Oh, and I’ll definitely be hitting y’all up for some advice (don’t even get me started on stroller selection!).

So, without further adieu, here’s my first major, er, prego “observation”.

Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Can’t Touch This.

No, I’m not looking back on the 80′s and getting all warm and fuzzy inside at the thought of MC Hammer’s hit tune (although the song still has quite a ring to it!), this is the track that plays in my head every time my husband remarks on my gargontuean post-prego ta ta’s. (They were a 32DD pre-prego if that tells you anything!)

It seems like every time my freakshow, Jenna Jameson breasts are exposed, my husband is there. It’s like he has radar. I step out of the shower, there he is! I change my shirt, oh hello, honey! I remove my bra because it only makes my tits hurt more, yup, he’s there yet again.  Wide eyed, tongue wagging, wanting me to throw him a bone.

Damn those are HUGE

Wow, they just keep getting bigger, don’t they?

Um, can, I pleeeease touch them?

I look at his puppy dog eyes. He’s like a kid in a candy store, wanting it all. And I try to find the right way to say…

Um, no honey you can’t. Unfortunately, they are for display only. Because not only are they sore as sh*t, but the day I first hit the toilet and lost my lunch, I’m pretty sure I lost my sex drive too. And the last thing I need right now is your mits all over my achy, nauseous, tired junk. But I love you…

As I watch his face fall while he mentally tries to calculate the last time he touched any part of my body (I don’t even want to do that math!), I think that all I need is a pair of those hideous parachute pants that Hammer used to wear (hey those could double as maternity wear!) and it definitely would be Hammer time!

Woh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Can’t touch these (at least until next trimester!?)

xoxo, Lisa

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

To self-publish or not to self-publish?

We’re sure every aspiring writer has considered this question at one point or another (including us!). But let’s face it, self-publishing hasn’t always had the best reputation. And for a long time, has been treated like the redheaded stepchild of the publishing world.

But lately, it seems like it’s receiving a better reception from most people. And that more and more authors are doing it. And we wanted to know why. So we asked Holly Christine, author of Tuesday Tells it Slant to give us the scoop on self-publishing and why she did it. And to fill us in on the 5 things anyone needs to know before they do too. (Plus, we’re giving away 5 copies to 5 lucky commenters. You know the drill, we’ll randomly select the winners & announce the results… Friday!)

Tuesday Tells it Slant is the story of Tuesday Morning who has always been a little… different. She’s kept a diary since 1989 and while researching for her senior seminar paper on Emily Dickinson’s Transcendental tendencies, reads a poem that will change her life.  And not just her future. Tuesday changes her past. We all have secrets and skeletons in our closets, but Tuesday has managed to clean hers out with a pen and a diary. It’s a fun read!

So here’s Holly….

Five years ago, I wrote my first book. After I clicked “save,” I printed it twice, sent a copy to my college roommate, and placed the other copy in my nightstand drawer. Some people say that the first book you write is like releasing your inner demons. Mine fell into this category.

Four years ago, I wrote my second book. I called it The Nine Lives of Clemenza. It was a story about one soul’s journey through nine lives. The kicker was that she could choose to live as whatever form of life she desired. She was air, a part of the Northern Lights and human to name a few. It was unique, not your average tale of reincarnation. As most writers probably feel, I thought that I had struck creative gold. I followed the traditional path. I researched agents and waited for responses for a year. As the rejections piled up, I set my creative side on simmer for another full year. Two years after completing TNLC, I read through it again with truly fresh eyes. I enjoyed it. I made myself laugh and I made myself cry. And I wondered… couldn’t I evoke these emotions from another reader? I did a bit of research and decided to self-publish.

After having some success with TNLC, self-publishing seemed like a no-brainer to me when I finished writing Tuesday Tells it Slant. I knew a handful of self-published authors that were recently picked up by major publishing houses (specifically authors that made their work available for Kindle), and I no longer felt like I was committing literary suicide. After three edits, I formatted for Kindle and within 48 hours, she was live.

Self-publishing takes a few things: a network of writers for support and critiques, some formatting knowledge, a business attitude, some marketing knowledge, and courage.

A network: Search Twitter for author or writer and join online communities of like-minded creative people. I also recommended starting or joining a writer’s group. Doing so will prepare you for the reviews, aid in the writing process and also help to make your work as perfect as it can be before the self-publishing process begins.

Formatting: Creating and prepping a document for publishing is not a one-day project. There are specific spacing requirements that correlate to book size and length. Photoshop and Microsoft Office knowledge is a must. All On-Demand presses give spacing requirements based upon the book size and length. Follow them, and you’ll be happy with the end result. eBook formatting requires moderate Office knowledge. If you find yourself in a slump, there are many online services that offer proper eFormatting for a fee. Check out CreateSpace and Lulu for paperbacks and Amazon’s Digital Text Platform and Barnes and Noble’s new Nook publishing tool for eReaders.

A business attitude: You started your own business the moment you clicked “Publish.” Because you are the author and the publisher, it is probably best to get a separate tax identification number for your royalty earnings. It is very important to keep track of any expenses that you incur, such as giveaways, shipping fees, review copies, and marketing materials. At the end of the year, it will be much easier to tally up your data. This attitude may force you to set aside your creative side for a while. Finding the balance between artist and business owner is the key to making it through this journey at the soul level.

Marketing: The tricky side of self-publishing is the marketing. You made it available… now how can it reach a reader? Thousands of people self-publish every day, and making your work stand out from the rest is no easy task. Use your creative side to explore different marketing options. Create a Facebook fan page for your work or yourself as an author. Set up your own website and blog. Call local bookstores to set up signings. If you can’t do this on your own, and many can’t, hiring a publicist can help to spotlight your work.

Courage: The most terrifying part of making your work available is finding the courage to face a review… especially when you self-publish. Not only did you create the words and the story, you may have created the cover, acted as editor and more. Developing a thick skin, while cliché, is a must. The flip side of this is the praise. You receive a good review and you hold your head higher that day. Someone sends you an email and writes that your words changed the way that they felt about life. You smile. You might even cry. Knowing that you did all of it yourself is rewarding. You should be proud.

For most, the whole I just wrote a novel bit is the easy part. Courage, research, and knowing your limits will help to fine-tune your approach to self-publishing. It’s not necessarily a last resort anymore. You don’t have to worry about shelling out thousands of dollars. You can do it for free and, if you’re still set on finding a traditional publisher, you can use your sales as proof to your book’s potential.

Thanks so much Holly!  xoxo, Liz & Lisa

For more information on Holly Christine, check out her website or follow her on Twitter

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

We think finding a new author to love is the best thing, well, EVEH.  And when we crush on a book, we crush hard.  We think about it when it’s not around, we talk about it incessantly to all of our friends and we try to spend as much time with it as possible.

So when our publicist suggested we read Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright, we were ecstatic to discover how beautifully written her debut was.  We were in love!  In fact, Liz’s husband begged her to stop talking about it on their trip to Cabo. (We think maybe he was just jealous that she wrote Kim a love note after she finished it?)  Liz also chose it as a  hot summer beach read over at SheKnows.com!

In Love in Mid Air, Elyse Bearden’s marriage is already in trouble when she meets a handsome stranger on her flight home from Arizona. Her husband, a doting father to their young daughter but an inattentive husband, has been communicating with her via post-it note for far too long and seems content with having sex in the kiss-less “X” position once a week.

So it’s not surprising when she starts a torrid affair with the man she meets in row 29-somehow trying to recapture the excitement she feels is sorely missing from her marriage and her life in general. Love in Mid Air is honest and captivating-one of the best books we’ve read this year. Want to know more?  Check out the book trailer!

And we’re lucky enough to have FIVE copies of Love in Mid Air to give to our fantastic readers!  Just leave a comment and we’ll pick a winner by random drawing on Thursday night.

And we’re so excited that Kim agreed to be a Lit IT Girl!  Because we discovered that, not only is she a genius author, she loves Grey Goose and trashy TV just like us!  And her journey to publishing should give every aspiring author hope.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: LIT IT GIRL KIM WRIGHT!

How many agents did you query before you found “the one”?

I lost count.  Although several of my friends had published books, I had this nutty idea I was going to make it on my own and not ask anybody for favors.  You know, “If the book is good it will make it on its own merits”  – that sort of insanity.  After thirty something agents turned me down, I called my friend Alison Smith, who had written a highly successful memoir called Name All the Animals, and was like “Um, gee, um, would you introduce me to your agent?”  And he’s turned out to be the perfect fit.  It’s funny because he was on my radar screen all the time.  It’s like traveling the world in search of the perfect man and marrying the boy next door.

What was your rock bottom moment during the process?

During that long hunt for representation I got a lot of rejection, but one of them stands out.  I’d walked to the mailbox and the envelope was thin so I figured it wasn’t good news.  But the agent hadn’t just said no, she’d gone on for a whole page scolding me for writing a book that she thought glorified affairs and divorce.  It started out with “This shameful story….”  I literally sat down in the middle of my driveway.  For a minute I thought I was going to pass out.  My therapist still has a copy of that rejection letter in my file!

How long did it take to write your book?

I never know how to answer this because I wrote a very long, very bad first draft of the book and then put it down for two years.  When I picked it back up I did a brutal revision, slicing out big sections and pretty much building it back up from scratch.  That took a couple of years and then there was the aforementioned hunt for an agent and then, once my agent sold it, the publisher held it for two more years before it was released.  So if you count the fallow periods it took ten years;  I think I actually worked on it for five.

What did you do to celebrate your book deal?

Went to New York and met everyone from the publicity team to the foreign rights team to the receptionist down in the lobby.   Then after being this complete networking fool, I went off on my own and just sat there and let it sink in.   I remember sitting at the bar of the St. Moritz thinking “I have a book.  I actually have a book.”

Knowing what you know now about publishing your first novel, what would you have done differently?

Honestly, nothing.  I made bunches of mistakes but looking back it all seems like a necessary part of the journey.  I might have swallowed my silly country pride and asked my friends for help sooner.

Who is your writer crush?

Tom Perotta!  His “Little Children” was a huge influence on “Love in Mid Air.”  I recently friended him on Facebook and am trying to decide how to stalk him without it being too obvious.

What’s your biggest distraction or vice while writing?

Sudoku.  It’s like crack cocaine for me.

GNO drink of choice?

Grey Goose vodka, very cold and straight up.  It was what I was drinking when I was sitting in the St. Moritz thinking “Holy Mother of God, my book is actually going to be published.”

Favorite trashy TV show?

I love reality TV.  Dancing With the Stars, Top Chef, Project Runway, The Biggest Loser. My latest guilty pleasure is this show called Chopped on the Food Channel.  They give chefs these mystery baskets with strange ingredients like gooseberries, chocolate, bell peppers, and calamari and they have to make an appetizer using them all.  Great stuff.

What celeb would you love to have a Twitter war with?

Elisabeth Hasselbeck makes me nauseous.  So she might not be that fun to war with, because I’d be livid the whole time.  Love in Mid Air recently came out in Australia and I heard Germaine Greer is mad at me about some things I said about feminism in an interview and that’s sort of cool.  I think in the long run, I’d like to have a Twitter war with someone I respect.

Thanks so much Kim! xoxo, L&L

To learn more about Lit IT Girl Kim Wright, head on over to her website or find her on Facebook.

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

It’s been a while since my last Mommy Monday. Lately I’ve been hanging out over at Momlogic.com, bitching about things like Chuck E Cheese and summer camp.  I’ll be blogging there couple times a month so don’t forget to head on over if you’ve had one of those days and need an instant mommy blog fix.

Today I’m talking about one of my favorite subjects.  Myself!  Or rather, my MOMMY MUST LIST.  You know, those things that I just can’t live without.  And maybe a few things that, well, I could live without but just don’t want to!  And the Mommy MUST list will be a regular feature here, so don’t be shy-let me know what your Mommy MUSTS are.

What are the things that make your day easier? What are your guilty pleasures?  What do you absolutely HAVE to have or you *might* just kill someone?  Tell us here or email me and maybe I’ll include it in on the next Mommy MUST list!

But for the first Mommy MUST list, I just started with the basics.  Things that are as essential to me as food and water. Things that I would do just about anything for.  Things that I might cut a bitch for if I had to.

Liz’s Mommy MUST list: The essentials!

Starbucks Green Iced Tea-  You don’t want to get between me and the nearest Starbucks in the morning.  After patting myself on the back for kicking my daily five shot iced Americano habit, I realized I traded it for another addiction.  And just because I don’t get a headache and crackwhore shakes when I don’t have my green tea doesn’t mean that I’m not just as obsessed with getting my daily fix.  Damn you Starbucks and your refreshing beverages!

Mac Macbook- He helps me blog, email, shop, keep in touch with friends and crop my vacation pictures. He tweets, keeps my calendar and lets me know when I’ve eaten too many Weight Watcher’s points.  And even though he’s been a bit slow lately and I’m thinking of upgrading him to a younger, sleeker model, he still gets the job done and never talks back. If he could cook and do laundry, I’d leave my husband for him.

My iTouch-He drowns out Spongebob, Johnny Test and my kids fighting over those lamesass Mighty Beanz. (WTF with those things anyway?)  I’d never would have written one chapter of The D Word without him blaring my favorite playlist as a soundtrack for each chapter.  He can even facebook or tweet for me in a pinch! And most importantly, he plays my music without any commentary about how lame Barry Manilow and Nickelback are.

A weekend getaway- We all need a break sometimes,right? So when I get the chance to get out of town sans kids, I head the most adult place I can find: Las Vegas! Between the pool, the spa and the free drinks, you’ll be saying, “Kids? What kids?”  as you play Blackjack next to D list celebrities at The Hard Rock Casino or as you dance on the table at the Playboy Club. My new favorite hotel?  The Aria.

A Good Book- If you don’t have the time or money for a quick getaway, why not escape into a good book?  I highly recommend The Divorce Party by the lovely and talented Laura Dave.  Want to peak into someone else’s life?  Then check out Julie Metz’s fascinating memoir, Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal.  And on that note, tomorrow we’ll be introducing new Lit IT Girl Kim Wright and her fabulous debut, Love in Mid Air!  Make sure to stop by and leave a comment for your chance to win a copy.

Happy hour with the girls- It’s muy importante to take  the time to have a glass of wine and detox with your girlfriends every so often. Staying connected with your besties is the best gift you can give yourself!  My favorite place to relax and talk some shit with my favorite girls?  The Rooftop Bar in Laguna Beach.  Their view is amazing and the sunsets there are like no other.

So there you have it!  What’s on YOUR Mommy Must list?  Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a random drawing to win one of TWO copies of Christine Lemmon’s Sand In My Eyes.

xoxo, Liz

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

Where do we begin? The brilliant, eye-catching book cover (it’s her own German Shepard, Argo. Need we say  more?). The fantastic writing? The story that makes your heart melt over and over again? Since discovering Allie Larkin and devouring her DEBUT novel, STAY (in stores NOW), we’re in love (yes, we’ve fallen hard- again!).

STAY is the story of how heartbroken Savannah”Van” Leone, in love with her best friend’s husband (ouch!), finds comfort in a dog “Joe” that she adopts from, um, Slovakia. Best part? She buys the dog over the internet while in a drunken vodka and Kool Aid haze after watching a Rin, Tin, Tin marathon. Hey, it could happen to anyone… Er, like the time Lisa picked up her home phone and called everyone in her address book (remember those?!) after drinking too many shots of Captain Morgan’s that she chased with chocolate chips?!  This was in college, before cell phones, before internet. Before common sense & good taste in liquor. But we digress…

When Van discovers the pint-size dog she thought she ordered isn’t so pint-sized (try 100 pounds!) she rolls with it. (At least Joe’s vet is HOT!) She’s someone you root for and someone you feel for. She’s someone you can relate to- especially when you think of how lonely it can be to nurse a broken heart.  And when her best friend and her husband return from their honeymoon (yup, to make matters worse they recently tied the knot), Van must decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to have the life she’s always wanted.

After reading STAY, we had a million questions for this break out author. Because we’re deep in the trenches trying to find an agent for our our next project and we know many of you are aspiring writers, we wanted to know everything about how Allie got her book from the computer to the bookstores. And because we’re, well, US, we threw in some “hard hitting” Q’s like her “GNO drink of choice”.

And we have FIVE copies of her book to give away! You guys know the drill…. leave a comment to be entered and we’ll randomly select the winners this Friday!

1. How long did it take to write your book?

STAY started as a writing exercise in a class in 2002.  I turned the exercise into a short story, and then filed it away for several years.  I revisited it for a writing group, and realized it needed to be a novel.  I wrote the first few drafts at a rate of eight pages a week for my writing group.  So, it took many years, but I wasn’t working on it full time until the very end.

2. How long did it take you to get your book published? What were your rock bottom moments along the way?

I had my share of rejection and mopey moments while I was trying to find an agent, but I really believed in the story and the characters, and that kept me going.

Two years ago, our dog, Argo, who is the inspiration for the dog in STAY, had a growth that turned out to be cancer. I was a wreck.  I had shelved STAY to work on something new.  But while we were waiting for his surgery date and through his recovery, there was so little we could do.  I felt like I needed to finish STAY.  I know Argo will never know one way or another that he inspired a book, but it was important to me to finish it. STAY is fiction, but it’s also a celebration of the way Argo has changed my life and made me a better person.  I’m thrilled that Argo recovered fully and has been a part of this whole process with me.

3. How did you get teamed up with your publisher? Why did you feel your publisher was a good match for you?

Rebecca Strauss, my agent, met with Erika Imranyi at Dutton, and gave her the manuscript.  Dutton is the perfect match for STAY.  They have an amazing reputation for strong commercial fiction, and give so much attention to every book they publish. Everyone I’ve worked with at Dutton cares passionately about what they do, and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to work with them.

4. Knowing what you know now about publishing your first novel, what would you have done differently?

I feel really lucky, because my agent has been an amazing guide through this process and it’s really helped me to make decisions I feel good about along the way.  I don’t think there’s much I would change if I could.

5. What did you do to celebrate your book deal?

My husband took me out to dinner at our favorite restaurant, and I called a bunch of friends and cried at them.

6. Who is your writer crush?

When I read NAKED in college, I was positive David Sedaris was my soul mate and we were meant for each other.  Then I got to the chapter entitled “I Like Guys.”  I guess I’m not his type, and I’m married now anyway, but I’d be open to being just friends.

7. What’s your biggest distraction or vice while writing?

Twitter and Facebook are big distractions.  Although, also useful.  When I’m feeling like I want to take a break, it keeps me home and in my office to spend a few minutes on Twitter.  Otherwise, I’d get the itch to run errands or go grab coffee, and might not make it back to my desk that day.

8. GNO drink of choice?

I love Campari & soda.  I get teased about it being an old lady drink all the time, but it’s my drink of choice anyway.  I also enjoy driving slow and going to bed early.

9. Favorite trashy TV show?

There was a BBC show called Hotel Babylon.  Most of the seasons are on Netflix.  I watched as many as I could get my hands on in an embarrassingly short amount of time.  And I plan to do it again when I can.  So fun!

10. What celeb would you love to have a Twitter war with?

If @NathanFillion ever tweeted at me – war or otherwise, I’m pretty sure I’d pass out.

To find out more about this fab Lit It-Girl Allie Larkin, follow her on Twitter, Facebook and visit her website. And definitely buy her book!

Thanks so much, Allie!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

Teens have it so good these days.  I mean, come on. Cell phones, (we’re from the “pager” era) IPods, (um, is this where we mention we remember 8-tracks?) and YA fiction.  So not only do these kids get to listen to their favorite song over and over without rewinding a tape, they also have a whole genre of fiction devoted just to them.  And the best part? There’s a ton of awesome YA writers out there. (Just ask Liz-she’s a closeted YA addict!)

And we’re lucky enough to have Sarah Mlynowski sharing 5 things we don’t know about her today.  She’s the author of the popular Magic in Manhattan series. Her latest YA effort, Gimme a Call is a lot of fun (AND has already been optioned by Paramount!).  It’s a lighthearted read about a girl who, after dropping her cell phone in a fountain, is able to call her fourteen-year-old self and tell her all the things she wish she had known three years ago.

Want to win a copy?  We’ve got five! Just leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win!  We’ll choose the winner by random drawing on Wednesday evening.

And if you’re just unable to embrace your inner teen, don’t fret-Sarah’s got some chick lit up her sleeve too.  In fact,  Me vs. Me is one of our favorite books and See Jane Write is a must read for any aspiring chick lit author!

So take a minute to get to know more about the fabulous Sarah! And wait till you see the VIDEO evidence she provided to back up one of her 5 things! Love it!

5 things Liz & Lisa didn’t know about…Sarah Mlynowski!

1. I speak four languages. English, French, Hebrew and Yiddish. Yes, Yiddish. I’m not kibitzing with you.

2. I’ve moved eleven times in the last fifteen years. Two countries, four cities, six roommates, one husband, and one adorable baby. So much packing tape.

3. My mom is a novelist too. She’s published four romance novels under the name Elissa Ambrose. Obviously, when I read her books, I skip over the sex scenes.

4. I hate soda. I don’t understand the appeal. I’ve never understood the appeal. Those bubbles burn. Why would anyone want to drink something that causes pain? It makes no sense.

5. I learned how to ride a bike when I was twenty-seven. My dad tried to teach me when I was a kid, but I refused to let him take off the training wheels. My husband decided enough was enough, and taught me on our honeymoon. Unfortunately, I mowed down some flowers. Unfortunately, there is video evidence-see below!

To read more about the lovely Sarah Mlynowski, head on over to her website or find her on Facebook and Twitter!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

It’s been four months since I said, “I do.” (Feel free to raise a glass and toast me! *wink* *wink*) And I’ve yapped before about how I’m going to milk this honeymoon period for all it’s worth. That I’m going to live in my post-wedded state of bliss for as long as I possibly can. Reaping all the benefits of being a newlywed.

But there’s something that won’t let that happen. Something that constantly reminds me that I have “things to do” and “responsibilities” to uphold. Something that continues to bug me about the list of tasks I must now accomplish because I’m married. Something that just. Won’t. Leave. Me. Alone.

The Nest!

I signed up for The Nest while in the midst of a pre-wedding guilt trip when I was trying to get organized. And don’t get me wrong, I love the concept of The Nest. (A dear sister of one of my other love-hate relationships, The Knot.  It gives you valuable tips about everything from money to bedroom activity. If only it gave me these tips when I ASKED FOR THEM. Instead, I receive emails like this:

“Honey, it’s been three months since your wedding. Can you believe it? Now stop sitting around on your newlywed ass and get in gear and start acting like a married woman. You have things to do!”

Okay, so maybe that’s not what the email actually says, but just what it makes me feel like. In fairness, it’s a lot more innocent than that. Simply giving me much-needed pointers about important things like how to change your name (more on that in a minute). And it’s just doing it’s job. After all, I remember checking that box, agreeing to these unsolicited emails. Damnit!

It’s reminders like this that bug me:

Time to change your name! Sooo…Lisa… have you taken care of this yet? Have you marched yourself down to the social security office and filed the paperwork to go from Steinke to Dannenfeldt (only legally- I’ll still be Steinke in the writing world).

Well, The Nest, the answer is yes and no. Yes, I’ve changed my name. No, I haven’t changed my driver’s license. And every time you remind me to change my name, it reminds me that I need to get my booty down to the DMV and take my written test and officially *grabs tissue* hand in my California license in exchange for an Illinois one. And maybe I’m just not ready to do that!!!

Time to talk about money! So… Lisa… have you made that appointment with your spouse to have the “money talk” yet?

Um, no, The Nest, I haven’t. I can barely find time to get frisky with him (see Don’t fall into a rut). Do you think it’s really feasible that we’ll schedule a meeting to discuss what he doesn’t want me to buy? Um, I hate to break it to you, The Nest, but I’ll be delaying that meeting as long as possible!

Don’t fall into a rut! Lisa, you need to keep that romance alive! Don’t let things get stale. Here’s some tips on keeping things hot! Candles, soft music…

Okay, Is this The Nest or Cosmo? I thought I was signing up for decorating tips here! The Nest, I’m not sure HOW you get your information, but okay, so maybe between traveling and family and schedules, there hasn’t been much Barry White playing lately. But I’m on it. Don’t you worry. I know how to keep my man happy and it doesn’t require any wax.

But I do have a confession. I haven’t stopped subscribing to The Nest. It’s kind of like that tough love friend or that, um, extra helpful in-law. It just wants to help me. And I’m not going to turn away the advice. I just may not take it every time.  Or ever. We’ll see. Give me a second to be married first!

xoxo

©2010 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.