Today’s guest: Devan Sipher

Why we love him: His debut novel is romantic, funny and poignant.

His debut: The Wedding Beat

The scoop: Gavin Greene isn’t only a hopeless romantic, he’s a professional one: He writes the wedding column for a prize-winning newspaper, covering A-list parties from coast to coast.  But there’s a thin line between being a hotshot reporter on assignment…and being a single guy alone on a Saturday night. Everything changes on New Year’s when Gavin meets Melinda, a travel writer with an adventurous spirit.  A moonlit walk across a Manhattan rooftop seems to seal the deal, but she slips away.
Gavin crisscrosses New York City to find her again. And he learns there’s something worse than losing the woman of his dreams—having to write an article about her wedding.

Our thoughts: A romcom written by a man! (*swoon*)

Fun fact: Devan’s been writing the Vows column at the New York Times for five years. According to his website, rumor has it that in the movie 27 Dresses, the actor James Marsden portrayed him — but with better hair.

Giveaway: 5 copies. Just leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win. We’ll randomly select the winners this Monday, April 30 after 6pm.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS…7 SECONDS IN HEAVEN WITH DEVAN SIPHER

Photo credit: Stacey Luftig

1.    I always walk on the sunny side of the street.  I’m not a cockeyed optimist.  I just crave sunshine.  It’s very hard for me to stay inside and write on a sunny day (not that it’s all that easy for me to write on cloudy ones).  Maybe it’s from being born in southern California.  Or it could be a Vitamin D deficiency.
2.    I’m addicted to cereal and ice cream.  But not together.  It took a lot of bowls of cereal and cartons of ice cream for me to write a book.  Of course, lots of ice cream doesn’t go well with sitting sedentary at one’s desk for hours, so frozen yogurt is also high on the list.  I recently discovered Yogurtland, which has a dozen or so flavors of nonfat frozen yogurt that you can serve yourself in any amount and any combination.  I think of it as Disneyland for frozen yogurt.
3.    I love to travel.  I’ve never traveled anywhere I didn’t want to stay.  But it’s not just what I see and do.  It’s who I am.  I like the person I become when I travel.  More spontaneous.  More open to trying new things.  So even when home in New York, I often pretend I’m visiting from out of town, stopping at any café, park (or ice cream stand) that sparks my interest.
4.     I have prepubescent taste in music.  Fortunately, there’s a steady supply of prepubescents, so there’s always new music to download onto my iPod.  But I draw the line at Justin Bieber.
5.     I like learning new things.  I learned Spanish for a recent trip to Spain.  Not well enough to actually converse with anyone, but I could read menus pretty well.  A year ago, while writing my book, I decided to learn how to make pizza from scratch (it wasn’t difficult, but it sounds impressive to people who don’t know that.)  I made pizza every day the entire winter.  I made pizza for lunch.  Pizza for dinner.  Pizza for friends.  Haven’t made it once since.
6.    If I had one wish, I’d wish for three more.  
7.    Put me near mountains or water, and I’m a happy guy.  (I mentioned I’m from southern California, right?)  Living in Manhattan, I frequently go running along the Hudson River, simply to remind myself that I live on an island.  When I’m in LA, I go running along the coast between Venice and Santa Monica.  Then I take my shoes off and walk back in the surf.  I’d like my last moment on this planet to be sitting on a beach looking out at the waves.  And while I’m putting in requests, I’d like that last moment to be with someone by my side.

Thanks, Devan!

xoxo,

L&L

If you want to find out more about Devan Sipher, visit his website and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

©2012 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

We’re all about women supporting woman on this site.  In fact, that’s one of the reasons we started it almost three years ago.  But that being said, we love a few good men too!  Especially funny ones who write hilarious books that have the word “doucheface” in them. (Going to have to use that in a sentence this week…)

That’s why we’re totally stoked to have Greg Olear spending Seven Seconds in Heaven with us today.  His hilarious new novel, Father-Mucker is a fun read that we think you’ll devour.

Here’s the dealio on Father-Mucker: A day in the life of a dad on the brink: Josh Lansky—second-rate screenwriter, fledgling freelancer, and stay-at-home dad of two preschoolers—has held everything together while his wife is away on business . . . until this morning’s playdate, when he finds out through the mommy grapevine that she might be having an affair. What Josh needs is a break. He’s not going to get one.

Sound fab?  It is!  And we have FIVE copies to give away!  Just leave a comment here and you’ll be entered to win.   We’ll choose the winners on Sunday November 13th after 3pm PST.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS… 7 SECONDS IN HEAVEN WITH GREG OLEAR

01:00

 The only time I ever played Seven Minutes In Heaven, back in seventh grade, the game would have been more accurately called Seven Minutes Of Excruciatingly Awkward Silence In A Closet Redolent With Mothballs, With A Girl With Peanut Butter In Her Retainer

02:00

 It should really be called Eight Minutes in Heaven, though, because “Stairway to Heaven” is exactly eight minutes long, and that’s what should be playing while the two lucky contestants are barricaded in the closet.  Best junior high make-out song of all time.  Because if you don’t want to make out, you can always rock out.

03:00

 I was much better at Spin the Bottle.  I first played the game in seventh grade, in my friend’s basement, not long after the Seven Minutes in Heaven fiasco, and it was during that game that I had my first grown-up (read: French) kiss.  Two weeks later, I played the game again, behind some bushes on the way home from school—just me and two girls, a ratio I found to my liking (things did not escalate, alas, but I did catch a really nasty bout of flu from one of them, thus learning an early lesson about the need to protect oneself from Ds of the ST variety).

 04:00

 I went to see The Bridges of Madison County.  In the theater.  At a matinee.  By myself.  At the end, I sobbed so loudly and uncontrollably that I had to walk out.

 05:00

 For me, the Stendhal Effect is a common occurrence; a lot of things move me to tears.  If I listen to “Cats in the Cradle,” for example, I will cry every single time.  That’s no exaggeration: Every. Single. Time.  Other songs that make me cry include: “Taxi,” “Highway Patrolman,” “Texas Rangers,” “Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin,” and, if I’m in the proper mood, “Tomorrow,” from Annie.

06:00

 Don’t get me started on Guess How Much I Love You.  I’ve never managed to read this to the kids without choking up.

 07:00

 A writer friend of mine, the great Ben Loory, recommended I teach a short story by Tobias Wolff called “Bullet to the Brain.”  I’ve read it five times.  I cried five times.  I told my class—an undergraduate creative writing workshop—about this; they didn’t believe me.  So I had one of my students read the last page aloud.  She did, as robotically as possible.  Which stolid performance did not stop me from weeping, right there in class.  They is, they is, they is.

Thanks Greg!  xo, L&L

To read more about Greg, head on over to his website or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

©2012 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

It’s time to play Seven Seconds in Heaven again!  This time we’re playing with Brian O’Reilly, creator and executive producer of Food Network’s Dinner:Impossible. And he’s the author of the fab new book, Angelina’s Bachelors, a fun, tasty treat!  We devoured it in just a few days and were drooling over the incredible sounding recipes in each chapter-and we think you’ll love it too.

Here’s the scoop on Angelina’s Bachelors: Far too young to be a widow, Angelina D’Angelo suddenly finds herself facing a life without her beloved husband, Frank. Late one night shortly after the funeral, she makes her way down to the kitchen and pours all of her grief and anger into the only outlet she has left—her passion for cooking. In a frenzy of concentration and swift precision, she builds layer upon layer of thick, rich lasagna, braids loaves of yeasty bread, roasts plump herb-rubbed chicken; she makes so much food that she winds up delivering the spoils to the neighbors in her tight-knit Italian community in South Philadelphia.

Retiree Basil Cupertino, who has just moved in with his kindly sister across the street, is positively smitten with Angelina’s food. In a stroke of good fortune, Basil offers Angelina (not only husbandless but unemployed) a job cooking for him—two meals a day, six days a week, in exchange for a handsome salary. Soon, word of her irresistible culinary prowess spreads and she finds herself cooking for seven bachelors—and in the process discovers the magical power of food to heal, to bring people together . . . and maybe even to provide a second chance at love.

Filled to the brim with homemade warmth, Angelina’s Bachelors is a sweet tale of overcoming grief, redefining family, and following your heart—through food.

Totally yummy, right?  Then for sure leave a comment, we have FIVE copies to give away!  We’ll choose the winners after 6pm PST on Sunday, October 2nd.  Good luck!

Now, are you ready to spend Seven Seconds in Heaven with Brian?

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS…SEVEN SECONDS IN HEAVEN WITH BRIAN O’REILLY

1.  Cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner- A good day for me is a day when I get to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner: the trifecta. I like playing one meal off of the other, trying to make sure that they provide a flow to the day, from both a cooking and an eating standpoint.  And I like to be able to start something  braising or cooking down in the middle of the afternoon. Bliss in a big pot.

2. I’m grateful that writers don’t have to wear ties- at least, not while writing. I like to fashion a Windsor knot and make a decent appearance as much as the next guy, but I’m not sure how well I’d do wearing a suit on a day to day basis. Probably another reason I’ll never be President of the United States.

3. Musical talent- would be a nice thing to have. I tried the guitar when I was a kid, but never had the ear or acquired the discipline to play well. I’d like to be able to revisit that arena before I punch my last ticket. And that could even include dancing.

4. Kirk vs. Picard- I’m all Captain Kirk. I feel like Captain Kirk was the guy who boldly went where no man had gone before; Captain Picard was more of an able administrator and eminence grise. Though I give Jean-Luc great credit for being a man committed to aging gracefully.

5. I like to talk politics more than sports- though, in many cases, they’re one and the same thing, in that they are both largely about strategy, contention and who walks away the winner at the end. I think I like the fact that for all of the nonsense that goes on in politics, it all takes place in and directly affects the real world.

6. I’m gradually becoming a cat person- in my younger days, I had a dog, and he was one of the greatest, most lasting influences on my life and personal philosophy. That dog had more personality, integrity and a better sense of humor than most of the bipeds I’ve met since. But I’ve been living with a cat lately, and he’s kind of growing on me. I like his self-sufficiency. And that thing where he casually brushes up against your leg to say “hi” in the morning…

7. I like the profession of writing novels- largely because I get to spend more time around my wife and offspring. They’re just so cool. Working on making it a full-time thing.

Thanks Brian! xo, L&L

To read more about Brian, head on over to Twitter or find him on Facebook.

©2012 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

We’re huge dog lovers. And, of course, huge book lovers. So we absolutely fell in love with I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship edited by critically acclaimed memoirist Wade Rouse. Not only did we LOL our dog-lovin’ booties off but we also felt all mushy inside (hey it’s about doggys, what can we say?) as we read twenty-one hilarious and touching essays about man’s best friend (everything from fighting for bed space to rescuing a dog on a highway.)

Some of the stories are even contributed by some of our (and your!) favorite women’s fiction and Chick Lit authors, including Sarah Pekkanen, Jane Green and Jen Lancaster. And the foreward is by Chelsea Handler’s very funny and freakin’ cute dog, Chunk (that of course you can follow on Twitter).

We were especially lovin’ on Wade’s own essay, Diddle Diddle Dum Dum, about the made up language he speaks to his dog, Marge.

And yet another reason to love this book? (As if you need one.) Wade is donating to The Humane Society of the United States 50% of the royalties he earns from sales of this book.

Ready for your own copy of I’m Not The Biggest Bitch in This Relationship? Just leave a comment and be entered to win one of five. We’ll randomly select the winners after 6pm on Monday, September 12th. And ready for even more entertainment? It’s time to spend seven seconds in heaven with Wade Rouse!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS…SEVEN SECONDS IN HEAVEN WITH…Wade Rouse

Photo credit: Johnny Quirin

1) Read My Lips! I’m obsessed with shiny, supple lips. I break down whenever I go 10 minutes without reapplying. I could never go on Survivor because they don’t allow Burt’s Bees, Carmex, or Vaseline. A half-hour into the show, and I’d be choking Jeff Probst and screaming, “Get me to a Walgreen’s!” I will buy any product that promises to make me look like I have bee-stung lips coated in shiny glitter. I mean, I’d buy a live rattlesnake and kiss it if it had Lip Smackers instead of venom. The bad thing is I often look like Lisa Rinna in photos.

2) Erma Is The Bomb(eck)!: My idol is Erma Bombeck. My mom introduced me to her after I made the hideous mistake of singing “Delta Dawn” at a middle school talent contest in my rural middle school and was promptly booed offstage by a crowd that made the boys from Deliverance look like the Jonas Brothers. My mother gave me a copy of At Wit’s End and a little writing journal when I was finished, and said, “You were true to yourself, and that’s all that matters. But you will need these to make sense of your life.” I still try to do what Erma did: Write with humor about the magical, maddening and mundane moments in life that unite us all. My writing M.O. is the same as hers: “There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.”

3) I Used to Be Seen in 3-D! I lost 120 pounds and have kept it off for nearly 15 years. I grew up a very overweight kid in the Ozarks, which was not the best place for a creative, gay boy to grow up. I was often mistaken for a girl (damn my penchant for feathered hair, ascots and Juice Newton half-shirts!), but eventually discovered love, self-esteem, a passion for life, a love for my work, and myself. I am now a fitness nut, marathon runner (fastest time: 3:28:38). I’ve learned it’s all about balance in life, loving yourself, believing in yourself. This is a short ride we’re all on, and exercise and healthy eating keep me centered. They balance my creative/writer’s life, which is vital to any author. And it’s nice to go to reunions and not be asked, “Weren’t you that teen mom?”

4) I’m Smitten with the Mitten (at least in the summer and fall)!: We left the culture, couture, and creature comforts of city life to move to the woods of Michigan five years ago in order to recreate, ala Thoreau, a modern-day Walden … to very mixed results (my misadventures in search of the simple life were the basis of my memoir, At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream). I love our knotty pine cottage, our woods filled with pines and sugar maples, Lake Michigan and its beautiful beaches (and the quiet: I can only write in total silence), but I realized I also need the city vibe and shopping – just like exercise – to remain balanced. Walking into a Kenneth Cole store, shopping on Michigan Avenue or in Soho is the equivalent of angels singing while handing me a non-fat white chocolate latte and a Sunday New York Times review that adores my latest book. But I just can’t endure three months of lake-effect snow … I go totally Jack Nicholson in The Shining after weeks of winter, and my partner, Gary, worries I’m going to hatchet him. Which is why we head to Palm Springs every winter for two months. Sorry, Thoreau. But mama needs a tan.

5) I Ain’t Nothin’ But A Hound Dog!: I’ve had six rescue dogs in my life, and they’ve all been my best friends and biggest pains in the butt, which is why I created my current book, I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship. I wanted to write a book that captured the neurotic but beautiful relationships we have with our pets. The book is an ode to my beloved Marge, our 80-pound, Scooby-Do, Heinz 57 rescue who died at 14 this past April, and to my late mom, a hospice nurse and an animal advocate, who taught me the beauty of loving unconditionally, despite the hurt, and giving back to others. That’s why I’m giving a portion of all royalties earned from the book to the Humane Society of the United States, and why so many great humorists – from Chelsea Handler and her dog, Chunk, to Jen Lancaster, Laurie Notaro, Beth Harbison, Sarah Pekkanen and Jane Green jumped aboard the Bitch train so early. This book was truly a labor of love, and I’ve never been prouder to give birth to such a litter of great essays (yeah, I know, that analogy not only sucked but was also disturbing).

6) Fuggetabout Fear!: Most Americans, I have come to believe, especially today (and especially writers), are defined by our fears rather than our passion. But fear is what strangles us, prevents us from finding our voices, pursuing our passion, following what calls to us. And, when writers sit down, carrying all that baggage, and are scared to write what truly calls to them, then they are doomed to fail. So, I urge everyone – at some point in their lives – to turn “FEAR” into Free Every Artistic Response. When you do, your true voice will be unleashed, and fear will no longer steer you into a ditch and off your true path. I believe that everyone who wants to write, should write. There is no golden key to success, like I used to believe, only talent, hard work, perseverance and fearlessness. Which is why I teach writing classes and am spreading my gospel to Wade’s Writers! (wadeswriters.com)

7) Book It, Dano!:  After my fall tour for Bitch, I have a lot of other books coming your way! My next book is a memoir entitled, THIS BLOWS! A Life, in Locks. It is what I’m calling the first-ever “hair-moir,” a memoir about my addiction to my hair (something to which I think ALL of us can relate). The book is a funny look at the styles – good, bad, sad – and Dippity-do’s and Dippity-don’ts of my and my friends’ hair trends over the years. It’s also a deeper look at addiction, and it juxtaposes my vanity against that of my mom, who had zero. She was a hospice nurse who eventually battled cancer, and could have cared less how she looked, or whether she was wearing a wig. “A body is a body,” she always told me, “but a soul is a soul.” I’m also working on a book about my late mutt, Marge. My partner and I are scattering her ashes in the 16 states she ever lived in, or visited. It’s really a lovely tribute to her, and the power of animals, and loving unconditionally. I’m also working on a new celebrity anthology, which will also showcase humor to raise awareness, as well as a mystery series. And my first memoir, America’s Boy, is back in print, I’m proud to announce. It was my baby that launched all this madness, and it means the world that it’s back in print. I also speak and teach writing workshops around the country (www.wadeswriters.com), am a regular contributor to Michigan Public Radio, and write two humor columns. I’m a busy boy, but I know it is a blessing to be doing what I love.

Thanks, Wade!

xoxo,

Liz & Lisa

To find out more about Wade Rouse, check out his website and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

©2012 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

We knew when one of our favorite authors and people, Beth Harbison, called Robert Rave’s second novel, Waxed, “Charming and hilarious…the perfect summer read and a ton of fun,” that we had to check it out. And not surprisingly, Beth was right. Robert’s writing is sassy, funny and overall brilliant. And the cover of his book is beyond! 

Waxed is the story of three relationship-challenged sisters who work at New York’s hottest waxing salon. There’s big sis, Carolina, who owns the salon and is caught in a love triangle. Then there’s middle sis, Anna, who reluctantly joins the workforce after her divorce. And there’s Sofia, a newlywed who doesn’t know if she wants the domestic life or the night life. We loved this story about how some women will do anything to look the part. (Um, I think we can all relate ladies! Need we discuss our last Brazilian bikini wax or the endless hours spent getting weaved, plucked and otherwise prodded?) But what we really boned out on was that a story like this was written by a man!

And five of you will be the lucky winners of a copy of Waxed. Just leave a comment and your name will be entered. We’ll randomly select the winners this Thursday!

After reading and loving Waxed, we knew Robert Rave would be perfect for our 7 Seconds in Heaven feature. He’s a talented writer, funny and, well, easy on the eyes! And we were so right about him! In fact, he had us at Money Can’t Buy You Class!

So without further adieu, we’ll let you spend 7 Seconds in Heaven with Robert Rave!

1. Quickest way to make me smile? Mention the words “satchels of gold” or start singing “Money Can’t Buy You Class” and we’ll be fast friends.  I admit it.  I’m addicted to the The Real Houswives of New York and all of its craziness. Don’t get me wrong, I like high-brow cinema, literature and music too, but sometimes there’s nothing better than a little junk food
television.

2. I was raised as a Midwestern “meat and potatoes” guy.  However, within the last couple years I’ve become vegetarian and now I’m pretty much vegan.  I’m not hardcore, but I’m pretty good.  My parents are beside themselves about this.  They think I’ve lost my mind and are completely baffled as to how I could give up a nice steak or cheeseburger.  Theyhave told me repeatedly that it’s time I move out of California and back to the Midwest or at the very least to New York City where I lived for nine years.

3. I have a crazy sweet tooth.  Cakes, cookies, and desserts are my thing.  However, now those sweet-treats are (mostly) vegan.  I make frequent trips to Babycakes bakery for their cupcakes and chocolate-chip cookie sandwiches.  They are seriously incredible—you would never know that they are vegan.  When I feel really inspired, I make their chocolate chip cookies at home.  However, I end up giving most of them away because if left at my house, I will eat every last one.

4. Because of my love of baked goods, you’ll also find me religiously attending Barry’s Bootcamp to work off every last crumb.  It’s probably one of the best workouts that I’ve ever done.  I’ve completely changed my body because of it.  I also have the most random ideas for novels while I’m working out there so I feel like I’m multi-tasking.

5. I have two French Bulldogs that act as my Xanax. I gave them old men names because it totally suits their personalities.  My older dog was named after one of the characters from The Golden Girls.  Completely and utterly embarrassing, I know.

6. I really want to be a Dad. Wow. It’s like I suddenly went from a light-hearted Q&A to filling out a match.com questionnaire. But it is true. It’s one of those things that has really been playing on my mind a lot lately.  I think I would be okay if it didn’t happen for me, but I still like to imagine the possibility.

7. Next up for me is a non-fiction book from St. Martin’s in the fall of 2011. The
title keeps changing so become a fan on Facebook or follow me on Twitter to learn more about it.  Right now, I’m writing the outline for a series of books that I’m so beyond excited about I can’t even tell you. I don’t want to say anymore—but I love it.

To find out more about Robert Rave, visit his website and follow him on Facebook. And don’t forget to buy Waxed here!

Thanks so much, Robert!

xoxo,

L&L

©2012 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

In honor of Father’s Day, we thought it was high time to bring back Seven Seconds in Heaven, our special feature for all the fantastic male authors that are brave enough to hang out here at Chick Lit is not Dead!  Today we have author Colin Sokolowski, author of The Accidental Adult: Essays and Advice for the Reluctantly Responsible and Marginally Mature

Accidental Adult (n): an individual whose age indicates maturity, but whose actions indicate otherwise.

Sound familiar?

Ladies, we’ve all known one (Lisa dated one for three loooong years and still shudders at the thought of his bi-weekly boys nights). Hell, some of us might even be married to one now. Or at least to one that has, er, tendencies…Or we might even be one ourselves- an Accidental Adult.

Well, just in time for Father’s Day, we’ve found the perfect gift for any self-proclaimed, closeted or man-child in denial. The Accidental Adult by Colin Sokolowski (In stores NOW! or you can order it here).  A hilarious collection of essays about the (not always easy) transition from sports cars to minivans, from lazy Sundays to soccer games, from dance clubs to school clubs.

And no matter what end of the man-boy spectrum your hubby or dad or the “man” in your life is on, he’ll find this book funny- and so will you. Because, let’s face it, it’s not just men who can get nostalgic for their pre-adult lives.

Today we’re giving away a copy of The Accidental Adult. Just leave a comment here to be entered to win!

So without further adieu, the hilarious Accidental Adult himself, Colin Sokolowski, has agreed to spend seven seconds in heaven with us…

1. Why did you write the book? No one should feel alone, and accidental adults especially need the company. I think this book tells the world it’s okay to embrace who you really are – imperfections and all. Now that it’s in bookstores, I’m already hearing from people who are saying the book taps into something very relatable for them as they stare down a quarter-life or mid-life identity crisis. One guy in Boston posted a note on my Facebook page telling me he stumbled onto the book, and he said reading it was doing his mind and soul good. Hearing that just made my entire week. I guess you could say I wrote The Accidental Adult for that guy in Boston, and for his girlfriend who’s probably trying to figure out why he and his friends are reluctant grownups. And maybe she’s discovering that she’s not that far behind him either.

2. As a self-proclaimed Accidental Adult, a husband and father of three, how do you find the balance between your pre and post minivan life? Or do you? Playing Van Halen in the minivan really helps. I also really find peace in this inner monologue that I maintain. It’s my own little silent, smart-ass sanity system where I tell myself constantly that I may be an adult by age, but I’m really not one of them. It probably sounds more like a coping mechanism, and I suppose it is. I also fake interest in a lot of things I don’t care about. I highly recommend that.

3. You tell your kids, do as I say not as I do. What have you done lately that you wouldn’t want them to repeat? Riding my 1986 motor scooter without a helmet. I can make the kids wear a helmet like my parents made me, but when they’re teenagers, I imagine they’ll throw it off as soon as they scoot around the corner like I did.

4. What are the top three signs that someone is (or is in danger of becoming) an Accidental Adult?

Just three?

1. You send your 11-year-old daughter across the street to borrow a bottle of wine from the neighbors.

2. You laugh when the neighbor kids call you “Mr.” or “Mrs.” instead of using your first name.

3. You measure once and cut twice. Sometimes three times.

If you really want to find out for yourself, I’ve got an Accidental Adult Aptitude Test online at www.accidentaladult.com.

5. What advice do you have for someone married to an Accidental Adult? You knew you were marrying a reluctant grownup, so whose fault is it? If that doesn’t buy any goodwill, I’d tell them to not expect us to be like their father. We’re not nearly as useful, but we’re probably more fun. We’re not going to properly inflate the tires before a roadtrip, but we promise to take you on a really sweet ride.

6. How does an Accidental Adult celebrate Father’s Day? I’ll be trying to put together another “some-assembly-required” bicycle for my eight-year-old son and deflecting the blame when it all goes terribly wrong. (Faulty tools, poorly written instructions, insufficient materials provided . . .)

7. Are there AA (Accidental Adult) meetings? My friends and I call them Super Terrific Happy Hours, and they’re very cathartic. Instead of speeches we order a pitcher of beer and play games like, “Who can find photos of the cute local newscaster on their iPhone the fastest?” or “Who’s got the most crap in their wallet?” or “Which Disney princess is the hottest, and why?” (My vote’s with Ariel.) Then we end the night with a round of full-frontal hugs. It’s really helpful to cultivate and nurture a group of like-minded friends like mine who are similarly stunted accidental adults. This way, you’ll never truly feel alone. Unless you’re looking for company at a wine-tasting party. Then you’re probably on your own.

©2012 Chick Lit Is Not Dead. All Rights Reserved.

Remember Truth or Dare? Spin the Bottle?

How about Seven Seconds In Heaven?

Now take yourselves back to those days of leg warmers and peg legged jeans…to the feelings you had when you thought about hopping in that closet with your crush–the one you’d confidently scrawled that you’d “LUV 4EVER” on the front of your Trapper Keeper. (Oh…where are you now, Neil Butler? cries Lisa.)

Well, fast forward, er, a couple o’ decades later (and then some) and there are still a lot of hotties out there that bring back the same rush of emotions like we had in junior high.  And we’re not just talking about the McDreamys and McSteamys of the world. We’re talking about men who not only look good, but damn, they can write! There’s almost nothing sexier than a good looking and talented author. And that’s why we’re launching a new series called SEVEN SECONDS IN HEAVEN where we ask our favorite male authors seven things that inquiring and nosy female minds like ours want to know!

And who better to start with than Nicholas Sparks who we crush on pretty hard. His books are ultra romantic, his stories are deeply engaging and his writing is always entertaining. And for a moment, can we talk about those brown eyes? Ahhhhhh… and we know all you fans out there LOVE him, because in our poll of male authors women adore that we ran on our Chick Lit is not Dead Facebook fan page, you told us! Hands down, Nicholas Sparks won the majority.

So, to put it mildly, we pretty much went weak in the knees when this amazing writer of great romantic novels like THE NOTEBOOK (which makes Lisa cry every time and where Liz developed her unhealthy Ryan Gosling obsession.) and NIGHTS OF RODANTHE (did he help cast Richard Gere in the movie? If so, thank you, Mr. Sparks!) stopped by Chick Lit Is Not Dead!

We had so many questions…like could he be possibly be as much of a romantic in real-life as the characters he writes about? You don’t just conjure up the Noah and Allies of the world if you aren’t known to purchase a Hallmark card or two, right? (Right! Check out what he does for his lucky wife on every anniversary!)

So, in the spirit of that junior high make out game we all played waaaay back in the day-SEVEN SECONDS IN HEAVEN-we asked this dreamy husband (Mrs. Sparks, you are one lucky lady!), father of five and author of SIXTEEN books (including his latest THE LAST SONG which just might have made robotic Liz cry!) our seven seconds (questions) in heaven with Nicholas Sparks…

1. If you weren’t a writer, what other career could you be passionate about? I love coaching track and field.  I had the opportunity to coach for the last four years, and it was everything I thought it would be.  If I wasn’t a writer, it’s definitely something I’d enjoy.

2. What one romantic movie could you watch over and over? What else?  The Notebook!

3. You’ve said that you fell in love with your wife at first sight, what is the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for her? I write her love letters on every anniversary, reminding her of everything that’s happened in the last year, and why she means so much to me.  She now has twenty letters, and they’ve become something of a journal regarding our lives together.

4. What are some of your goals/dreams that you have yet to achieve? I would love to be able to enjoy the art of relaxation.  I’m one of those type-A personalities.

5. What one thing would fans be surprised to know about Nicholas Sparks? That most of the time — 99% — I don’t feel like, or think of myself as, an author.  A writer, yes.  A father and husband, certainly.  But author?  No.

6. You wrote a book with your brother? Yes, Micah and I wrote THREE WEEKS WITH MY BROTHER together from separate coasts by talking on the phone and faxing drafts back and forth.

7. What can your fans expect from you next? Another novel, another couple of movies (Dear John, The Last Song). It’s what I do.

For more information about the incredibly talented Nicholas Sparks and his latest novel, THE LAST SONG, check out www.nicholassparks.com.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

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