Wattpad Partners With BestSelling
Author Marian Keyes to Launch New ‘ChickLit’ Genre
The world’s largest online community of readers is celebrating everything ChickLit during the month of
February, with dozens of free stories and a writing contest judged by Marian Keyes.
Wattpad has officially added ChickLit to its genre lineup.
With 13 million monthly users, the company is hoping to introduce a new generation of readers, people
primarily reading on phones and tablets, to ChickLit.
“I am so excited that ChickLit is coming to Wattpad, because Wattpad is such a positive forum.” said
Marian Keyes, bestselling author of This Charming Man and The Mystery of Mercy Close. “ChickLit gives so
much pleasure, and it is such a friendly form of fiction. We live such busy lives — running around, catching
trains, or waiting for buses. With this launch on Wattpad it means that we will always have access to a
friendly voice no matter where we are.”
Ahead of the paperback publication of her new novel The Mystery of Mercy Close, Marian Keyes is sharing
two powerful short stories and a series of neverbeforepublished
Q&A’s with the women of her muchloved
Walsh family novels (Watermelon, Rachel’s Holiday, Angels, Anybody Out There, The Mystery of Mercy
Close). Wattpad is also featuring dozens of stories curated from existing talent within their community. Like
many of the works found on Wattpad, the ChickLit content is diverse, spanning traditionally humourous to
memoirstyle
to paranormalinspired
and everything in between.
As part of the celebration, ChickLit writers worldwide will also have the opportunity to submit their own
stories in a contest to be judged by Ms. Keyes. Five finalists will have the privilege of having their work read
by Marian Keyes with the winning entry to be featured on Wattpad.
“We’re excited to give ChickLit fans an easy way to find great stories for free and to discover new writers
before they are stars.” says Allen Lau, CEO of Wattpad. “It’s a real honor to have Marian Keyes help us
celebrate ChickLit as we showcase the genre to a global audience.”
Readers can start browsing ChickLit stories at www.wattpad.com/ChickLit. To follow Marian Keyes and see
her featured content, visit her profile www.Wattpad.com/MarianKeyes.
About the Contest
The submissions process for the short story contest begins on February 11th, 2012, and judging will take
place after the contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on March 11th, 2012. Those wishing to enter themselves into
the contest must write their content on Wattpad, not exceeding 15,000 words, and submit the link of their
completed short story to chicklit@wattpad.com. The top 5 short story finalists will be judged by Marian
Keyes with the winning entry to be featured on Wattpad. Award details can be viewed on Wattpad at
www.welovechicklit.com.
About Wattpad
Wattpad is the world’s largest community of readers and writers. Everyday, over 13 million people find great
fiction and share their own creative writing on Wattpad. It’s a new form of entertainment that connects
readers and writers through storytelling. Best of all, it’s entirely free. With thousands of new stories added
every day, an incredibly active community of readers, and the ability to read on your computer, phone, or
tablet, Wattpad is the only place that offers a truly social, and entirely mobile reading experience. Find over
10 million stories on Wattpad, spanning all genres of creative writing — including Mystery, Romance, SciFi,
Poetry, and ChickLit.
www.wattpad.com
About Marian Keyes
She stormed into print in 1995 with Watermelon, creating a genre which she has dominated and redefined
ever since. Now a number one global bestseller, Marian has written thirteen books which are published in 39
languages, selling over 25 million copies worldwide between them. Marian is truly one of the only authors
writing in her field who is read by both fans of commercial and literary fiction. Her writing deals with a variety
of modern ailments, including addiction, depression, domestic violence, the glass ceiling and serious
illness, yet her books are always written with strong themes of compassion, humour and hope. At the heart
of her international achievements sits the much loved
and hotly anticipated
Walsh Family novels, of which
her latest novel, The Mystery of Mercy Close, introduces fans to the fifth and youngest Walsh sister, Helen.
Marian Keyes’ novels include Watermelon, Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married, Rachel’s Holiday, Last Chance
Saloon, Sushi for Beginners, Angels, The Other Side of the Story, Anybody Out There, This Charming Man
and The Brightest Star in the Sky, Mammy Walsh AZ
to the Walsh Family. She has also published two
collections of journalism, Under the Duvet and Further Under the Duvet, and a cookery book, Saved By
Cake.
Her most recent book, The Mystery of Mercy Close, is published in paperback on April 11th 2013 by
Penguin Books UK.
Check out the video featuring Marian Keyes or visit the ChickLit Page on WattPad!
