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Interview with Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Q: Why did you decide to do a dual narrative book?
We feel readers (like us!) enjoy getting inside the head of more than one key player in a story. And there’s also the fact that we can barely compose a joint email without debating each word, (don’t even get us started on the play we tried to co-write back in college!) so we thought it would make things a wee bit easier if we each wrote our own character. But luckily, we have a very collaborative editing process and we each take feedback from the other about our character, plot points, etc…(Our motto: once the book is written, anything is fair game!)
Q: Do either of you want to write a novel on your own?
Right now, we’re having so much fun collaborating that it would feel like we were missing a limb if we tried to do it on our own.
Q: Where did you get the idea for I’ll Have Who She’s Having?
We had talked about writing a book for TEN years, but we hadn’t decided on the plot. It wasn’t until Lisa went on vacation to Maui and brought home a chapter about a girl named Kate that we decided it was now or never and we developed the storyline and wrote our book.
Q: Can you give any details about your second novel in works?
Anther dual narrative, it’s about two women who never expected to find themselves in the complicated world of divorce.
Q: I am such a fan of your website. How do you keep up with all the posts and get the ideas for each piece?
Thanks so much! We have a lot of fun with Chick Lit Is Not Dead. And honestly, we find the best material comes from the simplest things in our lives, like painting the house with your spouse (major no no!) or watching and wanting to try out for The Amazing Race (Liz says, “Yes”. Lisa says, “No!”). The only downside? Our friends now begin sentences with, “This better not end up on your blog!”
Q: What are some of your favorite hobbies (besides reading and writing!)
Liz likes to play tennis or shop in all her (non-existent!) spare time. And Lisa is a workout and reality TV junkie (not necessarily in that order).
Q: Who are some of your favorite authors that you have been able to interview?
We loved our series “25 Things Liz and Lisa want to know about….” And now we’re equally excited about our latest feature, “5 things Liz and Lisa didn’t know about…” because our favorite authors give us juicy nuggets about themselves that we wouldn’t otherwise know. They share their favorite coffee order, what they’d be doing if they weren’t a writer, who they crush on…And we feel lucky that so many of our favorite authors like Jennifer Weiner and Allison Winn Scotch have played along. And we nearly died when our writing partner role models, the authors of THE NANNY DIARIES, not only gave us an interview but also interviewed us! We’re still coming down from that high!

Q: And what authors have you yet to interview that you are most excited about?
Because of her obsession with The Hills, Liz is pretty pumped about Lauren Conrad. And Lisa is very excited about Wendy Wax. Wendy’s novel, “The Accidental Bestseller” is one of her all-time fav’s. Lisa just finished her soon to be released novel, “Magnolia Wednesdays” which was also fantastic!
Q: What advice can you give to others like me, wanting to get published and be so involved with the chick lit world?
Write the book you want to write. Always stay true to the person you are because publishing trends come and go. (We can’t tell you how many times agents we queried told us that Chick Lit was dead!) There will always be an audience that wants to read good books about engaging characters. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun!
Q: Have you been on any great trips, together or separately? What would be your favorite?
We had a blast on our writer’s retreat to Palm Springs last fall. Let’s just say that warm weather + Hot Latin cabana boys= low word count.

February 7, 2010
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Chick Lit Author: Chantel Simmons
Chick Lit Authors

Chick Lit Author: Chantel Simmons

Chantel Simmons, Winnipeg Free Press bestselling author, was born in St. Catherine’s and graduated from Ryerson with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism. After graduation, Simmons went on to be an assistant to a literary agent, and made the decision that she wanted to become a freelance writer. While spending her time writing, she helped pay the bills by assisting photographers at the Toronto Sun, and in 2002 landed a position as editorial assistant at ELLE Canada. While working at ELLE, Simmons was offered a position at TV Guide as assistant editor and after that went on to work as editor to Elevate magazine, where she got her inspiration for her first novel.
After getting married in 2005, Simmons’ husband convinced her that she actually needed to write her novel in order to get published, and after writing and securing an agent, Stuck in Downward Dog was published in the US and Canada, and went on to be a Winnipeg Free Press bestseller. Her second novel, Love Struck will be released February 15, 2010. Chantel Simmons now works at Sweetspot.ca as editorial director and works on two blogs: The Cherry on Top and Make-it-Session.

February 7, 2010
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Guest Post by Author MJ Smith
Chick Lit Authors

Guest Post by Author MJ Smith

The writing process is pretty long; especially for a historical romance. From the first draft to the final book, there’s a lot of editing and rewrites. I write all by hand first. Then I type it on my computer, print it out and then make corrections. I rewrite a few times before I’m satisfied with the final draft.
The most fun is doing the research. I watch WWII movies and read so many nice stories on the net.
The hardest part about writing is the editing and re-editing. Sometimes I think I would never finish writing a manuscript. But, I’m writing my fourth.

Here’s a few links I’d like to share with you
http://jmsmithromanceauthor.blogspot.com/
http://jackiemsmith.weebly.com/
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbz8tg_forever-yours-book-trailer_creation
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbz9vv_a-soldiers-vow-book-trailer_creation

My second book, a historical romance called A Soldier’s Vow. Its a love story set in World War I France and Belgium(book trailer link included).

February 6, 2010
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Interview with Maggie Marr
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Maggie Marr

Q: You grew up in Illinois. Why did you make the decision to move to L.A.?
We moved to LA so my husband could pursue his acting career. And I decided to work at an agency to hopefully learn a ton about entertainment, possibly help my husband’s career, and because I didn’t want to take a third bar exam. (I’d taken Illinois and Colorado and passed all within two years.)

Q: Was it hard adjusting to the California ways?
California wasn’t as challenging to adjust to as the world of entertainment. I love the warm weather and the casual lifestyle. My most difficult adjustment in entertainment was calling everyone by their first name. And I mean everyone. From the president of production to the CEO. If you work in entertainment you call them by their first name. So foreign for a girl from Illinois.

Q: You split your time between writing and producing. Is that difficult?
Lately I’ve been doing more writing than producing. Writing at this point in my career comes first. Later, I may find that I spend more time as a producer.

Q: How much fun did you have writing your Hollywood novels?
They were a blast. The characters wouldn’t stop telling me there story! In the morning, on the drive to work, late at night.; I couldn’t get their voices out of my head.

Q: I’m sure you get asked this a lot, but are the characters based off people you know or have come across while living in LA?

Each character is a unique individual created by my psyche. Although, I’ve had a number of friends and colleagues ask me if they are based on specific people… They may share some traits with people I’ve worked with….but I’ll never tell.

Q: From reading your books, (and watching TV!) it sounds like there aren’t too many people you can trust in Hollywood. Would you say that is a correct statement?

Entertainment is a business. An incredibly competitive, high stakes business. Just like any business you have some great people to work with and some not so great people to work with. Luckily I’ve been blessed with a huge number of great people in my life.

Q: How do you handle the difficulties of working in the entertainment industry?
Resilience and persistence. My family keeps me grounded. Plus, when you get to do what you absolutely love for a living…how bad can it really be?

Q: I read on your site that you are writing a contemporary romance. Can you give any details about that?
I LOVE this book. I use both my background as an attorney as well as the world of entertainment in this book.

Q: What do you find to be your favorite part about writing?
When I come back to a page to edit and rewrite and I read something that I love and don’t remember writing.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to write?
Probably around 8 years old. But I grew up in Illinois and Kansas and writing wasn’t really a career choice…or something that I realized could be a career choice. As an adult, I began to write my first manuscript in 1996 and the first book sold late 2005.

Q: How you enjoy your free time?
Playing with my children. Spending time with my husband. Watching movies. Reading. Going to the beach.

Q: What is or would be your favorite place to travel?
Paris. I want to live in Paris for a while.

February 2, 2010
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Chick Lit Author Brenda Janowitz
Chick Lit Authors

Chick Lit Author Brenda Janowitz

Brenda Janowitz, a native New Yorker, thought from a small age that she wanted to be a writer. She graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelors Degree in Human Service Studies, with a Concentration in Race and Discrimination. She then went on to attend Hofstra Law School, where she was a member of the Law Review and won the Law Review Writing Competition. She has worked as a law associate and also a federal clerkship with the Honorable Marilyn Dolan Go, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York.

Janowitz has since worked as a career counselor at two New York City law schools, where she published a number of articles on career related issues in publications such as the National Law Journal and the New York Law Journal. She has published two chick lit novels, titled Jack with a Twist and Scot on the Rocks, as well as a short story Based on a True Story. Her work has also appeared in the New York Post and Publishers Weekly. Brenda Janowitz currently lives in New York with her husband and teaches creative writing at Mediabistro.

January 31, 2010
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Interview with Chantel Simmons
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Chantel Simmons

Q: Why did you decide to start writing?
A: Ever since I was old enough to write, I’ve wanted to be an author. Of course, often when you tell your guidance counsellor at high school your dream, they tell you that it’s not a real career, and instead recommend going to university for journalism, which is exactly what my guidance counsellor advised me. Unfortunately, they’re not at all the same thing! One is all about reporting the truth, and the other is all about making things up (And I wanted to do the latter!). Still, off I went to j-school to get my degree. I don’t regret it, but it was definitely a different career path. So a few years ago, while working at ELLE magazine as the beauty editor, I decided that I couldn’t put off writing a novel any longer. I set myself a deadline and every night after work, I’d work on what eventually became Stuck in Downward Dog, my first novel.

Q: I love the concept behind Love Struck! Where did that inspiration come from?
A: I wanted to write a novel that was light and fun, but that had a deeper underlying dilemma, to which female readers could relate. I thought about the dynamics of relationships and the instance of affairs–and how oftentimes, we have these hard and fast rules that we would break up with our boyfriend/spouse instantly if we learned he was cheating. But I think it’s easy to think that it’s black & white, but would it be a harder decision if it actually happened to you? What if you really loved the person who cheated on you? Relationships are something that everyone can relate to, and so I thought that made for an interesting theme. Then, I threw in the lightning and the memory loss, just to complicate things, and make the novel a bit of fun and escapism.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a writer?
A: I recently quit my full-time job as a magazine editor to write–and now, I love the freedom of being able to do what I love every single day, even from the couch!

Q: Do you have a certain area (office, bedroom) where you have to be in order to get writing done?
A: When my agent sold Stuck in Downward Dog, my husband bought me a writing desk, and we turned our spare bedroom into my office. I’m all set up there, but I have a laptop (pink, of course) so I usually alternate from working at my desk, to sitting on the couch, or writing in bed (on the weekends, when I’ve got the entire day to write).

Q: I read that you were an assistant to a literary agent. How was that job, and how much did you learn?
A: I learned so much being an assistant to a literary agent. She was (and still is) quite a successful agent, and it was incredible watching her run her business as a one-woman show. I learned what an agent does for an author (so much, without any pay until she sells the book!) and how passionate most agents are about the work and the clients they’re representing. I ultimately realized though, that I couldn’t bear to file and answer phones while I witnessed–daily–every other author write their novels, get signed by an agent and sell their book. That was my dream, so I had to make it happen for myself.

Q: How did you land your positions at places such as ELLE and TV Guide?
A: After graduating, a friend asked me to cover a few of her shifts at one of the newspapers in Toronto. I did, and ended up sitting next to a woman who, a few months later, was hired to work at ELLE, which was just launching its English Canadian edition. She called me a few days after she started and asked if I wanted to proofread the magazine a few days a month. Two months later, the editor hired me full time, and I worked my way into the beauty department the following year. After two years of writing about self-tanners in July and holiday glam in December, I applied for an open position at TV Guide, which was published in the same building. I loved working there, and getting a sneak peek at new shows before they were on TV. Now, while I’m in Dexter and Glee withdrawal, I wish I was back there so I could get a little preview at the coming season!

Q: Love Struck is due out February 15th. Do you have a third novel in the works?
A: Writing a novel is such a labour of love that for months and months you’re bogged down in the very unglamorous aspects of writing, revising and editing. So now that the book is done and about to come out, I definitely want to just enjoy this time as much as possible, including my launch party and other media appearances. Of course, the reality is that the moment I finish writing a novel and there’s nothing more I can do to it, I start thinking about my next idea. But I’m superstitious, so until I have something set, I don’t like to tell anyone my idea.

Q: Do you have a favorite book or author?
A: I have a few favourite authors, depending on the genre. For commercial women’s fiction, I adore Emily Giffin. Her latest novel, Love the One You’re With, is my favourite book. For YA, I think Sarah Mlynowski (Magic in Manhattan series) is the funniest writer I’ve ever read. And for short stories, I love Stuart McLean. When I was at Ryerson University, Stuart was a professor in another program. For four years I wanted to stop by his office and ask him to sign one of his books for me, but I couldn’t work up the nerve because I was so intimidated. It’s ridiculous, really.

Q: What would be your advice to aspiring authors?
A: Write! You can definitely achieve your dream of being an author, but you have to write. So often, other aspiring authors ask me for the secret, but I really don’t think there is one. If you love writing, you will eventually succeed. I’m no expert, but I try to remember these three things, whenever I get discouraged or need inspiration.
a) It takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at any activity. So the only way to be a good writer is to write as much as you can. Eventually you will become a good writer!
b) Success is only 1% luck. The rest is 99% hard work.
c) There’s no such thing as writer’s block. If you don’t want to sit down and write your novel, then you probably don’t love the story. And if you’re stuck on a scene, cut it. It probably won’t work anyway, if you can’t figure out how to write it.

Q: What is or do you think would be your favorite place to travel?
A: Last fall, once I finished my final edit of Love Struck, my husband and I took three weeks off to travel to South Africa. I loved it. It was such an amazing mix of history, culture, and wildlife. It was the best vacation I’ve ever taken, and I’m a bit worried to take another vacation, since I doubt it will compare!

January 30, 2010
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Chick Lit Author: Carol Mason
Chick Lit Authors

Chick Lit Author: Carol Mason

Carol Mason always had the desire to write. Even though she suffered through some very non-glamorous jobs in the beginning, she always knew the passion for writing was there, she just wasn’t so sure on what she wanted to write. After her husband, Tony, convinced her to get a degree that was related to writing, Mason got her degree in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson Polytechnical University in Toronto- and decided she wanted to write a book. After many rejections but never giving up hope, The Secrets of Married Women was bought by Hodder, and has since sold to 12 countries and is translated into 8 languages.
Carol Mason now has two books published, The Secrets of Married Women and Send Me a Lover, with a third soon to be published. The Love Market is due out in stores on Valentine’s Day 2010. Mason currently lives in British Columbia with her husband and their cat and dog, Sadie and Rosie.

January 28, 2010
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Interview with Eva Pasco
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Eva Pasco

Q: Why did you decide to start writing?

As you know, I never stopped writing since my childhood escapades on a pink Tom Thumb typewriter where my vivid imagination conjured mysteries and even my own espionage series. My writing merely took a turn for the practical in college and throughout my teaching career. I resumed writing creatively again because I became restless to find my own niche in the Second Act of Life like my protagonist Carla Matteo—art imitating life. I fell back on what came natural to me.

Q: What gave you the idea for your novel Underlying Notes?

A perfume aficionado, fragrance has always been an important thread weaving through my life. One day I stumbled upon an online perfume forum and registered. This membership escalated my curiosity about undiscovered fragrances to a frenzy, expanding my perfume collection discreetly stashed in cupboards and decorative boxes. Meanwhile, I grew tired of reading magazine articles about the exploits of middle aged women who took up roller blading, deep sea diving, or achieved mystical enlightenment by scaling mountains in Tibet—I’m serious! That’s when Carla Matteo stepped into my field of vision wafting insecurities, inhibitions, quirks, anxieties, and fears. I knew I wanted to tell a story about an ordinary woman with foibles, restless to find her own niche, parlaying a fragrance addiction to embark on an introspective journey of self-discovery.

Q: What did you find most difficult about writing?

Since Underlying Notes is my debut novel, the primary difficulty I had at first was accepting my own unconventional methodology. I don’t schedule a set time to write, and there can be a lapse of days before I resume where I left off, though I’m constantly incubating and fermenting ideas and dialog in my head. I would berate myself for working at the speed of a glacier—retreating to a previous paragraph for the purpose of editing and revising, then advancing a paragraph or two for the day. I constantly go back to the very beginning to keep every nuance fresh in my mind and to be sure all details fit together with precision. After completing my novel to satisfaction with very little editing required, I’ve not only accepted, but embraced this excruciating methodology which best suits my writing proclivities.

Q: On the other hand, what was your favorite part about writing?

By far my favorite aspect about writing is when words just spill onto a page with coherence, and the elusive word I’m looking for seems to present itself as a eureka moment. I also feel exhilarated and exonerated at the completion of each chapter because I’ve been able to fabricate a cohesive piece crucial to the story purely from the figment of my imagination.

Q: How did you take the news that your novel was being published?

To say I was “overjoyed” is an understatement. I did an awful lot of jumping up and down that day. When I eventually landed back on earth, reality hit. Publication is just the beginning of an author’s journey.

Q: Are you currently working on another book?

I am seven chapters into my next Chick Lit novel with a protagonist on the cusp of forty. The setting is a fictitious town in northern Rhode Island where local history plays a significant role in moving the plot forward.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your down time?

Not privy to much down time, I do enjoy my morning workout lifting weights and hopping on the elliptical trainer in my office. I spend a considerable part of the day networking and writing ezine articles about Rhode Island. I also contribute weekly nostalgic memoirs and rambles to a Sixties site where I have my own profile page.

Q: What’s one of your favorite authors or books?

Though I’ve adhered to my own cardinal rule not to read books in the same genre I write so as not to unduly influence storyline or style, there is one author in particular who resonates with me—Anne Lamott, whose perfect wording exposes life’s imperfect moments.

Q: What would be your advice to aspiring authors?

I won’t be the first to dispense advice which must sound like a cliché: “Believe in your own merits as a storyteller.” This belief in yourself will enable you to persevere when you encounter setbacks.

Q: What is or do you think would be your favorite place to travel?

I’ve never been fond of flying, so don’t know how far I’d get as the crow flies. My favorite place to be is by the ocean, strolling along the shore at sunrise or sunset. My fantasy place to travel is Morocco simply because its aura captivated me in the movie classic, Casablanca.

January 26, 2010
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Interview with J.L. Penn
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with J.L. Penn

Q: What finally gave you the inspiration to start writing your novel?
I have always enjoyed writing but had never done it professionally. When I was younger, probably around college age, I tried to write a novel a few times but could never get past a few pages. I think the problem was that I was trying to write a novel rather than tell a story. With Reunion, the idea for essentially the entire story came to me in a flash of inspiration. And that inspiration was born of a small kernel of truth, which really leads into your next question…

Q: How did you get the concept for Reunion?
I really did come upon my old high school crush online. We exchanged the usual pleasantries — how are you, what have you been up to, etc. He even suggested that perhaps we should get our kids together for a play date sometime, but that was it. However, it got me thinking about how many other people were probably going through similar scenarios but perhaps taking it a step further. I let my imagination go a little wild with it and envisioned how a simple innocent little reconnection could evolve into something potentially life-changing. Ironically, I have since learned that exact thing has happened to various people not so far removed from my own circle of friends.

Q: I read that you are writing a sequel. Can you give any details on that?
I actually have two novels in production right now. I will only say that the sequel revolves around one of Jessica’s girlfriends and that Jessica is a secondary character in the sequel. The sequel was in the very early stages when I had another “lightning bolt of inspiration” similar to what I had for Reunion, so I switched gears for the moment and have been writing pretty diligently on a different unrelated novel. It’s still chick lit, but the characters and plot are completely different. The first two rough draft “teaser” chapters are currently posted on my website (jlpenn.com).

Q: What is your favorite genre’s to read?
Not surprisingly, my favorite genre to read is chick lit. I do also enjoy reading mysteries occasionally, but I generally stay away from dramas, horror, and non-fiction. I read to escape so I just want to be entertained, not depressed or even particularly enlightened. For that reason, I do also enjoy books written by comedians now and then.

Q: What is the best part of writing books?
The best part of the act of writing a book is when the book takes on a life of its own and I cannot wait to see what happens as I am writing it. I know that probably sounds strange but it really does happen. That was the first clue I had that I actually had something here. I really felt like it was a page turner as I was writing it, so I have of course been thrilled to hear that others feel the same. The best part of having written a book is easily the sense of satisfaction one gets knowing that others are reading and enjoying the book.

Q: Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions?
Oh sure, doesn’t everyone enjoy an annual exercise in futility? Say it with me now … I am going to lose a few pounds. I am going to exercise more. Sound familiar? Me and every other American woman, right? Oh yes, and of course I also want to be more organized. That last one is the only one I have actually made any progress on so far this year. Oh my gosh, how could I almost forget? I did have one more resolution — to have Reunion become a New York Times Bestseller!

Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures (tv shows, food, etc?)
Okay, who tipped you off? Don’t tell anyone but I am a huge fan of the Wiggles. In my defense, I have a toddler, but I really think I enjoy their songs more than she does. In fact, you really know you are a Mom when your celebrity crush is a guy who only owns blue shirts and dances around in jazz shoes singing about dinosaurs and fruit salad. Since my TV is perpetually tuned to either the Wiggles or Nick Jr. these days, watching anything else is a real treat and a rarity. Given the opportunity though, I love Psych, Seinfeld reruns, Big Bang Theory, HGTV, and Food Network. I was devastated when the Monk series recently ended. As for food, I have a terrible sweet tooth and a taste for Italian. I’m not sure I have ever met a dessert or a pizza that I didn’t like.

Q: I read you love cooking. What is your specialty?
I love to experiment and my best experiments tend to have an Italian flair. I adore garlic, rosemary, basil – fresh is the best. Over the holidays I came up with a great little recipe (or so I think) for using up leftover mashed potatoes — forming them into little balls mixed with chopped onion, dipping them in Italian breadcrumbs and rosemary, browning them, and serving them with a fruit dipping sauce made of apple butter and pineapple preserves. It’s very simple but a great blend of sweet and savory. I’ve had a couple of recipes published but I am really still a novice in the kitchen. I’ve certainly had my share of smoke alarm dinners.

Q: What is your advice to aspiring writers?
Oh my goodness, I still consider myself an aspiring writer so I am probably the worst person to give advice, but if I had to, I would have to be cliche and say don’t give up. And also, do not force it. If you are really meant to do it, the inspiration will come. Without inspiration, they are just words. If you force it, it will sound forced. Also, do not fool yourself into thinking that writing the book is the hard part — it’s not. Getting the book into the hands of the readers, which unfortunately means successfully getting it in front of the eyes of agents, is where the real work begins. But if you really believe in your work and have someone other than little voices in your head telling you that it is good, then keep at it. Well look at that, it turns out I did have some advice!

Q: Where is your favorite place to travel?
While I love to travel, I have to confess that I hate to fly. Have you ever seen the beginning of the romantic comedy French Kiss? That’s me. Okay, well, maybe not quite that bad but I really, really do not like to fly. Between my fear of flying and my fear of having a screaming toddler on a plane, I have not done much traveling lately. My favorite trip from the past though is probably Iceland. When I tell people I have been to Iceland, I get one of two responses — “Iceland? What’s in Iceland?” or “Wow! Iceland!” The latter is the reality. It is a fabulous destination full of diverse landscapes, friendly people, and probably the cleanest air and water you will ever enjoy. In just one day I saw a fantastic European style city, a glacier, a black sand beach, crazy cool lava formations, a small iceberg, a volcano, oodles of waterfalls, and lots of geothermal bursts of steam pouring out of the ground. We were there for eight amazing days and I can not recommend it highly enough. Iceland may actually make an appearance in the Reunion sequel but we shall see…

January 24, 2010
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