I’ve been wanting to write an article recently reminiscing about Chick Lit Plus. I always tell people starting CLP was the best decision I’ve made (besides recently undergoing Lasik surgery), and it is the truth. The friendships I’ve made, the professional connections, and the knowledge and opportunities that have come my way make me think of how lucky I am. I wear many hats – book reviewer, editor, blog tour coordinator, publisher, author – but I love my busy life and working hard at something I truly enjoy and can say with all my heart I have a passion for.
I fell in love with books at a young age, thanks to the influence of my mother and grandmother. I knew I wanted to be a writer myself, and after graduating college with my BS in business, I decided to put some sort of plan into action. I bought my first laptop (even though I was online student the last two years of college – figure that out) and started researching. I kept coming across book blogs, since I didn’t even really know what the word “blog” meant, I had to do some research on that. After I had a better grasp on blogging and what book bloggers were doing, I searched for a web designer and Chick Lit Plus was put into motion.
So, I had my blog. Then I froze. I remember thinking – how do I get followers? What books do I review? What did I get myself into? I started making trips to the library once a week, checking out anything that looked interesting (mostly those with pink covers) and spilling my thoughts on the book, posting them for everyone to see. I joined Twitter and made a Facebook page for Chick Lit Plus, starting accumulating fans, and within three months had authors and publishers sending me books to review.
Before I started CLP, I had already joined the chick lit fan club. Most books I was checking out could fall in the category, and I was absolutely adoring them. I dove deeper into the genre, looking for some fabulous books to be my first reviews. Which made the top five cut?
- The Agency by Ally O’Brien
- The First Assistant by Clare Naylor & Mimi Hare
- Bliss by Danyel Smith
- Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
- The Truth About Diamonds by Nicole Richie
It’s fun to look back at those first few books that caught my attention purely based on covers alone (besides Nicole Richie – I’ve always just been a fan). I actually didn’t even know Emily Giffin as EMILY GIFFIN when I read Something Borrowed. I checked out the book with a pink cover. Anything with pink, drinks, lollipops, or shopping bags made it in my pile. Now, I’m super lucky to be sent amazing books each week for my reviewing pleasure. I love being a part of the chick lit community, I am so thankful to all the wonderful people I have met along the way, and I’m thrilled to be taking part in the Chick Lit International Month for the second year in a row. Cheers to chick lit – now go read a book!
Contest Info:
I am giving away an eBook copy of my debut novel, Destined to Fail to one lucky winner! To enter, please leave a comment below, and be sure to include the words “chick lit” in your comment in order to be entered!
Grand Prize:
For a chance to win the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop Grand Prize of a $150 Sephora gift card, simply do the following:
- Collect all 34 of the secret words (you will find a secret word in each of the blog posts on the hop.) The word will be italicized, so it will be easy to locate. ***HINT***The secret word in my blog hop post is in the last paragraph, and is not a book title.
- Submit your list of 34 secret words to CLABlogHop@aol.com before midnight on Sunday, May 20th and you will be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing!
- The Grand Prize winner will be announced on Monday, May 21st, and the $150 Sephora gift card can be redeemed online, or at any Sephora store in the US.
- Chick Lit Author Blog Hop contests are open to residents of the United States only.
Please see the post below for a Linky list with all 34 participating authors/blogs. You will have an opportunity to win a different e-book at each blog hop stop. Good luck!
**The winner of Destined to Fail is Sidne! Thank you to everyone who signed up and participated in the author blog hop!**
Thank you for doing the Chick Lit Blog hop! It’s been so much fun and secret words have been fascinating. I’ve been challenged to make a poem out of them but I don’t know if I’m that creative.
<3 Tobi
tobihelton at gmail dot com
I love Chick Lit. Thanks so much for participating in the blog!
Rhonda D
slinkydennis@yahoo.com
Thanks for the contest.
brn2shop9
brn2shop9 at gmail dot com
I ADORE reading and writing chick lit! So bummed that i didn’t know about this hop so i could sign up! 🙁 BUT, that means I get to enter the grand prize giveaway!!
Forgot to leave my email! haefner919 at yahoo dot com
WONDERFUL giveaway!! 🙂
I’m a new fan! I’m so excited about this blog hop because I get to meet new great authors like you. 🙂
caribellacreations at gmail dot com
Don’t read as much chicklit as I once did, but I’m still a big gan. Congrats on a successful blog hop! pwriter1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for doing this, its fun!
Pinksapphire118 at gmail .com
Thanks for being a part of the blog hop!!
Theresa Crowell
theresacrowell(at)msn(dot)com
I used to run for chicklit until I admitted defeat and dove right in. Sometimes you just need a good cry/laugh with a dash of romance 😉
It was so interesting to read how you got started with all of this! You are a new author for me, so I will be checking you out on B&N. Thanks for doing the hop.
gatormaryd(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love the genre of chic lit. It like how many of the heroines are like me ~ not at all perfect!
mimirose41209 at hotmail dot com
I love finding new authors. Thanks for being a part of this hop. Your book looks really good.
Crazy how things get started. “Blog? What’s that?” Then eventually voila! A bunch of hard work, a passion for pink covers and chick lit, your own book, blog, books streaming in to review. Fabulous! Thanks for the blog hop.
-Savannah Page
info[at]savannahpage[.]com
I started my first blog Dec. 2009 – it is on this blog hop. Didn’t know what I was doing. Then I went blog crazy. Every idea has its own blog and domain name. Enjoyed your post! Barbara
bb dash bjd at comcast dot net
This looks like the place to be! Thanks for participating in this fun hop!
abcdsherman at gmail dot com
looking forward to winning a FREE Chick Lit e-book! i have seem to become a book whore lately!
would love to read your novel. I now have you down on my chick lit author page.
sidne @ rdg.rendezvous@gmail.com
I recently got into chick lit when I was home sick one day. I didn’t like being sick, but love my new book selections!
terrir21@gmail.com
Love your site! Thanks so much!
Lmackesy @ gmail.com
Thanks for doing the blog hop! Alot of fun.
I am often attracted to books especially Chick Lit books by their covers too.
I also find myself gravitating towards chick lit every timr I go to my local library. That’s how I first discovered Emily Giffin and I’ve loved Something Borrowed ever since.
Thanks so much for doing the blog.
Ocbride (at) gmail (dot) com
How awesome that you get to read & write reviews for chick lit as your job! I’m definitely jealous.
Erica Kincannon
Ericalkincannon@gmail.com
I would love to win/read this book. It sounds terrific.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
can i get a pdf file. I do have the kindle on my PC too.