Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

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Healthy Recipe: Egg White Muffin Melt
Chick Lit Plus

Healthy Recipe: Egg White Muffin Melt

I woke up early this morning to try to fit in a hearty breakfast, something other than my usual bowl of Fruit Loops. So I woke up, strolled in my kitchen, and stared at my fridge. Then in my cupboards. Then back in the fridge in case I missed something the first time. But no, there was nothing in my kitchen that was going to turn itself into a yummy, healthy morning meal. Bummed, I settled by making myself some toast on whole wheat bread. Mmmm.
Luckily, I found some recipes that seem simple enough for me to complete, and still healthy and fulfilling to keep me going until lunch. One of my favorites is an Egg-White Muffin Melt. Even sounds simple, doesn’t it? The ingredients are easy and the time to cook it wouldn’t take long in the mornings. Check it out courtesy of Fitness Magazine online:
Ingredients
3 egg whites
Whole-grain English muffin
1/2 cup spinach
1 slice reduced-fat cheddar cheese
1 slice tomato
Make It
Scramble 3 egg whites. Cover half of a whole-grain English muffin with 1/2 cup spinach and the other half with 1 slice reduced-fat cheddar cheese; toast until cheese is melted. Add egg and 1 slice tomato.

March 9, 2010
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Interview with Gemma Burgess
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Gemma Burgess

Q: Why did you decide to write The Dating Detox?
A combination of things came together to create a perfect storm of novel-writing… I was in bed with a tedious back injury, my sister and I had been talking about the kinds of books we wanted to read, and then I just started writing one night. I wanted a heroine that was normal – you know, funny and confident and silly and ballsy. And I wanted to reverse the usual chicklit thing of having a girl pining for love – I wanted to create an anti-romantic comedy, with a heroine who was saying ‘up yours’ to love…
Q: Are you currently working on another book?
I’ve just finished my second book, The Dating Virgin. I’m editing it as we speak. It’s about a girl who learns to be single after a long time in a relationship – it’s a tough thing to do, and there’s not much out there about it. She learns to date like a man – more specifically, like a bastard…
Q: What did you find most difficult about writing?
Self-doubt is the hardest thing. Not writers block – I very rarely have that, probably as I’ve earned my living writing for advertising agencies for a long time, so I know that when it strikes I just need to read something else for an hour or go for a walk somewhere distracting like, you know, Zara. But self-doubt! That’s a killer. Those evil little fairies who tell you that you’re a bit poo… you have to just ignore them and keep going.
Q: You have a feature on your website, Name That Bastard. (Hilarious). What gave you the idea for that?
I find naming really hard. When it came to naming the bad guy, Rick, in The Dating Detox, I sent emails to all my friends asking for the name of any bastard ex-boyfriends they had… the emails poured in and everyone told me the bastard story behind why it should be this name or that name, and that’s how I chose Rick. So for The Dating Virgin, I threw it open to the world with www.namethatbastard.com… I get some hilarious emails – and I think it’s like free therapy, too.
Q: What are some of your favorite books or authors?
Ayyy so many… I read a lot. I love Nora Ephron, Jilly Cooper, Plum Sykes, Nancy Mitford, Kingsley Amis, Bret Easton Ellis, Stella Gibbons, Jane Austen, Julian Barnes… Recently I read The Adventures Of Kavelier and Clay, by Michael Chabon, which was incredible, just brilliant. And I just read The Making Of Mia by Ilana Fox, which is fab glitzy revenge fash-lit.
Q: How do you spend your free time?
At the moment? Planning my wedding! I’m getting married in April in New York so, since we live in London, that’s a bit of a time-suck. The rest of the time, when I’m not writing – and I’m writing quite a lot, it has to be said – I’m the same as most girls, I think: go out for dinner and drinks with my friends, read magazines in the bath, read books, go shopping, try to force myself to work out, watch SkyPlussed episodes of Glee…
Q: I see you are fellow shoe lover. What is your favorite pair of heels in your closet?
Oh, gosh. So many… Well, I bought a pair of red Miu Miu heels to wear on my wedding day… a bit untraditional, I know, but I LOVE them. They’re attached. I have a silly amount of shoes for a girl who spends most of her time in Converses. Most of my shoes are from Office. Damn I love that place.
Q: Where is one place you absolutely advise against trying to meet a man?
Anywhere that those dreadful books tell you to meet them, like salsa class… I don’t know any normal single man who would go to a salsa class. Men I know go to work, the gym, bars, restaurants, and home. I think you can meet a man anywhere as long as you’re not obsessing. That irritating adage ‘it happens when you least expect it’ is true. The Dating Detox just takes that to the next level.
Q: What is your advice for aspiring writers?
Read, write, edit. Repeat…And ignore the self-doubt!
Q: I read you grew up everywhere. What would you say was the best location you lived in?
Tough question! I am pretty seriously in love with London. I’ve lived here since I was 22 and I love, love, love it. It’s home. My parents are still in Hong Kong, where I spent most of my life before London, and I count that as a sort of second home – whenever I head back I feel that ‘ahhh’ relaxed feeling. The light, the smell, the humidity, the beautiful lights… it really makes me feel all warm and happy. And I went to university in Sydney, in Australia, and have lots of fond memories of there, too. It’s a great place to live… I don’t remember Singapore or the other places all that well as I was pretty young. In summary? London, followed by Hong Kong!

March 9, 2010
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Brooke Burke to Co-Host Dancing With the Stars
Chick Lit Plus

Brooke Burke to Co-Host Dancing With the Stars

When Dancing With the Stars returns on March 22nd, a new face will be joining Tom Bergeron as co-host. Brooke Burke, who won Season 7 with partner Derek Hough, has been selected to take over duties for past host Samantha Harris. The news was announced Monday on Good Morning America.

March 9, 2010
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Sophie Kinsella is Pregnant
Chick Lit Authors

Sophie Kinsella is Pregnant

Sophie Kinsella announced today on her Facebook page that she is expecting another baby next month! Click Here to read her Facebook announcement.

March 8, 2010
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In My Mailbox Week of March 7
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In My Mailbox Week of March 7

In my Mailbox: Week of March 7

Title: Scot on the Rocks
Author: Brenda Janowitz
Received: Borders
Synopsis: Planning a wedding can be a trying experience…
A little prewedding anxiety is normal for every bride, and Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller isn’t worried. She’s got the loving support of the world’s greatest guy, so planning her nuptials should be a piece of cake.
But that was yesterday.
Today, Brooke’s landed her first big case and has just discovered that the opposing attorney is none other than her fiancé, Jack. But that’s okay. These two professionals aren’t going to let a little courtroom sparring get their legal briefs in a bunch…. Right? Wrong! Now Jack’s pulling every dirty trick in the law books, and Brooke’s starting to suspect that maybe he isn’t the man she thought he was. Warring with her fiancé at work and at home, Brooke realizes that she’ll have to choose between the case of her life, or actually having a life.

Title: Still Thinking of You
Author: Adele Parks
Received: Borders
Synopsis: Rich has always been skeptical about falling in love. Natasha has always fully expected to. And when these two find each other, they win the entire True Love package–tenderness and hot sex and open-eyed kisses. Long weekends in bed and talk of marriage and babies. The kind of love where there’s no room for secrets. That, after all, is what Tash says will keep them going strong: total and complete honesty.
Now Rich and Tash are engaged, and Rich’s old school friends crash into their love cocoon with big plans of celebrating, along with spouses and significant others, on a trip to a stunning French ski resort. But a lot can happen in a week that’s meant to capture the free-spirited fun they all shared a decade ago. And in the glare of a whiteout on the slopes, Tash crosses paths with the one secret Rich should have kept: his colorful, vivacious, needy ex-lover, Jayne…

Title: The Opposite of Me
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Received: SheKnows.com
Synopsis: Twenty-nine-year-old Lindsey Rose has, for as long as she can remember, lived in the shadow of her ravishingly beautiful fraternal twin sister, Alex. Determined to get noticed, Lindsey is finally on the cusp of being named VP creative director of an elite New York advertising agency, after years of eighty-plus-hour weeks, migraines, and profound loneliness. But during the course of one devastating night, Lindsey’s carefully constructed life implodes. Humiliated, she flees the glitter of Manhattan and retreats to the time warp of her parents’ Maryland home. As her sister plans her lavish wedding to her Prince Charming, Lindsey struggles to maintain her identity as the smart, responsible twin while she furtively tries to piece her career back together. But things get more complicated when a long-held family secret is unleashed that forces both sisters to reconsider who they are and who they are meant to be.

March 8, 2010
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Interview with Sarah Mason
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Sarah Mason

Q: Why did you decide to start writing? I had just finished a very demanding job and just got married. My fabulous husband suggested I take a few months off to decide what I wanted to do next and, without really thinking about it, I started writing. The result was Playing James.

Q: Where do you get inspiration for your characters? Everywhere! In cafes, from friends, from films, from family. I watch people the whole time. I probably look a bit creepy and people take very wide circles around me. My husband and I spent a very memorable Valentine’s evening when I was completely transfixed by the couple at the next table having an enormous – yet whispered – row. Our waiter kept missing bits as he went back to the kitchen and would ask me what happened when he came back. It went on for about 45 minutes.

Q: My first book I read by you was Playing James. How did you like writing about romance with a tinge of mystery and crime involved in the plot? I love writing books with a bit of a plot! In fact I would find it hard not to. It gives a real focus for the characters – something to revolve around.

Q: Do you have a favorite book or author? I love Atonement and I love Sarah Waters. I’m years behind and have piles and piles of novels next to my bed waiting to be read. It’s hard to read anything when I’m actually writing so they have to wait until a holiday and then I will take between 10 and 20 with me. My poor husband, I barely utter a word for hours. I LOVE reading.

Q: Is there a certain area where you get your writing done? Yes, I have a study which is covered with papers and research books. We moved house recently and I had some very posh and expensive cupboards built because I was convinced the reason that I was so messy in my office was because I didn’t have enough storage. That was not the reason. The cupboards remain empty and I remain messy.

Q: Is there such thing as a ‘typical day’ for you? I get up at 5 am every morning apart from the weekends and work until my children get up at about 7. Then we all get dressed and I take them to school. I start work again at 9 and finish roughly at 12. Then I pick up my little boy – who only does mornings at pre-school – and we do something together until it’s time to collect his big sister. Somewhere in all that I fit in some exercise and cooking and washing. Often not very well.

Q: Can you pick one of your novels that perhaps is your favorite, or you had the most fun writing? I think Playing James because I liked the sparkiness between the characters. I loved writing those conversations.

Q: What is a unique fact about you that others may not know? I have a degree in maths from Bristol uni.

Q: Are you working on new material right now? Yes. A change of genre. Still some mystery and some sparkiness though. It’s an ambitious novel and hard to write.

Q: Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Read, read and read. Take notes on structure and plot of the books you love. Decide what sort of author you want to be. Do you want to entertain or shock or thrill? Drill your book into sections and work separately on characters, plot, period detail, dialogue, scene setting, etc.

Q: What would be or is your favorite place to travel? Cornwall. We visit at least four times a year. I grew up there and I adore it.

March 7, 2010
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The Goddess Rules by Clare Naylor
Chick Lit Review

The Goddess Rules by Clare Naylor

Mirabelle Moncur is clearly a goddess. From her enchanting looks that haven’t faded at age 60, to her commanding and domineering presence in any situation, and the way she flawlessly goes through men like sex is nothing, the women screams confident, secure, and goddess-like. Kate Disney is the opposite. Unlike Mirri, Kate will never be a film star, never be sultry, and can’t seem to get past the ‘slug’ of a boyfriend, Jake, who treats Kate like she is indispensable.
When Mirri, animal activist living in Africa, moves to London, she and Kate quickly become friends, and Kate tries to be more like Mirri. She breaks it off with Jake, heads to Capri for a short fling, and begins to live her life more freely and passionately, finally beginning to take a real interest in her career as a painter. But when an old friend reveals himself as a love interest and Jake suddenly is the pining boyfriend she has always wanted, Kate is unsure what her next move will be. In the end, Mirri shows her the true meaning of love, in a very Mirri-like fashion.
The Goddess Rules by Clare Naylor is not only a humorous book with engaging plot twists, but also shows the struggles of someone trying to figure out what love is. Is it right to be with someone that loves you simply because you love them? That and other puzzles fill the plot and will keep readers interest hooked, especially with the supporting cast filling in any holes. I will say that I thought at times the book seemed to go on a little too long, but it only took a few more pages to get me interested in a new situation that started. The ending was particularly a jaw-dropper, and kept me thinking about the characters even after I was finished reading about them.

March 6, 2010
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Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart Welcome Daughter
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Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart Welcome Daughter

McSteamy is officially a father! Eric Dane and wife Rebecca Gayheart welcomed their first child together, a daughter. People.com reports the baby was born on Wednesday, and no name has been released yet. The couple has been married since 2004.

March 6, 2010
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Joey Lawrence Welcomes Second Daughter
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Joey Lawrence Welcomes Second Daughter

It’s another girl for Joey Lawrence and wife Chandi Yawn-Nelson. The couple welcomed their second daughter on Thursday, Liberty Grace Lawrence, reported People.com. The baby weighed in 6 lbs., 8 oz and joined sister Charleston, 3 ½.

March 5, 2010
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