Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

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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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Interview with Carol Mason
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Carol Mason

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Sometimes I’ll read an article that will trigger a concept for a book – as is the case with the book I am now working on. Other times it’s just something someone says, or I overhear, and I build on it, and ask myself “what if….”
Q: On your website, you talk a lot about your early failed attempts at writing. What kept you pushing through to achieve your goal of publishing a novel?
I think it was the realization that many ordinary people – people just like myself who have no connections in the publishing world, haven’t worked on glossy magazines etc – can make it as novelists. So I thought if they can, I can! But admittedly, when my bottom drawer started filling up with unpublished manuscripts (3 of them, if you don’t count the 2 I wrote 10 years earlier!), it became a matter of sheer determination – I had come this far, I had made some progress with each book I had written, so I had to push through a little harder to make it happen.
Q: What is your favorite part about writing?
My favorite part is when I have a manuscript drafted from start to finish, and it’s all essentially there but it needs more layers. And then I add them, and then I read the final thing, and think, Gosh it feels like a real book now! And I really love it! Another great moment for me is when something I have written moves me to either laugh or well up with tears. It’s an odd feeling having your own work do that to you, but is a sure sign for me that something I have done is really working!
Q: If you weren’t a writer, what do you think you would be doing for a profession?
I would have liked to be in the movie business. A director would be my ideal job, if I wasn’t a novelist. But then again, it’s another tough choice — one of those dream jobs that don’t seem to happen to ordinary people. But I like to aim high and go for the almost-impossible, so I’d have probably tried to work my way up into that.
Q: You have two books out right now, The Secrets of Married Women and Send me a Lover. Are you currently working on a third novel?
My third novel, The Love Market, hits stores in February, around Valentine’s Day actually, which is totally appropriate. It’s about a divorce that maybe should not have happened, and the return of a first love, to complicate matters. On another level, it’s about the dating/matchmaking world, and how a woman can be successful in helping others find love but be incapable of getting it right in her own life! The Love Market is actually a real place in Vietnam – a market square where young lovers used to go to find each other and old flames would come to reunite. The concept of it intrigued me and I thought it would be a good kick-off point for a novel.
Q: What are your favorite authors/books?
I like Rosie Thomas – especially her earlier books, Anita Shreve, Louise Candlish, Jonathan Tropper, Tony Parsons — anyone who explores characters really well, and can move me to tears or laughter. I’m not massively excited by plot driven books, and would rather have a slower-moving read that took me 100% into the heart and mind of the characters.
Q: What is the worst job you have ever held?
Oh, I’ve had loads! Trying to sell boxes for the Toronto Skydome wasn’t the best. I don’t think I sold any. Waitressing in a restaurant that was such a safety hazard that it should have been condemned — it’s a wonder I got out of there alive. Hotel receptionist working until midnight then having to be back on the desk at 7am – somehow getting home which was half way across London, showering then sleeping in between all that. Working in a small advertising agency for an extremely temperamental boss.
Q: Do you have a favorite TV show that you just can’t miss?
I am not massively into television, but I am quite addicted to Brothers and Sisters.
Q: What is or do you think would be your favorite place to travel?
Last April my husband and I went to Buenos Aires and I fell in love with it. I adore vibrant cities that never sleep, and BA was that! And more. Plus the food was fantastic – especially if you like beef. And the wine was wonderful and so cheap! I think the Greek Islands are spectacular and last year I spent a month on Paros trying to finish my novel. I had the time of my life! I’d love to go to Brazil, and, indeed, see a lot more of South America. But, hey, send me anywhere and I’ll get excited. Traveling is the best!

Q: Your website has great information and advice on how to get published. What do you think is the most important piece of advice you can give aspiring writers?
Don’t just focus on being a good writer. You have to understand how the publishing business works. You have to be a business person in a way — because publishers expect writers to be highly knowledgeable about the industry they are trying to get into. So research it like mad — find out what agents and publishers want to see, be professional, be realistic about your dreams. That doesn’t mean you can’t have them, it just means you can’t just have your head stuck in the clouds and expect to succeed! I am happy to answer any questions I can – so long as it’s not basic stuff you can find on the Internet – but if you have something that you’re having a hard time getting an answer to, email me through my website and I’ll do my best to tell you what I know.

January 23, 2010
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From BettyConfidental: Celeb Rehab
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From BettyConfidental: Celeb Rehab

Are you obsessed with celebrities? If you’re like me and you can name all their kids, their wedding dates, what pets they have, etc…you may be obsessed. But of course you’re not alone! Celebrities are all the craze these days, with us “regulars” dying to get all the inside scoop on their lives- from their relationships to their plastic surgeries.
I now take your attention to Celeb Rehab, an exclusive short story on the obsession of celebrities from best selling chick lit author Wendy Holden, available only on BettyConfidental.com. Read about Gracie quitting her celebrity obsession cold turkey after losing her boyfriend and job in one week because of her unhealthy need of the superstar knowledge. Click here to read the story!

January 22, 2010
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Interview with Beth Kendrick
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Beth Kendrick

Q: I absolutely love the story about how you met writers at a wedding and
how they encouraged you and gave you some great advice. If you hadn’t gone
to that wedding and gotten that encouragement, do you think you still would
have been a writer?

Definitely, but it would have taken me a lot longer to figure out the nuts and bolts of story/plot and the publication process. When I first got started, I had heard vague murmurings about literary agents and editors, but I had no clue what they really did and why an author might need them. I was very lucky to find a few mentors to guide me and help me form realistic expectations and patiently explain how to format a manuscript for submission, etc.

Q: What is your favorite part about the writing process?

Turning in the finished manuscript!

No, actually I love the spark of excitement that comes with the inspiration for a brand new story, the “what if…?” question that first gets the ball rolling and my initial meet-and-greet with fresh characters. (Yes, I host imaginary cocktail parties in my mind in order to mix it up with imaginary people, and then I embroil all these imaginary people in the juiciest scandals my depraved sensibilities can come up with. I love being a writer.)

I also love chatting up my writer friends. Most of my author buddies live in other states, but we regularly spend hours on the phone, bouncing plot ideas off each other. Just talking through plot problems with someone else can lead me to surprising solutions, and hearing about their work makes me feel less isolated; writers spend a lot of time sequestered alone in their offices, which can be very bad for one’s head state.

Finally, I love those hours when I’m so caught up in a scene, when the characters and the dialogue and the action are all clicking together and I can’t wait to get the next sentence typed out, that I forget where I am and what I’m doing and am transported, temporarily, out of the “real world” and into the story.

Q: Is there one character you have written about (or multiple!) that you
feel you really relate to, or where do you get your character inspirations?

You know, I’ve written a lot of characters who are similar to me in terms of background, but the characters I most identify with are probably Stella, the young “trophy wife” from Nearlyweds and Brooke, the former Sourthern belle in Second Time Around (coming April 2010)…even though I’m not at all like either of them on the surface! Stella and Brooke embody that feeling we all sometimes have that we don’t really fit in with our peer group and we can’t meet the expectations that the world has of us. They refuse to fit neatly into the stereotypes society has created for them. I think everyone can relate to that.

Q: How did you celebrate after your first novel was published?

A very wise author once advised me to buy myself a little present with every advance check because “you need to recognize and reward your own accomplishments and not expect constant validation from your publisher or your reviewers because that’s a one-way ticket to crazy town.” I still remind myself of this whenever I hit a new milestone in my career. Of course it’s important to plan for the future, but we need to live in the moment, too; celebrate what we’ve already accomplished and not immediately switch focus to the next goal.

So, when I sold my first book, I bought a bottle of good champagne, a million-calorie chocolate cake, and a classic black pearl and diamond pendant that makes me smile every time I wear it.

Q: How long does it take you to complete writing a book, from beginning to
end?

About 9 months. I can whip out a first draft pretty quickly, but I’m a very revision-intensive writer, so my first draft is just a jumping-off point. Then I roll up my sleeves, wade back in, and do lots of elaboration on character and theme and conflict. I spend about half my writing time revising. Everyone’s “process” is different, and my process is to be the Revision Queen.

Q: What is a “typical day” in the life of Beth Kendrick?

Well, I can tell you what my schedule was today:
-Drag self out of bed. Vow not to stay up too late again tonight.
-Check email.
-Get my toddler dressed, fed, and bundled off to preschool.
-Go to gym, slog through a few miles on treadmill, all the while thinking about the upcoming scene I need to write for my work-in-progress. (I wish I could write off my gym membership as a work expense, because I do a ton of brainstorming and problem solving in the cardio room!)
-Go home, shower, check email.
-Pick up toddler, eat lunch together.
-Naptime for toddler, work time for me.
-Check email and procrastinate for a bit by skimming celebrity gossip blogs.
-Write a few pages .
-Talk to agent about contract details for new book deal.
-Talk to author buddy about her current plotting issues, my current plotting issues, and celebrity gossip we have recently read online.
-Check email.
-Toddler awakens. Emerge from office and realize in dismay that house is trashed. Toys, stacks of paper, and dog hair abound. Swipe at countertop with damp dishcloth. Bust out vacuum cleaner. Vow to come back in next life as the love child of Martha Stewart and Cesar Millan the Dog Whisperer.
-Commence making dinner (white chili). Cease preparations upon realizing that one of the dogs has “counter-surfed” the bag of Great Northern Beans and distributed the contents all over the family room.
-“Hey, we’re having breakfast for dinner! Here’s your cereal and scrambled eggs! Isn’t Mommy madcap and fun?”
-Bath and bedtime for the toddler (insert choir of angels singing).
-Write a few more pages.
-Read a few chapters of book on nightstand. (Tonight = Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs by Michael J. Collins. Hilarious and incredibly well-written.) Stay up too late. Will curse self tomorrow morning. But, as long as I’m up, I might as well read a few more chapters.
-Lights out.

The epitome of glamour. I know you all are jealous.

Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures (TV shows, foods, etc…)?

Other than my shameful addiction to celebrity gossip blogs, you mean?
Food: Homemade mac and cheese made with extra sharp cheddar and gruyere, See’s candies.
TV: Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County”, MTV’s “Teen Mom”
I also have a thing for browsing online for ridiculously overpriced handbags. I almost never buy them, and then only on clearance, but for whatever reason, browsing through designer handbag is a balm for my soul. Perhaps I have an undiscovered Italian leather fetish?

Q: Do you have a favorite book or author?

Too many to list, but among my “desert island” library would be the complete works of Carol Shields, Jane Austen, Sandra Tsing Loh, and Michael J. Collins.

Q: What would be or is your favorite place to travel?
I hope to someday make it to what I refer to as “The Three A’s”: Australia, Alaska, and Antarctica.

January 18, 2010
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Chick Lit Author: Eva Pasco
Chick Lit Authors

Chick Lit Author: Eva Pasco

Under Mother’s tutelage, Eva Pasco became a proficient typist by the age of nine and soon pounded chapter stories replete with dialogue on her girly-pink Tom Thumb typewriter. In high school she composed her first novella earning its own reserve shelf in the library. On the fast track of college, Ms. Pasco’s penchant for writing deferred to churning out term papers. Throughout a rewarding teaching career she dedicated her craft to drafting curriculum, developing student proficiency in creative writing, and penning poignant notes to her charges. Undergoing a mid-life renaissance, Ms. Pasco rekindled her passion for storytelling by composing fiction that taps into significant issues affecting the lives of women.

Eva Pasco resides in Rhode Island by the East Bay. She enjoys the splendor of sunset from a double-hung window in the office where her fingers dance over the keyboard whenever a notion pops into her head. Sometimes the cats allow her to work undisturbed. Life is good!

January 17, 2010
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Chick Lit Author: Jennifer Weiner
Chick Lit Authors

Chick Lit Author: Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner was born in Louisiana on an army base, but grew up mostly in Simsbury, Connecticut. She attended Princeton University and graduated with a degree in English literature. She published her first novel, Good in Bed, in 2001, and has since published 7 more. Weiner has made many appearances on the popular TV programs The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, and The Martha Stewart Show. She has also been published in Seventeen, Salon, Redbook, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, and Elle.
Jennifer Weiner’s titles include: Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, Little Earthquakes, Goodnight Nobody, The Guy Not Taken, Certain Girls, Best Friends Forever, and her latest novel, Fly Away Home, is set to be published in July of 2010. In Her Shoes was turned into a motion picture in 2002, starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine.
Weiner currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband Adam, two daughters, Lucy and Phoebe, and their rat terrier, Wendell.

January 16, 2010
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Chick Lit Author: Mia King
Chick Lit Authors

Chick Lit Author: Mia King

Mia King is not only a national best-selling author, but also a sought after speaker and workshop leader on midlife transitions as well as work and parenting. Her bursting career portfolio includes titles such as a tax manager with a Big Six accounting firm, website content copy chief for a major LVMH luxury-branded website, brand manager, life coach, cross-cultural trainer, director for a 2,000 acre retreat center, business owner, and now, author and homeschooling parent.
Mia has three published novels, with a fourth in the works. The titles are: Good Things, Sweet Life, and Table Manners. Each of her books brings a heartwarming story about strong women and family, with delicious recipes included: a little bonus for all readers.
Mia was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has lived in Texas, Colorado, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Beijing, China. She attended Miss Porter’s School and Wellesley College, graduating from Rice University with a degree in Political Science. Mia currently lives in Hawaii with husband (author and mental golf expert Darrin Gee) and their three children, Maya, Eric, and Luke.

January 9, 2010
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Chick Lit Author: Poonam Sharma
Chick Lit Authors

Chick Lit Author: Poonam Sharma

Poonam Sharma is not only an author, but also an MBA and real estate developer. Her first two books focused on entrepreneurship and business, with the titles The Harvard Entrepreneurs’ Club Guide to Starting Your Own Business and Chasing Success. Sharma is a graduate from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and earned her bachelors degree in economics from Harvard college. After Harvard, she worked at a start-up, a nonprofit venture catalyst and a private equity firm, as well as in investment research and institutional sales in New York. She has also traveled extensively for Chasing Success, traveling around the world in search of entrepreneurs with inspiring stories. She has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, Inc. magazine and NBC.

Sharma wrote her first novel, Girl Most Likely To, after her influences of dealing with cultural conservatism, interracial romance and high finance in Manhattan. The main character in the novel is in investment banking and is dealing with a SEC-scandal while juggling the struggles of life and love. Her second novel, All Eyes on Her, has the main character dealing with the Hollywood lifestyle as a celebrity divorce attorney, all while trying to make her relationship work with the perfect fiancé.

Poonam Sharma completed her MBA in May of 2007 at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was also chosen as the student speaker at commencement.

January 1, 2010
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Interview with Carole Matthews
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Carole Matthews

Q: I read that you never had the thought to be a writer. What changed your mind?
I fell into it completely by accident. Years ago I worked for a television programme presenting a feature on aromatherapy and started to write my own scripts. Then I progressed to articles about aromatherapy for whatever magazine would take it. I also happened to be getting a magazine called Writers’ News which had both market leads for freelancers and also short story competitions. I entered their annual love story competition and, to my amazement, won. Instead of blowing the money on shoes and handbags, I spent it on a writing course. As the course approached, I thought I’d better write something to take with me and started my first novel. The course tutor read it and loved it. She recommended an agent and he took me on straight away. He sold the book a week later. That book became my first published novel – Let’s Meet on Platform 8.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
I enjoy all of it – research, planning, creating the characters. There’s no better way to spend a working day.
Q: Do you have a favorite book or author?
The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I love this book and wish I’d written it. I still can’t bring myself to see the film in case I’m disappointed.
Q: Where do your ideas for your story lines or characters come from?
Generally, from life, magazines, newspapers, stories that people tell you. There are stories all around just waiting to be told. I’m a great collector of anecdotes.
Q: Are any of your characters based on perhaps you or people you know?
Not really. You need to know your characters far more than you would a person, but you can sometimes pinch quirks or features from real people. Having said that, I’m way too much like my own heroines!
Q: I just finished reading With or Without You and I loved it! Did you do research in the Himalayas to write this novel?
This is one of my own personal favourites too. Yes, we did go to the Himalayas. The idea for this book started when I first met my partner, Lovely Kev who makes Indiana Jones look like a sloth. For our second holiday together he booked a three-week camping trek in the Himalayas. I am a five-star hotel kind of woman. All my friends were panicking about how I was going to manage and I was training by jogging on a treadmill in my garage with a backpack full of tinned soup. That gave me the idea for the story.
Q: Can you pick one of your novels that you can say would be your favorite? Or the one that you had the most fun writing or researching?
Continuing the trekking theme, part of my latest book – It’s Now or Never – features my heroine setting out on the Inca Trail in Peru. The book I’m currently writing is set partly in the Maasai Mara in Kenya on a game safari. It’s nice to be able to feature a few exotic locations in the books.
Q: What do you love the most about being a writer? Any fabulous perks you can tell us about?
Strangely, for a profession that consists mainly of me sitting in a room on my own, I like meeting my readers most of all. That’s probably why I spend huge amounts of time on Facebook too! It’s not just a marvelous work avoidance technique!
One fabulous perk is – again – down to my readers. After writing The Chocolate Lovers’ Club and The Chocolate Lovers’ Diet my readers like to send me gifts of chocolate. Receiving chocolate in the post on a regular basis is a good thing.
Q: How long does it usually take you to complete writing a book, from start to finish?
I’m contracted to do two books a year, so I need to squeeze one into six months.
Q: What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Enjoy your writing. Too many people that I meet on workshops seem to struggle and wrestle and fight with their writing. Relax and let it flow. If you can’t think of anything to write about, then do some crazy things to get your creative juices flowing .
Q: What is or would be your favorite place to travel?
You know, I’ve been lucky to go to so many different countries that it would be hard to pick a favourite. Somewhere very special was the Galapagos Islands – followed closely by Nepal, China and the Maasai Mara takes some beating. Being just a few feet away from a wild male lion is something that I won’t forget in a hurry.

December 25, 2009
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