Chick Lit Goddess

...because every author wants to feel like a goddess!

CLP blog tours

Love in Translation

4 Comments

Book review of “Love in Translation”

LoveinTranslationCover

“Love in Translation” by Sara Palacios

Book Description:

Still reeling from an unexpected breakup, Emily nurses her broken heart by spending time with her best friends and taking one-too-many vodka shots. After one long night, she takes a hard look inside herself and doesn’t like what she sees. She realizes that she has sacrificed too much in her failed relationships from the past and vows to never settle for anything less than almost-perfect again. As she picks up the pieces and regains her confidence, a sexy Spanish chef moves in across the hall and knocks her off her feet. What ensues is an unexpected and tantalizing affair that opens her eyes – and her heart – to a whole new world and leaves her feeling sexier than she has ever felt.  Emily finally sees how easy love is supposed to be. Is happily-ever-after actually possible? Just when she starts to think so, she realizes that sometimes life gets more complicated before it gets easier. And complicated is an understatement when Steven (her best and oldest friend in the world) confesses his love for her. Everything spirals out of control as Emily must make a choice between love and friendship, and in doing so, possibly risk it all.

LOVE IN TRANSLATION is a modern day love story about following your heart to unexpected places and taking chances in life … because sometimes you will find exactly what you are looking for.

My Review:

Before I singed up to be part of the CLP blog tour featuring Sara and her book, “Love in Translation,” I knew I wanted to read it.  I was curious as to who would Emily be with in the end, the Spanish-speaking chef or her male friend.

The first few pages had me hooked and right away I felt sorry for Emily, and how David broke her heart.  I loved how she handled the break up.  In some parts I found myself giggling because what woman doesn’t go off the deep end at some point of a break up and have too many drinks with friends?  It was during this part that I bonded with her and cheered her on as she proceeded to get over her ex.  When Emily meets the handsome chef fireworks went off and it was easy to see that there was an instant connection between these two, even though he barely spoke English.  It was fun to see how they got along without talking…However, when Steven comes into the picture, there was an undeniable connection between them and I liked him too.  I liked his character and his and Sara’s friendly but flirty banter.

All the characters were likable, especially Emily.  She wasn’t your typical girly girl either, and she knew what she wanted and what she didn’t, (including who she wanted), and for that I liked the book more.  I would have enjoyed seeing more of Emily’s day-to-day life, but it was nice to see what her family life was like, especially her relationship with her parents.

As for how the book ended and without spoiling the ending, “Love in Translation” ended the right way, especially after a certain event…(no, I’m not going to spoil it for you).

Sara’s light writing style made “Love in Translation” a fun and quick read.  It’s surprising that it’s her debut novel, but I know it won’t be her last.  She’s a talented writer and I can’t wait to read more from Sara Palacios!

I give this book 4 stars!

**Buy “Love in Translation”

Amazon Paperback   Amazon: Kindle edition   Barnes & Noble: Nook   Kobo: eBook

Interview with the author, Sara Palacios

SaraPalaciosAbout Sara:  Sara Palacios is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Advertising and a minor in English Literature. It was during her time in college that she really fell in love with the written word and ventured into writing her own stories. In addition to writing, Sara spends a majority of her time reading the works of other authors. She reads most genres – but thoroughly enjoys chick-lit, women’s and historical fiction. When she isn’t busy reading or writing, Sara enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is happily married, the owner of two precious doggies and a new mom to a handsome baby boy. Sara is also an avid animal-lover, runner, yoga enthusiast and wannabe vegan.

What made you want to write a book?  I’ve always been a big fan of writing and after dabbling in it for a while, I finally decided that I wanted to write a book. So, here I am! 🙂

What is your favorite thing to snack on while working?  I am not a big snacker while I write but I do enjoy drinking a rather large glass of red wine – especially if I find myself writing late into the night.

Walk us through a day in your life:  Is this an ideal day? Or a typical day? Let’s go with an ideal day … I typically wake up at 5 and try to get in a work out of some sort then I shower, get ready for work and then wake up the little man so we can leave for daycare. I typically drop him off at 7 am and then I am off to my day job at an accounting firm. I work until about 4, go and pick up my husband (we carpool to work)  and then swing by and pick up Ethan. We eat dinner fairly early and then have family time, whether that entail going for a walk, hanging out and reading books, or play time – it varies by day. Then Ethan goes to sleep (usually around 7-7:30 pm) and that is typically when I read/write and then go to sleep. As you can see, nothing terribly exciting.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be?  I currently work in accounting but if I could pick anything besides writing, I would love to be a yoga teacher or a pastry chef. I’ve been brainstorming ways to incorporate the two.

What do you love most about the Chick Lit genre?  I love how fun it is. It seems like every book is realistic and could be something that has happened to me or one of my girlfriends.

Are you motivated by music and/or movies?  I am such a movie buff. I love romantic comedies!

What is the writing/editing/publishing like for you?  I really enjoy the creativity that goes into the writing aspect but I am not a big fan of the editing process. Luckily I have two very awesome editors on my side who help me out along the way.

Describe your perfect day:  I would love to wake up in a gorgeous house in the snowy mountains and be greeted by my husband and son (and our two dogs). Then I would eat some fresh cinnamon rolls with nuts, a scrumptious bowl of berries and a big cup of coffee. Then I would spend the day on the mountains skiing and then head home, eat a delicious meal (either Italian or Tex-Mex) and then spend some time reading my latest book, which has just landed at #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list. Then snuggle up in the hot tub with my husband and a glass of Merlot.

How has the social media helped your career as an author?  It’s been amazing. I have met so many wonderful people and I an inspired by so many of them.

Team Angelina or Team Jen?  Is this even a question? Team Jen all the way.

What are three things people would be surprised to know about you?  I am a vegetarian. I absolutely HATE the beach. My birthmark is a silver streak that resides in my hair.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?  I am currently working on my next book. I don’t want to reveal too much because some of it might change but it will be a love story with a blast-from-the-past mixed in.

***WAIT, THERE’S MORE**

Click on the picture below to win the “LOVE IN TRANSLATION” prize package, which includes the following:

— 6 pack eau de parfum from Victoria’s Secret —

— $10 gift card to Target —

The following items from Bath and Body Works:

— Carried Away shower gel —

— 3 oz. Sparkling Blackberry Woods lotion —

— Small stress relief candle and small White barn candle —

LoveInTranslationButton

Meredith Schorr

25 Comments

About the author, Meredith Schorr:  A born and bred New Yorker, Meredith Schorr discovered her passion for writing when she began to enjoy drafting work-related emails way more than she was probably supposed to, and was famous among her friends for writing witty birthday cards. After dabbling in children’s stories and blogging her personal experiences, Meredith found her calling writing “real chick lit for real chicks.” When Meredith is not hard at work on her current work in progress, she spends her days as a trademark paralegal at a law firm in New York City. Meredith is a loyal New York Yankees fan and an avid runner. She also loves to read and is always on the lookout for her new favorite author. A State of Jane is her second novel.

GUEST POST

“The Future of Chick Lit”

Chick lit has come a long way since the surge in the late 90s. Common aspects to most books back then included an obsession with designer shoes and handbags, a boss from hell, a gay best friend and a tendency to over indulge in fancy cocktails.  While many recent releases still include one or more of these elements, the chick lit heroine has matured over the years both from an emotional standpoint and a chronological one.   Chick lit protagonists are no longer put to pasture once they hit 30 and not all of them are single and looking for Mr. Right.  Some are married, some are mothers and some are in menopause!  I think one reason the age-range of our main characters has broadened is because many of the stereotypes of how women are supposed to behave after 30 or 40 have been proven wrong.  Women are getting married and having children later in life than even twenty years ago.  Since women are more likely to have careers of their own, finding a husband to support them is less of an issue than it used to be. And as my friend Alan advised me, back when he was young, getting married was the only sure-fire way to an active sex life.  Not anymore.  Almost any woman or man can walk into a bar these days with the sole intention of getting laid and achieve his/her goal.  For better or worse, many people do not want to commit to one sexual partner for the rest of their lives.  As a result, many women 35 and older are experiencing some of the same dating drama as their younger sisters.  Women look better and feel better at a more mature age than we used to.  Forty is the new thirty!  I believe these changes in society will continue to be reflected in the books that are written.

The reason chick lit heroines are less likely to obsess over superficial or materialistic things could, in my humble opinion, be a result of the suffering economy.   While chick lit is often a means of escape for readers, I think for the most part that readers would rather immerse themselves in the world of someone relatable as opposed to living vicariously in some fantasy world.  There are, of course, exceptions to this and the paranormal frenzy certainly puts my “realistic” theory to shame.  However, based on the books I’ve read lately that have been categorized as “chick lit”, the trend is definitely leaning toward relatable as opposed to farfetched.  Realistic with a happy ending of course 🙂

Although I’ve tried to stop listening, I often hear through the grapevine that big New York City editors continue to consider “chick lit” by that or any other name a dead genre.  This lends itself to a rather bleak future for those authors wishing to pursue publication of their chick lit manuscripts only through the traditional path of attaining a literary agent to shop the Big 6 publishers.  Without connections, impeccable timing and luck or a huge existing platform, it will probably be very difficult.  I’ve heard from my peers at Chick Lit Writers of the World that many of them have even taken to revising their chick lit manuscripts to fall more squarely into romance or young adult in order to make their books more sell-able.   For those authors open to pursuing other means of publication, whether small press (like myself) or self-publishing, however, I believe the future of chick lit is a bright one.  To modify the famous quote “if you build it, they will come” from one of my favorite movies, Field of Dreams, “If you write it, they will come,” because it’s not the readers who have labeled chick lit “dead”, it is the gatekeepers.  As long as authors continue to write fun, lighthearted, chick lit stories, readers looking for that type of story, and there are a lot of them, will find us.

These are my guesses with respect to the future of chick lit as a genre, but only time will tell if I’m right!

To be continued…

AStateOfJaneCover**Contact Meredith:

Facebook

Goodreads

**Buy “A State of Jane!”

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Julie Smith

1 Comment

JulieSmithPic

Author Bio of author, Julie Smith:  New Orleans author Julie smith is a former journalist and the author of some 20 mysteries, including two series set in San Francisco and two in New Orleans. Her 1990 mystery, NEW ORLEANS MOURNING, won the Edgar  Awaed for Best Novel. DEATH TURNS A TRICK is the first book in the Rebecca Schwartz series.

GUEST POST

CONFESSIONS OF A SERIES HO’

Isabella’s asked me to blog on writing a series, and boy has she come to the right place! I’ve written so many series I had to change my name to Julie Series Smith. Officer, I confess! I’ve committed serial series. My name is Julie and I’m a series ho’. I recognize that I am powerless over my addiction.

I’m afraid I’ve written four in all, and I don’t think I’m done yet. Let me see if I can run it down quickly—The Rebecca Schwartz series set in San Francisco, then one with a guy, then off to another city (Skip Langdon series, New Orleans) and finally a fourth that I just couldn’t resist.

Okay, I’m powerless! Absolutely helpless. So what, exactly, went wrong in my childhood? Well, fellow Friends of Bill Wilson, let me make a fearless and searching moral inventory of myself. I think my well-meaning parents must have read to me too much—and also too little. I think they must have gotten pretty sick of “Daddy, can you just read Ferdinand one more time?” Or “Can I have Tootle tonight? Sure we just read it, but…I want more!”, and maybe cut me off before I was through with Tootle. Why wasn’t there a sequel, by the way? Once you’ve met a character you love, you want to stick with him or her—or in the case of Tootle, it, I believe. Just when are you done with a character? Did you really have enough of  Stephanie Plum of Kinsey Millhone that first time out? Or did you want to see what she did with the rest of her life?  We writers are just like you. We want MORE! When I began the Rebecca Schwartz series, I actually didn’t know that was what I was doing. But the publisher assumed it was a series, so there I was—like the teetotaler who gets offered a second drink. I couldn’t stop.

If I could keep writing about Rebecca, I could be the happiest person in the world, I thought, but I wanted to write about New Orleans as well as San Francisco and she really couldn’t live two places at once. So why couldn’t I just write another series? Enter New Orleans cop Skip Langdon, Rebecca’s evil twin. I don’t want to turn you against Rebecca—I want you to read every book in the series and have as much fun with her as I did!—but, full  disclosure here, Rebecca’s a good girl at heart. (Not a goodie-goodie, not by any stretch, but she kind of likes her family and she does try to make them proud—it’s just that she doesn’t succeed due to all those murders in the woodpile.) Skip, on the other hand, is a rebel through and through.

            Oh, boy! Now I had it going—don’t we all have a rebellious side and a kind of wanna-be-good-but-always screwing-up side? Or is that just me? Anyhow, this was the perfect chance to exercise both demons. (Right—exercise, not the other thing, as in take them out for a walk. How many people get that luxury? Only us serial seriesists!) And, hey, if we’re women, don’t we have a tomboy side? Hence the guy.

            (Well, actually, that’s cheating—I think I wrote about the guy mostly because he’s a newspaper reporter, like me. So I wasn’t embarrassed to make those books a little more personal—or so I thought. Little did I know I was revealing myself right and left with the two female sleuths.)

            Anyhow, there we have it—the good-girl side, the bad-girl side, the tomboy side. The only question left is how to explain my fourth series character, Talba Wallis, African-American computer genius poet detective?

            Because I am not African-American, a poet, or a detective (though I did get my PI license), and I’m the despair of my nerdy friends. Where the Sam Hill did Talba come from? Well, thereon hangs a tale—if the other characters came from my psyche, Talba came from the pages of one of my books! Yep, she’s a spinoff character who was just too much fun and too fascinating not to spend more time with.

The Tenth Step, I think, for us addicts is to continue to take personal inventory and admit it when we’re wrong. But you know what?  This was way too much fun to be wrong!  Everyone should get the chance to be a series ho’.

DeathTurnsATrickCover**Contact Julie:

Casa Mysterioso

BooksBNimble

**Buy “Death Turns A Trick!”

Amazon

Samantha March

5 Comments

SamanthaMarchPic

Author bio of Samantha March:  Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

Interview with Samantha March

What about the Chick Lit genre do you love the most?  I love the main characters. I am big advocate for strong women, and even though some characters might start off unsure of themselves or confused with a certain situation, they always figure it out and get their happy ending!

Describe how writing/editing/publishing works for you?  I love what I do, and while some call it a hobby, I take it very seriously. I have set hours, I have deadlines that I meet, and work hard every day – weekends included! I’ve always loved writing and creating stories for characters, and I’m sometimes in awe where that little idea has taken me to. Calling myself a freelance editor was a big deal for me; I enrolled in online courses to learn as much as I could and begged for clients to let me work for them for free in the beginning. And now I’m so busy I’ve had to (sadly!) turn some requests down. And then came launching Marching Ink, my independent publishing company. I love books, I love writing, I love it all. Being this busy and wearing so many hats works for me because this is my passion, and I never feel like I’m working!

You’re a very busy woman, take us through your busy day:  Oh boy. Okay. It can change a lot, so I’ll just make it easy on myself and do the day that I am typing this, which happens to be a Thursday. I work 10-630 at my full-time job on Thursdays, which is for a hospital in my town. I do get to work from home, which is a great perk! But I woke up at 730 and hopped on the computer to tackle my emails, go through CLP Blog Tours, and make sure my scheduled post ran on time on Chick Lit Plus. I ate some breakfast and headed off to the gym. Once home I did a quick workout DVD (currently participating in Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred) showered, and then logged in to the hospital. On my lunch break I check out my emails again and get caught up. At 5 I welcome home my fiancé for a hot second before he leaves for his bowling league (he’s 24 – I swear!). Log off at 630 and eat some dinner, then really tackle my emails, work on blog tours, get the posts ready for CLP for Friday, and do all this while watching some wedding shows on TV – I’m getting married next September! I typically work on the computer until about 10 when my fiancé gets home, then I give my eyes a rest! That’s my fun-filled day 🙂

What has been your greatest challenge in your career?  I would say getting started. I really wasn’t too sure what I was doing, and I was basically diving in blind. I didn’t even own a laptop when I got the idea to start Chick Lit Plus – which was the kick off to everything else. So learning how to create and manage a website was crazy hard for me!

You’re a Green Bay Packers fan!  Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers?  Go Pack Go! My fiancé and I actually also just bought stock in the team last year 🙂 Just had to get that out there! I was a big Favre fan growing up (of course) but when the decision time came, I was all for Aaron. I was okay with looking towards the future instead of staying with the past, and um…look how that decision panned out 😉

Where is your favorite place to write?  Just my office! It’s easier for me to write (and work) in my office because I don’t have any distractions there.

What or who helps you create ideas for your next book?  Really just my mind. Characters and scenes jump into my head literally all the time, and I’ve started a running list with all the ideas that have come to me. I think a lot are inspired by my life and my friends, and I’m really passionate about telling stories that mean something to me.

As a writer, what is the item you must have with you at all times?  It used to be a paper and pen, but now it’s my phone with the memo app. If I get an idea or hear something that I think would work in a book, I’ll type it in. I do also keep paper and pen by my bed for when I have an idea and my phone is out of reach charging!

Tell us about the most memorable highlight in your career:  My most memorable moments are really just when I get told by a family member or friend how proud of me or how excited they are for me. It never fails to make me cry.

What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?  Gosh that’s hard because I am to the point where I feel like I share everything! Maybe the fact that I don’t eat vegetables – I don’t like any of them!!

What is your favorite snack while working?  Can I say ice cream? That’s my favorite all-time snack! I do try to eat healthier at home though, so I like to keep Special K Cereal Bars on hand – they are yummy!

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?  I am working on book number 3, starting the planning and researching for that now. My first two books are set in Iowa which is where I live, but the third will be out of state, so I am busy researching right now to get all those little details right 🙂

**Bonus question!

Congratulations on your engagement!  How are the wedding plans going, and do you plan on writing about your journey as a bride-to-be through a fictional character?  Thank you so much! I am very excited to get married next year 🙂 The wedding plans are coming along! It is a lot of work, but I have great friends and family members that are supporting and helping all the way. I have also started video blogging about the journey on CLP! I did actually intern with a wedding planner a few years back and always wanted to write a story where maybe the MC is a wedding planner, and this is just giving me more ideas to work with!

**Contact Samantha!

Samantha March

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

**Click HERE to read my 5 star review of “The Green Ticket!”