Chick Lit Goddess

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

Images

It’s Hump Day (50 Shades of Grey) Wednesday!

4 Comments

As some of you know, I started “Fifty Shades of Grey,” out of complete curiosity, (and no, I’m not one who needs that kind of thrill).  I just wanted to read what all the hype is about.  I’m in the middle of it right now, so a review will be up within the next few weeks.

Anyway, since it’s “Hump Day,” I’m writing about the male Character, Christian Grey.  Ladies, I see it!  I’m now knowing what you mean by the erotic daydreams and fantasies that are now consuming your mind!  Two nights ago, I didn’t go to bed.  Christian Grey kept me awake!  Page by page, he had me right there with him in the moment, not wanting to stop — for anything!  I was at his beck and call.  I didn’t mind this dominance over me, but I did mind his rudeness, (more about this will be in the book review).

This leads me to wonder, who is your Christian Grey?  What does he look like?  What does he to do ignite you?  Does he take charge of you, telling you what to do or how to do it?  Does his touch make you (fill in the blank)!  Is he George Clooney, perhaps?  Tim McGraw, Ryan Gosling, or even Brad Pitt?

What turns you on?  Who is your Christian Grey?

Love By Design

5 Comments

Book review of “Love By Design”

“Love By Design,” by Liz Matis

WATCH a clip HERE!!

When Victoria’s regular co-host, Neil, has to a leave of absence, Russ Rowland, steps in to take his place on Design Intervention.  Victoria isn’t too pleased with this new arrangement, but reluctantly goes along with it.  Bickering over colors and layout designs, sparks are flying all over the set!  Everyone can feel the heat these two have for one another.  Will these two be able to learn to work together, even when the past haunts their future?

When I saw the cover for “Love By Design,” I signed up immediately – without reading the synopsis!  (Admit it, you like the cover too, right?)  After I finally read what the book was about, I even more intrigued – hot Aussie comes to U.S. and falls for his co-host – what’s not to like?

From the moment I started this book, I was truly engaged with the characters and the story.  At first, I found Victoria’s character to be a little too arrogant, but once they start shooting the show their bantering quickly turns into flirting – and was done quite nicely I might add!  Russ seems to have the ability to tame her in a way that nobody can!  From beginning to end, there were twists and turns (one in particular had me on the edge of my seat), but at the sweet end, these clear to see that two created a love by design.

If you’re looking for a laugh out loud, sweet, and spicy read this is the book for you.  This book was one that I would definitely read again!  Liz Matis’ Love By Design will make you want to hop on a plane to go find your own Aussie – that’s at least what I wanted to do!

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

Buy “Love By Design!”

Amazon

**Read my Q & A with the author HERE

Liz Matis

2 Comments

Author Bio:
Liz Matis is a mild manner accountant by day and by night a writer of fun, flirty, and fiery romps! She is a Kindle Best Seller and winner of the NECRWA First Kiss Contest. Married 26 years and counting she believes in happy ever afters.

Tell us about yourself:  First, let me say a big thank you for having me here!  I’m 48 and have been married for 26 years with one handsome son. I’m a mild manner accountant by day and romance writer by night. I live in the mountains of New York close to the original Woodstock site.

What are your days like, and when do you find time to write?  I work at my day job from 8-4. I try to write between 7-8 every night.

Your books are known to be steamy!  Where does that imagination come from?  I had to think about this for a while, but I’ve come to the conclusion that these scenes come from my characters. Sex is important in a relationship and I think showing the progression of when it’s at first ‘just sex’ for the characters to when it becomes so much more is important to the story.  Or maybe my characters are just really horny. LOL.

What is the writing process like for you?  I’m a slow writer. I write bare bones then I go back over and over again adding details, emotions, etc.

What is your favorite drink and/or snack when you’re writing?  Ice coffee.

Print or eBooks?  Both.

What would people be surprised to know about you?  That I know how to say, “Where’s the chocolate?” in Klingon. (Star Trek)

What is the best book you’ve ever read?  Why?  Oh boy – just one? Impossible. But if I had to choose it would be The Princess Bride by William Golden. A perfect blend of romance and adventure.

If you’re not writing, what are you doing?  Reading. Watching HGTV. Hanging with my husband. And I love to go to Zumba class!

Who would you prefer to go on a date with, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, or someone else?  Hands down, no competition – Keanu Reeves. You might be surprised to know that he loves to read. I picture us meeting in the poetry aisle at a Barnes and Noble, he buys me a hot chocolate and we talk about books.

Do you have any advice for writers?  When I get stuck I have a conversation with my main characters. I ask them what they want to happen next or what’s wrong. I’ve posted a conversation between Victoria, Russ, and I (from Love By Design) on my blog and more recently when I spoke with Hannah (from Going For It and Playing For Keeps) and I posted it on Twitter and Facebook.

What are you upcoming projects?  Going For It, the sequel to Playing For Keeps will be out soon. Then I’m part of a Martini Madness anthology coming out at the end 2012. My title is Real Men Don’t Drink Appletinis – it should be great fun!

**Visit Liz at the below link:

Tao of Liz

**Click HERE to read my review of Love By Design!

This Week at Chick Lit Goddess

Leave a Comment

I thought this would be a good quote to help you with your goals that you’ve set to accomplish this upcoming week!  Not only do I love it because it’s by one of my favorite female country singers, Reba McEntire, but because I find it very inspiring!  What goals do you plan on accomplishing this upcoming week?

I’ve had a wonderful weekend with my amazing husband and our cat, am sad it’s coming to a close, but I’m excited about what’s coming up this week on Chick Lit Goddess!

Monday: Blog post: “How Important Is the Writing?”

Tuesday: Read my review of “Love By Design,” and a Q & A with the author, Liz Matis

Wednesday: Blog post: It’s Hump Day (50 Shades of Grey) Wednesday

Thursday: Blog post: “Why I Love Helping New Authors!”

Friday: “A Fun Friday” post will be up about my favorite Chick Lit blogs and websites! (If you’d like me to share yours, leave a comment with a link to it and I just might add it to my list on Friday!)

How Important Is the Writing?

8 Comments

You’ve been recommended a “great,” “sexy,” “fun,” “alluring” book! Awesome, you think!  You buy the book, you find a comfy place in your home, and then open the book.

Well, when you’re not even 50 pages into it and you’re enjoying the story, but you’ve noticed or even questioned a few things — this means that it’s not written correctly, not did they have a good editor!

I started the book “Fifty Shades of Grey,” (don’t forget about its trilogy: HERE), a few days ago on my iPad, and then I bought a copy for my hubby, (which I’ll be writing about his outlook on it once he’s finished with it).  Before he stated I saw a few mistakes, and while I’m not an expert, but I think that a lot of people who are reading the book and giving great reviews don’t care about the writing.  One my husband read the first chapter, he said that he wanted to “take a red pen to it!”  I don’t blame him.  This leads me to today’s blog post!

HOW IMPORTANT TO YOU IS GOOD WRITING VS. A GOOD BOOK WITHOUT GOOD WRITING?

Since I’m now working with editors, I’ve started to think like them — Why think this, Why say this, and Does this make sense?  When I was younger, I didn’t pay much attention to grammar or thoughts, but since I’ve grown, it’s all that I pay attention to when I read!  For fun, I’m reading “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the book that everyone is talking about (yes, I might be wanting a thrill).  I’m sixty-five pages into it, and I’ve been wanting to take a red pen to it myself, like my hubby!  Oh, my gosh!  If I didn’t have to have read six (yes, 6) chapters before anything happens, then I wouldn’t care so much, because action would be happening.  I’ve even considered not finishing this book!  With exceptional reviews, is it just about the book?  Probably so!  If the writing was graded, I bet it’d get a 1 out of 5 stars, (read my review for “Fifty Shades of Grey” that will be coming soon)!

My question to you is do you prefer books written with bad writing and the story is good, or do you get through it and read a book because of its storyline?

Chick Lit: U.S.A. and the U.K.

5 Comments

It’s stories like THIS (where London captures hearts, and new writers are born).  I hear the most about Chick Lit authors – even Emily Giffin did it!

Top 10 British Chick Lit Writers

As for US Chick Lit, I couldn’t really find a good list to share.  (If you have a good list, please add it below in the comments section.  I would love to look it over, and I might even add it to this post).

Now it’s time to talk about book covers?  I came across THIS post about book covers.  Interesting, huh?  What are you thoughts about covers in America and the United States?

What is it about U.K. that inspires Chick Lit writers to come out of the woods?  It’s for this reason that I would move to London (where I would have tea and crumpets with Will and Kate, and maybe even the Queen!), and I’d become famous after writing the next bestseller!  I know, I know, it’s a dream…It’s always just a dream!  If I didn’t love being a Texas girl so much, I would move (bringing my husband and our twelve-year-old cat with me).  “While Chick Lit has (a) massive competitive market in the U.K.,” there is no real evidence if  it’s more popular than in the U.S., says Chick Lit author, Nicola May.

In closing, I know THIS is an old article, but it means a lot to me.  So, my dreams of one day making a life in England can still be a reality? Yes, just maybe!

It’s Fun Friday

Leave a Comment

I love necklaces. Simple, signature necklaces. Nothing too fancy, nor too plain. When I saw “Up All Night” and saw Christian Applegate‘s character wear the necklace that read her daughter’s name, Amy, I knew it was perfect for me! There was only episode where I caught her without it. It made me want one!

A few weeks ago on the Today Show, I saw a segment called “Jill’s Steels and Deals.” That’s where I saw that Baublebar.com being advertised! So, I decided to make a necklace in honor of me on Twitter, ILA121209!

While (for some) it not easy to see, it looks better in person. The letters are all caps, so it makes sense, especially between the “L” and “A!’ Yes, it’s not what I expected, but it’s not that bad! I’m proud of this necklace and I am proud to wear it! I love it! I’m proud to wear a necklace that symbolizes me!Well, last week I finally got it, so I thought I’d share it with you!

From here on out I will wear this necklace frequently, and I know people will ask. In fact, I want them to!

Happy Friday, y’all!

Nancy Scrofano

2 Comments

Author Bio: Nancy Scrofano is the author of True Love Way and writes book reviews for a prestigious book review magazine. Additionally, she is the founder and managing editor of The Chick Lit Bee, a book blog that promotes and celebrates women’s fiction. Nancy is at work on her next novel.

Guest Post: Chick lit is my favorite genre by far. These stories provide comedy, support, hot topics, romance, and fun to readers. Authors have the ability to connect with readers and show them, with the words on each page, that their feelings are shared with others. The novels in the chick lit genre represent a united front of strength and courage among women. I love the fact that these stories are mainly for women, by women. Issues that women face are depicted with humor, humility, joy, sadness, and triumph. Since I love reading these books so much, I know it is the right genre for me as a writer, too.

Many people criticize chick lit as being predictable, but for chick lit fans, that is the very reason we love it. It provides comfort to us, like listening to an old friend tell us a story. We know there will be a happy ending, and that’s exactly what we want. The stories probably won’t change the world but they can change people and affect attitudes and moods through entertainment. The characters remind us of ourselves, our close friends, our families, and our colleagues. It is satisfying to be able to relate to characters so well.

Chick lit is a collection of novels that deals with topics women are interested in by showing character growth through uplifting stories. The genre is constantly changing and evolving as new authors join it. I’m incredibly proud and honored to be a chick lit author. I have received wonderful support from other authors in the genre who have welcomed me with generosity and encouragement. I love being part of a group of intelligent, thoughtful, creative writers who understand the issues women face and who have been given the gift of being able to write about these subjects in ways that truly speak to readers. Simply put: I write chick lit because I love chick lit.

**Visit Nancy at any of the below links:

Nancy Scrofano

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

**Click HERE to read my review of True Love Way!

True Love Way

9 Comments

Book review of “True Love Way”

“True Love Way,” by Nancy Scrofano

**Watch the trailer of True Love Way HERE!**

Marlo Spencer loves to live in past!  She loves old TV shows – The Brady Bunch, I Love Lucy, and Dick Van Dike, just to name a few.  She is known to collect old things, and is proud of having her Brady Bunch lunchbox.  Her Malibu is cluttered with everything vintage and she doesn’t care.  Nik, her best male friend, doesn’t understand what the fascination is, and even complains about it, but he accepts her as she is.  I loved these two together, and I could relate to their close friendship.  Their dialogue reminded of how an old married couple would sound.

When Marlo receives an email from Josh, Nik doesn’t like it at all!  It’s a little bit obvious that Nik might have feelings for her, but it’s not until the end do we find out what else he could be hiding.

Nik decides to follow Marlo to Napa so she can hopefully rekindle their romance and go through with the “pact” with Josh, the man who left her twelve years ago without saying goodbye, he decides it’s time to spend time with his sister, Savannah, and her daughter.  After they get to Napa, it’s a whirlwind of emotions for everyone involved – Marlo, Nik, Josh, and Savannah, Marlo’s best friend and Nik’s sister.  While Marlo wants things with Josh to be in sync, they’re not.  Things with Savannah don’t seem right either – it’s not until towards the end is everything revealed.  What’s found out could harm relationships – even friendships!  I think it came full circle and turned out how it was supposed to.  I was very pleased with the ending!  (Great way to end it, Nancy Scrofano!)  If I said anymore, I’d spoil it – so read the book!  You won’t want to miss it!

After reading the plot of True Love Way, it sounded like a cute book, so I decided to review it!  The title and cover also swayed me.  Like I do with most book, I dove right into this one late at night and I didn’t want to stop.  The only thing I would change is Savannah’s character.  I wish she felt a little more emotion for…(if i told you, then I’d spoil it).  True Love way was a quick and fun read.  All the characters are believable, and the storyline is filled with twists and turns.  At the end of each chapter, you’ll want to begin the next!  I couldn’t put it down!  I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun and quick beach read!

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

**Click HERE to read the author’s guest post!