Chick Lit Goddess

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

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Why I’ve Decided To Self-Publish

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On my blog post yesterday (click HERE to read it), I happily announced that I’ve decided to self-publish my books.  I’m very excited about this journey and know it will be hard work, but the end will be worth it because I will be a published author!

While Indie/Self-published authors sometimes get a bad wrap because of bad editing, bad formatting, cheesy book covers…the list could go on, I support them because they’ve made their dreams come true of becoming an author.  However, those who do follow the rules of self-publishing seem to have a greater chance of becoming a #1 Bestseller on Amazon, for example.  (I have a friend who has a screen shot of her book being at #1, which is right beside Stephen King).  I’ve had the pleasure of reading and reviewing quite a few self-published books and while there’s been a lot of wonderful stories with great characters, it’s how the book was formatted that I paid most attention to, only because I have a tendency to be OCD about layouts, (here’s to hoping that when my books are published there won’t be any formatting issues).

Some might even say that they decide to self-publish because they’re afraid of rejection.  Am I afraid of rejection?  Yes, but in a good way.  I think being rejected (in any form) is just another sign of getting to where your meant to be.  Isn’t like breaking up with someone (rejection), only to find “the one” (published)?  My fear of rejection has nothing  to do with rejection.

Back to why I want to self-publish…I want to be in charge!  From formatting, cover design, and marketing, I want it all!  I want to learn the self-publishing business (yes, it’s a business within itself), so isn’t self-publishing a book the best way to do it?  Yes!

How do I plan on going about it?  I’ve purchased books (the “Self-Publishing for Dummies” book is a great resource that I will probably read at least five times), and I have huge support from my Twitter and Facebook friends, especially those in my Chick Lit Goddesses group.

Will this be a tough task, absolutely!  I know that I’ll be so OCD that I’ll probably have my husband look over it a hundred times before the release date, just to make sure that I did it right.  I know that I’ll be stressed, won’t sleep, and will have butterflies in my stomach through the process, but there is a positive side to all of this.

While I’ve had a wonderful life (a delightful and happy childhood, my family is supportive of everything that I do, I’m married to the love of my life, and I have true friends), I can’t remember being happier with this decision to self-publish.  And, with everything I’ve been through (I won’t bore you with the ups and downs), I was meant to be a writer, no, make that an author.  I was meant to be an author.

Pop open the Veuve Cliquot, because it’s time to celebrate!

Martha Reynolds

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Bio of Martha Reynolds:  She’s a graduate of Providence College and studied at the Universite de Fribourg in Switzerland. Martha returned to Switzerland numerous times and is always looking forward to her next trip. Recently, she ended an accomplished career as a fraud investigator (many stories to tell!) and now writes full-time. Martha and her husband, and their little dog Bonnie, live in Rhode Island, never far from the ocean.

Q & A with Martha Reynolds

Describe yourself in five sentences:  I’m living proof that it’s never too late to pursue a dream. Even when I was doing something I didn’t like, I always tried to do it well. When I stopped looking for the perfect man, I found the right man. I inherited my mother’s propensity to gain weight, and (fortunately) my father’s sense of humor. I have an older sister and a younger sister; yep, classic middle child.

Tell us about your books:  My debut novel is “Chocolate for Breakfast.” It tells the tale of a young woman who spends her junior year of college in Switzerland. Yes, I spent my junior year in Switzerland! And I lived in a tiny room. And during that year, my father died unexpectedly. Other than that, my life was pretty boring, so I decided to make up a story about a young woman named Bernadette. Her year in Switzerland was much more riveting! ‘Bernie’ makes adult decisions and the rest of her life is really characterized by those decisions. I always said that even if only my friends and family read my books, I still didn’t want them to suck. From the feedback I’ve received so far, I’m very pleased.

What is the writing/editing process like for you?  I write freely for as long as it takes, not worrying about spelling, grammar, punctuation. I just write everything that’s in my head. Every thought, every idea that relates to the work in progress. I have used an Excel spreadsheet to sketch out my characters. That’s just so I stay consistent on things like birthdays, anniversaries, favorite colors, etc. When I begin to edit, I slow way down.  In the case of “Chocolate for Breakfast,” it took about six months for the editing. I did some of it, then turned it over to my editor, Teresa Kennedy. She didn’t think my original ending worked (she was right), so I completely rewrote it, and I think this ending works very well.

Hardback/Paperback or eBooks? Why?  Chocolate for Breakfast is an e-book only. Because it was my first effort, I’d overspent my budget on editing, formatting, and the gorgeous book cover. I wouldn’t have gone with hardcovers anyway, as I think they’re overpriced and most people I know don’t read them. I have had some people ask for the paperback version of this book, and I feel bad that it isn’t available to them, although there’s a free Kindle app that enables anyone to read a book on their computer, or even their phone.

If you could write anywhere, where would it be?  Easy question – Switzerland. By the lake in the summer, high in the mountains in a cozy chalet in the winter. As long as I have some solitude.

What are you reading right now?  I just finished “Girl Unmoored” by Jennifer Gooch Hummer and am about to start “Where We Belong” by Emily Giffin.

For an author, how important is social media?  For me, it’s everything. I don’t know what I would do to market my book without it. For the past year and a half, I’ve worked on building my platform through Twitter, Facebook, my Facebook writer page, LinkedIn, and my blog. Twitter friends retweeted information about my book, Facebook friends shared the Amazon link – I’m very grateful to all of them. And I’ve learned so much about publishing and marketing from the writer blogs I subscribe to. (sorry, I know I ended that sentence with a preposition, but writing ‘the blogs to which I subscribe’ sounded way too stuffy!)

What authors do you admire?  Oh, there are so many! Flannery O’Connor, Claire Cook, Tonya Kappes, Amy Tan, the late Maeve Binchy. Just so many wonderful writers! And, of course, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner. Harper Lee. Kathryn Stockett. Stop me, I’ll just keep going.

How did you celebrate your first book being published?  Just a quiet dinner out with my husband, then screaming it all over the internet 🙂

Tell us about your daily routine:  I wake up around 7:30 most days. Two cups of coffee and usually a power shake (almond milk, banana, protein powder, and frozen fruit), then it’s upstairs to write. I try to write for at least three hours each day. The afternoon is spent with household chores and reading, catching up on e-mail, blogs, etc. I’m usually up until 11:00 at night, and may do more writing, if I’m inspired. And now I always keep a notebook with me, because there are words, phrases, thoughts that must be written down!

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?  Probably “to live your life without regret.” My husband has helped me to see that more clearly, and it’s really because of him that I’m writing full-time.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?  I’m writing a novel now about a high-school reunion. There’s a lot of angst that accompanies a reunion, especially after so many years. Ghosts from the past can haunt a person for decades, and I’m tapping into some of that.

**Contact Martha:

Blog: marthareynoldswrites

Email: MarthaCFE@gmail.com

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**GIVEAWAY**

To enter to win a FREE Kindle download by Martha Reynolds, please leave a comment telling us what your favorite kind of chocolate is, along with your email address!  A winner will be picked on Friday, September 7th!

Some Days I Just Want To Write

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Now that I’ve written two books and am in the editing process of both of them, I just want to write!  Don’t get me wrong, I love editing and always have.  There are days where I just want to wake up, fix a cup of tea and spend time creating all the ideas I have in my mind!  I’ve spent so much time with the characters in the first two books that I’m wanting to make new friends.  I know that some writers are talented enough to do both, edit and write, but when I tried last week to start another book, that darn blinking cursor stared back at me.  (I guess you could say that my inner goddess was not happy with what I had written), so I deleted all two and a half pages.  Looking back on it, I can say it was the right thing and that what I wrote was in fact not good!

But, there’s some good news — November is just around the corner.  That means once again, I’ll be participating in National Novel Writing Month!  Last year was my first year to participate and I loved it!  I loved the way that I was so invested in it, not with only my characters, but the story, too.  While it was difficult timing wise (Thanksgiving and getting ready for Christmas and my wedding anniversary), somehow I made it work (thanks to my amazing husband who supported me along the way — I couldn’t have done it without him).  As for what I’m going to write this year, I have part of it already outlined and I’m really excited about it.  Also, if you’ve not done NaNoWriMo before, I highly recommend it.  It’s changed my life in the way I think of writing a book.  Apparently, I can write a book in 30 days! 🙂

A Quick Update!

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It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged, so thank you to my loyal followers for being patient with me.  I hope I haven’t let any of you down.

  • First of all, can you believe summer is almost over?  Thank goodness, because it’s hot in Texas!
  • If you’ve been keeping up with my BOOK REVIEWS, TOURS and GUESTS pages, then you know I’ve been busy reading and getting to know a lot of wonderful and inspiring authors!
  • As far as edits on my two books, Redefined Dreams and The Right Design, things are going great!  I have two amazing editors who are helping me create two books that I’ve put my heart and soul into.
  • Happy Friday!
  • Oh, and I have a HUGE announcement coming on Monday, so stay tuned!

Monarch Beach

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Book review of “Monarch Beach”

“Monarch Beach,” by Anita Hughes

When a mom, Amanda Blick sees her sexy French chef husband, Andre, wrapped around his sous-chef, she’s heartbroken.  When her mother urges Amanda and her son, Max, to get a change of scenery with her at St. Regis Resort in Laguna Beach, she agrees to go to Laguna Beach.  She needed to get away from him for the summer and think about her future.  Instead of simply relaxing, doing her best to keep her mind off of Andre, Amanda meets a handsome older man who sweeps her away.  Also divorced, Edward teaches Amanda that there can be a life after Andre…until his loyalties are to be questioned.

There had been a lot of talk about “Monarch Beach,” so I put it on my to-read list.  When I was asked to review it I jumped at the chance.  From the first sentence to the last, “Monarch Beach” drew me into Amanda’s world.  Through her ups and downs with Andre and Edward, the book was very enjoyable.  With all the twists and turns — especially at the end, I literally couldn’t put this book down.  If I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about planning my own getaway to the St. Regis Resort, hoping to create my own journey.  The characters were very likable, even Andre tried to fool me, but I loved Amanda.  She was a devoted mom who just wanted to do the best for her son after her marriage failed.  I  liked Amanda’s mom and thought that she played a very enjoyable and loving role.  Like Amanda’s character, I loved how she evolved, too.  The ending will leave you aching for more, (I’m really hoping for a continuation with these characters)!

Anita Hughes is a brilliant author who has written a book I loved!  “Monarch Beach” is a funny, heartwarming and sexy read, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a delightful, addicting and fast-paced summer read.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

**Click HERE to read my interview with Anita Hughes!

Dreaming of Him

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Book Review for “Dreaming of Him”

“Dreaming of Him,” by Wendy Ely

While awake, Amber is a very lonely woman and her life is at a dead-end.  Nothing can make her feel better, not even a makeover, but it’s different when she’s asleep.  A man from her past, Trace, enters her dreams and sweeps her off her feet.  When Amber wakes up, she realizes that it was a dream (a very hot one), because she knows that Trace is dead.  He tries to communicate with Amber through her dreams and watches over her, wanting her to know just how much she meant to him before he died.  His spirit moves her keys so she won’t be late for work and turns off the lights when she comes home drunk, closing her eyes, aching to be with him.  Only in her dreams, can they fall in love with one another, but he won’t let her go out the easy way to be with him!  That’s when he saves her from making a big mistake…

Admit it, you can’t stop staring at the cover, can you?  Neither can I!  When I won this book, I was thrilled.  Wanting to take break from my normal reads one weekend, I began reading Dreaming of Him.  Right away, I was drawn into a whole new world.  Wendy Ely’s descriptions were written so clear, that I felt as if I were Amber, wanting to dream of Trace!  The storyline was believable, especially for a woman like Amber, who has very little confidence.  I loved Trace!  He was gentle and he didn’t give up on Amber.  While I wish this book wasn’t so short, I loved it because it wasn’t the typical romance book with spirits or ghosts — it’s a true love story!  If you’re looking for a sweet, spicy book over the summer, this is the book for you!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

**Buy the book!:

All Romance

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Google Play

**An interview with the author, Wendy Ely, is coming soon!

For the Love of Goals…

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The past few months have been so busy and I’ve neglected my blogging friends.  For this, I apologize, but I have two exciting things to share!  Before I explain, here’s what’s coming up:

  • Friday, June 22nd, I’ll post my review of “Dreaming of Him,” by Wendy Ely, a soon-to-be guest.
  • Saturday, June 23rd, I’ll post my review of “Now You See Her,” by James Patterson
  • Friday, June 29th, I’ll post my review of “Monarch Beach,” by Anita Hughes
  • Thursday, July 12th, Paula Tiberus will be a guest
  • Thursday, July 26th, I’ll post my review of “What A Texas Girl Wants” and interview with the author, Kristina Knight
  • Saturday, August 18th, I’ll post my review of “Viewer Discretion Advised,” by Cindy Roesel
  • Saturday, August 25, I’ll post my review of “Fatty Patty,” by Kathleen Paterka
  • Wednesday, September 12th, I’ll post my review of “Breaking the Rules” and interview with the author, Cat Lavoie
Exciting stuff, huh?  Well, be sure to check back daily, because you won’t want to miss anything!

Now, for the exciting news! 

Beginning the first week in September, I will be back to blogging six days a week!  I’ve started realizing that I’m now paying as much attention to my own books as I should.  Don’t get me wrong, I love reviewing, but I want to really focus on making my dream a reality.  I want to be an author!  I will still have guests and post reviews, but not as often — at least for the rest of the year.  **Note: If you’d like me to review something, please still don’t hesitate — I’m sure we can work out something.

Now, for some really, really exciting news, Chick Lit Goddess is getting a facelift, (and I’m not just talking a little Botox here or there — I’m talking about liposuction and a breast augmentation, to go along with a new personality).  I’m very excited about this adventure and hope you like/love the changes that will be made.

In the meantime, your well wishes are appreciated…

50 Shades of Grey

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As promised, here is my review of “50 Shades of Grey,” by E. L. James.

Out of curiosity and wanting to see what all the hype was about, I began this book in April.  Just this past Saturday, I finally finished it — WHEW!

Getting through the first 150 pages was so hard, which was one reason why it took so long to finish.  E.L. James has admitted that she’s not a good writer and I agree with her!  While not only is she not a good writer, neither did she have a good editor.  The editor could have done a better job, making the writing stronger, especially for such a popular book.  Isn’t that an editor’s job?

While the storyline was good, with very enjoyable characters, dominate Christian Grey and submissive, Anastasia Steele, I expected more from the so-called “mommy porn.”  In Megan Hart’s books, the sex scenes had me blushing, but as I was reading “50 Shades,” I kept rolling my eyes.  I’ve even written stuff more sexual!  The sex scenes were laughable, but I see why so many are rushing out to buy this book.  James has stated in multiple interviews that this book is written on her fantasies and I can see why; she’s a married mom of two.  This book is for moms who have traded whips and handcuffs for bottles and bibs.  As a married woman without children, I was more swept away with Christian’s dominance than with the sex.  It was Christian who had my toes curling, along with his mysterious ways…Damn, he’s a sexy Hero!

There is talk about “50 Shades” being a movie which I would be interested in, especially if they get my imagination of Christian right.  (Who do you recommend playing him?)

While I do plan on reading the other books, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, I’m really in no hurry to start them.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars, based on the characters and plot, not the writing or the sex scenes.

It’s Fun Friday

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I don’t know about you, but deciding what’s for lunch is often the most difficult part of my day.  Monday through Friday, I open my refrigerator, freezer and pantry and just stare, hoping something will catch my eye.  I have nothing to eat, I complain.  The truth is, I have a lot of food, but nothing stands out.  It’s times like this that I will reopen the freezer and pull out a Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones.  I find that’s it’s a lot easier than cooking for one since the hubby’s at work and it’s healthy, so they’re what I settle on.  While I guess the frozen meals aren’t so bad (trust me, they’ve come a long way and no longer taste like cardboard), I’ve started to get bored with them, (I can only add so much Cholula to spice it up a bit!).  My other option for lunch is to have a meal replacement shake, like Shakeology, but I prefer to have them for breakfast since I’m really not a breakfast eater.

I have tried to find a healthy cookbook for one, but it seems like there are tons of ingredients to chop, sauté, cook, leave on simmer…the list could go on for a long time!   THIS is the only recipe I’ve made for lunch, then used the leftovers for dinner with whatever we had that night, (if you like Chipotle, then you’ll like this — it tastes so good).

While I enjoy cooking, I don’t have the time.  It’s important for writer’s to stay focused, so if I’m cooking how can I concentrate on my work without slashing my finger open with a knife?  Grr!

What do you eat for lunch?  Do you have any easy, quick recipes for one?  If now, do you have any comments, solutions, or even advice?

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!