Chick Lit Goddess

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The Background of Fonts

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In one of my husband’s Bathroom Reader books (THIS one in particular) it talked about the background of fonts.

I admit that when I was younger, I played with fonts like crazy and made banners with my printer (the ones where you had to have the paper with the holes), and I felt cool.  I was doing something fun–especially when a birthday would come around!  I was your “banner” girl!  Fonts added attention to what was written, and when you added color to them, they added more to the text.

As writers we all know that when we submit our work into publishers they are stern about their certain requirements.  Am I right?  So, say that we get our book published and our name is thrown across the books.  That font is different from the text in your book (excluding chapter introductions and other text by the author, mostly said in character form), but why is this?  This leads me to fonts on book covers.

To many (okay, a lot), book covers are the sole reason they buy the book.  The coined phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” doesn’t exist anymore, and font has a lot to do with that.  In one of my blog posts last year, HERE is another example of how it catches someone’s eye.  Isn’t my brother’s POV right?  If it’s in the Chick Lit Genre, then it’s most likely that the font colors are big and bright, but not only that, so is the background.

Now, onto another font topic.  I think it’s funny when people write emails in certain types of fonts.  Don’t you?  I know some who write their entire email in hard to read text, I know some who use color and script (for example) as their signature, and then I know some who are like my husband who uses a simple and easy to read font throughout his email (including in his signature).

Yes, I do know that there is a difference between fonts on covers and in books, and in emails, but fonts and text is a funny thing…

We see all different fonts, slogans, and texts all day long, so don’t you agree with me that there is something special about fonts?  I certainly do!

Anyway, I’d like to share some information about fonts HERE!

Jen Daiker

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If I had one word to describe Jen Daiker, it would be awesome!  I got to know Jen from Twitter, and liked her immediately!  She’s a sweet, funny, and devoted writer, blogger, and frequent tweeter, (she’s also the owner of #chicklitchat).  This woman is busy, but somehow she finds time to do it all — and while eating cupcakes!  I am so happy to have her as a guest because when one thinks of Chick Lit, they should think of her!

Tell us about yourself.   I’m twenty five. Own two cats. Have a husband. Write horror/dystopian YA/chick lit… depending on my mood. I also watch copious amounts of Bravo TV and I’m not afraid to shot it out loud if asked. My first published works is part of the anthology, Snowbound Hearts, my story is, Snowbanked!

At what moment did you know you were a writer?   January 20, 2010. The day I started blogging.

Where do you get your ideas from?   The what-if’s in life. What if I had to have a brother and not two sisters? What if I was punished based on what my parents produced? What would happen if the society forced me to watch them live their lives after they’ve been changed? They bring up so many possibilities. The world has endless ideas. You just have to be willing to listen.

What’s it like in a day of Jen Daiker?   Wake at 5, take a shower, work eight hours, grab a bite to eat (I never cook), go to a class (kickboxing or Zumba), write and watch trash TV. On weekends I live.

How do you come up with titles of your books?   My husband. He’s like the title bank. Apparently I’m the worst at coming up with them, and he’s the genius. I’m okay with this.

How do you celebrate after you’re finished writing a book?   Eat a cupcake… preferably with sprinkles.

What has been your greatest accomplishment as a writer?   Writing my first novel, publishing my first short story, falling in love with a publishing house. They’re all accomplishments and all the greatest.

As a writer, what are you greatest strengths? Your weaknesses?   Weaknesses? Silly girl, I have no weaknesses! Mwhahaha! Just kidding. Weakness – Wordiness. Still learning to simplify. Strength – Dialogue, both inner and between characters.

What are you favorite writing tools/utensils?   Do you mean my trusty PEN! *giggles*

How long did it take to get your first book published?   I’ve written three short stories, all debuting this year and it took me 2 years to experience the life of the published.

Do you have any advice for writers?   Write crap. It’s the best way to learn how you as a writer work best. You’ll find your weaknesses, strengths, and support. Oh, and, never give up.

What are your upcoming projects?   I have two more short stories in the works! Then I’m switching gears toward an adult thriller I’ve been working on, and a new dystopian YA that is going to take some effort and a whole lot of research. In the world of Jen, it’s never boring.

**Visit Jen at any of the below links:

Jen’s website: Unedited

Jen on Goodreads

Buy her book, Snowbound Hearts (Snowbanked)!

Heather Thurmeier

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Please welcome Heather Thurmeier as a Guest today on Chick Lit Goddess!  I got to know Heather from Twitter and immediately found out how awesome she is!  Her fun and sassy approach to Chick Lit is what I love most!  I’m delighted to share a guest post that Heather has written about the genre as it’s truly what Chick Lit is all about!

Chick Lit = Humor

When I think of chick lit I automatically think of books that are light and fun and easy to read. Some people might like to call them good beach reads, which they are. *Where’s my sunscreen? I’m going to the beach! Someone fetch me a margarita, STAT!*

But I like to call these chick lit gems—fluff. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way at all. I love fluff! Heck, I write fluff. (You know I even have a recipe for Fluff? It’s made with marshmallows and crushed pineapple… but that’s a post for another day. Carry on!) Fluff is good in my book *pun intended*. And it’s exactly what I feel like reading when I climb into bed at the end of a night after a long, stressful day.

I think the best chick lit books are the stories that are told in really fun, easy-going ways but still tackle some challenging issues. It’s the issues that make us care about the characters and what happens to them. It’s the issues that allow the heroine to grow and change. The best part about these issues—even heavy issues—is that in chick lit they can be dealt with by using humor.

Who wants to read about a messy break up with lots of snot and nights spent on the couch cuddling a fuzzy blanket in the fetal position? Not me. I wanna see the break up where you go get drunk with your best girls, hit on the hottest things with pecs, and have a rockin’ rebound with Mr. Hunky Hotpants with the accent. Hells, yes. Sign me up for that book club!

In LOVE ON LANDING, my heroine Tali has to confront and come to terms with not only her broken heart but also her deep unhappiness with the expectations that have been put on her by her family.  But does she figure it all out while being destructive to herself or others? Nope. Well, not unless you count how she abuses her poor credit card. But really, that little piece of plastic was just begging to be used and abused. She deals with everything through some much needed retail therapy, a guy who would rather be anywhere else but with Tali as her official shopping bag holder, and by drinking too much Beaujolais nouveau.

And of course with a hearty dose of humor…and maybe a sprinkling of snark.

Maybe the reason why humor works so well in chick lit is because deep down we all feel like that vulnerable heroine on a quest to find herself but ultimately feel like a bumbling idiot. And wouldn’t we all like to be able to laugh at ourselves a little more and take things a little less seriously? Our Bridget Joneses and Rebecca Bloomwoods let us do just that.

And for that, I thank them because when I read or write my chick lit, I want it light, easy, fun and fluffy.

And I wanna laugh.

Well, and a guy with an accent never hurts either…

Heather Thurmeier, ~Heart, humor and a happily ever after.

Here is a blurb of LOVE ON LANDING:

When Tali tries to recover from a recent break-up with a trip to Paris for some retail therapy, she discovers shopping isn’t the only way to cure her broken heart. On route, she meets new pilot, Gavin. Tali and Gavin have instant chemistry and friction as their personalities clash at 30,000 feet.

One night in bed isn’t enough to quell the fireworks between Tali and Gavin and when tempers erupt, Tali’s ex-boyfriend is there to pick up the pieces. Too bad she’s finally realized what she really wants in life… and it isn’t her ex or the life her father has planned back home.

Now all Tali wants is the man who loved her enough to tell her what she didn’t want to hear, but can she win his heart back again on the trip home and find Love on Landing?

**For more information on Heather Thurmeier here’s her contact information:

Visit Heather’s website HERE

Email: heatherthurmeier@gmail.com

Follow Heather on Twitter!

Heather is on Facebook!

Buy Heather’s books HERE!

The Post I Hesitated On…But Had To Post!

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I love to read other blogs, and I saw this title “Us writer declares romance novels deserve no respect” I was curious, so I clicked on it.  HERE is that link.  Well, when I read it through without clicking the link (which I advise you to do too), I felt the writer’s passion and dismay for what she read.  THIS is the post what she read.

As I read the post by this uneducated man, I was truly upset!  I must tell you that I thought long and hard about posting this blog.  I didn’t want to give this guy (I’m not going to call him a man) the pleasure of his blog getting such hype, but then I thought why not share this?  Can’t it be an education to those that romance books are one of the top-selling genre?  Even The New York Times has articles about it!

Your thoughts and/or opinions are welcome!

It’s Fun Friday

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Betty White

Betty White turned 90 on Tuesday, so in honor of this iconic woman, I thought I’d pay a tribute to her.

I started going through pictures of her to show you how she’s aged, but the thing is with her, she hasn’t by looks, only by years.  She’s looks like the same woman I know and I love when I “met” her from watching “The Golden Girls” many years ago when she played he lovable (yet sometimes cuckoo) Rose Nylund.  She was my favorite character on that show because she was funny (everyone around me laughed), and somewhat a ditz, which is how I felt growing up — and sometimes still do.  (Note: A few months ago my husband and I were flipping through the channels and we saw an episode being played — well, I finally saw how dirty this show was, and why everyone was laughing and blushing).

Betty was an only child, and from a very young age, she was a pet lover.  During the course of her long life, she never had any children with any of her three husbands.  I remember her one time saying on a talk show that she considers her pets as her children.  Animals have been such a huge part of Betty’s life that she’s played a huge part in charities and supports animal rights.

Funny lady Betty was the oldest host of the highly populated show, Saturday Night Live, in May of 2010.  It was the first time I’ve watched SNL in years, and I thought she did an amazing job!  She played the parts perfectly, and was so funny!  If I were in the audience, I would’ve definitely given her a standing ovation!  Speaking of funny, don’t you all love that Snickers commercial of her?  She was definitely a team player!  I believe that this was a Super Bowl commercial — and I’d have to say it was one of the best!

We could talk about other highly acclaimed female comedians, but Betty tops them all.  She is a classic woman, and I’m proud that I can say that I have lived to see this lovely, brilliant, and talented woman in my lifetime.  She’s also the grandmother that we all wish we had, am I right?

Now, in no particular order, I’d like to share with you my top five Betty White quotes:

“You don’t luck into integrity.  You work at it.”

“I’ve always liked older men.  They’re just more attractive to me.  Of course, at my age there aren’t many left!  I’ve enjoyed the opposite sex a lot.  Always have.  Always will.”

“The secret to our marriage was enthusiasm. When I knew Allen was coming home, I would freshen my makeup and put on a new blouse. I don’t have a fella, but if Allen — or Robert Redford — were around, we’d have a very active sex life.”

“Friendship takes time and energy if it’s going to work. You can luck into something great, but it doesn’t last if you don’t give it proper appreciation. Friendship can be so comfortable, but nurture it-don’t take it for granted.”

“In your 20’s you dress to impress men.  In your 40’s your dress for business.  In your 80’s your dress for the bathroom.”

I love you, Betty!

What’s With All The Author Jealousy?

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WRITERS SHOULD STICK TOGETHER!

Recently, I’ve been reading a lot about jealousy among authors.  When I read THIS particular blog, I thought it was important to share, and to state my opinion.

Why is jealousy such a big deal?  Is it just the unpublished authors who are jealous of the authors who are published?  No.  It’s also published authors are pointing fingers at each other.  Whether it’s about how many books they’ve written, how many of them have become #1 on the bestseller list, jealousy is there, which I think is sad.

As a Chick Lit writer in the making, I think it’s important for us to stick together, especially because some think that our genre is dying, however I don’t believe this.  Not only do I think that Chick Lit writers, unpublished and published, should help encourage and help publicize each other, so should writers in all genres.

Most writers work for themselves and their lives, no matter how busy they are with outside stuff, they all have the same goals, to get their book(s) published, right?  I tend to look at it as if I’m a celebrity who is at an award show and just because I didn’t win the Best Actress award (or my book didn’t go #1), the camera might be on me, so I show how (truly) happy I am for them.  Yes, I could have taken that part (or written that book), but since I wasn’t in that movie (or didn’t write that book), you might not be where you are now.  I believe that everything happens for a reason.  So, support your fellow authors, and don’t be jealous.

Since I started Chick Lit Goddess, I have made some wonderful friends, and I’d like to say that I’ve helped them with their journey along their way.  I’m not doing it because maybe one day will they help me in return when my books are published (however, that would be great), but I’m doing it for the love of books.

Jennifer Coburn

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I’m honored to have Jennifer Coburn as a guest on Chick Lit Goddess!  After reading “Tales From The Crib” and loving it, she is my new favorite author!  As I am a Chick Lit Writer in the making, this talented and kind woman is a true inspiration.  Once anyone reads just one of her books, you will want to continue on with the others — I know I do!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?   I’m a native New Yorker living in San Diego with my husband and 14-year-old daughter.  I love nothing more than a good story – whether it is told at a dinner party, in a book, on stage or on screen.  I also love traveling with my daughter, which is always like experiencing a good story in real-time.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?   I’ve always loved writing, but never really though it was something I could do as a career, so I went the sensible route and got a “real” job.  Even there, I found ways to incorporate writing, but it was always about politics or social issues.  I enjoyed that immensely, but really found my own voice while I was on my (12-year!) maternity leave.   It was then when I let myself start writing from the heart instead of just the head.

What’s it like in a day of Jennifer Coburn?   Crazy.  Two years ago I returned to work as the director of communications at the non-profit agency I left when my daughter was born.  I leave at three o’clock to drive a carpool, shuttle Katie to activities and then write articles and novels from 7 PM to midnight.  Some days I get to the gym, but no often enough.

How long does it take you to write a book?   The fastest one was Tales From the Crib, which took four months to complete.  Reinventing Mona took nearly a year.

Which do you prefer, Kindle or paper books?   As a reader, I really like the feeling of a book in my hands.  I tried the kindle once and it was fine, but I’m a very late adopter of technology.  (I just learned how to program contacts into my cell phone.)  As a writer, I prefer ebooks.  Kindle and nook have provided a place for readers to access some of my older books that are no longer in print, so for that, I am eternally grateful.

What do you love and hate about the writing process?   I love seeing how a story unfolds.  I always think I know the story I’m going to tell, but it inevitably changes along the way and I really enjoy that experience.  In my first novel, The Wife of Reilly, I realized three chapters before the end that if I finished the book the way I’d outlined, my character would have learned nothing.  I really enjoy getting to know characters and figuring out what they need to become a fuller, more self-actualized person.

Do you have any advice for new writers?   Have a rejection ritual – something you do every time you get bad news from an agent or an editor (or a bad review).   I used to set a stopwatch for 15 minutes of hard-core grieving, then I’d drive to the Hotel Del Coronado and sip a cup of tea in the lobby.  Something about being in this luxurious setting made me feel successful.  It was the emotional boost I needed to return to writing.

How do you come up with the titles of your book?   Authors actually do not have final say on their titles; it is the publisher.  I was very lucky that my publisher let me name three out of four of my books.  The Wife of Reilly and Tales From the Crib just came to me before I’d even started writing them.  Calling my second book Reinventing Mona occurred to me after I’d finished it.  And The Queen Gene was a compromise title.  I wanted to call it Tales From the New Crib because it is a sequel to Tales, but my publisher did not go for it.  I suggested Family Haunts because there’s a comical paranormal element, but my publisher wanted the title to focus on the mother-daughter relationship.  They suggested a title I did not care for at all, so I put out an emergency email asking friends for suggestions.  My friend, Vince Hall came up with The Queen Gene, which my publisher (thankfully) accepted.

Are any of your characters based on any people you know?   Yes, quite a few, especially in Tales From the Crib and The Queen Gene.  I gave my eighty something Aunt Bernice the manuscript to review before it was published and she insisted that I call the characters based on her and her sister by their real names.  (I had originally changed Bernice and Rita to Beatrice and Rena.  Slick, huh?)  I told her that I was working on a sequel and the characters would be doing things neither she nor Rita would ever consider, such as going to a strip club and getting a bikini wax.  She insisted on the change, and was a great sport when I wrote about her character giving weekly “Snatch Reports.”

Who or what inspires you?   People who have been through the shitter, never gave up.  I love hearing about an actor who couldn’t get an audition last year, and twelve months later is winning an Oscar.  Those stories always bring tears to my eyes.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?  If so, how do you handle it?   I convince myself that the story is already written, and that I am just the person charged with getting it on paper.  So if I’m blocked, I tell myself that the next part of the story is out there waiting for me to find it.  (I realize this sounds a bit airy fairy, but it helps take the pressure off me, so what the heck.)  I go for a walk or grab a bite to eat and inevitably, while I’m out of my house, I see or hear something that fills in the story gap.

Can you tell us anything about any upcoming projects you’re working on right now?   I just finished a book called Brownie Points, which is a comedy told from the POV the mother of a 13-year-old boy who wants to join the Girl Scouts.  When the organization refuses, the boy sues for gender discrimination, setting off a firestorm of national media coverage.   I had a lot of fun writing about this.

**Jennifer loves to hear from her readers:

Jennifer’s website

Jennifer’s Facebook page

Tweet Jennifer

**Click HERE to read my review for Tales From The Crib!

Tales From The Crib

Book Review for “Tales From The Crib”

“Tales From The Crib,” by Jennifer Coburn

What would you do if your husband blurts out that he wants a divorce, right before you’re about to tell him that you’re pregnant?  When Lucy tells her husband she’s expecting, Jack reconsider his offer – and wants to stay married, but only as friends, so that they can raise their child together.  While Lucy isn’t in favor of this arrangement, she still loves her husband, so she decides to take him up on his offer for one year.  A lot can happen in a year, especially while still living together.  Will they both find someone else to be with, or will they bond over the pregnancy and baby, and come back to one another, and have the family they always wanted to?

When Jennifer Coburn emailed me a couple of days after Christmas asking me to review her book, “Tales From The Crib,” I was so excited because I had heard very good things about it, and I liked the storyline.

Right from the start, I was hooked on this hilarious and heartwarming book.  I loved that Jennifer’s book begins right in the middle of the action, and not once did I get bored with it along the way.  I think this is why it was such a page-turner.  After Lucy agrees to his insane idea, I was surprised at how well they got along, (even with Jack’s new woman in tow).  One thing I liked a lot was that while Lucy could have pushed Jack away, not giving her “marriage” one last chance, I thought it was really sweet how it showed that these two really loved one another.  In the mix of wonderful characters, Lucy’s vivacious mother and spunky aunts were so funny, that they all had me laughing out loud, (so much that my husband even commented on how much I was laughing).

One might think that from the title and cover, this book is all about the baby, but it’s not.  While I am a wife and not yet a mother (but hope to be someday), I was surprised about how much I loved and could relate to Lucy.  “Tales From The Crib” is a beautifully written book about family and relationships.  Through the ups and downs, each relationship seemed to grow stronger, which I found very refreshing.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who would love to read a fast-paced, fun-loving, delightful Chick Lit!  I promise, you will not be disappointed when you read “Tales From The Crib!”

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

**Click HERE to read my Guest Interview with Jennifer!