Chick Lit Goddess

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Nancy Scrofano

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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

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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!

Confident Monday

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It seems that every Monday people say they will start or stop doing something, (start a diet, start writing a book, stop overindulging in sweets, and start your writing journey).  It’s Monday once again, so to begin the week I want to start y’all off with a positive quote.  Whatever you do (or don’t do), I know you can do it!

Have  a great week!

It’s Fun Friday

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Please don’t let the picture below make you want to click off this blog post.  I’m going to share just a few reasons why I like-no, why I love-this Kardashian-Odom woman!

Khloe Kardashian-Odom

I am by no means obsessed with reality-TV, but one day when I was sick, I got hooked on the Kardashian family.  Kim was my favorite, followed by Kourtney, and then Khloe.  That changed when I learned more about their highly dramatic family.  I won’t go into that, but rather I’d rather talk about why I admire and respect the youngest Kardashian, now turned Kardashian-Odom.  Of all the people in the “K” family, some even turned “Jenner,” she’s the one who isn’t in it for the drama, nor her looks.

Khloe: I love her!  I love for the woman she’s become.  She’s overcome hard times, (her father died of cancer, she went to jail for a DUI, she’s gained a lot and lost a lot of weight, and since she’s a celebrity, she’s criticized for each and every move she makes).  I’d like to think that she and I are a lot a like, and here’s why.  We both love our families, are outspoken women, love our husbands to pieces, and think that “friendship” is the root of a marriage.

The Khloe Kardashian-Odom/Jenner Family

Khloe on Family: Khloe has more love and respect for her family than any other celebrity that I know.  Her mom, Kris Jenner, can criticize her for her weight and call her “fat,” but Khloe says it’s all out of love.  Since Kris is her manager (and manager of her other daughters, and son Robert), Khloe respects mother’s judgment and harsh words.  While Khloe might seem “blunt,” and “direct,” as some people call her, she’s the only one who told Kim that her marriage to Kris Humphries would be a bad idea…and she was right.  (HERE is my blog about Kim’s marriage).

Mr. & Mrs. Lamar Odom

Khloe on Marriage: Khloe’s marriage to basketball player, Lamar Odom, came as a surprise.  The had known each other for nine, yes nine, days before they became engaged in 2009, and they are still going strong.  On some blogs and websites, it’s been said that they are one of the strongest celebrity couples.  I agree.  When Lamar got traded to the Dallas Mavericks, I thought it was cool that she made the move with him.  She even Tweeted, “I ride or die for my Lam! It’s where I go… It’s who I am with :),” and then, “I can survive anywhere…As long as I’m with Lam I’m good”  I love her ways of thinking about marriage.  If you watch her spinoff show, Khloe and Lamar, you will see how much these two love one another.  Just because they got married very soon after meeting one another, that doesn’t mean anything.  Oh, and they also made an Unbreakable scent together, (I have it, and LOVE it!)  One more thing, Khloe makes it a big deal about how much Lamar dotes on her, and makes her feel beautiful – no matter that, and that’s one think I love about them-that they show how much they love each other.  Khloe and Lamar, I wish you a very happy life together.

(Her) Weight: Khloe has always been judged about how she looks, but mostly about her weight.  Just recently, she’s been on several talk shows where every interviewer has asked about her weight.  I think it’s inspiring that she finds “curves sexy,” and that she’s comfortable in her own skin.  That’s hot!  I found THIS to be an amazing view of how she thinks about her weight, and about weight in general.

Anyway, when I woke up on Monday and found out that she’d be moving back to L.A. because Lamar and the Dallas Mavs have parted ways, I was sad.  She and Lamar had once lived at the hotel where I got married, The Rosewood Crescent Hotel, and she’d filmed her spinoff show in part of Dallas where I live.

In closing, Khloe has taught me that not every celebrity is alike, and that she’s her own person, no matter what!  I’ll always cheer for her and Lamar, as I wish them love and luck wherever they are!

What We Give Up, To Get A Great Reward

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I had a hard time coming up with what to write for today’s blog, but then I saw THIS blog post, I knew I had found my topic!  Perfect!

As writers, we are fortunate to be able to be on the go-wherever, whenever, and with anyone!  This is a perk, but it’s also a challenge.  We give up so much of ourselves to be with our characters, that it’s hard to juggle fiction vs. real life.  Here are five biggest distractions that we seem to give up when our book consumes our life:

FAMILY: Spending time with my family is very important to me.  It’s something I’ve treasured for a long time, and as I age, I want to spend more time with them.  So, when NaNoWriMo hit, the same month as Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday), and family came to town, I knew it was time to push it into high gear.  It was my first time to partake in NaNoWriMo, but I won.  Yes, I missed out in bonfires on the ranch and bonding with family, and watching football (go Cowboys), but when it was November 30th, at 11:59 p.m., it was over.  I had won NaNoWriMo, and I was happy!  (I must also say that I went to Orlando for a “Girl’s Only” weekend with my sister!  I wrote and she supported me!  I still have to tell her how much spending time with her helped my story).

My advice: Spend time with family as much as you can, but make each moment count!

FRIENDS:  I am thankful for my friends.  My true friends have been there from the moment I wanted to be a writer, and have supported me throughout this journey.  I love spending time with them, whether it’s going to Vino 100 for a night out on the town or staying home to play Settlers of Catan, I feel at “home” with my friends-my true friends!  Though, there comes a time when saying, “No, I can’t go out tonight,” can change your life.  Deciding to stay home on a few occasions in November helped add to the MS, word by word, and chapter by chapter.

My advice:  Surround yourself with friends that support you!  You’ll be glad you did!

EXERCISE:  Taking care of your self by exercising is very important.  It doesn’t matter if you’re under or overweight, exercise is (and should be) a factor in your life.  Often when I’m writing my MS and I get struck with writer’s block, going for a walk (thirty minutes at the most) can help jumpstart my writing.  It gets me back on track, and helps me reevaluate where I am and why my characters are doing and/or saying something.

My advice:  Doing something physical for thirty minutes a day can help you not only improve your health, but it might give you inspiration for you MS.

HOLIDAYS:  I’ve already mentioned how writing can be stressful during the holidays, but from January to December, doesn’t it always seem like there’s a holiday coming up.  Can this add more stress to you “career” as a writer?  Yes!

My advice:  Celebrate the holidays, but don’t stress about your writing.  Think of the holiday as a vacation, just for that day specifically, and know that you’ll get back to it the next day!  Most of all, don’t worry about anything, and have a wonderful day off-you deserve it!

LIFE:  Before you were a writer, you were a person.  Go out, and have fun.  (By doing this, it give you a chance to come up with more story ideas).  Find new hobbies, meet new friends, go to a sporting event or concert!  Live life breath by breath, because if you don’t you’re going to miss it!

My advice:  Do NOT let your book(s) consume your life!  There is more to life than writing.  Enjoy it!

My biggest message to you is that as writers we give up so much, but it’s okay to not make it your entire lie.  You can have both!  Just use your time wisely!

It’s A Sexy Wednesday

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Athletes, cowboys, and James Bond all have something in common.  They are sexy, and I love them all (especially in my daydreams…wait, make that fantasies).  Put a suit on a man-any man-and his look can change 100%!

Men in suits are my weakness.  To be more specific, it’s a man who’s wearing black  and/or grey dress pants, a white dress shirt unbuttoned (it must be unbuttoned), and a black and/or grey dress coat.  This is my “ideal man.”  (It’s funny, because as I write this, I’m watching Person of Interest, and the main guy, Mr. Reese, is dressed as my “ideal man”).

Here are my Top 5 guys who are dressed to perfection:

George Clooney
Bradley Cooper
Pierce Brosnan
Jim Caviezel
Gerard Butler

Have a sexy Wednesday!

Be Your Own Writer

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We all have favorite authors.  Often times it’s because of them that we want to become a writer.  It’ll go something like this: “Hey, I can write that book,” or “It can’t be that difficult?”  You then sit yourself in front of your computer and start writing.  You are ready to s tart living life-like Emily Giffin and Danielle Steel-your life will never the be same.  Your book will be the next #1 Bestseller, (move over Emily and Danielle)!

Please get your head out of the clouds.  While you might want to write like your favorite author, you never will! AND THAT’S OKAY!  You have you own voice, you have you own style, and you can write your own book, using your own ideas!

You have the power to create something wonderful – that is, if you try!  Don’t compare yourself to those you envy.  Instead, learn to appreciate what they do, and admire them for who they are.  They have their story about their journey, now you get to create yours.  And while it might seem easy to write like them, or to create your version of their book, it isn’t fun, nor what real writer does.  Give yourself credit and learn to come up with ideas-they are everywhere you turn, so learn to listen, look, and learn about each and every surrounding you’re in.  I bet you’ll have a storyline in mind before you know it!  (You’ll also be very proud of yourself for this!)

To end today’s post, I’m leaving you with a quote.  Not only can it be used for writing, but it’s easy to see how this can relate to any aspect of life.

Handwriting

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Handwriting.  With growing technology, handwriting is beginning to be obsolete.  I’ve even forgot how to spell some words-even the easiest-when writing a handwritten thank you note.  Yes, thank you notes should still be handwritten, but that’s another topic on etiquette.  (Click HERE to see a blog about handwritten letters).  Thanks to my iPhone and spellcheck on the computer, thinking about how to spell is something that I don’t have to do anymore.  For some, this could be a good thing, (if you’re in a hurry to send a quick email, or write memo), but for kids, I think that the spellchecker should be taken off — only because the computer is doing the work for them.  With a click of the mouse, the word can be corrected.

Above is a sample of my handwriting.  It’s not consistent at all, but it never is-not even when I try.  I want to have good handwriting, (not just because about ten years ago one of my family members commented on my “horrible” handwriting.  The truth is, I don’t even like how I write, non-cursive or cursive.  Maybe it’s because I don’t do it every single day.

This leads me to another thing.  When I was taught cursive (many hears ago), I loved it.  It made me feel like an adult.  Just the word, cursive, sounds fancy.  In high school, the teachers-even some who taught me cursive, didn’t care how we wrote-as long as our names were on our papers, the font was Times, and the paragraphs were double-spaced.  Times have definitely changed.

Here are some things to think about:

  • What do you think about your handwriting, or do you even know what it looks like?
  • Is it the same each time?  Do you prefer to write cursive or non-cursive?
  • When writing by hand in this modern world, do you find yourself struggling to remember to spell?

It’s Fun Friday

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I’m a baseball fan and I’m so excited that baseball season is finally here!

It’s Opening Day at The Ballpark in Arlington!  To begin the 2012 season, the Texas Rangers play against the Chicago White Sox.  I look forward to going to the game tomorrow night to cheer on my team, who for the past two years have been in the World Series.  As the saying goes, the third time’s the charm, so I’m hoping that this is our year – it just has to be, (because “12” is my lucky number).

Below, I’ve added some of my favorite links:

That’s The Way Baseball Go

Lean about the Texas Rangers

Chicks Dig Diamonds

Read about my favorite Ranger

A Nolan Ryan (Ranger)/Robin Ventura (Chicago White Sox) highlight

Look at all the new stuff