Chick Lit Goddess

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

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USA Today Chick Lit Article

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CHICK LIT'S AREN'T JUST SUMMER READS!!

While clicking through the USA Today website, I found THIS article on Chick Lit books.  All four of these books are new and are supposedly great for “beach reads.”  It’s because of this that I think that people don’t really understand this sub-genre of Romance.  Also, HERE is another article I found from two years ago.

While I love Chick Lit to be advertised (especially in highly profiled papers) these books aren’t just good for the summertime, which is the message I want to share!  Yes, while the covers on the books can look like a great summer read, they are all-year-reads.  I can see how someone going on vacation wants to read a fun summer book and I understand why they would pick Chick Lit — the pink woman on the cover is either sipping on a drink with an umbrella in it, she’s lying on the beach staring at a lifeguard or, along with the attractive pictures are the words “hot,” “sizzling” or “heat!”  I think in this case, a lot of them are doing it for the wrong reasons.  I’m not saying that everyone does this, but it seems like Chick Lit is mainly and more popular in the summer.  For me, this isn’t true, because I read more in the fall and wintertime.  I’m inside more and I love sitting by the fire drinking hot buttered rums and losing myself into a good book.

What is your favorite time to read Chick Lit books?

It’s Fun Friday

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About three years ago, I found the love of my life, in wine form!  It’s called Mommy’s Time Out!

Mommy's Time Out

I drink mostly white wines, pinot grigio’s or sauvignon blanc’s.  Mommy’s Time Out’s pinot grigio is light to the taste with a slight hint of fruit, which isn’t too sweet, nor is it bitter.  This wine is the only white wine that I can say that I love.

The only place that I know where to find it is at Central Market and it’s their speciality wine.

Try it and let me know what you think!

Writing…At A Real Office?

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Right now I write at home…well, these days it’s still like a construction site, but we’re slowly making room for a new desk to go into the office.  I’m looking forward to this because I am eager to complete the work around the house and for my writing life to get back to normal, along with having a daily routine!  My routine when I have an office at home is lovely and I enjoy having the luxury of being at home, and multi-tasking (laundry, groceries, construction workers, etc.).  While each day is different and some are better than other’s, I think that I have the ability to get my work done, even while I’m still in my pajamas.  It make me feel like I’ve accomplished something, so by the time my husband gets home from work, we both can have a nice relaxing evening together, and with our cat.

On the flip side, I’ve thought about getting an office, someplace where I would have to actually “go” to work, even when I don’t want to.  I would work all day at work and I wouldn’t have any distractions.  If I had writer’s block, then I would have it and I’d it there until either something clicked or it was time to go home and start dinner.  (Though events like this happen when I’m folding laundry, making lunch or cleaning the kitchen).

As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages of both choices:

POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES OF WRITING AT HOME: 

  • I’d be multi-tasking with laundry, dishes, groceries and other chores that need to get done
  • I’d be able to stay home on the rainy days (I do not like driving in rainstorms)
  • I’d be in my own environment, and wouldn’t be pressured to work
  • I’d (not) be able to have the choice of electricians, exterminators, or any other worker being able to come over at any available time
  • I’d have  all my writing stuff in one place, just in case I wanted to write at night
POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES OF WRITING IN A REAL OFFICE:
  • I’d drive to work to and feel as if I have a job
  • I’d not be able to get out of bed and just write
  • I’d be able to escape the day-to-day distractions
  • When I want to write at night, everything wouldn’t be there
  • I wouldn’t be in “the zone!”
Okay, so you can tell, I’m on the fence about what to do.  What would you do?  Better yet, what do you do?

Sex In Chick Lit Books

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Last week I came across THIS blog and loved it!  I have always wondered why there isn’t more sex when I’m reading a good Chick Lit.  The blogger who wrote that article made a point — we see her life in many different ways, but we don’t see her sex life?  Really?!  Now, I’m not asking for all the “icky” parts, but I’m asking to be sexually fulfilled by reading a sex scene.

What do you think?  Should there be more, less, or about the same amount of sex in a Chick Lit?

What Your Family Thinks About Your Writing and Another Note

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I spent half of this holiday weekend with my family — aunts, uncles and cousins.  While some had seen my book that my husband had published for me (read about it HERE), some of them hadn’t, but when I showed it to them, each one of them was amazed at my talent.  Hearing their cheers and compliments made me feel amazing, it were as if I were famous, and one of my aunts even wants a signed copy!

During the long drive home and even as I write this, their praises gave me motivation to continue on my writing journey and finish editing my first and keep writing my 2nd book!  I’m wondering, what does your family think about your writing?

On another note, I really thought that I could get some good work done, but that didn’t happen.  Between listening to my mom and brother chat away, I was way too distracted to do anything.  Unfortunately, I didn’t do any work that night at the hotel.  Saturday, I woke up and I was hoping to get a lot of work done, but again, that didn’t happen and I was beginning to feel frustrated, very frustrated.  I woke up early on Sunday morning and edited a few pages.  Just as I was beginning to get into it and feel like I was getting somewhere, everyone decided to slowly wake up, which meant it was time to put my computer and notes from my editor away.  We left a few hours later and again, I didn’t work in the car.  The whole way home, my mind was saying, “Just get me home, I’ve got work to do!”  By the time I got home and showered, it was time for dinner and my mother-in-law came over and again, I got nothing done.  Today, on Memorial Day, I wish that I could say that I worked, but I didn’t.  There was just way too much to do.  Now that it’s the end of the day, I’m willing myself to make time to work during laundry, the cat crying, dishes piling up and a much-needed workout for myself…and TOMORROW IS THE DAY!

Writing While On The Road

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So, this weekend, I’m going on a road trip with my mom and brother, and will leaving my brother and dad behind.  While we’re in the car, making the four-hour drive to Houston, I plan on working on editing the second round of the first thirteen pages that my editor sent me this week.  Now, my brother is a very talkative person and so is my mother, but I’m one who loves to dive myself into my work and shut out the rest of the world.  I am hoping to be finished with the edits by the time we arrive, but if I don’t, then I know that during spending time with family, editing will be on my mind and just maybe, I’ll slip in some work time before I go to bed.  Wish me luck this weekend!

How do you write when you’re on the road?

Draft #2

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When I started editing, I never knew how difficult the editing process was going to be.  It’s not knowing how to edit, but it’s more of how to keep it all organized with all the edits, without losing my mind.  I’ve saved so many documents and changes, I find myself clicking “save” every five minutes!  (Crazy, I know).  Since I have a wonderful editor, I am thankful for her help when she sends work back to me to edit, but after I get it, I’m overwhelmed, but only at first.

I do have Scrivener, which I love  (Thank you, Wade), so this helps me a lot with keeping it all together, but I have the feeling that I’m not doing things right.  Do you ever feel that way?

So, this I ask you, how do you go about actually doing the work and keeping it all organized?

Hot Summer, Hot Men…It’s Hot All Around

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It’s about to be summertime here in Texas and I’m already wishing that I lived in New York and it was the Winter months!  I’m a hot natured woman who is thirty years old, but I feel like I’m a sixty year old, who is going through menopause!  “Really?” I ask myself.  “YES!”

This brings me to another thought…HOT MEN!  Who makes your heart pitter-patter?  Is it your husband, your boyfriend, the pizza delivery man, the hot intern who walks by you at work, the lifeguard you eye on vacation or the actor in your favorite movie?  I have two fantasy men…my husband and Bradley Cooper!  My husband is everything I could want in a man and Bradley Cooper is my fantasy man.  He the one where there would be no feelings, just purely lust!  I can’t explain why Bradley makes my toes curl each time I see him, but there is something so intriguing about him, which heightens my curiosity and brings out the “naughty” girl and pushes the “shy” girl aside.

This summer, I encourage you to find a HOT man and let your fantasies run wild…

It’s Savory Saturday

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Oh, my gosh!  I just had a great dinner that was made by my amazing husband.

Tuna & Goat Cheese Empanadillas

These amazing little empanadillas were quite tasty!  Inside the puff pastry was canned tuna, green olives and pine nuts, amongst other ingredients.  They had a creamy richness to them, which the pine nuts complimented very well.  The green olives and tuna had a very distinct flavor, and each bite I took, a flavor seemed to come out.  When we make these again, we’ve decided to do canned chicken instead, as we both thought the olives and tuna needed to complement one another, which these didn’t.  I give these a 6 out of 10 stars.

Duck Foie with Jamon Iberico

These were my favorite appetizer!  Oh, my gosh, they were so heavenly, that I had three of them (and we even had guests over)!  On the toasted pan rustico bread slices, were onions that simmered for two hours — the first hour in olive oil and sugar  and for the second, he added dry white wine.  The next layer was jamon iberico and then on that, was the duck foie!  I have never had anything like this!  The sweetness soft onions mixed with the salty jamon iberico, melted in my mouth and the crispy bread was toasted just enough for a nice texture throughout each bite.  I give this 12 out of 10 stars!

Spanish Style Chicken with Saffron Rice

This dinner was so very good.  The rice was very flavorful, with the canned tomatoes and yellow bell pepper, which gave off a nice and comforting flavor.  While the chicken was juicy, I prefer my chicken not as cooked as most people do.  I would definitely have this dish again, only with a little less cooking time for my piece of chicken.  I give this meal a 7 out of 10 stars.

If you would like these recipes, please let me know!