The WINNERS have been announced!!! Holiday Blog Hop Giveaway!!!

UPDATE!!! 

**Drumroll** 

...aaaannnndddd the winners are:

Teressa has won a signed copy of my novel, A Dose of Reality!!!
Jesse (or whatever variation Jesse decides to use) will be a character in my next novel!!!
And, Shanna is the recipient of a Brighton handbag!!!


I have sent emails to Shanna, Jesse & Teressa and will await your replies. Congratulations to each of you and I wish you, and all of those who entered, a fabulous 2012 filled with health, wealth and happiness ! 

(previous post)

You know you want to read moi (*wink, wink*)! And during this Holiday Hop, I'm sweetening the deal. Sign up for my newsletter on the right hand side of this blog (beneath "My Peeps"), and you're automatically entered to win 1) a signed copy of my novel, A Dose of Reality, 2) a character named after you in my upcoming Assassins Anonymous, Step Two novel, Flirting With Murder, and 3) a leather Brighton handbag!!! 


Sign up now, have a wonderful holiday season, and enjoy reading some fabulous books! 


Happy Hopping!
~Heidi

 (ignore the title on the sample cover, it is placeholder copy only)

Item will be similar, but not exact.

Witchy Woman - Meet Author Tallulah Grace!

I am a BIG reader, so my tastes are all over the board. Therefore, I appreciate an author who can blend my favorites – Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Paranormal, Chick-Lit, etc. Tallulah Grace is an excellent blender! And she has recently released three of her novels as a single-book trilogy – The Timeless Trilogy! (have I mentioned I also love one-stop shopping?).  Let’s get to know herJ.

Welcome, Tallulah!!!

ME: I’m excited to ask this question: What are you writing now?

TALLULAH: I’m working on a series of short stories that have a common theme. The shorts are more romantic than suspenseful, but I think that elements of the paranormal may also find a small voice in at least one of the stories. I also plan to write a book that centers around Jeri, one of the minor characters in two of the Timeless Trilogy books. Jeri is a strong, independent woman--my favorite kind--who feels a bit left out of the love fest happening at the end of the trilogy.

ME: I love when my faves make appearances in new books! It’s like running into an old friend. And I’ve recently discovered how much I enjoy short stories/novellas. How closely do your characters resemble you?

TALLULAH: Timeless Trilogy revolves around the lives of three women, with each character taking the lead in one book. I can see one, or more, dimensions of myself in each character. My daughter says I’m Kris, from the first book, Fate, but I disagree. Although Kris is independent and a little headstrong, which I admit to being, I see myself more in Cassie, an author who is plagued by disturbing dreams of her past. Cassie is integral to all three books, but it’s not until the third book, Destiny, that she takes center stage. Not that I remember past lives, but there’s something about Cassie’s character that just resonates with me.

ME: It’s funny when that happens. I swear, writing is the best therapy ever! Do you ever wish you lived a character’s life (not just in your imagination)?

TALLULAH: Absolutely. I’d like to be a combo of all three characters; I’d like to move Cassie’s antique Victorian to Kris’s private beach and have enough of Roni’s magick to make life interesting. Roni learns that she’s a witch in the second book, Spellbound, which I think would be kind of awesome. Like Roni, I would only use my powers for good.  As far as the male lead in my own life, I’d love a man with character traits resembling any of the three love interests in the books, Nathanial, Nick or Dylan.

ME: I’m married… I only like 2-dimensional men. Ha! Just kidding. I’m in the middle of writing a “witchy” series right now and, boy, do I wish I had some of her magic! Now on to an important question… Sunglasses: designer or drugstore cheapies? How many pairs are enough?

TALLULAH: I’m almost afraid to write this, as my one pair of 20-year-old Ray Bans may disappear or finally fall apart if I talk about them. Silly, I know, but I’ve had and worn these glasses since I purchased them new, 20+ years ago. It took them awhile to come back in style, but I hung on. You know they’re cool again when your daughter wants to wear them.

ME: I love that story! My mom is a shoe-aholic and has several pairs from high school! Retro can definitely be cool. Quality lastsJ, at least that’s what I tell my husband: “Honey, I need the Chanel’s, they last so much longer.” LOL. Anyway, back to business - Would you ever want to work on a combined project with your favorite author? If so, who?

TALLULAH: I know myself and my writing style well enough to know that I’m a solo act. If I could play well with others in the writing sandbox, I’d love to work with Iris Johansen. The level of suspense and the twisting intrigue of her Eve Duncan series create a fast-paced read that’s difficult to put down; I know I could learn a lot from her.

ME: I’m a fan of Iris, too! I just came out of my writing hole and discovered she’s written three new ones in the Eve Duncan series – Bonnie, Quinn, and Eve. How did I miss that? I can’t wait to delve into them. 

I’ve found that readers really enjoy connecting with authors… what is one thing you want your fans to know about you that they may not already be aware of? 

TALLULAH: I hear voices in my head. No, wait, that’s true of anyone who writes, isn’t it? One of the things that always surprises me when I’m weaving a story is that the characters know more about their storylines than I do. For example, Dylan shows up in Fate as a minor blip on the radar, or so I intended. As soon as he began speaking, he pretty much let me know that he was there to stay. Turns out, he was a huge part of two books in the Trilogy. Some authors may be organized with a storyboard, plot lines and character outlines, but I wing it. The story unfolds for me as I’m writing; much like it does for the reader.

ME: I know exactly what you mean! Tallulah, thanks so very much for being with us today! Best of luck with your writing and I hope you’ll come back and update us soon.

Tallulah is offering a giveaway on her  website... http://www.tallulahgrace.com, during the Christmas season and would love for you all to drop by to check it out. And be sure to take a look at her Timeless Trilogy, available on Amazon now! Want more good stuff? Check out her Amazon Author's Page. 

Happy Holiday Reading!

~Heidi

YA Romance, Dolphins & angels-in-training – my interview with fab author Shel Delisle!

Shel Delisle and her fabulous debut novel, Dolphin Girl, are with us today! First, I have to say there is something about the cover of this wonderful YA romance that draws me in and won’t let go. And it’s pretty obvious readers are in love with this book, if the heartfelt reviews are any indication. I’m excited to find out more, aren’t you?

Welcome, Shel!

ME: I can’t wait to poke into your brain… What are you writing now?

SHEL: Oh, no!!!!  I'm drafting a new novel during NaNo, but I tend to keep my lips zipped while I work out all the problems fast drafts create. In addition to that, I hope that very, very soon I'll be polishing a teen novel about a spunky and seriously flawed angel-in-training.  It's the first in a series and I'm really excited to get it out there.

ME: Man, shot down from the beginning – just jokingJ. I love the angel-in-training idea. Make sure you let me know when you’re launching and we’ll do this again. And speaking of great characters, how closely do your characters resemble you? (Any particular quirk?)

SHEL: I resemble all of them!  Or they resemble me.  Even the unlikable ones--Ha! Seriously though, when I was writing Dolphin Girl I became completely unorganized like the main character Jane.  And then, when I was writing the angel story, I was constantly sticking my foot in my mouth like the main character Grace.  For both of them, I made my husband do a "first kiss" experiment because I write for teens and my first kiss was a while ago. :)  Oh, and I am a little obsessed with dolphins, but I haven't decorated the house with them or anything. 

ME: Where to starts with all the info… I love that you method-write! I’d say I’m the opposite in that I project my own innate faults on my characters, but I might start pretending I’m just really into the writing process. Teehee! And – a “first kiss” experiment? I so love this!!! Do you ever wish you lived a character's life (not just in your imagination)?

SHEL: There are definitely days I'd like to be a teen again!  Not in any kind of permanent way, but for just a short time.  Angst and all, I think it would be fun.

ME: Hmm, I suppose I wouldn’t mind having my eighteen year old body back. The real teens can keep the zits though.  How about this… sunglasses (a particular fetish of mine): designer or drugstore cheapies?

SHEL: Neither, really, because mine are prescription, but, come to think of it, the style is kind of a red-framed Jackie-O look, so I'm going to pretend they are designer.

ME: Pretend away! How many pairs are enough?

SHEL: Ha! Is there a good answer to this question?  Anyway...I have two pairs (yeah, the prescription thing again) and that's definitely not enough!

ME: At least you can rotate them out when you get bored. I, on the other hand, need many, many pairs…. Black, white, tortoiseshell, red, bling, extra bling, and holy hell that’s a lot of blingJ. I’m sure everyone gets the picture. Would you ever want to work on a combined project with your favorite author? If so, who?

SHEL: Absolutely! My long-time writing and critique partner Kerry Cerra would be fun.  Because we're such good friends and say everything to each other, I think that chemistry would come through in the manuscript.  

ME: I love that idea! You guys should do it!

I've found that readers really enjoy connecting with authors.  What is one thing you want your fans to know about you that they may not already be aware of?

SHEL: Wow!  All of these other questions were really easy.  That one is a doozy!  Can I answer that I'd like my readers to know I'm the type of person who uses the word "doozy"?  No?  Okay, then.  I guess I'd want them to know they are my reason for writing.  I don't do it for money or awards.  All of my best moments since publication, which, granted has been a really short time, have come from readers who said they enjoyed my book. It's an honor to have them spend their time reading my book, so I'm thrilled when I've entertained them! 

ME: Okay ya big brown-noser! Kidding! Totally kidding! And I know what you mean. Knowing we’ve entertained someone really drives the thirst to write more and more, doesn’t it? Thanks so much for being here today, Shel. I’ve really had fun!

Keep updated about Shel Delisle, her new projects and learn even more about this fabulous YA Romance author by visiting her Amazon Author’s Page. And don’t for get to check out Dolphin Girl, available exclusively on Amazon and available free for Amazon Prime members!!!

TGIF!!!

~Heidi

An interview with Romi Moondi, author of: Year of the Chick!

How could you ignore an author who includes this at the bottom of her product description?

"DISCLAIMER: this book contains profanities, blunt accounts of the dating scene, and many awkward family moments. Enjoy!!!"

How awesome is that? And how awesome is author Romi Moondi? If her novel, Year of the Chick, is anything to go by – pretty damn awesome. And today she’s taking the time to let me be nosy!

Welcome, Romi!

ME: First, love the cover! Second: What are you writing now?

ROMI: I’m actually in an in-between writing phase. I just released my first full-length fiction effort Year of the Chick. It’s available as an ebook and I’m just getting the paperback version ready for print. Next, I’d like to write a short story that’s a bit of a “prequel” to Year of the Chick and sell it free on Amazon. In 2012 I’ll be turning a script I wrote this year into a novel, and that will be the sequel to Year of the Chick!

ME: You’re going to be busy! Any particular quirks you pass on to your characters?

ROMI: I don’t think it’s one quirk from the Year of the Chick character, but many, many things from the character that resemble me. Most noticeably – we both are terrible at dating and both our parents want us to get an arranged marriage...haha.

ME: I don’t know, sometimes I think an arranged marriage would have made my life a lot easier. LOL. Not really, but… kind of easier. Would you ever want to live a character’s life?

ROMI: Sometimes I do think I live my main character’s life, I just haven’t figured out how to score the happy ending bit ;-)

ME: Ha! I don’t know, maybe your happy ending is not finding a man! Believe me, they are a ton of trouble. On to the most important question of this interview: sunglasses – designer shades or drugstore cheapies? And can you ever have enough pairs?

ROMI: Since I’m so blind that a squirrel resembles a baby from far away, I need my sunglasses to be prescription, so definitely not the cheapies for me. This also means I only have one pair of sunglasses in the rotation at the moment; they’re my Ralph Laurens and I love them!

ME: I feel your pain. Until I had Lasik^© surgery I couldn’t see my fingers in front of my face and all my glasses were less than glamorous… now? It’s all about Chanel, baby! Maybe Prada, Dior and the occasional Louis Vuitton mixed in for flavor. Sorry, I get easily distracted when it comes to fashionJ. Back to books – would you ever want to work on a joint project with another author?

ROMI: Well my favorite book is Jane Eyre, and at the time it was written the sort of topics Charlotte Bronte wrote about were revolutionary. She challenged preconceived notions and brought new ideas to the table, which is something I try to do in my writing as well. Therefore, I would LOVE to collaborate with her, but unfortunately she’s been dead for ages. Umm.

ME: We’re fiction authors… the dead don’t always stay dead. Okay, in this case she might. We can always hope for a haunting...

I’ve found that readers really enjoy connecting with authors (especially when they’re alive)… what is one thing you want your fans to know about you that they may not already be aware of?

ROMI: For the humble number of fans I currently have, I would want them to know I’m the person sitting in Starbucks typing away furiously on my laptop...watching you...writing about you. Ha. Is that creepy?

ME: Maybe a little creepy, but I won’t tell… just kidding – about the creepy part. Of course I’m going to tell! Thanks again for stopping by today, Romi!

You can check out Romi Moondi’s hysterical novel, Yearof the Chick, on Amazon and Barnes & Noble right now. And be sure to stop by her Amazon’s Author page for even more great info.

Happy, hilarious reading!

~Heidi

An Author with BITE - check out my interview with Rebecca Foote

Today, my Romance/Chick-Lit Author Interviews series continues with Rebecca Foote… and her debut novel, In Shadows, has bite! Not only is she the first author of vampire stories I’ve interviewed so far, but she’s also the first historical author. Somehow that seems incredible to me. Enjoy getting to know her!

Welcome, Rebecca!

ME: Here’s an easy question to start us off, and one everyone wants to know: What are you writing now?

REBECCA: I’m currently working on a paranormal romance novel titled Half Life. The story takes place along the beautiful Oregon coast near a small town named Florence (a place that I once lived). I thought it would make a great setting for a magical and spooky story. Anyone who has been in a thick wooded forest can imagine what kind of great backdrop that could create. I'm happy to say that Half Life is close to completion. This book is different from my first novel, In Shadows, because it has a different kind of supernatural element. I hope that readers will enjoy it.

ME: I’m from Bend, Oregon and spent many summers at the coast with my family. I’ve always thought the area was tragically beautiful – if a little spooky. You’re right, it’s a perfect backdrop. We’ve set the scene, but what about your characters? How closely do they resemble you?

REBECCA:  In my first novel, In Shadows, Ariana is innocent and naive when she starts her journey into the Vampire Realm. I'd like to think that she is bit like me when I was around sixteen-years-old.  When I created her, I knew Ariana needed to be strongly connected to her family and be able to pull through difficult challenges.  Since, I don't believe that life is completely black and white, my characters tend to have both good and bad in them. It makes their reactions and emotions more "real". Although the stories I write have otherworldly elements, my characters' emotions are reflections of the truth found in all of us.

ME: I couldn’t agree more. I never like the goody-two-shoes, in books or in real life – too phony. Do you ever wish you lived a character's life (not just in your imagination)?

REBECCA:  Yes and no. To escape into a fantasy world, where one is powerful and exotic sounds wonderful, but with that comes all of the dark and scary things hiding in the shadows.

ME: Okay, now on to something of grave importance... sunglasses (a particular fetish of mine): designer or drugstore cheapies? How many pairs are enough?

REBECCA: Ha ha ha! Good question. I would choose a designer pair of sunglasses if it weren't for my two young daughters always playing with them. They love to play dress up and borrow everything. There's a long sad trail of broken sunglasses around my house, so I tend to buy cheap ones because they will always meet their demise. Several pairs are required.

ME: At least there’s hope when the girls grow upJ. Now, back to writing - Would you ever want to work on a combined project with your favorite author? If so, who?

REBECCA: I would love to work with one of my favorite authors: Charlaine Harris or Anne Rice. Truthfully, there are so many authors that I love, it would be difficult to choose just one.

ME: Oooh, good ones! My BFF and I have been talking about visiting N’Awlins and going on the tour of Anne Rice’s home. I’ve never read Charlaine Harris, but I wouldn’t mind spending time with her character, Eric, from True Blood! 

Just a little eye-candy -->

Thank you so much for sharing a bit about you and your writing with us today! One final question... I've found that readers really enjoy connecting with authors... what is one thing you want your fans to know about you that they may not already be aware of?

REBECCA: I enjoy listening to music when I write. It tends to bring out creative ideas and helps me get past writer's block. Lately, I've been listening to Evanescence and classical music.

ME: I love Evanescence!

Thanks again, Rebecca! Need to know more? Check out In Shadows, Rebecca Foote’s debut novel on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Also, be sure to check out her AmazonAuthor’s page.

Have a great day!

~Heidi

Dating, Marriage & Electricity - Meet Author Julie Christensen!

I’ve been slacking (okay, editing – tomato, tomahto) and skipped a few days on my Romance/Chick-Lit Author Interviews series. (Never fear, I’m not skipping any of the interviews I have planned, just prolonging the enjoyment… we’ll dub it tantric interviewingJ)  But today I’m super excited to have Julie Christensen in the house! Woohoo! If you haven’t read The Trust About Dating, what are you waiting for?

Welcome, Julie!!!

ME: Let's start with an easy question: What are you working on now?

JULIE: I just finished the second book in my mystery series. But this is all about chick lit, right? So I’ll skip by that book (which is in editing now), and talk about my other book in progress, The Truth About Happily Ever After. It’s the sequel to The Truth About Dating. My longtime single heroine, Quinn Malone, who in the last book suffered indignities and disappointments in her attempt to escape spinsterhood, is now married. In The Truth About Happily Ever After, Quinn gets the life of bliss she’s been missing, and guess what? It turns out that even bliss has husbands who fill the backyard with broken lawnmowers, post-pregnancy weight gain, and picky children who won’t eat anything green.

ME: Men – hmpf! Just kidding. How closely do your characters resemble you? (Any particular quirk?)

JULIE: Except for the facial tics, no, my characters’ quirks aren’t mine (joking). There is more of my personality in some characters than others. Searching For Meredith Love’s namesake and I both let our timidity restrain us from showing others what we’re really like, but that’s where the similarities end. I’m sorry to say that I have almost nothing in common with the heroine in my mystery series, Ruby Neptune. She’s a regular person with superhero tendencies. She takes action and I just fantasize. Quinn Malone is the exception to all this. The Truth About Dating began as a memoir when I was having trouble meeting men in my late 30s. I had to change it to fiction because, let’s face it, dismal speed date after dreary internet date is tedious enough to live through, much less read. Quinn’s life is a lot like mine but I added some fictional ex-boyfriends and a few other twists to add some highs and lows to the plot.

ME: The Truth About Dating started as a memoir? That’s incredible – and I love how you turned it into the epitome of Chick-Lit! I hope you’ve found love as well! Do you ever wish you lived a character’s life (not just in your imagination)?

JULIE: Pieces of them, yes. On second thought, no. Just the locations. I’d love to live in Albuquerque or Brooklyn again. I miss them both terribly. But the events in the books are so traumatic (in a funny but heartbreakingly sad way) that I can’t say I’d want to experience them. Even when something good happens, it seems like bad is right around the corner. Happiness is hard won in my books.

ME: I know what you mean, some of the crap I put my poor characters through! Well, at least it’s entertaining and keeps readers turning the pages – we hopeJ. Okay, we have important issues to discuss... sunglasses: designer or drugstore cheapies? How many pairs are enough?

JULIE: Drugstore cheapies, without question! One is all I usually have. My husband can do me one better. He buys his sunglasses at thrift stores! But maybe since he has at least five pairs, we’ve evened ourselves out.

ME: I have to admit I’m sorely disappointed – although there can be some cute shades even in the dollar binsJ.  Now, back to writing - Would you ever want to work on a combined project with your favorite author? If so, who?

JULIE: You mean people like Maxine Hong Kingston, Isabel Allende, Anne Tyler, or Anna Quindlen? I adore their writing. But no, I’d never want to work with them. First, because they would all utterly intimate me. I wouldn’t be able to speak. And second, because I believe that working together dilutes the individual vision and makes for a bad product. (Or maybe I’m just not a good team player!)

ME: I KNOW I’m not a good team player… Who wants to be part of a team? I want to ride in the wagon! Ha!!! Thank you so much for sharing a bit about you and your writing with us today! One final question... I’ve found that readers really enjoy connecting with authors… what is one thing you want your fans to know about you that they may not already be aware of?

JULIE: I can rewire a ceiling lamp in less than twenty minutes.

ME: Now that is a skill I can appreciate! I’m a DIYer all the way (thank goodness, since my husband is hopeless).

Need to more about Julie Christensen? Make sure to check out The Truth About Dating, available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and many other online booksellers. And, don’t forget to check out her Amazon’s Author page for her complete lineup of stories and the latest news in her writing journey.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Heidi

Today's Romance/Chick-Lit Author interviewee is... Dina Silver!

Another great Romance/Chick-Lit author interview! For those of you who haven’t heard of Dina Silver, author of One Pink Line, you’re missing out. Her debut novel is receiving rave reviews on Amazon – readers can’t get enough. Check her out!

Welcome, Dina!

 ME: Let's start with an easy question: What are you working on now?

 DINA: I'm feverishly editing my second novel, Kat Fight, due out in spring 2012.

ME: Editing is the hard part, isn’t it? How closely do your characters resemble you? Any particular quirk?

 DINA:  The main character in One Pink Line, Sydney, and I share a lot of the same things. She’s short with long brown hair, she grew up in the eighties, and attended Purdue University.

ME: I like to give shout-outs to my alma mater as well (even though you couldn’t pay me enough to go back to school), and how can you go wrong with the 80s? Do you ever wish you lived a character’s life (not just in your imagination)?

 DINA: I’m a complete Pride & Prejudice goober, so I’d have to say Elizabeth Bennet. She’s a favorite of mine.

ME: I have to admit I have a weird thing about historical fiction, so I can’t really relate. I’ll take your word for itJ. Okay, now on to something of grave importance... sunglasses (a particular fetish of mine): designer or drugstore cheapies? How many pairs are enough?

 DINA: I’m a designer girl. Currently I have two pair, and I don’t want to jinx myself, but I never lose my sunglasses.

ME: Designer shades I can definitely relate to. I’ll knock on wood for both of us regarding the not losing them thing. Now, back to writing - Would you ever want to work on a combined project with your favorite author? If so, who?

 DINA: I would love to write a screenplay with Nora Ephron. Almost everything she writes makes me smile.

ME: Thank you so much for sharing a bit about you and your writing with us today! One final question... I’ve found that readers really enjoy connecting with authors… what is one thing you want your fans to know about you that they may not already be aware of?

 DINA: I’m a real girl’s girl. I love hanging out with my girlfriends and getting together with other mom’s in my neighborhood. I just met up with some college friends in Las Vegas a couple months ago, and had a fantastic weekend with some amazing women who I’ve known forever, but rarely get to spend time with.

ME: Sounds fabulous! Thanks again, Dina, and best of luck to you on your current and future projects. I hope you’ll stop by again sometime soon.

Be sure to check out Dina’s debut novel, One Pink Line, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. And keep an eye out for Kat Fight, coming soon. Want to know more? Keep up with Dina on her Amazon’s Authors Page.

Happy Reading!

~Heidi

One of my Faves - I'm interviewing Chick-Lit author Rachel Schurig today!

I love recommending my favorite books and Rachel Schurig’s Three Girls and a Baby is among them! Now, she’s released the second in the series, Three Girls and a Wedding, and has graciously agreed to take time out of her busy writing schedule to answer a few probing questions… 

Okay, this is Chick-Lit so the questions aren’t too probing, but they’re a heck of a lot of fun! I can’t wait to hear what she has to say!

Welcome, Rachel!

ME: First, I just want to say how much I enjoyed Three Girls and a Baby and I’m really looking forward to delving into Three Girls and a Wedding! What are you writing now?

RACHEL: Three Girls and a Leading Man--the 3rd and final book in my Three Girls chicklit series!

ME: Yay! (Not that the series is coming to an end, but I'm going to have another fabulous book to read soon!). I can’t waitJ. How closely do your characters resemble you? (Any particular quirk?)

RACHEL: The three main characters of this series are very loosely based on myself and my two best friends. The character's backgrounds and current situations are very different but many aspects of our personalities are blended between the three. I think out of the three of the them, I resemble Annie the most--loyal to the core with a bit of a sarcastic streak. For those that have read Three Girls and a Wedding, the "aunt-in-town" story is very true--but I'm not telling which one of us it happened to!

ME: I love a little mystery with my Chick-Lit! I’ll keep my guesses to myself. Do you ever wish you lived a character’s life (not just in your imagination)?

RACHEL: Just about any of Sophie Kinsella's, Jill Mansell's, or Elizabeth Young's characters. I want to be young, beautiful, and living in England--with a hot man desperate to win me over!

ME: Me, too! Especially the England part… my boyfriend (Robert Pattinson) lives there, you know. Okay, he’s not really my boyfriend, but we were talking about fantasy lives. Since we’re being serious (Ha!): Sunglasses (a particular fetish of mine): designer or drugstore cheapies? How many pairs are enough?

RACHEL: Drugstore cheapies. I would love designer but am notorious for losing and breaking my shades! Enough? What does that word mean??

ME: I agree, enough is never enough!

Would you ever want to work on a combined project with your favorite author? If so, who?

RACHEL: Oooh, I would love to be in a short story anthology with authors like Elizabeth Young, Sophie Kinsella, Jill Mansell, and Marion Keyes. To me, these are the reigning queens of chicklit!

ME: If they’re the queens, you’re a princess. (Have I said how much I enjoyed your first book?). Enough stalker talk… people are going to think I’m weirdJ…. I’ve found that readers really enjoy connecting with authors… what is one thing you want your fans to know about you that they may not already be aware of?

RACHEL: I'm embarrassed of my Netflix streaming queue. It is the most ridiculous hodge-podge of crap and randomness. I'd love to hear what secret-shame shows my readers like to watch! Sharing is the first step to accepting.

ME: Ah, turnabout is fair play! Let’s hear those answers, readers! Thanks so much for being with us today.

Haven’t read Rachel Schurig? Be sure to check out her latest book – Three Girls and a Wedding – available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I can personally guarantee: If you love Chick-Lit, you will love these books! Want to know more about this author? Check out Rachel’s Amazon Author’s Page!

Have a great day, everyone!

~Heidi

An Interview Filled with "Confessions" - Check out author Lisa Lim!

Holy cow – it’s the first of December! Well, I didn’t get through my entire list of Romance/Chick-Lit Author Interviews in November, but that’s okay… we’ll pretend it’s a 2-month long promotion. J 

Today I have Lisa Lim, author of  the fabulous Confessions of a Call Center Gal, on the blog and I’m so excited to be able to share her awesome interview with you!

Welcome, Lisa!

ME: Why beat around the bush… What are you writing now?

LISA: I’m co-writing (with my teenage niece) a Young Adult chick lit novella titled My Mormon Crush, My Dog Eats Poo. It’s classified as Young Adult, but I’m hoping it might also appeal to adults with a warped sense of humor. It’ll be released December 28 2011.

ME: You just described me! How closely do your characters resemble you? Any particular quirk? (And I hope you don’t resemble the dog… LOL!

LISA: Like the famed dog in my new novella, my dogs also eat their own poo. Also, they seem to find cat poo and seagull poo quite the delicacy. 

And, like the protagonist in the novella, I want to marry a pork burrito.

In my other chick lit novel: Confessions of a Call Center Gal, I’d say about 50% of the protagonist is me and 100% of the book is based on real experiences as a call center gal. I’ve seen many of my co-workers on the verge of tears and I wanted to tell our story. Plus, I’m a chick lit junkie and I’ve read countless chick lit novels where the women all have fancy jobs, and they fancy men who hold fancy jobs. And I wanted to read about a woman I could relate to. A protagonist who is regular chick with a very ordinary job, who falls for a guy with an ordinary job. Although, the guy is anything but ordinary (I like to think).

ME: Well, I’m glad you don’t eat poo, for startersJ. And I love the idea of characters the masses can relate to! Oh yeah… Pork burritos… now I’m hungry. Do you ever wish you lived a character’s life (not just in your imagination)?

LISA: Sometimes. The character in My Mormon Crush, My Dog Eats Poo is a teenager. And I’m not so sure if I’d want to go back to high school, which I deem the prime suffering years. Bwarhahaha, back then I was chief of the Nerd Herd.

Flashback! I’ll have to say, part of me still misses Blink-182, N Sync and Sublime.

ME: I agree – I miss some of the music, too, but not much else. High school blows. Sunglasses (a particular fetish of mine): designer or drugstore cheapies? How many pairs are enough?

LISA: Designer. The world looks better with rose tinted lenses.

Um, you can never have enough pairs of sunnies (I got the term ‘sunnies’ from watching too much Rachel Zoe).

ME: A woman after my own heart! Would you ever want to work on a combined project with your favorite author? If so, who?

LISA: Hell yeah. Sophie Kinsella, Chelsea Handler and Mindy Kaling (of The Office).

ME: Oh! Chelsea Handler! I’m so glad you mentioned her because I am definitely a fan (and her books are pretty funny, too). I would love to hang out with her one day to see how much of that acerbic wit is genuine (I’m guessing all of itJ). Speaking of hanging out with authors - I’ve found that readers really enjoy connecting with us… what is one thing you want your fans to know about you that they may not already be aware of?

LISA: I am the biggest dog lover and I’m all about the rescue dogs. My motto is: Don’t Shop! Adopt!

ME: I love that motto!!! Thanks so much for being with us today and I wish you every success in life, love and, of course, book sales!

Need to know more? Be sure to check out Lisa Lim’s novel Confessions of a Call Center Gal on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Want to be even nosier? Stop by her Amazon Author’s page for lots of details on Lisa, her books, and great discussions. And, be sure to comment below, too!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Heidi