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5 Things Liz & Lisa Didn't Know about....Julie Buxbaum

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Julie Buxbaum might just have the best book covers evuh! The cover for her novel, After You, (out in paperback now) tells a story all its own. If we saw it in the bookstore, we'd pick it up instantly and flip it over to read the back, wanting to know more. (which is what you should do next time you're in Target. It was just picked as a Target Breakout Book!) And that's exactly what Lisa did when she noticed Julie's first book, The Opposite of Love in Barnes and Noble. And she's so happy she did!

For us, the cover is half the battle.  And with both books, Buxbaum doesn't disappoint. Her novels grab you from the moment you see them sitting on the shelf at your favorite book store to the moment you turn the last page, sorry to see the story end.

After you is the gripping story eight-year-old Sophie who witnesses her mother Lucy's death. Lucy's best friend, Ellie, immediately travels across the Atlantic ocean to help Sophie who's stopped speaking and whose father has retreated to drinking to deal with his own grief. To help Sophie, Ellie turns to the book, The Secret Garden. And as she begins to discover things about her best friend's life, she also must face things about her own- things her best friend didn't even know. Anyone who's had a past full of regret, a best friend or a lost love will relate to this book. And if you'd like to win one of five copies, leave a comment here!

We're thrilled to be learning more about this talented author. Just like so many of our other fave's, she's got a great sense of humor. And, apparently, so does her husband (wait 'til you find out how he proposed!). So....drum roll please... here's 5 Things we didn't know about...Julie Buxbaum.

1. I have the handwriting of a six year old. Somehow, I have gotten through high school, college and law school, and yet I’ve never learned how to hold a pen properly. That should really be on the SAT.

2. I know this is blasphemous, but I hate to shop. Despise it. Not only because my body is incredibly disproportionate—my top half and bottom half are more than a little mismatched, which definitely makes the shopping thing harder—but mostly because I hate to make any decisions.  In fact, would prefer to never have to make any decisions at all.  About anything.  Even what topping to put on my pizza. Or whether I want pizza at all.  Maybe I want chicken. Or tacos.  See, hate decisions.  Hate them. And thus, shopping too.

3. I am that person who shows up at the airport, only to find out their flight is tomorrow, or yesterday, or ten minutes ago. Shortly thereafter, I am that person who cries at the check-in counter.

4. I’ve read THE SECRET GARDEN at least one hundred times. Which is why it plays such a huge role in AFTER YOU.  I think it is as close to a perfect book as you can get.

5.  After meeting my husband for the first time, I turned to my best friend and said, “You never know who you’re going to meet that’s going to change your life.” Little did I know, though, that seven years later, after kidnapping me and whisking me off to Tahiti, he would propose.  But that’s not the interesting part.  Upon taking me to the most romantic spot on the planet, how did my future husband pop the question? Did he get down on one knee and declare his abiding love in a move that would be befitting the setting?  Nope.  He thought it was a much better idea to moon me.  Yup, my husband proposed via lipstick on his butt.  Of course I said yes.

To learn more about Julie, follow her on Twitter and Facebook. You should also check out her sassy new blog, Julie has writer's blog.

xoxo

Writing Wednesday: Chick Lit Is Not Dead! By Liz & Lisa

Chick Lit is not dead. It's not-we swear! And although we know that y'all are dying to discover the next big author, you'd probably be shocked to discover that we're STILL being told by agents that Chick lit, or Upmarket women's fiction, or whatever the hell they want us to call it these days, just doesn't sell.

And to be perfectly honest, we're tired of our gal Chick Lit feeling like she has to hide in the corner like some dirty slut. So we're calling bullsh*t.  Chick Lit is NOT Dead!

Looking back, Chick Lit's popularity was ultimately the death of her. Because when the market became over-saturated with a bunch of copycats with predictable plots and cardboard characters, she was catapulted down to the D-list faster than than you could say Snooki. She was accused of lacking substance, of being insulting to women's intelligence and being *gasp* cliche'.

Poor Chick Lit became such an outcast in the publishing world that she couldn't even be called by her own name anymore. Apparently, if she stood any chance of transforming from unbound manuscript to sleek, published novel, she had to be disguised as Women's Fiction. And even then, the odds of her becoming Homecoming Queen again were pretty damn slim.

Aspiring novelists querying agents needed to beware! Titles that conjured images of stilettos were shunned; the mention of designer purses was literary suicide; and if the protagonist was *gulp* a quirky, single girl with dreams of meeting Mr. Right, the manuscript was sent off to die a very slow death in some slush (or should we say "slut") pile.

Chick Lit had been pronounced dead, gone well before her time due to overexposure. And her writers and readers put on their black designer dresses and went into mourning.

Her headline in the gossip columns would have read, From It Girl to Out Girl. One Too Many Knock-offs Sealed Her Fate!

But like any former A-lister, we knew she'd make a come back. (If Hugh Grant could do it, so could she!) She just had to wait for her moment and seize it.

And the time is now! Here's why we say Chick Lit has not only made a comeback, but she's going to be on the scene for a while.

She's our fantasy! Thinking about the crashing stock market and the record high unemployment rates hurts our heads. So instead of watching the nightly news, we'd rather pop open the book with a stick figure drinking a martini on the cover and give our brains the night off. If you can't take a real vacation, at least give your brain one! Let your biggest worry be over whether Jane Q Single Gal gets to marry Joe Q Bachelor; whether frenemies can become friend-ly; if it's a bad idea to get a manny.  Let her wrap your ending up in a nice red bow and don't feel guilty about it for one second!

She's a cheap date! Even though hard economic times have caused most of us to slash our budgets (Tarjay is so the new Nordys), Chick Lit is still making it into our shopping carts. She's like that friend who talks you out of your buyer's remorse.  She reminds you that it's OK to spend money on things that make you feel better. In fact, she thinks it's the American way! And even though a lot of us can't justify buying that Louis Vuitton purse or getting that $200 haircut anymore, Chick Lit still gives a frugal girl some bang for her buck. If you get her in paperback, she's only about $12. 95! This seems like an awesome price considering how often she makes us laugh, cry or even SOL (snort out loud!).  And BTW, Chick Lit is always up on the latest trends. And if she says cheap is the new chic, we believe her!

She's Secure in her Stilettos Chick Lit is proud of who she is. She makes no apologies for drinking Cosmos or wearing designer skinny jeans. She's never going to make the argument that she should win the Pulitzer or that she's invented cold fusion.   And she definitely doesn't think a book should require a thesaurus while reading! She loves a good rom-com too and couldn't be happier that her cousin, Chick Flick is back on the red carpet again.

So to the literary snobs of the world, it's time to face the truth. That Chick Lit is back and better than ever. And she's back now for the very reason she exploded onto the literary scene in the first place. No good woman can resist well-written books with high fashion and happy endings.

So say it loud and proud, *channels Ty Pennington and yells into megaphone* CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD!

What do you think?  Do you still want your happy ending? Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a $20 iTunes gift card!  Let's let people know that we want some brain candy!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

Meg Cabot's in the Hot Seat

When Meg Cabot offered to share an article she wrote exclusively with lil' ol' us, we jumped at the opportunity. Because, let's face it, when Meg Cabot says "jump" we say "how high?" Plus, it was perfect timing. We'd just brainstormed a new feature called In the Hot Seat where we give our favorite authors a chance to let us know what's on their mind! And we were thrilled when Meg wanted to share an exclusive piece about her latest book, Insatiable (out now), a modern and humorous take on Dracula and it is "juicy"! (Btw, from The Princess Diaries to vampires- we're more than impressed!)

Click here to read an excerpt. And leave a comment on this post to win a copy! (We're giving away two! The only catch? You must be a US resident. Sorry to all of our friends across the pond! But don't worry, we'll make it up to you... )

But first, we need to give you a quick Flip for Liz & Lisa contest update! In just one week, we've gained over two hundred fans! Thanks to everyone who's helped make this happen and welcome to all of our new friends! Please continue to spread the word because once we hit 1,000 new fans(2320 is the magic number!) we'll be giving away a fabulous Flip SideHD. *shouts into megaphone* C'mon Everybody!  Let's do it!

And now, here's Meg's piece about why she wrote the book. It's full of lots of inside scoop like how she's managed to define a new genre. (In all her spare time!)

Insatiable

By Meg Cabot

True confession: I'm not wild about the horror genre . . . so why write a book with vampires in it?  Well, I got an idea for one.  And I love pop culture.

And vampire stories have been around (and part of popular culture) for millennia. The ancient Greeks, the Romans, and the Hebrews all told stories about demonic creatures who fed on the blood of the living.  Vampires aren’t just a trend . . . they’re a tradition.

The first rich, sexy vampire (who was irresistible to women . . . but sadly preferred to dine on virgin blood) appeared in print as far back as 1819.  But it wasn’t until 1897, when a little-known theatre manager slash pulp fiction author named Abraham (Bram) Stoker wrote the most famous vampire novel of all time, Dracula, that we had our first feminist heroine in vampire fiction. Mina Harker was talented and ambitious . . . and a writer.

But Mina didn’t just write about vampires: she battled them! Mina was sort of a Victorian Buffy the Vampire Slayer—although Dracula was in no way as cool, hot, or funny as either Angel or Spike.

In fact, tough vampire-slaying women like Buffy, who have to choose between love and duty—Buffy and Angel couldn’t consummate their relationship, because every time Angel had one true moment of happiness (sex with Buffy, of course) he lost his soul and became evil again, threatening to destroy the world—are direct descendants of the literary tradition that began with Dracula.

So, back to the original question:  Why write a vampire novel?  Well, like I said, I got an idea for one.

And then I got excited.  What did I as a storyteller have to bring to an ages-old tradition that’s always struck a chord with popular culture?

I knew I wanted to bring back all those great original vampire myths from the Romantic period, as well as old school vampires.

But I also wanted to bring back strong, confident heroines (like Mina and Buffy) who battle against them, women who aren’t virgins waiting around to be rescued:  They’re too busy saving the world.

Dracula (the most famous vampire story, by which Insatiable is partly inspired) is a gothic novel. I write books about girl empowerment. So combine the two, and you get a brand new genre I'm calling: Girl Gothic.

Other examples of Girl Gothic besides Insatiable (and Mina Harker) include Jane Eyre, Practical Magic, and Buffy: empowered heroines who stand up for themselves and have goals outside of snagging a man (but who still love men, exasperating though they can be at times), and who don't believe that being dead is a happy ending.

I hope you're as excited as I am for the release of Insatiable.  On megcabot.com you’ll find an Insatiable playlist, deleted scenes, maps, FAQs about the Palatine (as well as who they are!), and much, much more.

In the meantime, remember: No biting!

Much love,

Meg Cabot

Seven Seconds in Heaven with...The Accidental Adult

In honor of Father's Day, we thought it was high time to bring back Seven Seconds in Heaven, our special feature for all the fantastic male authors that are brave enough to hang out here at Chick Lit is not Dead!  Today we have author Colin Sokolowski, author of The Accidental Adult: Essays and Advice for the Reluctantly Responsible and Marginally Mature

Accidental Adult (n): an individual whose age indicates maturity, but whose actions indicate otherwise.

Sound familiar?

Ladies, we've all known one (Lisa dated one for three loooong years and still shudders at the thought of his bi-weekly boys nights). Hell, some of us might even be married to one now. Or at least to one that has, er, tendencies...Or we might even be one ourselves- an Accidental Adult.

Well, just in time for Father's Day, we've found the perfect gift for any self-proclaimed, closeted or man-child in denial. The Accidental Adult by Colin Sokolowski (In stores NOW! or you can order it here).  A hilarious collection of essays about the (not always easy) transition from sports cars to minivans, from lazy Sundays to soccer games, from dance clubs to school clubs.

And no matter what end of the man-boy spectrum your hubby or dad or the "man" in your life is on, he'll find this book funny- and so will you. Because, let's face it, it's not just men who can get nostalgic for their pre-adult lives.

Today we're giving away a copy of The Accidental Adult. Just leave a comment here to be entered to win!

So without further adieu, the hilarious Accidental Adult himself, Colin Sokolowski, has agreed to spend seven seconds in heaven with us...

1. Why did you write the book? No one should feel alone, and accidental adults especially need the company. I think this book tells the world it’s okay to embrace who you really are – imperfections and all. Now that it’s in bookstores, I’m already hearing from people who are saying the book taps into something very relatable for them as they stare down a quarter-life or mid-life identity crisis. One guy in Boston posted a note on my Facebook page telling me he stumbled onto the book, and he said reading it was doing his mind and soul good. Hearing that just made my entire week. I guess you could say I wrote The Accidental Adult for that guy in Boston, and for his girlfriend who’s probably trying to figure out why he and his friends are reluctant grownups. And maybe she’s discovering that she’s not that far behind him either.

2. As a self-proclaimed Accidental Adult, a husband and father of three, how do you find the balance between your pre and post minivan life? Or do you? Playing Van Halen in the minivan really helps. I also really find peace in this inner monologue that I maintain. It’s my own little silent, smart-ass sanity system where I tell myself constantly that I may be an adult by age, but I’m really not one of them. It probably sounds more like a coping mechanism, and I suppose it is. I also fake interest in a lot of things I don’t care about. I highly recommend that.

3. You tell your kids, do as I say not as I do. What have you done lately that you wouldn't want them to repeat? Riding my 1986 motor scooter without a helmet. I can make the kids wear a helmet like my parents made me, but when they’re teenagers, I imagine they’ll throw it off as soon as they scoot around the corner like I did.

4. What are the top three signs that someone is (or is in danger of becoming) an Accidental Adult?

Just three?

1. You send your 11-year-old daughter across the street to borrow a bottle of wine from the neighbors.

2. You laugh when the neighbor kids call you “Mr.” or “Mrs.” instead of using your first name.

3. You measure once and cut twice. Sometimes three times.

If you really want to find out for yourself, I’ve got an Accidental Adult Aptitude Test online at www.accidentaladult.com.

5. What advice do you have for someone married to an Accidental Adult? You knew you were marrying a reluctant grownup, so whose fault is it? If that doesn’t buy any goodwill, I’d tell them to not expect us to be like their father. We’re not nearly as useful, but we’re probably more fun. We’re not going to properly inflate the tires before a roadtrip, but we promise to take you on a really sweet ride.

6. How does an Accidental Adult celebrate Father's Day? I’ll be trying to put together another “some-assembly-required” bicycle for my eight-year-old son and deflecting the blame when it all goes terribly wrong. (Faulty tools, poorly written instructions, insufficient materials provided . . .)

7. Are there AA (Accidental Adult) meetings? My friends and I call them Super Terrific Happy Hours, and they’re very cathartic. Instead of speeches we order a pitcher of beer and play games like, “Who can find photos of the cute local newscaster on their iPhone the fastest?” or “Who’s got the most crap in their wallet?” or “Which Disney princess is the hottest, and why?” (My vote’s with Ariel.) Then we end the night with a round of full-frontal hugs. It’s really helpful to cultivate and nurture a group of like-minded friends like mine who are similarly stunted accidental adults. This way, you’ll never truly feel alone. Unless you’re looking for company at a wine-tasting party. Then you’re probably on your own.

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5 (More) Things Liz & Lisa Didn't Know About...Jane Green

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She's baaack!

The Queen of Chick Lit is paying us another visit and we're rolling out the red carpet! (She is the Queen after all!) Last time, she made us this entertaining video (with appearances by her children and other glimpses into her home life!) and today, she reveals five more things that have us LOL'ing. (And we don't just LOL over anything, people!)

It's no secret that we love us some Jane Green. Not just because she's a talented author, but she's also personable and just downright nice. So it should come as no surprise that her latest novel (out now!), Promises to Keep is also at the top of our list! It's a story about the hard choices we have to face, about having to be your parent's child long after you've grown up and about the enduring nature of love. And not only do we think you should buy this book because it's fabulous, but also because 20% of the royalties go to City of Hope!

But you know us, we're giveaway whores too... so of course we have FIVE copies of Jane's novel in our hot little hands. Just leave a comment here and you could be the proud new owner of Jane's latest masterpiece.

And if you're not already following Jane on Facebook or Twitter, you should. You can get constant updates about her life (she's a mother of SIX) and her books (Promises to Keep is her 12th!). Plus, she's hilarious. As you'll see below...

5 (more) Things Liz and Lisa Didn't Know about...Jane Green!

1. I am allergic to exercise. Truly. I have been through phases in my life when I try, but...but...I just can’t be bothered.  A couple of years ago I quite liked running on a treadmill. I never made it past a mile or so, but it felt quite good. And then I stopped. I spend many nights lying in bed planning to exercise in the morning, and then morning comes and...I still can’t be bothered.

2.  I cry when I laugh. Always. This makes mascara-wearing a bit of a liability, and I do not go anywhere without at least four tissues in my bag.

3.  I have the patience of a fruit fly, with no attention-span whatsoever. I spent many happy hours at school daydreaming out of windows, and am still not entirely sure how I passed any exams at all. Now they would have diagnosed ADD, but then it was just endless report cards saying: must try harder.

4.  Turning forty was one of the best days of my life. Turning forty-one, however, was miserable. I was so geared up about turning forty, it never occurred to me that I was going to continue growing older. Turning forty-two, thankfully, was fine. And if you tell me I look thirty five I will be your best friend forever.

5. According to my husband, I am not a very good driver, but I think I am the best driver in the world. Many people have been known to ride in the passenger seat with one hand hovering on the door handle. I am ashamed to admit I once sent a jogger flying over a hedge. Twin B also claims car sickness whenever he’s in the back, but I think that’s just attention-seeking...

Thanks again, Jane!

xoxo, L&L

Flip for Liz & Lisa

We've got news!

And we haven't been this excited about something since, well, Spanx. You know how we're total giveaway whores? Well, it's because we love giving away things in exchange for those comments of yours that we crave so much. Because we love you guys. We love your support and hearing from you and finding out what you like (and what you don't-although, luckily, our negative Nelly commenters have been few and far between).

And to show you our appreciation for your support, we think we've come up with a pretty damn good contest with some pretty damn good prizes (if we do say so ourselves!). To be part of this, it's simple. Easier than 90 second rice in the microwave or Nairing off your mustache.

Just give us your friends.

Your Facebook friends that is. All you have to do is "encourage" (you know... bribe, force or even threaten) your Facebook friends to "like" our Facebook page. Just one little click of the mouse. That's it. Because we're not just contest whores, we're fan whores too. What can we say? We just want to be liked. Maybe it's the awkward, Aqua Net spraying, Lee Press on Nail wearing, braces sporting, high school girls still living inside of us.

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5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about...Claire Cook

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Summer is FINALLY here and we are so ready for some great beach reading. (Now we just have to find time to make it to the beach!)  And with so many fantastic releases from our favorite authors, (And some great debuts too!) they'll be plenty to choose from.

Speaking of great new releases, Today we're learning five things about fabulous bestselling author Claire Cook!  She's the author of SEVEN ENTERTAINING NOVELS (including Must Love Dogs, which was made into a movie starring our girl crush Diane Lane!).  Her latest,  Seven Year Switch follows sassy single mom Jill as she tries to pick up the pieces after her husband leaves her to raise her daughter by herself.  It's an inspiring tale about starting over, finding strength and rediscovering love.  Perfect for a summer getaway!

Not only is Claire revealing five things, she made a video (complete with music-we're impressed!) about the five things we don't know about her. We're loving it and have a feeling that you will too.(She has a very interesting past job that involved a leotard!  She's been on the Today show!)

And don't forget to connect with Claire on Facebook and Twitter too-she hosts lots of cool giveaways and we know y'all love getting free stuff!

And...To celebrate the release of Seven Year Switch, we are giving away FIVE copies.  You know what to do-just leave a comment to be entered!

So sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy!  xoxo

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Watch This, Not That: Summer Edition by Liz

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Summer's finally here and I'm looking forward to all the things that come along with it. Like beach bonfires, BBQs and...all kinds of TV shows that weren't good enough for the regular season! Remember back in the day when the only thing on in the summer were reruns of all your favorite shows?  But then the powers that be realized that viewers were so desperate for fresh programming in July that they'd watch just about anything!  And so the summer season was born...

I'll admit that I've grown rather fond of many summer substandard shows. (Um, is this where I admit that I'm a closet Big Brother fan?)  And I always cheer just a little bit when one of my summer crushes graduates to the bigtime, aka the fall season schedule. (Bravo SYTYCD and Dancing with the Stars!)

And this summer is no exception with it's choices of gluttonous reality TV.  And lucky for you, I'm here to navigate y'all through what's trashy in a good way to what's just trash.

WATCH THIS!

Losing it with Jillian I ran into this show by accident last week and thought I couldn't stand the thought of one more minute of Jillian's workouts, which usually consist of screaming and dramatic speeches about people healing from the inside.  But I was soon mesmerized by her heartfelt attempt to help an obese mom and dad lose weight in time for their daughter's wedding.  And I cried like a baby when Jillian gave her lameass, overly dramatic, camera too close to her face speech.  Against my better judgment, I'm season passing this one.

Wipeout What does it say about me that I LOVE LOVE LOVE to watch people eat sh*t on the big red balls?  I tried to tell myself that it was my crush on John Henson(dating all the way back to his days on Talk Soup) that kept me coming back for more.  But then I finally came to the realization that watching these people make asses out of themselves just makes me happy after a long day.  Don't judge.

NOT THAT!

The Bachelorette I've got to throw out the disclaimer that I actually watch this show religiously every week(so many facebook status opportunities! I can't control myself!) and have been a huge fan since the day Trista gave out her first rose. But this season can be, um, well, SLIGHTLY UNWATCHABLE at times. Between the wrestler, the James Spader wannabe and the questionable sexual orientation of the weatherman, I find myself rolling my eyes much more than usual. (And that's saying a lot people!)  And please someone tell me why we can't get through an episode without one of these guys crying a river.  It's making me want to take a torch and burn the rest of Ali's roses. (Or her hair extensions-WTF with those?)

True Beauty Another show that I'm beginning to have a love/hate relationship with.  Something about the horribly obnoxious and shallow contestants (who think their competing to be the "face of Las Vegas" but are really being judged on their inner beauty) is both repulsive and addicting at the same time.  But either way, I'm always wondering the same thing: Where the hell do they find these people? And I can never tell if it's my desperation to watch something new or actual humor that makes host Carson Kressly's quips funny.  Either way, I have a feeling that True Beauty will be gathering dust in my Tivo this summer.

Honorable NOT THAT mention: Minute to Win it is so incredibly lame that I refuse to write more than one sentence about it-you'll just have to trust me on this one.

What are YOU watching this summer?

xoxo, Liz

Mommy Monday: Mommy is tired!

Remember the days you thought 7am was oh-so early? When you used to spend all day Sunday on the couch watching VH1?

I used to think I knew what being tired felt like-something I could cure by sleeping in until noon the next day or adding an extra shot to my Americano. But then I started having children.  And I've been tired in some capacity ever since!

And it's not just me.  Everyone around me with kids under five just seem like they would happily curl up into a ball and take a catnap if given the chance. And all the B12 in the world doesn't seem to make it any better.  Believe me, I've tried the shot in my ass, the pill and even that new nasal B12.  And I'm still f*cking tired!

My now three-year-old didn't sleep AT ALL the first year and I used to walk around like a zombie, wearing my exhaustion like a badge of honor, daring anyone within fifty feet to try to compete with my tiredness.  I quickly discovered that  long-term sleep deprivation made me a humorless beyotch with bad skin.

Had to wake up at 6am to make it to Yogalates? Boo F'ing Hoo!

Stayed out too late with the girls and had to recover by watching SATC on TBS for four hours straight the next day? I'm hatin' on you just a little bit.

Anytime anyone over the age of ten gets to take a daytime nap? Super. Insanely. Jealous.

And even though most nights my munchkins now sleep peacefully, (although sadly WILL NOT sleep past 6am, no matter how late we keep them up) I still find myself tired most of the time.  Not the bone-aching, mind-numbing newborn baby tired, but more like a constant feeling like I'd like to stop whatever I'm doing and go lie in bed. Which btw, is a very impractical thought when you're in the middle of a presentation at work.  Or in the middle of a conversation with, well, ANYONE!

And while I recognize that heading out for a jog or spending some time at the gym would help this problem, I just can't seem to find the time or motivation to drag myself there.  The thought of waking up at 4am to go the the gym makes me want to take a free weight and punch the person in the face who suggested it.  Or wrap them up in a Pilates mat and roll them down a hill. Or use them as my kickboxing class punching bag.

And don't even get me started on that research that claims you need to get at least seven and a half hours of sleep each night in order to lose weight.  Another strike against any mommy trying desperately to take off those last eight pounds. Clearly a man came up with that sh*t!

So until I reach that promised land where my children are able to wake up and get dressed without parental assistance, I will remain slightly tired at all times. And I'd like to give Lisa a big shout out for enduring MANY early morning bitchface emails from me! Sorry!  I should be banned from any forms of communication besides grunting before 7am.

So to all you tired mommies out there, this one's for you.  Let's band together in our slight everyday crankiness.  Tired Mommies Unite!

And for those of you who think this post is kinda bitchy, sorry! I was super tired when I wrote it. =)  To make it up to you, I'm giving away a SIGNED copy of Emily Giffin's latest release, Heart of The Matter. Leave a comment to be entered!

xoxo, Liz

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9 Things Liz & Lisa Didn't Know About...Allison Winn Scotch

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She's not just a majorly talented, New York Times bestselling author with three fabulous books under her belt. Allison Winn Scotch also has serious celebrity radar (case in point: she saw Tina Fey, Ben Stiller AND Cynthia Nixon in the same week!).  She picked her husband up! (Wait till you find out where...) And she has quite a thing for cereal... We're SUPER excited about Allison's latest novel, The One That I Want available everywhere TODAY! We both loved the wonderful story about Tilly Farmer, a girl who's seemingly perfect life begins to fall apart after an old childhood friend gives her the gift to see into the future. Liz was unable to put it down-she finished it in one day flat! (A new all-time record, btw...) And Lisa has already read it twice! Redbook Magazine loved it too, choosing it as a June Book Pick and we agree- it's a must-have for your beach bag this summer!

And to launch The One That I Want, Allison is giving away some FABULOUS PRIZES if you order it between now and June 4th.  Send her the receipt and you'll be entered to win cool stuff like a Blackberry, a Flip camera, a bag of great summer reads and more! Head on over to her website or Facebook page for all the deets!

And that's not all!  We have FIVE copies of The One That I Want to give away!  Just leave a comment on this post to be entered!

Allison took time out of her uber-busy schedule not just to share 9 things about herself that we didn't know, but to make a video to reveal these things to us! (Thanks, Allison!)

And that's not as easy as it may seem. Think lighting, wardrobe and, of course, content. Well, we think she nailed it from start to finish. (But of course she did! We're beginning to think she's good at everything she does-she even has awesome tweets!) And we have no doubt you'll love this video as much as we do.

So, pull up a chair and watch and be prepared to learn some pretty interesting things about Allison. And don't forget to leave a comment here for a chance to win a copy of The One That I Want!

xoxo

SATC, How We Love Thee By Liz & Lisa

There's absolutely nothing we're looking forward to more than attending the premier of  SATC 2. (Okay, so maybe we won't be crossing a velvet rope to get in and our seats will be in a movie theater somewhere off the 405, but we'll still be there opening night!) Not even a wedding or a graduation or even our anniversaries (don't worry- the husbands totally get it) come close to the thrill we'll experience when we order a giant tub of buttery popcorn and join a crowd of fans as that theme song starts playing. Seeing what Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte have been up to since we left them in the coffee shop after Carrie and Mr. Big's courthouse nuptials will be almost as exhilarating as seeing what designers they'll be wearing . To say our love affair with SATC has been a long one is putting it mildly. (Let's just say Lisa's has outlasted all of her longest relationships.) For Lisa, it's been like a religion. From HBO to TBS to the box set, she'd pay homage to the show that became almost a friend (not in an obsessive weird way, we promise) as she went through break up, after break up, after break up.  And although Liz was originally turned off by Miranda's season one mansuits (although that wardrobe choice makes A LOT more sense now) she quickly bonded with her when they both got pregnant and questioned their ability to bond with something so fragile.

Just the mere sight of the SATC2 trailer has been enough to send us into a frenzy. (Aiden? Hot cabana boys in the desert? Poolside cocktails? We're in!). Liz nearly gave her hubs a heart attack when she began clapping wildly the first time she saw it. (SATC was the only non G-rated movie she saw in 2007).  And Lisa?  She downloaded it from the internet and plays it... a lot. And she keeps mentioning something about wanting to vacation in...Abu Dhabi. (Um, is this the same girl who thinks Palm Springs is too hot in the spring?) Which proves that Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte can make anywhere look fabulous.

So, in tribute to our four favorite ladies, here are our favorite episodes:

Season 1: Models And Mortals We'll happily forgive Carrie for speaking directly into the camera (how happy are we that stopped?) because she introduces us to the term "modelizer" in this hilarious episode about men who are addicted to dating amazon women. Highlight: Samantha agrees to have her sexual encounter videotaped, proving once again that she has always been a trendsetter.

Season 1: Oh Come All Ye Faithful We cringe every time we watch Carrie stalks follow Big to church with his mother. And when she asks him to tell her "she's the one" and he can't, she does the only thing she can do to preserve her dignity- she dumps him. Little does she know it's only the beginning of a very long roller coaster ride with Big. At least it all comes full-circle. (See #10.)

Season 2: Ex And The City Ah, the infamous question we've all asked, "Can you be friends with an ex?" (Um, N-O!) We scream when Carrie shows up to Big's engagement party (she was invited- so gross) and tries to convince herself that she can watch the love of her life marry someone else.  Yeah, right.  Highlight: When Carrie finds out Big is engaged and tells him off in a crowded restaurant. (Who hasn't wanted to do that?)

Season 3: Attack of the Five-Foot-Ten-Inch Woman It's bad enough when you're ex moves on. But with a tall, beautiful model? Crushing. So when Carrie discovers in the New York Times Style section that Mr. Big and Natasha have tied the knot, we start to hate on Mr. Big just a little. Highlight: Miranda's war with her housekeeper over "sexual paraphernalia."

Season 3: Running With Scissors Carrie's affair with Big comes to a screeching halt when Natasha returns home early from The Hamptons (oops!) to discover Carrie in their house and then falls down the stairs and breaks her tooth in an attempt to confront her.  Highlight: The man dressed a hot dog that kept asking Miranda to "Eat me".

Season 4: Ghost Town Proving the theory that we always want what we can't have, Miranda and Carrie start second guessing their relationship choices when Steve and Aidan open a hip bar.  And it doesn't help that the only action Miranda's getting is from the ghost haunting her apartment.  Oh, and Samantha decides she's not a lesbian anymore. Highlight: Bunny's face when she walks in on Charlotte & Trey in bed.

Season 5: Luck Be An Old Lady We're not sure if it's Carries new do' or Charlotte's Jersey Shore makeover, but this episode about the girls heading to AC for Charlotte's "thirty-faux-birthday" makes us squirm a little bit. The harsh reality of being single in your mid-thirties was hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time. Highlight: When they get the hell out of AC and return to NYC!

Season 5: Belles Of The Balls Steve feels like less of a man when he's left with only one ball after cancer. And who knew there could be so many great ball jokes? "Do you really want a pinto next to your p*nis, Steve?" Highlight: Aidan and Big a.k.a. "The Green Hornet" and "Batman" rolling around in the mud at Aidan's country house.

Season 6: The Post-it always sticks twice When Carrie gets dumped via a post it from Berger, she does what any self-respecting woman does: has a GNO at a dive bar. Highlight: The reappearance of Miranda's pre-baby skinny jeans and a pot bust.

Season 6: An American Girl in Paris(Part Deux) Samantha gives in to love, Charlotte finally gets her baby and Miranda commits to the long haul with Steve. But at the heart of it all is Carrie.  And we like to think every woman in America cheers when Miranda tells Big to "Go get our girl".  And then cries her eyes out when he does. Highlight: Finally discovering Big's name!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

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5 Things Liz & Lisa Didn't Know About...Hyatt Bass

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We first heard about debut author Hyatt Bass  (btw, what a great name!) when Allison Winn Scotch tweeted about her last year. With an endorsement from one of our favorite authors, we snatched up The Embers immediately and also started following @HyattBass on Twitter (when we tweeted her, she tweeted back!).  And from the first page, Hyatt's novel was incredibly satisfying. Her writing is engaging and real. As is the story of Emily whose engagement makes her take a difficult look at how her family has been torn apart since her brother passed away. The story moves between past and present over the course of sixteen years and is told from the perspectives of Emily, her father and mother as they all come to face the many buried secrets in the family.

The Embers is out in paperback today. And if you leave a comment here, you know what that means! A chance to win a copy of this fantastic novel. We say it's perfect timing for the holiday weekend!

So here she is.... the fabulous Hyatt Bass! (And PS: If she wasn't already fabulous enough... guess who she's married to? The writer of the hilarious movie, Date Night!)

1) The Embers actually started out as a screenplay (I’d written & directed a film, 75 Degrees In July).  When the script for The Embers didn’t work, I had a crazy idea to try writing it as a novel.  Ironically, the book is now out to filmmakers, and I think it would make a great film.

2) My son (5 at the time) had a melt-down when he found out People magazine had chosen The Embers as one of its “Get Set For Summer” books of 2009 but had excluded his “book.”  Who saved the day?  My filmmaker husband of course, writer of Date Night and Shrek Forever After, who offered to make a movie of our son’s book with his Flip camera.  I wrote this essay about it at The Daily Beast.

3) My great passion outside of my work and my family is The New York Women's Foundation.  I also met up with women’s funds all over the country during my book tour, and it was one of the most rewarding parts of publication.

4) Until I was 18, I wanted to be a professional ballet dancer. I decided to go to college instead, but I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to take that other path.

5) Before our children were born, my husband and I used to take each other on birthday road-trips to surprise destinations. The hotel in The Embers is based on a combination of places we visited this way.

To find out more about the incredibly talented Hyatt Bass, visit her website.

xoxo

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Lit IT Girl: Debut Author Kate Rockland

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We've discovered all kinds of things about our favorite bestselling authors here at CLIND.  But we'd also like to introduce you to some fabulous debut authors too.  Because who doesn't love to find a wonderful new writer? So we're rolling out a brand spankin' new feature called Lit IT Girl: Debut Author that will showcase the very best and the brightest of the class of 2010 and beyond. And because we're also obsessed interested in finding a home for our manuscript, we thought it would be fun to find out how these authors got their foot in the door of the publishing world.  But don't worry, we'll still be asking all the hard-hitting questions our readers want answered (like their GNO drink of choice and who they'd choose to have a celeb Twitter war with).

We're kicking off with fabulous Lit IT Girl Kate Rockland, whose debut novel, Falling is Like This is a rock and roll love story. (Proof: she even got a shout out from Courtney Love!)  It's a comedic and touching account of an affair with a rock star that every girl dreams about. Emily Giffin is a fan too, calling her a "new rock star in women's fiction"!  With credentials like these, we have a feeling Kate is going to have no problem living up to her Lit IT Girl title.

Check out Kate's sassy answers to our Qs and leave a comment for a chance to win one of FIVE copies of Falling is Like This!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: LIT IT GIRL KATE ROCKLAND:

How many agents did you query before you found "the one"? I had Ryan in mind from the get-go. I mean, the guy loves New Jersey punk bands, how could I go wrong? I used to work at Rolling Stone books, and he would come in and pitch us books. I was a lowly Editorial Assistant (basically a glorified secretary) and he would always be really nice to me when he came in the office. I have a big mouth, and I'd tell him I was planning on writing this chick lit book about a girl who falls in love with a guy in a band, and he'd say as soon as I wrote it I should contact him, so I did. After I'd written about one page. And Ryan said, "Um... it has to be a little longer."

What was your rock bottom moment during the process? I really never felt overwhelmed. It was really hard work, all those edits, but I actually felt really lucky. I mean, come on! I was getting my book published! It was a lifelong dream. Any author who complains about having to work on their book is spoiled.

How long did it take to write your book? It took me six months to type one version which was way too short. I remember tying into Google, "how long is a novel?" A short novel is about 60,000 words, if your readers are curious. My editor and I went back and forth, she had edits about every 3 months for a year or so, and I'd totally give the manuscript a makeover each time. She was always right. Damn it.

What did you do to celebrate your book deal? I used the money to pay for part if my wedding. I married Joe a year ago. I feel that was money well spent!

Knowing what you know now about publishing your first novel, what would you have done differently? I would have started doing PR a long time ago. I waited until the last minute. Good thing you girls are having me on Chick Lit is Not Dead! Other then that, I really don't think I would have done anything differently. Getting a book published is such a crazy thing, that its almost like concocting a wicked witch brew in a cauldron. If you change one ingredient, you might make a potion that turns your hair blue!

Who is your writer crush? I have a huge crush on John Irving. I named my rescue cat Garp. I don't care that he writes about bears and wrestling constantly. He can dress up in a bear suit and wrestle me anytime he wants.

What's your biggest distraction or vice while writing? My cats Elizabeth and Garp bring me their balls, they play fetch like dogs. They constantly want me to throw the ball to them and then chase it. I keep telling them I am a very important and distinguished writer who could be working on the next Pulitzer but they don't care.

GNO drink of choice? I love Chardonnays from California. It makes me imagine I am sitting in a vineyard, the breeze whistling through my hair, the smell of grapes and earth in the air. When really, I am sitting in the same old dusty Irish bar I always sit in, down the street from my house.

Favorite trashy TV show? I LOVE TLC. Anything on TLC. My husband makes fun of me because I love shows about 800 pound people who have to be carried out of their houses on whale stretchers, or children born with two faces, or shows about dwarf families. I love medical abnormalities. I feel like if I have watched those shows so many times that if I ran into a woman on the street with an elephant trunk for a nose I'd be totally cordial to her. That was totally not PC, but there you are.

What celeb would you love to have a Twitter war with? I would like to tell Heidi she is crazy for getting all that plastic surgery. She is a shit role model and should be locked to a stretcher and sent to another country, the way Thailand did with Billy Idol in the 1980's when he was doing too many drugs. I liked Heidi's previous long Jay Leno chin just fine. It gave her face character. Now she looks like a barbie doll on crack.

So read more about the lovely Kate Rockland, head on over to her website!

xoxo, Liz and Lisa

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Writing Wednesday: Rejection Shmejection By Liz & Lisa

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It can be more brutal than being dumped by your boyfriend. More disappointing than being passed over for your dream promotion. And even more humiliating than being stood up by a blind date...

We're talking about literary agent rejection.

We're no strangers to rejection.  When you choose to put yourself out there each and every week by, well, writing about your life on a blog, you learn to roll with the punches.  So we thought that sending out a one page query for our pride and joy, The D Word, would be a walk in the park.  I mean, c'mon, who could resist us, right?

Um, apparently, more than a few people.

But as many of you who've sailed the uncharted waters of the publishing world know all too well, the "um, thanks but no thanks" letter from a prospective agent can sting a bit, reminding you a little of that "it's not you, it's me" email that you received from that guy you once dated.

And when we receive responses addressed to Mr. Fenton and Mr. Steinke (yup, it's actually happened), we try to find the humor in it. We just shake our heads and wonder how they got a hold of those pictures from our 1998 "Ellen" hair phase. Or maybe it was the brown-braided belt/polo shirt/penny loafers pics?  What was going on with the 90's and manly fashion anyway?

But we digress. The thing is, whether they get our gender right or not, it's still a big N-O. See you later. Get outta here.  Stick to your day job (well for Liz anyway- Lisa, um, doesn't exactly have one).

But you can't let the N-O's get you down. Because as Lisa says to Liz whenever one of our dream agents breaks her heart into tiny little pieces (yep, she's the sensitive one) with a form rejection letter no less, We only need one person to say yes.

One person who knows that Chick Lit isn't Dead.

One person who thinks The D Word is fabulous.

One person to realize that we got it goin' on like DONKEY KONG! (What does that mean anyway?)

Just like dating, it's all about timing, chemistry and forming a connection. We're just praying that we'll find an agent faster than we found our spouses because Liz doesn't think she can go through that sh*t again.  (Although a prospective agent wouldn't just *forget* to show up to her college graduation party, right?)

But until we find "the one", we're wearing our most fashionable bulletproof armor and having fun. And the reality is, we haven't been at this very long.  And we're such perfectionists (and by "we", we mean Lisa) that even a handful of "no's" can seem like too many.

So, for now, we wait on pins and needles for our query to be plucked out of our fave agent's inbox, our partials to be adored and our credentials to be considered.  And don't quote us (we don't want to jinx it!), but we have a feeling that our YES man or woman is right around the corner. Wish us luck!

Do you have a query rejection story? Please share. Misery loves company!

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

Mommy Monday: The Getaway by Liz

Three babysitters.

Five months of planning

A ten page long to-do list.

Four days of child-free bliss in a foreign country

Remember the days when all you needed to get away was a passport and some vacation time?  My hubs and I used to pride ourselves on perfecting the "last-minute" vacay, trying to prove that we were just too cool to actually plan our long weekends in advance.  And maybe booking a flight to Vegas that was departing in two hours gave me a slight adrenaline rush. (Well, that and knowing I'd be screaming BLACKJACK! in three hours.)

But all those things changed the day we had children.

Now, we practically have to set up a tactical control center in order to have a child-free weekend.  The Oscars have been put on with less planning (and it shows!) than our recent trip across the border. Okay, so maybe purchasing an earpiece and a mic to speak into while coordinating the school drop-off and picks ups was a bit too much.  But I'd like to think that my to-do list would've brought even the biggest A-lister to their knees.  I was determined to board my Mexicana flight with a margarita in hand and not a care in the world. (Well, except for the fact that we were flying Mexicana. But that's a whole other blog.)

But things didn't go exactly according to plan.  But, no worries, we were still able to have quite the fiesta(and more importantly, a siesta) in the lovely city of Cabo San Jose.

And because I'm such a giver, I'd thought that I would give y'all some tips for the next time you're stupid brave enough to have the balls to actually try to have some time to yourself:

1. Try to schedule as many people to watch your children as possible. Because nothing says "I Love You" to your kids more than passing them off to THREE different caregivers during a four-day period.

2. Make sure that at least one childhood milestone happens while you are away. It's fine.  I didn't want to see that first tooth come out anyway-too much blood and crying for me.  And that lame movie starring The Rock totally ruined the whole Tooth Fairy thing for me anyway.

3. Book a resort that has spotty cell phone reception Because nothing makes you want to party down more than when you can't figure out whether your children actually made it to school.  And squeezing yourself in between the TV console and sliding glass door in order to get one bar of cell reception after eating a pound of chips and guacamole is just unflattering. Trust me.

4. Spend more on the trip than the babysitters Thankfully, our resort was serving up fourteen dollar margaritas or this might not have happened. Whew! That was a close one. A big shout out to Cabo Azul's swim-up pool bar for helping us out!

5. When you DO find cell phone reception, make sure to phone when the children have no desire to speak with you. Because it really warms your heart when your five year-old screams "HI! BYE!"  into the phone after you've just spent ten minutes trying to figure how the hell to dial 011 before your home phone number. (Or was that 001? Maybe that's why it took 10 minutes. So confusing!)

Okay, there you have it! A big thank you to all the wonderful friends who watched our little rugrats so we could eat a meal that lasted longer than thirty minutes and actually digest our food. Thanks to you, they didn't miss us at all! xoxoxo

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5 Things Liz and Lisa didn't know about... Katie Fforde

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So many great authors and books to choose from....so little time. Or at least that's how we feel over here at CLIND.  And that's why we love to bring you the latest and greatest titles by both up and coming and blockbuster authors. Hope you had a chance to check out Emily Giffin's fabulous video we posted earlier this week and soon we'll be rolling out a new feature that will showcase debut authors.  (They'll even give us a few tips on how they got published-we're taking notes!) Today we're excited to have bestselling author of over fifteen novels, Katie Fforde, sharing five juicy tidbits. (She knows Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman! Germans love her!) Her latest novel, Wedding Season, is about a wedding planner who doesn't believe in love. (Cue irony!) It's a fun, sassy read that will fit perfectly in your favorite beach bag this summer-Just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win one of three copies of Wedding Season!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS:  5 THINGS LIZ & LISA DON'T KNOW ABOUT KATIE FFORDE

1. I went to ballet school with Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. She had hair so long she could sit on it.

2. I can lick my nose with my tongue and clap with one hand. But I don't do these things in public.

3. As part of my research for Wedding Season, I had my colours done. I know now I suit coral red and I shouldn't wear black, but  I sometimes cheat with black. I watched a lot of Bridezillas and also discovered the 'Lindy hop'.

4. My book 'Highland Fling' was turned into a German TV movie. It is now set in the Hudson valley, NY. Where they also have a highlands.

5. My forthcoming book 'A Perfect Proposal' is partly set in New York and Connecticut. My heroine is a poor English girl and my hero is a preppy New York lawyer. Sparks fly as they cross into each others worlds.

To read more about Katie head on over to her website or click here to follow her on Twitter.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

12 things Liz & Lisa didn't know about...Emily Giffin

Today is the day! New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin's FIFTH novel, Heart of the Matter is released! Click here to buy a copy. As you know, we heart Emily and her books. And can't wait for Something Borrowed to be made into a movie (if you follow Emily on Facebook, she gives regular updates about the filming). But we both agree that Heart of the Matter is Giffin's best work yet. Lucky enough to each get an advance reader copy, we devoured the it months ago, but are excited to re-read it now that the crisp new hardbacks have arrived.

In a special edition of "5 things Liz & Lisa didn't know about..." Emily made a video! And in it, she gives us 7 extra fun tidbits about herself. And they are hilarious. Hint: violins, fender benders and the Brady Bunch are all involved. So pull up a chair, watch the video and leave a comment for a chance to win an audio version of Heart of the Matter narrated by the fabulous Cynthia Nixon (thanks to MacMillan Audio which can be found on Twitter or Facebook ) or the shiny new hardback!

So without further adieu, here's Emily!

PS: This month, She Knows has named Heart of the Matter their official book club pick.

xoxo

Stinky Steinke, I'll Always Love You By Lisa Steinke

With a last name like Steinke, you'd think I'd be ready to let it go. After growing up being called Lisa Stinky, Stinky Steinke, Stanky Steinke, (you get the idea) you'd think I'd be over the moon with excitement about finally saying, hasta la vista, baby to my surname and hello, dahling to something (anything!) that doesn't conjur up the image of a foul odor or a private body part. But even after all the years of kids mocking it and people mispronouncing it (I had a boss for over five years who never said it correctly) something bizarre happened. It kind of grew on me.

An email address was born from it. Friends began calling me Steinke to differentiate me from the other Lisa's in our circle (hey, it was a popular first name in the, er, early 70's). And Suddenly...it worked. Like a shirt you bought, never wore, then stuffed in the back of your closet only to rediscover and wonder why you never gave it a proper chance.  I'd finally settled into the name, wore it proudly and embraced the German sound -- Fraulein Steinker!

And then I got engaged.

And honestly, it was the second thing I thought about after saying YES. (In case you're wondering...the first thing was- damn, I love the ring!)

I knew I was going to take my fiance's name. I just wasn't sure if Steinke would take the trip with me. Would I say goodbye completely or would I hyphenate? It had been with me all these years.  It was what got me noticed (for better or worse!) all those first days of school.  It was the call that came during battles of red-rover and junior high softball games.  It was my pet-name for many a high school boyfriend, and most assuredly got me some extra attention when my resumes on colored paper (remember those?) started flying out in the mid-90s.  The Stinky, Stanky, Steinke name has done me proud, and I'd like to think I held up my end of the bargain in return.

So, alas, I decided to split the difference. Legally, I'd change my name to Lisa Dannenfeldt (we can talk about the world's longest last name another time). But professionally, I'd keep it the same. Afterall, I would hate to miss out on being introduced as anyone other than Lisa Stinky during our next book signing.

How did you feel about giving up your name? (Or did you choose not to?) Leave a comment and be entered to win one of two copies of Chelsea Handler's latest Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang!

xoxo

5 Things Liz and Lisa Didn't Know About...Jill Mansell

We've said it before, and we'll say it again- some of the best Chick Lit authors come from across that pond! Like the smart and sassy (is there a better combo?) Jill Mansell. Who, in addition to being a fabulous writer (um, TWENTY-ONE count 'em, TWENTY-ONE books under her belt) is funny. Check out her diary and follow her on Twitter to see for yourself! And when you read her five things, you'll fall in love with her the same way we did. And to give you a quick sneak peek:  SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TYPE! Yup, that means she's written all of her books by. Hand. (*Cue standing ovation*) Her latest novel, Rumor Has It (which we were lucky enough to get an advance reader copy of and have an even far greater appreciation for now that we know it was conceived via a Harley Davidson fountain pen) is the story of newly single Tilly Cole who impulsively moves to a small town after receiving a "Dear John" letter from her live in boyfriend. The town she flees to for escape turns out to be a hotbed of gossip and rampant rivalry for the resident bad boy. Which, she, of course, wants no part of. But despite her better judgment, Tilly befriends Mr. bad and gets to know a man who doesn't seem to fit his reputation at all... (How many of us have been there, done that?) So ladies (and gents- we don't discriminate) If you love Chick Lit, you'll devour this page turner in one sitting. It was just released and you can purchase it here. And leave a comment for a chance to win one of five copies we're giving away today! And just to further reinforce why we love Jill Mansell, here are her 5 things... 1. I eavesdrop on people ALL THE TIME. I’m incredibly nosy and love hearing snippets of other people’s conversations – they just have to say one thing and I’m away, imagining who they’re talking about, where they live, who they’re married to and what their guilty secrets might be. It’s fun but it can be exhausting! When I’m on a plane or a train, I always want to know where everyone’s going and why. The day our train was stopped from reaching London by the snow, everyone suddenly started talking to each other and I was able to find out why they were all headed there. It was my dream come true!

2. I write all my books by hand, in A4 writing pads, with a Harley Davidson fountain pen. A fellow writer once told me that it was the equivalent of carrying all my laundry three miles down to the river and washing it by hand in the water instead of just throwing it into a washing machine. She was probably right, but it’s how I do it. The words come out more easily this way. I never learned to type and anything like this piece takes me ages to compose. (I pay my teenage daughter to transfer my books to a computer.)

3. The last competition I won was twenty years ago, in a nightclub, and it was for tearing a telephone directory in half. I was the only girl – and I was very skinny then – amongst a line-up of big burly boys. They all laughed at me, but I won. I don’t exercise, but I have very strong biceps. Every now and again, they come in useful!

4. When I was around ten or eleven years old, it never occurred to me that I could become a writer but I did have a bit of a fixation with worrying about how I’d manage if I lost my right hand in an accident, because then how would I ever be able to write? (I know, OK? I do know how weird that sounds!) To this end, I spent hours and hours at a time, practising writing with my left hand. I filled entire exercise books with wibbly-wobbly left-handed writing. I never got any better at it either – thank goodness I never did get my right hand chopped off!

5. Oh dear, what can my 5th thing be? OK, in Rumour Has It, the hero is a wire-sculptor who creates amazing larger than life sculptures of horses and stags. I fell in love with the idea and desperately wanted a wire horse for our garden but we live next to a football field and only a thin fence separates us. My partner told me we’d have footballers jumping over the fence and trying to ride it. So I compromised and bought a wire sculpture of a lamb instead. They can’t ride that!

To find  more about the talented and witty Jill Mansell, check out her website. And don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Rumor Has it.

xoxo, Liz & Lisa

Mommy Monday- Yes or no to GNO? by Liz

Girls night out. Three beautiful words that always seem to light up the faces of whoever utters them.  Back in the day, it meant putting on your favorite pair of Seven jeans and going on the prowl for Mr. Right-dancing the night away at your favorite club and eating Jack in the Box at three in the morning.

And when I did find Mr. Right,  I was so smitten that I was willing to gain seventy pounds, not once, but TWICE in order to bear him two children.  And somewhere along the way I started saying N-O to GNO.

At first, it was because I was pregnant for what seemed like three years straight.  During which time I would only stay up past midnight when I was rocking a screaming baby.  Or cleaning their throw up off my pajamas. Or trying in vain to fall back asleep after my little darling crawled into our bed, giving me approximately three inches of space. (WHY do they always come to my side?)

And let's not even bring up those last ten pounds of  baby weight that was still firmly cemented on my body, making a mockery of me each time I dared try to squeeze into one of those old GNO tops that still hung in the back of the closet.

But something happened when my youngest turned two.  Finally able to get a good night's sleep, I  found the energy to care about more than how I could manipulate my daughter into picking the shortest book on her bookshelf to read that night or how to get my son to eat something other than pasta. And the baby weight?  I went on Weight Watchers and rid myself of that damn muffin top that had been plaguing me each time I shoved my ass into those Seven jeans.

I was back, baby!  It was time to get my GNO on.

I had GNOed sporadically during what I like to call the "battleground years".  But each time, all I could think of was the hell I would pay the next day.  That it would take me a week to recover from staying out too late and having a cocktail or two.  Or I'd be so tired that I'd almost fall asleep in my champagne, barely able to hold up my end of the conversation. And while my husband and I attempted to have a date night each month, I found myself daydreaming at dinner about getting a hotel room by myself so I could sleep in peace for a few hours.

Thank God those days were over- I had finally reached the promised land! Well-rested and sporting my pre-prego jeans, I was ready to take on the world! 

Happy hour? Bring on the half-priced appetizers!!

Friend just got dumped and needed some girl time to recuperate? I'm your gal! 

Want to celebrate your latest promotion? I'll have the champagne waiting!

The world was my oyster once more.  Or at the very least, I was going places where they served oysters instead of chicken strips and fries.

And it was about so much more than just having a glass of wine.  It was about reconnecting with the person I was before I had kids-the one who used to play tennis, read three books a week and was the life of the party. And cultivating all those beautiful friendships again that I missed so much. (There's only so many poo-poo and  spit up talks people are willing to have with you!)

While I love my kids and feel incredibly blessed to have them, I'm not ashamed to admit that there's a part of me that misses my pre-mommy self. And even though  I'll never again be the girl who dances on the tables, (long story!) I  like to think that by making time for myself every so often, I'll find a nice middle ground that both myself and my family can live with.  Because I don't believe that being a great mom means you have to give up who you used to be or the friendships that keep you grounded.

So next time you're invited to GNO-don't say N-O.  Remember that Mommy needs some me time too.  I'll see you there-I'll be the one toasting you from across the room.

Do you make time for yourself?  Leave a comment and be entered to win one of FOUR copies of Irene Zutell's breakout novel Pieces of Happily Ever After, an intriguing story about a mom who struggles to find herself after her husband dumps her for an A-list celebrity.

xo, Liz

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