Mommy Monday: An extra hour a day away keeps the b*tchface away

So far, I'm loving 2011.  I'm ROCKING those damn bangs like nobody's business and Lisa's bundle of joy arrived late last week. (More details from Lisa to come later this month-so all I'll say is that both Mom and baby are healthy and gorgeous!)  The Bears are heading to the playoffs(this makes the hubs happy) and I've already lost those annoying Wii-induced 5 pounds that were giving me the worst muffin top EVEH. And we all know that it's freakin' IMPOSSIBLE to rock jeans with boots when you have muffin top. So how did I lose them so quickly you ask?  Did I finally open up the P90X?  Did I decide to take the stairs?  Did I get swine flu?  Nope.  I lost the weight the old-fashioned way.

Stress.

Don't worry-it's not the things are going terrible and I can't eat stress.  It's more like I'm so busy that I can't breathe or text or eat stress.  I knew 2011 was going to be crazy but it still knocked the wind out of me last week.  I found myself wishing for just one more hour in the day to get things done.  And when I fell into bed Friday night, I began daydreaming about what I would do with that hour.  Oh, the things I would get done! I would be so much nicer!  So relaxed!  Because let's face it: An extra hour a day would keep the bitchface away. You know, that secret bitchface that lives inside all of us?  Don't even try to pretend like you don't have one.

And here it is, so just in case I actually ever get that extra hour-I'll be ready!  Or maybe I'll just play Wii. (Damn you Grandma and Grandpa for buying the kids that time suck!)

If I had an extra hour a day, I would....

1. Get a mani-pedi with extra massage. I'd even finally let them draw that flower on my toenail they're always bugging me about.

2. Pour a huge glass of wine and watch the latest The Millionaire Matchmaker . (Did any of you see the one recently with the PR millionairess that looked like a crayola exploded on her face and the gold digger?  Dude! You. Must. Watch.)

3. Put on super cute workout clothes and pretend I was going to the gym and then find something else to do instead. Because it's the thought that counts, right?

4. Take my new dog to an animal psychic. Because I just have to know why that bitch keeps running away.  She went from a cold animal shelter and horrible mange to belly rubs, treats, walks and two kids that worship the ground she walks on. I don't know how to convey to her that it's not getting any better than this.

5. Tackle my TBR pile. Oh Vey.  Super Mario Brothers has really set me behind on this one. But I have three ARCS that I'm excited to read in the next two weeks- Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany(out in July), The Violets of March by Sarah Jio(out April 27th) and Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda(out in May).  Oh, and speaking of ARCS, you're going to LOVE Sarah Pekkanan's Skipping A Beat(due February 22).  I read it one day last month-I laughed, I cried, I loved it. Do yourself a favor and pre-order it.  And Leave a comment here to win an ARC of Sarah Jio's The Violets of March!

6. Read the stack of Entertainment Weeklys sitting on my desk. Because drooling over Jake Gyllenhaal half-naked on the cover is not actually considered reading.

7. Learn how to bake. Because I'm tired of my daughter saying, Oh, Mommy! when I pull lopsided, burnt cookies out of the oven.

8. Shop by myself. I don't care where.  Although for some reason I find Target very relaxing(until I get to the cash register and realized I've spent $200 and bought NOTHING I actually need).

9. Have happy hour with the girls. Because an hour with good friends, a Grey Goose dirty martini and an onion ring stack can make just about any problem melt away.

10. Have a conversation with my hubs that has nothing to do with snot, poop, time out, or Wii. Is that really too much to ask? And if I got an another hour, I might actually kiss him with some tongue.  In fact-let's declare 2011 the year of the married make-out session! All I need is a shot of tequila to help me forget about all the other things I should be doing instead and I'm in!

What would YOU do with your extra hour? Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win an ARC of Sarah Jio's upcoming debut, The Violets of March.  I'll pick the winners on Wednesday night after 6pm PST.  Good luck!

xoxo, Liz

5 Steps To A Better Me by Liz

I'm not gonna lie-I'm not too sad to say goodbye to 2010.  While it was a year with some awesome highlights(Lisa's wedding and pregnancy, so many AWESOME authors and giveaways...), it was also a year of transition(new job, juggling blog and aforementioned new job and my daughter's first year of kindergarten...).  And geez, could any more of my fave celebrity couples call it quits?  Even though there's part of me that is sooo stoked my celebrity crush and complete HOTTIE Ryan Reynolds is single again, it always bums me out to see people throw in the towel.  And was I the only one that thought that Courtney Cox and David Arquette were going to make it for the long haul?

But what makes 2011 most special is Lisa's special delivery-due ANY MINUTE.  I wish we lived in the same state so I could bring her over a casserole (Do people still do that anymore?) and a Xanax after the baby arrives.  Just kidding.  She really doesn't like casseroles.

As you might have guessed, Lisa's on maternity leave for the next month or so.  So since she's not available, I made her New Year's resolutions for her.  And I think I did a damn fine job, if I do say so myself!

Lisa's New Year's Resolutions

1. Get baby to sleep

2. Get myself to sleep

3. Mop floors. Again! (Did I mention her cleanliness obsession?)

4. Repeat above steps.

And me? On NYE, our family declared our resolutions for 2011.  My daughter resolved to try to be less annoyed by my son and my son resolved to stop using he words POOP and BOOTY in every single sentence. (See why she gets annoyed?)  And the hubs?  He resolved to win Streak for the Cash-the ESPN online contest that he's obsessed involved with.

But what about me?  I mean, I've got a ton of shit to get done in 2011.  And that means I need more than just one resolution, right?  Right!

And speaking of resolutions, I have an advanced copy of Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda -it's a story about a woman resolved to make some major changes in her life.  It doesn't come out until May but you can win it here!  Just leave a comment and you're entered! I'll choose the winners after 6PM PST on Friday night.

Liz's 2011 Resolutions

1. ROCK my new bangs- So... I'm not sure what I was thinking last week.  But I'm going to make the best of it.

2. Get a literary agent- It's been a long road but I have a feeling that 2011 is the year we go BIGTIME.  Or at least that's what my spiritual counselor told me anyway.

3. Start P90X- Getting six pack abs is the least I can do after I forced asked my husband to meet some creepy guy from Craig's List in the Walgreen's parking lot so I could save $50 on it. Related resolution: Lose the five pounds I've gained sitting on my ass the past two weeks playing the Wii we got for Christmas. Damn you Super Mario Brothers! Related resolution #2: Come to terms with the fact that the Wii has brought out latent "gamer" tendencies in my husband that I had been previously unaware of. *gag*

4. Complete third manuscript- Oh, this one will be easy.  With Lisa's new bundle of joy and my work schedule, I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to do this!  Besides, Lisa and I always work best together when she's sleep-deprived and I'm overwhelmed. *cue girl fight*  I'm just kidding!  I'm actually really looking forward to getting back to writing again.  It will be like visiting an old friend I haven't seen in a while.

5. Learn how to spell resolution-Seriously, what would I do without spell check?  And why do I want it to have two "u"s in it so badly? Clearly, I was absent the week it was on the spelling list.

Happy New Year to each and every and every one of you!  I hope all your dreams come true in 2011.

xoxo, Liz

The Best of Chick Lit Is Not Dead 2010

2010 has been an AMAZING year. On a personal note, Lisa schmoved across the country to be with her man, got married and is soon to have her first baby (due Jan 3rd!). Liz celebrated her ninth wedding anniversary (next year is the big 10! What's the gift for that? Paper? Hmmm..Lisa better figure that one out soon.).

On a professional note, We're very excited about the tremendous support Chick Lit Is Not Dead received from all of you and we again must shout THANK YOU from the top of our lungs for being so freakin' awesome! And although it hasn't happened overnight (WTF with that anyway?!), we're confident our manuscript, The D Word will find a home. And we're super excited that we've already planned our next novel and will begin writing it in early 2011!

But back to CLIND. We love this site because we can write about one of our favorite things-reading. We can share our favorite books and authors with you. And of course, we love having an outlet to tell our personal stories that we find so amusing (hopefully you do too?!). And with so many magazines doing the "Best of 2010", we were inspired to pick our favorite blog posts of the year or what we consider the Best of CLIND 2010. 

You'll notice this won't be including any author posts-we found it impossible to choose just a few! We've loved having each and every one of them on sharing their 5 things we didn't know or their bucket lists with us. Each in their own way, they've been funny, insightful and honest. And we look forward to having many of them back next year and also meeting some new ones too!

And if you leave a comment today, you can win bundle o' books of some of our favorites of 2010 including, Life After Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowley, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler, Love In Mid Air by Kim Wright, You Had Me At Woof by Julie Klam and Gunn's Golden Rules by Tim Gunn.  We'll choose the winners after midnight EST Friday, Jan 31st.

So grab a glass of champagne and review the year in CLIND with us!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: LIZ & LISA'S BEST OF CLIND 2010

1. Mommy Monday: Till Death Do Us Part When Liz's beloved German Shepard was diagnosed with cancer, she struggled with how to explain death to her kids without scaring them to, well, death! And when she passed away a few months later, Liz considered this post as her swan song to her.

2. The Bride Card by Lisa- Lisa's wedding in February was a shining moment for both us in 2010.  And because Lisa AND Liz had so much fun playin' that Bride Card during (before and after!) Lisa's wedding, we had to choose this post.

3. Maternity Monday: Open Letter to the Third Trimester We're happy that Lisa's struggles with the last trimester of her pregnancy (heartburn!  Waddling like a duck!) made y'all LOL a bit.  And Liz was just happy that she finally understands why she was so cranky during her third trimester!

4. Mommy Monday: Mommy is Tired! When Liz sat down that Sunday to write her Mommy Monday, she was so tired that she could barley lift her fingers to the keyboard.  In fact, she couldn't think of anything else except how damn tired and cranky she felt.  So she did the only thing she could-she wrote a post about it!  And she was overwhelmed by the support it received from other Moms were also so f*cking tired they couldn't see straight.

5. Writing Wednesday: Does this manuscript make my ass look fat? We can't remember which rejection letter sent us over the edge, but we're so happy it did because we finally realized that our manuscript might be giving us camel toe... We had a blast writing this one.

As much fun as we had writing these posts in 2010, we can't wait for 2011!  We've got some exciting things planned for our 2nd anniversary and as always, we'll be bringing you the very best authors and books.  Oh, and we'll still be ROCKING the giveaways too!

So cheers to all of you-because without you guys, we'd just be two girls talking to ourselves.  Happy New Year-we love you guys!

xoxo, L&L

Lit IT Girl: Debut Author Giulia Melucci

You know we love a good memoir.  And we've had plenty of great ones on the site this year!  So when we came across Giulia Melucci's I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti: A Memoir of Good Food and Bad Boyfriends, we knew we HAD to read it. and after we read it, we knew we HAD to crown Giulia as the next Lit IT Girl.

When Giulia moved out of her family's Brooklyn home, she dreamed of finding the perfect guy-but fresh ingredients proved scarce.  After years of dating, she found herself with a heap of tempting recipes she used to both seduce her men and console herself when the relationships ended. From an affectionate alcoholic, to the classic New York City commitment-phobe, to a hipster aged past his sell date, and not one, but two novelists with Peter Pan complexes, Giulia has cooked for them all. She suffers each disappointment with resolute cheer (after a few tears) and a bowl of pastina and has lived to tell the tale so that other women may go out, hopefully with greater success, and if that’s not possible, at least have something good to eat.

You'll love Giulia's hilarious commentary and your mouth will water as she prepares each recipe. (She even includes them for you to try yourself!)  Fun and heartwarming, we think y'all will enjoy this delicious memoir.

And we've got FIVE copies to give away!  You know what to do-leave a comment and we'll choose the winners on Sunday night after 6pm PST.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: LIT IT GIRL: GIULIA MELUCCI

1.  How many agents did you query before you found "the one"? I was turned down by three; the fourth was the charm. The one who took me on was perfect, and all those others would have been wrong. Just like all the men who turned me down were all wrong for me and the one I’m with is just right.

2.  What was your rock bottom moment during the process? Getting rejected by agents was discouraging, but not for long. I believed in my project and I knew the right one would come along. (Again, like love, because everything is like love.) I found having the book out more painful than the business part and the writing part. Then it was just out there and there was nothing I could do for it. Lots of people liked it; a few did not. It was out of my hands, my baby had flown the coop. I had a hard time letting go. I became obsessed with checking my Amazon numbers. I did all the things you shouldn’t do.

3. How long did it take to write your book? It was a year of writing and a month of recipe testing. I had lots of dinner parties that month.

4.  What did you do to celebrate your book deal? I think I went home and cleaned the kitchen the night it happened. Though a couple of nights later I had planned a party for work friend who was moving to Hawaii. I expanded that event into a little fete for me too. I celebrated with my friends from Harper’s Magazine, where I had been working when it all went down.

5.  Knowing what you know now about publishing your first novel, what would you have done differently? I knew plenty about publishing already, having worked in the business for nearly 20 years, still, that didn’t stop me from having huge expectations. I thought I was above all that but I was not. I was very happy with the amount of attention my book got. But I was certain it would coast on the New York Times Best Seller list for months. It did not. That was disappointing. Still, I can’t say I wish I had lower expectations. I’m happy that I had the biggest dreams for my book. If I wasn’t going to, who would?

6.  Who is your writer crush? Rob Sheffield, who wrote Love is A Mix Tape and Talking to Girls About Duran Duran. There was a piece about him in the New York Times “Beliefs” column a couple of weeks ago. It was about his Catholicism and it mentioned he was looking for a church in Brooklyn. I wrote right away to tell him about my fabulous Brooklyn church. He hasn’t written back yet. Maybe he thinks I’m stalking him. “Rob, I’m very much in love with my boyfriend. I only worry for your soul!”

7.  What's your biggest distraction or vice while writing? I do not shut down the internet. I go back and forth from the page, to my mail, Facebook, Twitter. Oh, and I need regular snacks.

8.  GNO drink of choice? Wine, red or white depending on my mood, the weather, and the menu.

9.  Favorite trashy TV show? GOSSIP GIRL!

10.  What celeb would you love to have a Twitter war with? Make Twitter love, not Twitter war. That’s what I always say.

Thanks Giulia!  xo, L&L

To read more about the fabulous Guilia, head on over to her website or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

What's on Kim Gruenenfelder's Bucket List?

Even though we absolutely believe Chick Lit is not Dead, we've featured all kinds of fiction this past year.  Everything from memoirs to YA to non-fiction.  Because we know that like us, y'all just like to read something great, no matter what the genre.  But that being said, we still get a little flutter in our stomachs when we find really great Chick Lit. Because sometimes our brains need a fantastic vacation from all the other sh*t we've got going on! And Kim Gruenenfelder's latest, There's Cake in My Future is a perfect escape from whateveh you've got going on.  And Liz loved it so much that she gave them a blurb. Her first blurb EVEH!  And you know what they say, you never forget your first....

Want to hear what she thought?

"A delightfully witty story about friendship and love, There's Cake in My Future sparkles from start to finish!"

After listening to her closest friends’ latest travails in love, parenting, and careers, superstitious bride-to-be Nicole believes she has the perfect recipe for everyone’s happiness: a bridal shower “cake pull” in which each ribboned silver charm planted in her cake will bring its recipient the magical assistance she needs to change her destiny.  Melissa, still ringless after dating the same man for six years, deserves the engagement ring charm.  The red hot chili pepper would be perfect for Seema, who is in love with her best male friend Scott, but can’t seem to make their relationship more than platonic.  And recently laid off journalist Nic wants the shovel, which symbolizes hard work, to help her get her career back on track.  Nic does everything she can to control who gets which silver keepsake – as well as the future it represents.  But when the charmed cake is mysteriously shifted from the place settings Nic arranged around it, no one gets the charm she chose for them. And when the other party guests’ fortunes begin coming true, Mel, Seema, and Nic can’t help but wonder…. Is the cake trying to tell them something?

We loved it and we think that you will too-it really is a fun read with a lot of heart.  And Target agreed-they've named it as a "Breakout Book of the Month" for January. It comes out tomorrow, Tuesday December 21st, and you can click here to pre-order it!  Also be sure to check out Kim's other two hilarious novels, A Total Waste of Makeup and Misery Loves Cabernet.

And we've got FIVE copies to give to you!  Just leave a comment here and you'll be entered to win.  We'll choose the winners after 6pm PST on Wednesday night.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: WHAT'S ON KIM GRUENENFELDER'S BUCKET LIST?

I want to just preface this by saying I have dreams of donating a million dollars to a charter school or winning an Academy Award, but these are the goals I feel like I have some control over.

1.  Kiss my husband under the Eiffel Tower: Both my husband Brian and I have been to Paris, but never with each other. One of these days…..

2.  Travel somewhere exotic with friends and family: My husband, son and I have been to Hawaii and Disney World with my sister and her kids, Mexico with my son’s best friend from preschool and her family, and even run into my son’s favorite girl from elementary school on a beach in Kaanapali (3,000 miles away, in Maui.) I love traveling with people with kids – oddly enough, to me it makes the trip more relaxing. I would love to go to Ireland or Italy with any of these families.

3. Share a bottle of Cristal with my husband: My voice sounds like one of the little green Martians from Toy Story when I say, “Pretty gold bottle….oooooohhhhh…..” I have been lucky enough to have enjoyed very nice champagne over the years, but this bottle has eluded me.

4. Bora Bora in 2020: In September of 2020, my son will go college, and I plan to be suffering from Empty Nest Syndrome. Depending on the day, the thought of it either breaks my heart and threatens to send me into the arms of a bottle of cabernet – or makes my mouth water at the thought that there might be a light at the end of this parenting tunnel. No matter how I feel that week, I am going to be lounging around an overwater bungalow, watching fish swim under the glass coffee table.

5. Dogsledding: I love snow – since I don’t live anywhere near it. I love dogs – since I don’t live with one. I hate camping. Naturally, I want to combine the three. This is the trip I talk about every winter, and dream about every summer. One day, my family will relent and go, and it will be a disaster. I can’t wait!

Thanks Kim! xoxo, L&L

To read more about Kim, head on over to her website, like her on Facebook follow her on Twitter.

Liz & Lisa’s Favorite Things Holiday Giveaway: The Winners!

*Liz & Lisa step up to podium, clear throats and fight over who gets to give the speech*

And Liz wins because she's a helluva better public speaker than Lisa!

2010 has been an amazing year for Chick Lit Is Not Dead and we owe it all to YOU. A huge THANK YOU and XOXO to each and every one of you who read our blog posts, leave comments and continue to support us each and every day. As we head into 2011, (how has it been another year already?) we are amazed at how far we've come. We've been "liked" by 4,100 people on our Facebook page (again- thanks to YOU for promoting our contests and supporting us day in and day out!) and have so many of our favorite authors on the site(many of whom supported our Liz & Lisa's Favorite Things Holiday Giveaway- (Big, fat sloppy kisses to all of you who did!) and finished our manuscript, The D Word that we know will find a home very soon!

Next year, we'll be celebrating the two-year anniversary of CLIND- so be on the look out for more big surprises in early February!

But let's be real. We know you're here to read about who's taking home the fabuloso prizes from Liz & Lisa's Favorite Things Holiday Giveaway contest.  So can we have a drum roll please? And maybe the Black Eyed Peas can perform like they did on the Oprah's Favorite things show? Or at the very least, can someone pretend we need the paramedics we have standing by?!

The randomly selected winners of Liz & Lisa's Favorite Things Holiday Giveaway are......

1. Taking home the Blackerry Curve 3G Smartphone is....Amber M! (Whisperingwriter.blogspot.com) (princess543@yahoo.com) *cheers* *applause*

2. The proud new owner of the Sony e-Reader pocket edition is...Michelle (Scott2appy@aol.com) *Woo hoo* *Yee haw*

3. Collecting the fabulous DXG Kensington high-def video camcorder is...Megan (ww.wannabe@yahoo.com) *standing ovation* *screaming*

4. About to indulge in Hollybeth's Organic Skincare basket is...Jessica T (Jaitee00@hotmail.com) *woot* *woot*

5. About to slip on a pair of Ann Roth's designer shoes is...Claire Cook! (Claire@Clairecook.com) *whistles* *cheers*

6. The winner of the McCall Wilder Holiday Dress for a little girl is... Nancy R! (ncroessner@comcast.net) *yelling* *screaming*

7. The recipient of the Tikatok gift card is...Franni V! (www.artfire.com/users/auntifranni) *applause* *jumping up and down*

8. The person about to devour the Crumbs Holiday Collection Taste Pack is...Melodie B! (melodiebooton@gmail.com) *cheers* *clinks glass*

9. And last, but not least, the person about to get some serious reading in, the winner of the Basket of Books is...Amanda W! (amandarwest@gmail.com) *dances around* *cries*

CONGRATULATIONS everyone! And THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the contest and to those of you who referred multiple people to our site! And THANKS to all of the authors featured in the Basket of Books, Blackberry, Mc Call Wilder Designs, HollyBeth's Sony Electronics, Crumbs Bake shop, Ann Roth Shoes DXG Video Cameras & Tikatok!

XOXO, Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!

Liz & Lisa

What’s on Stacey Ballis’s Bucket List?

Can you believe it's almost Christmas?  Time has just flown by this year.  And one thing we've noticed?  So many fabulous books this year about food. (Maybe we're all looking for a little comfort?) Some of our fave books this year have made us hungry-books by Melissa Senate, Jenny Nelson and Jennifer Ross.  And now we have another book about food that we adore: Good Enough To Eat by Stacey Ballis.  And we're ecstatic that she's sharing her bucket list with us too! Former lawyer Melanie Hoffman lost half her body weight and opened a gourmet take-out cafe specializing in health and delicious food.  then her husband left her for a woman twice her size. When she's blinded by a financial crisis, Melanie reaches out to a quirky roomate with tons of baggage and becomes involved in a budding romance with a local documentary film maker. 

Soon Melanie realizes that her weight loss was just the beginning of an amazing journey that will transform her life from the inside out.  With relatable characters and genuine warmth, we think you'll find Good Enough To Eat as delicious as we did-it would make a wonderful Christmas gift for that hard-to-buy-for girl on your list!

And we have FIVE copies to give away to you!  Just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win!  We'll choose the winners after Friday at 6pm PST.

And we have a feeling Stacey's bucket list will have you running out to get your own copy of Good Enough to Eat.  Read on to see why we heart her!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: WHAT'S ON STACEY BALLIS'S BUCKET LIST?

I’m really very lucky, especially since the things that has topped this list for the past decade were to find and fall in love with the man I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with, but last year he finally showed up, so I got to bump these up to the top!

 1.  Make my agent a very wealthy man.  It’s rude to wish for such things for oneself, you know, but if I am making him rich, I am also doing okay work-wise.

2.  Publish a cookbook.    Not a purely recipe book, but a really lovely book of stories and anecdotes and entertaining tricks and tips with plenty of gorgeous photos and recipes.  There are 40 pages of recipes in the back of my new book Good Enough to Eat, but that has only whetted my appetite for a real cookbook project.

3.  Get to my top five travel destinations.  I have long wanted to see Prague, Barcelona, Casablanca, Venice, and Berlin.  Lucky for me, they are all on my boyfriend’s list too, so hopefully we will  make time to go there together.

4.   Start playing music again.  I played trumpet, mostly jazz, for about fifteen years, but put the horn down during grad school and never picked it back up.  Not sure if I want to start back with the trumpet or try a whole new instrument, but it would be great to get back into music. 

5.  Own my building.  I have lived in my apartment for 17 years.  The building is a wonderful 1906 Victorian Greystone with three units.  My landlord and I have an agreement, when he is ready to let go of the building, he will sell it to me.  I am very patient, and don’t care when it happens, I just can’t wait for the day it is mine….especially since once I own it, then I can do some of the home improvement projects not possible as a renter. 

Thanks Stacey!  xo, L&L

To read more about Stacey's five novels, head on over to her website or her blog.  Or you can find her on Facebook and Twitter too!

Also, there’s still time to leave a comment here  to be entered in Liz & Lisa’s Favorite Holiday Things giveaway for your chance to win a Blackberry Curve, A Sony eReader and so much more! And don’t forget to “like” our Facebook page too!  It ends this Friday so don't wait!

Maternity Monday: Prego meltdowns-the best of 2010

So...blame it on prego brain or call it revisionist history, but I can't remember what my personality was like before I got pregnant.  Although I'm pretty sure I wasn't that emotional. Didn't cry that much. Didn't get that angry. Definitely didn't have that many meltdowns! Dare I go so far as to describe my pre-prego self as mostly calm, cool and collected? I mean, don't get me wrong, I definitely had my moments. But since becoming pregnant, woah, child! I've learned that I have the capacity to be one freakin' hot mess prego.

So in honor of my third trimester, here are three prego meltdowns that I'm not particularly proud of (in no particular order):

The Delivery Boy Destruction: Don't mess with a hungry prego!

I'd like to preface this by saying: Dear Mr. delivery guy of sub sandwich shop that shall remain nameless, if you are out there, I am very sorry for what you had to go through and if I could take it back, I would... Long story short, forty-five minutes after placing my order for a veggie sub, this hungry prego was pacing on her front porch, frantically searching for the headlights of the delivery truck. By the time the sub sandwich showed up (it took an hour and 15 minutes!), I'd officially lost my mind. Eyes bulging, hormones raging, face beat red, I called the manager from the delivery guy's phone and argued that he should give the sub to me for free. The manager said no so I held the delivery guy's phone hostage and said I wouldn't return it until he gave me my free sub. The poor guy just stared at me as if he was witnessing an exorcism. As my head spun around on my neck, I had visions of grabbing the sub, locking my front door and eating the sandwich in a heated rush before the prego police showed up to revoke my prego card and throw me in the loony bin. The hubs gently grabbed the delivery guy's phone from my hand and sent him on his way with the sub. As I watched the delivery truck disappear down the street and big wet tears fell down my cheeks, I knew it was one of the lowest points of my prego career.

Mint Chip Meltdown: Don't ef with a prego's cravings

Let's just say that since I've been with child, I've been rather territorial about certain food. And when the hubs polished off the last few spoonfuls of my beloved mint chip ice cream, you would've thought he'd told me I looked fat in my maternity pants. As I clutched the empty Breyer's ice cream container for dear life and thought about licking the remaining mint chip clumps off the lid, I began sobbing hysterically. Hubs offered to go to the store and get more but I stomped out of the kitchen like a five-year-old child throwing a temper tantrum and refused to let him go. I knew I was being ridiculous but I couldn't stop myself or the tears from flowing. I cried myself to sleep, wondering if the hubs would still love me in the morning. (He did.)

Christmas Card Catastrophe: humor the prego's neuroses

It was a few weeks before Thanksgiving. And you'd think I would've been worried about the fifteen family members I was having over, who was making the stuffing or if the turkey was going to be large enough for me (and everyone else). Nope. I was obsessing about our Christmas cards. I was nearly eight months pregnant and it dawned on me that if I gave birth a few weeks early, I'd *gasp*, never get my holiday cards out on time.  I knew I couldn't sleep that night until the cards were handled. As I hopped on Shutterfly and began desperately uploading photos and arranging them in the holiday card template, all hubs could do was roll his eyes.  He tried to be the voice of reason, explaining that we had plenty of time, but I couldn't stop. I was like a mad woman, determined to get the cards out not one minute later than December 1. And I made it! Well, until I came up 25 cards short and had to do a re-order. And we won't even get into what my mood was after that. *I'm sure you can take an educated guess*

xoxo,

Lisa, a.k.a, "hot mess prego"

Breaking and Entering by Liz

That Monday started out like any other day.  My daughter and I ran out to run a few errands for an hour.  I was sipping on my green iced tea from Starbucks.   I thought about sneaking over to buy that cute scarf I had been eyeing at Loehmanns.   But then I came home.

It took a minute to process the empty space where our TV used to sit and the broken pieces of my side door sitting on the floor. And as I grabbed my daughter by the hand and ran back into the garage and into the safety of my car, I just couldn’t get over the fact that we had been robbed.  That shit only happened to other people, right?

Later, as we walked through and took inventory of our house, I mentally took an inventory of my feelings.  Knowing that someone had been watching, waiting for us to leave left me speechless.  The fact that they had taken my beloved Macbook and every piece of jewelry that I owned besides the wedding ring I had been wearing seemed like a side note.  Because in reality, they had taken so much more. 

They had stolen my sense of well-being in a neighborhood I had felt safe in for years.  There were a ton of things I could have done to make their job so much harder. But my misguided belief that those types of things didn’t happen in my community basically handed them my belongings on a silver platter. 

After that day, the world looked a little different.  The dark corners seemed a bit scarier, the noises that went bump in the night felt a bit louder.  It reminded me of the time right after I had my daughter, when all the many things in the world I had to protect her from overwhelmed and terrified me.  I felt pangs of that same fear now.

But like with all bad things that happen, a silver lining appears if you’re willing to look for it. Like the fact that I’m highly allergic to almost all of my jewelry and wasn’t able to wear it anyway. And after the break-in, the hubs gave the green light on getting a big ass dog, something I had been begging for. (Although this wasn’t how I planned to get my way! I swear!)

 And from the moment we found Sasha at the shelter and brought her home, we were in love with her.   And we thought she loved us too. 

 Until that bitch ran away. 

She ran past me like a bolt of lightning when I opened the door and took off immediately to the busiest road (of course!), where one step off the sidewak would turn her into doggy kibble. 

 I dropped my purse and phone in the driveway and sprinted after her in my paper flip-flops(I had just come from a man-pedi with extra massage!) About a half-mile into my chase, I ditched those shitty paper shoes and started running barefoot.  But it was to no avail.  She wouldn’t come to me, and now that I was aware that I lived in the kind of neighborhood that gets robbed, I knew I had better hightail it back to my Loius Vuitton pronto. 

So my out-of-shape ass sprinted Amazing Race style all the way back.  Tears in my eyes, I grabbed my purse and keys.  How the f*ck was I going to explain to the kids that Mommy lost the dog?  The only damn dog we had looked at that hadn't thought the kids were Scooby snacks?  How were we going to find another one? And what the hell was wrong with her anyway?  I bought that bitch a seventy dollar bed and massaged her paws! So now a homeless rescue dog was too good for us?  WTF? And why hadn’t I started that P90x I bought from that creepy guy on Craig’s List last month?  I was heaving  and coughing like I was about to have a heart attack. (And I have the broken blood vessel in my eye to prove it!)

 I had told myself that I wouldn’t let the robbery make me feel like everything was going wrong, but this whole dog breakout thing was going to seriously hamper those efforts.

 I began to back out the driveway, ready to comb the neighborhood. I still had a few hours to find her before the kids got home.  Then I heard a honk and saw a car pull up behind me.  Jumping out, I immediately saw Sasha smiling in the backseat.  The sight of me chasing my dog down the street in paper shoes had compelled this woman, this angel, to stop what she was doing and follow us.  When I gave up and turned back to get my car, she continued following Sasha until she could coax her into the car.  This time, being watched and followed had been a blessing.  I don’t know what I more thankful for: the fact that she had brought the dog we had fallen in love with home or that this one act of kindness made the world look bright again.

 The moral of my story?  The next time you have a chance to help someone out-do it.  You have no idea the incredible impact your one small act can have on another.  Oh, and use your deadbolt! I wish I had.

Also, there's still plenty of time to leave a comment here  to be entered in Liz & Lisa's Favorite Holiday Things giveaway for your chance to win a Blackberry Curve, A Sony eReader and so much more! And don't forget to "like" our Facebook page too!

xoxo, Liz

What's on Tori Spelling's Bucket List?

Since the days of 90210 (the original, not the copy!) we've been fans of Tori Spelling.  She was Donna Martin, need we say more? And now that we're all grown up (well...sort of!) we have a new appreciation for her as an author. First there the New York Times bestseller,  sTORI telling which we gobbled up with a spoon (loved the inside scoop on Shannen Doherty and tales from the set of 90210) then there was Mommywood (which also topped the NYT bestseller list) and now there's her latest, Uncharted TerriTori. In Uncharted TerriTori, Tori is again incredibly open and candid as she writes about everything from media scrutiny over her weight and marriage to Dean McDermott to her controversial relationship with Dean's ex-wife to her unfolding reconciliation with her mother, Candy Spelling. And we loved every single page.

And you can win ONE of FOUR copies of Uncharted TerriTori by simply leaving a comment on this post. And on Friday, we'll randomly select the winners! Good luck!

And now CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...WHAT'S ON TORI SPELLING'S BUCKET LIST?

1. Go for sushi in Japan

2. Go antique shopping in throughout France

3. Own a farm

4. Go to Bali with Dean

5. Take the kids on a safari

To find out more about Tori Spelling, follow her on Twitter. And if you haven't already, be sure to check out her reality show Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood.

Thanks, Tori!

xoxo,

Liz & Lisa

What's on Maria Geraci's Bucket list?

Tis' the season for great books! Case in point: Maria Geraci's The Boyfriend of the Month Club is available tomorrow! And we're here to tell you that it's a perfect escape after you've run yourself ragged with all your holiday shopping. We're thrilled that she's sharing her bucket list with us today! The Boyfriend of the Month Club is Maria's third book-and it's a fun, sassy read we think you'll love. At thirty, Grace O'Bryan has dated every loser in Daytona Beach. After the ultimate date-from-hell, Grace decides to turn her dwindling book club into a Boyfriend of the Month Club, where women can discuss the eligible men in their community. Where are the real life twenty-first century versions of literary heroes such as Heathcliff and Mr. Darcy?

Could it be successful and handsome Brandon Farrell, who is willing to overlook his disastrous first date with Grace and offers financial help for her parents' failing Florida gift shop? Or maybe sexy dentist Joe Rosenblum, who's great with a smile but not so great at commitment? Unfortunately, like books, men cannot always be judged by their covers...

Click here to pre-order The Boyfriend of the Month Club!

Sounds great, right? It is! And we have FIVE copies to give away to you guys. You know the drill-just leave a comment and you're entered. We'll choose the winners on Thursday night after 6pm PST.

And also, don't forget to head on over to our Favorite Things Holiday Giveaway-we have FABULOUS prizes- a Blackberry, a Sony eReader and so much more!

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: WHAT'S ON MARIA GERACI'S BUCKET LIST?

First, I want to thank Liz and Lisa for having me here today. Thanks, ladies! I also want to say that this Bucket List thing is really hard. For one thing, I have no intentions of kicking the bucket. Ever. But, I guess if I have to think about the things I’d most want to do before I… you know, do that thing that I’m not ever going to do, then this would be it.

1. After giving this some consideration, the first thing I’d like to do is take all my money and go to a third world country and feed orphans. But that would be a big fat lie. That would be my Catholic guilt talking, because the real first thing on my list would be getting the girls lifted. And yes, I mean those girls. I’ve breast fed three babies. It’s not pretty. Just once before I die I’d like to see them point north again (My husband might appreciate it too).

2. I want to spend a summer at the beach. Just me and Charlie (that’s my 13 year old, 100 lb mutt). I would write all day, walk on the beach in the evening, then drink wine and read books and watch movies at night. My husband and kids can come visit on the weekends (maybe). Oh, and it’s got to be Diane Keaton’s house from the movie “Something’s Gotta Give.” No other house will do.

3. Learn to cuss in Italian. I don’t need to know the whole language. Just the important words.

4. Do a huge family reunion. We’ve tried, but someone is always missing.

5. Put on a killer dress, get my hair and make up professionally done, go to the awards show and thank the academy. It doesn’t matter which academy or what I’m thanking them for. Any will do.

Thanks Maria! xo, L&L

To read more about Maria, check out her website or find her on Facebook.

Liz & Lisa's Favorite Things Holiday Giveaway!

It's that time of year again. Christmas carols are playing on the radio, tree farms have popped up everywhere and, let's face it, we're all thinking about what we want for the holidays.   We thought we'd help you out with that this year and share some of our favorite things with you.  Think Blackberries (not the fruit), eReaders and video cameras, to name a few. But because we're feelin' the holiday spirit in a BIG way, we figured we'd do more than share. How about if  we channel Oprah and GIVE our favorite things to you? (*cue applause, hysterical cheering & maybe someone can even faint?*)

All you have to do to be entered in Liz & Lisa's Favorite Things Holiday Giveaway contest- and possibly win one of our favorite things below- is LEAVE A COMMENT HERE and like us on Facebook. And if you are a new fan, let us know in the comment that you leave here!  We love making new friends.

But here's the BONUS: If you refer someone to leave a comment here on our site and they mention your name in their comment and tell us that they "liked" us on Facebook, you will be entered again! There's no limit on the number of entries so refer away! The contest will run for over two weeks and we'll choose the randomly selected winners on Friday, December 17th after 9:00 p.m. EST, when the contest closes.

And now... drum roll please..

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: Liz and Lisa's favorite things of 2010

#1 The Blackberry Curve Because, what can we say, we're texting, Facebook & chatter box whores! And what better way to keep up to date than with this fabulous Blackberry?

Master your everyday with the Blackberry Curve 3G smartphone from Verizon Wireless.  Available in Fuchsia (pictured here), this smartphone is BlackBerry6 ready.  Make your everyday easier with features like 3G speed, real-time BBM chats, GPS, Wi-Fi, apps, multimedia, and more. We have one to give away to you! -A $399 value. Follow Blackberry on Facebook and Twitter.

#2 Sony eReader Because we love to swing both ways. Don't tell our paperbacks and hardcovers that we cheat on them sometimes!

The new Reader Pocket Edition is an ultra-portable, entry-level eBook reader with a five-inch full touch screen and a smart, lightweight design that’s easy to slip into a purse or jacket pocket for convenient, on-the-go reading. It is available in chic colors, including silver and pink – we have the pink one to giveaway! It is the thinnest, lightest and most stylish reader available today and is perfect for any reader on the go. And we have one to give away to you!- A $179.99 value! Follow Sony electronics on Facebook and Twitter.

#3 DXG high-def video camcorder Because we love taking video in style- and how can you go wrong with this adorable camera?

The Kensington 720p HD Camcorder is part of the Luxe Collection that combines high-definition technology and style in one camcorder that is hip, hot and haute. The Kensington 720p HD Camcorder comes in a red plaid pattern that is inspired by the latest trend in fashion that will complement anyone's taste and style. And it even comes with a matching luxury case to store your camcorder! Records high-definition video, captures still pictures up to 8MP image resolution and features a large and bright 3.0" TFT screen. So whether you're on the runway, on the street, in a party or out and about the city, capturing life in high-definition is always in style.

It’s the must-have Techcessory of the season featured on The View and ABC News, the Luxe Collection marries fashion with the latest digital camcorder technology, creating the perfect gadget for stylish moms, trend-setting teens, and fashionistas of any age.

And we have one to give away to you! - Retail value, $149.99. Find DXG on Twitter and Facebook.

#4 HollyBeth’s Organic SkinCare Basket Finally!  Something that will moisturize Liz's crazy dry lizard skin and keep Lisa's skin soft in the dead of winter.

HollyBeth's Natural Luxury is an Atlanta-based, USDA certified organic skin and body care line designed to soothe, pamper and nourish you from head to toe. The gift basket includes all of HollyBeth's best products: Chamomile and Rosemary Facial Cleanser, Rose and Geranium Facial Toner, Rose and Geranium Moisturizer, Grits and Honey Exfoliating Scrub, Eye Cream, Clary Sage Body Wash, Citrus Body Cream, Lavender Hand Cream, and the most luxurious product of all: the Hair and Body Silk. And for your home, HollyBeth's vanilla peppermint SHINE candle is perfect for the holiday season.

And this SkinCare basket can be yours- a $270 value! You can find HollyBeth's on Facebook and Twitter.

#5 Ann Roth Designer Shoes Because we're suckers for a fabulous shoe-and we love on these!

Launched in the spring of 2006, Ann Roth Shoes are luxury for the sole –and favored by one of our all-time fave authors, Emily Giffin. Featuring elegant heels, wedges and boots characterized by classic silhouettes with modern details, each pair is lovingly made in Spain by expert craftsmen. So many collections, so little time!

And we have a $200 gift certificate toward the pair of your dreams! Find Ann Roth shoes on Facebook and Twitter.

#6 McCall Wilder Holiday Dress for Girl Because we LOVE this line of clothing! So adorable!

McCall Wilder designs couture kids’ clothing  - all garments are heirloom quality; all sewn and embroidered by a dedicated team of talented seamstresses in the Atlanta area.  McCall Wilder Designs include a range of special occasion clothing – baptisms, wedding attire and holiday – as well as layette and casual clothing for children up to size 16.

McCall Wilder Designs clothing features unmatched attention to detail, including the use of exquisite, sustainable fabrics and delicate hand embroideries which are the centerpiece of our line of custom and ready-to-wear clothing. Unique features include hand work, including satin-stitched monograms, feather-stitching and bullion embroidery. All clothing is hand made in the USA from the finest natural and sustainable fabrics.

And, we have one McCall Wilder beautiful holiday outfit to give away – it could be custom or from her ready-to-wear selection, up to $150! Find McCall Wilder Designs on Facebook.

#7 Tikatok: Publish your child's own stories as a real book Because Liz is trying to get her kid's foot in the door of the publishing industry early! What a fantastic gift!

Looking for a unique, personalized gift for friends and family this year?  How about your child’s own original stories and artwork captured in a professionally-bound hardcover or paperback book for less than $20?

Tikatok, a Barnes & Noble company, is a fun, interactive online tool that inspires children to create and publish their very own books. You can order the book as a professionally-published hardcover or softcover, or email it to friends and family for the holidays.  Add a dedication and photo and you have a personalized gift created in minutes. Give as a present or display proudly on bookshelves.

And we have a $25 gift card to give away so you can make your own book! Find Tikatok on Facebook and Twitter.

#8 Crumbs Bake Shop Because nothing satisfies Lisa's prego cravings like these!

CRUMBS Bake Shop Holiday Collection Taste Pack features an assortment of six festive flavors for the Holiday Season including Peppermint Hot Cocoa, Gingerbread, Squiggle (red/green versions included), White Hot Chocolate, Christmas Good Guy and Christmas Sprinkle Mix (chocolate vanilla versions included). DELISH! Find Crumbs on Facebook and Twitter.

And we have a one holiday assortment(valued at $24) to give away!

#9 Basket of books Because no holiday list would be complete without a basket of books from some of our favorite authors!

Curl up with a good book by the fire this holiday season.  We've got novels by Jillian Cantor, Jenny McCarthy, Tim Gunn, Sarah Pekkanen, Jean Kwok and more!

Hope you enjoy our favorite things.  Happy holidays! xoxo, L&L

What's on Lisa Rinna's bucket list?

Okay, so we think Lisa Rinna may have it all.  Actress, boutique owner, NYT bestselling author and married to hottie Harry Hamlin!  They've even got their own reality show, Harry Loves Lisa. What's not to like, right? Her first non-fiction book, Rinnavation, encouraged us all to look better, feel better, live better, even love better! (Which btw, sounds pretty good right now as Liz sits here writing this post while bleary-eyed in sweats...)  And there must have been others who felt like her-it made the NYT bestseller list! Now Lisa's making her fiction debut with Starlit-and we think it's a lot of fun!  Glamorous parties, flashing lights, red carpets-Tally jones has worked hard to join Hollywood's A list.  She finally gets her break replacing veteran diva Susie Sheppard on a nightime soap opera, ratings skyrocket and she earns an Emmy nomination.  But celebrity has a dark side too.  Tally's financial advisor makes off with her savings and her celeb boyfriend's kinky sexploits and paparazzi baiting have Tally wondering why there isn't a better leading man in her life.

Filled with colorful characters, Hollywood insider details and scandalous backstabbing, Starlit combines the fun of Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place and US Weekly into one titillating Hollywood drama.

Sound good?  Then leave a comment to be entered to win-we have FIVE copies to give away. We'll choose the winner on Friday 12/3 after 6pm PST.

And read on to discover what's on Lisa's bucket list! (And if she figures out how to make #5 happen, we hope she shares her secret!)

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS:  WHAT'S ON LISA RINNA'S BUCKET LIST?

1. Have dinner with Warren Buffet.

2. Live in Italy for a time.

3. Go around the world in 80 weeks.

4. Have enough $$$ to give millions and millions and millions to Charity- and not even feel it! :)

5. To be able to eat anything I want and never gain a pound :)

Thanks Lisa!  xo, L&L

To read more about Lisa, head on over to her website.  Or you can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

5 Things Liz & Lisa didn't know about Jessica Seinfeld

As we've mentioned before, Liz has a hard time being Top Chef of her own kitchen.  Or at least she did until she picked up Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld one day in a desperate attempt to get her kids to eat something other than pasta with butter.   And no one was more surprised than her when the kids not only ate the recipes she made from there but actually asked for more! And they had no idea that Liz had pureed veggies into each recipe.  So when Jessica's new recipe book, Double Delicious, came out-Liz had to have it!  And once again, Jessica came through with kid-friendly recipes with pureed veggies hidden in every bite! And today we're excited to have Jessica share 5 things we didn't know about her.  And guess what?  We've got THREE copies OF DOUBLE DELICIOUS to give away!  You know the drill-just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win!  We'll announce the winners Sunday November 27th after 6pm EST.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: 5 THINGS LIZ & LISA DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT JESSICA SEINFELD

1. My favorite appliance in the kitchen is the food processor- because you can make soups and purees and I think it’s one of those things if you don’t’ have time to chop you can quickly do it in a food processor. You can make great pasta sauce or pesto which is a great meal to always keep in your fridge for veggies or pasta.

My 5 favorite kitchen gadgets I can’t live without:

• A meat thermometer

• A zester

• A kitchen timer

• A cutting board

• And a great knife that feels good in my hand

2. I teamed up with Target for a new baby clothes line that benefits charity. The clothing line, designed by Petit Trésor for Target, is the second in a series of three that I'm debuting through a one-year, charitable-focused partnership with Target. In addition to affordable prices, 10% of each sale goes to support my non-profit Baby Buggy, a New York City-based organization I founded in 2001 that provides clothing and gear to families in need.

Over the years, I have been approached to take the Baby Buggy Brand into product but I didn’t want to do it unless it was helpful or meaningful in some way. Target is the master at making things feel and look like luxury but keeps them affordable. The new line is the most luxurious feeling cotton – sleepers and bibs and basic stuff – a really gift-able collection palette with price point between $2.99 and $16.99. I love it!

3. My family and Jerry’s are all eating together this year so I’m cooking for about 30 people. Traditionally my mom will help and we’ll serve my Grandma’s turnips, made every year and not eaten by one person, but we have to do it though. There will be kids screaming, someone will be fighting and the kids will be running all around. We’ll have turkey, apple pie (I love that) and pumpkin pie. I’m doing a whole thing on my website about Thanksgiving – how to make the simplest Thanksgiving. (Here’s the video to make the Turkey and Gravy, including recipe and tips and the video to show you how: http://www.doitdelicious.com/recipes/make_it/roast_turkey_and_gravy)

4. We love Italy. We also love Colorado and going skiing. My daughter broke her leg skiing three  years ago, so now I live in terror. We love to travel though and would love to travel around and see the world with our kids when they are older.

5. My favorite mom moment? All the times where parents have sent me an email or stopped me at school and mentioned to me something nice my kids have done for their children.  Recently a mom stopped me at school and said, “Your daughter was so nice to my daughter when it was her first day of school and welcomed her warmly.” I love that.

Thanks Jessica! xo, L&L

To read more about Jessica, head on over to her website or find her on Facebook.

Lit IT Girl: Debut Author Aidan Donnelley Rowley

Okay, so this is Lisa talking. I have a MAJOR girl crush/writer crush/mom-to-be crush on Aidan Donnelley Rowley. It was when I discovered her website and started reading her intelligent, humorous and very candid blogs, that the girl crush began. Then her debut novel,  Life After Yes was published. And that was it. There was no turning back. I was head over heels. (Aidan, I promise you that I am in no way a stalker type-I blame my pregnancy!) And then she started sharing stories on her blog of being pregnant with her third baby. And being the total first time prego sap that I am, have loved following along with her journey. Hence the the mom-to-be crush. Not surprisingly, when I shared Life After Yes with Liz, she also felt mad love for this incredibly talented author. And we knew we had to ask her to be our guest here at Chick Lit Is Not Dead. And she said yes.  She's here today telling us everything from how she got her first agent to her GNO drink of choice...

But first, Life After Yes begins: "I'm choking. I can't breath. The air's as thick as cream and smells like peanut oil. Everything is White. I begin to see shapes: the smooth surface under my elbows, the big box in front of me with the soft blog, my own trembling hands. I'm in my office but there are no windows or doors. Just walls." (Talk about a first page that draws you in!) Life After Yes is the story of Quinn O'Malley, a  young attorney, who, after losing her father, finds herself at a crossroads in her life. Her boyfriend wants to get married and whisks her off to Paris to propose. But Quinn's not so sure. It's a fabulous story of life and love in chaos. 

And five of you will get the chance to win a copy! Just leave a comment and we'll randomly select the winners on Thursday.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: LIT IT GIRL AIDAN DONNELLEY ROWLEY:

1. How many agents did you query before you found "the one"? I queried fifteen (maybe twenty?) agents before securing representation for Life After Yes. After weathering several rejections, I was preparing to send out a second wave of letters when I received a request for a partial submission. Soon after, I submitted the entirety of the manuscript. And then, shortly after, an offer! Just recently, after much thought and soul-searching, I signed with a wonderful new agent, Brettne Bloom of Kneerim & Williams. I am thrilled to be working with her now on my second novel.

2. What was your rock bottom moment during the process? Just a few months after polishing Life After Yes and sending out my first slew of queries, my father died of cancer. This also happened to be a time when I was receiving several rejections from agents I’d approached. Needless to say, it was a rotten period of my life. I decided to put my writing dreams on hold to take time to grieve and to take care of myself (I was five months pregnant with my second daughter). Two weeks after I lost Dad, I got an offer for representation for Life After Yes.

3. How long did it take to write your book? I wrote my book on and off for more than three years. There were large chunks of time in which I did no writing at all (my first pregnancy is a prime example; I think I spent twenty hours per day sleeping and/or ordering obscure and ultimately useless baby items online!), but I always came back to my pages, often with a fresh eye and focus.

4. What did you do to celebrate your book deal? This might sound odd, but I don’t remember many details! It was right before Christmas and I had a newborn at home and I think I was still struggling from sleeplessness and postnatal mental mush. I am sure I had a few celebratory cocktails that evening!

5. Knowing what you know now about publishing your first novel, what would you have done differently? I would have stressed a bit less and enjoyed a bit more. I look back at certain stages – the title search, the cover search, the quest for blurbs – and I can literally taste the anxiety I felt then. I realize now that so much of the publishing process is out of the author’s control and we should surrender a bit to its ebbs and flows. Publishing a book is in its own right an immense and incomparable privilege; I wish I had been able to keep this critical bit of perspective throughout.

6. Who is your writer crush? This is a tricky one because there are so many fabulous writers out there these days. Among many others though, I love Claire Messud, Elizabeth Strout, and Jhumpa Lahiri. I adore reading and swooning over the words and worlds of fellow authors.

7. What's your biggest distraction or vice while writing? My two little girls are by far by biggest (and best) distraction. I feel so lucky to have the flexibility to write when I want, but the problem is that it is very hard for me to not spend time with my girls given the choice. I do not stick to a fixed writing schedule, and I’m trying to be better about self-discipline, but it’s tough. Now that I am pregnant with number three (another girl!), I fear that my ambitions for increased productivity are a bit laughable.

8. GNO drink of choice? Easy! Pinot Grigio. This was one purely autobiographical element of Life After Yes. Quinn, my protagonist, loves her Pinot Grigio. I like to think I have my consumption habits better under control than my fictional friend, but I do like to indulge. I have not had a sip of Pinot in twenty-two weeks and I miss it. Just a little.

9. Favorite trashy TV show? Recently, I have been craving trashy television and watching it every single night before bed. My poor husband is not thrilled with this. I blame my current viewing habits on the pregnancy and tell myself that there must be something redeeming about these programs (some kind of existential protein or iron?) that I am missing in my life. Lately, I have been quite loyal to the Kardashians and our nation’s sundry Real Housewives. I do worry that I am exposing my unborn child to a symphony of utter junk, but I try to make up for it by blasting classical music while writing.

10. What celeb would you love to have a Twitter war with? Perhaps inconsistent with my above answer, but I do not even know what celebs are on Twitter! I have no problem savoring the celebrity weeklies (religiously) and checking various gossip blogs, but I have not (yet) explored the celebrity angles and avenues on Twitter. I am not even sure what a “Twitter war” is, but it sounds intriguing!

Thanks, Aidan! xoxo, L&L

For more information about the lovely and talented Aidan Donnelley Rowley, check out her website, find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Writing Wednesday: Agent Advice from Jason Allen Ashlock

During our agent search over the past few months, we've had out ups and downs.  In fact, as we mentioned a few weeks ago, sometimes we think our manuscript might be giving us camel toe.  So we decided it was time to get some advice from one of our favorite agents-the fabulous Jason Allen Ashlock, Principal and Managing Partner of Movable Type Literary Group.  He also represents Robert Rave- author of Waxed and one of our favorite chick lit authors.  And you know what we say-a man who loves chick lit is the perfect man! *swoon* Besides being a top literary agent, Jason is also very savvy when it comes to social media.  Because of that, we thought he'd be the perfect choice to answer all the Qs you're dying to ask. (And don't worry-we did ask if he's accepting queries!)  So read on to understand how important social media is to an author, if you should mention your blog in your query and if eBooks are good or evil.

1.  How important do you feel social media is to a book launch? Does it make a difference whether you are an established or debut author?

Social media is only important to a book launch if it's been important to an author's identity and community-building plan for months, or years, in advance of that launch. Otherwise, it's useless. Social media's great redeeming value--through all the hype and falsity and fabrication--is that it allows anyone with enough patience and a thoughtful enough filter to engage directly with the people who care about the same things he or she cares about. Never in history has it been possible for an author, in a global way, to reach out and find his or her reader. But it's not broadcasting. People don't gather around a twitter feed like they once did a gameshow after dinner. It's narrowcasting; focusing on topics, individuals, trends that align with one's own interests and genre, and engaging constantly, regularly, deeply in conversation with those who seem to awaken to the same ideas, stories, habits, etc. that you do. It takes a long time to find those people. It takes even longer to build a relationship with them. It takes even longer to build any kind of influence in their lives. And it takes even longer to be a person around which other people gather to learn or be entertained. Social media isn't a launch strategy. It's a life strategy or it's nothing at all.

2. Regarding queries: Do you think authors should mention their online presence?  Is it a factor when deciding on whether to not to represent them? Because of the nature of Movable Type's efforts, I'm not so interested in working with authors who don't already have some kind of awareness of what it means to be engaged online; I want to work with authors who are endlessly curious and humble and fascinated by what's possible now. So in short, yes, it's important, in my context, to know if a writer is driven to make the most of the tools at their disposal to identify, awaken, and engage with their audience online. That said, a lot of what I do is simply education: talking to writers about how to chart their path on the Web, and how to make it work for them, in their unique context--I don't expect writers to be gurus, only to be willing to dedicate themselves to becoming more effective in their efforts. As for mentioning it in queries, I think it's the least of your worries. It's expected now that everyone has a blog or a Website or at very least a Facebook and Twitter account. I don't think we want to add yet another obligatory line to everyone's query letters in which they're forced to say "I'm active online in this or that way." On the other hand, if you're blog is getting steady traffic, and you can demonstrate that the traffic has developed into some kind of community that circles around you and your content--then you've got something. And you should certainly include it. But it's not common for an author's online presence to be significant enough to be a gamechanger, pushing an agent toward representation. (On the other hand, there have been authors whose disastrous web presence made me shy away from them immediately.)

3. Ebooks?  Totally awesome or the end of publishing as we know it?

Both! Publishing as we have known it--or as our older siblings knew it, or as our parents knew it--is gone, or will be shortly. And that is okay. For years the price of books has been artificially inflated, pricing many out of the market for books in general, or at least for new release hardcovers. Simultaneously, our consumption habits have changed, determined in large part by new technology, and fewer people carry around a book--their hands are full with a phone and a computer bag. Ebooks, boasting their low price point and hosted on increasingly impressive handheld devices, welcome back to Bookland many who wouldn't have found their way otherwise. And those of us who have lived in Bookland all our lives are given a chance to consume more quickly, and if new interactive features in ebooks find their way into the mainstream, more socially. The pricing and format issues that have dominated the conversation about ebooks thus far will be worked out--those are passing (though pressing) matters. The bigger issue is this: for students, teachers, casual readers, addicted readers, upmarket, downmarket, middlemarket readers and everyone else, in a relatively short amount of time you will have--through Amazon, B&N, Borders, Google Editions, Kobo, or WhateverIsNext--millions of the world's books available for purchase and consumption at any time of day or night. That, to use your phrase, it totally awesome. (And, to connect your queries, if #1 is done well, #3 is your best friend)

4. For our aspiring authors: What are you looking for right now?  Are you accepting queries?

Always looking for new writers. I handle very little fiction, and most of that is super commercial (think: chicklit or zombie novels). But our agency is growing. Rachel's looking for upmarket fiction. A new agent (look for next week's announcement) will be looking for YA/MG. Craig is developing a lot of really thoughtful upmarket non-fiction and memoir. I'm really all over the place. Of the 40 deals we've done since our launch in February of 2009, 32 are non-fiction, so that's clearly where my interests lie. But I'll look at anything and listen to anybody if they have a truly interesting, original idea, and have a passionate way of presenting themselves and their material. Because above all, I want to represent authors, not books. I want to stand beside a talented writer for as long as we're both in the business. So a good idea is of interest, but an unforgettable personality and a drive to find a community is nearly as important.

Thank so much Jason! xo, L&L

To read more about Jason, visit his website or click here follow him on Twitter.

What's on Abby Drake's Bucket List?

There's something special about the sisterly bond.  Which is probably why some of the best books have been about sisters. (Think The Opposite Of Me by Sarah Pekkanen and In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner)  In fact, we explored the sister dynamic in our first novel, I'll Have Who She's Having.  So when we came across The Secrets Sisters Keep by Abby Drake, we just knew it was going to be good.  I mean, c'mon- sister and secrets?  What's not to like? The Secrets Sisters Keep follows the four Dalton sisters, who have more than their fair share of secrets.  There's Ellie, the eldest, who tends to their Uncle Edward rather than living out her dreams.  Then there's Amanda, the Park Avenue snob whose husband just left her for a bikini waxer.  Babe's a movie star beauty and Carleen is a middle class mom who quilts cloth pocketbooks for fun!  When their quirky Uncle Edward decided to throw a seventy-fifth birthday party and then wanders off, it leaves the sisters to not only face their past, but one another.  Will these ladies ever be able to confront their long-buried past and be sisters again?

Sound good? (HINT: It is!) Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win your own copy-we have FIVE to give away!  We'll choose the winners on Thursday night after 9pm EST.  Good luck!

Abby Drake is also the author of Good Little Wives and Perfect Little Ladies-we're thrilled that she's sharing her bucket list with us today!  Read on to discover who her famous ancestors are and where she'd love to spend the winter.

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS: WHAT'S ON ABBY DRAKE'S BUCKET LIST?

1. Become a Grandmother. Boy or girl, one or ten or twenty! I understand I really have no say in this matter, but I would really, really love this! Babies are such wonderful, sweet little beings who hold all sorts of possibilities for love and hope and stories not yet written. Besides, my friends are having all the fun.

2. Go back to Paris; explore England. I guess that should count as two things in my bucket. J I would love to spend delicious time at the Paris museums and at Montmartre; I would also like to adventure down into the famous city sewers. As for England, ah, Oxford is my favorite, but I’m eager to discover the Lake Country and all the places and their people in between. Perhaps you’ve figured out that I’ve watched a lot of reruns of Inspectors Morse and Lewis and All Creatures Great and Small.

3. Get a Master’s degree. I’ve started, stopped, started, stopped, etc. I hate that sometimes life gets in the way of learning!

4. Finally untangle my Mayflower ancestry. Okay, so we have just about everything except the elusive marriage certificate between Isaac and Elizabeth in 1801. We know they had nine kids. Oh, yes, and we still need to address the issue of Orville and Nettie and the bigamy. Hmm. And how did great-great Grandpa get that wooden leg? Imagine the novels – not to mention the reality TV shows – that Mayflower descendants could have conjured.

5. Spend a winter on Martha’s Vineyard. I long to be where the loudest things I hear for months are soft seagull cries and muted buoy bells; where I can spend countless hours in the libraries that are packed with books of island life and lore; where I can walk along deserted beaches and watch a purple sandpiper or two; where a crock of chowder at the “Newes from America” pub will warm me through the night; where I can write. And write. Hey! Maybe my grandchildren will come to visit me!

Thanks Abby! xo, L&L

She's baaack! Author of How To Tell A Woman By Her Handbag

Recently, we were visited by someone here at Chick Lit Is Not Dead that got people talking...and thinking... about what their purse said about them. (Turns out, Lisa's Louis pegs her as a loyal friend who likes to take charge and Liz's black oversized bag means she's unpretentious and hardworking.) And if you remember, we didn't reveal whose handbag was whose... And now, back by popular demand, is Kathyrn Eisman, author of How To Tell A Woman By Her Handbag! And she will be giving a FREE handbag reading to one of you today AND has an exciting contest for you to enter involving Barnes and Noble (more on that in a minute).

But first, she's sharing information about a very important charity- www.tabletotable.org, a community-based food rescue program that collects prepared and perishable food that would have otherwise been wasted and delivers it to organizations that serve the hungry. In 2009, they delivered enough food for more than 6 million meals! And for every handbag reading purchased by you, Kathryn will donate a percentage to charity. Just head over to Kathryn's website, click on "services" and the drop down menu will take you to "personal readings" and then to "handbag reading." And don't forget to mention Chick Lit Is Not Dead!

Okay, so back to the freebie and contest we mentioned. First, for one lucky person who leaves a comment here AND shares this post the most on Facebook and Twitter between now and Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, you will win a free handbag reading! Just make sure to tag @chicklitisnotdead.com and @KathrynEisman (on Facebook) and @Lizandlisa and @KathrynEisman (on Twitter)! The winner will be announced on Thursday morning!

And if you go to Barnes and Noble and take a picture of yourself with a copy of Kathryn's book, How To Tell A Woman By Her Handbag in one hand and your handbag in the other and post it on your  Facebook wall or Twitter feed and tag Kathryn, she'll send you a personalized, signed note describing what type of purse-onality you have! How great is that?!

But at the very least, please take a second and check out www.tabletotable.org. It's a great way to help someone in need this holiday season!

xoxo,

Liz & Lisa

Frizzy Lizzy by Liz

I have a confession to make. I used to be a frizzy Lizzy.  Born with a head of hair that would make a brillo pad blush, I spent most of my childhood searching for a style that didn't make my hair look like I just stepped out of a convertible.  Or stuck my finger in a light socket. And being that the only way to straight iron your hair in those days was to actually iron it,  I knew that long silky locks were just not meant to be. I learned at a early age that my hair was never going to dry properly without chemical intervention-so I became a complete perm whore by fourth grade. That's right-every three months in the eighties(and few in the nineties-don't judge) you could find me at the hair salon getting that stinky ass solution poured into my scalp.  Because if I couldn't have the smooth, straight hair I desired, ridiculously tight poodle curls came in a close second.

But here's the thing: I love straight hair.  Love it.  I love it more than that extra half-hour of sleep I don't get because I have to blow dry and burn my hair into submission each day.  And I'd rather walk on hot coals than leave my straight iron at home when we travel.

Soon I realized that my love for straight hair was consuming me-I would plan each day around whether the hair needed to be blow dried and coiffed. How long did the hair need?  Excuse me, I need to jump in the shower RIGHT NOW or the hair will never be ready in time!

Needless to say, I had become f*cking consumed with my do'.

So when I learned of the Brazilian Blowout, a new straightening treatment, it seemed too good to be true.  Straight hair EVERY DAY?  It actually DRIES STRAIGHT? It could turn even the most high maintenance bitch into a wash and go girl?

I had to have it.

And let me tell you-it love at first site.  All of a sudden I went from a type A hair control freak to a carefree girl without a hair care in the world.

Thirty minutes to get ready?  No problem, make it twenty!

Getting my hair wet at the the pool?  Who's up for an underwater game of Marco Polo?

90% humidity? No problemo!

And the hubs couldn't believe the change in my hair attitude either.  Instead of mapping out the hair's schedule, I'd sit on the couch and relax.  My hair care became the easiest part of my day.  I was a slave to the hair no more!

Um, until the hubs found out how much it cost.

That's right. I *may* have left out the $200-$300 dollars I had been dropping every twelve weeks to keep the hair under control.  Which would probably not have been a big deal except for the fact that unless I wanted to go for silver foxette look, I also needed my color done every six weeks. So when he told me that I needed to relax(pun intended) on how often I was getting the Brazilian, like any addict, I was very unhappy. But because I had made a commitment to cut expenses and go cash only until the end of the year(a whole other blog in itself!), I knew I had to enter straight hair rehab ASAP.

So now I'm back to scheduling life around the hair again.  And explaining to my mother-in-law over and over again why I don't care to dive in her pool head first.  It's fine-but I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that I miss my wash and go hair so much that it hurts sometimes.  That I think about the Brazilian more than any one person probably should.  And that the minute we lift this bullshit "cash only" experiment we have going on, I'll be the first in line at the salon. See you there!

How about you?  Do you struggle with "the hair"?  Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win one of THREE copies of Pat Benatar's Between a Heart and a Rock Place: A Memoir!

xo, Liz

Lit IT Girl: Debut Author Eve Marie Mont

We've been loving all the fantastic books about dogs lately.  From Stay by Allie Larkin to You Had Me At Woof by Julie Klam we've been in doggy heaven.  And this week is no exception!  Today, the fabulous Eve Marie Mont, debut author of Free to a Good Home, is hanging out with us here at  CLIND. And let's just say, she's definitely Lit IT Girl material! In Free to a Good Home, Noelle Ryan works as a veterinary technician at a New England animal shelter, helping pets find the perfect homes. If only it were as easy to find the same thing for herself. After discovering that she can’t have children—and watching her marriage fall apart after a shocking revelation by her husband—Noelle feels as forlorn and abandoned as the strays she rescues.

We enjoyed Free to a Good Home and think you will too.  It's funny and touching at the same time-no doubt the reason we finished it in record time!

And now you have a chance to win this fabulous book. Just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win one of FIVE copies.  So. Freakin'. Easy!

SO... read on to discover more about the fantastic Eve-we think you'll enjoy her answers as much as we do! (Anyone who makes a Dawson's Creek reference is a friend of ours for life!)

CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS:  LIT IT GIRL, EVE MARIE MONT!

1. How many agents did you query before you found "the one"? I wrote a novel before Free to a Good Home that never got published, and I probably queried over 50 agents for that one. My search for representation for this book was a little more focused, hovering around the 30 mark. After six months of nibbles and rejections, I followed up with a handful of agents who hadn’t responded yet, and one of them said my manuscript must have gotten lost in their vetting system. So I sent it to her again, she read it, loved it, helped me revise, then signed me on at Kimberly Cameron & Associates. Her name is April Eberhardt, and she’s a pro!

2. What was your rock bottom moment during the process? My earlier novel was ultimately rejected by every agent I sent it to. One small publisher requested the full manuscript, and I spent two months with my fingers crossed, hope and anxiety coursing through my veins. Finally, the editor wrote me a letter saying they couldn’t publish my book because my characters drank too much, and the love interest was not “sufficiently paramount” in the heroine’s life. In hindsight, they probably weren’t the right publisher for me, but it was a crushing moment all the same.

3. How long did it take to write your book? Because Free to a Good Home was my second book, I didn’t obsess about it quite as much as the first. It took me about a year to write the book, then my agent and I revised it for two months to get it polished for editors.

4. What did you do to celebrate your book deal? My husband bought me a bottle of champagne and St. Germaine, and we went to our favorite BYOB and ordered every course on the menu. On my release day, we went on a field trip to local bookstores where my husband took dorky pictures of me holding my book.

5. Knowing what you know now about publishing your first novel, what would you have done differently? I’m an introvert by nature, so I’m still unsure about social networking. When I first got my book deal, I started a website, Facebook page, and blog without really knowing how to utilize them. Looking back, I wish I’d found a mentor who could have guided me through the process. I also wish someone had given me the magical formula for getting a book blurb!

6. Who is your writer crush? Right now, probably Jonathan Tropper. His books are so smart and funny, but there’s tons of heart there. My brooding high school self would have said Neil Gaiman. Oh, and Elizabeth Berg is still my all-time favorite.

7. What's your biggest distraction or vice while writing? Often when I’m writing, my dog will lie next to me and lean her head against my arm while I’m trying to type. Book blogs also suck considerable time. And Goodreads—love that site!

8. GNO drink of choice? My standby is a gin and tonic, but if it’s a special occasion, I’ll ask for a White Cosmo. If the bartender doesn’t know how to make it, it’s Grey Goose vodka, white cranberry juice, St. Germaine, and a splash of lime. Tastes like lychee fruit!

9. Favorite trashy TV show? Definitely Vampire Diaries. My husband totally makes fun of me for this because I am so not a vampire junkie in general. I only read the first Twilight book, never watched an episode of True Blood, and didn’t read Anne Rice, even when everybody and her grandmother were reading Anne Rice. But there’s something about Vampire Diaries that makes me giddy. I like to think it’s not just that every character is ridiculously good-looking. Incidentally, one of the writers, Kevin Williamson, also wrote Dawson’s Creek, a guilty pleasure of mine ten years ago. He’s brilliant at playing with the audience’s allegiance to the characters—I never know who to root for from week to week.

10.  What celeb would you love to have a Twitter war with? My brother set me up a Twitter account just before my book came out, but it remains sadly neglected. I’m not much of a fighter by nature, but one of my feistier characters would love to have a go at the guy who called Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak pornography.

Thanks Eve! xo, Liz & Lisa

To read more about Eve, head on over to her website.  Or you can also find her on Facebook!