The Post in Which I Apologize to my Reader(s)

Okay, I swore I wouldn't apologize for my slackerness when it comes to this blog. But I fear I may have alienated all (one) of my readers by my incredibly long absence.

I have a good excuse, honest. I am in the throws of am-I-ever-gonna-finish-this-darn-manuscript-itis. It's an acute and painful disease further complicated by my-employees-keep-missing-work-and-I-have-to-cover-their-asses symptoms.

So, I'm here apologizing for my past absence and most likely my future absence. I am attending the SCWW (South Carolina Writers Workshop) at the end of October and if I don't finish the ms by then I might as well give up this writing thing. (Idle threats, I promise.)

If you aren't familiar with SCWW, it's an amazing conference in Myrtle Beach. There will be many big name editor and agent types and my goal is (obviously) to charm as many of them as possible with my wit and of course, my writing.

After that I'm sure to be busy fielding multiple offers, but I will try my darnest to keep you all appraised of how I single-handedly bring back the good name of Chick Lit with my revolutionary book. Wow. I could barely type that through my tears of laughter.

At the very least, I'll share any tidbits I may pick up at the conference and humor you with embarrassing pitch stories.

Until then, go read a good book! (May I recommend How To Sleep with a Movie Star by Kristin Harmel?)

How do you spell urked?

To use a carefully-placed cliche (and isn't that what we chick lit writers do?), my feathers became a tad ruffled when I read this article.

Let me sum it up for you.

Diane Shipley, a book blogger for the Guardian, a UK paper, reported on the phenomenon she is noticing in women's fiction. Basically the very same publishers who told us that Chick Lit is dead and they can't sell "those types" of books anymore is now slapping Chick Lit-esque covers on pretty much any book written by a woman or for a woman.

So, let me get this straight. "They" can't sell well-written, interesting and fun books classified as Chick Lit, but they can sell more serious, (and often-times more depressing) well-written books disguised as Chick Lit books? Am I missing something here?

On another (completely different, yet eerily the same) note: Oceanview Publishing is trying to name a new genre that has exploded into the marketplace. Chick Lit for Men. Apparently women aren't the only ones who like to read frivolous, fluffy and funny. Go figure.

Book Review: Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily

Before I get into the review I want to apologize for what may be perceived as slacker-blogging. This blog is very important to me, but more important to me is writing my actual novels. And I am on an uber-deadline right now. So, you may not hear from me real regularly in the next couple of months. Sorry! But you won't be when all my hard work pays off and you get to run to the store to buy my debut! (Cheesy, I realize.)

Ok, on to the review:

The moment I heard about this book, I got excited. I mean, come on. Great title, great premise, fantastic cover. Why wouldn't you buy it? Then there's the fact that the author, Lisa Daily, is actually a dating expert. This chick knows what she's talking about! Hold on, I realize that maybe not everyone (those living in a closet) may have heard about the book. (That sentence was very awkward. I apologize. Generally I write very well, but it's been a long week. Which is why I'm not working on the novel right now, because my brain is mush. But I digress...) Here's the back cover blurb:

Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily

What happens when America's favorite TV dating expert finds out on national television that her husband is cheating? Darby Vaugh's fifteen minutes of fame quickly spin into fifteen minutes of shame: Not only is the most humiliating moment of her life splashed across every supermarket tabloid and celebrity gossip show, but also her reputation as America's love guru is shot.

Her fans are turning on her, her book sales have tanked, and her love life is fodder for late-night television. If Darby breaks her own zero-tolerance policy for cheaters and takes her philandering husband back, her career will be over. But if she sticks to her own rules, she'll lose the only man she's ever loved.

Good stuff, huh? Let me tell you, I was laughing Coca Cola out of my nose in the first four pages. Typically when I'm trying to get a manuscript finished, I only allow myself to read during meals. So, until today, this was my lunch read. What was the moment of no return? Chapter 5, the Today show scene. After reading that, I basically blew off the rest of my day and finished the book. Let me tell you, this is the highest honor you can bestow. That can't-put-it-down-until-you-finish-it quality. Lisa has a way of throwing you off course just enough that you aren't quite sure what's going to happen, or how it's going to happen, or just how humiliating it's going to be when it happens, that makes it impossible to not know right now!

This book exemplifies everything that is good and right about Chick Lit, and about Commercial Fiction in general. It draws you in on the first page, doesn't distract you will mediocre writing, keeps you hooked the whole story through, and then resolves it in a way that just makes the world seem right. And who doesn't want the world to seem right? Especially when it is the furthest thing from the truth?

For me a good read must include the following:

A character I "get". (This is completely elusive and undefinable.)

Humor that is not trite or predictable.

A plausible storyline. (Must be interesting as well.)

Resolution. (Can you tell I'm not big on literary titles that leave your soul wrenched?)

Throwing in a hero any woman would drool over adds some seriously good icing. (Everyone loves icing.)

So, I don't do ratings, but if a title ends up on my sidebar, that means it's one that won't head to the used bookstore...

Thanks Lisa Daily. The best of luck to you. Great start!

Do they have parties for dead people?

I love how people in the industry say that chick lit is dead, and then they throw a party for it. And offer classes on how to write it.

**throwing my hands up in the air and stomping off to bed**

I refuse to be a closet Chick-Lit reader

It’s frustrating to continually hear about the books that they (critics, booksellers, the media, etc) think we should be reading. And many fall into that trap. They grab up the latest literary masterpiece and carry it around like a badge of honor, never making to the end of the first, painfully long, chapter. I wouldn’t be surprised to peek inside that open copy of A New Earth to see the latest Sophia Kinsella hiding. Who named Oprah controller-of-our-minds, anyway?

Well, I refuse. I refuse to buy a book because Oprah (or anyone else) says I should. I refuse to hide the cover of Jen Lancaster’s latest hilarity, just because it’s covered in frilly underwear. I refuse to read boring, sad, or otherwise. I refuse to be ashamed of spewing soda out of my noise while reading Queen of Babble in the Big City. I will proudly carry, and read, my pink, purple and green books in public. Because they are funny, because they are real and because I want to!

Sophia herself backed me up, saying about the recent comedy romance awards (more on that in a later post), “I'd like to show people that this prize is about what people love to read - not what they feel they ought to read.” Well said.

A New Book "Review" Site

Monday marks the launch of a brand new book review site, or book promo site, as the case may be. Book Roast. A lot of creativity went into the concept and execution of this site, so it is definitely worth checking out. It remains to be seen if the books featured in the future will be up my alley, but I'm excited about a different way to discover new titles.

Check it out! (And don't worry - I will let you know if anything truly exciting pops up!)

Two new terms.

Maybe the problem is just in the name. In my recent submission to agents, I called my manuscript humorous women's fiction. Do you think they were fooled? Somehow I doubt it. But I was very excited to read this article by Joanna Trollope on the Guardian's Books blog. And they say Brits are unemotional… Well, here is one who is unafraid to show her adoration for our beloved chick lit. But she suggests we rename it Wit Lit. Didn't I just say that our voices are witty? I for one love it!
The article circles around an exciting literary contest that honors funny books. Yes, you heard me correctly, books we actually enjoy reading - as opposed to books we feel like we should read because they are "literary". The Melissa Nathan prize was started last year to honor what the author dubbed comedy romance. (Love that one too!)
I am excited to see the books I love to read being recognized like they deserve. Both of the above links speak to the talent it takes to write in this genre (regardless of what you call it). It's always been obvious to me, but maybe everyone else will start to get it now.

Defining Chick-Lit

Warning: The opinions expressed in this blog may not reflect the views held by the publishing community at large. Thank goodness!

What is chick-lit? Great question. The way I see it is any book (literature) that is enjoyed by chicks (the female kind, not the poultry kind). So, to answer Natasha's question, sure Jane Austen qualifies. Maybe more so in her day, but plenty of us chicks (read: cool women) enjoy reading Ms. Austen even today.

The "industry" (and boy do I use that term loosely) may define chick-lit in very different ways. When the genre first appeared on the scene (think Bridget Jones' Diary), it typically included a single gal living in the city, addicted to shopping and fashion, booze and sex, and generally being a ditz. Luckily for us, the genre has evolved to include any book with a female protag, as long as she has a bit of spunk. Voice is the primary thing that defines the genre these days. If the tone of the novel is witty, I tend to classify it as chick-lit (and read it!).

With the expansion of the genre into Mom-lit, YA-lit, Chick Thrill, Paranormal-lit, Lady-lit, etc, there is something for women of any age and stage in life to enjoy. Smart, funny characters that reflect smart, funny readers.

Talking Chick-Lit

Dead? I think not. Check out this USA Today article.

Another writing blog features an interview with chick-lit author Melissa Senate.

Marian Keyes defends the genre at the Hay festival.

Word is out about Emily Griffin's latest release, Love the One You're With. The excerpts I've read put it in the intriguing category.

Reviews are mixed over Lauren Weisberger's latest, Chasing Harry Winston, but this article hints at a not-so-gloomy future for chick lit.

Is it Dead?

If you read anything about the publishing industry (and I read most everything), you have probably heard that Chick Lit is dead.

For a while, when people asked what I write, I would turn my head and mumble under my breath, "Chick Lit". Gradually I changed my answer to "humorous women's fiction". That's right. I cracked under the pressure. The pressure to adhere to the whims of the industry. Well, no more.

**Standing on rooftop, shouting** "I write Chick Lit! And I'm proud of it!"

I love making people laugh. Laughter is the greatest gift you can give another person. It's certainly my favorite thing to do. You may have noticed that there isn't a single serious book in my favorites list. Sure, occasionally I read tearjerkers or thought-provokers, but honestly, I'm reading to escape serious. I'm reading to enjoy myself. It's why I pick up the romantic comedy at the video store. And it's why I reach for the pretty covers first.

Now, don't get your Spanx all in a wad. I don't just judge a book by its cover. But that certainly can prompt me to pick it up. Then there's the back cover copy (please stop putting useless quotes or your inflated picture where the back cover copy belongs!). If that interests me, I'll read the first page. If you can make me laugh in those sixteen lines, there's a high likelihood that I will buy the book.

Case in point: While reading an agent blog, I saw an announcement for an upcoming release. The short blurb hooked me enough that I visited the author's website. Smart lady that she is, she had posted her first chapter there. It ranks as the funniest first chapter I have ever read. And now I had to wait several long months before the release date. (Can you say pre-order?) During that time, I revisited and reread the excerpt more times than I can count. And I showed it to everybody I know. The rest of the book didn't disappoint. Great cover, great blurb, great first page. I'll do a complete review of Eileen Cook's debut Unpredictable soon, but trust me. Just go buy it now.

All that rambling to say this. Chick Lit is only dead if its fans stop buying it. They can repackage it, or call it a different name, but women will continue to read it. Who doesn't want to experience life's twists and turns with a little bit of funny?