Hob-Knobbing With the Chick Lit Goddesses

What's the difference between being famous and being almost-famous? Time's up. I'm not sure about the famous part, but I had a chance to become almost-famous by appearing in the same article with Shanna Swendson, author of the magical chick lit novel, ENCHANTED, INC. and Lauren Baratz-Logsted, author of the amazing chick lit novel, A LITTLE CHANGE OF FACE thanks to M.E. Wood, "commonly called Mo," who who is in our chick lit group and is Bella Online's Literary Fiction Editor. The link is here, but please come back as there is a point to all this drivel, believe me.

Okay, you're gonna ask sooner or later, so I might as well tell you how a relationship expert and author of a book on soul mate stories knows doodley-squat about chick lit, other than reading them. Ever been in high school and there was a group of girls that had just about everything from their own Ferrari and a bedroom that they didn't have to share with their siblings done up in pink and white and of course they had the canopy bed to die for and you had to share a bed with your sister that snored? Heh. Well, a little reflection there. Actually, there was a group of girls who seemed to have everything - perfect grades, DATES, teacher's attention, DATES, clothes from only the best stores, DATES...well, you get the picture.

This is how it was for me...I became one of THEM, thanks to Mo, who so kindly overlooked the fact that I wasn't published in the chick lit genre YET, but I must have made a little bit of sense for her to MOsie me in there.

It was like taking a peek of what the boy's locker room looked like and was well really cool. Maybe one day I'll actually have a locker there.

But, getting back to why little ol' me might know beans about the chick lit genre, here it is. I am part of a wonderful group called simply CHICKLIT, in which there are nearly 1,000 members. This group is awesome. It was there I picked up the muse and started on my own chick lit, after finishing the hen lit, which is being shopped around as we speak. I also READ chick lit, which some reviewers who claim that it's not "literary," must not claim to do even though they are quick to criticize. This article is one of many floating around the net that is trying to convey the message to the reading and buying public that chick lit books are more than what you see in context. There are messages in them and it's these messages that the authors of these cool as shit books want you to hear. If you're looking for a book that will stimulate your inner goddess (or god), these are it. If you're looking for a fun read, these are it. If you're looking for something close to Shakespeare, these aren't for you, and you must realize that before you start into one. One of the most fun reads I've had ever was by Marianne Mancusi called A CONNECTICUT FASHIONISTA IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT. While I'm older than most chick lit readers, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and didn't want to put it down. Perhaps there's a little "chick" in all of us wanting to escape through these books and have a good time, rather than a serious time, who knows?

So, as you can see, I do know a little bit about the genre and am continually reading to perfect the craft. As I said in the interview, "It's a whole different banana." Just remember, these "bananas"could be just what the doctor ordered. Read a few and get a feel for them. You'll never know what you missed if you don't.