Trashionista

BRAND NEW BOOK NEWS: Postcards From Yo Momma

Blook news! Doree Shafrir and Jessica Grose have bagged a book deal based on their blog of mom emails, Postcards from Yo Momma.

Hyperion editor Gretchen Young bought the book at auction and is planning to market it as a Mother's Day gift book.

[Via Galleycat]

Related posts: Judging panel for Blooker Prize | From blog to book

Jennifer Weiner podcast

Jennifer Weiner did an author event at the Free Library in Philadelphia early this month to promote Certain Girls.

For those of us who missed it, the library has very kindly made it available as a podcast. Woo-hoo! Jennifer's says (on her blog): "Download, and hear me talk about the Jew thing, balancing work and motherhood, and why you should never try to breast-feed in a sweater dress."

Related posts: Author interview: Jennifer Weiner | Top 10 chick lit books

Rate My Book Cover

You know we're obsessed with book covers, right? Well, we're not alone... Galleycat is calling for a Go Fug Yourself for book covers (well, Trashi is getting close!) and Greenleaf Book Group has launched a website called Rate My Book Cover.

Small presses and self-publishers can submit their cover art for rating before they go to print. The site aims to improve book packaging quality, and declares: "Your Mom won't tell, but we will!"

Related posts: Does a book cover matter? | US versus UK covers

Jennifer Crusie, Lani Diane Rich and Anne Stewart podcast

We've recommended the Will Write For Wine podcast before, but this week's episode deserves a special mention.

Lani Diane Rich, Jenny Crusie and Anne Stewart get together at Jenny's house in Ohio and talk about collaboration (and wine, of course). Since Jenny and Anne worked together on The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes (with Eileen Dreyer) and they are all currently working on Dogs & Goddesses, they've got a lot to say...

What are you waiting for? Go listen!

Related posts: Podcasts archive | Crusie/Mayer writing workshop

HarperCollins to give freebies

HarperCollins has launched a new scheme that will see complete books available online for free for a limited time (a month per title).

The publisher is interested in seeing how free access to the texts affect sales. Two of the confirmed authors in the scheme are Neil Gaiman and Paolo Coelho.  

Gaiman is no stranger to offering his words for free. He keeps a wonderful blog, and has some stories on his website. He explains that it is about finding new readers. He said: "I very much doubt that I discovered a single one of my favourite authors by buying a book."

Related posts: Harper Teen FanLit | Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Writer's caves

I'm interested in everything to do with authors and the process of writing (no, really?) and, let's face it, I'm nosy, so this was right up my street.

US Romance writer Paige Cuccaro has collected pictures of author's caves (also known as their offices, writing spaces, or kitchen tables...) I'm not sure what amazes me more; Bob Mayer's unnaturally tidy office, or the number of writers who have fantastic bay windows and gorgeous views. Take a look here.

Related posts: Writer's rooms at the Guardian | Peek at Jenny Crusie's office

Fancy writing a Mills & Boon?

Ever fancied trying your hand at a Mills & Boon novel? If you're an aspiring author, the chances are it has crossed your mind...

The Times has a great article with tips straight from the Mills & Boon HQ. Alternatively, go to the Mills & Boon website for guidelines on each category (Blaze, Medical, Historical etc) and get stuck in.

Related posts: Mills & Boon centenary | Mills & Boon on your mobile

Adopt A Writer

No. Not literally. Supporters of the Writers Guild of America strike have come up with a genius idea. They have pulled together writers who blog to create the Adopt A Writer website. Featuring working writers, it aims to give an insight into writer's lives, finances and experiences of the strike.

Writing is such a misunderstood profession. People either picture the super-rich and successful or someone living penniless in a garret. Hopefully, Adopt A Writer will give a more balanced, infomed view, as well as rallying support for the strike.

Related posts: More WGA strike news | Golden Globes ceremony cancelled

Mills & Boon's centenary

Mills & Boon, one of the most successful book publishers ever, is celebrating its centenary this year. Yep, 100 years of bodice-ripping, dashing doctors, rich sheiks, and smart modern romances.

Visit the website for special offers and competitions throughout 2008.

Related posts: Mills & Boon on your mobile | Harlequin/NASCAR romances

Want to get published?

I know that lots of you are authors-in-training and perhaps you've set 2008 as the year you will finish that novel/submit that novel/write a better novel. I know I have.

Since Miss Snark has hung up her stilettos and the Crusie/Mayer Writing Workshop has come to an end (sob!), I thought I'd recommend a couple of websites for 2008.

First up is a pretender to Miss Snark's throne, Nathan Bransford. He's an agent with Curtis Brown and seems to be dishing out the same straight-talking advice on queries. He's not as funny as Miss Snark, but not as scary, either...

For an editor's view, try Evil Editor. In addition to judging queries, he holds contests and sets writing exercises.

Or, Editorial Anonomous. This one is from a children's book editor, but lots of the advice is applicable across genres  and it's very readable.

Of course, if you haven't seen it already, Miss Snark's archive is still available and well worth a look...

Related posts: Chick lit writing tips | The Writers' Workshop resources | Tips for new writers

The Writers' Workshop resources

Whether you've started scribbling, have completed your magnum opus, or are just thinking about the possibility of one day, maybe, writing a book, check out The Writers' Workshop; they've put up a comprehensive list of articles with all you need to know.

[Thanks Emma]

Related posts: The Crusie/Mayer workshop | Tips for new writers

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Some lad-lit blogs

How could I not know that Nick Hornby had a blog? Perhaps because it's fairly new - that's my excuse anyway... If you're as in the dark as I was, read it for yourself here. He hasn't updated in a little while, but the rest of his website is a worthwhile browse, and hopefully he'll blog more soon...

Non-fic lad lit fave Dave Gorman, on the other hand, has been updating like billy-o (as my mum would say). Read his blog here, and find out all about what he's been up to, the music on Homes Under The Hammer and the deterioration in quality of a well-known chocolate egg. It's good stuff.

Finally, sometime Gorman collaborator Danny Wallace has a website, where he doesn't blog, but does post occasional news and... 'titbits' might be the right word. There's also the chance to download some video podcasts of the author/TV presenter/head of the Karma Army...

Related posts: Top 10 lad lit | From book to blog. 

Read Louise Doughty's 'Novel in a Year'

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love Louise Doughty's columns in The Telegraph. Last year, she documented her progress as she  attempted to write a novel in a year, and this book, unsurprisingly called A Novel in A Year is a compilation of her weekly columns. For anyone who missed a few, or indeed missed the whole thing, this will make not only educational but entertaining reading too. I'm planning on snapping it up asap.

Incidentally, Louise Doughty's excellent columns continue but at a more relaxed pace: they're now called A Writer's Year.

Related: BOOK REVIEW: Wannabe a Writer?

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Good Reads

Good Reads is a site in the tradition of Librarything and Shelfari. That is, yet another addictive book-related website for me to spend time on instead of doing anything more productive... sigh. (I warn you: once you log in, it's hard to leave, so join up at your own risk!)

The idea behind the site is simple: join up and then add books you've just read, books you want to read next and books you're reading now. You can add reviews and read other people's, get book suggestions based on what you're reading, and the best bit: add 'friends' in the same way as sites like Myspace and Facebook - you can even form groups, so you could create a virtual reading group online and have book chats over Good Reads.

So many possibilities, so many chores being ignored...

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Magical Musings

At Trashionista, we love us a good group blog. So I was delighted to stumble across (seriously - who knows what I clicked to get there, I'm just glad I did) another one: Magical Musings.

Bearing the tagline "Five writers who believe no story is complete without a little magic", the bloggers write novels ranging from historicals to fantasy to romantic fiction, and you can find out more about them all here.

They have some really interesting book-related blog posts on the main page, such as what happens when one of your must-read authors falls off your must-buy list (Adriana Trigiani, I'm looking at you!) and how much sex is OK in YA? (Read it and see!)

Great. Just what I needed: another must-read bookish blog... pretty soon I'll have no time to write anything myself!

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Dear Holly

A couple of months ago, Keris told us about Holly Shumas's new book debut, Five Things I Can't Live Without. She'll be reviewing it soon, but in the meantime you might like to take a look at the author's excellent web site, which includes an interactive advice section, Dear Holly. Follow that link for questions from readers and answers from Holly herself on all manner of dating dilemmas.

Why don't more authors do this? I'd love Marian Keyes's advice on skincare and Sophie Kinsella's tips on shoe shopping...

Which author would you most like a Q & A with, and on what topic?

Blog a Penguin Classic (and get a free book and internet fame in the process...)

Here's something we found out about thanks to the lovely Camilla, editor of our sister (wedding-themed) site, Bridalwave.

Blog a Penguin Classic gives readers the chance to sign up to review one of Penguin's 1400 titles for the website - sign up, and if you're quick enough, you could be chosen to receive a free book which you'll be asked to blog about for the site.

Be warned however - you don't get to choose your title! But it could be a great way to expand your reading horizons (sort of like a bookish lucky dip).

The next batch of books hasn't been released yet but keep checking the site to stay on top of things and read the current batch of reviews here (scroll down).

The importance of being low: authors obsess over Amazon rankings

Authors: how bothered are you about your ranking on Amazon? It seems some authors can't stop checking how well their new releases are selling, even up to several times a day!

There's an article in the New York Times about how distracting Amazon rankings can be, and just a few weeks ago in The Telegraph's book section I read an excellent piece on the same subject in author Louise Doughty's weekly column about being a writer (which is always the first place I turn btw!)

Author Aaron Shephard has even created a new website, Sales Rank Express so authors can access their ranking instantly.

But maybe that time would be better use disconnecting from the net, and getting on with your next masterpiece...

Sage advice on collaborating from Jenny Crusie and Bob Mayer

Despite the popularity of co-authored novels (especially as some of the collaborations do so brilliantly *coughNannyDiariescough*) and despite being a frequent collaborator herself (see here, here and here...) Jenny Crusie contends that it's not the easy, fun option it may sound.

Something I guess Janet Evanovich has already discovered...

Read Jenny and one of her many collaborators Bob Mayer on the subject at their excellent joint blog/teaching project, He Wrote, She Wrote.

Exclusive excerpts on the New York Times books site: Rules for Saying Goodbye and more

Keris has highlighted the difference between the UK and US covers of new book Rules for Saying Goodbye by Katherine Taylor before, and also talked about the fact that the author has taken offence to her book being described as chick lit. (Sigh).

Now you can see for yourself whether it seems like something you want to read (whether chick lit or not...) as The New York Times has an excerpt (the first chapter, in fact) on their website.

You can also read the first chapter of Sammy's House here and the opening of Lisa See's Peony In Love here. What a fantastic resource!

(If they ask you to sign in to read those, I'd do it - they never bug me with emails and offers).

Is The Great Big Glorious Book for Girls... an insult to women's intelligence?

In The Guardian books blog, writer Melissa McClements despairs of a new book, The Great Big Glorious Book for Girls, which apparently is (according to the book's website): "... an irresistible celebration of girlhood, exquisitely illustrated, deliciously packaged and packed with exciting things to keep every girl, from eight to 80, entertained throughout the years ... It will take women back to a time when we made cup cakes with our grandmothers and a campfire with our friends, we played hopscotch, and domestic crafts were celebrated."

But are books like this undoing the good work of feminism by encouraging women and men to adopt stereotypical gender roles? Or should the liberated woman bake if she wants to? Is it patronising to have a book for 'girls' rather than 'women' and is it even more patronising to assume we all like the same traditional pursuits?

Also... is it wrong that I became very excited when I saw the website contains instructions on doing a proper french plait? (Finally!)

Related: Gloria Steinem on chick lit.

More summer beach read giveaways from Bookreporter.com

Continuing our summer special-theme, "It wouldn't be summer without sun, surf and sizzling reading," says Bookreporter. So they're offering one reader a week the chance to win a beach bag of goodies, including a great summer read each week until August 24th.

The current book choice is Second Choice by Jane Green, and past books include The Manny and Anybody Out There? So you could find some great reading recommendations over the next few weeks, whether you win or not!

And don't forget we'll be giving books away every week for the rest of the summer, too!

The best days to sell books?

You might think that the day the new (last) Harry Potter was released would be a bad day to try and get readers interested in buying any other kind of book, but you would be wrong.

That's according to Elaine Viets of The Lipstick Chronicles blog. In a recent post, she explains why Harry Potter nights can be one of the very best days to sell books.

Find out more here (and don't forget to check out the rest of this excellent blog!

Related: Book websites archive.

Harriet Klausner: the speediest reviewer of all time... or a total con artist? Discuss.

Debate is raging is some corners of the bookish blogosphere about reader and reviewer Harriet Klausner's claims to have written over 12,000 reviews since the year 2000. (Makes my wrists seize up just thinking about typing that much!) That breaks down to 4 books a day, 7 days a week.

So is she a freakishly book-obsessed speed reading talent? Or a book blagger rather than a blogger, who's only pretending to have read some of the books she writes about and who makes things up based on the blurbs on the back of books? The fact that her reviews are almost always 4- and 5- starred has also raised suspicion.

Read more about this whole controversy over at Bloggasm...

Related: So Many Books, So Little Time | Top 10 burning book questions.

Bookslut prefers misery lit to chick lit (oh-kay then...)

Much as I find literary book blog Bookslut an informative and (mostly) enjoyable read, they have got it in for chick lit big time over there. (To each her own? Not so much).

On the site today, Jessa Crispin suggests that the current glut of books about women having nervous breakdowns (yes, apparently there is such a glut) could be an extension of "the chick lit backlash", suggesting: "Perhaps writers were as desperate as readers like me to see a female character be portrayed as a whole person."

So portraying a woman as a whole person = writing about her in the depths of misery? Wow, I feel invigorated. Better put down my fantastically entertaining books about women dealing with the ups and downs of modern life and read about some real women for a change!

Remind me, I forget (I'm just a simple-minded chick lit fan): is life supposed to be all about misery for the modern day woman?... Or about reading what I want and enjoying myself?

I know which I prefer.

Your thoughts, please...

Related posts: Chick lit is a feminist issue | Gloria Steinem on chick lit

Maria McCarthy's writing for publication workshop

Put Saturday 8th September in your diary if you're interesting in going to Cardiff for a writing workshop with journalist and author (of The Girls' Guide to Losing Your L-Plates, which Keris loved) Maria McCarthy.

Maria says she'll be giving advice on getting fiction, non-fiction and journalism published including developing feature ideas, approaching editors, getting an agent and copyright and business matters. The workshop will be held from 2-4pm at Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Canton, Cardiff  and costs £10 (£8 concessions).

For more information or to book a place, check out Maria's website.

Related posts: Review: Wannabe A Writer? | Review: See Jane Write

Get a new dictionary and help a charity at Waterstones

As a child, my mum was so excited by her first dictionary that she made it her bedtime reading for weeks. Ah, the '50s '80s were a more innocent time, weren't they?

But who doesn't love a good dictionary? For writers they're pretty essential, which is why I know some of you will be interested in a Waterstones offer that not only gets you money off a brand new dictionary, but helps a charity, too!

Carry on over the cut to find out how it works.

Hand in any old dictionary at your local Waterstones book shop, and they'll give you a voucher for £15 off the new Collins dictionary - instead of £35, this mammoth volume will cost you just £20. And your old dictionary will be sent to Book Link, a charity that sends books to schools in Africa. 

(It says on the site that this ended in June, but it's been extended until August, so if you need a new dictionary you might want to buy it soon!)

Related: Donate spare books to charity.

'How to Shop' - EXCLUSIVE Mary Portas giveaway!

The brilliantly savvy fashion/shopping expert Mary Portas, also known as Mary, Queen of Shops after her fabby BBC programme, has released a new book: How to Shop with Mary, Queen of Shops . It's a beautiful hardback, jam-packed with useful information from a mistress of retail.

And we have a copy to give away to one lucky Trashionista reader!

If you'd like to win, carry on over the cut to find out how...

To be in with a chance of winning:

Simply email us at editor@trashionista.com with your name and address and MARY in the title. Please also put 'no' in the body of the email if you wouldn't like to receive further information from Ebury/BBC books. I'm sorry, this giveaway is UK only.

And that's not your only chance to win: until the end of July there's the chance  for 5 people to win £100 Oasis vouchers over on Mary Portas's website, which is well worth a look in any case.

Good luck!

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: LouderVoice.com

LouderVoice is an interactive reviews site where readers can post reviews of films, restaurants, TV shows and of course, books. A new Twitter-based feature now makes it even easier to add your reviews to the site - this article on Twitterati explains how it works.

And! If you have Twitter and haven't added us yet, please click here and do so, asap - Keris updates that thing like a crazy lady. (And I mean that in a good way).

Trashionista Recommends archives.

Why we love Austen... or not?

An article in Salon.com (via Bookninja) suggests that the recent resurgence in popularity of Miss Jane Austen is because, as one interviewee suggests: "Everybody really wants to be Jane... to wear long ball gowns and go to dances and be genteel.” Also: we love the romance... bless our pretty little heads.

Surely there's a little more to it than that? The quality of the writing, the subtle social satire? Anyone?

Related: The Austen backlash begins.

Bridget Jones Online Archive

Isn't the internet great? Following Diane's fab Bridget Jones reminiscences, I mentioned that I used to have the original newspaper columns. This led me on my own trip down memory lane which led, inevitably, to Wikipedia, where I found that the original columns (along with some other great stuff) are online.

Yes, hotfoot it over to the Bridget Jones Online Archive and party like it's 1995!

8st 13, alcohol units 2 (excellent), cigarettes 7, calories 3,100 (poor).

Related posts: WIN! A copy of Bridget Jones's Diary | Bridget Jones's Diary review (book) | Bridget Jones's Diary review (film)

YA star Megan McCafferty invites you to create a trailer

Big fan of (famously plagiarised) YA chick lit author Megan McCafferty?

Why not show your love by entering her contest to make a trailer recapping the plots of the first 3 novels in her famous Jessica Darling series (so that's Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, and Charmed Thirds). The trailer should be 3 minutes or less, and Megan will blog about entries as they come in, before picking her favourite - the creator of which will win a bag full of signed books.

So why not give it a go? - You couldn't possibly do worse than this...

More details and how to enter here. [Via Galleycat].

No more Literary Chicks

Ever-fabulous group chick lit author blog Literary Chicks has closed down. Nooooooo!

The blog - which featured Michelle Cunnah, Whitney Gaskell, Alesia Holliday, Beth Kendrick, Eileen Rendahl and Lani Diane Rich, along with various guest bloggers - has been going since August 04, but the chicks have decided to say goodbye.

The archives are still there, though, so if you've never visited, stop by and laugh until you cry. And then cry a little bit cos it's over. Sniff.

Related posts: Will Write for Wine | Dogs & Goddesses | Heart of Tartness book club

Jennifer Crusie's tagline competition

Jennifer Crusie is asking for help from her readers for the sequel to Don't Look Down.

The book within the next Agnes book needs a catchy tagline: can you think one up? (I can't,  slogans fox me - I'd be terrible in advertising!)

If you think you can help the great Ms Crusie with your brilliant word power, click here to find out more. [Via Nicola Pedley]

Jen Lancaster launches Mamapop's book club

I know, I can't seem to shut up about Jen Lancaster or Mamapop lately (maybe next week...?) but this I had to share: Jen Lancaster, Mamapop.com's resident author/avid reader, has just launched their book club with the inaugural (little political pun intended!) read: The Washingtonienne, Jessica Cutler's infamous blook.

If I wasn't on a book buying ban (I've got too many!), I'd be tempted to join in myself... Perhaps it's a choice for you if Richard and Judy's picks for this summer don't appeal?

Jen Lancaster's summer read recommendations

Hot on the heels of The Philadelphia Inquirer's recommending beach reading, the very funny and fab Jen Lancaster gives her selection of great summer reads, and hints at what she'll be talking about next. (Here's one clue).

You can find out more from this post at great pop culture blog Mamapop.com (You don't have to be a mama to love it, I'm a biiiiig fan.)

Win five fab books with Shiny Shiny!

As if all the Trashionista competitions we give you aren't enough (some very exciting ones coming soon, I promise!), our sister site Shiny Shiny is giving readers the chance to win FIVE fab Friday Project books, including A Girl Called Madonna and Confessions of a Chatroom Freak.

Find out more, including how to enter, by directing your mouse in this direction.

BOOK NEWS: I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids

I don't know what would tempt me to read this memoir/advice book more: the refreshingly honest and funny title...

...or the gorgeously yummy-looking front cover. (Go see).

And I don't even have kids!

Watch a video from the authors if you'd like to know more.

Related posts: The Hot Moms Handbook | Confessions of a Failed Grown-up by Stephanie Calman

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Writers Revealed

Writers Revealed is a live weekly podcast hosted by HarperCollins senior online marketing manager and editor and publisher of the literary magazine Small Spiral Notebook, Felicia Sullivan.

The show features live discussions, book giveaways and author interviews. Leslie Bennetts (author of The Feminine Mistake), Joshua Ferris and Michelle Goodman, and John McNally have already appeared with Julianna Baggott, MJ Rose and Curtis Sittenfeld coming up. You can listen to previous shows online.

Trashionista recommends archive

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant

We've had a mother-son interview before, but this is the first mother-daughter writing combo to talk exclusively to us at Trashionista! And I'm excited they did, as I loved their books - Steamed and Simmer Down - and can't wait for the next in the series (Turn up the Heat, out March '08). In the meantime, we have this great interview...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Jessica: Humorous and romantic culinary chick lit mystery set in the Boston restaurant scene. Recipes included!

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

Jessica: I write in my office surrounded sticky notes with book ideas scrawled across the yellows squares. I have visions of becoming totally organized and working in a neurotically neat space, but I suspect that will never happen. For reasons I don’t understand, there is no overhead light in my office, but I do have a grow light for my plants which casts a bizarre pink glow throughout the room, so that makes for an interesting atmosphere. (The neighbors must wonder if aliens have landed their ship in our house.)

Susan:  Outdoors, often on the back steps.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

J:  simply adore The Hazards of Sleeping Alone by Elise Juska. (By the way, this is one of those books where the cover doesn’t match the story.)

S:  Pride and Prejudice. Or maybe Emma. Yes, is Jane Austen the true mother of chick-lit?

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

J: Charlotte from Elise’s book is such an interesting and endearing character and her faults make her progress all the more meaningful. I love flawed characters; I mean, who wants to read about somebody completely perfect?

S: Elizabeth Bennet, who married the eternally irresistible Mr. Darcy.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

J: Start writing! It sounds obvious enough, but I know many “writers” who have yet to put anything down on paper. Don’t hem and haw over everything you write because you can always go back later and edit, delete, or expand on whatever you’ve written. I hate writing the first few paragraphs of a book so I often just skip ahead and write the opening lines later, otherwise I might sit poised over the keyboard for days waiting for some brilliant line to come to me... Do not try to copy another author’s style or your writing will be disastrous. I love Elinor Lipman’s books [me too! - Diane], but never in a million years could I write the way she does - I can only imagine how hideous my attempts would be. Show your work to someone. Anyone. As terrifying as this is to new writers, you must have someone else read what you’ve written. Be open to feedback and constructive criticism because that is how you improve!

S: If writing does not come naturally to you, quit trying. Read instead!

What are you reading at the moment?

J: Pick Your Poison by Leann Sweeney.

S: Anne Tyler’s Digging to America.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

J: I’ve been busy gathering materials for our website and am itching to get writing again. My mother and I are getting ready to sign a contract for two more books in the Gourmet Girl series so we will start plotting the fourth mystery very soon.

S: I was outlining my second cat lover’s mystery, but Holly Winter’s malamutes leapt in and shoved the cats aside, so I am writing my nineteenth dog lover’s mystery.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

Jessica: Your husband is a chef so you must eat like a queen all the time, right? A: Yes, it’s foie gras and fancy chocolate cakes for dinner every night. Okay, not exactly, be we do eat well. My husband, Bill, works most nights so I’m often left to fend for myself. When he is home and cooking, his food is always spectacular.

Susan: What is a Harvard-Radicliffe summa doing writing dog mysteries, cat mysteries, and chick-lit? Answer: Having fun.

Thanks so much, Jessica and Susan!

What book first got you hooked?

The ever-interesting Bookninja asks and answers the ever-interesting question: "What book first got you hooked on reading?"

That's because book charity First Book is running a What Book Got You Hooked? campaign to raise awareness of its objectives: donating books to low-income families. This summer they'll have given away 50 million copies. Now that's impressive. (And nearly as many books as my to-be-read pile contains, ha ha.)

Anyway, to answer their question, for me... it was probably something by Enid Blyton.

How about you - What book first got you hooked?

Related: Donate spare books to charity.

What's your "Judy Blume moment of truth"?

In honour of the release of the fabby-looking Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, Beth Kendrick of  The Literary Chicks.com is asking the above question. (Your moment might be that "that all the really cute, sporty boys preferred your busty, bubbly best friend to you, just because you were a freakishly flat-chested introvert who preferred Sylvia Plath to Seventeen,"  says Kendrick). Read more here.

Did you grow up with Judy Blume? I loved Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself and Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. Blume created teenage characters with real concerns that girls could relate (and sometimes aspire) to...

BOOK NEWS: Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

I loved Bitter is the New Black and will be reviewing her latest, Bright Lights, Big Ass soon, so I was excited to hear about Jen Lancaster's next book, which she's currently both writing and losing weight for:

Called Pretty Fat, the book has another of Lancaster's trademark subtitles: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big; Or, Why Pie Is Not the Answer, and is "the story of the heretofore-unabashedly-plus-sized Jen's quest to lose fifty pounds in six months by any means possible", according to her website.

Book news archives.

Read 'Cancer Vixen' online at The First Post

I was surprised (in a happy way) to learn that daily news website The First Post is featuring Marisa Acochella Marchetto's Cancer Vixen online, for everyone to read (yay!) 

I'd still recommend buying the book but you can now see why it's so good by clicking here.

Miss Snark says goodbye

Miss Snark, the wisest and wittiest blogging book agent (and a huge George Clooney fan) has hung up her heels for good: she'll blog no more.

If you never got around to reading her fabulous advice, don't worry: it's all there in the archives. But the Snark has "gone dark". *Sob!*

Book websites.

Living with a writer: mixing art with life...

I love Sue Hepworth's blog, and while I was reading recently, came across this story which illustrates what it's like living with an author... (Gus is the hero of Plotting for Beginners, just to give you the context). Poor writers' spouses...

Related: Top 10 books I reviewed in 2006.

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Early Ink website

This site sounds like an exciting idea: Early Ink's aim is to help publicise new books so it features all the news on books about to hit the shops, and even excerpts that you can print out, PLUS audio and video promos. [Via CrusieMayer.com]

"Help build buzz for your favorite author's next book by leaving comments or by linking its preview to your choice of social bookmarking Web sites," says the site.

Sounds good for authors and readers alike - just the sort of site we like!

Related: Trashionista recommends | Book websites

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

I'm still not entirely sure how this might work, but I think I understand the basic idea: Simon and Schuster, one of the biggest publishers in the world, is hoping to take advantage of Media Predict, a new company that believes the public has an eye for what media is worth (books included). You participate by playing a virtual stock exchange game, in which you gauge the worth of certain products - and the executives at Media Predict take notice.

But should books be chosen on the basis of public opinion? Isn't there the chance we might miss a classic of the future? Or do we know more than any stuffy old editors? Should we be able to decide a book's worth? The main question I really want the answer to, though is this:

Can the general public predict which books will succeed and which will flop (without even reading them)? Tell us Yay or Nay - and why!

Yay or Nay archives.

[Don't forget it's Yay or Nay day at Hippyshopper, Bridalwave, Dollymix, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]

Bookswim: Lovefilm/Netflix for books?

This is an idea that to my knowledge hasn't reached this side of the pond yet, but it would be a great idea for book fiends like me, who want to save a few bob and slow the destruction of the rainforests, whilst still getting to read all the new bestsellers. (Authors may not be so keen, however...)

A new site called Bookswim allows Americans only (darn it!) to rent books by post in the same way that Netflix or Lovefilm (depending which side of the Atlantic you're on) does for DVDs. It costs around $20-30 a month, but there's no late fees, so if you're tied to the house, or your library card is racking up enormous fines [Keris!], this could be a godsend... [Via Galleycat].

Here's how it works if you're interested.

Related posts: Create your virtual bookshelf with Shelfari | Reader 2 - the new LibraryThing?

The Daily Mail book club features Julie Myerson (and more!)

It may not be my favourite newspaper (no offence to its readers!) but the book coverage at the Daily Mail keeps getting better. Their book club choice for May is The Story of You by Julie Myerson, and you can read more about the book and its author here.

If you want to get ahead, their June pick is The Vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell and upcoming authors include More on Monday favourites Bill Bryson and Marina Lewycka (with her new novel, Two Caravans).

Don't forget you still have until July 2nd to enter their first novel competition, too.

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

If you're a long-time Trashionista reader, you'll know by now what a 'blook' is, but if you're new (hello and welcome!) you might not, so I'll explain: it's just a blog turned into a book.

The annual Blooker Prize for the best blook of the year has just been announced, and the winner (netting himself a nice wad with the $10,000 prize) is Colby Buzzell, whose memoir My War: Killing Time in Iraq most impressed the judging panel. But should it have?

From now on, US soldiers will not be allowed to write 'mili-blogs' about their time in Iraq or any other part of the world. Do you agree this is for the best? Is it okay if their time in the military is over, or is it always too dangerous a compromise to national security? Will more soldiers be traumatised if they can't set down their thoughts? Is it okay to write it all down as long as it's not published, or is it always too risky? Is freedom of expression too important to be censored in this way - or is the military right? That's a lot of questions, but it all boils down to just one:

Should soldiers be allowed to write blogs, books or blooks about their experiences? Tell us: Yay or Nay - and WHY?

Yay or Nay archives.

[Don't forget it's Yay or Nay day at Hippyshopper, Bridalwave, Dollymix, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]

"Unconfident and hideous"? You too could be a writing success story!

I loved this quote from The Guardian's interview with literary novelist Charlotte Mendelson: "I wasn't posh and I wasn't confident, and I was really hideous".

Isn't it comforting to know that even published authors who are critically revered have their crises of confidence too, and don't necessarily have an easy life? (Although I have to say she hardly looks hideous now...)

Her book When We Were Bad is out now.

Related: Book related| Author interviews

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Snowbooks

We don't usually recommend particular publishers, but Snowbooks is definitely worthy of a special mention. They're a small press, so turn out just a handful of books each year - but they're all of very good quality. So far we've reviewed Taking The Plunge, Drugs are Nice, Mama Lama Ding Dong and one of my favourite books of last year, Plotting for Beginners.

Not only that, but Snowbooks have a beautifully designed website, with a very interesting blog.

And you can catch up with them on Myspace and Twitter, too!

Related: Literature... on Twitter? | Trashionista Recommends.

Literature... on Twitter?

Yes, unlikely as it may seem, Twitter, which allows you to send messages of up to 140 characters to a group of friends, has become the new cool place for book geeks readers to hang out.

Twitlit brings you the opening line of a book every day, and a link to click to find out which one it is. (I haven't recognised one yet, but I'm having fun guessing!)

Bafab also have a Twitter account, as do Book Blog and Book Two.

I don't know of any chick lit authors with Twitter accounts yet, but if you do, please let us know!

In the meantime, all of us Twitter addicts have a spiritual home over at Twitterati.tv, another brilliant Shiny site.

Upcoming bloggy book from Fussy and Finslippy

Two of the wittiest women in the blogosphere, Eden Kennedy of Fussy and Alice Bradley of Finslippy are currently at work on a new joint book about... well, they're not saying. But I can't wait to find out!

And uber-blogger Dooce is now at work on her (court-ordered) book too.

If you're a blook fan like me, this is the mother lode.

Karyn Bosnak on Radio Scotland

Yes, Trashionista favourite Karyn Bosnak was interviewed not in Scotland, but by BBC Radio Scotland - almost as good!

You can listen to it here via their archives. (It's the one called Fortune Tellers and should start playing straight away...)  [Via Pretty* in The City]

Related: Karyn Bosnak's favourite bookshop | Karyn Bosnak, internet superstar

What's on your bedside table?

Book-wise, I mean - we don't need to know about any mouldy coffee cups! Sarah Crown at The Guardian books blog asked the question last week, inspired by a regular feature in Mslexia. I'm not just linking to that because she mentioned me (promise!), but because I'm interested:

What are you reading now?

What else do you have lined up?

Basically, what's on your bedside table, and why?

Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty's quick and dirty audiobook!

As a podcast fan, I've been aware of the Grammar Girl phenomenon for some time. If you're not, here's the scoop: it's a hugely popular website and podcast where grammar expert Mignon Fogarty (yes) gives her "quick and dirty tips for better writing". There's actually nothing dirty about it, it's just good grammar sense, delivered in a fun and intelligent way.

Which is probably why Oprah recently had Mignon on her show to explain the accept/except and lie/lay distinctions, among other points of English. According to Galleycat, the Oprah experience has created huge demand for the book Fogarty will release next year. To take advantage, she's mixed an audio version herself in super-fast time and it's available now via her site.

Simon & Schuster to launch author videos site

Publishers Simon & Schuster are to launch a new video website with news and insight from some of their best-loved authors (Jennifer Weiner, perhaps?)

Called BookVideos.tv, it will launch in June. [Via Galleycat]

Technology archives.

Shanna Swendson's new book: Damsel Under Stress

Lovely author Shanna Swendson, a long-time friend of Trashionista, has a new book out now called Damsel Under Stress, the third in the series which began with Enchanted, Inc and continued with Once Upon Stilettos.

In honour of the release of her new book, she's featured on Joshilyn Jackson's fabulous blog this month: read what she has to say here.

Related: Valerie Frankel talks to Joshilyn Jackson.

Something exciting: Wednesday on Trashionista!

And not just one exciting thing either - it's going to be a brilliant day tomorrow!

First, Sandi Kahn Shelton is going to be stopping by on her blog tour with a special blog post related to her book, A Piece of Normal, which we'll review later in the week.

As if that wasn't enough, we have OUR MOST EXCITING AND SPECIAL interview yet lined up for tomorrow afternoon - who could it be...??

Carry on over the cut for a clue.

She's Irish.

:)

Create your virtual bookshelf with Shelfari

This new site caught my eye: at Shelfari, you list the books you own in a similar way to LibraryThing and Reader 2, only instead of a list of books with pictures, you end up with a 3D picture of all the books on your shelves... and you can discuss them with your online friends via the site.

Looks like fun! Has anyone tried it?

Interview with Aury Wellington...

No, not on here (unfortunately): editor of controversial anthology This Is Not Chick Lit, Elizabeth Merrick launched a new series of author interviews on Bookslut this week. Her inaugural interviewee is Aury Wellington, author of controversial YA book Pop!

Find out how she writes, what her big break was (clue here) and why her mum always wanted her to join the army... all by reading the interview.

Blogger's quest to read only celebrity biographies for a whole YEAR

Now this is an interesting proposition: we've all read a celebrity autobiography or two, haven't we? (And some of us - even I! - may have read a ghostwritten one...)

But Mark Farley, blogger at Bookseller to the Stars has taken things one further, by challenging himself to read nothing but  celebrity memoirs for one whole year, from March 1 2007 onwards... Why? Well, read more about it here and find out!

Have you ever attempted any type of year-long reading quest? Are you tempted to?

Faber's book club guides

Here's something useful, whether you're in a book club or not: publishers Faber have produced a series of online guides (in PDF format) to some of their most popular books, including A Complicated Kindness and The Bell Jar.

Just clicky here to peruse them...