By Erin Brady

If you ask any author the question of when they started writing, they will most likely tell you that it all started the moment they were born. And it’s true! I’m fairly certain that the first words that popped out of my mouth were, “Can I have a pen and a piece of paper, please? I’ve got this great idea for a book.”

OK, so I am exaggerating a bit and maybe showing my age too (because now it would be “Can I have a keyboard and a mouse, please? I need to tweet”). Still, I think all writers share that same experience. It’s about exploring surroundings, looking at the people around you and telling a good story. Let’s face it. Life is fascinating and so are the people in it.

For me, it’s also about making people laugh. I love to laugh. I find it’s the best remedy to any problem life throws at you. I also think that we all experience funny moments that take us by surprise.

It’s those funny moments that are central to my chick lit book And The Winner Is. People who have read my book have told me that they now live their lives in ‘Marty moments.’ That is truly flattering to me because that is what I hoped would happen when I sat down and created the character of Martha Peters. For those of you who haven’t read the book and are not sure what this is exactly, ‘Marty moments’ are those little blips of time in your life where something chaotic, improbable, or embarrassing happens. Where you find yourself in an unpredictable situation and can laugh at yourself much later on, with a glass of wine, as you retell the story to your best girlfriends.

Although you may find yourself utterly mortified when those ‘Marty moments’ happen, the truth is that those moments are little gifts in life, the moments that make you reassess your priorities or that shift your dreams and goals. For me, it’s the bend in the road, the blind spot, the uphill climb before you have yet to see the spectacular view from the top of a mountain. I guess that’s why I absolutely love Marty because every one of us has a part of her in each of us. We all struggle up that mountain and find ourselves in impossible situations but we still keep going, knowing that eventually it will make for a great story, eventually we’ll marvel at the view. I also love Marty because she makes me laugh and who doesn’t need a good laugh every once in a while?

Sometimes I catch myself asking, “What would Marty do?” What would Marty do if the top of her bikini came off at the town pool? What would Marty do if she unintentionally let out a very loud burp at a meeting with her boss? What would Marty do if she congratulated a woman on the impending birth of her child when she isn’t really pregnant?

I know what she would do! She’d get up, brush herself off and keep going, hopefully learning from her mistakes, but also not letting them get the better of her. I have to remember that the next time I walk out of a public restroom with toilet paper trailing out of my backside. Just enjoy the ride and learn how to laugh at myself in the process. I know Marty would.

Giveaway! Please leave a comment to enter to win 1 eBook copy of Erin Brady's novel, And The Winner Is. Winner will be chosen at random on Saturday, September 22nd. Please include your email address or social networking account so we can get in touch if you win. Good luck!