Book Review: Liar's Guide to True Love

Sheryl's Review of Liar's Guide to True Love by Wendy Chen 

This novel follows the life of Cassandra Hanley, a wedding planner whose own dating life is a little bit on the rocks. She tends to tell men whatever she thinks they want to hear which lands her in trouble on several occasions. Her college sweetheart, Kevin, comes back into her life right before she meets Nick. What results is a strange tangle of relationships where one man knows the truth about her and the other begins the relationship unknowingly with a lie. When Nick claims to dislike weddings, Cassandra immediately tells him she’s an advertising executive. What results from the lie is her antics attempting to cover up the fact that she actually plans weddings for a living and ends in some far-fetched lies.

The initial lie to Nick seems to really be no big deal, but the entire story stretches around it. Even though Cassandra’s a wedding planner, it seems slightly strange to lie about it and then pretend to be an advertising executive. Her relationship with Nick seems off and not really fulfilling, whereas her relationship with Kevin was built on years of history. Although Kevin had done some terrible things to her in the past, he seems to have made some changes for the better and attempts throughout the book to show her how much he has changed. Nick, on the other hand, is attempting to build a relationship with Cassandra but seems to know something about their relationship isn’t right. When Kevin and Nick eventually find out about each other, it promised to be an explosive climax, but it slightly fizzled. One of the main male characters has a slightly unresolved storyline that may leave readers a little confused and unfulfilled.

Wendy Chen lived in New York for many years until she decided to move to the suburbs. She is now living in Northern Virginia with her family, hard at work on her next novel. She enjoys writing lighthearted romantic fiction and began writing Liar’s Guide to True Love while feeling nostalgic about weddings.
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She's So Write: Getting Through the First Draft


This is my first post here, and hopefully, not my last, so I better start out by being honest about who I truly am: I'm one of those writers who only writes on weeknights and weekends. This is the reality for so many of us as we lay down our pen-swords for five days a week to grudgingly fill our roles as somebody's bitch.

Under these perpetual time constraints, ninety percent of us would just give up on the quest to write a novel. For those of us still hanging by a thread (and not concerned with the premature aging that will result from lack of sleep), here are some tips for finishing a full-length draft:
 
1. Take a week's vacation to write the first draft. This will be difficult for those who are married and/or have children, as you probably want to use your vacation days on something more worthwhile, but for those of us women who teeter on the edge of independence and dying alone, this one's for you. Let me clarify that I'm not being sarcastic, because A: I actually wrote a draft in a week, and B: after the last heartbreak, I'm not sure if I'll ever love again. No biggie. But there I was with a week 's vacation and a goal of writing 10,000 words a day. The goal seemed unachievable, until I realized how angry I'd be if I'd used a week's vacation for nothing but eating and watching reality TV. And there's your biggest motivator: fear of self-loathing.
2. Assuming you can't get away for a week just to write a book, it can still be done, it can I tell you! Which brings me to the next tip: tell as many acquaintances as you can that you're writing a novel. This isn't a "the more people you tell the more accountable you are" type of tip. Oh no, it's more about the weird looks your peers will give you when you tell them you're a grown adult and you're writing a novel. "Why don't you just go on a hot air balloon ride and eat the cotton candy clouds?" they'll say (with their eyes, their patronizing eyes). The more people you have in your corner who are secretly wondering why your emotional maturity is stunted with a dream that should've stayed in adolescence, the more determined you'll become to prove them wrong. This will drive you to not only finish the draft, but to publish the book and find an audience that's uniquely yours. Spite, it's a beautiful thing.

3. This one is important: be a voyeur on writer message boards, Twitter, Facebook, etc. I am a participant in all of the aforementioned things, but when I'm trying to write a book, I quietly lurk with a sense of wonder as I watch others like me waste hours and hours sharing opinions when they should be writing. You are allowed to do this for twice a day for ten minutes before getting back to writing, and believe me you'll want to, as you watch others complain about not being able to write because the Internet's too seductive. I actually follow someone who said she had a book coming out in a few weeks. She said this two months ago. I am still waiting for the book. And so, while this seems harsh, it's a serious lesson: observe how quickly one can fly off the tracks, and be more determined in meeting your personal goals. You are also free to encourage those you observe who are having a difficult time. Because...I'm not heartless.

4. And now, the four food groups: chocolate, candy, ice cream, and caffeine. These foods are essential when you're writing, so GO NUTS! The only thing I try to avoid when I'm writing are fried foods because they put me to sleep, but otherwise, it's a calorie free-for-all when in draft mode. I allow this for myself since after writing two books, I've decided that it takes a lot out of me to go to "emotional places" when I write, and everything I take out of me when I write? I put back in via chocolate squares and Sour Patch Kids. So enjoy.

If you follow these tips, you'll have a finished draft in a matter of days or a matter of months, depending on your life situation. A huge sense of accomplishment will result, because even though the re-write can be a pain and the editing stages never-ending, nothing and no one can take away the fact that you invented a story straight from the rawness of your mind, and one day, you'll find readers who experience it and love it.

And there is nothing sarcastic about that.  :-)

Happy writing!

Romi Moondi is a Canadian independent author of The Book of Awful, NOT Love Poems for Real Life, Year of the Chick, and Year of the Chick: A Prequel. When Romi isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, running, baking, and observing strangers who she eventually writes about. For more information, you can visit Romi’s blog and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Mod Mom: Today’s June Cleaver


I would’ve liked to have lived in the 1950s. I love fifties music, and perhaps that’s why I can sing almost every verse of most Buddy Holly songs. And who doesn’t like a good poodle skirt? Whether it was or not, life seemed a little less complex back then. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I don’t like my iPhone or a frothy Starbucks cappuccino, I do. But thanks to women’s liberation, I now get to work two full time jobs and try to squeeze in writing and marketing my book in between.
 
Modern moms work. And I don’t just mean working moms. I’ve watched stay-at-home moms that may even work harder than I do. They endure without a break and without a paycheck to validate them at the end of the week. Luckily, I have a good balance. If you’re a mom, no matter which camp you fall into, finding balance is key.

Still, I want to be June Cleaver for my kids. I want them to embrace their childhood in a world that makes them grow up too fast. I want them to remember that mommy let them climb into bed with her when they had a bad dream, even if the parenting book said she shouldn’t. I want them to add colored sprinkles to their toast and eat breakfast with a smile on their face. It’s hard, and I’m exhausted, but I still find a way to bring cupcakes for their class. (It’s a good thing schools don’t allow homemade treats anymore.) But, that’s just what modern moms do, right? I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and I hope you’ll do the same. 


Maeli and Grady’s Favorite Sprinkle Toast

Spread whipped cream cheese across top of toast.
Add favorite sprinkles and a touch of cinnamon, if desired.
Cut into squares.
Spread the love.

 

Misa Rush competed in gymnastics for eighteen years, including four on a full-ride scholarship to Eastern Michigan University. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master's degree in business administration. She currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband and two children. Family Pieces is her first novel. For more information, connect with Misa on http://misarush.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Book Review: Single in the City

Kristen's Review of Single in the City by Michele Gorman

Twenty six year old Hannah has decided that life in the United States is not quite living up to her expectations, so in a bold and daring move, she decides to get a fresh start in London. Without a job, friends, or a real idea of what to expect, Hannah jumps into the culture clash with both feet. Enthusiastic but bumbling, she eagerly embraces everything that is foreign in her new land.

Single in the City is clever and engaging. Hannah is a believable, likeable and realistically flawed character. She’s a thinker, and her inner monologue helps the reader to understand why she makes the choices she does. Gorman peppers Hannah‘s story with charming similes, and some laugh-out-loud moments that will make you cringe right along with our heroine. Hannah's observations as a foreigner on British soil are realistic and hilarious. Her missteps as she experiences life among the British will make you wriggle with embarrassment for Hannah, even as you can’t stop turning the pages.

Raised in Massachusetts, Michele Gorman moved to London fifteen years ago. Now a British citizen, she has a background in finance and sociology. Single in the City is her first novel, and her second, Misfortune Cookie, was released in March 2012. Visit her website at www.michelegorman.co.uk.
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Gal Pals: Why Every Woman Needs Friends Like Rachel, Monica, & Phoebe

By Isabella Louise Anderson

Ladies, don’t we love our besties? They’re our BFFs, our confidants, and sometimes the sisters that we never had! Through thick and thin, they’re by our sides for our most exciting and our most heartbreaking moments. We have our fair share of disagreements, but we get through them, realizing that they make our friendship stronger.

From 1994 to 2004, I spent my Thursday nights with the ladies from Friends, Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), and Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow). Not only were they friends with one another, they were my friends, too! It was comforting to know that they would always be there. No matter what I was going through in my teen years to the age of 23, Rachel, Monica and Phoebe were with me during the good times and the bad. It doesn’t matter that I’ve literally seen every episode at least ten times -- the show never gets old. Their diverse personalities and constant love and admiration for one another displayed what the true meaning of being a friend is. Sadly, the show came to an end, and since then I’ve never seen a group of girls that have such a strong bond with each other.

Why you need a friend like Rachel: Beautiful, caring and fun-loving Rachel Green is the girl next door. She doesn’t judge, lets you cry on her shoulder and would do anything for a friend. You can go to her for a good laugh, but when you let her borrow your earrings, she has a tendency to misplace them. Unlike Monica and Phoebe, she’s the calm, confident one, and seems comfortable in most situations. Whether it’s out for a girl’s night or a slumber party at home while lounging in your pajamas, she rolls with the punches. If she’s in a relationship or isn’t “on a break” from Ross, she splits her time between the man she’s with and her best friend. You know that if you ask her to be there, she will -- especially when you need her the most. 

Why you need a friend like Monica: Control freak, funny and sassy Monica Geller used to be the fat girl who is now thin. She’s supportive and loyal, and while you might not always like her honest opinions, she’s the one who’s going to say it to your face and encourages you to do the right thing. She’ll help comfort you when you break up with your man, and will even bake you a batch of Toll House cookies! Even if she’s in a relationship with a man half her age who is in high school, or with Richard (Tom Selleck), her eye doctor who is the same age as her dad, she’ll be there for you no matter what. When she loves, she loves with her whole heart, and that’s a great quality to have in a best friend.

Why you need a friend like Phoebe: Wacky, carefree and childlike, Phoebe Buffay is your quirkiest friend. She doesn’t know how to ride a bike and runs like a child, but she doesn’t care. She believes in honesty, and encourages her friends to be that way towards others, no matter what. In her world, the glass is always half-filled, and she always looks on the bright side. Her relationships take a backseat to her friends. Even if the love of her life comes back to town and wants to take her to dinner, she’ll say she can’t because she’s already made plans with one of her friends.

**This article was coincidentally written while watching Friends. (I love that reruns are still being shown!)



Isabella Louise Anderson is a member of the RWA, and she is the owner of the website Chick Lit Goddess. She resides in Dallas, Texas, where she’s a housewife and mother to 12-year-old cat, Thorndike. A regular contributor at Good Humor Girl, you can learn more about Isabella here.