CHICK LIT BLOG AUTHOR HOP 2012
CHICK LIT BLOG AUTHOR HOP 2012
“Wanna see my shorts?”
I like my romance short and sweet. More like fifty shades of pink than grey. That’s why I’ve been putting out collections of sweet and sassy, funny romantic shorts I call Flirts! (Beach Flirts! Holiday Flirts! Fairy Tale Flirts! and coming soon, Wedding Flirts!) These stories are perfect for when you don’t have time to commit to a novel, but still want to squeeze in a story or two. I have lots of readers who tell me they look forward to reading them during their lunch break. Or kids practices.
Ok, technically, mine are novelettes. I know. What’s a novelette? It makes me sound as if I use doilies at teatime. Well here’s the deal. Short stories are 1,000-7,500 words in length, so they can easily be read in one sitting. Anything shorter than that is flash fiction. Stories over 7500 words and up to 20,000 words are called novelettes. Novellas are 20,000-50,000 words. Mine are around 10,000 words, so I just go with short stories.
Why give a short story a shot when you’re used to longer fiction? It’s like giving the shy boy on the bus a shot when you know nothing about him. When you didn’t even know he’d been sitting there all this time.
Besides a quick dose of fun, you get to know a lot of characters. My short story collections have five stories in each collection, so you’ll meet lots of different couples in interesting situations. If I’ve done my job, you’re going to feel like you really got to know and care about these folks. As a reader, I love learning about new characters and places, and a few short stories a week will fill that desire, whether from a collection, or a bunch of individual shorts.
It’s a great way to try out a new genres and authors. I’m not a big sci-fi reader, but I recently picked up a short story with an interesting premise that’s getting a lot of buzz online. I’m still thinking about that story a week later. Would I have read it if it had been a novel? Probably not. Too big of a commitment in my crazy busy world. But this short story was the perfect way to pass an hour, and now I have to rethink my stance on “not liking sci-fi.”
And just because it’s a short story, doesn’t mean it’s not a complete story. I think this is the biggest reason people are reluctant to try short stories; like it’s going to be as fulfilling as one bacon wrapped scallop on a toothpick when you really want the stuffed haddock with the rice pilaf. Short stories really can be fun, fulfilling, and totally worth your time. In fact, some of my readers say my shorts collections read as full bodies of work, because my stories link to one another and characters pop up in other stories. (That happened after a moment of serendipity, when one story ended at a charity even and another started at a charity event and I thought, man, I can’t do that. And then realized, oh yes I can!
So even if you’ve never tried a short story, and you’re convinced it’s not for you, give it a shot. Get yourself to your favorite ebook site and start browsing. You’re sure to find one in your favorite genre, or maybe you can try something new. This could be the start a beautiful relationship between you and short fiction. A secret lover on the side whenever you need a little love. Your novels never need to know.
- Each of the 34 participating authors has written a special Chick Lit-centric piece and these posts will go live on Monday, May 14th. At each blog hop stop, you will have the opportunity to enter to win a FREE Chick Lit e-book from that particular blog’s owner/author. All you have to do is leave a comment on the blog post, including your name and e-mail address, and you’re automatically entered to win. If you visit each blog hop stop, that means you have the chance to win 34 different e-books!
- The blog hop will start at Natalie Aaron & Marla Schwartz and end at Jen Tucker. You will find a list of all the stops on the blog hop at each auther’s blog. Authors’ blogs will be listed in alphabetical order according to last name.
- In each of the author’s blog posts, there will be a “secret word.” This word will be italicized, so it will be easy to find. All you have to do is make note of this secret word at each blog hop stop. Collect all 34 secret words and submit your list to CLABlogHop@aol.com before midnight on Sunday, May 20th and you will be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing! The winner of this drawing will receive a $150 Sephora gift card! $150 to spend on make-up, fragrance, bath and body goodies, skin care, and hair products! How fun is that? This gift card can be redeemed online, or at any Sephora store in the US.
- Winners of each of the participating author’s e-books, as well as the Grand Prize winner of the $150 Sephora gift card will be announced on Monday, May 21st.
- Contests are open to residents of the United States only.
We hope you’ll join us for this exciting event! Don’t forget to tell all of your Chick Lit-loving friends! The more, the merrier!
Here’s the list of authors:
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Related Posts
- Sample read from Magic Flirts! ( June 25, 2014 )
- Sample read from Office Flirts! ( October 23, 2013 )
- Fairy Tale Flirts 2! is now available on Amazon and Nook. ( July 11, 2013 )
- No Foolin’ is today’s Kindle Romance Daily Deal on Amazon just $1.99! ( April 23, 2013 )
- Coming soon…Man of the Month novel #2 in the Willowdale Series ( March 7, 2013 )
- Excerpt from Reunion Flirts! ( February 5, 2013 )
- Time Machine Songs ( January 23, 2013 )
- New Releases ( December 20, 2012 )
- Another Excerpt from More Flirts! Release date, October 20, 2012 ( October 16, 2012 )
- Sneak peek at the next Flirts! ( September 24, 2012 )
45 Comments
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- Renee on Flirts! Short Story Collections
- Molly on Flirts! Short Story Collections
- Isabelle kong on Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories: The Hot Girl’s Friend
- Maxie on Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories: The Hot Girl’s Friend
- Vicki Mills on About
Vicki Hinze Says :
Lisa, I love short stories and I’m so glad you’re writing them. Sometimes you want to read and you just don’t have enough of a break to invest in a novel. When I start reading a book, I want to read it in short order, before I forget all the little things that get lost when reading in spurts. Short stories are perfect for times like those!
Blessings,
Vicki
lisascott
Thanks Vicki! As a writer, it’s also a nice break between novels to write a short story. Plus, I suffer from too-many-ideas syndrome, and short stories take care of that!
brn2shop9 Says :
Thanks for the contest.
brn2shop9
brn2shop9 at gmail dot com
lisascott
Good luck! Thanks for stopping by.
Rhonda D
I love short stories. Sometimes I only have an hour or two and need to escape the reality that is my life. Short stories make that happen!
Thanks for participating in the hop!
Rhonda D
slinkydennis@yahoo.com
lisascott
Thanks! Glad you like shorts. I think you can definitely get a full story serving in a short. 🙂
Elizabeth Sinclair Says :
Lisa, I totally agree with Vicki. I love having a short sassy romance to read while I take a break. “Flirts” is perfect for that, and the stories are wonderful
lisascott
Thanks so much! I love writing them.
Bethany Says :
WONDERFUL giveaway!! 🙂
lisascott
Thanks Bethany!
Erin
I can’t wait to read Wedding Flirts! 🙂
lisascott
Great! It should be available on Amazon around May 21, 22. BN and itunes take a little longer to upload. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by.
Cari Says :
I’ll be on Amazon on May 21st for wedding flirts!
I’m a new fan! I’m so excited about this blog hop because I get to meet new great authors like you. 🙂
caribellacreations at gmail dot com
lisascott
Thanks so much! There are so many great authors out there and it can be hard to find them. Who are some of your favorite romance or chick lit writers?
Lisa @ Lost in Literature Says :
I’ll definitely have to check out some short stories. 🙂
Thanks for taking part in the hop! It’s great to meet so many great new authors, such as yourself! 🙂
Lisa @ Lost in Literature
llongi717 (at) yahoo (dot) com
lisascott
Hey, another Lisa! Thanks for stopping by. Can’t wait to bop around all the other blogs once I finish up my work.
Tonya
Thanks for doing this, its fun!
Pinksapphire118 at gmail .com
lisascott
Glad you’re having fun, and good luck! $150 at Sephora would be really fun!
PatriciaW Says :
Novelettes. Never heard that term before but I like it. Longer than a short story, shorter than a novella. pwriter1(at)yahoo(dot)com
lisascott
Thank you! I knew I’d throw people off calling them novelettes. Besides, Flirts! 5 Romantic Novelettes just doesn’t have the same ring, I don’t think.
Mary Doherty
Every so often I like to read a short story. When I have just finished a book and don’t want to get right back into another one. Thanks for doing the hop.
gatormaryd(at)yahoo(dot)com
lisascott
Thanks Mary. Kind of like a between course dollop of sorbet to cleanse the palate? 🙂
Kat Henry Doran Says :
‘wanna see my shorts?’ Cute. Wish I’d thought of it. I too like short romantic fiction–reading and writing it. I think it’s a greater challenge than writing 90,000 words because you have to get the beginning, middle and end all done in less than 10,000 words–and still sounding like an adult.
really cute blog, Lisa. Engaging and eye pleasing.
good luck
good luck
lisascott
Thanks Kat! Having written so many shorts, it can be tough to slow things down and pace it out for a novel.
Theresa Crowell
I have just downloaded some shorts from Amazon. I’m looking forward to quick reads and good stories!! Thanks for the blog hop!
theresacrowell(at)msn(dot)com
Mimi Rose
You are right! Short stories are just as much fun as full length novels. I like the satisfaction of finishing one in a relatively short amount of time.
mimirose41209 at hotmail dot com
Margaret
I have become a huge fan of short stories in the last year. I love to win thank you!
Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com
lisascott
Great, Margaret! Spread the word–short stories are fun.
gina herberg
looking forward to winning a FREE Chick Lit e-book! i have seem to become a book whore lately!
lisascott
There’s nothing wrong with that, Gina!
Amy Sherman Says :
“Your novels never need to know.” NICE. This blog is great. Thanks for participating in the hop.
Amy Sherman
abcdsherman at gmail dot com
lisascott
Well, you know how needy novels can be. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Allyson
I will looking forward to reading your stories. Thanks for being a part of the hop.
lisascott
Thanks for stopping by Allyson!
Savannah Page Says :
Super cute post and shout out for novelettes / shorts. You’re absolutely right–gotta give them a try (and the novels never have to know. 😉
Thanks for the blog hop!
-Savannah Page
info[at]savannahpage[.]com
lisascott
Thanks Savannah! Let me know what you think if you give shorties a try.
Lauren M. Says :
Thanks for clearing up the difference between short stories, novellas, and novelettes.
Lmackesy @ gmail.com
Isdarlys
Hi Lisa, I was wondering when I’d finally get to your blog! I think you’ll probably notice my name from Facebook as one of your many followers. Well so far I’ve come to understand novelettes from novels and I’ve completely enjoyed them. I have so far I have read all of the “Flirts!” stories and have loved each one of them. The one aspect I love the most about them is how from story one to the story five I am completely hooked. I find completely entertaining how each story connects with the following story; which has gotten me hooked and end up reading the novelette in one day. I’m so glad that you are participating in this blog hop and that I came across it through your blog.
MJ Says :
Enjoyed your blog! Thanks for doing the blog hop.
JoAnn A.
Great post. I love reading novelettes. They’re great during a lunch break or while waiting at the doctor’s office.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Jeryl M. Says :
Thanks for the chance.
Rachel Kall Says :
Shorter reads can be great to vary up your reading routine!
Erica Kincannon
Love your description of short stories and rationales for trying them out. You convinced me!
Erica Kincannon
Ericalkincannon@gmail.com
Barbara Barth Says :
Love short stories. I write short memoirs (essays) on my life with dogs! Stop by, am on the blog hop too.
Liz
I’m officially intrigued. I think I will have to check your books out because they sound really good. Short but satisfying.
Thanks for doing the hop!
Ocbride (@) gmail (dot) com