Yes, today we've got award winning writer and professor Dan Begley here to chat. His debut novel, MS. TAKEN IDENTITY, comes out today, and it's a fabulous read. I was asked to blurb this book, and I really loved it. It's a clever and funny story about learning who you really are and what's important in life.
And what's even more exciting is that Dan will be giving away not just one, but TWO signed copies of the book! Deets on how to enter are at the bottom of this post.
So, without further ado, I give you our guest blogger for today, Dan Begley:
When I was a boy, I wanted to be a pro football quarterback. As a teen, my obsession was basketball and the Boston Celtics. In college (when I realized I’d stopped growing and wouldn’t be 6’9”), my interests turned to hockey. So naturally, now that I’m getting a novel published, my chosen genre is…chick lit.
Pardon?
Actually, chick lit and I go back a long way. I read my first chick lit novel when I was in college. I was taking an English Lit survey class, and we were reading Dickens and Joyce and Orwell, among others. Then the professor, a rather staid gentleman, assigned the chick lit novel, unabashedly praising it as one of the best books ever written. Of course, he didn’t use the term “chick lit”; he called it by another name.
Pride and Prejudice.
Yes, that one.
Maybe you’ve read it. Or seen the movie with Keira Knightley (my wife could watch it daily). Or the miniseries with Colin Firth. Or read Helen Fielding’s modern take: Bridget Jones’s Diary. The connection between chick lit and Austen is inescapable. Google the two: 130,000 results.
It seems that Ms. Austen tapped into something both universal and timeless in her delightful novel: romance, fashion, and Love, and the silly things it makes us say and do and feel. In a nutshell, that’s what P and P is about. And, as far as I can tell, that’s what chick lit is about.
Now, I’ve only written one book in the genre, so I’m no expert. There are many other far more talented and insightful (and attractive) practitioners—I won’t name names, but you know these good ladies’ names—and they would be far more qualified to tell you what it is and isn’t.
As for me, I just wanted to write a story about a guy who starts off with his own pride and prejudice about the genre, about the people who read it, and about life itself. He’s not a bad guy; he just has a blind spot. Okay, blind spots. And huge ones.
But in the end, he just wants what every single woman in every single chick lit novel wants: To love, and be loved.
Come to think of it, that’s what we all want, isn’t it? I know I do. And thanks to my wife Robin, I have it.
I’m not sure how women who enjoy chick lit (or women in general) will take to my novel. They may think that it’s making fun of them. If you stop reading after page forty, I can see how you’d think that. But if you hang in there, I think you’ll find that the book is saying something else, entirely.
After all, that’s my name on the cover of a chick lit novel.
And I couldn’t be more proud.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Dan! That post totally makes me want to read your book again!
To enter to win a copy of MS. TAKEN IDENTITY, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post. To get another entry, blog about it! OR, to get yet another entry, email five of your friends about this contest (and cc me on the email so that I can account for your extra entry- brenda[at]brendajanowitz[dot]com).
The lucky winners will be announced on July 6th.
68 comments:
This sounds cute. Please count me in.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
Me! Me! =)
(thank you!)
dreyshouse at gmail.com
Wow, Dan, you are a brave man! I would love to read your book and see a guy's take on chick lit.
I agree with your wife; I could watch Pride and Prejudice daily too. :)
Would love to read this--please enter me in the drawing
I'm game! I'm actually not too picky about my author's gender--good reading is good reading!
And, of course, the cover makes me giggle!!
Wow, I'm really curious to read this one!!
Hello Brenda,
This sounds like JUST the book for me. I cannot wait to read it.........
Sounds great! I'm really looking forward to reading this book. I <3 chick lit!
kriskem@gmail.com
Sounds like a fun read. As a fan of P&P, any man that reads it and doesn't run screaming is an interesting person! Thanks for the chance.
sphinxcw at aol dot com
wow this sounds great! I love his lil mini bio about his past haha
just1linmichele@aol.com
With a fun cover like that, it's already captured my interest.
vmmm@optonline.net
This sounds like a must read! I am very excited to get it!
Please enter me in your giveaway.
jessica(at)fan(dot)com
This is a book I would like to read. Please add me into the list.
I love my chick lit!
Please enter me.
allygotts567[at]hotmail[dot]com
I'd love a chance to win! And I blogged: http://www.morbid-romantic.net/2009/06/22/book-giveaways-0622-0628/.
Valorie
http://www.morbid-romantic.net
The book sounds great--I'd love to win it! Thanks!
lesleymfan(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi, Dan!
Ms.Taken Identity sounds like a really funny chick lit and I can't wait to read it. :)
This sounds great. Please include me.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I would love to be included in this giveaway. Thanks.
lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot0com
count me in please!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Not ever having read chick lit written by a man I am really curious so I will read it. Count me in on the giveaway!
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
Wow! Sounds fun! Love the title :)
bunnybx at gmail . com
I've read some great reviews of this book. I can't believe it's chick lit by man - how interesting! I'd love to be included!
melacan at hotmail dot com
This sounds like an amazing read, pleas enter me!
lovestoread0708(at)yahoo(dot)com
Interesting book! aitmama (at) gmail (dot ) com
I would love to read this one. It was already officially on my wish list when I stumbled across your giveaway.
whitreidsmama at yahoo.com
This sounds really cute! Count me in
Dutchlvr(at)aol(dot)com
The cover is hysterical - would love to read this
msboatgal at aol.com
This sounds like a great read!
sounds like a fun read thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net
This sounds great --- I'd love to read a copy.
rsgrandinetti(at)yahoo(Dot)com
This sounds like a fun read. Thanks!
I would love to read this!
And I blogged about the contest here
belle2211@yahoo.com
Sounds cute.
Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<
bloggyig at gmail dot com
I would love to read this book! Cute! Thanks
hmahan_0529 @ yahoo dot com
This book looks great..hope I win!
Looks like a awesome book. Thanks for the chance
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
I would love to read this
Hi Brenda - I'd love to win a copy of Dan's new chik lit book.
It sounds like a fun read.
Rose H.
I'm the orange and black girl icon at gather.com - you can click on my comment there to e-mail me - if I should be so lucky:)
Sounds like a good read. I would love to win it.
Love to have this.
Thanks,
darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)com
Yayyyy, new chick lit! I'd love to read it from a guy's perspective. What fun! :)
krtrumpet [at] aol [dot] com
How fun! Thanks for the chance.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like it might be a fun book.
budletsmom(at)yahoo(dot)com
Kudos to Dan... He reminds me of all the women that had to write under mens names to even get published why back when... Only he is admitting to being a gentlemen.. I would love a chance to get a signed copy...
This sounds funny. thanks
chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com
I'd love to read it! Thank you!
victoriah40@yahoo.com
That's a great book cover!
13rubberducks [at] gmail [dot] com
Sounds interesting!
I want to win this, thanks!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
this book sounds like a fun read. count me in
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to read this book - if only for the looks the cover would get me in the office! Please enter me.
Thanks
mdwartistry at yahoo dot com
I would love to have this book, too! Please count me in.
luna_lunak at yahoo.com
I want to be entered! This sounds like a great read.
bsyb100 atgmaildot com
Please enter me to win this book. Reading is my passion and I love to try new authors!
thanks
Debbie
dcf_beth(at)verizon (dot) net
mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom
count me in
Everyone have a great week!
Sounds like a great book! Thanks
Looks like a fun book. Enter me, please.
jwx4(at)yahoo(dot)com
Loved the interview! Please enter me.
madamerkf at aol dot com
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
Sounds like a great summer read!
jennifercausby at hotmail dot com
I would love to win this! Thanks!
hillary1128@yahoo.com
Kudos to you Mr. Begley! It's wonderful to hear a man talk positively about a much maligned genre!
I'd love to win this!
lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com
how fun!
kawaiineko2008 at aol dot com
how fun!
kawaiineko2008 at aol dot com
This looks like a cute book, fun summer beach read.
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