Guest Post: Research by Deborah Coonts, Author of Wanna Get Lucky?

I bet I am the only taxpayer who used a night at a male strip club as a business deduction. Well, okay, me and several politicians, but mine was legit. This writer gig has its upside, I can tell you that. Who knew research could be this much fun? I wish I could tell you that I based my novels in Las Vegas because I wanted Uncle Sam to cover some of the cost of great nights out, but I wasn't that smart. And to be honest, while digging around Sin City can be wildly amusing, it does have its downside:

As with most of life's lessons, this one was learned the hard way. And here is what I've learned: USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM!

Right out of the gate, for novel number one, WANNA GET LUCKY? I needed to experience a sex toy trade show. As with most things, I didn't really think it through. I mean, people go to these all the time, don't they? It was a trade show, for chrissake! With vendors and everything. So, picturing the Home and Garden Show I attended at some point in the past (I know! What was I thinking? Apparently I must have been channeling Donna Reed -- that's the only excuse I can come up with.) I launched off, blissfully clueless.

My head started to swim after the fourth or fifth row of battery-operated boyfriend exhibits. I'm from the South, please, we don't even discuss sex, much less have it thrust in our faces -- I thought I was made of sterner stuff, but apparently not. So, even though as a Texas girl I can ride bareback, shoot dinner on the wing, gut a deer, converse fluently in china patterns and silver place settings, identify this season's Prada from last's, and break the nose of any guy who calls me "Honey," I found myself totally out of my element. When Oprah admonishes us to challenge ourselves everyday, I don't think this is what she means. I started to hyperventilate. I needed help, and a change of plan.

After two glasses of liquid fortification at the bar, I headed into the movie theatre. Big mistake. You see, when I'm nervous, I laugh uncontrollably -- doubled-over, tears-rolling-down-my-face, gulping-lungfuls-of-air kind of laughing. And I really hadn't recovered my composure.

I discovered two things that day: porn stars take themselves very seriously, and I can outrun over-siliconed twenty-somethings . . . if they are wearing six-inch heels. As a woman of a certain age, I already knew I could outrun any guy preoccupied with his wanker, so that was no biggie.

Now, when I go off on a research expedition, I gather the posse. There is safety in numbers. At least that's what my mother used to say, but I don't think she ever envisioned the places I have to see, the sacrifices I'm called upon to make for my art. Once the girls gather, we fortify ourselves with liquid courage, check to make sure the EMTs are on speed-dial and we have the names of several reputable bail bondsmen (assuming that isn't an oxymoron), then we're off.

Our first foray into the dangerous world of research as a group was a night out at one of the few, if not the only, remaining true male strip clubs. The club occupied the second floor of a ramshackle old building in a part of town that had lost even then the faintest memory of respectability. Emaciated, disinterested young women writhed around poles on the lower floor. Like ants following a trail of pheromones, a single file of women snaked through the bar to the back staircase. We fell in as I meticulously tucked my receipt into my wallet -- business expense, you know. At the top of the stairs we were assaulted by a coven of naked young men wearing only a tiny sack over their privates. One brazen, doe-eyed, long-haired kid, started running his hands over me. "Don't." I snapped. I was in no mood to play -- as I said, this was business . . . and he was . . . not appealing. He reared back as if I'd hit him with a Tazer. "I can't touch you?" he asked, clearly incredulous. I narrowed my eyes at him and he slunk off. Smart boy.

One of my friends, who had decided to "dress slutty" in honor of our outing, attracted the most attention, as I skooched into a booth enjoying the show. And what a show it was. The music started. A guy dressed as a Marine strutted out and started doing his thing. As I watched, all I could think of was "What ever happened to the Village People?" I was clearly having trouble going with the flow.

Women beat their open palms on the stage, stuffed the Marine's tiny sack with dollar bills, while one Adonis straddled my "slutty" friend and began grinding into her chest. She looked around his perfect set of cheeks that were aimed in my direction, and raised her glass while gracing me with a huge grin. I flagged the waiter down and ordered a double.

That's about all I think I can tell you. I know truth is an absolute defense to libel, but discretion is the glue that binds female friendships. However, to this day, I wake up in a cold sweat that somewhere there is a grainy photo, hastily taken with a camera phone . . .

But, if it’s all the same to you, I'd rather take in a male strip show.

© 2011 Deborah Coonts, author of Lucky Stiff

WANNA GET LUCKY? By Deborah Coonts

A young woman plunges from a Las Vegas sightseeing helicopter, landing in the Pirate’s lagoon in front of the Treasure Island Hotel in the middle of the 8:30 Pirate Show. Almost everyone writes her off as another Vegas victim.

But Lucky O’Toole smells a rat. She’s head of Customer Relations at The Babylon, the newest, most opulent mega-casino and resort on the Strip, so she’s got a lot on her plate: the Adult Film industry’s annual awards banquet, a spouse-swapping convention, sex toy purveyors preying on the pocket-protector crowd attending ElectroniCon…. Still, Lucky can’t resist turning over a few stones.

When a former flame is one of the snakes she uncovers, Lucky’s certain she’s no longer dealing with an anonymous Sin City suicide. To top it all off, Lucky’s best friend Teddie—Las Vegas’ finest female impersonator—presses to take their relationship to the next level. Leave it to Lucky to attract a man who looks better in a dress than she does.

Lucky must manage the Babylon’s onslaught of outrageous festivities, solve a murder, and struggle to keep her life and libido from spinning out of control… not to mention keep her balance in six inch heels.

Author Bio

Deborah Coonts, author of Lucky Stiff, says her mother tells her she was born in Texas a very long time ago, though she's not totally sure -- her mother can't be trusted. But she was definitely raised in Texas on barbeque, Mexican food and beer. She currently resides in Las Vegas, where family and friends tell her she can't get into too much trouble. Silly people. Coonts has built her own business, practiced law, flown airplanes, written a humor column for a national magazine, and survived a teenager. She is the author of the Lucky O'Toole Las Vegas adventure series.

Her first book, Wanna Get Lucky?, was released in 2010.

For more information please visit http://www.deborahcoonts.com/, and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter

Much thanks and appreciation to FSB Media for providing copies of both Wanna Get Lucky? and Lucky Stiff and this original article, all by author Deborah Coonts.

Putting on My Lip Gloss #6 - Writing the Great American Chick Lit Novel

Two of my favorite questions to ask an author when I get a chance is 1) Do you have a specific routine or process to your writing and/or what does your writing space look like? and 2) What advice do you have for wannabe writers out there? Everyone’s writing process is different and I just love to get an idea for how each author gets their inspiration for their books and more so, once they have their idea for the “Great American Novel”, what comes next?

          The answers I’ve received and seen on other web sites’ interviews have been so varied. I’ve heard everything from “write what you know” to “my ideas for my book came to me in a vision in a dream one night”. Personally, I like to draw inspiration from other novels. One, it gives me an idea for what has b4en done and what hasn’t. Two, it gives me an idea for what sells and garners interest from the general arena of readers. Three, it allows me to justify long hours of “research” (a.k.a. reading).

          Another tactic I use is to outline. I like to write a general outline for my work in progress (WIP) before I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). As I’m writing, I fill in the outline with more details so that I don’t forget what has already been included in the novel so far and what’s left to be added at a later point. In a similar way, I create character sketches. I love to create consistent characters by using a specific theme, background or pattern of personality. For example, in my current WIP I have been using the Zodiac Calendar and its definitions to illustrate my main character and her two besties. Olivia (the main character) is a Leo, born in late July. Her zest for love has her constantly trying new things. She can’t live without her friends and she loves an audience. Emily, her bff from college, is driven just like the Ram, Aries. She is super independent, confident and a natural leader. Ruby, on the other hand, while she, too, is very driven by her passions, is a little more right brained than Emily, often inclined to more of the arts. She is a lover and a very loyal friend, a true Scorpio through and through. This is just one example for how you can use various resources to influence your story and its characters. You could investigate their deep-rooted fears, citing their Freudian tendencies. You could look at personality types, A, B and C. You could base your characters on their family roles (i.e. the scapegoat, the leader, the hero or the mascot. What I love about writing and fiction is that your options and resources are essentially limitless.

          Finally, another thing to consider as a writer is how to get those ideas and outlines on paper? Do you write them? Draw pictures in crayon? Do you type up a complete outline with bibliography? While the ideas and avenues for portraying your story are limitless, everyone has their favorites, including me. I found some of the cutest, trendiest, personalized supplies – cheap, cheap, cheap!  I know, for me, when it comes to keeping track of my writing, I am obsessed with office supplies. From little and big notebooks, to Pink Clic Grip Pens by Bic to sturdy and trendy Tote Bags in Black and Pink a la Amanda Brown’s Legally Blonde to carry all my supplies, I am a writing accessory junkie. Amsterdam Printing has cheap promotional pens from 33 cents to just over a dollar, in everything from The Executive Widebody, to pastel colored Eco Spririt Pens and for the kids, toy-designed pens called Attitude is Everything. It doesn’t just stop at Pens, either. From t-shirts to coffee mugs, laptop bags and water bottles, Amsterdam Printing has it all!  I imagine if Carrie Bradshaw were still televised, we would see her carrying her laptop in a chic Quilted Tote Bag, fit for a queen in a regal Gold. 

 Remember her “Carrie” earrings that she used to always wear on Sex and the City (and later it was a “Carrie” necklace?) Well, on Amsterdam Printing you can get anything and everything emblazoned with your name, intials, company logo or whatever else you would like to see printed on your pens, t-shirts, laptop bags, etc. I can just see myself drinking my cocoa java (Hot chocolate + coffee) out of a Lip Gloss and Literature mug, while writing my character sketches with my Cathy pens in my notebook emblazoned with my initials, CGH, in Aqua and Pink.

  How do you write your story? Where do you come up with your ideas? And what will you use to write that story?

Putting on My Lip Gloss is a series of blog posts that represent my personal thoughts, ideas and general ramblings related to chick lit reading and writing. Every day is an inspiration – I never know where my next post is going to come from, but when it does, I always feel like putting on my lip gloss! Thanks for reading.

Putting On My Lip Gloss #4: From the Sidelines to Center Stage - Reading & Writing Characters

Reading about Characters….

A while back the Chicklit Club voted on the “Best” chick lit characters of all time. See who made the list:

http://www.chicklitclub.com/top10bestcharacters.html

L to R: Bridget Jones, Rebecca Bloomwood, Miranda Priestley (film adaptations)

Do you agree? Who are some of your favorite fictional characters?

As I’ve been working on my current WIP, I’ve been thinking a lot about characters. What point of view to tell their story in? Who to include? What should I call them? How much of their lives should I reveal? When should I introduce them? When should I show conflict between them and when should it be resolved?



Film version of One for the Money by Janet Evanovich 
(Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum, Middle)



 In my research on writing fiction, I have learned there are three (main) ways to craft a novel. One, from a message or idea; two from plot, action or events; and three, from character. For those of you who, like me, love chick lit, you are probably very familiar with the character-driven story. In chick lit, the story is often based around a strong leading heroine who finds herself in some kind of dire situation which thwarts her out of her comfort zone, forces her to take action and then causes her to grow from the inside-out. All in all, a character story can not exist without that specific character. Who else but Stephanie Plum could star in Janet Evanovich’s romantic, adventure-mysteries? Who but Miranda Priestley could have led the fashionistas in The Devil Wears Prada? There’s no character more synonymous with a shopping addiction than Sophia Kinsella’s beloved Becky Bloomwood. Who else could smoke 20 cigarettes a day; 4 pints of alcohol and end the night with 2 brownie sundaes like our lovable Bridget Jones? But what does it take to make a character so memorable that the reader wants to continue to read about their saga?

What do you look for in a character when you read? What are some of the most unique traits you have read about in characters?

Writing about characters…

One of my favorite websites is Girlfriends Book Club. It’s compiled by various chick lit and women’s fiction authors who rotate publishing posts every day. Not only is it a special treat for me because it is written by so many fantastic writers, but the content and advice is always a treasure! As fate would have it, wouldn’t you know it but all my favorite ladies had a bit to say about how to create that perfect leading lady:

http://girlfriendbooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/5-tips-for-creative-believable.html

Another one of my absolute favorite emails comes from Daily Writing Tips, an invaluable (and free) subscription. From using the zodiac calendar to archetypes and great literary personas, find out where writers draw inspiration for their characters:

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/use-archetypes-to-create-literary-characters/

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/5-qualities-to-consider-during-character-development/

Where do you draw your inspiration for characters?

Here are a few other various resources on Creating Characters:

http://storymind.com/dramatica/characters.htm

http://www.underdown.org/mf_characters_dialogue.htm

More helpful books on characters:

Creating Characters by Dwayne V. Swain

Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card

Writer’s Guide to Character Traits by Dr. Linda Edelstein

45 Master Characters by Victoria Schmidt

What are some traits that you feel MUST BE INCLUDED when creating a character?

Putting on My Lip Gloss is a series of blog posts that represent my personal thoughts, ideas and general ramblings related to chick lit reading and writing. Every day is an inspiration – I never know where my next post is going to come from, but when it does, I always feel like putting on my lip gloss! Thanks for reading.

Putting on My Lip Gloss #3: Writing Beginnings and Characters from Start to Finish

I have been working on a new writing project for a little over a month now. I started by brainstorming and jotting down a few disjointed ideas, scenarios and characters and then I wrote a very brief outline (that I still fill in from time to time as more information becomes revealed throughout the story that I don’t want to forget). I am at the point now where I am working on a rough draft of the first few chapters, the beginning and one of the main areas of focus in this part of the novel is on character development. I have been scavenging through articles and reference books, gathering tips and ideas for anything and everything I can find on beginnings and characters and I’m once again, amazed at the plethora of information that is available to would-be writers like me.

Two of my favorite websites and blogs have been particularly helpful as of late; namely, the Daily Writing Tips website and the Girlfriends Book Club blog. Daily Writing Tips provides, tips, ideas, suggestions and how-to’s from grammar to writing a great endings and everything in between. Here was a fantastic article on “Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your Story”:

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/20-great-opening-lines-to-inspire-the-start-of-your-story/

Girlfriends Book Club was created by women, for women, featuring a different women’s fiction writer’s thoughts every day. In March they did a feature on beginnings in novel writing. Several authors shared their views and advice on openings. Here was the first of many articles that spanned over a week’s worth of writing:

http://girlfriendbooks.blogspot.com/2011/03/beginnings.html

To subscribe to the daily writing tips on the site of the same name, visit:

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/

or to follow the daily writings of some of my favorite authors, check out:

http://girlfriendbooks.blogspot.com/

Other than gathering how-to type information on beginnings and characters, whenever I’m working on my writing, my reading habits begin to change. More specifically, I start to notice things in the literature I read and I start to actively make mental notes (and sometimes physical notes) of the ways in which books approach various elements of fiction. For example, I’ve been reading several women’s fiction books and I’ve noticed how the emphasis on character development has been a major focus of each story. I think this is particularly true for series novels, in which books follow a main character (or a few main characters) over a longer period of time.

Who are some of your favorite characters? Series? Can you think of any memorable first lines? Do you prefer beginnings or endings? I’d love to hear from you!!

Putting on My Lip Gloss is a new series of blog posts that represent my personal thoughts, ideas and general ramblings related to chick lit reading and writing. Every day is an inspiration – I never know where my next post is going to come from, but when it does, I always feel like putting on my lip gloss! Thanks for reading.

Special Guest: Author Interview & Book Review with Beth Orsoff - How I Learned to Love the Walrus

Q. After you finished the Bar exam, you mentioned you went out and purchased a book on how to write a novel; what (or who) influenced you to change careers altogether from being an entertainment lawyer to a writer? Do you ever miss being an entertainment lawyer?

Beth Orsoff: I don’t miss being an entertainment lawyer because I still am one!  Although now I only work part-time.  I think I wanted to be a writer long before I purchased that first “How to” book.  I just didn’t have the courage to try.  For me, that’s been one of the most valuable parts of becoming a lawyer.  My legal career has allowed me to earn a living while learning my craft as a writer, and it’s what gave me the confidence to try my hand at writing.  Maybe it’s because after you’ve survived the California Bar Exam, you feel like you can do anything! 

Q. Where do you draw inspiration from for your novels?

Beth Orsoff: It’s different for each book.  For the first book, “Romantically Challenged,” it was the experience I and many of my friends were having in the dating world.  Dating in your thirties is much different than dating in your twenties.  There’s much more of an element of “I’m looking for Mr. Right,” as opposed to “I’m looking for Mr. Right Now.”

For the second book, “Honeymoon for One,” it came from a dream I had about a woman whose fiancé dumps her the night before their wedding and she decides to go on the honeymoon alone. 

For the third book, “How I Learned to Love the Walrus,” it came from a newspaper article I’d read about a scientific vessel that discovered three abandoned walrus pups in the Arctic Ocean.  That story became a fictionalized scene in the book, and is the reason I wrote the book.  

Q. Who is your favorite character and why? From one of your own novels? What about in one of someone else’s novels?

Beth Orsoff: From my own novels, it’s “Ethan” from “How I Learned to Love the Walrus” because he says exactly what he thinks, is not at all political, and truly doesn’t care about other people’s judgments of him.

I think my all-time favorite fictional character has to be “Scarlett” from “Gone with the Wind.”  I admit I watched the movie before I read the book, which is rare for me.  I almost always read the book first.  And what’s even stranger is the first time I watched the movie (as a freshman in college) I absolutely hated it.  I thought the film was melodramatic, that “Scarlett” was a spoiled brat, and for the life of me I couldn’t understand why millions of people loved this story.  Then I watched the movie again five years later and adored it.  I’m not exactly sure what caused my change in attitude (although I suspect having to fend for myself in the working world was part of it), but from that point forward I viewed “Scarlett” as a heroine for the ages.  Was she the nicest person in the world?  No.  Was she conniving at times?  Yes.  But she took care of her friends and family, even her arch rival Melanie, and she always found a way not only to survive, but to prosper.  Back then women didn’t have a lot of options.  “Scarlett” was ahead of her time.  

Q. Chick lit is still considered, by many, to be a controversial term. Do you mind being called a chick lit author? What made you decide to write books in the contemporary women’s fiction/chick lit genre?

Beth Orsoff: I don’t mind being called a chick lit author because I don’t view the term as derogatory (even though others sometimes use it for that purpose).  Chick lit is merely a sub-genre of commercial fiction; and the purpose of commercial fiction is to entertain. 

These days most people have hectic lives—jobs, families, and a lot of stress and responsibilities.  I’m one of those people.  When I sit down with a book at the end of a long day I don’t want to be challenged, I want to be entertained.  I want to forget about my own life and get wrapped up in someone else’s.  And I want to know that no matter what obstacles the protagonist faces, she will triumph in the end.  I hope that’s the sort of experience I provide for my own readers.  If so, then I’ve done my job.  I find no shame in that.

It wasn’t a conscious decision to write women’s fiction/chick lit, it’s just where my voice and my stories naturally fit.  

 Q. What are some of your favorite books? Authors? Genres?

Beth Orsoff: About half of the books I read are women’s fiction/chick lit, and the other half are a smattering of all other genres including mysteries, thrillers, humor, and the occasional literary novel.  In my own genre, I’m a big fan of Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin.  Outside of women’s fiction, I love David Sedaris and Nicky Hornby.  

Q. What are your interests/hobbies outside of writing?

Beth Orsoff: I’m a huge movie fan and a TV-aholic.  But I don’t watch reality television.  There’s too much really good scripted television (e.g., “30 Rock,” “House,” and “Breaking Bad” just to name a few) and too few hours in the day. 

Q. What advice do you have for wannabe writers out there?

Beth Orsoff: Take the time to learn your craft.  Just because with current technology you can publish your first draft, doesn’t mean you should publish your first draft. 

Q. What is something that most people wouldn't necessarily know about you?

Beth Orsoff: I love Elmo.  (Yeah, the red guy from Sesame Street.)

And now my review of…

How I Learned to Love the Walrus (An Arctic Romantic Comedy) by Beth Orsoff

Meet Sydney Green, whose days as a publicist to the stars in LA may be numbered if she can’t turn things around for at least one of her clients.  Never one to give in to the pressure, Sydney makes an elaborate proposal to save both her dying career and a dying population of walruses all in one feel swoop – that is so long as her boss and hunky movie star (and secret boyfriend), Blake McKinley, all cooperate. As the saying goes, Sydney learns the saying “nothing worth having comes easy” all too well as she is met with much resistance on her month long trip to Alaska. Never mind the cold, wet weather or the midnight sun, but no one told her that she’d be sleeping in a tent, taking sea showers, sharing in the cooking and cleaning and sacrificing all access to electricity – in other words, no blow drying her hair, no charging her satellite cell phone or laptop, and no laundry! If that wasn’t bad enough, her writer for the “Save the Walrus” film’s script has just quit, the expedition’s leader, Jill, expects her to volunteer during her “free time”, Jill’s six year-old son keeps bugging Sydney to role-play the Star Wars battle between Luke and Darth Vader with him and the group’s lead scientist keeps arguing with Sydney at every chance; but it will all be worth it when Blake finally shows up, right?

A fun story with vivacious characters, engaging plot lines and unique settings, Beth Orsoff’s How I Learned to Love the Walrus tackles themes of self-exploration, honesty, preservation and humanity. That may seem like a serious laundry list of topics but Beth Orsoff’s talented writing enables readers to think about the reality of life and our environment while filling page after page with much romantic humor. In such a way, readers are both entertained and enlightened and extremely satisfied. I mean, who ever thought that reading about a dying breed of mammals in the Arctic would be an exciting topic of interest for a chick lit novel? Clearly, Beth Orsoff is ahead of the rest of us as she successfully created a story about a twenty-something woman who finds true meaning in her life while counting walruses on an expedition at sea. How I Learned to Love the Walrus is the third book written by entertainment lawyer, Beth Orsoff.

4 STARS  

Writer's Wednesday with Rain Mitchell, Tales from the Yoga Studio

  Writer's Wednesday

     Back when I hosted my blog under a different title, Where You Wish Upon A Star, I used to try and post a writing topic each Wednesday as a part of a series called Writer’s Wednesday. More often than not, I wrote about things related to writing that I was going through, thinking of or was inspired by something I had recently read or saw. Even more so though, I love learning or even just reading new things on writing from the authors themselves, especially from women who write in my favorite genre, chick lit. Like the genre itself, topics on writing are so varied and limitless, the resources and ideas to pull from go on forever. For this first edition of Writer’s Wednesday at Lip Gloss & Literature, I’ve chosen an article by a new author, Rain Mitchell who, like many, incorporates much of herself into her writing and has been so willing to share herself with readers as shown here in this article she wrote reflecting on the hard work, time and effort she put into her first novel, Tales from the Yoga Studio.

Toxic Language

By Rain Mitchell,

Author of Tales from the Yoga Studio

I spent pretty much all of last winter huddled over a desk in my local public library writing the first draft of my novel, Tales from the Yoga Studio. When that was done, I went back to page one and rewrote every word of it. And just to clarify, by "pretty much all of last winter," I mean every day of it. Sundays included. Month after month, I hit the library as soon as it opened, and usually left around six or seven o'clock at night.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not a workaholic, and I never have been. (I wish!) The truth is, I was so involved in the lives of the characters, I just couldn't wait to sit down, open my laptop, and figure out what was going to happen to them next. It was weirdly atypical of me to be able to sustain the feverish routine.

When I completed the last page of the final draft, I felt an enormous sense of relief and happiness. Two days later, my whole body collapsed. I don't think I've ever felt so exhausted and drained, and as icing on the cake, I got a sinus infection. Whenever I come to the end of what feels like a Herculean task to me, I get sick. Not in the middle, but as soon as I stop.

Given the topic of my novel, it's probably no surprise that I do my share of yoga and have for many years. One thing I had been noticing for months is that most studios I visited were advertising a "Spring Cleanse," a kind of fast that supposedly rids your body of all those miserable-sounding "toxins" and leaves you with glowing skin and boundless energy.

If you do even a little bit of yoga, you quickly become conversant in the language of "toxins." I've always been skeptical of the whole discussion, mostly because it seems so vague. What toxins specifically? And if they're so terrible, is doing a headstand really going to rid your body of them? Going into a twist will "wring out your liver?" Tell that to Amy Winehouse.

But at that exhausted post-book moment last spring, nothing sounded better to me than somehow giving my body a chance at a fresh start. I saw the cleanse mostly as a symbolic gesture, a way to end one period of my life and welcome in the next.

To that end, I sent a check for $150 dollars to a local yoga studio and enrolled myself in their one-week spring cleanse. A few days later, I was emailed a packet of information about what was expected of me. The essence of it was this: seven days of nothing but fruits and vegetables. No coffee, no black tea, no salt, no sugar, no dairy, and no prepared food of any kind. No wheat, no condiments. A little millet and a bit of quinoa, but that was it. No bread! No cookies! Three support group meetings and voila -- cleansed!

I'd been flirting with vegetarianism and health foods for long enough to believe that this was going to be pretty easy for me. It was different, but not that different from my usual diet. I'm not a Big Mac kind of person and never have been.

I went to Whole Foods and stocked up on as much organic produce as I could carry. I dug out my blender and borrowed a friend's vegetable juicer. Ready, set, go. By five pm on the first day, I was feeling great. Energetic, light, and healthy. I had a big fruit salad for dinner and went to a friend's reading at a bookstore. I had this whole thing under control.

Somewhere in the middle of my friend's question and answer period, I started getting a headache. Caffeine withdrawal, I figured. No big deal, especially since I only drank three or four cups a day. How bad could it be?

By the end of the reading, I had trouble holding my head up. Somehow or other I was able to drive home, but by the time I walked in the front door, the pain in my head was so bad, I started to throw up. After an hour of that, I crawled into bed. Tomorrow I'd feel better, I was sure.

Wrong again. The next day, I had such a bad headache, I couldn't open the curtains. On top of that, my muscles ached, and I felt as if I had a fever. I called the cleanse organizer, and she told me I was having caffeine withdrawal and on top of that was obviously (you guessed it) "releasing a lot of toxins." I would have made myself a cup of coffee, but I was so sick, I couldn't do anything but go back to bed with a wet facecloth on my forehead.

Later in the day, a friend called to ask how I was doing, and when I told her, she said, "This is ridiculous, Rain. If you don't feel better tomorrow, I'm coming over there and getting some coffee and bagels into you."

Miraculously, I did feel better the next day. Still shaky and achy, but better. I went to one of the support group meetings and learned that several other people were experiencing a milder version of the same symptoms. It was helpful to hear that. Misery really does love company, I guess.

The highlight of the meeting, at least from a comic point of view, was when the group leader lay down on the floor and demonstrated (a sort of pantomime, thankfully) the proper way to give yourself an enema. Since this was the first day in a while my digestive system had felt halfway normal, I decided to skip that option, thank you very much.

By the fifth day, the headaches had subsided, and I was starting to feel energetic enough to resume my usual routine. I found myself heading back to Whole Foods and buying all kinds of fruit I rarely purchase -- mangos, coconuts, papayas, and fresh figs. The amazing thing to me was how intense all the flavors were and how good almost everything I ate tasted. Fresh, juicy, and clean. I didn't miss bread, dairy, or sugar. And having gotten over my horrible withdrawal from caffeine, even the thought of drinking coffee made me cringe. When I walked past a Starbuck's, I got a little queasy. I went to two work-related parties that week, and wasn't even tempted by the trays of cheese and greasy hors d'oeuvres.

I'm not a cynical person, but I've always tried to maintain a healthy amount of doubt and ironic distance. As a writer, I consider myself a satirist. I went into the cleanse thinking it would be interesting mainly as a metaphor, but doubting the whole process. Almost one year later, I still haven't had coffee or dairy. And believe me, I'd be embarrassed to say how much money I've spent on blue cheeses over the years. I eat about 80% less bread than I used to and about 90% more fresh fruit. Breakfast everyday is a tall glass of freshly juiced kale and carrots and a bunch of other veggies things that taste a lot better than they sound.

I won't say I never get sick anymore, but I have noticed that when I've gotten a cold, it's lasted only a day or two. I'm not sure I have the kind of laser focus a lot of people describe, but it's true that I have more energy and a greater capacity to work my way through difficult tasks. I'm now writing the second book in the Tales from the Yoga Studio series, and while I'm finding it as much work as the first, I am far less stressed out and exhausted by the process.

Last April, on the final day of the cleanse, I met up with a friend I hadn't seen in quite a while. We went to a movie and then out for (herbal) tea. She looked at me closely and said, "Your eyes look really bright. Are you taking vitamins or something?"

I assured her I wasn't. I bit my tongue and told myself that I didn't want to sound like all those people who'd made me roll my eyes with their vague jargon and unsubstantiated "medical" claims. But finally, I couldn't hold it in: "I think I just got rid of a lot of toxins that had been building up," I said.

"Toxins?" she said. "What are those?"

"I have no idea," I said. "But I'm pretty sure they're gone."

© 2011 Rain Mitchell, author of Tales from the Yoga Studio

Author Bio

Rain Mitchell, author of Tales From the Yoga Studio, began practicing yoga as a teenager and is currently at work on the second novel in the series.  Rain's favorite pose is corpse.

Tales from the Yoga Studio: A Novel by Rain Mitchell

A sparkling new series introducing five unforgettable women who flock to yoga at turning points in their lives and find the gift of lasting friendship.

The yoga studio is where daily cares are set aside, mats are unfurled, and physical exertion leads to well-being, renewal, and friendship. An aggressively expanding chain of Los Angeles yoga "experience centers," has Lee and her extraordinary teaching abilities in its sights. They woo her with a lucrative contract, a trademarked name for her classes, and a place for her handsome musician husband. But accepting the contract means abandoning the students at the homey studio Lee runs in L.A.'s Silver Lake district- and leaving behind four women whose friendships are suddenly more important to her than retirement benefits and a salary increase.

Tales from the Yoga Studio is an insider's look at the current obsession with yoga, told with enough humor, wit, and warmth to charm and delight readers, whether or not they've ever done a Downward Dog.

For more information on Rain Mitchell, Tales from the Yoga Studio or where to buy her book, visit her web site at http://www.talesfromtheyogastudio.com/. Also, stayed tuned for her second book in the Yoga Studio series.

Tales from the Yoga Studio is next on my TBR list. Look out for a review to be posted on Lip Gloss & Literature soon after!!

*Synopsis and Cover image provided by Goodreads. Rain Mitchell's article Toxic Language provided by FSB Media Associates.*

Writer's Wednesday with Rain Mitchell, Author of Tales from the Yoga Studio

 

Writer’s Wednesday

Back when I hosted my blog under a different title, Where You Wish Upon A Star, I used to try and post a writing topic each Wednesday as a part of a series called Writer’s Wednesday. More often than not, I wrote about things related to writing that I was going through, thinking of or was inspired by something I had recently read or saw. Even more so though, I love learning or even just reading new things on writing from the authors themselves, especially from women who write in my favorite genre, chick lit. Like the genre itself, topics on writing are so varied and limitless, the resources and ideas to pull from go on forever. For this first edition of Writer’s Wednesday at Lip Gloss & Literature, I’ve chosen an article by a new author, Rain Mitchell who, like many, incorporates much of herself into her writing and has been so willing to share herself with readers as shown here in this article she wrote reflecting on the hard work, time and effort she put into her first novel, Tales from the Yoga Studio.

Toxic Language

By Rain Mitchell,

Author of Tales from the Yoga Studio

I spent pretty much all of last winter huddled over a desk in my local public library writing the first draft of my novel, Tales from the Yoga Studio. When that was done, I went back to page one and rewrote every word of it. And just to clarify, by "pretty much all of last winter," I mean every day of it. Sundays included. Month after month, I hit the library as soon as it opened, and usually left around six or seven o'clock at night.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not a workaholic, and I never have been. (I wish!) The truth is, I was so involved in the lives of the characters, I just couldn't wait to sit down, open my laptop, and figure out what was going to happen to them next. It was weirdly atypical of me to be able to sustain the feverish routine.

When I completed the last page of the final draft, I felt an enormous sense of relief and happiness. Two days later, my whole body collapsed. I don't think I've ever felt so exhausted and drained, and as icing on the cake, I got a sinus infection. Whenever I come to the end of what feels like a Herculean task to me, I get sick. Not in the middle, but as soon as I stop.

Given the topic of my novel, it's probably no surprise that I do my share of yoga and have for many years. One thing I had been noticing for months is that most studios I visited were advertising a "Spring Cleanse," a kind of fast that supposedly rids your body of all those miserable-sounding "toxins" and leaves you with glowing skin and boundless energy.

If you do even a little bit of yoga, you quickly become conversant in the language of "toxins." I've always been skeptical of the whole discussion, mostly because it seems so vague. What toxins specifically? And if they're so terrible, is doing a headstand really going to rid your body of them? Going into a twist will "wring out your liver?" Tell that to Amy Winehouse.

But at that exhausted post-book moment last spring, nothing sounded better to me than somehow giving my body a chance at a fresh start. I saw the cleanse mostly as a symbolic gesture, a way to end one period of my life and welcome in the next.

To that end, I sent a check for $150 dollars to a local yoga studio and enrolled myself in their one-week spring cleanse. A few days later, I was emailed a packet of information about what was expected of me. The essence of it was this: seven days of nothing but fruits and vegetables. No coffee, no black tea, no salt, no sugar, no dairy, and no prepared food of any kind. No wheat, no condiments. A little millet and a bit of quinoa, but that was it. No bread! No cookies! Three support group meetings and voila -- cleansed!

I'd been flirting with vegetarianism and health foods for long enough to believe that this was going to be pretty easy for me. It was different, but not that different from my usual diet. I'm not a Big Mac kind of person and never have been.

I went to Whole Foods and stocked up on as much organic produce as I could carry. I dug out my blender and borrowed a friend's vegetable juicer. Ready, set, go. By five pm on the first day, I was feeling great. Energetic, light, and healthy. I had a big fruit salad for dinner and went to a friend's reading at a bookstore. I had this whole thing under control.

Somewhere in the middle of my friend's question and answer period, I started getting a headache. Caffeine withdrawal, I figured. No big deal, especially since I only drank three or four cups a day. How bad could it be?

By the end of the reading, I had trouble holding my head up. Somehow or other I was able to drive home, but by the time I walked in the front door, the pain in my head was so bad, I started to throw up. After an hour of that, I crawled into bed. Tomorrow I'd feel better, I was sure.

Wrong again. The next day, I had such a bad headache, I couldn't open the curtains. On top of that, my muscles ached, and I felt as if I had a fever. I called the cleanse organizer, and she told me I was having caffeine withdrawal and on top of that was obviously (you guessed it) "releasing a lot of toxins." I would have made myself a cup of coffee, but I was so sick, I couldn't do anything but go back to bed with a wet facecloth on my forehead.

Later in the day, a friend called to ask how I was doing, and when I told her, she said, "This is ridiculous, Rain. If you don't feel better tomorrow, I'm coming over there and getting some coffee and bagels into you."

Miraculously, I did feel better the next day. Still shaky and achy, but better. I went to one of the support group meetings and learned that several other people were experiencing a milder version of the same symptoms. It was helpful to hear that. Misery really does love company, I guess.

The highlight of the meeting, at least from a comic point of view, was when the group leader lay down on the floor and demonstrated (a sort of pantomime, thankfully) the proper way to give yourself an enema. Since this was the first day in a while my digestive system had felt halfway normal, I decided to skip that option, thank you very much.

By the fifth day, the headaches had subsided, and I was starting to feel energetic enough to resume my usual routine. I found myself heading back to Whole Foods and buying all kinds of fruit I rarely purchase -- mangos, coconuts, papayas, and fresh figs. The amazing thing to me was how intense all the flavors were and how good almost everything I ate tasted. Fresh, juicy, and clean. I didn't miss bread, dairy, or sugar. And having gotten over my horrible withdrawal from caffeine, even the thought of drinking coffee made me cringe. When I walked past a Starbuck's, I got a little queasy. I went to two work-related parties that week, and wasn't even tempted by the trays of cheese and greasy hors d'oeuvres.

I'm not a cynical person, but I've always tried to maintain a healthy amount of doubt and ironic distance. As a writer, I consider myself a satirist. I went into the cleanse thinking it would be interesting mainly as a metaphor, but doubting the whole process. Almost one year later, I still haven't had coffee or dairy. And believe me, I'd be embarrassed to say how much money I've spent on blue cheeses over the years. I eat about 80% less bread than I used to and about 90% more fresh fruit. Breakfast everyday is a tall glass of freshly juiced kale and carrots and a bunch of other veggies things that taste a lot better than they sound.

I won't say I never get sick anymore, but I have noticed that when I've gotten a cold, it's lasted only a day or two. I'm not sure I have the kind of laser focus a lot of people describe, but it's true that I have more energy and a greater capacity to work my way through difficult tasks. I'm now writing the second book in the Tales from the Yoga Studio series, and while I'm finding it as much work as the first, I am far less stressed out and exhausted by the process.

Last April, on the final day of the cleanse, I met up with a friend I hadn't seen in quite a while. We went to a movie and then out for (herbal) tea. She looked at me closely and said, "Your eyes look really bright. Are you taking vitamins or something?"

I assured her I wasn't. I bit my tongue and told myself that I didn't want to sound like all those people who'd made me roll my eyes with their vague jargon and unsubstantiated "medical" claims. But finally, I couldn't hold it in: "I think I just got rid of a lot of toxins that had been building up," I said.

"Toxins?" she said. "What are those?"

"I have no idea," I said. "But I'm pretty sure they're gone."

© 2011 Rain Mitchell, author of Tales from the Yoga Studio

Author Bio

Rain Mitchell, author of Tales From the Yoga Studio, began practicing yoga as a teenager and is currently at work on the second novel in the series.  Rain's favorite pose is corpse.

**Article provided by FSB Media Associates**

Tales from the Yoga Studio: A Novel by Rain Mitchell

A sparkling new series introducing five unforgettable women who flock to yoga at turning points in their lives and find the gift of lasting friendship.

The yoga studio is where daily cares are set aside, mats are unfurled, and physical exertion leads to well-being, renewal, and friendship. An aggressively expanding chain of Los Angeles yoga "experience centers," has Lee and her extraordinary teaching abilities in its sights. They woo her with a lucrative contract, a trademarked name for her classes, and a place for her handsome musician husband. But accepting the contract means abandoning the students at the homey studio Lee runs in L.A.'s Silver Lake district- and leaving behind four women whose friendships are suddenly more important to her than retirement benefits and a salary increase.

Tales from the Yoga Studio is an insider's look at the current obsession with yoga, told with enough humor, wit, and warmth to charm and delight readers, whether or not they've ever done a Downward Dog.

For more information on Rain Mitchell, Tales from the Yoga Studio or where to buy her book, visit her web site at http://www.talesfromtheyogastudio.com/. Also, stayed tuned for her second book in the Yoga Studio series.

Tales from the Yoga Studio is next on my TBR list. Be on the look out for a review to be posted on Lip Gloss & Literature soon after!!

*Cover Image and Synopsis provided by Goodreads*