Friday, Jan 23, 2009

The Makedown… Gitty Tells All & You Get a Chance To Win!

Author:      Gitty Daneshvari

Type:           Fiction – Women’s / Chick-Lit

Pages:        322 Paperback

ISBN#:       978-0-446-69988-4

Publisher:    5 Spot: Hachette

Website:       http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/

My Review:   CLICK HERE

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Well, my friends… I know that many of you have been hearing me RAVING about The Makedown. If you haven’t had a chance to read my review on it, please click HERE. I’ve given it a 10 out of 10 and it’s making the Best of ’09 list, for sure! So, I have been corresponding, just a bit, with Miriam at Hachette Books and I was able to finagle an interview with Gitty Daneshvari. Not only that, but I scored us a give-a-way. WOOO-WHOO. I’m so very excited! First, I have to share that Gitty is the nicest person! She was open to my crazy interview questions and I recently heard back from her in NYC.

 THE INTERVIEW: 

Gitty, you have a remarkably, insanely funny sense of humor that comes across perfectly on the written page.  Where do you think you got your sense of humor from… or, is it just yours and yours alone?

Humor is such a strange thing since what one person thinks is funny another can deem wholly stupid. I’m not quite sure how my personal sense of humor developed; it’s sort of always been with me, so I can’t really say. My parents definitely encouraged me in that they found everything I said or did funny and of course I LOVED that! While very shy as a child at school, at home I was a chatterbox, who loved being the center of attention. My poor sister – the things she had to put up with!

In writing from Ben’s P.O.V., I think what made him so completely endearing was the honesty of his words.  Men are such different creatures from women, as a writer, how do you put yourself into the mind of the opposite sex to write a man’s truth?

Ben was the hardest character for me to write. At thirty years of age I still struggle to understand what men are thinking while in the throes of dating…understanding chemistry and feelings and power dynamics between men and women is complicated. With Ben I spent a lot of time thinking about men I had met over the years – confident, self-assured men who intimidated me with their direct nature. There is a certain type of man who just knows who he is and what his strengths are very early on – Ben is just this type of man. He is charming and funny but also a little self-involved and narcissistic. Part of what Anna likes about him is that subtle cockiness. She is drawn to it because it represents everything she lacks.

Gitty, you are such a beautiful woman.  I am curious… you write about a girl who puts little, if any, effort into maintaining external beauty and health.  Her lack of self-esteem and wanting to see herself as something other than who she was trapped her in a body that didn’t match her dreams.  It is only with the help of her FG that Anna, begrudgingly, undergoes her metamorphosis into a healthy, attractive and well-rounded woman.  How were you able to put yourself into Anna’s shoes?   Have you ever undergone a metamorphosis of your own?  If so, was it external or internal?

I battled with adult acne for all of my twenties which was emotionally debilitating. I avoided mirrors and generally just tried to ignore it. I was hoping that it would just go away. It wasn’t until my mother said “Why won’t you go to a dermatologist? You have health insurance” that I finally faced up to the situation. Then for years I struggled with taking antibiotics, getting chemical peels before I finally toughened up and took Accutane (I hate having my blood taken and on Accutane you have to have your blood taken every month. The nurses at UCLA learned that it was best to have me lying down and to use a baby needle…because I am a giant baby when it comes to blood). The whole experience of having acne as an adult made me so insecure, I was sure that everyone who spoke to me was staring at my pimples. I couldn’t imagine a man wanting to kiss my face when it was covered in these horrible spots. And no amount of makeup can cover up bumps, maybe the redness but not the raised skin. In a way I think it’s beneficial for people to battle with insecurities because it gives us compassion. It’s so easy to be judgmental of others, but if you have battled with insecurities, it gives you pause before judging someone else whether it be for their weight, clothes, skin etc.

Your success is to be admired.  You have School of Fear being made into major motion picture (congrats… how exciting!) in addition to the release of The Makedown.  How did you manage being true to one piece of work simultaneously without compromising the success of the other?  What can you tell us about School of Fear?  Also, I think The Makedown would make AN AWESOME major motion picture-comedy.  Is that in the works?  (Please, say “yes.”)

The lovely thing about School of Fear is that it is written in a completely different voice than The Makedown (as well as third person) so it was rather simple for me to separate the two. School of Fear follows four children sent to an exclusive summer program for children with phobias. Upon arrival the children discover that nothing is what it seems, forcing them on an adventure where they come face to face with their worst nightmares. This idea was born from my own intense phobias as a child. My poor mother had one daughter who was afraid of heights (my sister) and therefore would not take the escalator and another (me) who was claustrophobic and refused to take the elevator. My father didn’t and doesn’t do malls, so my mother was left to battle it out with the two of us. Whoever threw themselves on the ground and cried usually won. To this day I don’t like elevators, I ride in them, but I certainly don’t enjoy them. My sister has almost entirely overcome her fear of heights, even venturing to the top of the empire state building when visiting me in New York. I also think The Makedown would make a good movie – currently two production companies are talking to writers and directors hoping to package it before attempting to sell it to a studio. I remain cautiously optimistic.

What, if anything, were you hoping that your readers would take from reading The Makedown?

More than anything I hope that the readers of The Makedown enjoy themselves – that for a couple of hours they are entertained. If I can achieve that for a fraction of the readers then I will be 100% satisfied.

 

YES, YOU CAN WIN A COPY!

This will be an easy entry contest, folks. Here are the very simple rules:

  • Leave me a comment with your name – 1 entry
  • Post anywhere on your blog that there is a giveaway for a fantastic women’s fiction/chick lit comedy (aka The Makedown) at A Novel Menagerie – 2 additional entries
  • Post anywhere on your blog a copy of the cover of The Makedown – 1 additional entry
  • Subscribe to this blog – 1 additional entry. If you are already a subscriber, let me know… that counts, too!
  • Have your entries in by Friday, January 30th at 5pm PST

Again, many thanks to my Book FG, Miriam… this book made my day!  AND…. thanks to the bloggy carnival for letting me participate.  Click HERE for other giveaways.


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85 Comments

| Posted in Books Books Books, Contests

85 Responses

  1. Kathy

    January 23rd, 2009 at 4:55 am

    I’d love to be entered in this one. You are in my Google Reader.

    Kathy’s last blog post..Review: I Am America (And So Can You!) Audio Book

  2. carmen alexis

    January 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 am

    Hey! Sounds like an amazing book. Please count me in.
    And obviously, I follow your blog. haha. xP

    carmen alexis’s last blog post..Review: Courtney Summers – Cracked Up to Be

  3. Alyce

    January 23rd, 2009 at 8:36 am

    I would like to be entered. I subscribe to your blog via rss feed.

  4. Donna S

    January 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 am

    Please enter me, it sounds really good.

    I follow in Google Reader.

  5. Shana @ Literarily

    January 23rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    Sher, what a fantastic interview. I added this one to my wish list when I read your review. It sounds funny and I love funny!

  6. Cheryl F.

    January 24th, 2009 at 7:44 am

    I’d love to read this :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

  7. Cheryl F.

    January 24th, 2009 at 7:45 am

    I blogged about the giveaway :
    http://luckyladybug.wordpress.com/bloggy-giveaways/

  8. Cheryl F.

    January 24th, 2009 at 7:46 am

    I posted a copy of the cover of The Makedown on my blog :
    http://luckyladybug.wordpress.com/bloggy-giveaways/

  9. Cheryl F.

    January 24th, 2009 at 7:47 am

    I subscribe to your feed in Google Reader :)

  10. Sheri

    January 24th, 2009 at 8:07 am

    Please enter me to win! Oh and I now subscribe to your blog :)

    Sheri’s last blog post..Friday Finds

  11. Alyce

    January 24th, 2009 at 8:31 am

    I posted about it here:

    http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/weekly-giveaway-roundup_24.html

    Alyce’s last blog post..Weekly Giveaway Roundup

  12. Meg @ Literary Menagerie

    January 24th, 2009 at 9:43 am

    I’d love to win this, please enter me! I also follow you.

    Meg @ Literary Menagerie’s last blog post..Library Loot 1.21.09

  13. Erika Lynn

    January 24th, 2009 at 10:21 am

    please enter me to win! thanks. I am also a follower in google reader

    Erika Lynn’s last blog post..Contest Win

  14. Valorie

    January 24th, 2009 at 10:39 am

    It sounds like a good book! I would love to be entered.

    I blogged about your contest:
    http://morbid-romantic.net/2009/01/19/book-giveaways-0119-0125

    I am also a subscriber via Google Reader.

    Valorie
    morbidromantic@gmail.com

  15. Sherry

    January 24th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    Okay, Sher, I’m an overacheiver

    I blogged and have a picture of book::
    http://sherrylinnslist.blogspot.com/

    And, I’m a subscriber

    Sherry

    Sherry’s last blog post..Giveaway – "The Makedown by Gitty Daneshvari

  16. Anne Taylor

    January 24th, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    I’d love to win this book!

    Thanks so much

  17. Anne Taylor

    January 24th, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    I subscribe in Google Reader!

    Thanks so much!

  18. Marie

    January 25th, 2009 at 7:35 am

    Oooo…this looks good. I’d love to win! Please enter me. Thanks.

    Marie’s last blog post..The House at Midnight by Lucie Whitehouse

  19. Jenai

    January 26th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    Enter me looks like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win!

  20. mindy

    January 26th, 2009 at 4:21 pm

    nice read thanks for the giveaway

  21. Krista

    January 26th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    I love chick lit and this looks like a good one. Thanks for the chance to win!!

    Krista

  22. Susan

    January 26th, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    Sounds like my kind of book! Thanks!

  23. Victoria

    January 26th, 2009 at 7:18 pm

    wow, this sounds great! I want to read it

  24. Victoria

    January 26th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    I subscribed. So happy i found this blog!

  25. beth shepherd

    January 26th, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    This would be a fantastic read. tHank you! I would love to win
    tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

  26. Dree

    January 27th, 2009 at 4:18 am

    Thanks for another book giveaway.

  27. Maggie

    January 27th, 2009 at 8:11 am

    Looks like an awesome book!
    Maggie
    hematopoiesis at hotmail dot com

  28. Hollie

    January 27th, 2009 at 8:53 am

    This sounds like my kind of book!

  29. lifeasamama

    January 27th, 2009 at 9:35 am

    Nice – this sounds great!!

    lifeasamama’s last blog post..Pictures of the bag…

  30. lifeasamama

    January 27th, 2009 at 9:36 am

    i subscribed to your feed!!

    lifeasamama’s last blog post..Pictures of the bag…

  31. Lauren

    January 27th, 2009 at 1:08 pm

    This sounds absolutely fun and hilarious. I’m quite intrigued now. I like the sound of her other novel as well. Must read it!!

    -lauren

    Lauren’s last blog post..Celebrate Bloggers: Please Read!

  32. Lauren

    January 27th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    I have subscribed to this blog as well. :)

    -Lauren

    Lauren’s last blog post..Celebrate Bloggers: Please Read!

  33. kaye

    January 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

    This sounds like a good one. Please enter me in the drawing, thanks!

  34. Janice

    January 27th, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    What an interesting looking read :P Thank you for considering me!

    Janice’s last blog post..Attention pop loving Canadians: Enter to win a make your own soda machine!

  35. Jennifer

    January 27th, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    This looks like a great book, thanks for the giveaway!

  36. Cindy B. in Montana

    January 27th, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    Thanks for the chance to win. Sounds like a great book!

    Cindy B. in Montana’s last blog post..Sunday Smiles

  37. Wrighty

    January 28th, 2009 at 1:13 am

    Funny chick lit is a great combination! Your review makes it sound even more interesting and I can’t wait to read it! Please include my name.
    - I’ve added this contest to my blog.
    - I also added a photo of the book cover.
    - I subscribe and follow your blog.

    Wrighty’s last blog post..Special Days, Special People

  38. DG

    January 28th, 2009 at 7:02 am

    I’d love to read this. thanks so much! :)

  39. Michelle C

    January 28th, 2009 at 7:39 am

    This looks like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win!

  40. Jackie

    January 28th, 2009 at 7:56 am

    I can always use some chick-lit. Thanks for the chance!

  41. rachel

    January 28th, 2009 at 9:17 am

    hey. thanks for the giveaway. please enter me.

  42. Alicia

    January 28th, 2009 at 10:48 am

    This book sounds great :) Alicia

  43. Lauren

    January 28th, 2009 at 10:54 am

    I blogged about this too:

    http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2009/01/win-it-wednesday-overflow.html

    -Lauren
    lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

    Lauren’s last blog post..Wish-List-Wednesday: RENT

  44. Alicia

    January 28th, 2009 at 10:59 am

    I blogged this contest :)

    http://lookatmybooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/giveaways-galor.html

  45. Alicia

    January 28th, 2009 at 10:59 am

    I also subscribe on Google Reader

  46. Erin

    January 28th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    Yay books!

    Thanks for an opportunity to win this!
    ellybean (at) connected2christ.com
    http://www.connected2christ.com/theblog

    Erin’s last blog post..Walk by Faith – An Online Devotional Magazine » Contests

  47. cecilia

    January 28th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    I just read about The Makedown in the Bestsellersworld newsletter! And now I’m more excited about the book after reading your raving review :) The cover is hilarious!

    - I am following you on Blogger
    - I posted the giveaway + cover on my blog’s sidebar @ epicrat.blogspot.com

    p.s. I enjoyed your interview with Gitty! She seems really cool, and I hope she does get a movie deal for The Makedown – from the sounds of it, it would be insanely funny!

  48. Andrea

    January 28th, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    Thanks! Looks like a good read.

    Andrea’s last blog post..Gestating Bobo at 38 weeks

  49. Christie

    January 28th, 2009 at 5:22 pm

    I would love to be able to read this book

  50. Chelsea

    January 28th, 2009 at 5:43 pm

    Sounds like a good book thanks! FlipFlopsChels@msn.com

  51. Tisha

    January 28th, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    The book sounds really good… thanks for the giveaway!

  52. Chelsea

    January 28th, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    I would love to be entered in this giveaway. This book sounds like a fabulous read.

    Chelsea’s last blog post..$200 Giveaway!!

  53. Chelsea

    January 28th, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    I am subscribed via Google Reader. (waterprincess812@aol.com)

    Chelsea’s last blog post..$200 Giveaway!!

  54. trish

    January 28th, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    please enter me in your giveaway-thanks!
    trishnatey@gmail.com

    trish’s last blog post..watercolor pencil sketch

  55. Tara Hill

    January 28th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    Oh, I need a good book! The last two I read were duds! :(

    Thanks!

  56. Tara Hill

    January 28th, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    I subscribed!

  57. Deborah

    January 28th, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    Looks like a good read!

    Deborah @ Comfort Joy Designs
    comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com
    comfortjoydesigns{AT}gmail{DOT}com

    Deborah’s last blog post..Dancing Blue Butterflies – Take One

  58. kim v

    January 29th, 2009 at 3:04 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

  59. Becca

    January 29th, 2009 at 11:32 am

    My name is Becca, thanks!!!

    Becca’s last blog post..Day off

  60. Jessica Maurer

    January 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    This book sounds hilarious! I love reading – it helps me escape from my problems.

    Jessica Maurer’s last blog post..Slowly getting there.

  61. Sarah at themommylogues

    January 29th, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    I love books! And chick lit is a favorite — thank you!

    Sarah at themommylogues’s last blog post..Winter, I will not let you crush my spirit!!

  62. Kelly R.

    January 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    I would love to win this – I am always looking for new chick-lit books. They’re definitely my guilty pleasure!

    :-)

  63. Valerie

    January 29th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    sounds pretty good

  64. Jodi

    January 29th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    Please enter me! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

  65. Jenna

    January 29th, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    This sounds really cool! Count me in, please!

  66. bebemiqui

    January 29th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    Great giveaway! Count me in.
    bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

  67. Erin

    January 29th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    i would love to win this book!

  68. Trish

    January 29th, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    Hello! I would love to read this book!

    trishalitax3(at)gmail[dot]com

  69. Trish

    January 29th, 2009 at 7:18 pm

    I have also just subscribed to the blog(by email).

  70. Jessica

    January 29th, 2009 at 7:45 pm

    Jessica

    Jessica’s last blog post..Weigh-In Wednesday #4

  71. Lisa in NM

    January 29th, 2009 at 8:53 pm

    Thanks for participating in Bloggy Giveaways. This is so much fun and winning the book would make it even funner!

  72. Nicole

    January 29th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    Looks like a good read. Thanks!

    Nicole’s last blog post..Free Splenda Drink Recipe Book!

  73. Aila D.

    January 29th, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    Thanks for the chance to win :) You have great taste in books!

  74. Melanie S.

    January 30th, 2009 at 12:07 am

    I love discovering books through reviews that I would probably never pick up (or hear about? ha) without reading that review. I’ve lucked upon so many precious gems that way. : )

  75. Ash

    January 30th, 2009 at 12:24 am

    I’d love to win, Reading rocks!

  76. punkinmama

    January 30th, 2009 at 7:17 am

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    punkinmama’s last blog post..we are not alone

  77. sherry (nite swimming)

    January 30th, 2009 at 10:05 am

    Crossing my fingers!

    sherry (nite swimming)’s last blog post..Friday Finds

  78. Melanie

    January 30th, 2009 at 11:22 am

    I would love to win this book! Thank you!

  79. Mindy

    January 30th, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    Sounds great!! Thanks for the giveaway!

  80. Chrysa

    January 30th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Chrysa’s last blog post..Jockey Minis & 3D-Innovations Collections

  81. Megan

    January 30th, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    I’d love to be entered! And WHEW — looks like I’m just barely going to make it in time! :) Thanks!

  82. Chrysa

    January 30th, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    I’m subscribed to your RSS feed.

    Chrysa’s last blog post..Jockey Minis & 3D-Innovations Collections

  83. Teri

    January 30th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway! I’ve been looking for something to read lately!

    Teri’s last blog post..This, that & the other

  84. Angela C

    January 30th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway:)
    angelacisco at rocketmail.com

  85. Ginny

    January 30th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    Great giveaway

    Ginny’s last blog post..Tiny Prints for Valentine’s Day Cards + Coupon Codes


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