1. 

   1. Tell us about 150 Pounds.

   I gained and lost fifty pounds twice in two years. When I got married, my husband started to explore cooking. The women in my family do not cook. The most we’ll do is boil an egg. So I quickly put on fifty pounds as a newlywed. Luckily, my husband loved my curves. It sucked having to buy all new clothes, though. So I did Weight Watchers. Then, as soon as I got back to 135 pounds, I got pregnant last year! Boom! Ffity pounds again. It took nine months to take off the weight, which I did with walking. Then, as soon as I got back to about 145, I got pregnant for the second time. I think I’ve given up on ever wearing my string bikini again, and I’m okay with that. I began to think about how women and their weight are so closely linked. To men, they don’t really pay any attention to their bellies or their scales. The “freshman 15” seems to only apply to one gender, which isn’t fair. Also, women go through these colossal weight changes when they hit puberty, and when they have pregnancies. When I’m sad, I eat Hagen Daaz coffee ice-cream. My moods, emotions, and life revolves around my weight. I think it’s like this for a lot of women. Also, 150 Pounds is my battle cry. I’m so sick of the media showing us skinny celebrities as if that’s the norm. The average sized American woman is a 14. Not a 0. I’d like in my lifetime to see that reflected in movies, commercials, and print media.

2. 2. Why weight is such a sensitive issue? For you is it just a number on a weight scale or a matter of self-esteem?

   We live in a very visual culture. I think people should stop torturing themselves and come up with better resolutions, like they’re going to stop being so judgmental of themselves, and love their bodies just the way they are this year. Unless your doctor says they’re concerned for your health, live a little! My New Year’s resolution is to drink more wine and eat more chocolate.

3. 3. The characters use blogs to influence people - how much do you think blogs can impact someone’s life?

   I think blogs are great distractions when you're a mom at home, or doing work in an office.

4. 4. Which one is your favourite - Shoshana, of the Fat and Fabulous blog, or Skinny Chick Alexis?

   I love Shoshana. Obviously Alexis is not very likeable, although I hope the reader likes her a little bit more in the end of the book than the beginning. Shoshana is a "friend collector," as am I. I’m outgoing, loud, and funny. I love to eat. Food is life and happiness, in my mind. She listens to music from the sixties and dresses kind of crunchy, which is not really me, but the warmth she has is a lot like me. However, I could never live with three female roommates! I’d go crazy.

5. 5. Tell us about your writing process?

   My writing process for 150 Pounds was to set my alarm clock an hour before I had to go to work so I could write. Coffee is needed!



6. 6. What is your favourite TV show and chick lit book?

   My favorite TV show is The Closer. Watermelon by Marian Keyes is my favorite book. I love the ups and downs the main character goes through when her man leaves her. I once wrote her a fan letter, and her husband wrote me back, which I found too funny!

7. 7. Who is your favourite author?

   My favorite author is of course Marian Keyes.

8. 8. What are you reading at the moment?

   Right now I'm reading Dorothy Sayers.

9. 9. Is there another book in you?

   Yes! I do have another book idea, about a woman who is a surrogate for her sister but I don’t have the characters in my head very strong yet. They haven’t started "talking to me". Look for it in 2013!

10. 10. What piece of advice you would like to give to the aspiring authors?

    Never give up. Try to write a little bit every day, even if you’ve had too much wine to drink. Keep a stickie pad of paper next to your bed and write down ideas from dreams. My first book Falling Is Like This was rejected many, many times before St. Martin's offered me a two-book deal. It’s like dating: You have to kiss a lot of frogs!

Back to top