Our latest Lit IT Girl: Amy Sprenger aka Snarky Mommy
Why we love her: Um, hello, have you read her blog? How can you NOT love her? We have a little crush. Shhh...Don't tell her!
Her debut: Baby Bumps: The Almost, Barely, Not-Quite-True Story of Pregnancy, Bedrest and One Batshit Crazy Family
The Scoop: Wearing her highest heels and hottest pregnancy jeans, Amy Sprenger marched into her doctor’s office, latte in hand, ready to finally see whether her baby was a boy or a girl. Sure, sure, this appointment was supposed to be about checking the health of the baby, but everyone who’s ever been there knows it’s really about looking for what lays, or doesn’t lay, between the legs.
So when the doctor tells her she has an incompetent cervix, Amy does what any woman would do. She becomes immediately offended. Is that a politically correct way of saying her cervix sucks? Unfortunately, as she’s soon to learn, it’s a lot more than that. The only way to keep that baby from falling out on the sidewalk (probably in front of Starbucks) is for her doctor to stitch her cervix closed and for Amy to stay in bed for the next four months.
Four months that are carefully detailed in this “memoir.” A memoir that while basically true, has been embellished with Amy’s signature brand of humor and hilarity.
With more time off than a castoff contestant on The Bachelor, Amy took pen to paper and settled in for the ride. But instead of sitting around eating bon bons, she’s popping hypertension drugs to stave off preterm labor. And complications? Oh, she’s got your complications. She’s gut-rehabbing her house. Her mother moves in to care for her. Her husband takes a “mancation” while she’s stuck in the hospital. And every time she has a contraction, she’s convinced it’s The Big One.
Living by the adage that laughter is the best medicine, Amy fumbles her way through a series of sometimes serious and usually embarrassing situations. And just to be clear, using a bedpan qualifies as both serious and embarrassing.
Our thoughts: Totally hilarious-we think this one will brighten your day for sure!
Giveaway: FIVE copies! Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win. We'll choose the winners after 6pm PST on Monday, August 13th.
Fun fact: Her hubs has a blog called Snarky Daddy. Too freakin' cute!
Where you can read more about Amy: Her website, Facebook and Twitter.
CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...LIT IT GIRL: DEBUT AUTHOR AMY SPRENGER
1. How many agents did you query before you found "the one"? From what I have read, I am very lucky in that I found my agent within the first month of querying. I sent about 30 total queries, received requests from 15 of them and had serious interest from three people. My agent, Jessica Faust, and I clicked from our first conversation and I was thrilled when she offered representation.
2. What's a line from your "favorite" rejection letter? We originally pitched BABY BUMPS as a straight-up memoir, and at that time, an editor said, “The whole time I was reading, I was so worried about the pregnancy. I'm sorry!” It cracked me up that she was too nervous to even read about it, much less get on board with publishing it.
3. What was the hardest part about writing your debut novel? The hardest part was definitely finding the time. With three little kids, it’s hard to do anything but veg out in front of the TV after the race of dinner, bath and bedtime every night. My husband didn’t understand why I couldn’t just write at night when they were all in bed – dude, have you ever tried to be witty and coherent after spending your day chasing three lunatic children? I eventually wrote the bulk of the book at the Starbucks down the street with a babysitter watching my kids. I considered the sitter payments an investment in my future career. Not to mention the fact I personally kept Starbucks afloat for a few months there.
4. What is the best/worst advice you received while you were trying to break into the book biz? The best advice was to write the book I wanted to read. It didn’t matter if it was publishable or would sell a gajillion copies or if it featured vampires in a wizard school fighting to the death – what mattered was that it was a project I loved. The worst advice was not to even consider self-publishing because it was the kiss of death for the future of my career. I think even five years ago, this was true, but now? It’s a viable option that is putting great books in the hands of readers who might otherwise have never seen them.
5. How did you celebrate your book deal? The day my book came out, my husband sent me flowers and said he was making a reservation at Alinea, ranked the No. 1 North American restaurant and conveniently located in our ‘hood. I have yet to eat at this establishment, however, so I am beginning to suspect Josh might have lied and we’re really going to Lou Malnati’s for Chicago-style pizza instead.
6. Who is your writer crush? Definitely Emily Giffin. She writes books I both love to read and wish I wrote myself. I also think she’s hilarious on Twitter and Facebook with her celebrity gossip obsession. Em, text me, we’ll be besties!
7. If you were stranded on a desert island and could have only one book, what would it be?The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s haunted me since I put it down. Ironically enough, I actually read it on a (semi)deserted isle when I took it to the Maldives on vacation a few years ago.
8. What's on your iPod right now? Right this minute, it’s “Helplessness Blues” by Fleet Foxes. My kids also love Fleet Foxes, which makes for great road trips because I’m not stuck listening to “Toddler Tunes” on a constant repeat, causing me to drive off the road in an Old MacDonald coma.
9. What's your #1 stress reliever? Bikram yoga. There’s just something about a 104-degree room and sweating out half your body weight while trying to hold eagle pose that causes you to let everything else go. For 90 minutes, my mind actually stops spinning because the only thing I can focus on is how freaking hot I am and how gross it is that sweat is pooling between my boobs.
10. Who/what would you place in the center of the Entertainment Weekly bullseye? Without a doubt, the Bachelorette, Emily Maynard, and her new “fiancée” Jef Holm. How can you agree to marry someone you’ve known for 10 minutes and who doesn’t even know how to correctly spell Jeff?
Thanks, Amy! xoxo, L&L