Today I have author Tracy Krimmer on my blog defending our beloved chick lit genre. She’s one tough cookie and I’m glad we’re on the same side of this issue :).

You may want to cover your eyes. You’re about to see a dirty word.

Chick Lit.

Whew. I feel so much better having typed the word. Wait? That’s not a bad word? But the world has been telling me for the past few years it’s a term to be ashamed of and not celebrated.

I disagree. My name is Tracy Krimmer and I love chick lit.

I don’t remember when I first fell in love with the genre. I only know I’ve read it for years and I now have two chick lit novels published as well, with a third coming out in late winter. People have many misconceptions about chick lit and that’s too bad because it’s fun to read (and a blast to write!) Here are just a few.

It’s all “fluff.” This is a term I see used a lot in chick lit reviews – usually when the reader didn’t like the book. Yes, chick lit is more of a light read than Bared to You or 50 Shades of Grey, but it’s a love story just the same. The characters are flawed and some have terrible pasts. The comedic tone is what separates chick lit from romance. That’s it. That doesn’t make it “fluff.” Chick lit deals with love, loss, addiction … it’s all there!
Chick lit revolves around sex. No. Sorry. It’s actually the complete opposite. Most chick lit novels are fade to black. What does that mean? You may catch a nipple here or an erection there, but most of the nakedness happens in the writer’s mind. That’s not to say you won’t read the dirty dirty in a chick lit novel, but most of the time you won’t.
The characters are all [pick an age]. Chick lit doesn’t define an age group. I have read chick lit with characters in their twenties and in their fifties. I’m sure if you seek out the genre you can find a heroine in an age group you prefer.

All chick lit covers are pink and the characters love to shop. Um, no. Absolutely not. Emily Giffin’s books (yes, those are chick lit!) are all a solid color with the title and one key graphic from the novel. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen is considered chick lit by many. Chick lit covers are the same as other covers – creative and give you insight to the story – and the characters deal with real issues!

I write both Women’s Fiction and chick lit. When I want to write a guaranteed happy ending and be a little sassy, I opt to write chick lit. When I want to dig a little deeper and darker, I write women’s fiction. I love both and they both have value.

As a reader, you decide what to read. Enough with shaming genres and criticizing because of the name. Whether you label it chick lit, romantic comedy, or romance with sass, it’s a genre enjoyed by millions, and one I happen to love writing!

If you’re interested in my chick lit novels, visit www.tracykrimmer.com/Amazon for details on my books!

Meredith: Jay Walking is on sale for 99 cents through December! 

Tracy’s love of writing began at nine years old. She wrote stories about aliens at school, machines that did homework for you, and penguins. Now she pens books and short stories about romance. She loves to read a great book, whether it be romance or science fiction, or any genre in between, or pop popcorn and catch up on her favorite TV shows or movies. She’s been known to crush a candy or two as well. Her first romance novel, Pieces of it All, released in May 2014 followed in December with Caching In, a romance mixed with the hobby of geocaching. She also has written several short stories.  You can find her on the following social media sites: Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tkrimms Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KrimmerAuthor Sign up for her newsletter at http://www.tracykrimmer.com/newsletter/ (and get free stuff!)

Novelista Girl – January 6, 2016

Readers first met sassy Kimberly Long in Blogger Girl, and now the feisty New Yorker is back in a sequel packed with quick wit, friendship, heartache, and, of course, romance.

Kim runs the most popular chick lit book blog on the web, loves playing house with her sexy lawyer boyfriend, Nicholas, and is finally pursuing her lifelong dream to become a published author. At first glance, her life is five-pink-champagne-flutes worthy. 

But is there more to the story than meets the eye?

 After hearing the phrase “chick lit is dead” more times than she’s read Bridget Jones’s Diary, Kim is driven to desperate measures, seeking advice from up-and-coming chick lit author, Hannah Marshak, her high school nemesis and resident “mean girl.” As if Kim doesn’t have enough on her plate balancing her secretarial duties with her blog Pastel Is the New Black, shrugging off the growing pile of agent rejections, and keeping her best friend from turning green over Kim’s budding friendship with Hannah, Nicholas is so blinded by his career ambitions, he doesn’t see that their home sweet home could use more than a dash of sugar. 

This is the year when all of Kim’s dreams—professional and romantic—are supposed to come true, but will the story have a happily ever after, or will Kim end up unpublished and all alone?

This novel can be read as a sequel or as a standalone and is best accompanied by a cocktail, preferably a pink one.