SPARKLE is Available NOW on Amazon! (and a Bestseller!)

SPARKLE is Available NOW on Amazon! (and a Bestseller!)

I KNOW right!?

 You know that saying, "We make plans and God laughs?" Well I bet God, and all of the little sparkle fairies up in heaven are having a BALL with this one!

Never a dull moment in the world of indie publishing. I researched, prepped, and anxiously gulped red wine in an attempt to calm my nerves over the past few months to time the release of my first book, SPARKLE, perfectly. Arranged for press, radio interviews, launch parties, all meticulously in line with the magical date of Tuesday, October 9. The date I obsessed over for the release of this book that I spent FOUR YEARS working on.

And guess what? I logged into my Amazon account this morning and saw that not only was it available now, but it had been selling copies like CRAZY! Someone started the party without me! I am learning (quickly) that I can't control everything, so I'm rolling with this one and counting down the hours until I can responsibly pop a bottle of champagne (the second I escape from my office).

Not only am I dealing with the shock of my book being released a month early, but it's ranking in the TOP 100 in Amazon's "Self-Help ---> Happiness" category! At 11 am this morning, SPARKLE was #39 in the category, and is also being featured as a "Hot Release!"

You can click here if you want to purchase this hot little mama!

I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who supported this project. I started this book four years ago, and had no idea where it would lead me. I feel so blessed and lucky to have found myself in a place where I am happier and more fulfilled than I ever thought possible. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it and bringing it into the world.

With so much love and gratitude,

Cara

UPDATE! As of 9/6/12 SPARKLE became a #1 best seller on Amazon! I can't thank everyone enough for their support! It means the world to me!

Labor of Love

Labor of Love

A lot of people (mothers included) say that writing and publishing a book is much like having a baby. I have no idea what it's like to be pregnant, but I have had pregnant friends, and I can attest that we all share in the same sentiment that by the time you're about to birth whatever it is you're excited about, YOU ARE READY. You're tired, you're excited to "meet" your new work of art, and frankly, you just want it out.

I'd say I've been "expecting" this book for four years now; much different than the nine or ten months an excited mother awaits her new addition, but since I'm not actually producing a human being named SPARKLE (though how awesome would that be?) I'd say we even out with the timeline thing.

Last night, I (read: my husband) began the arduous process of laying out the interior of the book. All 142 pages. After nearly chucking my little pink laptop out my fifth story apartment window, we came to a mutual decision that we'd utilize his graphic design skills and turn this mother out in Adobe InDesign as opposed to a word processing program. The result is a much sleeker, aesthetically pleasing book, but a hell of a lot more work. But Ryan is truly amazing and has dedicated himself to this project (as has Cara, my kick-ass cover designer who I seriously could not live without) and I am so blessed to have all of these awesome people in my life who truly care about this book just as much as I do.

To show you just how laborious this process is, Ryan and I spent seven - yes, seven - hours yesterday getting all of the pages prepped for publication. And after those seven hours, we are still worlds away from having a finished product. Between spacing, layout, choosing fonts, and studying every single book I own, there are so many details you need to pay attention to. Self-publishing platforms are wonderful, and I can't say enough great things about Amazon's customer service, but there are still major things that nobody tells you. And even after having spent years scouring forums, tweets, and articles, I still found out last night that you have to add a category to the back cover of your book so book sellers know where to stock it! And that you need to add your own barcode to the back if you own your own ISBN number (many self-publishing companies will do this for you, but if you own the rights to your ISBN, ball's in your court).

But I have to say, I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. Through all the tears, all the cups of coffee, and all the moments of sheer insanity where I find myself ready to gauge my own eyeballs out, I am still in love with what I'm doing. I am learning so much and I know that the second that little pink bundle of joy is in my arms, it will have all been worth it.

mission control

 

what would bethenny do?

what the hell does "kern" mean anyway?

COVER Girl!

COVER Girl!

Three months ago, I made the decision to independently publish my four-year-in-the-making book, SPARKLE. I had envisioned what the cover would look like long before I decided to publish it on my own, but because I assumed I'd get a traditional book deal, I never imagined I'd get to have the cover of my dreams designed. But things don't always work out as planned, and before I knew it, every single detail of SPARKLE was in my hands. 

And I couldn't have been happier. 

I turned to Cara Loper of Loose Lid Creative to help me turn my sparkly vision into a reality, and after three long months of planning, designing, starting from scratch, planning some more, and designing again we finally arrived at a book cover that I could not possibly be more excited about. Every single piece of this book has been an absolute labor of love, and I am so blessed to get to work with some of the best people in the business. Cara's talent, patience, vision (and did I say patience!?) has made me even more excited about publishing this book, and I am thrilled to have her along for the ride. I couldn't have chosen a better designer.

So, without further adieu, I present to you the cover of SPARKLE!

SPARKLE will be available on Amazon and in select book stores on October 9, 2012!

SPARKLE Cover Update AND FAN CONTEST!

SPARKLE Cover Update AND FAN CONTEST!

When I first started thinking about what the cover would look like for SPARKLE, I knew it would involve a few things: the color pink, something that represented The Champagne Diaries, and something that screamed "there is a gay man trapped inside my body and he loves glitter." 

I went back and forth with ideas; at first I thought I'd do something really glitzy (think scratch & sniff meets pop-up book with George Michael in a motorcycle jacket rising from the center), but then reality hit and I realized I am publishing this book myself which means I am responsible for all costs involved. And unfortunately (or fortunately), I don't have thousands of dollars to pay a company to make that bizarre fantasy a reality.

After weeks of discussing (read: harassing) cover concepts with my designer Cara Loper, we finally decided on something so beautiful, so clean, so girly, and so representative of a champagne girl, and I cannot wait to share with you ladies! 

I will be unveiling the cover VERY SOON, but there's MORE! To thank everyone for their support throughout this process, I am also running a contest leading up to the big unveiling of the cover of SPARKLE!

Here are the official rules:

All you have to do is tweet using the hash tag #SparkleBook between now and August 10th, 2012. And if you don't use Twitter, have no fear! The contest will be valid on Facebook as well, just post something about Sparkle on The Champagne Diet's wall between now and Friday August 10th, 2012. It can be something as simple as "I can't wait to read this book that Cara has been talking about for seventeen years!" or "I can't wait to SPARKLE and shine and get my hands on this fabulous book!"

I will select a winner at random by August 15th and announce on the blog using your Facebook name and/or Twitter handle, and that lucky person will win a very special hand-selected Goddess Gift courtesy of The Champagne Diet! Here's a hint: it involves champagne!

Good luck!

Note: Winner must confirm they are 21+ to receive champagne

*SNEAK PEEK* Read an Excerpt From "Sparkle!"

*SNEAK PEEK* Read an Excerpt From "Sparkle!"

 From Chapter 2: "Uncork Your Best Self"

We all have “energy vampires” in our lives. Those people who always seem to know how to zap the fun right out of us. The ones who call our phones relentlessly, until we pick up, and only talk about themselves. Unless you’re a cold-hearted snake, you probably let these people steamroll you from time to time with their mindless drama. I am guilty as charged, but I’ve put an end to it. I’ve given myself a “get out of jail free” card and realized that I cannot – and should not – try to save the world. It’s draining, and it takes away from time that you could be focusing on yourself (a much more exciting project).

And then there are the criticizers. The people in your life, be it friends, or family, even lovers, who love to pass judgment on everything you do. The ones whose phone calls you can’t ignore, and when you pick up, they are ready to jump down your throat about anything and everything. Maybe it’s the shade of lipstick you’re wearing, or the new haircut you just got, or the career choice you’ve made – whatever it is, these people have a way to rain all over your parade. And they can have a serious effect on our confidence.

So how do we ignore the negativity and let that bubbly lady out to play, regardless of the naysayers? It might seem like one of life’s most impossible tasks when you’re “in it.” When you’re in that toxic relationship – whether it be with a man, or a family member, or even a friend – who constantly tries to bring you down, it’s hard to see past the ridicule. Well, I’ll state the obvious here: the first step is to get the fuck away. Honestly, run. Easier said than done, believe me, but it’s a must. The longer you keep those people in your world, the longer you will remain controlled by their wrath. A good rule of thumb is: if someone is around who brings you down, it’s time to take out the trash. And if you can’t eliminate them completely, then seriously reevaluate how much time you give them. Life is way too short for drama and negativity.

...more to come! Stay tuned for the release of "Sparkle" on October 9th!

Looking for a Few Good Women!

Looking for a Few Good Women!

Hello dahhhlings! I can't believe we're just about 12 weeks out from the launch of Sparkle! I'm working my boobs off to bring you a really fun book, but I can't do it all on my own.

Here's where you come in! I'm looking for a few good women to be my champagne soldiers and get the word out to everyone they know about the book. This virtual "street team" will be assembled over the next few weeks, and I'm calling it The Bubbly Brigade. Want in?

Duties will be:

• Post about the book regularly on your Facebook page and on Twitter

• Email your friends and let them know where they can buy the book!

• Ask your local bookstore to stock it!

• Write a review of the book on Amazon when it's up

• Host a book club and read & discuss Sparkle

But I'm not expecting you to join the ranks without some giving you goodies in return! Members of The Bubbly Brigade will receive an advanced signed copy of Sparkle before it's released, as well as some other "sparkling" surprises. If you're interested in helping out, please email me at TheChampagneDiet@gmail.com!

Cheers ladies!

-

Sneak Peek: SPARKLE Cover Inspiration Board!

Sneak Peek: SPARKLE Cover Inspiration Board!

Putting a book together from soup to nuts completely by yourself is not for the faint of heart. In the past 3 weeks, I have been totally and completely consumed by this book baby I'm pregnant with, and if my observations are correct, I have skipped the first trimester of bebe bliss and flown right on through to the third and final trimester, where you realize there is so much to do, with so little time, or as I call it: PANIC.

After playing with a few ideas for the cover art, and realizing that what I love on a computer screen will not necessarily translate to a paperback (what? you mean I can't have each book hand-sewn with glitter attaches!?), I've decided to expand my team of creative women geniuses and hire Fifi Flowers to do some custom illustration work for the cover of the entire Champagne Diaries series. If you haven't seen her work, then check it out here and prepare to have your mind blow. Her designs literally make you feel like you've been whisked away to Paris and you have unlimited funds to drink as much Champagne as you like, cart around really cute poodles and wear the finest fashions France has to offer. Her whimsical, feminine drawings are the epitome of what the The Champagne Diaries is all about: luxury, glam, booze, a little bit of fantasy, and feelin' good, and I know she will nail it! Of course, the wondrous Cara Loper will still be doing the cover layout and graphic design (and she will also be keeping my sanity in check), so together I think we will make an amazing team!

Check out some of the inspiration I've been pinning (as if I needed another reason to be on Pinterest 24/7) and tell me what you like!

 

Doesn't she look like SHE'S living an effervescent life!?

Maybe replace the coffee with bubbly? (always a good decision)

J'adore the way Fifi draws Champagne!

Event Recap: Books, Bellinis & Jazz, OH MY!

Event Recap: Books, Bellinis & Jazz, OH MY!

Cheers to another successful Champagne Diaries event at The Bookmark Shoppe last night! I'd like to thank the following people for making last night so awesome *pulls out acceptance speech from bra*

The Bookmark Shoppe, who continuously let me (and my booze) into their store and graciously host events with me. Just wait till the book is actually OUT! Lookout world!

Bel-Air Bellini, for providing us with bountiful bubbles all night long. It's safe to say we have converted all of Brooklyn into peach fizzy freaks! Not so hard when you've got an amazingly delicious product... ;)

Everyone who came out and supported. The fact that you all took the time out of your weekend to come and hang out with me means more than you can imagine. Thank you from the bottom of my Champagne-filled heart!

To my wonderful husband, my right-hand man, who took all these fab photos & helped produce this event, you are the best!

XO

And now, for some photos...

 

TONIGHT! Keep Calm and Drink Champagne Event

TONIGHT! Keep Calm and Drink Champagne Event

Why WOULDN'T I do another event to promote an unpublished book!? Come on down to The Bookmark Shoppe TONIGHT for a night of jazz, books and bellinis (sponsored by the fabu Bel-Air Bellini). I might even read a chapter out loud if I'm drunk enough!

@BelAirBellini
@TheBookmarkShoppe
@ChampagneDiet

Resolution for 2012: Live Your Most Effervescent Life!

Resolution for 2012: Live Your Most Effervescent Life!

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Photo courtesy of weheartit.com

I was never one for New Year's Eve. In my past life, as I like to call it, New Year's Eve was very sad for me. It was a time to look back and reflect on mistakes; where things went wrong. I thought about who or what I missed, and all the things I didn't get to do. That attitude was reflective of the way I felt about life in general, and it was pretty shitty.

As I've said before, I started living The Champagne Diet lifestyle by accident. I had gotten to the point where I was fed up. Things needed to change for me. I was not going to tolerate the negativity anymore. I wasn't going to tolerate it in my job, my relationships, my friendships, the way I felt about my body, or my eating habits.I was ready.

My first step was drinking Champagne (great way to start, huh?) But I was on a mission to find a low calorie drink that I could enjoy regularly, and bubbles were the perfect option for around 100 calories a glass. I was sold on that alone, but as soon as I really started drinking it, everything changed for me.

I fell in love with everything about Champagne. The sound of a fresh bottle opening was like poetry to me. The swift pop filled me with excitement, and pouring a glass was an experience in itself. Watching the gorgeous golden bubbles tower over my flute and finding a new reason to toast each time I drank it became a ritual. Drinking bubbles made me feel luxurious, beautiful and worthy. I wondered why people didn't drink Champagne all the time. Why were they saving this magical drink for New Year's Eve and birthdays? Why weren't they all indulging in something so wonderful every day? Weren't they worth it? And just like that, The Champagne Diet was born.

Champagne has truly become a metaphor for me. I have made it my priority to live my most effervescent life. To settle for nothing but the best. To truly live a Champagne life. To celebrate everything, no matter how small it may seem. To raise a glass each night and toast to something - anything. To me, life is best lived through rosé colored glasses.

I also found passion in sharing my "sparkling" new ways with all of you. The network we have built on Twitter and Facebook is remarkable to me. I remember when I launched this blog in 2009, I had no concept of where it would take me. I remember saying, "If I could change one person's way of thinking, my job would be done." Now, two years later, with press across the globe from Australia, to India, to the UK, to Italy, I think I may have done just that. There is nothing like touching someone else, and if I have touched any of you, I am eternally grateful for that. I want you all to live the sparkling, Champagne-filled lives you deserve.

Now, here we are, New Year's Eve 2011, and this holiday has become a true celebration for me. It's a chance to reflect back on all of the amazing things we have accomplished over the past 12 months, and really set our minds to achieve all of the goals in front of us in the coming year.It's a chance to learn from the mistakes, and celebrate what we've learned from them. It's a chance to be better.

I don't believe in traditional New Year's resolutions. I think we should make resolutions all year long, whenever we want to change. I don't believe in waiting until December 31st to decide you want to join a gym or stop eating carbs. But I do believe that you should think about the way you want to live your life in 2012. If there are things you want, go get them. You deserve them all. If there is negativity in your life, kick it to the damn curb. Fulfill yourself. Dream, and do. Don't be afraid to fall. Don't be scared of rejection. Only accept the best in your world. Live your most effervescent, Champagne life.

Go get it girls, it's all waiting for you.

With Love,

Cara