Read In Colour’s Comments (group member since Dec 14, 2010)

Read In Colour’s comments from the Colorful Chick Lit Challenge group.

The winners of The Frugalista Files are Kissalife (from the blog) and Literary Marie (from Goodreads)! Kathryne, I'd also like to offer you a copy for your great tip.

Remember ladies, I'm giving away a paperback copy and an e-reader copy. If you don't have an e-reader and would prefer a paperback, please let me know.

E-mail your snail mail and/or device e-mail address to me at lisa@reads4pleasure.com.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Kathryne wrote: "Here is a trick that I use to put away extra money. When I go grocery shopping, at the bottom of the receipt, the store always indicates how much you have saved by using the store rewards card. I..."

That's a wonderful idea. I've never even thought about that. I'm going to try that starting with my Walmart receipt from yesterday.

You can still share frugal tips though. Feel free!

Either here or the blog is fine.

If you've followed my blog this week, you've read about the book and the author, now it's time to get in on the fun. I'll be giving away two copies of The Frugalista Files; an electronic version for either the Nook or Kindle, and a hard copy. I'm fascinated, you say. How do I win? you ask. I'm so glad you asked.

There are two ways to win: 1) share a frugal tip that you use regularly to save money or 2) shelve elf a copy of The Frugalista Files, take a picture of it on its new shelf and email it to me at lisa@reads4pleasure.com.

What's shelve elving? Glad you asked that too. Shelf elves visit bookstores and mischievously re-shelve books. Sometimes it's a book that's been placed in what the elf believes is the wrong genre. Other times it's a book the elf believes should be front and center in the store instead of hidden in a corner no one ever visits.

So it's up to you. Share a tip or shelve elf and send a picture. One winner per category will be chosen. You have until 5:00 p.m. CST, Monday, January 17 to share your tips and pictures. Hop to it!

Disclaimer: Only members of this Goodreads group or followers of my blog are eligible to win.

It's like a grown up version of The Broke Diaries meets Sophie Kinsella! - Me

Yep, I said that. The whole time I was reading The Frugalista Files it reminded me of Angela Nissel's The Broke Diaries, but a more mature version. And author Natalie McNeal adds just the right amount of humor to dance along the periphery of Sophie Kinsella-dom. All in all, it's an unbeatable combination.

So what happens when a single thirtysomething wakes up one day and realizes that her debt is out of control? If she's smart, and our author is brilliant, she sizes up the situation and takes control of it. What started as a 28-day plan (props to the Frugalista for trying this in the shortest month of the year) to stop spending frivolously turned into a year long journey. Luckily for us, the Frugalista is also a journalist by trade and blogs about her adventures along the way.

What this is not: Your average financial planning guidebook.

What this is: A funny, truthful look at how spending a few dollars here and there can really add up and what you can do to stop spending and start saving.

My favorite tip: "Friends often have similar taste. Shake 'em down when they are moving and vulnerable."

What did you like about this book?
It wasn't preachy. I hate reading books about saving money that make me feel like I'm being lectured to by a stodgy codger in a smoke filled interrogation room. Instead, it was like getting a glimpse into a friend's diary and saying, "wow, I could totally do that!"

What didn't you like about this book?
Um, it ended. Yeah, yeah, I know I can I follow the author on Twitter @frugalista or visit her blog at thefrugalista.com, BUT the book was really entertaining.

What could the author do to improve this book?
A sequel? Another book about whatever moves her? Either is acceptable.

YA totally counts! Glad you're joining us.

Did you check out the bookshelf? I tried to add some from each category to give suggestions. I can't tell if everyone can see it though since I'm logged in as moderator.

Will start adding on Jan. 1! In the meantime, you should feel free to create your own book list as a way of tracking what you've read for the challenge.

I added some books to the bookshelf as a suggestion, but I'd love for people to share what they're reading.

The challenge will run from January 1 - December 31, 2011.

Paper, e-books and audio books are all acceptable.

What qualifies as colorful chick lit
- Written by women of color about women of color
- Humorous, snarky or laugh out loud
- A tinge of romance, but not so much that it resembles a Harlequin
- A happy ending
- It's rom/com on paper!
Participants should try to read books from all four categories: Indian, Latina, Asian & African-American

Levels of participation
- Novice: 4 to 7 books
- Amateur: 8 to 11 books
- Queen of Chick Lit: 12 or more books

I have to confess that before I started listening to audio books, I didn't think much of chick lit. However, I've thoroughly enjoyed listening to, and reading, it. So much so that I started wondering why there isn't more chick lit featuring women of color. Oh sure, occasionally authors will throw in a sidekick with a tinge of color, but mostly the stars of these adventures and their counterparts are lily white.

Then I thought, well maybe no one writes about women of color in this genre because they think there's not an audience for it. The response from readers when I review chick lit on my blog brings people out of the woodwork. So we're reading it and it doesn't necessarily have to be about us for us to enjoy it. That led me to research chick lit outside of the mainstream. And guess what? There's books aplenty! I've not read all of it yet, but I've found chick lit with Indian, Latina, Asian and African-American women. And they're not the sidekick. They're the star!