FEATURED AUTHOR: ZOE EFSTATHIOU

ABOUT THE BOOK

While sharing a bottle of wine with her flat mate after yet another bad date, Sophia advertises for her perfect man online. He must have a multi-million pound business, the face of Robert Pattinson and the body of Daniel Craig. He must have a fluffy cat and a massive penis. The profile is just a bit of fun, but what happens when a man who meets pretty much all the criteria actually replies? Has Sophia finally found her perfect man, or is he not quite as perfect as he seems? As she uncovers some dark and disturbing secrets, Sophia’s dream man turns out to be her worst nightmare. 

A romantic comedy set in London, Would Like To Meet . . . explores the weird and wonderful world of online dating. A light-hearted, fun and easy read, it will appeal to fans of Sophie Kinsella.



INTERVIEW WITH ZOE EFSTATHIOU

Zoe, what's your favorite thing about the writing process?
I love it when you have the seed of an idea for a book and the more you research and write, the more the idea develops and grows. It feels like the story takes on a life of its own—eventually it has twists and turns and layers that you could never have envisaged at the beginning. I find that process really exciting.

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
For me, the hardest aspect is the isolation. When I wrote Would Like To Meet . . .  I barely my saw family or friends for a month. I wrote four to five thousand words a day and I only really left the house to walk my dog (luckily, I had saved up enough money to take a month off work to do this). It know it sounds weird to be this isolated, but at the time I was so swept up in my idea that I didn’t care.

I’ve tried juggling real life and writing - writing 500 words here and there, but it doesn’t work for me. I can’t handle thinking about my everyday life while also trying to imagine a detailed imaginary world—it’s just too much for my brain!

I know what you mean. What books do you currently have published?
I recently self-published my romantic comedy novel, Would Like To Meet . . . which is about a woman who advertises for her absolute dream man online.

I tried online dating in 2015, and I often wondered what would happen if I just stopped beating around the bush about what I was looking for and spelled out exactly what I wanted in my ideal man. I never actually did it, but the idea inspired my novel. To her surprise, Sophia, my main character, gets a response from a man who meets all her incredibly picky criteria. She can’t figure out if she’s finally got lucky and met the man of her dreams, or if there’s a terrible catch.

My travel writing was published in 2014 by Bradt in, The Irresponsible Traveller: Tales of Scrapes and Narrow Escapes, a travel anthology which also features the work of Michael Palin, Ben Fogle, and Simon Calder.

Do you have any secret talents?
I’m a white belt with three yellow tabs in Judo. Yep, that’s right. Watch out!

Yikes! Is writing your dream job?
Absolutely. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was about 14—way before I knew how to write. As a kid, I used to love curling up with a good book. I love how books can transport you into another world, stretch your mind and change the way you see the world. At 14, I thought that was the coolest thing ever (I still do), and I decided I wanted to write books capable of entertaining other people the way my favorite books entertained me.


What is the worst job you’ve ever had? What did it teach you?
I’ve done lots of menial jobs, from making sandwiches in a sweaty kitchen to working eight hour non-stop shifts in a busy bar, but I don’t think they taught me anything particularly worthwhile (although, I do know how to pull a great pint of Guinness . . . ).

It may not sound like a job from hell, but my experience of running a beauty blog turned out to be my most valuable in terms of life lessons. I’m not particularly interested in beauty, but three or four years ago, I started a beauty blog because I thought I could make money through it. Even though I put quite a lot of effort into it, the blog never really took off. I think it came down to the fact that I wasn’t genuinely passionate about beauty, and people can sniff out a fake, even online. It also became a total drag to be working on something I didn’t really enjoy. I was making a bit of money and perhaps I could have persevered, but ultimately I realized that money is not enough of a motivator for me; I want to enjoy my daily life. I shut down the blog and decided to focus on my true passion instead: writing.

Do you have any marketing tips you could pass on to indie authors?

Use Instagram! Before I self-published, I hadn’t really bothered with Instagram, but the book community on Instagram is amazing. There are so many nice, supportive people. I’ve had book bloggers contact me and ask to review my book, and it’s also really encouraging when people ‘like’ quotes that you post from your novel.


Name one thing you’re really good at and one thing you’re really bad at.
I’m really good at coming up with crazy get-rich-quick business ideas. I have a new one practically every week. For example, I live in Greenwich, in London, and a few years ago it occurred to me that even though there’s a big park and lots of dog owners, no one was selling dog jumpers. So naturally, I decided to bulk buy them from China and sell them at the Greenwich Market. In the end, I got commissioned to do some writing work and didn’t have time to sell the dog jumpers so now every spare drawer and cupboard in my flat is stuffed full of them! At least I know my dog, Bella, will never be cold again! (Email me if you want to buy one!)

I’m really bad at public speaking. I don’t know what it is about speaking in front of a crowd, but I find it terrifying. And when I say crowd, I mean anything more than about five people at once.

What would you name your autobiography?
FML. I am a magnet for embarrassing, awkward moments and silly dramas, so FML would be a suitable name for my autobiography.

What’s one thing that drives you crazy?
People who walk slowly in the street or have no spatial awareness and take up the entire pavement. I see red!

What’s your favorite/most visited Internet site?
These days, it’s Amazon and my author account. I keep obsessively checking my sales figures every half an hour. I check them last thing at night and first thing in the morning. It’s not healthy and I’m trying to cut back!

Sadly, I think it's a writer affliction. 
What is the wallpaper on your computer’s desktop?
At the moment, it’s my dog, Bella, but for a while it was Robert Pattinson. I think he’s so good-looking, to the point that he inspired me to come up with the character of Daniel in, Would Like To Meet . . .

If you had to choose a cliché about life, what would it be?
You create your own luck. I don’t believe in asking the universe for anything. I believe that the harder you work and the more you learn, the ‘luckier’ you get.

What are you working on now?
In a couple of weeks, I’m going to throw myself into writing my next romantic comedy novel. Although I’m really excited about my new idea, I’m also a bit nervous about getting started, because I know it will take over my life!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zoe Efstathiou is a freelance writer living in London. Would Like To Meet . . . is her first novel. Although it is a work of fiction, it is richly inspired by Zoe’s personal experiences of the London dating scene.



Zoe has previously been published by travel publishers, Bradt in, The Irresponsible Traveller: Tales of Scrapes and Narrow Escapes.
When she is not writing, Zoe enjoys going to the theatre, walking her dog, and making jewelry.




Connect with Zoe:

Website  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads 
Buy the book:
Amazon

Featured Author: Lisa Becker

Lisa Becker is the author of the chick lit Click series, which includes Click: An Online Love Story, Double Click, and Right Click. Lisa was here in January 2013, when she braved my 20 Questions and shared an excerpt from book one. In April 2013, not only did she sit down for an interview with me, she also shared a talk she had with her main character Shelley Manning, and she brought an excerpt from Double Click. I'm happy to have Lisa back today with the third and final installment of the Click series.

About the book:

Love. Marriage.  Infidelity. Parenthood. Crises of identity. Death. Cupcakes. The themes in Right Click, the third and final installment in the Click series, couldn't be more pressing for this group of friends as they navigate through their 30's. Another six months have passed since we last eavesdropped on the hilarious, poignant and often times inappropriate email adventures of Renee and friends. As the light-hearted, slice of life story continues to unfold, relationships are tested and some need to be set "right" before everyone can find their "happily ever after."

Click: An Online Love Story Book Trailer

Interview with Lisa Becker

Lisa, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I remember writing short stories and poems as a little girl and always told myself I would write a book someday.  So, it was incredibly gratifying to see a “bucket list” item/dream come true when Click: An Online Love Story came out in 2011. The feedback has been tremendous, so much so, that I’ve turned it into a trilogy which includes Double Click, released in 2013, and Right Click, which just came out in May 2014. 

What’s the story behind the title of your books?

I liked the double meaning of click – both “clicking” a mouse while using a computer for online dating and “clicking” or making a special connection with someone. 

Do you have another job outside of writing?

I’m fortunate to have had a series of wonderful careers outside of writing including being a wife, mom, PR professional, college professor, community volunteer and Girl Scout troop leader. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment around here.

How did you create the plot for this book?

My husband and I met online on a popular dating website. After we married, I was recalling some of the hilarious experiences that I had with both traditional and online dating. I decided to capture some of them in writing and from there, a novel emerged. The books are loosely based on my real-life dating experiences, as well as stories friends have shared with me. In some cases, things are written as they actually occurred. Other scenarios are exaggerated for entertainment value or comedic affect. And some scenarios are completely fictionalized. I really did go out on a date with someone I met online who started every story (no joke!) with “My buddies and I were out drinking last night.”  The ultimate goal was to create a fun read for anyone who has ever had a bad date, been in love, been dumped, or is searching for "the one." But, the happy ending is real. Steve and I have been happily married for more than 10 years and have two amazing daughters - ages 9 and 7.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?  Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

I most readily identify with Renee. She and I share a lot of qualities including a self-depreciating sense of humor, fear of flying, motivation in our PR careers and love of baking. Mark is loosely based on a friend who encouraged me to try online dating. He’s a terrific guy who is still himself searching for “the one.” So if you know any nice single girls, let me know. But my favorite character is Shelley. She’s confident, brash, outrageous and wholly unapologetic for her choices. She was so fun to write. Her hilarious habit of giving nicknames to her “man du jour” was inspired by a childhood friend of mine who had a nickname for a guy in college that she admired from across the dorm cafeteria.  She called him Maverick because he looked like Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Much like Shelley, she is a self-confident, gorgeous, lovely gal and it wasn't long before they met and dated for a spell. 

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

I just finished the independently-published book Ripple by L.D. Cedergreen. She is a friend, and her son goes to school with my daughter. It’s a wonderful love story about difficult choices and the consequences they create. 

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I sit in my home office at an HP desktop computer with a really big screen. My eyes grow tired pretty easily in my old age;) And I like to write with the television on in the background. When I first started writing, I was obsessed with Law & Order reruns.  Now, I can’t seem to get enough of NCIS. I guess there’s a part of me that likes to see justice served. 

If you were leaving the country for a year, what’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?

I’ve had this question before and honestly, if I could only have three foods for the rest of my life, I’m confident I could survive on macaroni & cheese, carrot sticks and chocolate pudding. 

Why did you decide to self-publish?  Are you happy with your decision?

Don’t write off (HA! Like the pun?!?) self-publishing. I explored the traditional publishing route and got feedback from multiple literary agents. One in particular explained the current economic state of the publishing industry to me. Due to the large investment to edit, produce, distribute, and market a work by an unknown author, many large publishers won’t take the risk. Self-publishing is a way to get your work out there.

I'm also reminded of some advice I was once given. I had interviewed Charles Rosen, one of the producers of the original Beverly Hills 90210, for an alumni magazine article while I was in graduate school. And I'll never forget what he told me: "Don't fall in love with your words, because somebody above will probably change them." One of the great benefits of self-publishing is that you can really take control of the process.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“So shines a good deed in a weary world.”  -Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

What’s your favorite candy bar?

I’ve been known to hide candy bars all over the house and my office, so I’ve been known to sneak a Snickers or two among others. 

Snickers with almonds? They're the best! What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I live in a part of Los Angeles County called Manhattan Beach, less than two miles from the ocean. I love walking along the strand, looking out over the ocean, searching for dolphins and playing in the sand with my girls. 

What are you working on now?

Like most everyone else in Los Angeles, I’ve decided to try my hand at screenwriting. I’m nearly finished with my first script called Clutch. It’s a light romantic comedy about a young single handbag designer in Los Angeles who has a series of relationships that she equates to different style handbags, searching for “the one” she wants to hold onto or “clutch.” I hope it is coming to a theatre near you soon. 

More about the Click Series

Click: An Online Love Story -Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of Click: An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds entirely through emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with "My buddies and I were out drinking one night," to the egotistical “B” celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee wades into the shallow end of the dating (cess)pool and endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC's, FWD's and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers will cheer, laugh, cry and cringe following the email exploits of Renee and friends. And ultimately, they will root for Renee to "click" with the right man.



Double Click - Fans of the romantic hit Click: An Online Love Story will enjoy another voyeuristic dive into the lives of Renee, Shelley, Ashley, Mark and Ethan, as Double Click picks up with their lives six months later. Are Renee and Ethan soul mates? Does Mark ever go on a date? Has Shelley run out of sexual conquests in Los Angeles? Will Ashley's judgmental nature sabotage her budding relationship? Through a marriage proposal, wedding, new baby and unexpected love twist, Double Click answers these questions and more. Readers will continue to cheer, laugh, cry and cringe following the email exploits of Renee and friends.

About the author:

Lisa Becker had endured her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates, many of which inspired Click: An Online Love Story, Double Click, and Right Click.  She is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for you!

Connect with Lisa:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Featured Author: Lisa Becker

Some of you may remember reading my Twenty Questions interview with Lisa Becker and an excerpt of her debut novel, Click: An Online Love Story, on this blog in January of this year. Lisa has just published the sequel to that novel, titled Double Click, and I'm pleased to have her back for an interview. Lisa also let me sit down with main character Shelley Manning, and she's treating us to an excerpt from this newest book. So grab some sweet tea and settle in for two interviews and an excerpt.

Double Click is a sequel to Click: An Online Love Story, the modern epistolary novel that book bloggers and reviewers called hilarious, clever, and full of fun. 

In the first book, fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene reluctantly joined her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolded entirely through emails between Renee and her best friends as well as the gentlemen suitors she met online. Fraught with BCC's, FWD's, and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers rooted for Renee to "click" with the right man. 

Double Click, which follows the same all-email format, picks up with the same main characters six months after the original books ends. If the first book was about Renee’s search for love online, this book is about whether she and her friends have all found their “HEA” or “happily ever after.” Through a marriage proposal, wedding, new baby and unexpected love twist, Double Click allows readers to cheer, laugh, cry, and cringe following the email exploits of Renee and friends. 

Interview with Lisa Becker

How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I started writing Click: An Online Love Story after my husband and I married but before we had kids. Then I had to take a break from writing due to the rigors of motherhood. But I had always told myself – even as a little girl – that I would write a book one day. So I made the commitment to finish the book. I wrote in the mornings while the girls were at school or at night after they went to sleep. I made it a goal to write – even if only for a half hour – every day. Based on the positive reader response to the book, I started work on the sequel, Double Click. 

How did you come up with the title of your book?

I liked the double meaning of click – both “clicking” a mouse while using a computer for online dating and “clicking” or making a special connection with someone. 

Do you have another job outside of writing?

I’m fortunate to have had a series of wonderful careers outside of writing including being a wife, mom, PR professional, college professor, volunteer, and Girl Scout troop leader.  But I’ve always wanted to learn to professionally decorate cakes. Not only does it look fun, but really yummy!

How did you create the plot for this book?

My husband and I met online on a popular dating website. After we married, I was recalling some of the hilarious experiences that I had with both traditional and online dating. I decided to capture some of them in writing and from there, a novel emerged. Click: An Online Love Story is loosely based on my real-life dating experiences, as well as stories friends have shared with me. In some cases, things are written as they actually occurred.  Other scenarios are exaggerated for entertainment value or comedic affect. And some scenarios are completely fictionalized. I really did go out on a date with someone I met online who started every story (no joke!) with “My buddies and I were out drinking last night.” But the happy ending is real. Steve and I have been happily married for nearly 10 years and have two amazing daughters.

Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for.
Years ago, I read a book called e by Matthew Beaumont, which tells the story of a fictitious ad agency vying for a big account, with the story all told in emails. I laughed out loud (on an airplane, no less) reading e. I highly recommend it!  I thought that narrative style would work really well for the story I wanted to tell about the online dating world.  It was a modern way of storytelling that fit the topic and the times. 

Sophie’s choice: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

I most identify with Renee. Her online dating profile is almost identical to the one I had when I met my husband. But my favorite character is Shelley. She’s confident, brash, outrageous and wholly unapologetic for her choices. Although she and I are as different as can be, she was so fun to write. Her hilarious habit of giving nicknames to her “man du jour” was inspired by a childhood friend of mine who had a nickname for a guy in college that she admired from across the dorm cafeteria. She called him Maverick because he looked like Tom Cruise in Top Gun.  Much like Shelley, she is a self-confident, gorgeous, lovely gal, and it wasn't long before they met and dated for a spell. 

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

I love the interaction between Renee and her two best girlfriends, Shelley and Ashley, who don’t always get along with one another. Their differing styles of support, friendship, and dating have a hilarious impact on Renee. It was fun to write their email exchanges and imagine their rapid fire responses. In my opinion, there’s nothing like having a group of close friends who can support you when things get tough, laugh with you when things get ridiculous, console you when you’re down, and cajole you into doing things that they can see are good for you, but you are reluctant to embrace.
 
Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning? 

I sit in my home office at an HP desktop computer with a really big screen. My eyes grow tired pretty easily in my old age ;) And I like to write with the television on in the background. When I first started writing, I was obsessed with Law & Order reruns. Now, I can’t seem to get enough of NCIS. I guess there’s a part of me that likes to see justice served. 

Do you ever get writer’s block? What do you do when it happens?

Chocolate! No joke, I eat chocolate. If I’m stuck on a certain section or not feeling motivated to write, I give myself little chocolate incentives to get past the blockage.  Judging by my thighs, I had some serious problems writing this book. ;)

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

Based on my response above, it should come as little surprise that my favorite quote is from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It’s from the end of the movie when Charlie decides not to give evil Slugworth his everlasting gobstopper and instead returns it to Mr. Wonka, even though he feels he was cheated out of a lifetime supply of chocolate. As he leaves the candy, Mr. Wonka covers it with his hand and says, “So shines a good deed in a weary world.” It’s a beautiful moment that makes me tear up every time. 

Lisa, it's been fun talking to you. Can I have a few minutes alone with Shelley? I have a feeling she'll give us some real dirt!

Interview with Lisa Becker's Shelley Manning

Shelley Manning is a confident, sometimes brash tell-it-like-it-is gal with three missions in life: (1) recruit top talent for the evil corporate trolls she works for; (2) recruit top talent for her active social life and; (3) give her best friend Renee the boost she needs to be her very best. 

What's the best pick up line you’ve ever used?

Oh sweetie, I don't use – or need – pick-up lines.

What's the best and worst pick-up line used on you?

Well, that’s a whole ‘nother story. I have heard plenty of them over the years from “Do you believe in love at first sight? Or, "Should I walk by again?” to “Do I know you, because you look a lot like my next girlfriend?”

To be honest, I’m not a big fan. But I certainly don’t mind being complimented. Trust me, even the waiter who calls me “Miss” gets a MUCH better tip than the one who calls me “Ma’am.”

What's the first thing you notice about a guy?

I’m all about a sparkling personality and strong sense of humor. HA! Couldn’t even say that with a straight face. When it comes to the first thing I notice, I’m as superficial as they come - and damn proud of it. Nothing beats a striking set of eyes or bulging biceps to get me going. 

What dating advice would you give?

I just read a great slogan on Facebook, of all places, which I think applies well to dating: “Don’t worry about people talking behind your back because it just means that you are one step ahead of them and they are facing exactly in the right direction to kiss your ass.” 

Seriously, don’t worry about what other people think. Just do what feels good. That’s my motto and believe me, I feel great. 

What dating advice hasn't worked?

When I was 13, my friend’s older sister was reading a new book that had come out and was all the rage called The Rules. It was supposed to change the way men and women relate to each other in dating and was basically about how to snag a husband by not calling a guy back, wearing lots of make-up, and letting him take the lead. My friend and I “borrowed” the book and decided to put those “rules” into practice. Let’s just say when you play hard to get in junior high, you get a reputation as a prude. And that's certainly not how I viewed myself. So, I decided right then and there if I wanted something – or someone – I would go after it. And I won't apologize for it. I seem to be doing something right because I'm loving my fun-filled life.

Is there anyone special in your life right now? 

They’re all special in one way or another. And finding their hidden talents is what makes my life so much fun. 

Like your best friend, have you tried online dating?

As I recall, I joked to Renee that I wouldn’t mind reviewing, chatting with, judging and mocking a whole host of men while looking busy at my desk. But honestly, it’s not for me.  It’s a great idea for her. She needed a gentle but oh-so-swift kick in the ass to get back into the dating scene after that bastard Derek broke her heart. (What a fool! He will never meet anyone better than her.) But, Renee is looking for a relationship and that’s why you date. I’m just looking for a good time and contrary to all of the porn sites online, you don’t need the Internet for that. 

If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

It all starts with a late lunch at Gladstone’s in Malibu complete with Mojitos and raw oysters on the half shell. (Nothing like an aphrodisiac to get things going.) After a long lunch, my companion and I would drive down the coast back to my place where we engage in some – Wait!  Will any minors have access to this interview? – let’s just call it “adult fun.”  In the early morning, after we’ve had our “fun,” he leaves without any drama, commitments or regrets.  

Other than cuddling, are there any other dating deal breakers?

Smoking (except the occasional cigar, which can be kind of sexy). Cigarette smoking is a nasty habit. Not only does it stink and result in cancer, it causes wrinkles. Wrinkles!

Just between you and me, is there anything going on with you and Mark Finlay?


Finlay?!? Our drunken Valentine's Day hookup is probably one of my most embarrassing moments, which is really saying a lot. If you haven't guessed by now, I've had my fair share of moments where I've been (literally!) caught with my pants down. 

Excerpt from Double Click

From:  Renee Greene – August 22, 2012 – 9:25 AM
To:  Shelley Manning
Subject: Should I be worried?

Are you feeling okay?  You don’t have a terminal illness that I, as you very best friend, should be aware of, do you?
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Shelley Manning – August 22, 2012 – 9:27 AM
To:  Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

No, I’m not dying.  Why do you ask?
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Renee Greene – August 22, 2012 – 9:34 AM
To:  Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

You just don’t seem like yourself.  That really good looking guy at Flint’s happy hour was totally into you and you…well…you didn’t even really give him a second look.  That’s so out of character for you that I’m just wondering if you are okay.
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Shelley Manning – August 22, 2012 – 9:37 AM
To:  Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?
Goodness, girl!  I can’t take a night off of being aroused without arousing suspicion?
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Renee Greene – August 22, 2012 – 9:42 AM
To:  Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

Ha!  That was funny!

But seriously, you just haven’t seemed your “normal,” make-me-“Greene”-with-envy self for quite a while now and I wanted to make sure you were okay.
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Shelley Manning – August 22, 2012 – 9:47 AM
To:  Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

I’m fine, Sweetie.  And if you haven’t noticed, you don’t need to be – as you’ve joked about it – “Greene” with envy.  You’ve got a great guy.
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Renee Greene – August 22, 2012 – 9:48 AM
To:  Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

Are you bothered that you don’t have a great guy? 
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Shelley Manning – August 22, 2012 – 9:54 AM
To:  Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

My, oh my.  These emails are becoming so serious.  I just didn’t feel like hooking up last night.  Don’t make it into something bigger than it is. 
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Renee Greene – August 22, 2012 – 9:59 AM
To:  Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

Okay, okay.  But really, we are getting older.  Maybe you are thinking that you want to find that someone special.  Maybe you’ve already found that someone special and it scares you?
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Shelley Manning – August 22, 2012 – 10:04 AM
To:  Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

Oh, Sweetie.  The beauty of life (and me, for that matter), is that it doesn’t matter how old you are.  You can still be as immature as you want to be. 
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Renee Greene – August 22, 2012 – 10:05 AM
To:  Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

Come on!  I’m being serious!
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Shelley Manning – August 22, 2012 – 10:07 AM
To:  Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

Renee Michele Greene!  If this is another veiled attempt to get me to admit (not that I’m admitting anything!) that I have feeling for Finlay, well, I’m going to scream.  But this is email.  So I will just have to type in ALL CAPS.  Again, I DO NOT LIKE FINLAY!
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Renee Greene – August 22, 2012 – 10:09 AM
To:  Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?
I hear (read) you.  I hear (read) you.  I will drop the subject.  Just glad to know you aren’t dying. 
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Shelley Manning – August 22, 2012 – 10:10 AM
To:  Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

Just dying to stop having this conversation. 
____________________________________________________________________________

From:  Renee Greene – August 22, 2012 – 10:12 AM
To:  Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Should I be worried?

Message received! But thanks for bringing some levity back to things.  I’d better get back to work.  Talk with you later.
____________________________________________________________________________

About the author:

Lisa Becker had endured her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates, many of which inspired Click: An Online Love Story and Double Click. She is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for you!

Connect with Lisa:
Facebook / Amazon