Don't forget to enter to win!

Don't you want us to take you to lunch????

You still have till 11:59pm on July 1 to get your entries in, and no limit to number of entries, so click over HERE to get the fine print, and ENTER TO WIN!  Already entered?  Enter again.  I promise it is much better odds than the lottery.

In other news, I am so honored that Jennifer Weiner included Off the Menu in her list of recommended summer reads.  Check out her post, and I encourage you to buy some of these other amazing authors as well.  She also has a very cool contest running herself where you can win her for your book club.  And it goes without saying that if you haven't picked up your copy of Jen Lancaster's Jeneration X yet, GET ON IT! 

It is her best one yet, and I don't just say that because I am in it.  It is actually a very cool companion piece to Off the Menu, because we were writing about the same time period, me in fiction (inspired by life) and Jen in memoir (taken directly from life) and when you read them together you get some really interesting parallels!

And if you are in the Chicagoland area, I have some fantastic events coming up, including one with both Jen's and the bonus of Sarah Pekkanen, and one with my new pal Eleanor Brown.  CLICK HERE for all the dates and info.

I'm taking a little time off to relax before all the book excitement kicks in, I'll be back briefly on the 3rd to announce the winner of the lunch tour, and then we'll get going on some fabulous new posts....I've got some very cool new products to recommend, some awesome giveaways, and my own summer reading recommendations!  Stay tuned....and GO BUY MY NEW BOOK RIGHT NOW.  I mean it.  Seriously.  Buy several. 

Yours in Good Taste,
The Polymath

So much wonderfulness

I will never tire of looking at this cover.

Hello Chickens!  Thanks to all of you who came out last weekend to Printer's Row to see me and the fabulous Sarah Pekkanen, Lauren Fox, and Ann Bauer.  We all had a great time!

There are only two weeks left to enter to win lunch with me and Jen Lancaster in your hometown...don't let this rare opportunity pass you by, check out the Stennifer Lunch Tour Contest today!

In other fun contest news, Jennifer Weiner is doing an equally exciting pre-order contest of her own...get your girls in gear and enter to win Jen at your book club!  Jen's new book, The Next Best Thing hits stores the same day as Off the Menu, which as far as I am concerned is the best possible company to be in. 

Get the deets on this fab contest over at Jen's Blog.  If you enter both my contest and hers, not only do you have some terrific reading to kick off your summer, you could see both of us in the near future!

Want to see a bucket of happy?

 Stennifer with Jen W. and our pal Rennie at the People Magazine BEA party.  Hot funny broads in black, taking over NYC.  This was just before Stennifer had to scamper to the loo with a view...

Okay, while there is something sort of weirdly wonderful about that particular view while one is having a tinkle, there is something totally not wonderful about struggling back into one's Spanx while afraid of both being seen by office workers across the way, or accidentally putting a large butt print on the glass.  Hypothetically.

In other news, I can now confirm that my publisher has signed me for TWO MORE BOOKS!  This is as close to job security as a writer like me can hope for, two years of guaranteed employment.  It also is a little nervewracking since now it is especially important that Off the Menu does well.  (Have I mentioned recently that you might want to PRE-ORDER?  Just checking.)

And I am almost over the head cold I brought back from New York, so stay tuned...

Stacey





Save the Dates

Hello Chickens!

Have you entered the Stennifer Lunch Tour Contest yet???  Well, I shall wait.  Four ways to enter, unlimited entries per person, one lucky winner and their bestie gets lunch with me and Jen Lancaster.  Go ahead...

Now, some exciting events coming up.  I hope to see your smiling faces!

Saturday June 9

Printer’s Row Lit Fest

11:15 AM to 12:00 PM
Panel discussion: Stacey Ballis, Sara Pekkanen, Lauren Fox and Ann Bauer moderated by Mairead Case
Location: University Center/Park Fountain Room

SPECIAL NOTE:  My publisher has made arrangements for there to be finished copies at this event for sale and signing, even though they won’t be available to the public till July 3.  These purchases WILL COUNT for the Stennifer Contest, you just have to scan and e-mail me a copy of your receipt, or copy it and mail it to me based on the contest rules.

Tuesday July 10

The Book Stall at Chestnut Court
811 Elm Street, Winnetka, IL
Reading/Signing
7pm

Thursday July 12

The Book Cellar
4736 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
Reading and Signing with the incredible Eleanor Brown, author of The Weird Sisters
7pm

Friday July 13

Lake Zurich Middle School South
435 W. Cuba Road
Lake Zurich, IL

Reading and Signing with Jennifer Lancaster, Sarah Pekkanan and Jennifer Weiner
7:00 pm

CLICK HERE for tickets

Tuesday July 17

TipsyCake
1944 N. Damen, Chicago
Reading/signing and food event
7pm

Thursday July 19

Flavour Cooking School
7401 W. Madison, Forest Park, IL
Reading/signing event with cooking demo
7pm

Adore you all,

Stacey