Bits n' Pieces - Lauren Mechling

Lauren Mechling is the author of the novel, Dream Girl, which has one of the coolest covers and layout I've seen in quite a while. How could you not like that cute font and the scattered pink roses? You can read my review of Dream Girl here. Lauren is a very sweet author and I'm definitely looking forward to any upcoming books of hers! Enjoy the interview!

This or that:
Rain or shine? 

shine!
iPod or mp3 player? 

iPod. im bad at techy stuff so i need it to be as easy as can be.
Movies or TV? 

TV shows on DVD.
City or country? 

City, preferably one in France that rhymes with "Ferris."
Mountains or beaches? 

Mountains, I guess? Beaches make me break out in freckles.
Dots or stripes? 

Stripes, except the jail-y ones.
Dogs or cats? 

Dogs. One day I will own one and he will be called Saul.
Cooking or eating out? 

Cooking weird hippie foods that my friends pretend to like.
Coffee or tea? 

Two cups of coffee, before anything.
Books or magazines? 

Books.

Favorites:
Book-

toss up between Harriet the Spy and anything by Barbara Pym.
Book store-

Book Court in Brooklyn, which is only about to get better when they get their new kids section up and running.
Movie-

Sixteen Candles and The Heartbreak Kid (the original version!)
Music artist-

Otis Redding
Website-

www.elifbatuman.net
Designer-

Lanvin
Coffee chain-

Tim Horton's
Guilty pleasure-

bad women's magazines (I know, I said I prefer books, but I'm a very complicated gal)
Restaurant-

vinnie's of carroll gardens
Color-

dove grey

Have you ever:
Lived abroad? 

yes--best mistake of my life
Gotten a tattoo? 

no, i cant get the picture of an inky 90-year-old me out of my head whenever i contemplate it.
Stayed up for the midnight release of a movie or book? 

no, im a dork, but im also a morning bird
Disliked your job? 

i was once an assistant to a mean newspaper gossip columnist. need I say more?
Cried during a movie? 

Yes.
Sang karaoke? 

It was a rap, Does that count?

Questions:
If you were on a desert island, what 5 things would you bring with you?
the Lulu Dark book that comes in a waterproof cover, Julia Child's "Mastering The Art of French Cooking" volumes 1 and 2, a pink paper umbrella to stick in whatever I end up drinking, water wings
What's on the list of things you have to do during your life?
Learn how to cook without needing a recipe.
If you could have one super power what would it be?
Id like to be Never-Awkward-Girl, coming soon to a cocktail party near you!
What's your perfect music playlist?
I just listen to the MIT radio station every morning from 8-10.
What's the one food you could eat day after day and not get sick of?
indian food: saag paneer and nan
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I'd like to go to New Zealand and learn how to surf.
What moment in history do you wish you could've experienced?
id enjoy a day of being useless at king louis xiv's court at versailles
What does your dream library look like?
king louis xiv's court at versailles, but with books by my favorite authors that I never knew existed strewn amongst the furniture.
When you walk into a bookstore, where do you head first?
i like to check out the staff picks and read the notes, especially those by Arthur at Book Court.
If everyone had to read one book, what would you have it be?
As if there's any question. Dream Girl!
Second up: Emily Post's guide to etiquette.

Thank you so much Lauren! 

Want to win a signed copy of Dream Girl? Leave a comment on this post to be entered. Comment on my review of Dream Girl for an extra entry.

Authors; want to be featured in a Bits 'n Pieces interview? Email me at livsbookreviews@yahoo.com and we'll make it happen.

EDIT: The winner of a copy of Freefall is Meredith. Congrats! Sorry for not posting that at first. Meredith, if you could get me your email address that would be great.