LAUREN BARNHOLDT nyone who loves Reality TV enough to base a book on it is my kind of girl. Lauren Barnholdt (LB), author of Reality Chick, is hanging in the clique lounge (TCL) with us today. And she's all ready to answer, 10 Questions That Rock! Lauren, you're on... TCL: The readers are lapping up Reality Chick so fast that your publisher bans you to Writer Exile Island—write, write, write all day and all night until you turn out enough books to meet reader demand. You can only take your lap top and ONE thing for inspiration. What would it be? LB: I'm supposed to say something like, "my journal", right? Something that's kind of deep and writerly? But I think, honestly, I'd forget inspiration and take something fun, like the DVD set of Newlyweds. Or my cell phone! I just got a new one that's like one of those fancy Sidekick-type things. TCL: What song is on total repeat mode in your music player? LB: Right now it's Sexyback by Justin Timberlake. I can't get it out of my head—and it doesn't hurt that JT is so hot. TCL: Some celebs are getting so thin they're about to disappear. Thank goodness my foundation, Feed A Celeb, is there to help. Which celeb would you like to adopt and help fatten up? LB: Kiera Knightley! I think she's so pretty, but way, wayyy too skinny. TCL: The type of spices you use to cook can say a lot about you. Using salt and pepper to cook is so last millennium. I'm Rosemary—tiny but packing lots of flavor. What spice are you? LB: I'm definitely Posh Spice. My agent gets mad at me when I take three suitcases and seven pairs of shoes to conferences. TCL: Word association time. LB: Does it have to be just one word? I don't know if I can do just one word...how about a phrase? Or, like, half a sentence? TCL: Quick, what do you think when I say: America's Next Top Model—Scandalous MTV —Addictive Nick and Jessica —Should Have Stayed Together Reality TV —LOVE IT TCL: Pick one: Yoga, Pilates or Hip-Hop dance class? LB: Hip-Hop dance class, although I'm a horrible dancer. I try to limit my dancing to when I'm alone in my room, pretending to be Christina Aguilera. TCL: Syracuse University was one of my top 3 college choices. And you're a fan of the Orangemen—what a coincidence. BTW, my fave Orangemen is Carmello Anthony. Mmm!!! But I'm a die hard Miami Hurricanes fan (so you know I loved that The U was featured in Reality Chick). In a 'Canes vs. 'Cuse battle of the jocks, who wins in: LB: Football —'Canes LB: Basketball—'Cuse LB: Lacrosse—'Cuse TCL: In Reality Chick, your MC, Ally Cavanaugh, is in a long-distance relationship. So are you for LDR's or against them? Ever been in one? LB: I'm for them. They can be hard, but I've been in a really great long-distance relationship. I think it just means you have to love the person that much more, and try that much harder. But if you can make it work, I think they're okay. TCL: Shameless Self-Promotion (SSP)—Readers should go cop Reality Chick because... LB: it's really funny. And it has a pink cover. And once you read it, you can email me to tell me how much you loved it and/or friend me on myspace, which will distract me from the things I'm supposed to be doing, like writing other books. And I love to be distracted. TCL: Last question, which three books would you take to Writer's Exile Island with you? LB: 1. The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger 2. On Writing by Stephen King 3. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis Thanks for kicking it with us, Lauren! * * * Hey, cliquesters, go grab your copy of Reality Chick. P has read it and it's fun and funny. Plus, Lauren's a cool chick down with the clique. What more can you ask for in an author?