Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Hot Mess
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 7/6/1986
WEBSITE: http://www.emilybelden.com/
CITY: Chicago
STATE: IL
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
http://www.emilybelden.com/blog/
RESEARCHER NOTES: Life lessons–Pandamoon Pub according to world cat–DP
PERSONAL
Born July 6, 1986.
EDUCATION:Graduate of Creighton University.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, journalist, and social media marketer. Worked as a copywriter and at advertising agencies in Chicago, IL.
WRITINGS
Also author of Blog—Emily Belden.
Eightysixed is being adapted as a comedy series by SoCal studio.
SIDELIGHTS
Emily Belden, who studied journalism in college, knew she wanted to be a writer from a very young age. “Ever since I was really little, I would write really creative letters to Santa and the Tooth Fairy,” Belden noted in an interview for the Elana Lyn website, adding: “I’d also write persuasive essays to my parents when I wanted a new toy or to go on vacation. Instead of coloring or playing house, I’d write short stories about the wildest things. So writing has been my identity for as long as I can remember.”
Eightysixed
Belden started writing and started posting some of her writings about her post-college life on a blog. She eventually acquired enough material to turn her writings into her first book, a memoir titled Eightysixed: Life Lessons Learned. Belden noted in the Elana Lyn website interview that she had “reached a critical mass where I found myself saying … this could be a movie. Or this could be a book. Since they were all chronological, it wasn’t hard to turn them into chapters and eventually compile a full-length manuscript.”
In Eightysixed Belden writes about her life as a single woman living in Chicago and the lessons she has learned along the way. Much of the memoir revolves around Belden pondering what to do with her life, especially as it pertains to her love life. Hopelessly romantic, Belden has just emerged from a failed relationship. Emily continues her pursuit of wanting it all and begins dating again. Meanwhile, she is seeing a therapist as she enters the dating world and encounters a wide range of questionable people, from drug addicts and perverts to pimps and embezzlers. “She makes her way through a few more would-be suitors trying to pick men up in bars, through friends and finally on the Internet,” wrote Chicago Literati website contributor Ansel Burch.
At a certain point, however, Belden begins to question if she can ever really find happiness outside of a good bottle of wine. Then she meets Floris Versluijs, a Dutch chef, as they both try to hail a taxi. Versluijs takes Belden to some of Chicago’s best restaurants while he is in the city to study. The romance ends up being brief, as Vesluijs returns home. Nevertheless, Belden realizes that she has reached a new stage in her life. Furthermore, blog posts about her relationship with Vesluijs end up going viral and even land her a job.
“Emily tells her story in a rather frank and candid way,” wrote Xan Garcia in a review for Voda Online. Chicago Literati website contributor Burch called Eightysixed “cute and honest which is really all one can ask for in the memoir of a twentysomething trying to make her way in the big city.”
Hot Mess
In her debut novel, Hot Mess, Belden tells the story of Allie Simon, a twentysomething who ends up in a relationship with Benji Zane. Benji is a culinary master who may be successful and handsome but also has more than his share of demons and a reckless desire for life on the edge. Considering Belden’s own relationship with a chef, she told a Chicago Ambassador website contributor: “I think that there’s a lot of autobiographical elements in the first third of the book,” adding later about her real-life relationship: “I was sort of the woman behind the man when we dated so I could pick up on a lot of what that was like and use it with Allie, especially being someone who didn’t come from the food world and didn’t know how to cook. It made her evolution very authentic.”
In Hot Mess, Allie is a person who always seems to play by the rules. So when she starts dating Benji, she is initially pleased to find that he has left his hard partying lifestyle largely behind him. Benji makes Allie feel great, both as a person and in bed. However, she does see signs that perhaps he is not completely reformed. Nevertheless, when Benji gets the opportunity to establish a high-profile restaurant on Chicago’s trendy Randolph Street, Allie agrees to take her $30,000 life savings to help Benji get his start. Then Benji disappears, seemingly relapsed into his former life and leaving Allie in the lurch. The restaurant is scheduled to open in a couple of weeks, and Allie must take some action unless she wants to see no return on her investment. She quits her social media manager job and enters the fast-paced world of the restaurant business. Fortunately, the restaurant’s general manager, Angela Blackstone, is a long-time restaurant veteran and helps Allie move forward. Meanwhile, Allie decides to keep Benji’s disappearance a secret.
“Full of heart, heat, and passion, this restaurant rom-com in novel form is an exhilarating debut, wrote Stephanie Turza in Booklist. Newcity Lit website contributor Kate Burns called Hot Mess a “a camera-ready beach read for the couch” and went on to note: “Belden’s good humor … makes for a fun read.”
BIOCRIT
BOOKS
Belden, Emily, Eightysixed: Life Lessons Learned, Pandamoon Publishing (Austin, TX), 2014.
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 1, 2018, Stephanie Turza, review of Hot Mess, p. 26.
Publishers Weekly, January 22, 2018, review of Hot Mess, p. 60.
ONLINE
Chicago Ambassador, https://thechicagoambassador.wordpress.com/ (April 4, 2018), “With Hot Mess, Emily Belden May Be Chicago’s Next Literary Star.”
Chicago Literati, http://www.chicagonow.com/ (March 24, 2014) , review of Eightysixed: Life Lessons Learned.
Elana Lyn Website, http://elanalyn.com/ (April 12, 2017), Elana Lyn Gross, “Career Profile: Emily Belden, Writer.”
Emily Belden Website, http://www.emilybelden.com (July 8, 2018).
Jason Beem Website, https://jasonbeem.com/ (May 16, 2014), “Author Interview with Emily Belden (Lange).”
Lake Shore Lady, https://www.lakeshorelady.com/ (April 8, 2014), “Eightysixed with Emily Belden.”
Little Lessons by Chelsea, http://www.littlelessonsbychelsea.com/ (June 7, 2016), “A Day in the Life: Emily Belden.”
Michigan Avenue Online, https://michiganavemag.com/ (January 28, 2014), Meg Mathis, “Blogger Emily Belden Pens a Memoir.”
Newcity Lit, https://lit.newcity.com/ (March 21, 2018), Kate Burns, “Trixie in the Weeds: A Review of Hot Mess.
Voda Online, http://www.vodamagazine.com/ (March 17, 2014), Xan Garcia, review of Eightysixed.
Windy City Blogger Collective, https://windycitybloggers.com/ (March 5, 2014), “Behind the Brand: Author Emily Belden of ‘Eightysixed.'”
Career, Career Profiles | April 12, 2017
Career Profile: Emily Belden, Writer
Emily Belden is an author for Harlequin/Harper Collins. She inked a two-book deal with them in 2016, and her debut novel “Hot Mess” will come out in 2017 via imprint, Graydon House. In 2018, “Husband Material” will be released. Emily pitched her first book, the memoir “Eightysixed.” In 2015, she signed with famed literary agency, Browne & Miller along with 44 Blue Productions in Burbank, CA. The studio is adapting her memoir into a comedic series.
A lot of bloggers hope to translate their writing into a full-fledged, published book. How did you do it?
I began writing several entries about things going on in my life. Some I published to my blog and some I did not. Eventually, I reached a critical mass where I found myself saying…this could be a movie. Or this could be a book. Since they were all chronological, it wasn’t hard to turn them into chapters and eventually compile a full-length manuscript.
Please tell us a bit about your book Eightysixed.
It’s an 18-and-over show. Think: If Bridget Jones was a Chicago foodie with bad dating habits. It’s one of those laugh, cry, shake-your-head type of books. And then at the end, you’ll need tissues and your phone because you’ll be texting your BFF and saying you’ve got a book recommendation for her…
What is your writing process like?
In a word? Food. I swear I gain 10 lbs with every new manuscript. I can’t write unless I have something to mindlessly nosh on. My preference is a sandwich, but I’m also prone to cookies and wine. After that, my fingers just take off. I don’t “storyboard” anything out. When I sit down throw down some words, I truly have no clue where the story will go in that hour or two. It’s always a great surprise to me.
You’ve said that Eightysixed is a comedy of misses. What do you mean by that?
Each chapter highlights a few satirical “life lessons learned.” This isn’t a medical self-help book by any means, but I found humor in my missteps (aka the misses) and felt like others could relate. So instead of burying my mistakes, I raised them to the surface.
When did you first realize that you loved writing?
Ever since I was really little, I would write really creative letters to Santa and the Tooth Fairy. I’d also write persuasive essays to my parents when I wanted a new toy or to go on vacation. Instead of coloring or playing house, I’d write short stories about the wildest things. So writing has been my identity for as long as I can remember.
What have you learned about yourself as a result of blogging and writing novels?
I learned that I am a lot more fearless than I ever thought. I put a tell-all memoir out there for everyone (mom! dad! pre-school teacher!) to read and lived to tell about it.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading The Restaurant Critic’s Wife.
Your book is a memoir. Were you nervous about making certain parts of your life so public?
Absolutely! I wasn’t nervous that people would judge me. I was nervous I’d make them uncomfortable talking about sex, drugs, online dating, etc. so candidly, but realized there’s something for everyone to relate to in there. And if they couldn’t relate to it, well then at least they’d be entertained by it. I was also worried despite my best efforts to conceal the guilty, I might also get sued…but that’s another story!
What is a day as Emily like? Please walk me through a day!
My life is a lot different than when I was in the thick of Eightysixed. For starters, I’m married now. For those who haven’t read the book – I’m not telling to whom I’m married to (spoiler alert!). But we live a very exciting, fun, yet still normal life. Every morning starts by walking our two rescue pit bulls, then I sit down to do some writing, by the afternoon I answer press questions or fulfilling other commitments, and then dinner and mindless TV.
You and your husband tiled your bedroom floor in over 60,000 pennies – all heads up for good luck. What was that process like?
Long, but rewarding. We spent three months just the two of us working on this floor. Lots of bottles of wine, B-list Netflix movies, and Spotify playlists. But at the end of the day, we grew closer together making such a special memory that culminated with a live interview on the Today Show.
You’ve taken on more projects for Home Depot, CB2, Nixon, and more. What is that experience like for you two?
We work really well together! He’s obviously the creative, handy person, but I’m a bit more personable and organized. So a lot of the time, I am the face and voice of the project, but he’s the brains behind it all.
What is on your desk right now?
I don’t have a huge desk, because I tend to write everywhere a coffee shop, outdoor patio, couch, etc. That said, my mom has always called me Wonder Woman. I don’t know why like what clicked in her mind to draw the comparison, but every birthday she surprises me with some type of Wonder Woman collectible (lunchbox, doll, etc.). So, on my desk now I have a big Wonder Woman mug and put all my pens and markers in it.
What is your morning routine?
I start by walking my two dogs for about an hour. When I get back, I do a whole anti-aging skincare routine: Clarisonic, vitamin C serum, under eye cream, and day moisturizer with SPF. Then breakfast/lunch and writing!
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Respond, don’t react. It’s really empowering to allow yourself the liberty of coming back to a challenge versus feeling the need to handle it right in the moment when you’re all worked up.
What is your career advice for other young professional women?
The lesson for everyone is this: Your story is worth it and there will always be people who will be willing to listen without judgment the whole way through.
a day in the life: emily belden.
June 7, 2016
a day in the life: emily belden.
I recently had the opportunity to read the book, eightysixed. it’s a super real memoir, essentially about life. it is, without question, the proper way to digest reality television. I loved every moment of it! it’s what life really is; raw, messy, unexpected, and so good. I appreciated the complete honesty + at times found myself in the character. well, I got the chance to track down + ask thee author herself, emily belden, a few questions. you’re going to want to read it. (I promise: no spoilers, except you’ll want to read the book. she’s amazing).
my chat with the hysterical, genius + awe-inspiring author, emily belden. great advice, (very tiny) teasers into her book, and a bit more into what makes her tick.
let’s talk about the midwest. the entire country lumps us in a category. you’re from chicagoland and went to college in omaha. I’m from + live in the state nestled between the two. midwest, real thoughts – go!
There’s nothing like home! I live in California now, toggling between San Diego and Los Angeles, and as much as I love the sunshine, ocean, and palm trees, I miss my brisk autumns, Lake Michigan, and skyscrapers. There’s also a hustle unlike the midwest. It’s wholesome and exciting.
in your life, you had the opportunity to venture into the wild world of online dating. I didn’t get the pleasure. although your stories are magically entertaining and I vicariously lived through them (thank you!). did you uncover the secret to online dating? Is there one?
It’s so funny because the way you feel about missing “online dating” is the way I feel about missing the Tinder wave. I sometimes hover over people’s shoulders as they swipe right/left in the airport before a flight. Amazing. As far as the secret: have an open mind, let the guy make the plan (not for sexist reasons, but just to get a glimpse of their personality and sense of adventure), and always tell someone where you’re going and with whom. Safety first!
the dreaded “drunk text”. we’ve all been there. you pretend it didn’t happen, convince yourself it wasn’t so bad, and secretly hope to receive a response. am I right? is it wise drunk intuition or should it be avoided at all costs? if the latter, any tips?
Listen, here’s the deal. If you’re drunk, and the person-of-interest is drunk, then a drunken text (or real) convo is probably going to be magical. But if one of you is sober and living life (usually the case), receiving the drunken communication is only going to highlight your crazy. Avoiding a drunk text if you’re emotional and buzzed is like pretending you’ll stop a train with your pinky. If you really want to avoid doing it, leave your phone at home or give it to someone else.
there was a part in your book I read aloud to my husband. when I finished reading the passage, I said “See! I’m not the only one”. elaborate on the “red zone”.
It’s almost as if I can’t elaborate on the red zone without going into the red zone. But I’ll try. It’s just a delicate emotional state wherein it gets significantly heightened by someone hinting you may be in the red zone. Read: hormonal 20-something.
I truly believe fear is one of thee most paralyzing feelings. it holds so many people back from chasing their dreams + really going for it. me included. you, without question, put it all out there to write this amazing book. I can only assume there was a moment of “am I really going to do this?”. how did you overcome it? please, please share!
Like many others, I am a part of the Al-Anon Family Group. There is a line in Courage to Change that addresses fear and it says: All I have is today. Let me make today the most fully alive day I have ever experienced. Let that sink in…
I wanted so dearly to be reading your book on a tropical island, laying on a beach towel, with a mai tai in the other hand. where is the ideal location for consuming your book? (in reality, I read it in bed and refused to put it down, so fell asleep with it. Multiple times).
I have had several people send selfies (bookies?) of them reading Eightysixed on a tropical vacation – Aruba with a margarita, fedora, and sunburn. Love! But I also receive just as many notes from people who read the book late into the night, hunkered down in their crusty Lincoln Park apartments. To me, that’s probably home for this book.
you’re at a coffee shop, what do you order?
Tall skinny vanilla latte and a caloric pastry.
after reading pages 196-232(ish), it’s apparent you’re now in an exclusive “foodie” club. places people only dream of going. so much so, I didn’t even google the restaurants because I knew they were too fancy for me + my credit limit. those two places aside, where have you dined on your favorite meal?
When I’m not eating at three Michelin starred restaurants (first world problems), my go-to faves are Lou Malnatis pizza (deep dish cheese, extra sauce), Jimmy John’s (beach club no cucumber), and Dairy Queen (cookie dough blizzard, please).
if you had to pick only one (little) lesson, what do you want people to take from your book?
Don’t get in the way of your life story.
if you have a chance to pick up her book, eightysixed, I’d love to hear what you thought! it’s an ideal by the pool read. (think: laying out + margaritas).
Emily Belden is a journalist, social media marketer, and storyteller. She is the author of the novels Hot Mess and Husband Material, and of Eightysixed: A Memoir about Unforgettable Men, Mistakes, and Meals. She lives in Chicago.
Blogger Emily Belden Pens a Memoir
by meg mathis | January 28, 2014 | People
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Emily Belden gained a spot on Today for covering her bedroom floor with pennies.
“Writing’s the only thing that has never let me down,” says South Loop resident and Total E-Bag blogger Emily Belden, who first gained national attention last year on the Today show and The Dr. Oz Show when she and her fiancé glued nearly 60,000 pennies to all 234 square feet of their bedroom floor. “It’s just my one thing to count on—that and vodka.” At just 27 years old, the Elmhurst native now has plenty to toast with the debut of her memoir, Eightysixed (Pandamoon Publishing; $18), a retelling of her most rollicking experiences as a 20-something living in Chicago. “The story is a comedy of misses,” says Belden, who compares the book to a certain female-focused HBO series. “When I saw Girls for the first time, I remember thinking, ‘Why is this familiar to me?’” she recalls wryly. “Then I’m like, ‘Oh, because this is my idea.’”
Slated to hit bookstores on February 6, Eightysixed is divided into three parts. The first opens with an ill-fated text message that causes the then-23-year-old Belden to discover the shocking details of an ex-boyfriend’s current relationship status, while the second part focuses on her ensuing years of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. “You see me come undone a bit, but it’s not a downer. It’s snarky, fast-paced, and really witty. My inner dialogue is there as well. I am no stranger to the absurdity of things that are going on; I’m well aware of it all.”
She is perhaps most proud of the memoir’s third and final section, which centers on a chance encounter with Floris, a chef from Holland who, during a weeklong visit to Chicago, introduces Belden to some of the city’s most renowned restaurants, among them Schwa and Alinea. “It’s not as funny, but so well-written,” she says. “You go from the really snarky stuff to a true, emotional pageturner, like, ‘Where is this going?’” She first documented this episode on Total E-Bag, where Belden—who works as an advertising copywriter—created Eightysixed. “I started writing the day I got that text,” she says of the message that opens the book. “I needed to get that stuff out.”
Belden is now at work on several other projects. She recently launched Happy Happy Gay Gay, an online card store catering to the LGBT community (proceeds benefit The Trevor Project), and she’s writing a satirical book about planning weddings, inspired by her upcoming May nuptials to entrepreneur Ryan Lange, with whom she created thepennyfloor.com. “We’re still reaping the benefits of having tiled our floor in pennies, so it is really funny,” she says, reflecting on their Today appearance nearly one year ago. “Ryan and I were like, ‘We wish we had something to sell!’ because it brought us so much traffic. ‘What can we do now?’” Available February 6 at Barnes & Noble
Behind The Brand: Author Emily Belden of ‘Eightysixed’
kitgrahamBehind the Brand0 Comments
Emily Belden is a Chicagoan, the blogger behind Total E-bag, and the author of the new bestseller Eightysixed: Life Lessons Learned. Emily’s edgy little memoir debuted this month on Amazon as the #20 best seller in Women’s Memoirs and #3 in the chef’s category. We chatted with Emily about her blog, her book, her new online greeting card shop – and the time she glue 60,000 pennies to her bedroom floor.
What inspired you to write Eightysixed?
I started writing “Eightysixed” long before it was ever Eightysixed. It began simply as more of a “Dear Diary” to help get me through a terrible break-up and all the laughable accoutrements that went along with heartbreak. At some point the experiences became so outlandish and unbelievable, I realized “This could be a book!”. So I made it one!
What can readers expect from Eightsixed?
An honest and humorous portrayal of navigating the perilous 20s. In a nutshell, it’s 50 Shades meets Mean Girls meets Sex & The City meets Bridget Jones Diary. And then they all went and had dinner.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Write like no one will ever read your stuff. Do you think I could have written some of the scenes in Eightysixed (examples: the “Jacob” or the “Mindy” chapters) knowing that my mother and future in-laws were going to read it? No way! So I had to really pretend like my words were just between me, the computer, and the bottle of wine on my desk.
You gained national attention after gluing 60,000 pennies to your bedroom floor. How did that project come about, and did you ever think that it would lead to an interview on The Today Show?!
My fiance and I were looking into flooring options for our bedroom. One day, he noticed the jar of change on our countertop and had the funny idea to glue its contents to the floor. I thought he was kidding. He wasn’t.
It was crazy to think we got on The Today Show for gluing money to the floor, but what it just reiterates is that if you have an easy-to-understand concept, something somewhat original, and fun to look at…people will want to know about it. Even Matt Lauer.
How did the exposure from the penny floor bring you to where you are today?
A lot of the literary agents I was interested in pitching to just so happened to be big Today Show fans. They recognized me from the segment and a lot tweeted at me saying they were eager to read my stuff. That never happens.
Do you have any advice on how to make the most out of a viral moment?
Have something to sell! We had 7 million viewers of www.ThePennyFloor.com site during its first week. I wish we had Penny Floor t-shirts and glow-sticks to capitalize on all that traffic. Right?!
You also just launched Happy Happy Gay Gay, an online card shop that caters to the LGBT community. What inspired this project?
My gay friend married his long-time partner after DOMA was shot down in San Francisco last summer. I wanted to send my congratulations in a card, but Hallmark had nothing that catered to a lively, same-sex couple. I knew they deserved better. So I just made my own, which morphed into Happy Happy Gay Gay.
Which female entrepreneurs do you look up to?
I like Bethenny Frankel. I look up to her something-from-nothing way of success. And just like the simple genius of the penny floor or gay greeting cards, I think her low-calorie cocktail mixes (“Skinny Girl”) are along those same lines. And now, she’s one of the most successful businesswomen in the industry.
How do you think blogging lead you to where you are today?
Besides it giving me a head-start for a platform of loyal readers, Total E-bag made me not afraid to write whatever was on my mind and get really good at perfecting my voice. I don’t claim that Eightysixed will cure for cancer, but I do think it’s one of the most relatable literary works for our generation and that makes me proud.
Follow Emily on Total E-bag, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter!
Emily Belden is an author with powerhouse publisher, HARLEQUIN/HARPERCOLLINS. She inked a two-book deal with them in 2016, and her debut novel HOT MESS came out March 20, 2018 via their edgy imprint Graydon House.
In 2019, her sophomore novel HUSBAND MATERIAL will be released.
She is represented by famed literary agency, Browne & Miller, along with 44 Blue Productions in Burbank. The SoCal studio is adapting her memoir into a comedic series.
With ‘Hot Mess,’ Emily Belden may be Chicago’s next literary star
Chicagoan Emily Belden is getting a lot of well-deserved attention for her first novel, Hot Mess. Set in Chicago’s posh Randolph Street restaurant scene, Hot Mess is the story of Allie Simon, the twenty-something girlfriend of Benji Zane, an up-and-coming chef and darling of the food blogosphere with a troubled past. After dating for a few months, Allie agrees to invest her life savings to allow Benji to reach his dream and open his restaurant but like many addicts, Benji possess a self-destructive streak. Without spoiling the plot, it’s safe to say that Allie is left to learn the restaurant business in 44 days, tutored by Angela, a hard-driven, no-nonsense, older version of herself who helps Allie to evolve professionally and personally with a tough love approach.
Belden, now 31, who just moved from Avondale from the West Loop, grew up in suburban Elmhurst. She attended Creighton University where she studied Journalism. Before graduating, she fell in love with copywriting while taking an advertising class and ended up working as a copywriter at a couple Chicago advertising agencies after leaving school. She also says that she believes she is too creative to work as a straight news reporter, and she is probably correct on that. One example, after writing a blog post in a lifestyle blog that she used to publish about tiling her bathroom floor with 60,000 pennies (all face up for good luck), it went viral and Belden ended up on The Today Show. But that would prove not to be the highlight of her blog — She wrote her first book, Eightysixed: A Memoir about Unforgettable Men, Mistakes, and Meals in 2014, which was basically a collection of longer blog posts. That book was well received and is currently being turned into short online television series called All of the Nope by a California production company, with Belden as the lead writer.
A few years ago, Belden would meet the man that Benji Zane is based on in Hot Mess while getting into a taxi. He was exiting and they made small talk. He was an up-and-coming chef in town to work at Alinea with a lot of hype, and a lot of baggage. They developed a relationship and although it didn’t last long, it introduced Belden to the swanky, Michelin star restaurants that she loves and would eventually serve as the setting for her novel. Before that, Belden had a typical relationship with the food industry, having worked as a server at a steakhouse while in college. But one does not need a culinary degree or be a Food Network junky to relate to Hot Mess, nor necessarily have experienced a relationship with an addict. It’s a book that leaves one wanting to know what happens to its main characters Allie and Benji, so much so that they often forsake sleep or previous plans in the process.
The Chicago Ambassador’s Bob Chiarito recently spoke to Belden who is busy with book signings for Hot Mess, working on writing film episodes from Eightysixed and working on her second novel, Husband Material, due out next year.
CA) Do you have a background in the food industry?
BELDEN) I worked in the food industry in college. Once I became interested in the higher end restaurants I worked as a hostess at Acadia in the South Loop for a few months, helping them open the restaurant. That experience really painted the picture for some of the restaurant scenes in Hot Mess. The fictitious restaurant in the book is based on how Acadia looks.
CA) The book is definitely a page-turner. To me, it reminded me of Anthony Bourdain’s first book, Kitchen Confidential, mixed with Candace Bushnell’s Sex and the City.
BELDEN) Yes, that’s a great way of putting it. I think what is cool about the book to me is that if you’re a foodie, if you’re really into the dining scene in Chicago or elsewhere, you’re going to love it. Obviously, you’re going to be able to follow along with the dishes and the speak. But if you aren’t a foodie or the restaurant scene isn’t interesting to you, you aren’t alienated because the main character also goes from nothing. You follow her journey and she was eating frozen Lean Cuisine meals for dinner and then is trust into dining at 4-star restaurants. It’s not just a foodie book.
CA) Yes, in the book you write that Allie had to Google a lot of food terms and acronyms in the book.
BELDEN) Right, yes.
CA) It’s interesting, unlike a lot of love stories where we are rooting for the characters, we are basically rooting for Allie and Benji not to end up together. Was it ever tempting for you to have the story go another way?
BELDEN) The way it is now is the way I wanted it to be, but I will say that when we were submitting it to publishers, there was one publisher who obviously we did not go with; they liked everything about the story but they wanted Benji and Allie to wind up [differently].
CA) Oh my God.
BELDEN) My agent is so good at what he does. He told me that, ‘My job is to find the perfect fit for this. I’m going to give it to someone who will be your biggest cheerleader and love it the way that it is. But all things considered, this is a very good deal so think about it.’ But I just couldn’t do it. I just think that was not the love story that was supposed to shake out. It was not too long after that episode that we found an editor at Harper Collins who was raised in Arlington Heights and very familiar and into the Chicago restaurant scene. He heard about it and asked for it and then brought it to an acquisition meeting the next week and it was the first purchase that they made under Graydon House, which is Harper Collins’ edgier women’s fiction company. That’s the type of slam dunk we wanted without having to change major elements of the storyline.
CA) One thing I was wondering, you have the restaurant in the book on the 3300 block of Randolph Street, which is way west of the restaurant row on Randolph.
BELDEN) You must have an advanced review copy.
CA) Yes.
BELDEN) In the public version, it’s 900 West Randolph. That address was an arbitrary place holder, but the actual address is 900 West. It’s funny because the night I did my Barnes and Noble signing in Chicago was the same night a very large board meeting happened in the West Loop in a long time. They are petitioning to build a 51-story building so they had a meeting about that and the address of the proposed building is 900 West Randolph. So, it was very serendipitous that the night I was doing my signing, they had that meeting. That address is now the center of a very hot topic in the West Loop.
CA) How much of you would you say is in Allie Simon?
BELDEN) I think that there’s a lot of autobiographical elements in the first third of the book. It’s not too much of a secret that when I was in my early 20s I had a relationship with an up-and-coming chef who was very alluring and always in the press and in the blogs. I was sort of the woman behind the man when we dated so I could pick up on a lot of what that was like and use it with Allie, especially being someone who didn’t come from the food world and didn’t know how to cook. It made her evolution very authentic. Once he was out of the picture and she’s running the restaurant, that is all fictitious because that never happened. There are qualities in Allie that I see in myself. How driven she is and how entrepreneurial she is. Ultimately, she is very put together. She has her own apartment, she pays all her bills. That was like me. I was always in a rush to get all that stuff together. I’m very loyal, I’m very all-in. As a writer, I really write what I know so that is what makes it very authentic and very voice-driven.
CA) I also sense that there’s a decent amount of Angela in you as well.
BELDEN) Yeah. The backstory of how Hot Mess came to be is that I dated this chef that everyone wanted to do all these projects with and one day he brought me to a vacant restaurant space in Wicker Park. I was wondering why he brought me there. We got there and this woman was there and she was the already appointed general manager of this restaurant. I was wondering, ‘Did I miss something? Is someone really opening a restaurant?’ I remember also wondering if he wanted me to buy him in. I had these thoughts in my head. The woman that was there, her and I became friends. So even though I didn’t date the chef for a long time, we became very good friends and are still close friends today. A few years ago, we were hanging out and I asked, ‘Do you remember that time? What if I gave that guy my life savings to open up a restaurant?’ She just answered and said, ‘I’ll tell you exactly what would have happened. He would have dipped out at the last minute, you would have been out of $30,000 and you and I would have been sleeping at the restaurant, working 80 hours a week to earn your money back.’ That was it. It was a quick answer, but that was the moment that I knew this book was meant to be written.
CA) Did this chef have a drug issue as well?
BELDEN) Yes, he had some addiction issues in the past and when I dated him I was the only person behind him even though I had no experience with that. The funny thing is, some of the early feedback that I’ve been getting about the book from industry people isn’t about the food or the restaurants. It’s regarding the addiction angle of the book and they are telling me that I absolutely nailed it. For me, it’s not the entire book and it’s not a super dark story, but to have that angle be authentic and to know I got it right is a very big deal because it’s such a sensitive issue.
CA) The social media angle is prevalent throughout the book and you see the generation gap between Allie and Angela when Allie’s looking for re-Tweets and Angela is looking for the Chicago Sun-Times.
BELDEN) Exactly. That’s a good pick up.
CA) It seemed that in some ways Angela was an older version of Allie, but it also seemed that Allie grew a lot. From her knowledge of the restaurant industry, getting that 40-day crash course; but also, she seemed to really grow a lot throughout the book, realizing going for the ‘bad boy’ is not the best route.
BELDEN) Exactly. What’s key for any writer who writes fiction is that you really want your characters to evolve. From chapter one to the end of the book, you really want to see some serious evolution in that person and you want it to be natural and for it to be understandable how they went from point a to point b. And in every single chapter you want them to be doing something. You almost need a little story arc in every single chapter. That’s the bread and butter of a fantastic novel but it’s hard to do.
CA) I think you accomplished what you were trying to do.
BELDEN) Yeah.
CA) This goes back to me saying that I think there is some Angela in you. How does a first-time novelist get a two-book deal?
BELDEN) They signed Hot Mess and one of the things that made it so desirable was that they loved the voice-driven writing, where it feels like I’m sitting you down and telling you a story over coffee or wine. That’s why people finish the book in two days and cancel their plans to finish it. It’s not a very common style of writing and when they signed that book they asked my agent what else does she have. She called me right away and told me that she couldn’t say nothing and said, ‘Tell me you’re working on something but haven’t started it yet and here’s the idea for it.’ So, she and I spent the next hour brainstorming ideas. I kind of had something in mind but I definitely didn’t come anywhere close to putting pen to paper, so her and I busted out a one-page synopsis of a half-cooked idea and sent it to them the same day and they loved it. So, when I signed the two-book deal it was for the manuscript of Hot Mess and this one-page synopsis of this other idea.
CA) And that will be Husband Material?
BELDEN) That’s correct.
CA) Without giving too much away, can you tell me a little about it?
BELDEN) It’s in the beginning stages. It’s completely different than Hot Mess. It’s still voice-driven but it’s a more complex plot. It has to do with a character who is just about to turn 30 and is also a widow, her husband passed away at one of those tough mudder types of race during their first year of marriage. The book takes place five years after his accident when his ashes are returned to her because the mausoleum was in the path of a California wild fire and as a preemptive measure, they returned all the ashes to the next of kin. So, five years later, her husband’s ashes turn up at her doorstep. It’s a story of someone dealing with that, reconciling with that. At this point she’s been a widow longer than she was a wife. It’s a much more complex plot and nothing at all like Hot Mess but still very voice-driven. It’s not a dark story.
Husband Material is slated to be released in March 2019. Hot Mess was recently released. For more information on that, click here.
April 8, 2014 Uncategorized
Eightysixed with Emily Belden
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I’m so excited to introduce all of you to Emily Belden, author of the bestselling memoir Eightysixed: Life Lessons Learned! The book is all about her experience as a a twenty something living in Chicago, searching for love, and figuring out the person she wants to be. It’s hilarious, touching, and for all you Chicago ladies- just a little relatable.
The best part? Emily’s writing style makes you feel like she’s your long lost best friend. Her references to Real Housewives, tales of online dating, and general shenanigans not only cracked me up, but made me feel connected. She’s smart, thoughtful, and sometimes lost throughout the book… but few people in their 20s actually know what they’re doing, right? We’ll figure it out, though. We got this.
To peak your interest even more, I thought I’d ask Emily some fun questions!
Q: Favorite book?
A: Beautiful Boy, David Sheff – sad, but eye opening. It’s a book for when you want to really feel.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: Little Miss Sunshine – it’s a classic and Greg Kinnear is the bomb.
Q: Favorite Chicago restaurant?
A: Right now, it’s Beatrix. Their butterscotch 6-inch cookie is to die for.
Q: Coffee or tea?
A: Diet Coke.
Q: Dinner or Dessert?
A: Dessert!
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Q: Aidan or Big?
A: I’d like to have dinner at Alinea with Big, but watch Netflix reruns with Aidan.
Q: Who would you invite to your ideal dinner party?
A: I would like to invite the entire cast of Breaking Amish to dinner at Girl & The Goat.
—
Emily has been generous enough to offer a discount code, which means you can download this gem of a book for under $5. Yup! Purchase on Smashwords and enter the code QF73U. (Valid until April 24th) If you don’t have an e-reader, you can get a paperback/kindle copy on Amazon. I hope you all like it as much as I did! Enjoy!
May 16, 2014 by jballscalls
Author Interview with Emily Belden (Lange)
Author Emily Belden
I remember hearing buzz about author Emily Belden’s debut memoir “Eightysixed” and had the thought “why do I care about a memoir of someone I’ve never heard of?” Well the answer after reading it was I did care. Eightysixed is funny, sharp, witty and full of things we all go through. I was fortunate to catch up with Emily to ask her about her book!
You can buy her book Eightysixed by CLICKING HERE
1. Your book Eightysixed has been out for a couple of months, how has it been so far talking with readers who have had such an inside look into your life?
EB–It’s pretty incredible and weird. I have visited a number of book clubs and when I open the floor for Q&A, I’m reminded just how much I put myself out there. People want more details on the juicy stories…and I don’t blame them!
2. Trent. I think everyone I know has had a “Trent” in their life. I think if anything should come from your book into society at large it should be people using “Trent” to describe a former partner. How much did that relationship effect not only how you looked at dating and life, but the attitude of the book?
EB–It’s funny you say that, because almost everyone I talk to about the book admits Trent “sounds just like the guy I’m dating.” Why is Trent an epidemic? Anyhow, when I decided to leave Trent, I asked myself: is it possible that I could find another guy who is good looking like him? (Yes.). Is it possible I could find a guy who makes me laugh – in between the tears – like him? (Yes.). Is it possible that I could find someone with those basic qualities, BUT who wants to not avoid me on weekends? Not drink to excess? Not be a total self-centered pig? (YES. YES. YES!). So with that as my mantra, I set forth to find who I really was meant to be with. That’s not to say that Trent did leave me insanely angry and bitter, which you can certainly feel the effects of in the first parts of Eightysixed.
3. Food and Chicago are big characters in Eightysixed. I’ve been to Chicago a few times and other than Lou Malnati’s and Harold’s Chicken, We didn’t eat out much. If I was there for a weekend, where are the must go restaurants you’re sending me to?
EB–You cannot go wrong with Lou’s. It’s my favorite pizza on the planet. But should you desire something more than deep dish, my next favorite is a little hot-dog and hamburger joint called Portillo’s. It’s a total calorie fest, but who can deny their cheese fries and chocolate cake shake?
4. There are tons of laugh out loud moments in Eightysixed. Writing humor I think is one of the most challenging things to write. Did you spend a lot of time going back over material and tweeking to get the wording just right or did you just kinda let it flow?
EB–Eightysixed was all about the flow. The funny thing about the book is that it’s special for being…not special at all. It’s just that the routine things that happen (breakups, dating mishaps, etc.) are told in a certain way that makes them funny and alluring. I tell you, replicating this natural storytelling for writing fiction has NOT been easy. I don’t know how you do it.
5. The post script of the book could be that you just got married! Congrats by the way! How weird is it having a new last name now? That would drive me insane.
EB–It’s super weird. The best is that for as simple as it is (Lange), people can’t pronounce it. They try to rhyme it with the word “Range” or they make it sound very fancy by doing a soft “a” and “j” (Lahnjah). Someone even called me “Langhee” and asked if I was Asian. Oh, the joys of married life.
6. Have you been writing at all during this massively busy time in your life…I mean who has a book published and plans a wedding all at the same time!
EB–I’ve certainly been trying to. But between family drama that would put the Osbourne’s to shame (all thanks to the wedding), and buying a new house, I haven’t had the “me time” you need in order to crank out a few thousand words!
Thanks Emily!
Hot Mess
Stephanie Turza
Booklist. 114.11 (Feb. 1, 2018): p26.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Hot Mess. By Emily Belden. Mar. 2018. 448p. Graydon, paper, $15.99 (9781525811418).
Allie Simon is aware that renowned Chicago chef Benji Zane comes with some baggage--but who doesn't? Benji's baggage is of the hard-partying variety, but he has been clean for a few months, and Allie loves the way he makes her feel. When Benji comes to her with an opportunity to open his own restaurant, she is torn. She would love to see him fulfill his dreams but wishes those dreams didn't involve her $30,000 nest egg. Still, she jumps in with both feet and receives an initiation into the hospitality industry that will change her life forever. Combining the wit and insight of Stephanie Danler's Sweetbitter (2016) with the drama of Jessica Tom's Food Whore (2015), Belden's first novel is a glimpse into the fast-paced fine-dining industry. She highlights the late nights, early mornings, and (literal) highs and lows so common in the restaurant world. While the overall premise is a bit shaky, the core of Belden's story is entirely enjoyable. Full of heart, heat, and passion, this restaurant rom-com in novel form is an exhilarating debut.--Stephanie Turza
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Turza, Stephanie. "Hot Mess." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2018, p. 26. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527771811/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=8ef6db33. Accessed 28 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A527771811
Hot Mess
Publishers Weekly. 265.4 (Jan. 22, 2018): p60.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Hot Mess
Emily Belden. Graydon House, $15.99 trade paper (416p) ISBN 978-1-525-81141-8
Belden's breezy but shallow behind-the-scenes debut novel set in Chicago's high-end restaurant biz revolves around the escapades of 25-year-old Allie Simon. She's hooked up with charismatic Benji Zane, a chef renowned for his pop-up dinner parties and a former drug addict who's hyped up about the opportunity to run his own restaurant. Allie, blinded by wild sex with her lover, is oblivious to the myriad signs that he is still using and sinks her life savings into the project, believing in him, his sobriety, and their future. When Benji goes AWOL, Allie leaves her job as social media manager for an organic cotton swab company and plunges into the fast-paced restaurant world to save her investment while keeping it a secret that Benji has disappeared. Angela Blackstone, the restaurant's veteran general manager, does great work whipping Allie into shape for the launch upon which their lives depend. All too predictably, romance, phenomenal success, financial independence and self--revelation provide a tidy ending. The territory the author plumbs in this book is familiar from her memoir, Eighty-sixed: the vagaries of dating, social media, and how one's security can turn on a dime. (Mar.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Hot Mess." Publishers Weekly, 22 Jan. 2018, p. 60. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A525839761/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=b7c10e5e. Accessed 28 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A525839761
Trixie in the Weeds: A Review of “Hot Mess”
March 21, 2018 at 12:42 pm by Kate Burns
Wanna get away from this gray winter? Chicago food blogger Emily Belden’s debut novel “Hot Mess” is a camera-ready beach read for the couch. Allie, a twenty-something Lincoln Park Pollyanna, dates snowy-nostrilled, hot-shit chef Benji, whose life on the edge is chronicled by the minute on social media. The sex, notoriety and intensity of their relationship give her the biggest thrill of her life—it’s a career-girl-drug-addict-Twitter trifecta—so she’s okay with being his gatekeeper while he gets clean and does the occasional pop-up dinner to keep him Twitter-hot.
When a barely sober Benji gets a dream offer to run his own kitchen on Randolph Street, Allie fears he’s not ready, but she fronts him her life savings to bet on their future together. Guess who relapses and vanishes? Guess who’s now broke and contractually bound to open the next hot spot in a month, despite having zero restaurant experience and no star chef? Suspend your disbelief and imagine a twenty-something Reese Witherspoon rolling up her sleeves and learning the restaurant biz on the fly.
Do it again when Allie tries to coax her friends to “brunch” in Garfield Park so she can comb the alleys for her coked-out lover, even though the best place to get coke is a high-end restaurant. Silly Allie, Garfield Park is for heroin. Bite your tongue when she refers to her co-owner-GM, the head chef, and herself as “the girls.” Yes, this was written before the #MeToo movement, but it’s not news: women who helm some of Chicago’s real hottest restaurants would not suffer that label.
Social media looms large in this story. Its appeal—and danger—is hyperbole. But this romp isn’t cautionary, it’s a fairy tale; and Belden’s good humor still makes for a fun read. (Kate Burns)
“Hot Mess”
By Emily Belden
Graydon House, 416 pages, $15.99
Book Review: Eightysixed
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By Ansel Burch, March 24, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Book Review: Eightysixed
I have never read a book quite like Emily Belden’s Eightysixed: Life Lessons Learned. It is an honest memoir, recounting Belden’s life as she moves through the uncertain days post college through her budding “adult” life in the land of deep dish pizza, hot dogs with celery salt and Malort.
Emily tells us about what it was like for her to fall in love with Trent, a man who was emotionally unavailable to her but kept her with his money and tantalizing hints of budding love. Predictably this relationship lasted far longer than it should until finally his inability to commit to her became apparent driving her away to Chicago.
Chicago is an amazing city. Here on Chicago Literati we celebrated epicurean week not long ago and you can look to those articles for evidence of all of the wonderful food and drinks which abound here. We are a city that loves all sorts of food from tapas and Ethiopian to hamburgers with gyro meat as a topping. Emily, however, has her appetite whetted for one thing only, a replacement for Trent.
She makes her way through a few more would be suitors trying to pick men up in bars, through friends and finally on the internet. When she finally gets over Trent (through a questionable therapy session) and cements her freedom after a last chance encounter with him one would think she would finally be able to appreciate all of the variety which Chicago has laid out before her. In a way this is true. The internet provides her with all manner of new variety and spice for her dating appetite. So much spice that it’s almost too much.
Finally, Emily gives up a little. Readers, If I can give one piece of advice outside of whether or not to read a book it may be simply to stop trying so hard to be what you want to be tomorrow and focus on what you want to be today. In short, love thyself. All through college I bothered my friends with lamentation on my lack of a girlfriend. I allowed this status to define my self confidence. Once I escaped the shelter of my education everything else became questionable too. Am I employable, am I worth the time people spend on me, am I a good writer or actor? I am certain that I am not alone in this post-collegiate crisis of self. Only when I gave up a little and focused on the things I knew I was good at and the people who I knew cared about me did romance come find me. Similarly, when Emily takes a break from her furious focus on her love life serendipity gives her chance to reset her expectations.
Her moment comes in an incredibly chance encounter with a Dutch Chef, Floris Versluijs on the street in Wicker Park. They meet while trying to hail a taxi and what follows is a strange, kind-of-romance. Floris teaches her to eat. Until this point in the book which some have touted as being about a foody Emily has mostly eaten and imbibed things which, when she took the time to mention them, were uninspired and nondescript. Floris takes her to some of the most cutting edge prix fixe restaurants in the city. He is in Chicago for just a little while to study with another famously fabulous chef but he takes the time to make Emily a priority. She goes from someone entirely focused on the metaphors her life can make into someone who describes the moment in intense and direct detail. Floris, goes back across the ocean and Emily’s serendipity continues. She writes an honest and grounded blog post about Floris and her feelings about him. The blog post goes viral and lands her a job. The job makes her into the kind of person who would write the book that she did. Conclusion?
So, that’s the book. Not the kind of book this writer would have normally read on purpose. Emily’s blind self obsession through most of the book stops her from any kind of helpful introspection which makes her a frustrating protagonist. She can’t see how her own mistakes feed into the problems she is having and she is all to happy to associate her romantic woes with flaws in the men she dated. This, of course, informs the reader as to the mindset which held her back from happiness and appreciation of the moment. That is the point of the book, after all. Good work there, Emily.
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Emily also shows a love for overwrought metaphor lacing them into almost every paragraph of the book. Almost everything is like something or as if something else. Is like she was writing the book as an exercise in unnecessary comparisons. Some of these diversions are amusing but mostly they stand between the reader and the flow of her prose.
That being said Eightysixed makes regular reference to Sex and the City and Eat, Pray, Love. It is neither of those books but if that’s the kind of thing you would normally pick up for a weekend’s light reading or something to keep you busy on a flight from O’Hare then this book will certainly serve. It is cute and honest which is really all one can ask for in the memoir of a twenty something trying to make her way in the big city.
by Xan Garcia on March 17, 2014
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Eightysixed: Life Lessons Learned
Life and love in the big city but there is more … so much more.
eightysixed_cover
***Relatively spoiler free***
About the book
The story is very personal and an insight into the events that have shaped Emily’s life to this point. Personal as it is, the lessons learned are universal and very relatable. We have all known people like those whom have passed through Emily’s life (for better or worse). Most of us have felt the same highs and lows she has felt in her best and worst of times. We have all been there at one point or another in our lives but Eightysixed goes further and telling us what she had learned, how she had grown from each turn of events and gives meaning to them. I found myself reflecting upon my own circumstances after finishing her book.
Contemporary Drama.. in the classical sense
Eightysixed has the dramatic arc you would expect in most great tales and felt like a complete story rather than just a random collection of events or series of anecdotes that you would expect from most memoirs.
Each chapter is prefaced with lessons … it’s the set-up and take-aways for what we’re about to read. Some hysterically blunt and to the point, others poignant and deeply moving. I liked it because it clued you in on what to expect … whether it was to anticipate a victory or to brace for a hit.
The Tone
Emily tells her story in a rather frank and candid way. Pulling no punches she tells it as it is… F-bombs and all. She has a sharp wit and is a naturally funny person and it shows in her storytelling. At times her humor punctuated the craziness of certain situations and at times it served to shave the sharp edges off the more painful moments but never discounts the meaning behind them.
Women’s Lit? Not so fast…
A lot of people have compared this to “Bridget Jones Diary”, yeah I can sort of see that…twenty-somthing single woman in the big city is a familiar story. I do like Emily’s comparison to Eat, Pray, Love though. I too have not seen or read it but I get it.
As you would expect, a lot of reviews online have come from women however as a man I can say I got a lot from this book. From a practical standpoint, it gives men an insight into the thoughts and feelings of a modern woman…every man should read this.
While we’re at it, foodies will love this book too. We are treated to a glimpse inside the thriving Chicago food scene, introduced to Michelin star chefs and through her get to experience some of the finest restaurants in the country (some still have waiting lists months long)
As a Chicagoan I loved all the local referrences. So you see Eightysixed has something for everyone; of course if you insist this is a curl up on the couch with a pint of rocky road and a box of kleenex type of book, that’s cool too.
About the Author
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photo credit: Katrina Wittkamp
If you have followed Total E-Bag then you are familiar with Emily writing. If not go check it out, it’s witty, insightful, smart, and thoroughly entertaining. Now a published author we should expect to see a new book sometime soon. What it’s about I can’t say yet (remember?… no spoilers) but I can tell you will be worth the wait. Her observations on life and love in Chicago has caught the attention of the media and deservedly so.
Emily is also the mastermind behind the same sex greeting card line HappyHappyGayGay , covered the floor of her room in pennies … how awesome is that?