« Wordless Wednesday: TuTu Cute | Home | Themed Weekend: Labor, Delivery, & Recovery »
Meet the Author: Erika Lenkert
By metropolitanmama | May 22, 2008
I am pleased to welcome Erika Lenkert to Metropolitan Mama today.
Erika is a frequent contributor to In Style, Everyday with Rachel Ray, and dozens of other national publications. She has authored several lifestyle books and is the lifestyle editorial director for Glam.com. Lenkert’s most recent book - “The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy: Fresh and Practical Advice for Navigating the Next Nine Months” - was released in March 2008.
ME: Please tell me a little bit about your background.
LENKERT: I graduated from Berkley with an undergrad degree in Literature and wanted to get into publication so I worked for HarperCollins in San Francisco. From there, I started writing traffic guidebooks. After that, I moved to L.A. and started working with InStyle and Travel & Leisure. Since then, I’ve written several books and I am now the Lifestyle Director for Glam.com.
ME: How old is your little girl now and how old was she when you wrote The Real Deal Guide?
LENKERT: She’s 2 ¾. I wrote the proposal when I was 5 months pregnant. I sold it after she was born. I wrote it when she was 6-8 months and it came out when she was 2 ½.
ME: Did you personally enjoy being pregnant – what were the best and worst parts?
LENKERT: I really loved being pregnant. I tend to be one of those people who has a positive attitude toward everything. Being a pregnant woman is kind of like being a transformer. It’s physically and mentally changing and yet I felt very proud. It was good to move out of the self-indulgent lifestyle. What I didn’t like about it was the severe back problems that I had as a result. I had very, very serious problems a year and a half after birth.
ME: What resources did you turn to (magazines, books, websites) when you were pregnant?
LENKERT: I had the What to Expect book. I didn’t love it. I went online A LOT - not to any one particular source. I found it annoying that these books and our culture makes everything scary – the “fear factor” is injected into everything. I wasn’t a fan of that so I decided to write a different kind of book…
ME: What final thoughts/advice do you have for pregnant women?
LENKERT: The most important thing that you can do have a good time and avoid books that tell you everything can go wrong. Enjoy the pregnancy - this is the last time that your life is all about you.
Thanks, Erika! I completely agree with you about the “fear factor” thing. For the vast majority of people, pregnancy is a very normal, healthy process. There are already way too many scare-inducing books about pregnancy on the market. I like that you focus on all of the positives instead of the “what ifs…”
WIN IT! One winner will receive a copy of Erika’s new book: “The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy.” To enter, simply leave a comment on this post prior to Thursday, May 29 at midnight (don’t forget to follow the rules). The winner will be announced and contacted on Friday, May 30. * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
*UPDATE* The winner is #7 Barbara Baker. Congratulations!
Topics: Meet the Author, contests |
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I would love to give this book to my friend who just found out she was pregnant. She had been trying for a few years and would probably enjoy a book that focuses on the positives instead of what can go wrong.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I love the positive view point on this book. I too felt like when I was pregnant every thing I read was about what could or might go wrong. I would love this for my next pregnancy!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I’d love to have this as a reference for my expecting friends (I’m pretty sure I’m through with procreation). And, thanks for stopping my my blog and commenting, Stephanie, what a treat!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I wish this book was out when I was pregnant!!I would love to get this book for my Aunt who is expecting her first in July!!(and I may get a copy for myself if we decide to have one more;))
The fear factor thing really got to me,too when I was preggo…..I also had the What to Expect when you are Expecting…..and I have to admit,it made me a little paranoid…and that is no good!!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:52 am
A very positive book
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:58 am
This looks like a great book!
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:01 am
What a great title for a book. It’s (from what I’ve heard) much better than the old, “What to expect; when youre expecting” title…
Count me in…I’d love to read it and then pass it on to others.
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:29 am
Thank god someone came out with a book that is beyond the “what to expect…” umpteenth edition! This is the “Real Deal”!
http://lifeislikechampagne.blogspot.com/
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:32 am
Another Great Contest !!
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:04 am
I would love to read this book!
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 am
Count me in!
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 am
Would LOVE to win…please enter me. THANKS
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 am
Wow! This sounds like a refreshing book about pregnancy. I am pregnant now and could use something that doesn’t reflect on doom and gloom. Also, my sister is trying to get pregnant so this one would be passed around!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:09 am
I totally agree with the author–I wasn’t a fan of the What to Expect books either. Seems like they are considered the “staple” of pregnancy books, but I really preferred the more down to earth ones. This book sounds like it would fit the bill!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:38 am
my daughter is expecting her first~great gift
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:01 am
thanks for the contest
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
Great gift is seems everyone at work is having a baby…..
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Please enter me
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
looks like a great book.
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
this looks like a book i NEED to read so much to know
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I have a friend expecting her first baby that this book would be good for!
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Sounds like a great book!
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Wow!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
sounds like a great book
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
This sounds like a great book. I like that it tells you to enjoy yourself whilr being prgnant and not to worry about all the sstuff that could go wrong. Would love this for my daughternlaw.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
That’s awesome. I enjoy reading her blog…and yours!
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
This book looks excellent. I hope I win. Thanks so much!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I would like to read this, we are trying to concieve.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Finally after so many failures, my DD is pregnant! yeah! So happy for them, this looks like it is a top read and taking the place of what to expect when expecting. Thanks for the special book!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
cool book
May 24th, 2008 at 6:51 am
LOL I wish someone would have told me the “real deal” on pregnancy when I was first pregnant…
I blogged you on Prize-A-Tron as well!
http://www.prizeatron.com
May 24th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I work in the nurse’s office at a high school. This book would be a great resource for the pregnant teens that we see.
May 24th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I teach a class at Sunday school for teenage boys and girls. This would be a great thing since we have a couple girls that got into trouble…
May 24th, 2008 at 10:18 am
THANK YOU GOD BLESS
May 24th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Thank You!
May 24th, 2008 at 10:55 am
WOW sounds like a great read, I’d love to win this and of course pass it on to the next preggo Mommy! I’m preggo right now, 6 months along!
May 24th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Sounds great. Thanks for the chance.
May 25th, 2008 at 7:43 am
thanks
May 25th, 2008 at 8:28 am
like to win this
May 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
enter me
May 25th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
It would be nice to to hear the positives!
May 25th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
My first pregnancy was unplanned, so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would have liked. We’re planning on getting pregnant again next year and I’m so excited about the whole process–trying to get pregnant, wearing maternity clothes, being pregnant! This book would be a great place to start since it sounds so positive!
May 25th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
This would be great to see what I have to look forward to with my husband very soon.
May 26th, 2008 at 8:05 am
This would be a great gift for my best friend who is expecting!
May 26th, 2008 at 8:20 am
We are trying! This would happy in the process!
May 26th, 2008 at 10:36 am
This is a great book for me Im pregnant with my first and nothing is going like it says in my What to expect when expecting book. Im always at the bookstore looking for something like this. I want a book that can be encouraging and fun to read because at this time in my life/pregnancy I need it.
May 26th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
sound like a good read count me in
May 27th, 2008 at 2:39 am
My sister just found out she’s due in January and NEEDS THIS BOOK! Her midwife gave her WTWWYE, I told her to throw it out!! Thanks for the giveaway!!
May 27th, 2008 at 6:44 am
This sweepstakes has been featured on Sweepstakes Advantage, http://www.sweepsadvantage.com. The Web’s Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes. Good Luck to Everyone!
May 27th, 2008 at 8:10 am
My daughter just found out she’s pregnant, possibly with twins, and I’d love to give her this book.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I’d love to have this on hand - we’re getting married and will start a family soon after!
May 27th, 2008 at 10:17 am
I would love to win this and give it to my cousin who is going to have a baby.
May 27th, 2008 at 10:47 am
This looks great! I’ll need it one day here in the near future! Thanks for a great offer! :o)
May 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
enter me!
May 27th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Sounds great!
May 27th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I want to win!
May 27th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
a positive book is a real positive. count me in. thanks.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
My sister just found out she is expecting,so this would make a great gift!
May 28th, 2008 at 4:48 am
MAKE ME A WINNER!!!!
May 28th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Thanks for including me
May 28th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I work at a fertility clinic and would love to read this book. I, myself will be trying to get pregnant sometime next year. Once I’m done reading it I will pass the book on to friends and co-workers.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
lovely book (and author!)
May 28th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
sounds like a positive book
May 28th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I’d love to give this book to my coworker/friend. She’s pregnant with her first child and I know she’d appreciate it!
May 28th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Sweet niblets!
May 28th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Love to give it to the wife. Hint, hint…
May 28th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
She is so amazing. I have to agree with her about the What to Expect book. I wasn’t a big fan of it either. I just find a lot of the advice that I use online. It would be great to have a book with those kinds of things in it!
May 28th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I would love to win.
Thanks so much!
May 28th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
ty 4 the great contest! I would like to win this book 4 my daughter!
May 28th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
“The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy.”
* * * * * The Perfect Gift! * * * * *
May 28th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
I hate people who focus on the “fear factor”, I would love to read this book and pass it along to my friends who will become Mom’s
May 29th, 2008 at 4:20 am
I’d love to win this
May 29th, 2008 at 7:34 am
I am a Charge Nurse on a High Risk OB unit…..I would love to win this book to add to our library of books for patients to read! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
May 29th, 2008 at 7:36 am
please enter me
May 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Please enter me
May 29th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I have the “What to expect book…” and is way to medical. Need something more down to earth.
May 29th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
“The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy.”
* * * * * A Great Gift! * * * * *
May 29th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
please enter me!
May 29th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Sounds like a great read!
May 29th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Would love this for my daughter in law
May 29th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
The insights to pregnancy with education, information and practicality. Many Thanks SW
May 29th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I would love to give this book to my friend.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
This would make a great gift for my expectant niece.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!