Friday Update

Sorry I didn't update last week. I was in a funk for reasons I can't even remember. Pretty quiet this week but I'll give it a shot ...

• A friend recently asked if I was done with my book. That's not as easy to answer as you might think, since there are layers of "done" for a novelist. So I guess I'm at layer 26b, which means that I edited the manuscript per my editor's notes and turned it in. Now I wait to hear from her, anticipating at least one more round of edits ... and hope they're minor.

• Just finished reading HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG by Andre Dubus III, and I'm still reeling. Powerful.

• Speaking of powerful, Laila Lalami's new book, SECRET SON, releases today. Can't wait to get my hands on it. Check out the trailer.

• If you're a writer, there are two sites you must bookmark if you haven't already: Writer Beware and Preditors & Editors. Run by authors Ann Crispin and Victoria Strauss, these sites are devoted to helping writers avoid scammers and other con artists. I've been recommending these sites for years, and was glad to see my favorite agent blogger behind the cause today.

• On the homefront, grueling few weeks as my daughter worked on a heritage project for school. Yesterday she turned it in. May I have my dining room table back now please?

• This morning is my parent-teacher conference at her school. Judging from her report card I'll be hearing all good news, but I want to talk about the little brat boy who's been plaguing her all year. I don't think it's cute. At all.

• My son Ethan's been sick all week, poor kid. Doctor said it's a virus, so he just has to tough it out.

• Speaking of doctors, I had my annual gyn exam yesterday and spent the rest of the day trying to recover from his dismissive attitude. I'm sure there are wonderful male gynecologists out there in the world, but I'm so done with them. Over and out.

• Exciting events coming up this week: brunch with FADE author Lisa McMann and big Passover shindig (also known as Seder) at my house. (Donna--bring dessert!)

• Last weekend was the big MEET THE AUTHORS TEA at the Hofstra University Club, courtesy of The Transition Network and book columnist Debbi Honorof. This deserved its own blog post, but I was too caught up in edits (and wasting time on Facebook). At any rate, it was one of my favorite events ever. I shared with panel with Long Island authors Saralee Rosenberg, Brenda Janowitz and Carol Hoenig. Thanks to insightful questions from Debbi and a smart, engaged audience, it was a delight from start to finish. For more details, check out Saralee's blog.