Friday Update 7/30

It must be awfully boring checking in every week and reading about how overburdened I am, but that's my life these days. I can't say I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but there are moments when I can look at my To Do list and not have an anxiety attack. So that's something, anyway.

But to recap, I was in Massachusetts last weekend, staying with some of my favorite people in the world. Spent the bulk of this week taking care of details for the youngest's bat mitzvah and the oldest's transition plan for the fall. Then my husband's car broke down, and immediately after that I realized my car was due for a NY State inspection. It got a little complicated. And in between I was fielding calls from my agent about a very exciting development I can't yet disclose. Stay tuned!

Have a great weekend. I have to get back to addressing envelopes ...

The missing Friday update ...

Sorry I went so utterly silent. I spent Friday getting to a friend's house in Massachusetts and was then busy playing all weekend. (For the record, they treated me like a queen .. and I'd love them to pieces even if they hadn't!)

Now I'm back to the chaos I've been mired in the last couple of months. Light at the end of the tunnel, I think.

Meanwhile, tonight will be a ray of lovely dusky light. There's a great outdoor reading at the Schoolhouse Green in Oceanside. It's called the Summer Gazebo Reading Series, and I'll be joining Saralee Rosenberg, Brenda Janowitz and Reed Farrell Coleman. Starts at 7 and the weather is great, so if you're on Long Island, bring a lawnchair and come on down. Click here for directions.

That's it for now. Please come back again soon ... lots going on with THE OTHER LIFE and I'm eager to share news as it comes in. For now, please click and "like" the Facebook page for Milk & Ink, an upcoming anthology where women writers (including yours truly) explore the depths of motherhood.

Speaking of Facebook, one last thing ... if you're on the site and we're not already friends, I hope you'll send me an invite! Click here.

Friday Update 7/16

Another chaotic week, most of it too personal or just too boring to share. But here's a very click-heavy list of highlights ...

• Had my sister here with us last week, which was fun. Great to see the nephews! (Hi Austin. Hi Henry.)

• My pal Debbi Honorof, book columnist for Long Island Woman Magazine, invited a group of local authors, including yours truly, to submit summer reading book reviews. You can see the digital version of the magazine here. Click though to page 10 and then click "enlarge."

FYI, my selection was NOSE DOWN, EYES UP by Merrill Markoe.

• My agents sold German rights to THE OTHER LIFE. Great news!

• My friend Robin Slick has a wonderful blog entry about Tish Cohen's new book, THE TRUTH ABOUT DELILAH BLUE. Click it!.

• The newest addiction in our house: THE AKINATOR. Think of a famous person and then click in. It'll freak you out.

• You really must listen to this audio clip. It's a review of my pal Susan Henderson's forthcoming book, UP FROM THE BLUE. I agree with every word this reviewer says.

• So BOOK HAMPTON  has a reading lineup this Saturday from three authors I've actually met. Susan Isaacs is at their East Hampton store at 5. (I'm dying to read her new book and wish I could make this!) Jill Zarin of Real Housewives of NYC is at South Hampton at 5. (We met in an elevator at Penguin.) And Andrew Gross is at East Hampton at 7. (Hubby and I will likely be at that one.)

Have a great weekend ...

Mel Gibson is NOT coming to Applewood

If you're one of my readers, you already know that my first book, SECRET CONFESSIONS OF THE APPLEWOOD PTA, is about three women who conspire to get a George Clooney movie filmed in their children's schoolyard. You might even know that the book was originally titled GEORGE CLOONEY IS COMING TO APPLEWOOD. But you probably don't know that back in 2000, when I first conceptualized the story, George Clooney wasn't the only star I considered using as the object of desire. Indeed, back then he was not the mega-watt Hollywood god he is today, and I considered a number of other equally famous leading men, including Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Costner, Tom Cruise and yes, Mel Gibson.

Can you imagine? In light of recent news (listen to the clip, if you haven't already), the only appropriate book title I can come up with for his name is MEL GIBSON IS A BIG, FAT, ABUSIVE, SOCIOPATHIC, RACIST, PIG IDIOT WHO DESERVES TO ROT IN A FETID CELL.

Okay, I'll shut up now.

Friday Update 7/9/10

Back home after a much-needed vacation. I feel like I've been rebooted. Here's the latest ...

• One step forward and two steps back with the book cover for THE OTHER LIFE. They designed a beautiful cover I fell in love with, but for one reason or another the smart folks at Putnam decided it wasn't quite right for the book. I haven't seen anything new yet and I'm VERY anxious about this.

• The book is now listed in the Putnam catalog, with a placeholder cover. Click here if you want to check it out. I'm excited about the company I'm in!

• Can someone please tell me why on earth Newsday would print this this ill-informed letter from some fool who doesn't understand that there's a difference between anaphylactic shock and allergies that make you uncomfortable? She thinks airlines banned peanuts to be PC. Idiot.

• Our long weekend in Nantucket was glorious. God, but that place is seductive. Big shout-out to by bro and s-i-l for being such spectacular hosts.

• Hard to wrap my mind around how much laundry the trip generated. How does 5 people x 5 days = 4000 pounds of dirty clothes?

• I updated my homepage with new copy. Check it out.

• Do you know what drowning looks like? I sure didn't, until I read this article (thanks to agent blogger Janet Reid)


• Addictive Time Waster of the Week: Think of a famous person or character and click here to play this game.

• Reminder: Are you on my mailing list? If not, please click here and sign up. Thanks!! (Please note that getting this blog via email does not mean you're on my mailing list. Two separate entities.)

• After a month-long hiatus I'm back to work on FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER. I have have ambitious plans for progress this summer. Stay tuned ...

Have a great weekend!

Friday Update 7/3

Due to excessive fun and relaxation, there will be no Friday Update this week. Check in next week for posts and pics.

Have a happy and safe!