Friday Update 8/27

My oldest had his wisdom teeth out on Monday, poor kid. But he really did very well with it. Third day was the worst ...

Mostly hung around the house this week, and actually got a bit of writing done. Did manage to get into NYC on Wednesday to have lunch with a fabulous and famous film critic who agreed to assist with research for my work-in-progress (my protag is a movie reviewer). I'm a lucky gal to have such help.

If you haven't yet clicked into the new Girlfirends Book Club blog, I hope you'll do so today. It was my first turn at blogging there and I'd love it if you'd leave a  comment! Thanks.

Have a great weekend.

Happy Birthday, Dorothy Parker!

For my muse, with humblest apologies ...




"Resume Redone"
By Ellen Meister

TV bores you;
The web is a fright;
Your spouse ignores you;
And hobbies are trite.
Films are offensive;
Gardens weed;
Shopping's expensive;
You might as well read.

Friday Update 8/20

I want my summer back, damn it. It slipped through my fingers like it was never here at all.

But okay, here's my week in review ...

• The writing news is that I had a great epiphany about my work-in-progress, FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER. I've had so little time to work this summer that it was tremendously exciting to be visited by a fresh new idea. So I'm trying my damnedest to carve out time to write.

• Here's a news flash: THE GIRLFRIENDS BOOK CLUB blog has officially launched. It's brought to you by the 35 women authors who formerly formed the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit. We'll be blogging at this new spot on a rotating basis, and I hope you'll bookmark it.

• Speaking of blogs, a big thanks to writer Jill Thomas for blogging about SECRET CONFESSIONS OF THE APPLEWOOD PTA!

• On Monday I went to one of my favorite bookstores, Book Revue, to see one of my favorite authors, Susan Isaacs. She talked about her newest novel,  AS HUSBANDS GO. It was a great appearance and I can hardly wait to read my autographed copy!


• Still need to stall a bit on my big publishing news. But in the meantime, click here to read my publisher's promo blurb for THE OTHER LIFE. But keep in mind that the cover image shown is just a placeholder. Hope to have the final cover soon!

Have a great weekend.

Friday Update 8/13

Happy Friday the 13th! Here's the latest ...

• The young 'uns finish camp today, which means my summer is, effectively, over, and I never got a moment to relax (except for one memorable weekend in Nantucket). I expect to collapse sometime in January, so stayed tuned for that, at very least.

• Last weekend I met with photographer Hy Goldberg of Visions Photography to get a new author photo done. We did an outdoor shoot and a couple of days later he gave me a disk with about 90 images. I picked six faves and showed them around before settling on two. (My editor wants one for the book jacket and one for miscellaneous publicity purposes.) I'm so happy with them! Here they are:

• In case you didn't notice, I just made myself a new blog banner using one of the above.

• Special shout-out to Brenda Janowitz for recommending the very talented photographer, Hy Goldberg.

• Another special shout-out to Taryn Rosenberg, who is also a mega-talented local photographer!

• The kids' desktop computer got crippled by a virus this week and I had to hire a techie to come in and fix it. Do you know that Norton Antivirus is just awful at protecting your computer? Seriously, you're better off with one of the free anitvirus programs you can download online.

• Can we all say a collective prayer that the sociopaths who write these viruses and send them around contract painful diseases and spend the rest of their lives in hellish agony?

• Had a wonderful barbecue here last weekend with three of my favorite families, including the Hendersons. I thoroughly enjoyed the adults, and got a huge kick out of the kids. The boys and girls actually played together. Time marches on ...

• Speaking of the Hendersons, Sue's husband made a gorgeous video trailer for her forthcoming debut novel, UP FROM THE BLUE ...



The book is every bit as extraordinary as it seems. Click here to order.

• Still sitting on my big announcement. I'm about ready to burst.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Updpate 8/6

Welcome to the better-late-than-never Friday update. Had a jammed morning of phone calls followed by an afternoon at the day camp my younger kids attend. Darling daughter was in a production of L'il Abner and it was terrific. Of course, she knocked it out of the park.

Couple of things to catch up on ...

• I never reported back after last week's Summer Gazebo Reading Series, which was absolutely perfect. Tony Iovino does an amazing job of assembling local writers and putting together the programs. Plus, he really went out of the way for us last Monday by ordering magnificent weather. (Thanks, Tony!) I read an excerpt from my forthcoming novel, THE OTHER LIFE, which made it very special for me, as it was my first public reading of that book. 


I was humbled by the lineup as the other writers--Reed Farrel Coleman, Saralee Rosenberg,  and Brenda Janowitz--were spectacular. Click here to see pics.


• Went to a bbq at my sister-in-law's last weekend, and have to give a shout-out to her significant other, Adam, a trained chef who can cook like nobody's business. His food is always worth the calories. Indeed, I'm never on a diet when he's cooking. And of course, I'd have a great time with those guys even if there was no food involved.


• Another shout-out to Debbi Honorof for taking me, Saralee Rosenberg, Carol Hoenig and Vivian Swift out to a spectacular dinner at the Crescent Club to thank us for contributing to her Long Island Woman column. Only thing missing was Brenda Janowitz, who was home sick. (Hope you're feeling better!!)


• Still trying to carve out time to actually write. This summer has been nuts. I think my hectic phase is about to pass, but alas, so too is summer. Woe is me. That deadline is going to sneak up on me.


• Not sure when I'll be able to make my big announcement, but stay tuned!


Enjoy your weekend ...