What? I have a blog? Sorry, I forgot.

Please pardon me for not being like those other authors. You know them, the ones who have it all together, effortlessly (or so it seems) cranking out at least one new book each year, while faithfully keeping his or her readers updated through their website, blog, and Myspace/Facebook/Whatever.  I haven’t logged into MySpace in so long I’ve forgotten my password.  And while connecting with readers (aka shameless self-promotion) was ostensibly the reason I joined Facebook, lately it’s those addictive word games (challenge me to Scramble, I dare you!!) that have me logging on at 2 a.m.

What does this have to do with Regis Philbin? 
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What’s a Library Worth?

Public libraries are facing tough times of late, but I was shocked and saddened to learn recently that my local library is scheduled to close next year due to city budget cuts. It seems Covina voters last year opted not to renew the city utility tax, which funds libraries, parks, and recreational facilities, among other services. Without the utility tax, the library will be forced to shut down, along with a host of other community services and even a fire station.
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proof of the intellectual abilities of monkeys

(Photo by Jamie Pham) 

A “Perfectly Plum” Giveaway

I wrote one of the essays in the new anthology, Perfectly Plum, about Janet Evanovich’s hugely popular character, Stephanie Plum. It was the first time I’ve participated in an anthology, and what a blast–all the excitement of a book release, with only 1/19th of the work!

Gorilla Suits … not always funny

Guys (or girls) in gorilla suits can be funny, especially when they appear in unexpected places. But the tuxedo-clad ape on last night’s Last Comic Standing was just sad. Read more on my Huffington Post blog, “The Gorilla’s Gotta Go.”

Zany for Zigman

As if I did not already have enough reasons to love Laura Zigman, author of one of my all-time favorite novels (Animal Husbandry), she went and wrote about me on her brant, and even posted both my book covers.  I told her if she keeps this up, my love for her will be enough to cause my husband to take legal action.
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No Laughing Matter

A few months ago I was pulled over for speeding. I’d actually seen the cruiser lying in wait, but purposely didn’t slow down, because I figured that would signal a guilty conscience. The first time I was ever pulled over—at age 16—was for going TOO SLOW in the fast lane.  I’d seen the cop behind me and froze.  So this time I deliberately maintained the speed I’d been going, which was only slightly above the posted limit of 40 (what, did you think I was a speed demon?!)  
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Haunted by Sibilants

I lisped as a child. One of my most vivid memories of elementary school—aside from falling off the monkey bars and landing face first in the dirt—is of standing in line in class while some other kids asked me to recite the classic “she sells seashells” tongue-twister. I complied, and they giggled.  They asked me to do it again.  I did, and they giggled some more.  Since to my ear, the phrase sounded perfectly fine, I thought that I just had naturally hilarious delivery. I could even make seashells funny. I was a comic genius.
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