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? 

Sometimes something so incredible happens that I feel the need to share it with everyone– friends, family, fellow writers, readers, and, really, anyone who’ll listen. That’s when I remember that I have a blog, a website, and various other oft-ignored communication channels. Then I feel renewed remorse at the lag time between postings and vow to do better in the future.

Back to Regis.  Many of you have heard about my mother’s well-meaning but insane attempts at fixing me up back when I was single. Her most outlandish effort involved Michael Gelman, the producer of Regis and Kelly. Mom sent letter after letter to the show, urging him to ask me out, but to her mounting frustration, Gelman never called. My story about her misguided matchmaking attempts is the opening tale in the anthology, Have I Got a Guy for You: What Really Happens When Mom Fixes You Up, published by Polka Dot Press earlier this year.

On Friday, August 1, just as I was about to hop in the car and head off on a mountain vacation, I started getting e-mails from friends alerting me that Regis Philbin had read bits of my essay on that morning’s episode of “Live with Regis & Kelly.” After beating myself up for not watching the show, I managed to view it via the show’s website. In a lengthy and hilarious segment, Regis read several excerpts, and both he and Kelly kidded Gelman about his swinging single days. 

Unfortunately, Regis never mentioned my name as author of the story. He referred to me as “the girl” a few times, and gave due credit to the book’s editor, the lovely Alix Strauss. My mother (aka “Phyllis is Florida”) also got repeated mention, but not me. This isn’t surprising, as Life long ago voted me the Girl Most Likely to Have Her Name Inadvertently Omitted from Her _________ (fill in Yearbook, Play Program, or Wedding Announcement here). I really can’t complain, as hearing Regis read my story was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, and those who know me or my Mom (or buy the book), know the truth.

To watch the segment, click here, then click on the play button.

 –The Girl