The May Queen's 3 Things Before 40

The Envelope Please...

2006-10-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

Drumroll. I am very happy to announce the winners of our 3 Things Before 40 Contest. The winners will receive a signed copy of The May Queen with my gratitude for expressing interest in our little contest.

Congratulations to Gena Hymowech of Brooklyn, Linda Good of San Francisco, and Kelly Bridget McHugh of Fort Edward, New York.

Gena’s 3 Things:
1. Get paid what I am worth
2. Be able to marry my girlfriend legally (I am a girl)
3. See the end of terrorism

Linda’s 3(4) Things:
1. Run a marathon
2. Finish a short story collection (and by that, I don't mean I'll be soliciting money for a short story, although now that I think of it, that could work, too)
3. Learn French, Spanish, and the Guitar
4. Sing onstage -- and not karaoke

Kelly’s 3 Things:
1. Climb the highest mountain in New York State
2. Finish my dissertation
3. Buy more land

Editing The May Queen took me on a journey. I met some incredible women during the many months I spent reading and compiling the essays for the collection. Thankfully, I found a generous and persistent agent who worked very hard to sell the book to my editor. Along the way, I learned a lot about the business of creating a book.

Writing this blog has been a fun way to share some of my passions, adventures, and thoughts about the anthology. Now that I have committed to teaching a class with the Families For Literacy program as a part of Marin Literacy Program, I will have much less time for blogging. So I'm afraid it's time to stop for now. I always love to hear what people think of The May Queen. So please email me and let me know. Thanks for reading and be sure to join us on November 6 at Madrone Lounge!

Get The Scoop

2006-10-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

One of Kim's many blogs is Style Scoop- a delicious boule of what's cool in fashion and a part of her day job with FIDM. She conducted a really fun interview and walk down memory lane with me. I mention among other topics my lingering sentimental attachment to certain old clothes and my style icon, the Great Kate Hepburn. This is a publicity shot of KH as Tracy Lord in her delightful film The Philadelphia Story- one of my all-time favorites. I have a signed letter from her in response to a fan letter (a high school assignment) I sent back in 1989. On her embossed stationery, it reads in red at the top, "Katharine Houghton Hepburn V-31-1989 Dear Ms. Richesin --Thank you for your enthusiasm" -- signed Katharine Hepburn. I can't tell you how thrilled I was to receive her letter.
A worthy cause forwarded to me this morning that Kim read on Daily Candy. We should all support Spa Radiance's efforts.

A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

2006-10-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

I finally saw the trailer for Fur in a theatre last night. It's an eerie fantasy come to live. Can't wait!

Sometimes The Darkness Moves Through You

2006-10-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago, a package mysteriously appeared on my doorstep at my Panhandle apartment in San Francisco. When I opened it, a copy of Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49 tumbled out. I thought it was odd, but placed the small volume on the shelf with my other books and really thought nothing more of it. Until now. We're reading the novel for our book club this month. From the back cover, The highly, original satire about Oedipa Mass, a woman who finds herself enmeshed in a worldwide conspiracy, meets some extremely interesting characters, and attains a not inconsiderable amount of self-knowledge. Was the anonymous package sender trying to tell me something- do I play a part in the conspiracy? Or perhaps now I'm finally ready for the deep self-knowledge reading this book will impart to me.

Now for a poem by Dean Young that he wrote for Brenda Hillman.

Bright Window
I was born through a bright window.
Winged faces, docile lions, the usual
heliocentric wires. The gods loved playing
tricks then, festooned with rags,
making the wine dregs pour forever,
switching the reels so midway through
Children of Paradise, Wile E. Coyote
creams himself again. Meep, meep,

everyone in a hurry in clouds of ink
like frightened squid. I had a friend
who spun in the rain until her makeup
melted and a scar remains on my retina.
I had a friend who thought the secret
was in turning a turntable backwards.
One pill made you stronger, one pill
and you could fly. I had a friend
who crashed us through a cornfield
and all the husks could do was sing
but that was all right, it was singing
that mattered to us, had weight,
occcupied space, in motion tended
to stay in motion, at rest rest.

You start with a darkness to move through
but sometimes the darkness moves through you.

I loved those cold May mornings
stalling the wisteria,
none of the oils yet, just sketch,
the million buds of I don't know what
waiting by the stairway where no one's crying
yet, or laughing, not one leap yet in the dance,
it's almost impossible to be afraid,
the furnace kicking on one last time,
the animal dragging itself a short way
from its birth.

Sometimes I sit for hours watching people
struggle with the big glass doors,
trying to fit small lids on large cups.

You can't have it back, says the fire
affectionately. You never needed it
anyway, promises the earth.

From Skid

Crazy Water and Cookies

2006-09-30T14:41:00.000-07:00

At the top of my holiday wish list this season is Diana Henry's Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons cookbook. The Mediterranean recipes are grouped by theme, so that every chapter has recipes that share common ingredients and have whimsical names like Fruits of Longing, Of Sea and Salt, and Fragrance of the Earth. Some of the mouth-watering recipes include: Duck Breast with Walnut and Pomegranate Sauce Lavender, Baked Sweet Potatoes with Marinated Feta and Black Olives, Roast Lamb stuffed with Figs, and Spiced Quinces with Crema Catalana.
Another cookbook I have enjoyed drooling over is Plenty by Sarah McLachlan's personal chef Jaime Laurita. When you need a little boost to help you write, these scrumptious cookies do the trick.

Writer's Block Oatmeal Cookies
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, slightly softened
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup raisins*
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Combine brown sugar and butter in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (1 to 2 minutes). Add eggs, water and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes). Reduce speed to low. Add all remaining ingredients except oats and raisins; beat until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes). Stir in oats and raisins by hand.
2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely.* Substitute chocolate chips.
Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Coming Soon To A Theatre Near You

2006-09-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

I am eagerly awaiting the November 10 release of MQ Erin Cressida Wilson's new film Fur. Also in November, Erin's piece Milk Dress: A Nursing Song from The May Queen will appear in Nerve's new online magazine for the urban parent. The first issue will feature Erin's story among other personal essays, a few columns, and a blog. Regular columns will include bad parenting, childbirth memoirs, and tales of the worst advice offered by parents and friends. Look for it then!

Speaking of Fur's unusual leading man Mr. Downey who co-starred in another fantastic film Wonder Boys six years ago... I just finished Michael Chabon's fantastic romp and soul search through academia and adulthood responsbility for a mostly stoned, washed-up codger daylighting as a professor and one-time author. Chabon is a master of metaphor and as Kim so aptly put it, "I know, something about his writing is just so... sexy. " I couldn't agree more.

Tales of Motherhood

2006-09-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

As a mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, I have taken great comfort (both pre and post Lily's birth) in certain motherhood books. When my mama friends recently recommended their current favorite Mother Shock to me, I fondly recalled all the books that helped me along my road to becoming a mom. I haven't gotten to this one yet, but here is my list of books on motherhood that one shouldn't miss.

Mothers Who Think: Tales of Real-Life Parenthood- From Salon editors, Camille Peri and Kate Moses (I also adored Kate's book Wintering about an imagined period in Sylvia Plath's life), these are thoughtful stories from women in the thick of their lives as mothers.

Because I Said So: 33 Mothers Write About Children, Sex, Men, Aging, Faith, Race, and Themselves- In their follow-up collection of personal essays, the contributors tackle weightier issues. I was quite taken and deeply moved by Mariane Pearl and Kate Moses's stories.

Spiritual Midwifery- Written by Ina May Gaskin of The Farm in Summertown, TN, this is an instructional manual any pregnant woman would do well to add to her library. I especially loved the photos and personal stories by the families who Ina May helped to deliver their babies on the commune.

Increase- This is a lyrical journal by poet Lia Purpura during her pregnancy. A luminating and deeply reverent book.

Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year- Annie Lamott always writes at her best and most amusingly when she writes of her own personal journey as she does in Bird by Bird. With her deadpan, self-deprecating voice, you feel as if you're reading the experience of an old friend whom you wish you still knew. This book is a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of all the feelings and adjustments one must go through as a first-time mother.

Claiming The Golden Fleece

2006-09-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women, a production of Cultural Odyssey, develops original productions that demonstrate their vision of arts as social activism. In 1989, on the basis of material developed while conducting classes at the San Francisco County Jail, Rhodessa Jones created Big Butt Girls, Hard Headed Women, a performance piece based on the lives of the incarcerated women she encountered. During the work's creation, Jones and jail officials discovered issues that were specific to female inmates such as guilt, depression, and self-loathing, which arose in response to feelings of failure in the face of community. Based on this observation, Jones founded the Medea Project to explore whether an arts-based approach could help reduce the numbers of women returning to jail. Five years ago, I was amazed by the inmate performers' energy and talent in their production. Their stories were heartbreakingly raw and moving.

The Medea Project's latest creation My Life in the Concrete Jungle is directed by Rhodessa Jones in collaboration with The Idris Ackamoor Ensemble featuring special guests Ise Lyfe, Cheryl Scales, and female inmates from San Francisco County Jail #8. Performances begin on October 26 at The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Click here for more information.

Dishing The Dirt

2006-09-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

My friend Emily and I are heading to Berkeley tonight to see MQ Ayun Halliday read from her deliciously fun memoir Dirty Sugar Cookies. Ayun will also appear at Borders in Union Square tomorrow night at 7. I met Ayun at our May Queen reading at BookCourt in Brooklyn back in April. I look forward to diving into her tasty cooking adventures. Her food blog is a hilarious tour de gorge as well. Step aside Betty Crocker!

Monday, September 25, 7:30pm Reading & Signing Black Oak Books 1491 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA510-486-0698

Tuesday, September 26, 7:00pm Reading & Signing Borders Union Square 400 Post Street San Francisco, CA 415-399-1633

Upcoming Reading at Madrone Lounge

2006-09-22T09:38:00.001-07:00

Big news! TMQ contributors Kim Askew, Michelle Richmond, and Samina Ali will join forces (wondertwins activate: Form of Gigantic PARTY of fun) with the good people of the Before The Mortgage anthology including their newly wed and esteemed co-editor Christina Amini and contributors Catherine Price, Shoshana Berger, Ariana Lamorte, and David Kolek. The fun begins at 7pm on Monday, November 6 at Madrone Lounge in San Francisco. We'll have free giveaways and delicious goodies for everyone. Sharpie it in your calendars!

California Dreamin'

2006-09-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

I discovered the wondrous art galleries in the Oakland Museum of California quite by accident. They are filled with treasures from all manner of California artists. Two artists who immediately captured my imagination were Arthur and Lucia Mathews. The two ran a furniture shop in San Francisco where they produced works of exquisite craftsmanship rarely equaled by today's shoddy manufacturing standards. They also created other exceptionally fine works of art- murals, illustrations, and paintings. Their many paintings and hand-crafted furniture and frames exemplify the Tonalist and Art Nouveau styles. It would be incredible to get to live with one if these creations in one's own home. But for now, I'm content to enjoy their work in museums. I'm especially excited about the opening of a new exhibit California as Muse: The Art of Arthur and Lucia Mathews. To my mind, no other artists have perfectly rendered the beauty of California like the Mathews- with their images of live oak and cypress trees to fields of poppies. Their work can also be seen in Stanford University, University California at Berkeley, and the Curran Theatre, Children's Hospital and Masonic Temple in San Francisco.

"California as Muse: The Art of Arthur & Lucia Mathews" -- Curator Harvey Jones describes the couple as "among the most important rediscoveries from a long list of neglected California artists." Their muted landscapes, graceful figures and glowing painted furniture influenced generations of artists and craft workers.
• Oct. 28-March 25, Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak streets, $5-$8, 510-238-2200, www.museumca.org.

Samina Ali's 3 Things

2006-09-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

TMQ contributor Samina Ali experienced a lifetime of hardship and triumphs all before her 30th birthday. She published her novel Madras on Rainy Days, suffered two brain hemorrhages during her son Isham’s birth and thanks to her sheer determination made a complete recovery. Now looking ahead to 40, she has a few clear goals that she hopes to accomplish within the next year!

1. Take Isham to my home in India
2. Publish another novel
3. Continue my work with bringing more understanding to Islam

Although it has been addictive, I’m going to end this blog in October. So if you’d like to compete for your chance to win one of Lenore Espanola’s beautiful and environmentally-friendly handbags designed exclusively for The May Queen, please post your three things in the next few weeks!

Different Worlds Many Voices

2006-09-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

Our reading at Book Passage last Thursday night was a great success. After Flor Morales read her piece from TMQ, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Marin Literacy Program hosted the event as a way to honor students who read from their anthology of writings Different Worlds Many Voices. We also had the rare treat of seeing a video of inmates at San Quentin reading their stories and poetry.

Flor reading from TMQ above. Many thanks to our friends in the packed audience including my sister-in-law Ginette King, Jennifer Carden, and Kala Venugopal.
Flor signing a copy of Different Worlds Many Voices above. Susan Charlton the woman who matched Flor and I four years ago was promoted to Program Director. She gave a very heartfelt speech about the importance of the work MLP does in our county. I was honored to meet Elaine Petrocelli who kindly presented me with embossed, personalized stationery as a gift. Quite a sweet surprise. After the event, we met many interesting tutors and students alike. Photos courtesy of Paul Kagawa Photography photo@paulkagawa.com.

Serve It Forth

2006-09-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Consider The Oyster, Serve It Forth, The Gastronomical Me, How To Cook A Wolf. These were just a few of the whimsical titles of Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher's genius works. Many have said she was the greatest American writer of her time. Although I think that's quite a compliment, it's one whose boots I think she could have more than adequately filled.

On a glorious spring morning four years ago, my hubby and I trekked through the Bouverie Audubon Preserve in search of MFK's last residence. She had a small cottage on the grounds that I tried to spy over the fields of wildflowers as it's not open to the public. We did manage to hike to the lovely waterfall where her ashes were scattered. The canyon ranch in Sonoma is an enchanting spot- especially in the spring.

MFK Fisher forever changed the landscape of culinary writing. There are many great food writers today- such as Nigella Lawson and Ruth Reichl- but they're really no match for her supreme talent. She was a masterful storyteller who somehow turned eating into a divine art form. TMQ contributor Ashley Warlick is at work on a book about MFK Fisher and I'm breathless with anticipation. Mary Frances once said, When I write of hunger, I am really writing about love and the hunger for it, and warmth and the love of it and it is all one.

Nobody Does It Better

2006-09-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

No one has saved me more in the kitchen than that adorable cockney moppet, Mr. Oliver. I grew up sort of constantly being shooed out of the kitchen and with pseudo-gourmet chefs for a mother and sister, I felt very intimidated in the culinary arena. Jamie puts one at ease and makes cooking both simple and fun. He champions feeding kids better as well. Here are two of my favorites to prepare from his "cracking" recipes:

FRENCH BEAN SALAD
SERVES 4
4 handfuls of French beans, stalk ends removed
2 to 3 heaped teaspoons of French mustard, to taste
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
7 tablespoons extra virgin oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 medium shallot, peeled and finely chopped
optional: 1 tablespoon capers
1/2 clove of garlic, finely grated
Bring a pan of water to the boil, add the beans, put a lid on the pan and cook for at least 4 to 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, put the mustard and vinegar into a bowl and, while stirring, add the olive oil to make a good French dressing. Season carefully with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, then add the finely chopped shallot, the capers if using, and the garlic.
Drain the the beans. While they are steaming hot, this is the perfect moment to dress them as they will take on more of the dressing than when cold. Serve as a salad in its own or as an accompaniment to a main meal.
I also enjoy preparing his FANTASTIC FISH PIE. Truly British and pukkah!

A reminder to those in the SF Bay Area: Flor Morales and I will appear at Book Passage tonight as part of a fundraiser for the Marin Literacy Program. Here are the details:
Andrea Richesin and Flor Morales will read from The May Queen
Event takes place in the gallery
Thurs., Sept. 14, 7:00 pm
Book Passage in Corte Madera

Savory Memoirs

2006-09-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

In Ruth Reichl's Tender at the Bone, she explains how her life-long obsession and love affair with food began. From her formative years to her days living in a Berkeley commune and the beginning of her writing career, she shares her fondest memories of preparing and consuming her favorites. Her follow-up memoir Comfort Me With Apples is a more adult exploration of her life, but she shares her same open-hearted, self-depecrating charm. In her last book Garlic and Sapphires, she brings us along to the restaurants she reviews-- only she's in disguise. Reichl creates wildly innovative getups, becoming Brenda, a red-haired aging hippie, to test the food at Daniel; Chloe, a blonde divorcée, to evaluate Lespinasse; and even her deceased mother, Miriam, to dine at 21. Such elaborate disguises—which include wigs, makeup, thrift store finds and even credit cards in other names—help Reichl maintain anonymity in her work, but they also do more than that. "Every restaurant is a theater," she explains. Each one "offer[s] the opportunity to become someone else, at least for a little while. Restaurants free us from mundane reality." Reichl's ability to experience meals in such a dramatic way brings an infectious passion to her memoir.

“Life itself is the proper binge.”

2006-09-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

Or so said Julia Child. Julie Powell faced her 30th birthday in a bit of a muddle- she had a dead-end job and little prospects for the future. In despair, she gave herself a challenge- 524 recipes in 365 days in 1 tiny apartment in Long Island City. She eventually would turn her popular blog, detailing the highs and lows of cooking her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, into the book Julie & Julia. Through her devoted minions of “bleaders” who were all atwitter about her work, an online folk heroine was born. Although I did not read her blog, I appreciated her down-home Texan charm and the confessional mayhem that ensues throughout her book. Julie seems so vulnerable and brave schlepping to and from work and trying to make it on her own terms. If you love reading cooking memoirs a la MFK Fisher, this book comes highly recommended. You can also read a review by MQ Ashley Warlick for Talk Greenville.

Hey, Good Lookin’. What Ya Got Cookin’?

2006-09-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

It’s theme week here again at The May Queen's 3 Things. This time around we're focused on what’s cooking in your kitchen or more importantly-- cookbooks. Cookbooks are a passion of mine- not cooking so much as cookery writing. I wistfully gaze over the mouth-watering photos and dream about throwing lavish parties or more often than not enjoying a big bowl of soup next to a little fire. I’m crazy about English chefs (yes, English!) like Nigella, Jamie, and best of the bunch, Tamasin Day-Lewis. I adore her. She’s a brilliant writer and I’m mad about her books. Here’s a list of my favorites in order:
1. West of Ireland Summers: A Cookbook—Ah the writing in this book is so lovely and a true tribute to Tamasin’s love of her father who introduced her to Ireland. She rekindles the sights, sounds, smells and, above all, the tastes of her family holidays since childhood. I really can’t wait to bake her chocolate hazelnut cake.

2. Tamasin’s Weekend Food- From the Introduction, If you need to rediscover the pleasures of weekend cooking I hope this book will do it for you…It should suit your every mood from the taxed and harassed what-shall-I-cook tomorrow to instant I-want-it-now gratification, to what can I cook tonight, eat tomorrow, rehash the next day. The weekend starts here.

3. Tarts With Tops On or How to Make the Perfect Pie- It has a cheeky title, but this book is a celebration of the pie- savory, traditional, apple, American, and sweet.

4. Good Tempered Food: Recipes to Love, Leave, and Linger Over- A testament to the wisdom of the Slow Food Movement, “this book is filled with the food we love to eat and cook, and is all about reuniting yourself with a sense of pleasure in the kitchen, rediscovering that 'slow' and 'time taken' doesn't mean difficult.”

5. Tamasin's Kitchen Classics- Tamasin's latest book is her take on classic dishes from around the world. Among the new recipes are Saltimbocca, Steak au poivre with Potatoes Lyonnaise, Fig Sorbet, and Aunti Fei's Sour Cream Coffee Cake. Yum!

Heather Chaplin’s 3 Things

2006-09-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

MQ Heather Chaplin and her hubby Aaron Ruby coauthored a highly praised book on the videogame industry entitled Smart Bomb: The Quest for Art, Entertainment, and Big Bucks in the Videogame Revolution. Read an excerpt from NPR. Smart Bomb will be available in paperback in November. Heather has worked as a journalist for many years and likes to pose tough yet thoughtful questions not only to her subjects, but to herself.

Three things I want to do before I'm 40:
This seems an impossibly hard question! What initially comes to mind is, Figure my life out? But that's not really an answer, is it. So, I guess I would say:

1. I want to find a way to become politically active in a genuinely effective way. I am deeply, deeply concerned about the current state of affairs on a geopolitical and socioeconomic level, and I am not sure how to actually create change - change that is in a direction against increasing discrepancy of wealth between the world's richest and poorest people, and all that that implies in their lives, and against the destruction of the planet. At this point, I have almost no idea how to do this. So that's weighing heavily on me and is on my agenda.

2. I want to move into this next phase of my life - and it does feel like I'm moving into a new personal era right about now - making decisions based more on what I want and less on what I think others need from me.

3. I hope that I will have written something better than I've yet to write.

Flor Morales’s 3 Things

2006-09-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

It has been my privilege and pleasure to tutor MQ Flor Morales for the past few years. She is a great friend to me and has taught me far more than I could ever teach her. When I asked Flor what her 3 things would be, of course it was all about family. She just discovered that she is pregnant with her third child. Flor has had a little boy every seven years for the past 14-- so I'm crossing my fingers that she has the little girl she has longed for this time around.

Flor's 3 things before 40:
1. Have another another baby
2. Go to El Salvador to visit my mother, sister, and extended family
3. See my son Erick graduate from high school

Flor will read from her inspiring story Crossing the Border at Book Passage on September 14 at 7p.m. as part of a fundraiser for the Marin Literacy Program. For every copy of The May Queen sold during the event, Book Passage will contribute 20% of the cover price to Marin Literacy Program, an amount that is matched by a donation from Bank of Marin. I hope you will join us for this special evening!

Lily Burana's 3 Things

2006-09-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

I interviewed MQ Lily Burana last week for The Happy Booker. You can read our lively interview here. Lily has had huge success with her new novel, Try. I’m really enjoying reading it! She has a very entertaining blog well-worth checking out as well.

Lily’s 3 things before 40:
1. Go to the Playboy Mansion
2. Publish another book
3. Have a church wedding

Deb Norton's 3 Things

2006-09-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago, TMQ contributor Deb Norton (playwright and star of The Whole Banana) celebrated her big 4-0 by getting engaged. Congratulations Deb! Her fall classes, Freeing the Writer and 10-Minute Play Workshop begin this month. She also offers private coaching. Sign up soon!

Three things I did before turning 40:
1) Figured out how to forgive myself for even the stupidest mistakes
1a) Figured out how to forgive my parents for even the stupidest mistakes
1b) Called my father after a very long and mutually disgruntled silence
2) Figured out what I was supposed to be doing with my time here on earth
2a) Performed in a professional production of a play I had written
2b) Learned to tap dance
2c) Became a teacher
3) Figured out some things about love and being happy
3a) Got engaged (on my 40th birthday)

Tanya Shaffer’s 3 Things

2006-09-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

This week, The May Queen contributors will weigh in with their 3 things before 40. First up is Tanya Shaffer- playwright, actor, writer, Renaissance woman. Last fall, I was blown away by her new play- Baby Taj- which has elements of the same story she tells in her essay Of Sweethearts and Sperm Banks in The May Queen.
Tanya will turn 40 in two months, but she agreed to share three things she’s grateful she made time for this last decade.
Three things I’m glad I did before I turned forty:
1. Went to Africa
2. Published a book
3. Had a child
Tanya will appear at Book Passage in Corte Madera tomorrow night at 7:00 to read from her memoir, Somebody’s Heart is Burning: A Woman Wanderer in Africa, chat a bit about the process of taking things from the page to the stage, and answer questions. She might even do a teeny (very teeny) excerpt from her brilliant play Let My Enemy Live Long! So I hope you’ll join me there; it’ll be fun! This event is sponsored by the group Left Coast Writers. It’s best to contact them in advance to reserve a space – the address is leftcoastwriters@aol.com

An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

2006-09-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

Diane Arbus said, “A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.” Perhaps May Queen contributor Erin Cressida Wilson was inspired by this quote when she penned her screenplay for the upcoming feature film, Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus. The film will open at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend and Nicole Kidman will appear at the international premiere at the Rome Independent Film Festival in October. Fur is featured in the Fall Movie Preview in Entertainment Weekly. You can see a photo gallery with stills and photos from the set at Internet Movie Database. To watch the trailer, click here. Fur opens everywhere in November.

Museum Tourist

2006-09-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, The Cultured Traveler of the NYT included his favorite selections for Parisian museums off the beaten path. From his list, my top pick would be Musée Gustave Moreau (pictured above), but here’s my list of favorite spots with further recommendations for you. Sacre bleu, I want to return!

In Paris:
Palais Garnier is the most stunning palace and opera house in the world. Period. It is especially fun to roam around its balustraded floors and pretend the phantom of the opera is following you. Costumes from the opera are on permanent display and the grand theatre features a glorious ceiling by Chagall (shown above).
Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris houses examples of most of the trends in 20th-century French and European art, from Fauvism to contemporary art with all of its various disciplines (painting, sculpture, environmental art, photography, video) and more, including Cubism, the School of Paris, Arte Povera, and Conceptual Art.

Musée Rodin is set in the Hotel Biron and its surrounding gardens complete with Le Penseur and sculptures by Rodin’s lover and a fine sculptor, Camille Claudel. This is a charming yet manageable museum for a lovely afternoon when the weather is agreeable so one can enjoy the gardens.

Easy day trips outside of Paris to Versailles and Monet’s Garden in Giverny should not be missed! (Below: Monet at work in his studio.)

On the Cote d’Azur, the big three for me are these museums below.
In Nice, two fine museums with shuttle service between the two:
The Matisse Museum is situated on the hill of Cimiez, not far from the Franciscan monastery with its Italianate gardens, the Hotel Regina where he lived, and the Gallo-Roman ruins. Matisse lived here from 1918 until 1954.

The Chagall Museum has the largest collection of his impressive body of work. On display are seventeen biblical murals and a large selection of the artist's mosaics, sculptures, tapestries, and gouache works in a lovely setting.

Jean Cocteau Museum (above) is located in the seaside resort village of Menton. Cocteau designed the mosaic flooring and the bright tiling on the four turrets. Inside are Aubusson tapestries, pottery and painting, mainly executed by him. He was such a master of many art forms- film, poetry, ceramics, photography, sculpture, and Greek, Hellenic and Etruscan designs. If you haven't seen his hypnotic film La Belle et La Bête, you should rent it at once.

Bonjour Tristesse

2006-09-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

Paul Verlaine once wrote, “Il pleure dans mon coeur.” Nothing says France to me quite like the heartbreak and melancholy of its artistes. Musicians like Erik Satie epitomize this tradition. His Gymnopédies with its tenderness and fragile chords almost makes me weepy every time I hear it.

I would be terribly remiss if I failed to mention French troubadour and moody poet, Serge Gainsbourg. In a tribute album to mark the 15th anniversary of Gainsbarre's death, Monsieur Gainsbourg: Revisited, the covers include: A Song For Sorry Angel (Franz Ferdinand), I Love You (Me Either) (Cat Power), Requiem For Anna (Portishead), Those Little Things (Carla Bruni), Requiem For A Jerk (Francoise Hardy), and L’Hotel (Michael Stipe).

Jeanne Moreau, a living legend in such classic films as François Truffaut’s The Bride Wore Black and Jules et Jim, always seems to capture this same feeling at the heart of hopelessness and tragedy in her portrayals of doomed women.

Moreau went on to star as the queen of despair, Marguerite Duras, in Cet Amour-Là. A brilliant writer, Duras authored the classic L’Amant or The Lover. They were great friends (as evidenced in their mutual admiration in the above photo) and she directed Moreau in Nathalie Granger in 1972.

Other French ladies of letters- After failing at the Sorbonne, Françoise Sagan penned Bonjour Tristesse to a breathless world at 18. A Parisian for a great deal of her life, Jean Rhys, depicted such feelings of displacement and alienation especially in her masterpiece, Wide Sargasso Sea. Perhaps the most tragic story is The Story of O by Pauline Réage.

Le Petit Plaisir

2006-08-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

My dear French friend, Audrey, taught me the joy of the petit plaisir- that is, the small luxury that all French people allow themselves from time to time. The idea of the petit plaisir is that we should treat ourselves to a mini-extravagance once in a while. Here then are five little luxuries to savor in Paris.

Hot Chocolate at Angelina
Audrey introduced me to the legendary Angelina tea salon on Rue de Rivoli where Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, and Marcel Proust were frequent customers. It’s a lavish affair with Belle-Epoque mirrors and gilded moldings. The hot chocolate appears in a pitcher, with enough thick, decadent potion for at least three cups, finished off with dollops of homemade whipped cream from a silver pot. Bon appetit!

Angelina, 225 Rue de Rivoli, 8th arrondissement. Metro: Tuileries.

La Sainte-Chapelle
La Sainte-Chapelle is a jewel box of a cathedral. It has two tiers, the lower chapel at ground level is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the upper chapel has radiant tall windows, as well as a small balcony. From the website: Sainte-Chapelle was built during the second half of 13th Century by Louis IX, the future Saint Louis, to house the relics of the Passion of Christ. Adorned with a unique collection of fifteen glass panels and a large rose window forming a veritable wall of light, Sainte-Chapelle is a gem of French gothic architecture.

La Sainte Chapelle, 4 boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris Tél: 43 73 78 41, Metro: Cité

Posh Picnic
A picnic is that oh-so-Parisian way to enjoy an afternoon in the sun. Luxembourg Gardens offer long, tree-lined pathways for strolling down, the sumptuous Baroque Medici Fountain (pictured above), a merry-go-round, a puppet theater, and short but thrilling pony rides for kids. Stop at any local boulangerie or patisserie for a baguette and adorable petits-fours (miniature cakes, tarts, and eclairs). Then find some creamy cheese and a bottle of wine and you have an instant feast!

Luxembourg Gardens is located in the Latin Quarter and bordered on the east by the boulevard Saint Michel and on the north side by rue Vaugirard and the Odeon Theatre, 6th arrondissement. Metro: Odéon

Place des Vosges
Place des Vosges is Paris’s oldest square. Located in le Marais on the right bank, it’s truly one of my favorite neighborhoods. An arcade extends around the entire square including Victor Hugo’s former home. You can also shop along Rue des Francs- Bourgeois with its many restaurants and art galleries that now make their home in what were private residences in another century.

The Place des Vosges is located in le Marais, and is part of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements.

Ice cream at Berthillon
Berthillon is a long-time French institution on the Île Saint-Louis, a small island in the center of the city. They are known for their fresh ingredients and superb flavors like Grand-Marnier, Honey Nougat, and Coffee with whiskey. I recommend a homemade boule of vanilla or chocolate served with a little wafer.

Glacier Berthillon, 29-31 rue Saint Louis en l'ile, 75004 Paris, Tél: 01 43 54 31 61 Open: Wednesday through Sunday- 10am to 8pm

Savoir Faire

2006-08-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for Nicolas Ghesquière. Don’t get me wrong. I love John Galliano’s genius creations for Dior and the ad campaigns for Elie Tahari and Blumarine, but NG has single-handedly restored the beauty and grace that Cristóbal Balenciaga brought to his original house while other venerable Parisian houses like Lanvin have floundered. Long ago, before celebs toted Balenciaga motorcycle bags, there were great mavens of style like Marella Agnelli wearing his designs.
The late great fashion icon is being honored with a retrospective at Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. (Take a peek at snaps from the opening party with Charlotte G. and other luminaries.) Balenciaga first began his design empire in San Sebastian (LOVE this seaside town!) and then opened his temple of French taste on avenue George V in 1937.
His sculptural creations—including funnel-shape gowns of stiff duchess satin worn by clients such as Pauline de Rothschild and Mona von Bismarck—were considered haute couture masterpieces in the 1950s and 1960s. Hubert de Givenchy, no slouch himself, was his protégé. He closed his business in 1968 after being disillusioned with the advent of pret-a-porter. Today under the direction of Ghesquiere, Balenciaga rivals other exciting young designers like Zac Posen and Phoebe Philo for Chloé . Finalement, my current bag obsession by Frenchman and designer, Pierre Hardy. Dommage!

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? Charlotte and The Science of Sleep

2006-08-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

When Nicki asked me to guest blog about French style, Charlotte Gainsbourg immediately popped into my head. Two of my very favorite actors, Gael Garcia Bernal and Charlotte, will star in Michel Gondry's upcoming film La Science des Rêves (The Science of Sleep), which is described thusly on IMDB: "An insecure young man (Bernal) who lives in his dreams as much as in his real life attempts to establish a connection with his new neighbor (Gainsbourg)."Gainsbourg, the daughter of Serge Gainsbourg (who once said: "There's a trilogy in my life, an equilateral triangle, shall we say, of Gitanes, alcoholism, and girls.")and Jane Birkin and wife of filmmaker Yvan Attal, is a true fashion idol and the epitome of seemingly effortless chic. At 13, she recorded the controversial song "Lemon Incest" with her father and she's starred in numerous films including Jane Eyre, 21 Grams, and La Petite Voleuse (The Little Thief). --Kim

Paris, Je T’aime

2006-08-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

I’m declaring this week at TMQ's 3 Things Before 40, French Week, as all should experience the pleasure of a little French culture before they turn forty. I’ll try to include les petites trucs on cinema (below), art, museums, and the Parisian scene in the next few days. And my French friends better not laugh at me!
When I saw Un Homme et Une Femme at sixteen, I thought Anouk Aimée was the most beautiful woman in the world and I hoped to one day be as sexy and cool as her. Right. The film's score alone is worth the rental. French cinema has such a mysterious and alluring quality. It’s at once romantic and moody, and hilarious as Jean-Luc Godard’s après-sex scenes smoking cigarettes in bed.
This is just part of the reason why I am so excited for the new film Paris, Je T’aime. The original tagline was Stories of Love from the City of Love, and now it is One City. 10 Million Hearts. One Love Story. One Film. Each contributing filmmaker was given the task of making a five-minute short set in a Paris arrondissement that reflects the spirit of the neighborhood, the city, and the nature of love itself. Piece of cake, right? Many of the directors were American, like Alexander Payne, Wes Craven, Gus Van Sant, and Ethan Coen, and thus not very familiar with Paris or French culture. Even if the film is a total flop, it’s a great excuse to watch the beautiful people (Natalie Portman, Maggie Gyllenhaal) move through every neigborhood in the City of Light… and love.
Last year, Kim and I saw an incredibly moving documentary called Ballet Russes at the Balboa. I am eager to watch a similar film which should prove just as promising, Gaîté Parisienne. It stars Alexandra Danilova and her partner in life and dance, Frederic Franklin (who was also interviewed in Ballet Russes). I love that film historians and directors are preserving these great dance performances for future generations to enjoy.

And You Can Be My Cowboy

2006-08-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

I am guest-blogging for Wendi Kaufman at The Happy Booker today. Lucky me got to interview MQ Lily Burana who is white hot right now with her new novel Try. With a cowgirl heavenly review on Daily Candy and a strong lead for Nerve’s Henry Miller Award for “best literary sex scene published in the English language,” this book will certainly exceed your expectations!

Whip It Good!

2006-08-27T23:53:00.000-07:00

Here’s an amusing 15-second commercial spot for MQ Jennifer Weiner's latest The Guy Not Taken starring Jen and Susan Bott, better known as...the Swiffer Lady! From Jen’s blog:
Those of you who've read Goodnight Nobody know the role the Swiffer Lady plays in the story -- basically, she's the woman the heroine, Kate Klein, imagines when she's daydreaming about who her children, and her life in picture-perfect Connecticut, might really belong to. Susan emailed me to tell me how pleased she was to find her work dusting to Devo immortalized in print. I wrote back to tell her how thrilled I was to hear from her. So when it came time to cast the female principal for the commercial, it was an easy call. I emailed Susan, who is a very fine comedian in her own right, and asked whether she'd consider coming to Philadelphia to shoot a low-tech, low-budget, fifteen-second spot for a book in my favorite neighborhood bookstore. Astonishingly, she said 'yes.' Jen’s short story collection is coming to stores September 5th.

Cute As A Cupcake

2006-08-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

Kim and I were just recently interviewed by Rachel Kramer Bussel at Cupcakes Take The Cake. Sinfully fun! In related cupcake news, I discovered a yummy Magnolia Bakery cookbook at Green Apple Books on Wednesday night- More From Magnolia: Recipes from the World Famous Bakery and Allysa Torey's Home Kitchen. And just because I can't resist the temptation, here's the Lazy Sunday video with my man Samberg. For an extensive list of insights, references in the song, and spoofs, click here.

Jennifer Baumgardner's 3 Things

2006-08-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

I am a great admirer of Jennifer Baumgardner and the work she does. I especially love listening to her eloquently debate on NPR. You can peruse my "Girl Talk" interview with her over at The Happy Booker. These are things Jennifer wants to do before she's 40. She said, "they range from mundane to cliched to delusional!" I think they're all insanely cool.
1. Go to Switzerland.

2. Reconnect to my teenage ambitions and appear in a movie (as a character, not merely in a documentary as myself--though that is cool, too).

3. Write a screenplay.

4. Fall in love.

Misty Mountain Hop

2006-08-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like an 8,000 feet elevation gain to make you breathe easier. It feels a bit like walking on the moon. Over the weekend, my family and I went to Highland Lakes in the Sierras off Highway 4. On the way, we passed through mining and Gold Rush towns with intriguing names like Copperopolis, Angels Camp, and Murphys. After some interesting mishaps with a hummingbird and a looney mouse at home the past week, I was a bit reluctant to confront nature once again. However, the only animals we saw were a family of chipmunks living in a giant log, a marmot, a few blackbirds, and some fish. (Thank God poison oak and rattlesnakes can't exist at that elevation.) We roasted hot dogs over the fire and made smores, collected firewood and tried to show Lily how to "rough it" in the wilderness. At night, cuddling by the fire, telling stories, and snuggling in our sleeping bag were a sweet comfort. Our noble mutt, Pablo, playfully romped through the creeks and bounded through the soft meadows of wildflowers- Indian paintbrush, lupine, Alpine daisies in lavender and white, and red tear drop flowers- that carpet the valley amid rocky granite outcroppings. I highly recommend a stay near here.

Different Worlds Many Voices

2006-08-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

My good friend and MQ contributor, Flor Morales, will be reading her story from TMQ, Crossing the Border, as part of a Marin Literacy Program special event on September 14 at Book Passage. This is an important night for Marin Literacy Program. We will be honoring both the students and our new fearless leader and director, Susan Charlton. A few MLP students will also read from their new book Different Worlds Many Voices and signing them afterwards. MLP has a huge presence in Marin County with a variety of programs- inmate tutoring classes for fathers at San Quentin, F.L.A.G. Ship- a family literacy mobile unit that delivers books to kids, Families for Literacy, and tutoring classes and workshops. For every copy of The May Queen sold during the event, Book Passage will contribute 20% of the cover price to Marin Literacy Program, an amount that is matched by a donation from Bank of Marin. Please come out and support the MLP and our community on September 14.

Your Dose of Democracy, Uncensored

2006-08-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

MQ Ivy Meeropol has directed a new documentary series called The Hill that premieres on the Sundance Channel tomorrow night. The Hill will run Wednesdays at 9 p.m. in half-hour installments for six weeks. It follows U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) and four of his staff members who research foreign policy, the environment, labor, Social Security, and many other issues. Ivy knows her subject first-hand. In the early 1990s, she was a legislative assistant and speechwriter to U.S. Rep. Harry Johnston (another D-Fla.). She hopes her new series (with a score from Brendan Canty of Fugazi fame) will appeal to young people and thus make them more concerned and involved in politics. Read a Q&A with the filmmakers from Roland Park Pictures and don't forget to Tivo the show tomorrow night.

“Everyone's being horrid today, Uncle Arthur. Let's go out to tea!”

2006-08-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

I generally leave discussion of literary film adaptation to my good friends at Romancing the Tome, but I noticed that one of my all-time favorite films is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. It seems incredible that twenty years have passed since Merchant Ivory turned E.M. Forster’s breathtaking novel into the awe-inspiring film A Room with a View. From the moment, Julian Sands as George Emerson, returned to his room to turn the painting with the question mark back around, I was smitten. To my mind, this is the perfect romantic comedy. The social mores of repressed, polite Victorian society meet the liberal-minded passion of a Tuscan summer in Lucy Honeychurch's romance with her "unsuitable" suitor George Emerson. Mr. Sands plays George with a mysterious brio, playfully turning the ? frame around and then gleefully screaming at the top of his lungs "Joy! Beauty! Love!" from a treetop. The casting is perfect- from the impish Rev. Mr. Beebe played by Simon Callow and the delightful Dame Maggie Smith as Poor Charlotte Bartlett, to the lusty Dame Judi Dench as Eleanor Lavish and irrepressible Daniel Day Lewis as Cecil Vyse. I especially love that Charlotte Bartlett and Eleanor Lavish discuss the plotline of E.M. Forster's other Italian novel Where Angels Fear to Tread when on their picnic. I ordered the two-disc special edition DVD set because I never tire of watching this film. Twenty years or forty years later, it will remain a timeless classic.

My next pick for what I hope will be an exceptional romantic adaptation is Ian McEwan's masterpiece, Atonement, now filming on location in Redcar and London. The cast includes a new crop of Brit actors, Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, who will play the star-crossed lovers. The radiant Vanessa Redgrave will star as the adult Briony. I was lucky enough to see Redgrave in Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman at the Royal National Theatre in 1996. We have to wait a year for Atonement to appear in theatres, but it should be quite extraordinary and well worth the wait!

Ready For Their Close-up

2006-08-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

More snaps from our reading at Cody's Books compliments of Kat Donohue. Thanks Kat!

Kimberley Askew reading Hold Your Applause, Please

Dao Strom reading from Side of the Road

Michelle Richmond reading Getting Ready

Moms Living Clean Benefit

2006-08-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

The filmmaker Sheila Ganz (Unlocking the Heart of Adoption) is having a mini-screening and benefit for her film-in-progress, Moms Living Clean, tomorrow night. This important film reveals a positive program that supports mothers and families in crisis in our community. Moms Living Clean profiles six women as they move through residential substance-abuse treatment and transitional phases of recovery. The mothers face challenges to stay clean, learn parenting skills, and become self-sufficient. Filmed on location in San Rafael, this is a model for whole family rehabilitation for mothers and their children as an alternative to incarceration and the breaking of family ties. These intimate portraits combat the social stigma that mothers on drugs are lost to society forever. The benefit of the documentary-in-progress will screen a clip from the film and have special guests- several mothers from the film.

Friday, August 18, 7 to 9pm
111 Minna Street, San Francisco
Admission is Free ~ Seating is Limited
Hors d’oeuvres and Cash Bar

Please RSVP to unlockingheart@hotmail.com

Ganz began filming the women in April 2005 and will continue to the end of 2006. This fundraiser will help with camera and other equipment expenses, and editing the final film. If you would like to simply make a donation, click here.

The Curious Mr. McBean

2006-08-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

A retrospective, Angus McBean: Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery in London, brings together over 100 photographs including his striking surrealist portraits of the 1930s and his period as indisputably the most important photographer of theatre and dance personalities of the 1940s and 1950s. Highlights of the exhibition include the iconic 1951 photograph of the then unknown Audrey Hepburn, and also portraits of Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, and Katharine Hepburn. The exhibition also features several defining portraits of Vivien Leigh, whom McBean photographed many times over the course of their thirty-year association. The photographer’s torrid arrest and glamorous yet unapologetic lifestyle are detailed in the The Sunday Times.

Having It All

2006-08-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

When I was in my early twenties, I read Helen Gurley Brown's Sex and The Single Girl mainly out of a curiosity about the life of a liberated lady in the swinging sixties, but I was also fascinated by a woman who would go on to create a publishing empire. So I was thrilled when Colleen Rush called to interview me for her Cosmo article Everything You Need To Know About Your 30s featured in the September issue. I want to thank her for including me in such fine company. Within the section I’m quoted, Colleen argues that women, pre-pregnancy, or even during pregnancy, have legitimate fears and worries, but tend to think this is a sign that they may not be ready, or worry that these anxieties mean they're selfish, or they're too focused on what they're going to be giving up. She points out that this means they're really considering all of the angles about the decision they're making, and maybe mourning a little bit of what they might lose. The rest of the well-researched article focuses on women's health, relationships, body image, and career changes. Look for it on newsstands now.

Que Será, Será

2006-08-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, we offered a letter from a daughter to her mother, and today, we have a loving mother's letter to her daughter. After reading TMQ with her book club, Kim's mom Dianne Askew felt inspired to write this moving letter to her. Thanks, Dianne, for agreeing to share it.

Hi Kim,
I really enjoyed The May Queen. When the book group decided to read it, the joke was that we didn't remember our thirties. However, once I figured out what years they were, it all came back to me. It was interesting to me to think about it.

When I turned 29 it was the worst birthday of my life. I was so down and depressed, I wanted to stay in bed all day. But I couldn't for obvious reasons. When I turned 30 I had 2 children and so many dreams. I wanted to be a writer and more than once had started the great American novel. Of course, with so many interruptions and moves, everything got lost in the shuffle. The efforts probably wouldn't have amounted to anything anyway, but the dream was fun. By the time I was thirty five, I was a stay-at-home mom again after a brief stint working in an insurance office in Germany. By the time I was thirty six I had an interesting job in a warehouse office in Lubbock, Texas, and was still there by my fortieth birthday.

Who knew that I would spend 10 years teaching high school business subjects and then move on to where I am now. The writing I do is procedure and training manuals. I also do some training. Not very creative, but I like to think, important.

When we discussed The May Queen this week at our meeting, we commented on how the idea of children or not was a central theme, and how different it was in our time. Having a family was pretty much a given, and our lives didn't revolve as completely around our children as it seems to with mothers now. I mean that our decisions were based on what was best for the children and how our time was spent but it wasn't the spiritual bond that it seems to be now. Everyone had a different 2 or 3 that were their favorites, and we didn't agree on which ones were our least favorites.

With all of us being tough critics and having different criteria for judging a book, the response was pretty special, I thought. With 7 members present we had 5 2-thumbs up and 2 1-up 1-down.

I am so glad that you are able to make a living with your writing and live in the city you love. I wish you continued success in your job, your freelancing, and the books that are in your head and in your heart.

Love,
Mom

Dirty Sugar Cookies

2006-08-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

From the back cover of MQ Ayun Halliday's latest book Dirty Sugar Cookies:
How does a picky eater morph into a low-budget epicure whose digestive indiscretions are a matter of public record? Just how far can a pregnant woman stray from the Best Odds Diet until a food-borne bacterial infection lands her in the hospital? Can a serial monogamist really keep track of every post-coital breakfast she's ever enjoyed?
An omnivorous, rollicking chronicle of culinary awakening, Dirty Sugar Cookies is an oil-splattered, accidentally-dropped-on-the-floor, self-mocking love letter to everything Ayun Halliday has ever eaten — and a few of the things she wishes she hadn't. Read her amusing Food Blog, Blog Tour, and Q&A with Powell's. Ayun will be coming to a bookstore near you soon- so check out her appearance calendar. (Photo of young Ayun with pigtails and color-coordinating dress and candles!)

The Brunette Venus

2006-08-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

It's a bit belatedly, but Kim won the Naughty Reading Contest at Edward Champion's Return of the Reluctant. The coy minx poses in a bubblebath with a copy of Emile Zola's Nana! Congratulations, Kim! (Photo credit should go to Chris Askew for taking the daring winning entry.)

A Woman of Noble Character

2006-08-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

When my charming friend Susan confessed TMQ stories had inspired her to write a letter to her mother, I asked her if she would be willing to share it with us. Thank you, Susan, for your thoughtful and generous remarks.
Dear Nicki,
I had so much fun at your San Francisco reading of TMQ that I decided to not only buy a copy for myself but one also for my mom. It would make for a unique Mother's Day gift. As promised, the book was a delightful read! What I didn't anticipate, however, was the ever growing desire in me to honor my mom. The more I read about each woman's experience, the more I thought about my mom and how she loved and raised us. She had truly helped shape me into the woman I was today and I'm embarrassed to say that it took reading your book to finally bring that truth to light! As I pondered how I might have written my own story, I realized that an intentional expression of my appreciation was in order. This was no easy matter though, for you see the past between us had not always been so rosy. Although we'd been reconciled for years, a heartfelt “Thank you for being my mom”, had never been shared. So, not only did my mom receive a copy of your book, but also a letter of appreciation to bless her, encourage her, and thank her. Here is a little excerpt of my letter to her. Thank you for your book - I'm sure you never dreamed that TMQ would inspire someone to move beyond simple reconciliation with their mom to an outpouring of gratitude and blessing.

Hi Mom! Happy Mother’s Day! ~May 2006
A Woman of Noble Character: Proverbs 31:29 “Her children arise and call her blessed...”
I hope you enjoy this book. I bought it months ago in anticipation of Mother’s Day. It is an interesting collection and I'm amazed to see how completely differently so many women view life! To be honest, I don’t relate to several of the stories and yet, the themes of motherhood strike a chord and quite a few stories made me smile and sort of knowingly nod my head to myself. I think the part of the book that made me most want to share it with you is Nicki’s introduction. I identify with what she wrote on the bottom of page 2, “I’ve discovered that women of my generation have grown weary of embracing the modern-day myth of ‘having it all’ and the reality of what this means for most women.” Although we want to make the most of the hard fought-for opportunity of having a fulfilling career, we don’t want to short-change our families in the process. Thanks to you and Dad- I was told and I believed I could be anyone I wanted! So part of this note to you is to acknowledge and thank you for instilling in me the belief and self-confidence that I really could be and do anything I wanted. I never doubted that ever. When asked how I handled the “cold environment” of being a woman in the physical sciences or how I managed to overcome the lack of female role models in my career to encourage me, I can honestly say I didn’t notice! I was oblivious to any supposed cold or hostile environment because you built into me such a subconscious belief I could do it that it really never crossed my mind that I was overcoming such obstacles. Thank you!

I also wanted to acknowledge that your example as Mom in my life also gave me the confidence to whole-heartedly embark on this journey of motherhood and to not feel like I’m giving up anything in my career to be a mom myself. In fact, I joyfully and willingly accept that my career will likely stall over the next decade or so because I want to be around for my son like you were for me. In addition, we always had dinner together as a family at the table with great meals. And you let us play so much ! So few chores and so much play! And so it is incredibly easy to release the “having it all” pressures and revel in the rewarding pursuit of recreating the home environment I grew up in for my family.

And finally, one last tidbit to share… as I read through the short stories, I was baffled and dismayed at the number of women who would allude to some sort of Christian upbringing or exposure and yet had completely turned their backs on it. Of course I have no idea what role faith truly played in their upbringing but it does make one sit back and ponder it. Why did it stick for me and not for any of them? Anyway, not to get overly philosophical but I do want to thank you and Dad for giving me such a solid foundation to my faith, one that has shaped who I am today and continues to shed light on my life story. If I were to write about turning 30, I would add to these other stories the wonderful completeness which God brings to my own story. Love you lots and lots and thank you for being the kind of mom that I want to be too. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
-Susan

Kiss Me, Kate

2006-08-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend Katie from our NACEL days of teaching English in southwestern France (sigh) very kindly wrote a note explaining how she feels about TMQ and turning 30. On one of our days off in the Pyrenees, I accompanied Katie hang gliding, so it came as no surprise that she celebrated her thirtieth birthday by hang gliding again!
Hi Nicki,
Your book has been decorating my nightstand since the first day it was released. I've been looking at it longingly, wanting to start it, but wanting time to really “get into it.” Teaching takes it out of me during the week and I'm so pooped when I get home...or at least that's why I thought I was delaying starting it. I kept telling myself, “I'll read it over Easter weekend when I have four days off and I can really dive into it and think about it.” I finally started it and I realized that I have been subconsciously putting off reading your book because by reading it I'll have to admit I'm in my 30s and want to read a book like this! As a schoolteacher just starting this third decade of my life, I lead a very different life from most of the women in this book, yet, I surprisingly found myself identifying with each woman's perspective in a unique way. I wanted to savor each contributor's experience and ponder over our similarities, our differences, and our mutual desire to cherish this time in our lives. I enjoyed getting to know each woman as she gave a glimpse of her personal thoughts and life experiences. I read a new section every few nights or so and got used to the idea that, okay so I'm in my thirties....life is not OVER!
-Katie McCorkle

Southern California Wants To Be Western NY

2006-08-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of touring the Finger Lakes and attending Rochester’s Lilac Festival with a boyfriend many moons ago. Although we could still see our breath in May, I thoroughly enjoyed the splendid beauty of upstate New York. When Kim and I were in NYC in April, I must confess I was also in complete awe of the lilacs in bloom. Now, for a fan letter to Kim from a New Yorker inspired by her story. Thanks Kelly!
Kim,
My girlfriend passed The May Queen along to me. I am passing it along to another friend who will also love it. In fact, I have been talking about it to all of my friends. My thirties will be coming to an end soon so I am devouring this stuff up while I can. I specifically liked your essay because I too felt exactly the same way about New York State as you did about San Francisco. My husband dragged me (kicking and screaming) to Michigan for three years. I couldn't get back here fast enough.
Every day as I drive to work I am in awe of the scenery (and the gobs and gobs of lilacs) and so thankful to be home. So, I return home from work and sit on my deck with my cute husband and cute baby and drink wine while the Adirondack Mountains loom in the distance. I think you should do a book signing in upstate New York or Vermont and join us for dinner. My husband is an awesome cook and you would love my group of girlfriends.
Your new fan, Kelly

Turning Point

2006-08-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

Musings from a lovely fan and dancer!
Dear Nicki,
I just finished reading The May Queen, and I wanted to thank you for this wonderful book. I am a 31-year-old professional dancer, and I've been living and dancing in New York City for thirteen years. To make a long story short, I'm approaching the end of my career and I am a bit lost. I found great inspiration in your book. I could relate to these women and their stories, and I felt validated by them. I've been living my thirties just as I lived my twenties, but I haven't felt fulfilled. The May Queen really hit home with me, and now I feel motivated to make changes in my life. I've been telling all of my friends to read your book, and they love it! It amazes us that it focuses on so many of the things that we're experiencing and discussing. Thank you for this book, what a valuable resource for women!
Sincerely, Karen More

Congratulatory Notes From the Underground

2006-08-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

TMQ contributors gave the finished collection glowing reviews. Here are just a few letters with their compliments.

Nicki - First of all, I have to tell you that the book is wonderful! My God, I had no idea. I'm glad I didn't know how good it was going to be or I never would have had the nerve to write for it. I mean, I couldn't put it down. I was reading it in the subway and didn't want to stop when I came to my station!
You should be proud - it's so fascinating and utterly readable! I hope they're giving you marketing money because this thing could really sell. I'm totally proud to be a part of it.
-Heather Chaplin

I'm reading the book, literally in the middle of the night with a flashlight under the covers. I think it's amazing. Like reading diaries. Like seeing lives that are parallel to mine, of people I've never known. Very empowering. You've made a brilliant book. Congratulations.
Yours, Erin Cressida Wilson

Hi! I just wanted to thank you again for asking me to be a part of The May Queen. It's a fantastic book and you did an amazing job. I wish I had the time to get to one of the readings. I hope all else is well with you.
Take care, Tanya Donelly

Nicki, I just wanted to let you know how gorgeous the book is and how excited I am to be a part of it. I'm only on the third or fourth essay, and I'm staggered by the quality of the writing. The scope and depth of what's being explored is incredible.
-Heather Juergensen

Curtain Call

2006-08-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Amy Helmes (and Kim’s sidekick in reporting the very latest in literary adaptation on Romancing the Tome) gave her pal Michelle TMQ as a birthday gift. Read Michelle’s impressions in her thank you letter to Amy.
Amy,
"Suddenly, somewhere in your thirties, all of the quick, sometimes hard decisions fall into place and the life you've been rehearsing for becomes the life you are living." This made so much sense to me when I read it today. I ran and got my highlighter as if it were something I needed to memorize for a class. Anyway, I decided to do some reading for fun today, instead of what I have to read for class. I came across that book you got me for my birthday and love it! For the past few years, I have sort of been going through life as if it is some sort of dress rehearsal... What the hell am I prepping for??? Hopefully somewhere in my thirties it will all come together... :) See what a few days off from teaching does to me!!!! As you well know, I don't get a lot of extra time to read for fun and The May Queen was perfect. Some of the stuff really hit home with me. Thanks!
-Michelle Hader

C'est la Vie!

2006-08-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Below is a letter from one of MQ Kim Askew's friends from her French Pod Class group.
Dear Kim,
First, I have to say I really love The May Queen! I mean, I expected it to be good, but I didn't expect it to be my favorite book of the summer which I am passing around to all my girlfriends. Almost all of the stories give me the sense of, had things gone just a little bit differently, that could have been me or my friends. Your piece (Hold Your Applause, Please) in particular really resonated with me. It certainly made me think--I was engaged at 19 to an Air Force non-commissioned officer, but called it off four months before the wedding day. Anyway, I'm sure you have people coming out of the woodwork to tell you their stories after this! But then again, that's one of the best aspects of this book--it opens the door to conversations that might otherwise not take place, especially regarding how it feels to not "have it all" when we were all raised believing that we could. So thank you for a wonderful introduction to a great book!
-Wendy S.

Bunny Love

2006-08-06T20:54:00.000-07:00

This week, I have gathered a few letters from our May Queen readers who have shared their generous enthusiasm about the collection. Before Catherine OBrion wrote an article about me in June, she sent along this kind note.
Nicki,
"I am doing my best to do you and your book justice! I started reading more of it, but I wanted to comment on the first story about the Dalmatian (The Difference Between 3 and 30 by Ashley Warlick). I had a stuffed bunny, Bunky, when I was little and left it at the beach, cried the whole way home and it never turned up. Every year my mom searched for this bunny, never finding it, but buying other bunnies that were never as cute and never as soft. This year, my boyfriend found the same type of bunny on eBay. I haven't cried about that bunny in over fifteen years, but it felt good to be crying about the reunion instead of the loss. When I read the story in your book, I wanted to cry all over again because not only did I know how the child felt, but I think I also know how her mother felt. Anyway I really enjoyed it and learned something too. I can't wait to read the rest. Thanks again." -Catherine

On The Fringe

2006-08-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe begins tomorrow. Read the BBC News piece on the blogging focus in this year's festival. Most bonny lads are awaiting the play Bloggers: Real Internet Diaries directed by Oliver Mann. For show times and performances click here.

My City By the Bay

2006-08-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

Here then are my favorite spots to unwind and while away the hours in San Francisco. That's me and my girl only two years ago on the top of the San Francisco Art Institute with Coit Tower and the tip of the Transamerica Building looming in the distance.

If you've got three hours in San Francisco.... Stroll along the streets of North Beach in Little Italy and take in the countless authentic restaurants and coffee shops. Stop at City Lights Books and wet your whistle upstairs at Vesuvio or Specs' (just across the street). Then head up Chinatown’s Grant Street for browsing. Continue along Grant across Columbus for more window shopping and people watching. End your jaunt with a big bowl of spaghetti carbonara and a carafe of house wine at Bocce Café on Green. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a secret hideaway.

Where would you go for an intimate dinner? San Francisco has so many amazing restaurants, it's difficult to choose just one, but Hyde Street Bistro is parfait. The service is impeccable, the ambiance cozy and warm, and the food divine. What a sublime little piece of France in Russian Hill. C’est magnifique!

Best neighborhood cafe? I used to adore Café de la Presse for their fabu croque monsieur and cool newsstand vibe until they recently revamped the restaurant into a cold, imposing space. My new fav is Pizzetta 211- a pizzeria tucked away in the Richmond. They only buy fresh seasonal products, which they use to cook great Mediterranean dishes. You must check out the little theatre in the bathroom when you’re there as well.

Favorite building? I’m in awe of many of the art deco buildings downtown like the City Club. Yet for me The Palace of Fine Arts radiates such a calm serenity especially at night. I get the same feeling from the interior of the Swedenborgian Church.

People should know... I walked everywhere when I first moved here eight years ago. I didn’t have a car for the first eight months, butI was glad of it because I discovered much of the city by walking aimlessly until I happened on hidden gems. The city is designed on a grid so it’s very easy to find your way around and explore its countless charming neighborhoods.

Do you have a favorite SF view? If you don't mind windswept vistas, the view from Twin Peaks takes my breath away every time.

If you could own one place... I’ve always thought one of the old mansions in the Presidio would be pretty cool to live in. There’s also an Edwardian cottage on top of a hill in Diamond Heights I’ve had my eye on for years.

How to escape summer in the city? Pt. Reyes Seashore is my absolute favorite spot in the bay area. We like to hike to Montara Beach and see the Tule elk roam the hills above. I recommend exploring Pt. Reyes Station and dining at Station House Cafe. I especially love the magical town of Inverness. You should stay at Manka’s Inverness Lodge or at least have dinner there.

What is your favorite shop? I indulge my designer clothing lust by window shopping at American Rag (has affordable vintage finds) or Erica Tanov. Ms. Tanov has two bay area shops now, but I prefer her Berkeley location. We’re so lucky to have such a talented designer as a local resident. For gifts, I love Dandelion and for Lily’s pressies, I shop at The Ark. On Sundays at the Alameda Flea Market, I always stop at La Tulipe Noire stall.

Where would you go for a dream date? A candlelit dinner at Le Colonial. We would then take a private yacht from the Marina to East Brother Light Station Inn where we would stay in Walter’s Quarters and sip cognac by the fire.

What's a San Francisco stereotype that fits? Based on its renown as the land of hippie counterculture, I expected San Franciscans to be nutters.. and some of them truly are. The majority are progressive, interesting, and interested citizens. I appreciate the diversity of SF- the giant Asian community and Latino population in the Mission and elsewhere. My one peeve is the holier-than-thou self-righteousness of a certain Berkeley set- in particular men who wear berets whilst reading The Nation in the gourmet ghetto on Sunday mornings- whom I find truly obnoxious.

Best place to sample sourdough bread? San Francisco's oldest restaurant Tadich Grill has the most delicious bread. I had grown rather tired of sourdough bread until I bit into their crisp, sweet manna. The food is greasy and seafoody and perfect. Also on occasion, I have been lucky enough to glimpse the SF twins here.

Kimberley Askew Hearts SF

2006-08-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

I don't think I know a single person who adores San Francisco as much as my dear friend Ms. Askew. Discover where Kim goes to eat, chat, and chill in SF.

If you've got three hours in San Francisco....
That's easy. Afternoon tea in the Garden Court at The Palace Hotel.

Where would you go for an intimate dinner?
Emmy's Spaghetti Shack on Mission at Virginia Street. The first time I went there, the very pregnant waitress and the bartender kept pausing for impromptu make-out sessions, which didn’t seem at all malapropos.

Best neighborhood cafe?
On a warm summer evening, Revolution Cafe in the Mission--especially when the jazz trio is performing. It was at Revolution where I was reminded recently that Buddy Holly's Greatest Hits is best enjoyed at top volume. The best bar is Zeitgeist, of course.

Favorite building?
The Palace of the Legion of Honor museum, even though it's a copy, because of the location and the collection. Also, it was donated to the city by a laundress who became a millionaire. That's so San Francisco.

People should know...
about the Mechanics' Institute Library.

Do you have a favorite SF view?
The view from the roof at Chez Askew is penthouse perfect. It encompasses Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Bay Bridge. There's the view at night as I'm cabbing home from SFO after a long trip (though lately I've been Bart-ing it like a good San Franciscan should).

If you could own one place...
The Sentinel Building, which Francis Ford Coppola purchased in the '70s or the James Flood Mansion on Nob Hill that houses the Pacific-Union Club. Can anyone get me inside?

How do you escape summer in the city?
Find a friend with a motorcycle or a convertible and head to Muir Beach for the day. When the fog rolls in, get cozy over hot toddies at the Pelican Inn.

What is your favorite shop?
Green Apple for Books, Belle Cose on Polk for lingerie, and Recchuiti Confections in the Ferry Building for chocolate.

Where would you go for a dream date?
It's a secret.

What's a San Francisco stereotype that fits?
We like to live on the edge.

Michelle Richmond's San Franciso

2006-08-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to MQ Michelle Richmond for answering our San Francisco Questionnaire. Step into Michelle's world of secret haunts and scenic walks...

Where would you go for an intimate dinner? The Richmond, a great little restaurant at 6th and Balboa. Wonderful ambiance, great service, delicious food.

Best neighborhood cafe? Simple Pleasures in the Outer Richmond, on Balboa Ave. between 37th & 38th. Exceptional paninis also known as Dae-nini, constructed with care by Dae, the dreadlocked hottie behind the counter. Their coffee is some of the best in the city, and the cozy tables and sofas and chairs are always packed with regulars.

People should know... Tourists tend to see the Embarcadero and Chinatown and the Marina and that great travesty known as Fisherman's Wharf, but many of us San Francisco residents love the city in large part because it is so UN-urban. I spend most of my time out in the quiet, windswept avenues of the Outer Richmond, or among the wild gardens of the massive Golden Gate Park, or out at Land's End. SF has the largest percentage of green space of any major city in the world! When folks who "aren't from around here" complain that they just couldn't stand the crowds and the traffic, I want to ask them how many miles of protected beach, how many acres of public gardens, how many duck ponds and walking trails they have where they live.

Do you have a favorite SF view? Looking out toward the bridge and the Marin headlands from a little opening between the trees on the Land's End trail.

If you could own one place... There's a nice mansion for sale in Sea Cliff for 23 million, with sweeping views of the Golden Gate. I think I'd have to choose a more lucrative career, though.

How do you escape summer in the city? Why would you want to escape it? Sure, it's cold and foggy, but that's part of the charm. When we want something warmer, we go to Monte Rio on the Russian River--it's like stepping back into the 1950s, only there are more leather bars.

What is your favorite shop? Ambiance on Haight for clothing and purses, plus a little hole-in-the wall "party supply store" by the post office on Geary where I go to buy balls for Oscar, novelty children's books, storage baskets, yo-yos, stationery, and odd handbags. De la Sole on 18th in the Castro for shoes. The second side of Cliff's Hardware for home decor oddities. Sloat Garden Center for plants and dirt.

What's a San Francisco stereotype that fits? I am just SOOO much greener than you. I make my own sushi from scratch (oh, yes, I breed the tuna myself), I wouldn't dream of owning a car (I'm happy to ride in yours--in fact, could you give me a lift? it's not really out of your way--just across the Bay Bridge--forgive me if I don't contribute to the gas fund, it's against my principles). A stereotype that does fit me is the "buy local" obsession. It's just so much more pleasant to buy lug nuts and duct tape from the little hardware store around the block than to try to brave the crowds at Home Deopt. At my hardware store, they'll pull what you need off the shelves and tell you how to use it--definitely worth paying a little more!

Got The Date On The Golden Gate

2006-07-31T13:27:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday night at Cody's was a success in large part thanks to Kim Askew's fan club. If her posse hadn't arrived, we would have had a very small gathering. So thank you to Kim's friends for joining us!! Kim read a bit more than usual from her piece- skipping sections- but delighting the audience with her overall story. Dao played her songs High Flyer and When U Go Out. I noticed Michelle Richmond nodding along in agreement when Dao read about that particular isolation all mothers feel. Here, here. Michelle commented that when she was listening to Kim's story, she remembered falling in love with San Francisco as a teenager when she visited with her family for the first time. She asked how many in the crowd decided to move to SF because they had fond memories of the city as a tourist. No surprise that quite a few people raised their hands. (L-R Dao Strom, Michelle Richmond, Nicki Richesin, and Kim Askew)

In honor of the clang-clang of the trolley outside Kim's window and her memories of peeping in homes as she rode it up Nob Hill, I came up with a few questions for our local San Franciscans to answer. Here's the questionnaire if you would like to weigh in with your answers too.

If you've got three hours in San Francisco....

Where would you go for an intimate dinner?

Best neighborhood cafe?

Favorite building?

People should know...

Do you have a favorite SF view?

If you could own one place...

How do you escape summer in the city?

What is your favorite shop?

Where would you go for a dream date?

What's a San Francisco stereotype that fits?

After the reading, we went to that quirky watering hole The Owl Tree. The macrame owl hanging on the wall reminded me so much of the one my Mom made that held a place of honor above our staircase during the seventies. We were joined by a sweet crowd including our friend the sophisticated Ms. Linda Good, Edward Champion, and Beej Hall. I waited for Dao's friend, Vendela Vida, but after a long day with Lily I was officially pooped and begged off. Of course, Ms. Vida arrived a few minutes later. I'm sorry I missed a chat with this interesting San Francisican who has such amazing accomplishments like editing The Believer and co-founding 826 Valenica. Thanks to everyone for joining us- especially the contributors. You rock!

Be Still My Heart

2006-07-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

I first fell in love with Grant Lee's voice in college when I heard Grant Lee Buffalo's album Fuzzy. His whiskey-hummed words combined with the acoustic howl of the guitars, melodic bass, driving drums like 16 Horsepower, and the old world churn of pump organs and parlor pianos made me swoon. Not to mention their bizarre cover art that created a puzzling world of masks and hidden figures. I saw the band perform at Bimbo's almost eight years ago as part of the Jubilee tour. Although he hails from Stockton, you'd never know with his sexy, southern drawl and beguiling, rock poet lyrics. Last night, Kim and I luckily scored tickets from concertgoers at the door to his sold-out show at Cafe du Nord. I felt 21 again and for that Mr. Phillips, I thank you.

TMQ at Cody's Books Tomorrow Night

2006-07-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

Join me, Kim Askew, Dao Strom, Michelle Richmond, and Flor Morales at Cody's Books in San Francisco tomorrow night at 7. And then aftewards for drinks at The Owl Tree. Lucky us- the lovely Dao Strom has agreed to play her soulful folk songs including High Flyer- the song she used as an epigraph to Side of the Road, her story in The May Queen. Kim, Chris, and I loved seeing Dao perform her gorgeous tunes and read from her new novel The Gentle Order of Girls and Boys at Bazaar Cafe last week. My favorite song of hers is Day That We Met. I'm excited to see her perform again tomorrow night. I hope to see you there!

Never fear: the world spins nightly toward its brightness and we are on it

2006-07-22T13:42:00.000-07:00

Last night, Kim, my husband, and I attended the 15th annual Squaw Valley Community of Writers poetry reading in San Francisco. Poets Robert Hass, Harryette Mullen, Sharon Olds, C.D. Wright, and Dean Young read their poetry at the First Unitarian Universalist Center. This benefit raises money for the Poetry Scholarship Fund, enabling talented writers to attend the week-long poetry writing workshop held each year in Squaw Valley, California. Haas's wife Brenda Hillman also read one poem as a surprise guest of the evening.

Young began his reading with an explanation, "As poets we all have to make choices. I have to choose between Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. I choose Sean Penn." He then read his hilarious Sean Penn Anti-Ode which met with uproarious laughter and applause. Young commended Sharon Olds for writing her moving and eloquent letter to Laura Bush in which she refuses to attend a luncheon in DC as an act of opposition to war in Iraq.

CD Wright, who gave us permission to use the lovely epigraph for Carla Kihlstedt's essay The Late Bloomer in TMQ, read a few of her poems and then told a joke about a farmer and salesman.
Here is the epigraph in TMQ from her poem Crescent
Never fear: the world spins nightly toward
its brightness and we ae on it.

It is with great pleasure that I attend these readings each year (seven years now) for it is an opportunity to see some of my favorite poets like Sharon Olds and Galway Kinnell. I still remember the first time I read Sex Without Love in college and what a profound effect her poem made on me.

Sharon Olds waxed nostalgic for the innocent days when the men and women's tubs were separated at Esalen. She recalled one day hearing a beautiful voice coming over the wall- it was Joan Baez bathing. A prolific writer, she always has two to three books ready for publication so most of what she read last night was new and yet unpublished work. She read a poem about observing the fragility and silliness of men's penises while bathing at Esalen and another about tampons. As shocking and often disturbing as many find her work, she has also written poems of such depth and tenderness about her husband and her two children. These are poems of domestic bliss- poems about lovemaking, bathing her newborn son, and watching her children grow up. I believe she deserves a Nobel Prize for Literature.

On Thursday, July 27, the poets will read again at 8:15 pm at the Olympic Village Lodge, 1901 Chamonix Place off the SV Main Road. For more public events held in Squaw, click here for a PDF.

A Novel Idea

2006-07-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

I was quite taken with this Novel Idea Vending machine at our gate in Heathrow. The brainchild of Irish booksellers, it vends the top 24 bestsellers complete with a gift box and bookmark. Clever and better than cheetos!

MQ contributor Julianna Baggott's new program Kids In Need- Books In Deed is bringing free books and author visits to underprivileged schools. Schools sign up to sponsor a write-a-thon and the money raised will bring books and authors to kids who need them most. You can also simply give a donation. To sign up for more info, send an email stating whether you are a school in need or possibly a write-a-thon school indeed or someone who's interested in supporting the program.

West with the Night

2006-07-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

Appropriately enough, I read Beryl Markham's memoir West with the Night on our return flight from Heathrow to SFO. I am grateful to my mother for recommending this book. She also introduced me to Karen Blixen with a gorgeous illustrated copy of Out of Africa as a Christmas present in 1985. I have remained a die-hard fan of Blixen's writing, so it was a surprise to me that Markham's vivid account of life in Kenya was as fascinating if not just as exquisitely written. She strived to run with the big boys and her role models were clearly her father, Denys Finch Hatton (Blixen's lover), and her flight instructor Tom Black.
There's some debate about whether she actually wrote the book as her friends claimed she rarely read or wrote anything. Her biographer Errol Trzebinski suggests that her husband and journalist Raoul Schumacher wrote it. I prefer to think she penned it herself, but whatever the case I thoroughly recommend it. Is it any wonder her authorship would be called into question when Blixen herself had to write under the male pseudonym Isak Dinesen? Markham quotes her father as saying, "After that, work and hope. But never hope more than you work." Sound advice, indeed and words she wholeheartedly embraced.

The World May Never Know

2006-07-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

I hope you can join us for a reading at Cody's Books at 7pm on Wednesday, July 26. After the reading, we'll mosey over to The Owl Tree to discover just how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop.

American Rites, Manners, and Customs

2006-07-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

The August issue of Vanity Fair features Illusions of Arbus an article about the biopic Fur starring Nicole Kidman as Diane Arbus and Robert Downey, Jr. as her lover Lionel Sweeney coming to theatres this November. MQ contributor, Erin Cressida Wilson, wrote the screenplay for the film based on Patricia Bosworth's book, Diane Arbus: A Biography (1984). (Photo courtesy of Mary Ellen Mark.) Thanks for the tip, Emily!

Jennifer Weiner also has a fantastic piece about the current state of women's fiction and chick lit's staying power in ELLE magazine's July issue. She praises her favorite writers such as The Bitch in the House editor Cathi Hanauer and Plum Sykes.

TMQ on The Happy Booker

2006-07-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

MQ contributor Jennifer Baumgardner was kind enough to grant me an interview for The Happy Booker. She proved a fascinating subject and it was fun to hear the feedback she had garnered on the book. Thanks Wendi!

London Calling

2006-07-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

Back from our Highland Fling, we visited Eilean Donan Castle, explored the southwest corner of Skye near a tiny fishing village called Elgol (shown above), toured Inverness, hiked the luminous hills of Glen Affric, and spent our last day in Dunrobin Castle.

The library at the castle featured above (with a portrait of Duchess Eileen by Philip de Laszlo) captured my fancy. I could have lain down on the lion rug on the floor and easily moved in permanently. We also found the falconry show on the estate grounds amusing. "How does one become a falconer?" Joel asked me. Must you come from a long line of falconers in order to take care of twenty-four birds of prey? Watching the golden eagle from Chile consume a rabbit foot made us hungry. So we drove down the road for take-away fish and chips and happily ate on the pebbly beach.

Jane's thoroughly traditional wedding ceremony with hymns and prayers at All Hallows by the Tower (that tis Tower Bridge) was moving. The Americans, Rachel and Nick (my good friends from Chicago and NY and working buddies in London 10! years ago) and Joel and I, stood in the back due to our tardy arrival. The reading from Song of Solomon (I, at first, mistook for lines from Wordsworth):
My beloved speaks to me:
'Arise, my love, my fair one,
and come away;
for now the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone.

I quite liked this stanza:
Set me a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death,
passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a raging flame.

Steamy stuff for a proper church wedding! The soloist performed Schubert's Ave Maria in the blacony behind us filling the cathedral with his commanding voice. After the blessing, Janey marched out like a giddy queen to the wedding march. Although we missed her entrance-according to the wedding booklet, Handel's processional is known as "the arrival of the Queen of Sheba." Very grand.

We crossed the Thames on the "wedding special" red, double-decker bus to the reception at The Lansdowne Club. In the main ballroom hung another Laszlo portrait of the Queen Mum as a young woman-known as the Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) from 1925 . My friend Eleanor remarked that it happens to be one of the most famous paintings of the Queen. After dinner and speeches, a moptopped band in white patent leather loafers played Beatles and Stones covers as Anna's boyfriend pranced around like Keith Richards. The stately setting, hilarious company of my old friends, and soothing tinkle of my highball of G&T warmed my heart. Congratulations my dear friend!

Le Debutant! Batwoman Returns as Lipstick Lesbian

2006-07-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

"I don't know if the new Batwoman will be bulletproof, elastic or able to fly, but if Kane's manicured appearance is any indication, I don't think she'll be using power tools or even playing acoustic guitar."

MQ contributor Meghan Daum has a piece in today's LA Times about the coming out party for DC Comics' Batwoman. --Kim

Days Here and There

2006-07-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our trip to the continent on Sunday, I watched Four Weddings and A Funeral for the seventh time. On July 15, we'll attend the nuptials of my sweet friend from my working days in London, Janey Perris, to her knight in shining armor, Gavin Bell. They will be wed at the oldest church in England, All Hallows by the Tower, and the reception will be held at The Lansdowne Club. We're staying for four days prior to the wedding in the Highlands. I haven't been to the Isle of Skye since 1997, but once you've been you can never forget it. The memories of its etheral loveliness pervade my daydreams- especially the haunting fairy glen, a magical forest of hazel trees situated amidst strange and wondrous hills and valleys. I was warned not to remove anything from the enchanted spot and yet I was terribly tempted to collect a memento. I'm so looking forward to returning once again.

I was thrilled to find a charming B&B called Trafford Bank Guest House where we'll stay in Inverness. My Highlands packing list includes hiking boots, Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, West with the Night by Beryl Markham, and Lonely Planet's Walking In Scotland, my prized wedding costume- a French Connection embroidered skirt, and a bottle of Reminiscence perfume I picked up in Aix en Provence.

Look for my interview with MQ contributor Jennifer Baumgardner on The Happy Booker next week!

The Devil's in the Details

2006-07-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

MQ contributor Meghan Daum has an excellent op-ed piece on The Devil Wears Prada (from her weekly column in The Los Angeles Times). I saw the film yesterday with Kim and must admit to feeling a tad nostalgic for the days of busting my butt to prove myself. I don't miss making endless copies or being subjected to my psychotic manager's rants about her three ex-husbands and how much she regretted leaving New York. Nope, not that part. I'm more nostalgic for that particular brand of hunger- the late night talks about what was next and living off leftovers, take-out, and vodka gimlets. I miss that. I liked the movie very much. Meryl plays Vogue's ruthless Anna Wintour with all the grace and smugness her career has led her to portray. Apparently, she brought the b/w photos (in the foreground pictured above) to the set from her own home. Now that's commitment to a role! I especially enjoyed Emily Blunt's performance as "the first Emily."

Miranda July's short story The Shared Patio from All-Story has won a Best American Nonrequired Reading award (Notable Story). Love her!

I have been craving cupcakes lately. It's a sickness, but here's a great recipe for lavender cream cakes with citrus cream cheese frosting. For more cupcakes: check out Rachel Kramer Bussel's Cupcakes Take The Cake! YUMMY!

The Great Dao

2006-06-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

EVENT READINGS UPDATE: Dao Strom will now be reading at the Bazaar Cafe in SF instead of the now defunct ACWLP (so sad) on the same date July 19, 7 pm -the address is 5927 California Street, between 21st and 22nd Aves. She'll also be at the very hip Bookshop Santa Cruz on July 27.

THE MAY QUEEN READING DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 at 7pm at Cody's in San Francisco with an after-party at the bar at Fifth Floor. Here's hoping you can join us there.

Also, here's a sweet interview with my hometown weekly. Catherine OBrion, a student at UT, has a promising career in journalism ahead of her. One typo: It's Red Herring.

Daughter of Fortune

2006-06-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

I have lived in Marin County for six years now and in all that time I had never happened on our local luminary Isabel Allende. I knew that she lived in San Rafael with her beloved husband, Willie, and had heard the story of how she discovered her muse at Aroma Cafe -a barista for the cover of her novel Daughter of Fortune (pictured above). I have bumped into Sharon Stone at Black Oak Books; noticed Jill Eikenberry ushered to a private room at Jeanty at Jack's; passed Jill's husband Michael pushing a grocery cart full of mini vodkas; dined next to Annie Lamott and friends at Insalata's; I have even seen Dave Eggers scurrying down the steps at Mill Valley Public Library, but never, never Isabel. I first read Eva Luna in high school and wept through most of Paula. Since then, I have been a devoted fan of her literary and non-profit work.

So when my daughter and I waltzed into a bead store in Mill Valley last week and I spied a diminutive woman dressed in a sheer, floral get-up with a massive, jewel-encrusted belt, hiding behind black, Kate Spade sunglasses, I was too overcome to speak to her. Isabel has a very imposing presence for one so small. The truth is I didn't want to bother her. I just wanted to stare at her, but Lily wasn't having it. She, who at first had been so good-natured- quietly surveying the enormous collection of jars and delicately touching them and saying, "jus look, no touch," then threw a fit in front of my heroine. Needless to say, I didn't speak to her and when the bell tinkled as she walked out the door, I asked the nice lady who had repaired my earring if she knew who she was? Who? Oh well. Next time, I'll say hello!

Instant Love's Gonna Get You

2006-06-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Jami Attenberg has made a spectacular debut with Instant Love. She'll read on Wednesday, June 28, at Book Shop West Portal at 80 West Portal Avenue in SF at 7 pm. Further afield, you can see the former resident read on Thursday, June 29th in an event sponsored by Pearl Necklace Zine at Copperfield's Books in Napa at 7 pm. Instant hit!

I'm Your Man

2006-06-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

Ah, the moon's not too bright to attend a screening of Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man as part of Film Independent's LA Film Festival. With Leonard Cohen and special musical guest, the brilliant Martha Wainwright. Saturday, June 24, 8 pm at Ford Amphitheatre. Sigh.

Calvacade of Thrills

2006-06-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

Celebrate summer solstice with Found Magazine phenoms Davy and Peter Rothbart who will be reading their most daring finds and performing Peter's new songs based on Found items tonight at Edinburgh Castle at 8 pm. Tomorrow night at Intersection of the Arts at 9 pm and on Friday at Pegasus Books in Berkeley at 8 pm. Tally ho!

Draw Bridge

2006-06-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

When I ordered my holiday cards last year, I discovered Draw Bridge, a local arts program for homeless children. By encouraging children with little resources to create art in a supportive environment, Draw Bridge instills a sense of stability, well-being, and community. Through Our Eyes, a traveling exhibit of the kids' work, will be on view at the Performing Arts Center Gallery in Unity, Maine through June and at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Mass. in September. For more gift ideas, check out their store.

Dao's 3 Things

2006-06-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

Multitalented MQ Dao Strom will be in the San Francisco Bay Area promoting her latest book The Gentle Order of Girls and Boys at A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books on July 19. She'll also perform her glorious folk music at The Starry Plough in Berkeley on July 21. Check out her tour calendar for other cool upcoming events.

Dao's Three Things:
1. Learn to speak and read Vietnamese
2. Live in Vietnam for an extended period of time, and write more about Vietnam
3. Do a lot more rock-climbing in places all over the world I've never been to

Belles Lettres

2006-06-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

Kudos to Victor Greto of The News Journal for including TMQ in his "Long and Short of It: Essay Books Work." He briefly praises TMQ and Marisa de los Santos' moving essay, "Wide Awake."

Once upon a time, I asked Beth Lisick to contribute an essay to TMQ. Regrettably, in the end we decided her piece wasn't quite right for the collection. I have remained a huge fan of her writing and her Porchlight storytelling series. I just recently finished her uproariously irreverent Everybody Into The Pool. The stories offer her unusual brand of humor and perspective- especially the telling ones about her family.

If you're in LA tomorrow afternoon, you should see Peter Richardson present a lecture on the legendary Nation editor, Carey McWilliams, entitled Always in Fashion? Carey McWilliams, California Radicalism, and the Politics of Cool. 4-6 p.m. Department of Special Collections A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library at UCLA. Champagne reception and book signing to follow lecture. Formidable!

A Fond Farewell

2006-06-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

I was really sad to learn that Cody's Books on Telegraph Avenue had to close its doors on July 10 after 43 years in business. When I lived in Berkeley, I loved whiling away a few hours just roaming amidst their well-organized stacks. I am however pleased to announce that we will be doing a reading at Cody's new Stockton Street (Union Square) store on July 27 at 7pm. I'll be joined by Kimberley Askew, Michelle Richmond, and Erin Cressida Wilson. Look for upcoming details on a small party afterwards. Cheers!

Housekeeping

2006-06-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

Based on MQ Michelle Richmond's recommendation and after noticing it on a list of Time Magazine's All-Time 100 Novels, I still had little expectation of this book. My words could not possibly do Marilynne Robinson's justice. So here then is an excerpt for your reading pleasure:
Everything that falls upon the eye is apparition, a sheet dropped over the world's true workings. The nerves and the brain are tricked, and one is left with dreams that these specters loose their hands from ours and walk away, the curve of the back and the swing of the coat so familiar to imply that they should be permanent fixtures of the world, when in fact nothing is more perishable. Say that my mother was as tall as a man, and she sometimes set me on her shoulders, so that I could splash my hands in the cold leaves above our heads. Say that my grandmother sang in her throat while she sat on the bed and we laced up her big black shoes. Such detail are merely accidental. Who could know but us? And since their thoughts were bent upon other ghosts but ours, other darknesses than we had seen, why must we be left, the survivors picking among flotsam, among the small, unnoticed, unvalued clutter that was all that remained when they vanished, that only catastrophe made notable? Darkness is the only solvent. While it was dark, despite Lucille's pacing and whistling, and despite what must have been dreams (since even Sylvie came to haunt me), it seemed to me that there need not be relic, remnant, margin, residue, memento, bequest, memory, thought, track, or trace, if only the darkness could be perfect and permanent.

Starry-eyed in the Lone Star State

2006-06-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

My husband and I had our first get-away sans notre fille over Memorial Day weekend in Austin. I had eagerly awaited my chance to read with local contributors Amanda Eyre Ward and Dao Strom and to see our good friends Claire and Colin get hitched at the Salt Lick Pavilion in Driftwood. I found Austin a warm and inviting city. Our first night, we had dinner at Polvo's, took in the bat show at Congress Avenue Bridge with other lazy picnickers lounging on their blankets at dusk, and finally had drinks at Austin landmark, the Driskill Hotel. Then on Saturday, we had a late brunch (key word being late) at Starlite and went on a bit of a field trip to gigantic Terra Toys and Toy Joy to buy gifts for our girl. Dinner was at the mahvelously tasty Clay Pit followed by TMQ reading at BookPeople with Amanda Eyre Ward. Unfortunately, Dao Strom couldn't make the reading at the last minute. So Amanda read a few pages from her hilarious story and I read a few from Dao's essay. Grand huzzahs to Amanda for being such a trooper and agreeing to read only five days after she moved back to Austin from Cape Cod.

Claire and Colin's wedding was sublime. Their friends read original poetry they had created for the occasion and an e.e. cummings poem. Their recessional was Here Comes the Sun which was our wedding processional five years ago. (I liked the idea of playing Here Comes the Sun instead of Here Comes The Bride.) The pavilion was beautifully decorated with twinkly lights and bouquets of wildflowers in mason jars. Salt Lick BBQ was possibly the best I've ever eaten. We had a wedding scavenger hunt, listened to moving speeches, and were led through a zombie dance routine to Thriller! All and all, a glorious wedding.

TMQ in The New York Times!

2006-06-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

I was shocked to discover TMQ cover featured on the front page of the Sunday Styles section in The New York Times last Sunday. I disagree with Mr. McGrath's take on women's anthologies and his comparison of TMQ with The Bitch in the House. As much as I admired TBITH, I was trying to create a book very different from Cathi's. The model was really more a book from Cathleen Rountree's series. At any rate, it was a wonderful surprise to see the book included in such fine company.
The 27th annual National Women's Studies Association conference and book exhibition will be held at the Oakland Marriott City Center and the Oakland Convention Center from June 15-18. On Thursday night ay 7pm, Rebecca Walker will be their keynote speaker. Please stop by the Penguin booth at the book exhibit (Friday-Sunday) and check out their new titles including TMQ.

Queen For A Day

2006-06-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

Merci beaucoup to that heavenly creature Lauren Cerand for choosing my winning entry to her Marie-Antoinette inspired DJ fashion show!

LA Lady

2006-06-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

Kim and I got to spend the weekend of May 12 with her good friend Amy Helmes in her Beverly Hills apartment. Amy is such a breath of fresh air and so funny. The reading at Dutton's in Brentwood that Friday began as a sort of reunion for most of us. When Erin Cressida Wilson, Heather Juergensen, and Meghan Daum arrived, it felt as if we were greeting old friends. Dutton's staff were expecially gracious and kind. Erin and I launched into a pre-reading conversation about work and our children who were born a day apart. It was a great pleasure to finally meet Deb Norton when she waltzed in with her boyfriend Chris Nottoli and her mother. Kim and I were lucky enough to get to see Deb and Chris perform together in her fantastic play The Whole Banana. The reading went splendidly. After the book signing, I really enjoyed talking to Dutton's Diane Leslie -a very charming and engaging author and bookseller.

I'm grateful to the people who attended our reading including my smashing friend Emily Vassos' sister Jenny, Theresa Duncan from Wit of the Staircase and her handsome boyfriend, Erin's adorable son Liam, Glenn Zucman, Margaret and Chris and their two sweethearts Sophia and Zoe, among other friends.

After the reading, we had a fabulous time toasting each other at Air-Conditioned, a lounge which Heather J.'s hairstylist recommended to us. When the long-anticipated cheese plate was no longer available, Kim's friend Scott made a quick trip for Mexican food around the corner and kindly brought it back to the bar to share with our party of starving literati. Deb Norton gave me some great tips on how she launched her successful teaching career and I also spoke with Scott's sweet girlfriend Masha Sapron about her play on turning 30.

Things I loved about our trip: Dinner at Cobras & Matadors (delicious and so affordable), our two hour chat with the delightful parfumeur at Strange Invisible, and drinks at The Dresden with Marty and Elayne. Thanks to Amy Helmes and Deb's mom for the wonderful photographs! I'm sorry we didn't get a photo with everyone included. Next world tour!

A Reading at BookPeople

2006-05-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

Dao Strom and Amanda Eyre Ward will join me this Saturday in Austin, Texas at BookPeople at 7p.m. Read a review of The May Queen on Austinist and in the Austin Chronicle. I promise a full report when I return.

The Skinny on TMQ

2006-05-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the mahvelous Jennifer Elks, The May Queen received a rave review in the summer issue of The Skinny.

Try This On For Size

2006-05-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

Word on the street is that fantastic writer and MQ contributor Lily Burana's new novel Try is a page-turner. Ms. Thang can certainly spin a good yarn so I eagerly await my copy!

Advance Praise for Try
From fellow May Queen Meghan Daum
"Lily Burana has written a feisty, funny, sexy novel about romantic love, family love, the love of rodeo, and, above all, the marvelous oddities of the western landscape that brings these loves together. Darryl Heatherly is a captivating, endearing narrator and her leading man, J.W. Jarrett, will charm the chaps off of the most urbane reader. TRY is a delight and Burana deserves a gold buckle for taking us along for this ride."

From Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the wonderful EAT, PRAY, LOVE
"My God, it's refreshing to read a novel as good and rank and honest and sexy as TRY. Lily Burana is wonderful storyteller, able to walk through all sorts of time-worn territory (cowboys, romance, rodeo) without stepping on a single cliche. If you don't care about the people in this book, then you should get your heart examined."

August and Everything After

2006-05-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

Lucky Kim and I got to stay with Sara Woster and Rob Fischer at their cozy apartment in Williamsburg for our last two nights in NY. It was so terrific to see Sara after ten years! She hasn't changed a bit aside from her growing belly and copper hair. I was a tad emabarassed by my appearance as Kim and I let the makeover czars at Barney's turn us into pseudo drag queens. An explanation: I like to relax and in lieu of sitting in a coffee shop this seemed like an okay idea at the time. Esther, the Israeli grandma, who lined my eyes with purple and taupe shadows, whispered into my ear that she had a story for me. She averted her eyes from her manager's as she told me that her daughter had been born "slow," became pregnant as a teenager, and when she tried to arrange an abortion for her, she had her grandson five weeks later. As she told me about "the light of her life," she rummaged through her purse for her cell phone to show me a snapshot of her gorgeous 15-year-old grandson. Esther explained that she named him the Hebrew word for "moon shining at night," but he still shines during the day. I'm continually bewildered by the kind yet random people who feel obliged to tell me their life stories.

When we arrived at BookCourt around 8, Ayun Halliday strolled in fresh as a daisy after her afternoon swim. She told me Henry Zook, the owner of BookCourt, lives above the shop. Seeing Louise Jarvis Flynn again for the first time since high school was surreal. Looking into her eyes, I had a flashback to midnight at her house eating Pepperidge Farm crab soup and watching Angel Heart. The thought of that film still gives me the creeps. The young bookstore clerk then informed me the woman meant to introduce us would be thirty minutes late and would we like to wait? No, we would not. So I had to wing it. I introduced the book and then Jennifer Baumgardner, Louise Jarvis Flynn, Kimberley Askew, Sara Woster, Heather Chaplin, Ayun Halliday, Ivy Meeropol, and Heather Juergensen read their essays. Just as Ivy took the counter/podium, I had a little coughing fit brought on by my lingering cold. The resourceful Jen B. came to my rescue with a cough drop and thankfully I recovered my composure. I felt so unmoored by hearing and seeing sweet Ivy read. In all the time I edited her piece, I thought I had understood the gravity and magnitude of her family's legacy and then I heard her say, "my grandparents," and I lost it. I am not an overly emotional person given to creating scenes, but while she was reading, I was reminded of Ivy's description in her essay of her father, Michael, nervously shuffling through his papers when he was called on to speak during a hearing on the Venona documents. I thought of how flustered and emotional he must have felt in those moments and now here was Ivy standing before everyone sharing how she felt about her grandparents' legacy. I suddenly felt how heartbreaking and horrifying her experience and her father's experiences must have been.

And then the quiet Q&A. Heather Chaplin was asked how her "people" (most notably her parents) had felt about her piece? She joked that "no one knew about it and it stays in this room with all of us. " When one man asked what we thought our next wild ride would be, Heather Juergensen mentioned Winkie Rose and how we expected our lives to get better with every decade. We had a great crowd at the event: Deirdre Dolan, my agent Jennifer Carlson, my editor Sara Carder, Meg Leder, our token male spouses: Heather's honey Aaron Ruby, Sara's love Rob Fischer, Louise's hubby Sean Flynn, Amy Piper a woman from my high school(!), and various friends.

At Brooklyn Social, we made more new friends: Jami Attenberg and her Riverhead editor. We ate pressed sandwiches with Sara's funny friends in the corner. Heather J. and Heather C. were entertaining as always. It was incredible seeing Sara again after all these years. She's six months pregnant and so in love with her husband. He's been her best friend for years and now he's building a studio in the Minnesota woods where they plan to return this summer to have their baby. Rob has tentatively named their daughter August which we all declared an exceptional name. Their home is lovingly filled with books, Sara's paintings (the one above is of Rob who I think resembles a mustachioed Tom Ford), family photos (I particuarly liked a black and white of a rancher herding cattle), paintbrushes, blueprints, plants hanging in pots in the windows (ivy, begonias, a ficus) and lilacs in a vase. (This description reminds me of a medicine cabinet in a Salinger novel). I know they'll make a very loving family for August.

City of Sisterly Love

2006-05-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

On our first official day of sunshine (April 25), Kim and I hopped on an Amtrak train from Penn Station to 30th Street Station in Philly and then checked into our hotel (Club Quarters). We strolled down Chestnut Street in downtown Philadelphia to soak in the sunny afternoon (after three days of rain) and admired the cobblestone side streets and Georgian homes. Then off to the train station once more to high-tail it to Ardmore for a quick pre-reading dinner with Marisa de los Santos, her hubby David Teague, and Jennifer Weiner at Plate. In our haste, we boarded an R5 express train to Bryn Mawr by mistake. Whoops. Our Italian ticketmaster who slightly resembled Robert Benigni scolded us for being on the wrong train. "Did you not hear them say Express? Where are you going? No, you're not!" I hid my hands to prevent our Gestapo guard from holepunching them. When we arrived in Bryn Mawr, he suddenly became chivalrous and escorted us off the train.

Our cabbie to Ardmore proved even more entertaining. A lively, longtime Philly resident and uncle to Beyonce's choreographer(!). "You know her booty shake, she does?" Uh huh. "Well, my nephew taught her that! All her moves she owes to my nephew." When we alighted from his cab, Riley informed us we were in one of the wealthiest communities in America. "I hope you got money cause you're gonna need lots of money here." Luckily, we were only able to stay one night.

We shared our first springtime margarita with Marisa and David at the bar and then Jennifer joined us later for dinner. The crab-stuffed bites of rainbow trout wrapped in proscuitto reminded me of miniature versions of the square watermelons grown in Japan. I congratulated and praised Marisa on her new book Love Walked In. I can't wait to see Sarah Jessica Parker as Cornelia on the big screen. Our conversation was mostly of books. I had just finished Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. An enthusiastic Allegra Goodman fan, Jen had just bought her latest, Intuition. Kim finished England, England by Julian Barnes on the plane. Marisa had just started fellow May Queen contributor (and incidentally the person who had introduced me to both Jen and Marisa) Julianna Baggott's book Which Brings Me To You. (I noticed the other night that David is thanked in the acknowledgements by Julianna.) We also discussed Philly schools and how Jen's agent Joanna Pulcini was handling putting out the fire caused by the Harvard sophomore plagiarist who had cribbed pages from Joanna's client Megan McCafferty's work. Jen very kindly picked up the tab. Thanks Jen!

After our delightful dinner, we were whisked off to nearby Wynnewood for our reading at Borders. Valerie Cucinotta, the events coordinator there and a consummate pro, greeted us at the door. Jen scurried off to find a copy of The Thrall's Tale -a book Marisa had recommended to her. When we were finally seated before the audience, the front row shouted to Jen, "We're your groupies!" I have never seen such a sense of ownership and protectiveness as I have in Jen Weiner's fans. They love her as they would a treasured best friend who left them behind in middle school and went on to become a rock star. Their love and admiration for her is that intense. After the contributors read, we took questions from the audience which not suprisingly were mostly for Jen and Marisa who were more than happy to offer their humorous stories. The crowd was interested in the process of bringing their novels, Love Walked In and In Her Shoes, to the silver screen. Marisa confessed she thought George Clooney is the only movie star with enough old Hollywood glamour like Cary Grant to play Martin in the film version. Jen was also there to promote the pre-release of her paperback version of Goodnight Nobody, but she had to field a fair amount of questions about her grandmother's role in the film In Her Shoes.

I was delighted to meet my friend Wendy's parents at the reading. Wendy's mother told me that when her daughter was a teenager they had hatched an idea for a mysteries series with a character named Gwendolyn Mumsley. Love it! I was sad to bid farewell to this city of surprising beauty, generous friends, and cheesesteaks. Yum! Thanks to Valerie for the photo at Borders (L to R: Nicki, Kim, Marisa, and Jen)!

Thoroughly Modern Motherhood

2006-05-11T12:53:00.002-07:00

MQ contributor Louise Jarvis Flynn was a guest on Frank Stasio's show The State of Things this afternoon. The show included an interesting mix of women from all stages of motherhood: a retired activist with a 33 year old son, an attorney mom of teens, Louise (a freelance writer and mother to her one-year-old son) and a young, stay-at-home mother of four. Producer Susan Davis did a great job of lining up a truly eclectic group of women from all age groups. The mothers spoke of society's expectations of motherhood, choices women have to make regarding what kind of mother they want to be, and the idea of the "good mom" vs. the "bad mom."

When Frank asked, "How do young women learn who they are because there are so many messages and pressures coming from so many different places and the media about what a woman should be? How hard is it to find out who you are and be that sturdy?"

Louise replied, "I think that's one of the big questions of your twenties. In this collection, The May Queen, it's really about that and it's about how these women coming into their thirties figured out by making a whole lot of really bad choices and mistakes, but also good choices (bad luck and good luck) just kind of stumbling along end up at a point in their thirties with family and a career and kind of pulling it all together."

Erin Ergenbright's 3+ Things

2006-05-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of May Queen contributor Erin Ergenbright's company on our road trip to Santa Cruz in late April. She's a lovely and amazing writer with a heart of gold as evidenced by her three plus things to accomplish in her thirties. Here's Erin's list:
1. Run a marathon.
2. Fall madly in love.
3. Own a horse.
4. Hike the Pacific Crest Trail.
5. Publish my book of short stories.
6. Fight for the animal welfare act to be extended to farm animals. 7. Visit Italy and Greece.
8. Relearn French.
9. Find the perfect black cardigan sweater.
10. Learn how the stock market works. Actually, I don't care how the stock market works. I should, but I don't. I imagine these things will change as I near forty, but today, those are my goals.

An Angel in the House No More

2006-05-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Pick up a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle today. I'm very briefly quoted in Heidi Benson's piece, although I recall having also told her that women's anthologies are coming out as a sort of backlash to the chick lit phenomenon. To label women's stories as chick lit undermines the value of childbirth, raising children, and the pull of having a career vs. a family, and the blossoming of one's creative drive and wisdom. It's an insipid way of labeling women's stories and significant aspects of their lives as uninteresting or not worth reading. I also said I didn't know what the stats are exactly, but the majority of book buyers are women. So it stands to reason that they're craving an opportunity to read about other women's experiences. Consequently, more of their stories are coming out in films, novels, and other media. I was stunned by the number of women who wanted to reveal very intimate details about their lives in TMQ. I was a little disappointed I wasn't attributed more in her article, but live and learn.

Au Hasard Balthazar

2006-05-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

On Monday, April 24, Kim and I were joined for dinner at Balthazar by our two NYC friends who both happen to be named Lauren and work in publicity. I'm afraid that's where their similarities end. Lauren C. is the most charming, well-read, well-connected sweetheart ever. She immediately puts one at ease with her wit, sly sarcasm, and ability to pepper her phrases with small profanities in the most endearing manner. My old acquaintance Lauren S. is a marathon name-dropper, foodie, groupie VP. She has tickets to see Madonna and dates older men for sport. Lauren S. amuses me. She makes me laugh with her intensity and perversion. I ordered steak au poivre (glutton!) followed by a trio of desserts. Our conversation started so lovingly about poetry (an impassioned speech from Lauren C. on how kids are taught to hate poetry from such a young age yet poets such as Billy Collins still emerge from the fray. I read his Nostalgia at my sister's wedding.) then turned heated about the Oscars. Lauren C. astutely observed foreign films nominated for an Oscar are almost always depressing because the Academy doesn't want anyone to realize how much better foreign films actually are. Ha!

As the witching hour approached, I was ready to hop on our yellow cab carriage back to midtown before I turned into a charentais. The drunken couple celebrating their second wedding anniversary sprayed crab juice on Kim from their gigantic two-tiered behemoth of seafood. They were almost unbearably cute. On Spring Street, Lauren C. mentioned her bloody fascination with the SoHo spots where women have been attacked and murdered and then pointed longingly toward her Tribeca home. From her gorgeous Egyptian necklace (a gift from Mom) to her tendency to point out what should be an obvious promotional op for me by now ( lovely drunken girl from LA needs a friend. Give her your card!). Love this girl! Conversation could have been more pleasant. Only if... C'est dommage!

White Hot Summer Reads

2006-05-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

I'm reading and loving MQ contributor Julianna Baggott's latest book with coauthor Steve Almond. Which Brings Me to You feels like a guilty pleasure-- I eagerly anticipate dipping into this book every night at bedtime. Julianna is full of good ideas and this one may be her most intriguing yet.
In other contributor news... Dao Strom has just published The Gentle Order of Girls and Boys. I can't wait to get my greedy little paws on a copy. Read an excerpt here. I just discovered a great review of The May Queen from Melanie Haupt at the Austin Chronicle. I'm really looking forward to seeing my friends Claire Canavan and Colin Graham at their Austin wedding hoedown on May 28. Git along little doggies! You can see Dao Strom and Amanda Eyre Ward read their pieces from the anthology at BookPeople with me on Saturday, May 27 at 7pm.

May Day

2006-05-01T22:16:00.000-07:00

I would be remiss in my duties as a true friend if I didn't take a moment to acknowledge that May Queen contributor Flor Morales and her family demonstrated today in honor of May Day. This morning, I saw hundreds of local Latinos marching in white shirts toward Civic Center in San Rafael. Flor's husband was one of the men marching in their number. This is a struggle for dignity and a place in society by some of the most vulnerable people in the U.S. -the millions of workers consigned to fear and isolation by a system that demands their labor, but isn’t willing to grant equal rights. You can read Flor's moving story of fleeing El Salvador ten years ago in THE MAY QUEEN.

Three Days of Rain in NYC

2006-04-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

Although the rain was a bit of a hindrance, we've grown quite accustomed to raindrops falling on our heads in SF. So on Saturday, April 22 we began the day with a glorious brunch at Cafe des Artistes. The Edwardian ambience complete with hothouse flowers blooming in the windows and murals painted by Howard Chandler Christy reminded me a bit of Liberty in London. Then onto the Frick where the line wrapped around the block in pouring rain awaiting a glimpse of the Goya exhibit. Needless to say, we chose to roam the main collection instead and then toured the modern galleries at the Met. Later drinks at Ava Lounge housed in the penthouse and rooftop of Dream Hotel followed by dinner at John's Pizzeria. On Sunday more rain. "Rain rain go away come again another day" as my daughter would say and unfortunately for us it did. We marched to Payard, but it was closed so we happened upon a charming Italian spot, Via Quadronno. Then the Guggenheim museum and the stunning Klee exhibit at the Neue Gallerie. Afterward, we enjoyed Viennese hot chocolate served in wine goblets at the lovely Cafe Sabarsky. After a brief detour to Zabar's, we stopped in at the second floor bar at Sardi's -an old NY tradition I had long wished to experience. As it was opening night across the street for The History Boys, Nicholas Hynter's play and soon-to-be movie, we spied gorgeous Ralph Fiennes among other luminaries from our bar-side perch. I really loved the compelling production of Three Days of Rain with Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, and Julia Roberts. Julia should have owned the second act as a former Georiga Peach, but instead she came off as Blanche Dubois-- too twangy and severe.

On Monday, I enjoyed lunch with my editor and publicists at Giorgione and then Kim and I walked until we couldn't take another step. The sun had finally emerged and we could take in a typical spring day in NY abloom with lilacs and cherry trees heavy with flowers. 21 proved the final epitome of the gentleman's club. I noticed as soon as a man was seated, moments later a glass of bourbon on the rocks would magically appear in his hands, before he could even utter, "I'm on a high" or "Show me the money." I could have spent all night watching these men in their last bastion of male dominion and blatant superiority. And yet, as out of my element as I felt, the staff were so friendly and generous to us. We were seated in a comfortable booth with optimal spying and eavesdropping opportunity. I was in Heaven. I loved it all-- the campy jockeys on the front steps, the steak house vibe in the main dining room with rusting objects hanging from every available ceiling space, to the cocktail names on the bar menu-- "Bee's Knees," "Puncheon," and of course the "21" manhattan and martini.

If a close male friend is ever miserably dumped and broken-hearted, I will send him directly to 21, (No passes. Don't stop at the jockey on the curb) to lift his spirits and give his wounded male ego a sudden rocket boost. Kim gushed to our waiter about the history of the place and thank God she did. For just as she smiled encouragingly at him, he asked if we'd like a private tour? Would we? Traipsing through the private dining rooms among haughty club members didn't seem particularly appealing, but how could we turn down the opportunity to explore the male psyche and an invitation from a Gentlemen's Club, no less. I marveled at our good fortune and instantly recalled Isak Dinesen (as convincingly portrayed by Meryl Streep in Out of Africa) as she strode through the private Nairobi club with head held high as the men puffed on their cigars and ruffled their newspapers disapprovingly. A charming young waiter escorted us through the kitchen past the giggling prep cooks to a low-hanging opening and steps leading to the motherlode below. He presented the unassuming entryway as one of the last remaining secret passageways from Prohibition days. Uh huh. The door was made to appear as hidden as possible with shelves in front to mask what lies behind it. He joked the door weighed 15 tons and would we like to give it a push? No, Mr. Strong Waiter, please be our guest. Once inside the wine cellar, we were surrounded by the private collections of Elizabeth Taylor (strategically placed in the front), Richard Nixon, Sammy Davis, Jr., and a bottle of Cristal, a present from the Clintons to Chelsea on her birthday. He explained, that once the older celebrities kick the can their stash goes to their estate. Apparently, Nixon's daughter still calls to ensure her father's bottles are still there. We continued into a formal dining room with a long oval table ready to accommodate a five course dinner with wine pairings for 21 guests. Ooh-la-la! Donald Trump has also been known to host his apprentices here. In the corner, I noticed an intricately carved mahogany booth and went over to examine it more closely. I was considering the "mayor's booth," a spot where the mayor could sup and carouse undisturbed. During a government raid, one mayor was rumored to have had the police cars towed. As we took our leave from 21, I took a deep whiff from the highly polished wood and thanked my lucky stars I could return to the real world outside.

On The Road Again

2006-04-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

Kim and I leave for NY tomorrow for readings with Marisa de los Santos and Jennifer Weiner at Borders in Wynnewood, PA on Tuesday, April 25 at 7 and another huge panel reading (8 contributors!) at BookCourt in Brooklyn on Wednesday, April 26 at 8. Look for a piece about us in the spring issue of Park Slope Reader. On May 9 in San Francisco Chronicle's Datebook, Heidi Benson briefly quotes me in an article about the prevalence of women's anthologies of late. Also go see Erin Ergenbright and Laila Lalami read from their essays this Saturday at Portland's Wordstock. Brooklyn, here we come!

Sunshine On My Shoulders

2006-04-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like a sunny day in Santa Cruz to cure your blues from two solid months of rain. Wednesday morning began with breakie at Cafe do Brasil. Um yum! Steak and eggs with cocote sauce and a fabuloso fruit concoction with papaya, pineapple, lime, and mint. Everyone seemed blissed out in their own hippie vibe--from the vendors at the Farmer's Market to the young women smoking outside Bookshop Santa Cruz on Pacific Avenue. As a long-time Santa Cruz resident, Kim's sister, Chris, was our tour guide for the day. She sent us to Cafe Pergolesi for free WiFi and strong coffee. I highly recommend their chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing. I was happy to find The May Queen on the new non-fiction table at Borders on Pacific and even happier to sign a few copies and slap the "autographed copy" sticker on them.

After a few hours of glorious, healing Santa Cruz sunshine, we went back over "the hill" as the locals call it (or Hwy 17) to Palo Alto. We stopped in at Kepler's and then Bell's Books- my absolute favorite bookstore in the bay area- where I bought a copy of Kitten's First Full Moon (a 2005 Caldecott winner) for Lily. Before our last reading, we enjoyed a glass of syrah at Bella Luna. Skip Barrett and the staff at Books, Inc. were so kind to us. They gave us book bags and gift-wrapped journals as sweet mementos of the night.

Tanya Shaffer, Erin Ergenbright, and Kim Askew read from most of their essays. Kim played the crowd like a fiddle and her story was met with uproarious laughter. It was good fun listening to Tanya read her story of meeting her husband David Green as she had informed me earlier he would be in the audience that evening. When she confessed she was considering sperm donation as a last-ditch effort to have a child, he admitted to "practically swimming in sperm." My good friend, Lenore Espanola, bought four copies of the book. Also my husband's family were there in full force-- cousins Jeff and Margery with baby Maya who cooed sweetly during the readings. Linda Dalton and daughter Erica had many questions during the Q&A session like, "Nicki, how did you do this?" Ancient Chinese secret. At Erin's suggestion, we ended the evening with a Chianti and tea toast and chocolate cake at Babbo's! (Photos of Erin Ergenbright and Kim Askew in front of the window and me pleading "no autographs, please!" with David while Chris Askew laughs in the background.)

Love is a Battlefield for Winkie Rose

2006-04-10T12:40:00.001-07:00

We were joined by an amusing assortment of little old ladies on the second- octogenarian- row at Capitola Book Cafe last Tuesday night. Winkie Rose was their unappointed spokesperson and boy did she have a lot to say! The panel discussion was really more of a conversation, but we felt lucky for the words of wisdom imparted. Contributors reading included Kim Askew, Meghan Daum, Erin Ergenbright, and Heather Juergensen. As we were a smaller group than the previous night, the contributors had an opportunity to read a bit more from their pieces. The audience was enthusiastic and supportive. During the quick Q&A session, Winkie chimed in quite a few times with experience from beyond her thirties. One audience member asked where we thought we would be at 50. Heather said she'd like to continue increasing her body of work and just continue making more movies. Kim said she'd like to keep traveling more-- maybe visit a pyramid. Heather also spoke of "getting out of her own way" and truly enjoying living in the moment. When she said we're all swimming in this "soup" or life, I was reminded of her use of the word "marinate" in Kissing Jessica Stein. Erin talked of finally feeling comfortable in her own skin. I think Meghan also appreciated Winkie's bravado and laughed along with the rest of us. Janet Leimeister the event coordinator was very thoughtful and full of questions during any lull in the conversation. I was touched that she liked the epigraphs included in the book. We made a point afterwards of showing Winkie Kim's epigraph by Lana Turner.

After the reading, I had a chance to ask Heather what she's working on now. She's in the throes of creating a film about a midwestern women's sports team in the 60's and how beauty was made overly important to them in their lives. She'll play their hairdresser in a bouffant coiffure and heavy make-up. I believe she said her husband is directing the film.

Once we finally extricated ourselves from the spunky Ms. Rose's conversation on her Democratic Club and thoughts of suicide in her forties, Meghan and Heather hit the road for LA. Then Erin, Kim, Kim's sis- Chris, and I headed over to nearby Castaways sports bar for snooker, Dominos pizza, and torch songs on the jukebox. Oh the tunes did they bring me back. Kim chose Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar, The Cure's A Letter to Elise, and Eminem's Cleaning out my Closet. Chris picked a song by Foreigner and Erin chose one from Jane's Addiction. They played Love Song for me. It felt a bit like a night out with the girls and it was exactly what I needed.

Some Enchanted Evening

2006-04-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

My boots were made for walking down Van Ness, though I was still surprisingly clammy and giddy minutes before our first reading at A Clean Well-Lighted Place. I gave a guy selling Street Sheet a few bucks for good luck and moseyed into the cozy store. I noticed Erin Cressida Wilson and Tanya Shaffer engrossed in conversation in the back row and the rest of the seats empty only twenty minutes before showtime. Gasp. Lovely Linda Good was patiently waiting in the front row. Thank God for her reassuring presence. As I sat in the "green room" as the contributors strolled in, I thought to myself how wonderfully surreal it was to finally meet the contributors for the first time. Wendy Sheanin of ACWLP gave a touching introduction to the book in which she recounted how it had spoken to both she and her mother-of-three sister living a life very different from her own. She promised the contributors would each offer a small taste or "swedish meatball" as she put it from her essay. I thanked the contributors for being willing to reveal themselves so openly and confessionally. The reading order went like so... Heather Juergesen, Erin Cressida Wilson, Kimberley Askew, Carla Kihlstedt, Michelle Richmond, Tanya Shaffer, Erin Ergenbright, and Meghan Daum. Flor Morales chose not to read and Samina Ali had to cancel at the last minute due to illness.

And then finally the dreaded Q&A. Whew! I was so proud of Flor when she stood up and spoke clearly and calmly in response to Emily Vassos' question about telling her story of fleeing from her alcoholic husband in El Salvador. My proudest moment as a tutor ever!! When Cheryl Cechvala asked who I had approached and been turned down by, I told my story of vacuuming and answering the phone to Minnie Driver's agent who very curtly said, "Ms. Driver will not be able to submit an essay to your anthology. Good-bye." Click. Good bye indeed and back to hoovering my living room. Rrrrrrrr Loved Minnie in Good Will Hunting and Grosse Pointe Blank, but ah well. My personal favorite rejection came from Sarah Vowell who informed me she had been a girl rock critic in the mid-nineties and thus had literally nothing left to say gender-wise. Truly a brilliant yet shrinking violet.

An English woman in the crowd, who I presume is a friend of Erin C. Wilson, asked if we felt more free to be eccentric as women in our 30s to which I replied, "Do you mean by wearing funny hats? " She was wearing a very charming black felt hat, but I tend to get punchy when I feel as if I'm being interrogated and at this point most of the panel had remained somewhat tight-lipped. Thank God for David Brownell, a colleague from my Red Herring days, who asked, "A question from the shady side of 60, what have you all discovered about yoursleves that's different from being in your 30s?" Michelle Richmond crowed, "Longer orgasms!" Then Carla Kihlstedt likened the book to a game of Exquisite Corpse. Huh? Erin C. Wilson confessed she had been reading the book at night by flashlight in bed and found the collection as a whole very "empowering." She joked that she has never cut her son Liam's hair so people often mistake him for a girl. I noticed her rose-cheeked son wandering around afterwards. He's exactly one day older than my daughter and could easily pass for her sister.

Later at the Hotel Rex after toasting with a glass of Mumm Napa Valley sparkling wine, I welcomed Ed Champion at our Algonquin, clock-faced roundtable before our podcast interview. I must confess I was impressed by how very well-prepared Ed appeared with questions for all of us (Kim Askew, Meghan Daum, Erin Ergenbright, Heather Juergensen, Michelle Richmond, and myself). The man does his research which I found gratifying after being blasted by idiotic male spectators on blogs of late. It seems to me that men should listen closely to what these women have to say. Just a helpful tip. Ed asked Meghan about her piece. We talked about the GRUPs article that Kevin Smokler had mentioned at the reading for a bit, and the chick lit phenonmenon which led to an angry response from Michelle to Curtis Sittenfeld's scathing NY Times review of Melissa Bank's The Wonder Spot. Ed should have the podcast up in a few weeks. Until then, the book is available at your local independent bookseller. Enquiring minds want to know. Thank you Jung Yun for your splendid photos and to all the contributors for joining me. It was such a fantastic night!