but I'm realizing that blogging is a tough gig. It's sort of like stand-up comedy without the immediate feedback from the audience and it's riskier than other writing since it's written and posted before there is time for much reflection or regret. I mean I want to write stuff on the blog and I have tons of ideas like the day last week I woke up and decided that there was an extra five lbs constantly tossed between my two daughters and myself like a hot potato and with them both gone this summer I tossed it to my husband... or how I'd like to talk about the intersection of me launching myself at middle-age while simultaneously launching my teen-aged daughters how I thought it was good timing but how I'm not sure my daughters feel that way... or how my heart goes out to Christina Applegate and how I admire her for speaking out publically... and how Katie's review of my book made me realize that I suffer from the same fears and superstitions that she and her readers so honestly talk about (does that mean I fear myself?) and how I still can't believe that I wrote a book about cancer how I never expected to do that because I never expected to get the cancer that would prompt that book... how often I wake up and can't believe all the unexpected twists and turns my life has taken in the past two and a half years... and how part of me is still waiting for it to go back to normal even though I know it never will...

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, I admire all you regular bloggers and I'm not sure I can live up to your standards but I hope you'll keep checking in with me... thanks...

written by the brilliant and talented and hilarious Kate Schwartz here!!

I love it because I think she nails the reason I think some people might hesitate to read the book and why ultimately she thinks they should...

has anyone seen it? If so,let me know!!

My trip to NYC was exciting and exhausting and a taste of what's to come in the months ahead. At yoga last night I was describing what it feels like to launch (pre-launch) a book to one of the yoga instructors and I said it was like getting married, giving birth and sending your oldest off to college all at the same time. All that intensity, all that passion, all that love and hope and fear. Which might explain why I woke this morning thinking I'll never be ready. And then I started making another of my many Things To Do lists (and I swear I'm NOT a list-maker!) but I decided that the first thing I would do before I start worrying about book orders and bookings and reviews and how many t-shirts to order and whether people will show up at my readings, is post something here to remind me that the highlight of my NYC trip was meeting readers who'd read my writing online and told me that I'd touched them in some way and that in turn touched me.

A preview of the Booklist review just in: "a wrenchingly authentic... down-to-earth account."

UPDATE: Check News and Events on my website for... news and event updates. Really I have some. Go look right now! And if you're anywhere near any of these places I'm going to be I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to meet and/or see you!!