DIARY OF A GIRL-NEXT-DOOR HEAVY METAL NOVELIST

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February 10, 2006
And we're off!!! I look forward to posting lots of fun updates over the coming weeks.

February 16, 2006
I recognize that this is the first time in forever that I've had a real Valentine, and I've failed to finish, let alone distribute, my annual Valentine missive. It's in the works, but it will be late. I'll do my best to make sure it's worth the delay.

I have been doing some other writing that feels significant. In fact, I've been looking for something like this to focus on for quite a while. As Mr. Simmons always says, "I'll tell you more later."

February 24, 2006
One of the more common comments I hear about Won't Get Fooled Again is, "My favorite character is the cat." While I'm not sure whether that speaks highly of my writing proficiency, I'll take it as affirmation of my ability to create likable characters. This week, I realized how important felines can be to the life of a female protagonist when I packed up my two old kitties for their transplant to Upstate New York. So far, they're making a smooth transition. Life here is pretty quiet. The most exciting things they've overheard are the Olympic broadcasts and the 5 hours of American Idol I've watched. Pretty soon, I'll be back to work as a writer on a more regular basis. Unfortunately, they don't pay people to watch Project Runway full-time.

March 1, 2006
Over the past couple days, I've been contacted about a couple dreams come true that I probably don't deserve. A local magazine would like to interview me and do a photoshoot this month, and a book club that's using Won't Get Fooled Again for an upcoming month's required reading has invited me to come meet them in person to talk about my novel! As you can see by my infrequent updates, I've had to focus my life attention on my nonauthorly exploits, but I guess after obsessing over my literary baby for 4+ years, I will forgive myself if a few blessings fall from the sky. In fact, I'm going to close my laptop so I can yell "Yeeehaaah!!!" as loud as I can (without raising the attention of my overly attentive elderly condo neighbors, of course).

March 2, 2006
I'm in Delaware for the next couple days doing some consulting work. Last year, I was here for the same job and I had butterflies in my stomach because I knew my book was supposed to roll on the presses soon. One of my best friends called my cell phone to confess that he hated the photo of me on the back cover of Won't Get Fooled Again, and he hoped I still had time to change it. Even though it was too late for me to make any editorial changes, I loved that he cared enough to risk hurting my feelings by telling me the truth. I have my own confession -- I still love the back cover, but I'm even more appreciative of a good friend.

March 6, 2006
I've begun training for the June Relay for Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society. On Saturday, I took my car for its annual inspection, and I walked home and back. Four miles! I'd like to pat myself on the back, but I'm so out of shape, I can't muster the energy.

Today, I met with a writer for We Magazine. It was one of my favorite interviews ever. The reporter was very nice, and she spent 90% of the time asking about my work in education. God knows I love KISS, but right now I'm hungry to talk about some bigger issues. Bigger than the Ace vs. Tommy debate? Well, I suppose we could call it a tie.

March 7, 2006
It's March 7, and you know what that means! Valentines Day! I'm almost a month late, but as irony has it, I was busy planning a life with my Valentine during February. I hope you find that the product is worth the wait.

March 8, 2006
After four years of running my own website, I finally learned how to create links that open in new web window. In the past, if you clicked on www.DavidHasselhoff.com and got so engrossed in its content that you forgot to hit the "back" button, KISSfiction.com would be just a distant memory. Now, you can have the best of both worlds.

I took care of the first part of my consulting gig in PA. One day down, and one in April will wrap things up. While I was there, the staff from We Magazine sent a team over to do a quick photoshoot for the article they're writing. I hope I look smart!

If you happen to be in Central PA on March 13, I'll be doing a book signing at 7:00 p.m. at the Amelia Givin Library in Mt. Holly Springs, PA. If you check out their program calendar, you'll see that I'm a "delightful author who really is a college dean, loves KISS and rock music." Either that's grammatically incorrect, or they actually believe Colette Shaw is the living embodiment of Rock & Roll. I like to believe the hyperbole.

p.s. You don't actually think I would have linked www.DavidHasselhoff.com, do you? He site is more engaging, and there's no way I can compete with that kind of charisma.

March 11, 2006
Hooray for the Indianapolis KISS Expo! Sales were great, and the crowd was super friendly. I met the planning team for the Hall of Fame rally, and saw that they're working hard. I can't wait to get home to look at my pictures.

Strange situation --- Have you ever received a wedding invitation from someone and wondered, "Who the heck is this person?" I had to Google the names of both the bride and groom, and found pictures of them online, but neither their names nor their photos look the least bit familiar. What is proper etiquette here? Is it possible that I've just met too many people and my brain is now saturated? Help! (continue)