Diary of a Girl-Next-Door Heavy Metal Novelist

May 9, 2004
Last night, I finished up the first draft of the monthly column I'm going to be writing this year. I emailed it off to my sister/editor for her opinion.

Yesterday, we had an end-of-year bbq at the day job. This was perhaps the best staff I've ever worked with in terms of passion and focus on the largest goals of higher education (and hopefully humanity). The seniors gave me photographs of themselves posing with banners that spelled out our staff's mission. To most people, that would mean nothing. To me, it was the world. They're the best bosses I ever had. As a writer, I must someday capture the spirit of this year in a book or article.

I'm still working out like an animal every night. A koala, but still...

May 10, 2004
Yea, progress. I made contact with a non-profit group with whom I hope to partner for my book release in February, and I've almost finished my article - a full 12 days before the deadline. Baby. My sister cut the word "eponymous" from the text. Would someone please reassure me that I'm not a snob? Hint: www.ColetteShaw.com is eponymous.

May 11, 2004
Since I can barely lift my arms to type this, I think this is a good night to take a break from working out. I put the extra hour to good use, finishing up my column and mailing it out. I'll post a link as soon as it's available. I decided to use a pen name because despite its PG rating, the topic (Paul Stanley's spanker) could be considered inappropriate. More and more, I'm thinking that someone forgot about the liberal part of the liberal arts.

Eponymous is a stumper. My dad and famous Aunt Paula were on the phone this morning asking each other about it. My siblings and coworkers all shrugged their shoulders. For the record, I cut the word from my article --- begrudgingly.

Book progress is excellent - for other people. I feel pretty lazy compared to the days of old. My lackadaisical time is almost up, but I've enjoyed the brief respite. When that beast is back in my hands, I have to think that my determination will come back, too. If it doesn't happen on it's own, my old source of strength is sure to help. The mighty KISS. Have you seen their new set list???? This is going to be the best tour ever. EVER!!! No kryptonite is as strong as those four mf-ers.

See what I mean? I'm all PG, baby.

p.s. Don't tell anyone, but I heard some of the songs off Mr. Simmons' new album tonight. Mmmmm.

May 12, 2004
It must be summer, as I've been on Ebay searching for "permanent hair removal." It's not easy being sexy.

Still no success with "eponymous." I hope the man who publishes my article feels a deep sense of longing when he reads it. He won't be able to put his finger on it, but something will feel like it's missing. When I tell him it's the word eponymous, he will nod in knowing awe. He is a huge supporter, and quite a flirt. I saw a picture of him and me on his website, and he'd titled the photo "someday.jpg." Sweet.

I got my pictures from the ODU Film Festival back. I'll post them this weekend. Most of them are pretty crummy, as I probably should have expected from the disposable cameras I bought for the trip. Here's a peek at one that's grainy, but okay. I like that you can see the film on the screen and the wires from all the mics. One was for the audience, and one was for some film students who were documenting the presentations. I also dig the outfit I chose that day. A dean in leopard is a dean for the masses.

May 13, 2004
It's almost time to shower up for karaoke. I'm whistling a happy tune tonight. The A-#1 philanthropy of my choice called today and expressed interest in a possible partnership for my book release in February. I need to put a customized press kit together so I can knock their socks off when we meet next week. I have a strong, almost aching desire to work with this group. It just feels like the right cause, and I even feel like I'm getting cosmic signs that the synergistic potential of this union is not just my imagination.

I got to see a draft copy of the ad campaign I was asked to participate in. I posed for pictures with extraordinary Gene Simmons clone, Carlos, from the Band KISS Nation, and I did a fairly extensive interview with the marketing team. The results are smart, fresh and sexy (in a purely academic way, of course).

May 14, 2004
I worked on the press kit I'm building for the philanthropic organization I'm going to meet with next week. I am convinced that this partnership is the right thing. My pitch script gives me the same excitement as my book. It's all about the passion, baby.

Since my book is scheduled to come out on Valentine's Day, I thought of this tag line tonight:

Won't Get Fooled Again
It won't win a Pulitzer, but it will win your heart.

Yeah, I know it's cheesy, but it's the truth. Like KISS, I'll never be the critics' darling, but I'm pretty sure I'll be so busy kicking the world's ass I won't have much time to feel sorry for myself.

May 15, 2004
To all the men I've loved before...

I just wrote an article about you. I seem to be in a creative writing mode recently. With the publishing of my P.S. article and the good fortune I've had with Won't Get Fooled Again, I get the feeling I'm on a roll.

At the day job, my heart is breaking. I laughed and bawled through an emotional baccalaureate ceremony this afternoon. A group of students whom I've invited deep into my soul will graduate tomorrow. One in particular gave his remarks to the crowd and locked eyes with me when he said that working in the department I supervise had made him realize his responsibility and potential to change the world. I hope they know how much they changed mine. Yesterday, after a week of feeling like I was on the edge of crying over anything, I realized what was happening. I couldn't bring myself to close the door to my office. Quite literally, I was closing the door to perhaps the most special year of my career in higher education. If the measure of my joy is the pain I feel tonight, I am truly blessed. (continue)

June 8, 2004 Mr. Simmons Releases: A**HOLE