DIARY OF A GIRL-NEXT-DOOR HEAVY METAL NOVELIST

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October 20, 2005
Today is the anniversary of one of the significant moments in my life when I defied all logic and followed my heart. I can't really say what I did, but it was something I'd thought about for a couple weeks and I had no idea how it was going to turn out. The night before I took the leap, I had a dream that everything turned like, well, a dream. When the day arrived, I packed a bag, went to work and after wind ensemble rehearsal I drove 2.5 hours to test my luck. As soon as I arrived at my destination, I knew everything was going to be fine. A month later, I decided I was going to write a novel. Four years later, I left my comfortable job and hit the road as an author. Now, I don't have to dream about my life because I'm living the dream.

October 22, 2005
My book signing for tomorrow was postponed because the library that's hosting the event felt that they'd done inadequate promotional work. I love when that happens. They want to make posters and buy ads and dang if they didn't buy a copy of WGFA to stock their shelves.

I spent today running my business plan by a couple members of my board of advisors who couldn't attend the board meeting a couple weeks. I was so confident after we finished that I gave myself permission to spend some money. I ordered a color laser printer and dropped by the local Goodwill to buy Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits on cassette for 97 cents. Story of my life.

October 23, 2005
I thought the most interesting thing to happen to me today would be the review of Won't Get Fooled Again in the Sunday paper. The publicity was nice, no doubt, but the coolest things are always a surprise...

I guess when you're a quasi-public figure, you should expect to receive occasional emails out of the blue from people from your past. Sometimes it's a former professor. Sometimes it's a former student. But every once in a while, it's the guy you lost your virginity to...

Dad, if you're reading this, you can skip that last paragraph.

Oops. Too late.

October 24, 2005
The Sunday paper article was successfully scanned for your pleasure. According to the writer, I'm still gainfully employed by a certain college. Not true, but I am going to present a program there tomorrow night. The topic is "Women's Dreams Deferred." I was surprised to hear that none of the female top administrators from the college will attend. Then I was reminded that there are no women in senior management there, so I was relieved confused disappointed angry not surprised at all.

October 25, 2005
You know, I'm steadily making my way toward my goal of being a writer/slash/celebrity-writer, but if I ever want to reach the status of pop icon, I need to make sure I cover all my bases. Hair dyed a shade darker than natural? Got it. Gay fan following? Got 'em. I've never sung any Liza Minelli tunes at karaoke, but I do wear a lot of black clothes and shiny red lipstick. Like a saint from the church of pop divas, my doctor prescribed a load of painkillers and muscle relaxers for my wrenched back today. Bingo!!! If I handle this right, I'll be at the Betty Ford Center for an addiction to prescription drugs soon. Watch out Michael Jackson and Liz Taylor!

Tonight's discussion was wonderful. There were a number of ages, cultural backgrounds and life goals represented. I saw people I missed terribly and some new friends I'd invited to share their stories. I came home and typed up 1500 words for my second novel. All in all, except for my spine, I feel like a million bucks.

October 26, 2005
Is it irony when you quit your job to become a writer and then you write so much that you get carpal tunnel? I don't know if that's why my hands hurt so much, but I don't care. I'm going to keep typing until I find out what happens to my beloved heroine Emme Sherman.

October 27, 2005
Toner toner everywhere and I can't use the ink. My gigantic color laser printer arrived today, but with my back all whacked out, I can't open the package. Ugh!!!

Man, this is the week of out-of-the-blue emails. Today, I got a message from a hottie who went to high school with my sister. I've never had a conversation with him in my whole life! It's the stuff of exceptional future fiction. He told me he stumbled upon my name when he Googled the lyrics to "Beth." My sister's first question of the former hearthrob: "What kind of p**sy listens to 'Beth'?" I laughed so hard I worsened my back pain, and it was worth every cent I'll have to pay for Advil.

October 28, 2005
If you live in the NY metro region, you can catch me next weekend on the special Halloween episode of New York Rocks.

Ch.35 11PM Friday Staten Island
Ch.35 12PM Friday Brooklyn- Time Warner
Ch.67 12PM Friday Brooklyn-CableVision
Ch.56 2Am Monday Manhattan- Manhattan Cable (continue)