March - April, 2004

I just returned from a real estate twirl… wondering how to write the truth about my family in, Too Many Pieces, my new book, and how to write the truth about being a member of my family and just how do I define family and? There you have it, just too many pieces.

I finished the first draft of Love In His Veins, my original script, and while it brews on the back burner I dig deeper into, Too Many Pieces.

And, not to ignore my love child, Dancing on the Cellar Door, she continues to sell well and to surprise me. To all you readers who keep spreading the word, I have but one thing to say, ‘thank you’. And but one request,’ write me’, by clicking Contact above. Your words nourish me and feed my hungry Muse…

Here’s what’s happening so far in 2004. Dancing on the Cellar Door is still selling well after a year in publication… thanks to word of mouth and word of tongue and just plain word.

Now, my best of 2003 lists:

Best books from 2003, not necessarily published in 2003: Flesh and Blood, by Michael Cunningham, Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich, The Killers Within, the Deadly Rise of Drug Resistant Bacteria, by Shnayerson and Plotkin, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, by Al Franken, A Home at the End of the World, by Michael Cunningham, The Stories of Breece D’J Pancake, foreword by James Alan McPherson, afterword by John Casey, John Keats, The Collected Poems.

Best film of 2003 was Laurel Canyon, written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko. Close runners up were Thirteen, Hollywood Murders, Mystic River, In America, Whale Rider, Searching for Debra Winger, and Big Fish.

for paula

The road to truth takes what it takes

unconditional light is hard to find

on those dark nights

no pavement in sight

just a motor that grinds

a heart that beats

a dream that needs chased

a path we both know

if only light would rise

you are light.

These are the things I know as 2003 draws to a close:

Ms. Jessica Lange, I am told by her agent’s office, has a copy of Dancing on the Cellar Door. Stay tuned for the finale on that but don’t hold your breath.

As for book sales, it appears, according to my publisher and sales figures from Amazon.com , that my novel has taken on a life of its own, selling better than this time last year. I will not ask any questions, I simply want to honor that phenomenon here.

I have just finished reading one of the great first books of all time, Learning the Circle, by Paula Coomer, soon to be published if the publishing world has any sense left. Watch for it next year and I will keep you posted here.

After a remarkable past six months, I have two writing goals for 2004 — to complete my original script, Love In His Veins, and to begin a new book, © Sanded and Stained, not yet assigned a genre. I plan to sing my truth. (As for the script adaptation of …Cellar Door, I am letting that go, much as Sophie let go of the Island at the end of the novel.)

Hurry back. There will always be news from me.

It is the one year anniversary of the publication of that novel about a dance on a cellar door. And, what a year… I am back home, writing, and waiting for Ms. Jessica Lange to read Dancing on the Cellar Door , and fall in love with Margaret, the character I wrote for her, and her alone… Carole Wells Doheny, my partner-in-creative crime, aka Manager, ran into Ms. Lange on the red carpet at the Emmys September 21 and after Carole spoke with her, Ms. Lange said she wanted to read my novel. A copy is now in the office of her agent, Mr. Peter Levine, CAA.

I’m heading to UCLA at the end of October to edit the script adaptation of …Cellar Door, with David Freeman.

My road trip across the country in May inspired a fire in my soul and sent me on a very personal journey.

I took some time off. And did my heart ever change…

4/23: I had a luminous conversation today with The La La Ladies’ Literary League, a book club in Kentucky, discussing Dancing on the Cellar Door. The ladies of the league were eager to converse. Thanks to Lois for pulling it together along with Janet, Nancy, Lissa, Michele, and Chris – the La La Ladies lit up my day.

**And, remember, I am available to speak with Book Clubs around the world, in person or via Speaker Phone. Just MAKE CONTACT below and I will be in touch ASAP**

***4/18*** A Personal Note

I want to thank everyone who has bought and read my novel. Keep spreading the word, the sales figures are looking fine indeed.

Also, Happy Birthday to Luke Terpstra and Jessica Lange.

I will be traveling most of May, among the highlights: a book signing in Florida, on Amelia Island. After that, I will hit the road and do another book signing in Boone, North Carolina. Then I turn the nose of my car west toward California.

Along with me on the road trip back to the west coast will be my legal pad, my tape recorder, and lots of Nina Simone. I will not have access to a computer, my choice. My country has changed, so the pundits and polls tell me. But I plan to find out for myself. Wish me luck and I will no doubt inject key observations from the trip into my next writing project.