I recently read an awesome article in the NY Times entitled “My Year of No Shopping” by the writer Ann Patchett (Bel Campo, State of Wonder). It’s fantastic. The longest I’ve gone without buying a single item of clothes, shoes or accessories was two months. Yes, it was refreshing to press that pause button on… Read more »
We got a puppy!!! His name is Sherwin. Why the name Sherwin? Because that was almost my husband’s name, until his parents decided to name him Eugene instead. We thought Sherwin was too awesome a name to waste, so we put it to good use đ Anyway, everyone always says that puppies are a lot… Read more »
Our puppy Sherwin is four months old today. During our first few days together, I seriously didn’t know if I had the chops to raise a pup. Rather than being overwhelmed by Sherwin’s cuteness, I was overwhelmed by a deep and strange depression. You see, I grew up with dogs and have always prided myself… Read more »
The mall in Century City has been undergoing a massive $1 billion makeover, and last night, some of the more famous new spots finally opened. One being Mario Bataliâs Eataly. The other being Appleâs new location near the huge, shiny Nordstrom. And oh, the French boutique Equipment with their buttery silk blouses, which I absolutely… Read more »
LONG POST ALERT! You have been warned. Preface 1: The title of this post is a redundant phrase because Paris is basically an introvert’s paradise. The French in general are a lot more reserved and introverted than, say, Americans. But anyway, let’s carry on… Preface 2: The places mentioned below can get packed, but I… Read more »
[NOTE: When I was writing away years ago with no publishing deal in sight, I was always curious to know what the exciting parts of a writer’s life are actually like (not the hard part where you sit for hours at your computer — I already knew enough about the hard part!). So I hope… Read more »
We went on a fantastic Flavors of Lucca food tour in Italy last month. The short review: It was super comprehensive and we made so many stops for tastings, viewings, etc. We thought the tour was only supposed to last about 2.5 hours, but it lasted an entire 4 hours, full of delicious tastings that… Read more »
When I first went to the CĂ´te dâAzur over fifteen years ago, I quickly realized which areas I loved and which areas I didnât. I loved Saint Paul de Vence, Ăze and St. Tropez. Notice I didnât mention the big cities. So when we went last month, I already had the âdream itineraryâ in mind…. Read more »
I’m so thrilled to announce that Random House has acquired my second picture book, The Paper Kingdom. I poured my heart and soul into this story, and I’m excited to see the book when it’s released! I’ll keep everyone posted, and one of these days, I’d like to write a post about how the entire… Read more »
A few Saturdays ago, I decided to live like a tourist in my own city. So I went over to Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice for some quality alone time. What an AMAZING afternoon! I started off with tea at Caudalie Spa while waiting for my facial appointment. I love this place. Why is everyone… Read more »
You know a writer is darn good when she makes you care about something you have no interest in. I had NO interest in the rock scene of â70s L.A., but I wanted more and more of it while reading #daisyjonesandthesix by @tjenkinsreid đThis book is so masterfully written, I even enjoyed the descriptions of stuff I normally dislike: loud concerts, crowded venues, rock and roll madness. So FUN!!! #amreading #booknerd
Sherwin is overjoyed to see his buddy Duke (who appears at the very end). We keep yelling âitâs a friendâ so that #sherwinthedog wonât bark at the gentle giant đđ
#challengeaccepted with a b&w photo of yours truly in Egypt last year. We were supposed to go to Turkey, but ended up in its neighbor country (long story!). Why do I mention this? Because this photo challenge originated to show solidarity with the Turkish women who face domestic violence with little to no justice. Scroll to see more info. Thanks for the invite, @annimal_mannimal & @delishbits đ
I had such a great chat with @lapubliclibrary a few days ago! The replay is listed on my website (link in bio). And hereâs @louiethepaintedturtle posing with The Turtle Ship, photo courtesy of the lovely librarian Lauren Kratz â¤ď¸ Can you believe Louie is 22 years old?? Check out Louieâs star qualities on his Instagram pageđ˘đ¤Š
Join me and the @lapubliclibrary this Friday (July 24) at 4 PST for a fun virtual chat about The Paper Kingdom! Iâm going to give tips on how you can become an author, and will also reveal my worst rejection as a writer đą as well as my greatest triumph đ Event details are on the graphic, and there are some other cool events happening throughout the week thanks to our lovely library! All are welcome, wherever you are in the world đâ¤ď¸
