GREAT book launch party!

OMG you guys, I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun I had at my book launch party! Everything went so smoothly—like all the planets were in perfect alignment. If only life could go like that all the time!

I had a great turnout—I counted 57 people, but there could have been more that I just don’t remember. Mom and Stepdaddy came down from Idaho, my high school friend Kevin Bacon and his wife were there, lots of my friends from work, friends from previous jobs, friends from the Henderson Writers Group, the facilitator from the divorce support group I joined when I first got here, Mike, my old boyfriend Tim, my old boyfriend Dr. Jim (yeah, I know--all in one room)… it was so totally all about me, at one point I felt like I was at my own wake—except good news!—I didn’t have to die or anything. Awesome!

Those of you who read my book will recall a scene at the DMV where I make a new friend who looks like Jerry Garcia’s younger brother. Look! I haven’t seen him in like five years, but even he showed up! I was so psyched.


We started off in the lounge area, where everyone socialized while I signed books, and then at 7:00 we moved into the showroom that my comic friend Joe Lowers so graciously offered to me for the night. My blogging buddy Hurricane Mikey and I did a hysterical Spinal Tap re-enactment in the backstage area trying to find the right doors and curtains that led to the stage. Did I tell you I have no sense of direction? It was pretty funny.

Once we got oriented, Mikey went out first and gave me a wonderful introduction—thank you, Mikey!


Thank God it was one of those times when I was totally in the zone. As you know, stage fright has always been a problem for me (believe it or not), but the first hour in the lounge was so busy, I didn’t have a chance to let the anxiety build—all of sudden it was time to get up there.


After a little stand-up schitck, I read a few pages taken from here and there from my book, with some anecdotes and general b.s. thrown in as well.

Often when I'm on stage I have an underlying feeling that I can't wait for the experience to end. But that night, I was actually enjoying myself up there. Maybe because I knew that everything I said is the God's honest truth--it's always so much easier that way, in the spotlight and especially in real life.


Afterward, we all went back to the lounge for drinks and boy, was I happy to see not one, but two Guinnesses in front of me (I never drink before I go on stage), courtesy my wonderful friends. By 9:00 almost everyone was on their way, but the hardcores stayed for Joe Lowers' comedy show. Great fun! (And picture me sitting at a table between Mike and Tim... It's all good!)

Joe's a doll--I can't thank him enough for letting me use his showroom--and if you've read my book, you know that from day one here in Las Vegas he's always been so helpful to me, my comedy mentor. The next morning I got an email from him with the subject title "Wow."

Great job! I thought what you did on stage was great. I love how it worked and I think you should think about a one-women show around your book. I know where you could do it!!!

Encouragement to put together a one-woman show with an offer of a room to do it in? That's certainly worth consideration. One more thing for my To-Do list...

It was simply a fantastic, perfect night and I thank everyone who came to support me from the bottom of my heart. And of course, thanks to all of you beloved readers from all over the world who've sent kind sentiments of support.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!