10 Things About Cindy Ella You Might Not Know

Okay, here's the deal -- I've been way too busy working the last few days to have much of a life. Not that I'm complaining though--seriously--I'm so grateful for the work. But unfortunately that means that I don't have a lot to write about.

(Meanwhile, I'm watching the news about Governor Spitzer. I mean, come on, man -- what on earth were you thinking?!)

So, anyway, for your reading pleasure, here are 10 things about Cindy Ella--the character and the book--that you may not know.

(Meanwhile, how cool that the (most likely) new governor of NY is blind?!)

Okay, so back to the 10 things. Here they are:

1. Cafe Du Village, where Cindy and Noah have lunch, really does exist. And it really is on Larchmont Blvd. And they really do have great fries.

2. I wrote a lot of the book while sitting at the Starbucks on Larchmont Boulevard.

3. Cindy's English teacher Ms. McManus is named in honor of my high school friend Dawn McManus who teaches English at Monmouth Regional High School.

4. It took almost one year to the day from the time I came up with the idea for the book to the time my fabulous agent Kate sold it to my fabulous editor Jennifer.

5. The day Kate sent the book out to publishers I started crying during yoga class because I felt like I had sent my kid out into the world and I could no longer protect her.

6. I used to own tons of expensive high heels but I had to sell them on eBay to pay my rent because that's the kind of thing struggling writers have to do and now when I put a pair on, I find it almost impossible to walk in them, which is why I wear either flip-flops (summer) or red cowboy boots (winter).

7. The reason Cindy wears the t-shirts in the book with the funny sayings is because I always wanted to make them and sell them, so instead I gave them to her. But I am in the process of making some up to sell on my website.

8. I am so not organized like Cindy is.

9. I used to work in the movie department at Lifetime Television, and a lot of the movies I mention in the book were ones I actually developed.

10. Michael Rosenberg is based on my friend Michael Rosenberg and he's more than willing to sign autographs.