Yet more about me-me-me-me-me

My posting habits have been atrocious -- mainly because I've been so busy writing. But someone sent this to me and I figured instead of being creative and coming up with something original, instead I'd be ultra lame and just answer these questions.

1) Are you currently in a serious relationship?

Other than with my new book? No. I'm not even in an UNserious relationship at the moment.

2) What was your dream growing up?

My dream was...drumroll please...to write books. Look at that -- it came true!

3) What talent do you wish you had?

I wish I knew how to play piano.

4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?

In the summer? Iced tea. In the winter? A nonfat cappucino.

5) Favorite vegetable?

As of this year, beets. Crazy, huh? I spent the 39 previous years avoiding them like the plague.

6) What was the last book you read?

I re-read PLAY IT AS IT LAYS by Joan Didion for like the 10th time. Favorite. Book. Ever.

7) What zodiac sign are you?

First day of Aquarius. Taurus rising. PIsces moon. Venus in Pisces. Oh, and 6 planets in the 12th house. Now you know exactly why I am the way I am.

8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.

Two tattoos. One is the Chinese symbol for strength and it's right above my left hipbone. The other is on my lower back (a.k.a. trampstamp) and it's a fleur-de-lys in the middle of a butterfly.

9) Worst Habit?

Worrying that it's all going to fall apart five minutes from now.

10) What is your favorite sport?

Yoga's not a sport, is it? It it were, it would be yoga. To watch, I'd say tennis and basketball.

11) Do you have a Pessimistic or Optimistic attitude?

It depends on where I am in my menstrual cycle. But I guess in general I would call myself an optimist who has to work hard to keep her pessimistic leanings in check.

12) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator?

Try not to worry that I was going to use all the oxygen up. (see questions 9 and 11)

13) Worst thing to ever happen to you?

My mother dying when I was six.

14) What's one weird fact about you?

Just one? Hmm...I've lived in NYC for a year and a half and I've only been in a cab 4 times?

15) Do you have any pets?

Two cats. O'Neill, who is named after Eugene and is the sweetest thing in the entire world although he has a perpetually worried look on his face; and Onyx, who I'm pretty sure has Aspergers Syndrome. It's her world and O'Neill and I are just lucky to live in it.

16) What would you do if someone showed up at your house unexpectedly?

Offer them some water.

17) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?

Neither. I think they're annoying.

18) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?

Seeing that I've worked incredibly hard on self-acceptance over the last decade, I'm gonna go with nothing.

19) Are you more a partner-in-crime or conscience?

Depends on the day.

20) What color eyes do you have?

Blue

21) Ever been arrested?

Nope

22) Bottle or can soda?

As Tab only comes in cans and it's my favorite, I'm gonna say can.

23) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?

Put it towards a down payment on a house in upstate NY or western MA.

24) What's your favorite place to hang out?

Central Park

25) Do you believe in ghosts?

Yes

26) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

What spare time?

27) Do you swear a lot?

I go in phases. The last few days, yes.

28) Biggest pet peeve?

People who are self-absorbed and narcissistic.

29) In one word, how would you describe yourself?

Grateful.

30) Do you believe/appreciate romance?

Hmm...I appreciate it, but the the older I get and the more research I do and read, I don't believe in it in the way that Hallmark sells it to us. What people think of as romance and true love is actually a hormonal, chemical reaction to a human being and a host of projections that, after about 3 months, begin to be withdrawn, leaving us with realization that said human being is exactly that - a human being - which can be a total and complete bummer when you've been operating under the mistaken assumption that they're perfect. It's only when what we call "romance" is gone that it actually starts to become a relationship rather than just an infatuation. I think this is probably a much longer answer than anyone wanted to hear.

31) Favorite and least favorite food?

Favorite: cupcakes
Least Favorite: liver

32) Do you believe in God?

I believe in a force that is much greater and much wiser than my finite self. But do I believe in God in the traditional sense as an old man with a beard sitting on a throne in judgement of me? No.

Be my friend...

....on Facebook by clicking here

I know there's an easy way to do this, but because A) it's 7:40am on a Saturday morning and I've only had half a cup of coffee and B) I'm technologically challenged anyway, I don't know how to do it.

In other news, check back soon because Dylan from GEEK CHARMING will have her own blog!

Angry Little Girls make me happy

How did I not know about the Angry Little Girls until today???

As Liz Lemon would say, "I want to go to there."

Something to keep in mind...

If you've read GEEK CHARMING and you liked it, if you'd be kind enough to post a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, I'd so appreciate the feedback.

Thank you
xx

Oh, Joni, I could drink a case of you...

If anyone wants to get me a gift, you can get me this...

I so want to come back as Joni Mitchell in my next lifetime.

How much do I love Shari Stack and the kids at Mepham High?!

Okay, so usually when I do a Q&A after a reading, I get stuff like "Can you describe your writing process?" (um, no--not because I'm being secretive but because the whole thing is completely mystifying) and "What's a typical day like in a writer's life?" (for the most part, very boring...and usually includes coffee, yoga pants and - when writing is not going well - various tasks that have to be done THAT VERY MOMENT like the removal of nail polish and looking up long lost friends from fifth grade on Facebook).

However, yesterday when I spoke to the kids at Mepham High in Bellmore, New York, I was asked by Sara Kulins "So in your book CINDY ELLA, Cindy believes in soulmates...do you believe in soulmates?

What a GREAT question. So much more interesting than "What do you wear when you write?" (see first paragraph for answer). My answer was yes...and no. Yes, I believe in the concept of soulmates, but I don't believe we have just one and I definitely don't think, if we come across one, that means we're guaranteed to stay with them forever. Sadly, I'm pretty certain about that second part...*sigh*.

Anyway, I had a great time during the visit, and I was especially touched by this fabulous larger-than-life rendition of the cover of CINDY ELLA by the fabulously talented Chrissy Hirsch. I also got to spend the day with my incredible publisher, Eileen Kreit, who is a graduate of Mepham. Turns out we graduated the same year, and as we looked through her yearbook I saw the kids there looked exactly like that did at mine -- TONS of HUGE hair.

I'll be going back to Mepham for the new member induction of the National English Honor Society on March 10th - can't wait!

GEEK CHARMING ARRIVES IN STORES TODAY

Thrilled to report that GEEK CHARMING is now available in bookstores.

Or you can order online at:

http://www.amazon.com/Geek-Charming-Robin-Palmer/dp/0142411221

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Geek-Charming/Robin-Palmer/e/9780142411223/?itm=1

I'm finishing up the revision on the NEXT one, which is why I've been such a bad blogger, but hope to come up for air soon.

Enjoy the book...

xx