Last night I had the launch party for my new book, The Complete Single’s Guide To Being A Dog Owner. Here is a news piece that ran on KCAL-9 News!
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It’s quite surreal to be holding this impeccably designed (I can say that because I didn’t design it) book in my hand and think holy crap I wrote this!
It’s been almost two years to the day since my beautiful friend Tara who was my book agent–we’ve been friends since 10th grade (think big hair and scrunchy socks)–called me to tell me that there was a publisher (Adams Media) interested in buying my proposal.
I have to say I barely believed her.
After working in Hollywood, “interested in” something is about as good as “I’ll call you”. So while I was excited, I didn’t even really tell anyone for a few days because I didn’t think it was real!
Gladly it was real, and soon after I had a contract and an editor. After the holy s**t-momentary freak-out that now I had to actually write this thing, I dove in! Even with my (self-diagnosed) ADD, I just went into a zone. My whole life became about the book. No longer did I have to feel badly about going home early or not going out at all. I even went on a dating a hiatus! “Sorry, I may be 34 and single but I have to write.” No guilt, no second guessing. It was liberating. It was genius!
From July to November, while keeping a full-time job and of course caring for Bella, I wrote close to 80,000 words. The contract only called for 45,000– a number that I was so worried I’d never reach–but as I covered the items I outlined in my proposal to a level I saw fit, somehow the word count just kept growing. I’d certainly come a long way since college when I spent almost as much time playing with the font, margins and spacing (to make my papers seem longer) as I did writing.
Me & B
With the book’s roll out just beginning, a publicity strategy in place, and parties planned, I bursting with anticipation and excitement. But underlying it all is a bit sadness that Bella isn’t here to live experience this with me. I know it’s great that I’ve commemorated her in print, but in some ways it makes me feel my loss that much more because the whole book talks about her and us in the present tense, and I miss thinking about her in the present tense. In French, the term I miss her, Elle me manque, literally translates to she is missing from my life. And that is how I feel.
But enough with the sadness. I’m not a big one for dwelling or regret. Instead, I am gleeful about the book. I walk around with my copy like a kid with their blankie. And I am happy to have my sweet boy Ranger at my side to pick up where his sister Bella left off. As I type this, Ranger is lying by my side snoring away. He is pure love and canine happiness and I couldn’t be happier.
Ranger and his girlfriend Idaho
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Getting ready for my book, The Complete Single’s Guide to Being a Dog Owner, I have hired a great marketing and publicity firm called Karma Media Labs. The woman handling the traditional side of the PR (Karma is a multimedia agency) is a super-cool chick named Wendi. Aside from having tons of experience and being fun to spend a Saturday with, she showed herself to be my kind of girl today as she rescued these two little guys and brought them to safety.
They had fallen out of their nest and were too young to fend for themselves. Wendi cancelled her fabulous brunch plans, and instead spent the day helping the little angels. She first followed the directions as given on the Squirrel Rescue page, because there are some things such as making sure the squirrels are warm and hydrated, that you can do on your own.
When it was clear that the mommy squirrel wasn’t coming back, Wendi brought this brother and sister squirrel duo to a certified Squirrel Rescue. There, they will be cared for, rehabilitated. If all goes according to plan, they will live out the rest of their lives as happy Sherman Oaks squirrels; taunting dogs and dodging cars!
Brother & Sister Squirrel
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Sensing that Ranger had a bit of pent up energy- he tried to eat my glasses, destroy a sock and he managed to do a number on a bowl of blueberries which were sitting on the kitchen counter, I decided today would be our first family trip to the Laurel Canyon Dog Park–me, Andre and Ranger!
Laurel Canyon Dog Park
When I was younger and I brought my parent’s dog to the Laurel Canyon Dog Park all the time, and I never really gave it a second thought. But now, after close to a decade of having a dog that didn’t really like other dogs, and having heard all the horror stories, I have to admit I was nervous.
Thankfully, aside from Ranger’s complete disregard for me, my commands or my attempts to stop him from running up the side of the hill- don’t worry it’s totally fenced– I’d say it was a complete success!
He played beautifully with dogs of all shapes and sizes- including one adorable spaniel mix named Nino, who felt it necessary to make Ranger his bitch. But all in all Ranger took everything in stride. It was me and Andre who were stressed out.
In hindsight, I realize 3pm on a beautiful Saturday afternoon might not have been the most mellow time to take our first trip to the dog park, as it was was chock full of Hollywood types including Kevin Connolly who I’m pretty sure I saw roll in as we were leaving. Yet all things considered, it went great! Our little man Ranger enjoyed himself and hopefully that means we can make it through the rest of the day with our apartment mostly in tact!
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