TAKE OUT THE TRASH

Now that Reflections is winding down, I'm on to a new and exciting projects at the middle school--RECYCLING! That's right our school recycles. My task is to make some eye-popping posters to get the kids' attention and to design a t-shirt. Ah! T-shirts! I love t-shirts. So I think I got a pretty good concept--better stop blogging and start designing!

LADIES ROCK CAMP

I was going over my proofs today with my editor, when she told me she got a phone call from this women who does Ladies Rock Camps. It sounded pretty cool so I called one up. (They happen all over the country.) I asked if I might be able to particpate some how--like give a workshop on webdesign or making a presskit--the kind of stuff I am pretty good at. Lord knows they don't want me to to give guitar lessons. The person I spoke to sounded really interested. Her camp is in Brooklyn.

THANKS PAT!!

The Mydols drummer, Pat McGough, just went through the manuscript of Rock Star Mommy. Pat is a voracious reader and her opinion meant a lot to me. I have been worrying for months if the other girls in my band would like my book. One of my biggest concerns was that I portrayed their feelings inaccurately. When writing the book I tried to rely strictly on email, and not on memory, so when I quoted them I was using their words and not my own. I also tried to avoid writing anything personal as their lives belong to them! And (this was the hardest thing to do) I tried not to steal any of their good stories! Kara's, our lead singer, kids say the FUNNIEST things but I saved them for her to tell...she could fill a book! (At one point I did use something her daughter said but it got cut.)

Anyhow, I just got my proofs back from Pat and she did a great job catching things--like I had our lead singer's age wrong! She also reminded me of a couple of things that I forgot. I am so grateful to her. Next one to read it is my mom and then I give it to Kara. (Paige read one chapter over the summer, but she is in Seattle now.)

BLAST FROM THE PAST

I was going through some old Mydols' photos and came across this one from our PEOPLE magazine shoot. They ended up using a photo of us in a Laundromat.

If you think this picture looks busy, you should try being a mom!

ANN ARBOR BOOK FESTIVAL

I got an email from one of the Ann Arbor Book Festival coordinators yesterday. They are considering me for the festival in May. I am delighted!

LOS ANGELES

I spent a lot of time on the phone today talking to folks in Los Angeles. I am planning a trip there in January and I want to make the most of it. I am looking forward to meeting a screenwriter who is interested in my book. And meeting my agent face to face...plus a whole lot more.

PROOFS ARRIVED TODAY

The FedEx man dropped the proofs for Rock Star Mommy on my porch today . It's the first chance I have had to "see" what the design looks like for the inside of the book. It's very cute. Lots of stars, guitars, drums etc.

It's also my last chance to correct any mistakes. I can't add or rewrite anything at this point but I can change spellings of names or dates...factual inaccuracies or typos. I have to send the whole thing back to New York by December 5.

I just read the first 3 chapters and I am kind of amazed that I did it. I really wrote a book. Unbelievable.

PUMPKIN PIE

Yesterday we made 40 pumpkin pies for St. Peter's Soup Kitchen in Detroit. "We" being 30 or so 6th through 8th graders at St. Mary. The kids were all so enthusiastic but I am worried in all the disorganization that some pies have no sugar and others have 3 cups of sugar! They all "looked" great though. The kids who made the pastry did a particularly awesome job. One of the girls taught me how to make a beautiful pinched border. I am sure the "eaters" of our pies will enjoy the effort and love that went into them.

DAISY ROCK CATALOG

Hey that's me in the Daisy Rock catalog! No not on the cover, (I wish!) but in the gallery of girls that rock. I'm kind of blown away to be in such great company.

I am currently talking with Tish (the Prez of Daisy Rock) about possibly going to Anaheim in January for the NAMM Show. As their website (www.namm.org) states:

The NAMM Show is the place to be for anyone lucky enough to belong to this industry. From accordions to zithers, attendees can find anything and everything musical there. Miles of aisles feature the newest, state-of-the-art music products, as well established classics and hot, up-and-coming innovations—all under one roof! In addition, attendees can choose from dozens upon dozens of free industry-focused training sessions, all designed to help Members grow their business. The NAMM Show is always an unforgettable event, with more than 80,000 registrants packing the aisles of the Anaheim Convention Center to check out the latest gear. The show is a star studded event with endorsing musicians such as Carlos Santana, Sheila E, Stevie Wonder, Dweezil Zappa, Keanu Reeves and Korn, adding to the spectacle as they pose for pictures and talk shop with show attendees. From CBS to CNN and E! Entertainment Television, journalists from throughout the world come to cover the new instruments unveiled.

I want to prove to the world that ANYONE can play a guitar--even a monkey. You might not play well, but it sure is a heck of a lot of fun to play LOUD. There may be only one Bonnie Raitt but there are a gagillion people (and monkeys) like me and it is NEVER too late to learn and own a cute guitar!

ROYAL OAK PUBLIC LIBRARY

There's no place like home!

Royal Oak is such a wonderful place to live. The Mayor comes to Mydols concerts, the Superintendent of Schools does a cable TV show with us. The Royal Oak Music Theatre hosts Mamapalooza. And now the library is helping me promote my book Rock Star Mommy by allowing me to speak and do a book signing. I feel blessed to call Royal Oak my home town.

I'll be speaking Tuesday, May 6 from 7-9 PM.

Please visit www.ropl.org or www.booktour.com for more information.

THIS IS HUGE!

This is huge. In fact, it's AMAZON.

My book is listed on Amazon.com now. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0806528982/105-6795530-5496445?SubscriptionId=13DX9SSZNT4MP1351CR2

JEE YEON

Here's Jee Yeon and a friend preparing sandwiches. She's doing really well. She just won a poetry contest and played "a woman who has a husband carries on an independence movement in defiance of Japanese coercion" in a History program at school to rave reviews. Students proclaimed "She's a natural!"

We miss her!

Dylan's first day of driver's training went well. He and buddy Alec may be on the road as early as this Saturday. Yikes! He seemed to enjoy his first day of class and is looking forward to getting behind the wheel.

I WAS ASSIGNED MY PUBLICIST TODAY

I couldn't help myself. I put up my Christmas lights and tree today. I've been wanting to do it ever since I took down my Halloween lights. The look to the left is what I am going for. I have a month and a half to do it.

I was also assigned my publicist today from Kensington Books. I am really looking forward to chatting with her soon!

DRIVER'S TRAINING STARTS TODAY

Dylan starts driver's training today.

Pretty exciting.

I'M NOT CLOWNING AROUND

I made this Halloween costume 13 years ago for the grandchild of a co-worker. Yesterday, Patti brought in this photo. This is the 13th child to wear this clown suit in as many years. AND she has an order for it for next year. Another co-worker said the "Barney" costume I made his son has been worn by various kids too.

When my boys were little I hand-made costumes for them every year--they were all kinds of animals, Disney characters, cowboys, Pokemon etc. I am thinking about setting up my own little Halloween U.S.A. next October and distributing the costumes to my co-workers and their children, grandchildren and friends to enjoy in years to come.

WRITING HOME

I'm really into memoirs lately and this is a really good one--Writing Home by my fellow Royal Oakey, Cindy LaFerle.

Read the Amazon desription:

Both a memoir and a handbook for living, Writing Home brings together 12 years of previously published essays and lifestyle columns by award-winning journalist Cindy La Ferle. A celebration of the domestic arts, Writing Home is for everyone who has ever attempted to combine work, parenthood, and homemaking. It is about reinventing family traditions, losing a parent, growing up, aging gracefully, discovering sense of place, and keeping the faith. Cindy La Ferle's award-winning personal essays and columns have appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, Reader's Digest, Country Gardens, Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, The Detroit Free Press, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Royal Oak Daily Tribune, Unity Magazine, and many others.

It would make an excellent Christmas gift.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP

I'm conducting my first ever Writer's Workshop at Gilda's Club in Royal Oak on Jan. 23, 2008. I am really excited about it. More details coming...

"Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity..." Gilda Radner

NEW HOLIDAY LOOK

Check out the Mydols' website for stocking stuffers like the hit single "Merry Freakin' Christmas".

And coming soon handmade Mydols' aprons from the Midwest with love.

Visit http://www.mydols.com/!

NEW PAPER MYDOLS!

Well, she's done it again. My friend Vernelle is making Mydols paperdolls and she just submitted her sketch for me!

IT'S AWESOME!!!!!