Woke up, put clothes on, didn't go to work.

Jeff Somers reviews his writing career. Please publish him so he can afford to put on clothes (see photo), something I do every day. (Put on clothes, that is.)

Remember, if you're in the NY area, you can come to my reading Friday, March 5.

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

The Anonymous Blogger makes a wonderful pledge today. I appreciate it, but I think his anonymity will be safe. Thanks anyway, Bob. Um...ha...just kidding. His name isn't Bob. Probably.

Woke
up,
put
on clothes,
-and-
went
to work.

Someone reported seeing Starting from Square Two in a Border's in Connecticut today; someone saw it in B&N in Manhattan, and two people were notified by Amazon that it's shipping to them today. Thanks for the reports!

Also, last night a young Pilby reader in Fla. e-mailed me to say she liked it: "it's hard to find female authors who don't write about shoes and affairs."

Well, there's a near affair or two in Pilby, but to hell with shoes. I've worn the same black Rockport sneakers for the last 800 days in a row.

I know this blog hasn't been very interesting, but work has been busy.

I went to a chiropractor for the first time ever today, because my back shoulder hurt. He touched different muscles and tried to get me to push his hand down with my arm as he did that. There were a few times that he touched a muscle and I couldn't push his hand. "Your skull's out of alignment," he said. "This bone is out of whack." He pressed them and then I was able to push his hand down. Amazing! He said I have to have my right arm more level when I used my mouse.

Screenplay revisions will be done after this weekend. So nice to finally finish!

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Publisher's Weekly gave my new book a good review: "STARTING FROM SQUARE TWO Caren Lissner. Red Dress Ink, $12.95 paper (320p)

Everything comes easily to Gert Healy: dating, love, marriage. But [since] her husband, Marc, die[d] in a car accident, 29-year-old Gert must search for happily ever after -- again. A morbid take on romantic comedy, to be sure, but in Lissner's hands, Gert's story is poignant, sweet and smart. Gert re-enters the dating world with the help of her college roommate, Hallie, and Hallie's high school friend Erika. ... Hallie and Erika grapple more shrilly with their unbearable singlehood -- especially Erika, who broke up with her college sweetheart and now faces the agony of hearing about his charmed life on his wife's Web log. Though Lissner's supporting characters aren't as nuanced as the appealing Gert, even Hallie and Erika gain depth as the novel builds to a thoughtful conclusion. Lissner's sturdy prose and sympathetic, detailed evocation of young widowhood makes this a solid entry in the genre. (Mar.)"

Woke up, put on clothes, didn't go to work.

It looks like people who ordered Starting from Square Two from Amazon will get it in a day or two.

I also see that the book Generation SLUT just came out. In December, I wrote a guest column for MobyLives about young Gen Y writers and why they don't have a literary spokesman like Gen X did. Mostly we see Britney and Justin as their leaders. Marty Beckerman had written this book, Generation SLUT, showing that today's teens are jaded and rush into sex without having meaningful relationships. I think the book should have shown a bit more of the other side, as I'm sure there are nerdier teens out there we don't hear from as much. But it also seems that Beckerman was the only one having the courage to bring the jaded-ness of today's teens to light in order to get us to talk about it. More Gen Y writers should be putting the issues of their generation out in the open and commenting on them. Gen Y grew up in relatively peaceful and prosperous times and then saw it all topple. Their big news events were Columbine and Monica. What's the effect of this? I'd like to hear more from them.

Somehow, a photo of me got into the Onion. Well, it's a crowd scene, but that's me in front...and they've Photoshopped a picture of Osama bin laden on everyone's shirt. Um, great. Thanks, Mary Beth, for pointing this out (it's the second photo):

Woke up, put on clothes, didn't go to work.

I might actually get to catch up on things today. Last week was hellish.

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Woke up, put on clothes, went to work.

Read below for news on my upcoming reading/booksigning March 5.

Finally catching up on some mail...
From: Blaise Mbassi and Sister.
Abidjan-Cote D'Ivoire.
Tel: 0022505304847.
Email: blaisembassi1@postino.it

Attn: Ceo/ Manager,

I got your contacts during our desparate search for a helper. I have an
explanation for you - this however must have to be considered by you but never mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will.
I am Mr Blaise Mbassi and the only Son of Dr Fredric Mbassi the Chief
Investment / Contract Assessment Unit for the past 28 years during his service in the African Development Bank (A.D.B.)sited here in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire before his assassination by the Rebels during the 19th September Coup D'etat.
During his service, he made it know to me that some amount of money was arose after the assessment...

Actually, most rap wars use words, too. Not guns. Sorry.

I am way behind on everything I do. But I did want to thank Amanda for pointing out to me the wave of Amazon stories last week. It seems that the Canadian Amazon.com accidentally revealed last week who some of the "anonymous" reviewers were of various books on Amazon. It turned out that some of the people calling themselves, say, "A REVIEWER from St. Ignatius, OK" were friends of the writers, the writers themselves, or what have you. (Not necessarily a big surprise, though, considering that anyone can be anonymous on there.) Here's a USA Today summary of the news. The ULA (Underground Literary Alliance), one of the players in the ongoing literary snark wars (over who should and shouldn't be getting published, and who gets a literary free ride when they shouldn't, etc.), has an interesting response. I keep wanting to write about all the literary factions that are out there (this is like rap wars except with words rather than guns), but I haven't had a chance. Someday I'll write more, maybe.

READING of my new novel on Friday, March 5. It's at a great used bookstore on Washington Street (the main drag) in Hoboken, five blocks from the PATH station (convenient for Manhattanites). I'll read, make a few bad jokes, sign books...and there should be a little bit of wine and cheese to enjoy. It's Friday, March 5, 7:30 p.m. at the Symposia Book Store, Fifth and Washington Streets. Directions to follow closer to the event, or you can e-mail me if you want to know more. It's also easy to get to from the Port Authority bus terminal. The store is next door to East L.A. restaurant with 50 flavors of margaritas, by the way. Mmm.

Matt writes: "Do you think the book store will mind if we bring in margaritas from next door?"

Just finished another screenplay revision at 3 a.m. I'm subjecting myself to the Rick Dees countdown now. I'm quite fond of the Maroon5 song.

Got to go to a great anti-Valentine's Day party due to the magnanimity of a kind patron. Now I must go to sleep. I have much to do tomorrow...I mean, today.