Me, Me, Me! It's all about Me!

Can't get your fill of marvelous me? I've got you covered!

1. Hear me read my personal essay "The Reel Classroom," at I Pretend, a spoken word event featuring cool writers at SPACE this Saturday, April 13 from 7:30 to 9:00 PM. Adults only. Suggested donation $5. 1506 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA. 91030. Phone: 626/441-4788.

2.  Read my story "Genius Unleashed" in the new anthology Literary Pasadena, which also features stories by such acclaimed writers as Michelle Huneven, Victoria Patterson and the always charming Petrea Burchard. (Full disclosure: "Genius Unleashed" is a reworking of my story "Creation," which some of you may have read elsewhere.)

3. Visit me at the LA Times Festival of Books, Saturday, April 20, from noon to one o'clock, where I will be signing copies of Literary Pasadena at the Prospect Park Books booth. USC Campus.

4.  I think it is time that I remind you that Mother's Day is just a month away. What better way to celebrate the moms you love than with a copy of The Goddess Lounge, a story of love, motherhood, a lot of dogs, tons of traffic, a few modern-day monsters and a little divine intervention.

5. You have until the 15th of this month to post a picture of the ugliest shoes of the season. The winner will get eternal glory and an as yet undetermined prize of very little worth. I know that's a little off topic, but I'm just saying...

6. Enough about me. Did I mention that you are rocking those sweat pants! You look fabulous. Stop losing weight already! You're shaming all of us!

7. Wondering about the picture? That's me (looking haggard) and my sweet teen E (looking adorable) at Disneyland a few weeks back. She's a cutie!

My very own fabulous best of 2012 list!

2012! My old friend! You had your pluses; you had your minuses, but I'm a glass-half-full kind of gal so let's focus on the good:

1. Best new favorite recipe: Curried cauliflower and peas. I'm calling it now: Cauliflower will be the IT vegetable of 2013. See it here: http://margaretfinnegan.blogspot.com/2012/06/for-durga.html

2.  Best movie starring one of my secret boyfriends: Salmon Fishing on the Yemen. Even when socially awkward, Ewan McGregor is dreamy.

3.  Best TV show: Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch: I know you bulked up for the new Star Trek movie, but I liked you just the way you were.

4. Best iPhone App: Star Wars Angry Birds. It's Star Wars! Those piggies have never been more vexing!

5.  Best book: Mine of course! It's still on special so buy it now! But if you already have it or just refuse to buy it on on principle, I recommend The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Finally, Achilles actions in The Iliad make sense, and the characters and writing are so painfully good that I may never write again.

6.  Best secret indulgence: Soft serve ice cream. Oh, why do you call me, you tower of white, creamy delight?

7.  Best decadent luxury that I never knew I wanted but now love: Seat warmer in my husband's new car.

8.  Best new blog: Stripedcatstudio.com. Lifestyle, design, and you can make your dog famous!

9.  Best new (to me) household advice: Keep your compostables in Ziplock bags in the freezer! Brilliant!

10. Best new mashup of my favorite song. This.   Listen to the words. Because there is no spring without The Waters of March.

Fancy me and my special Ho Ho Ho sale!

It's a Christmas miracle! Now you can get The Goddess Lounge paperback for only $9.99 and the ebook for $2.99?

You're thinking: What? Are you CRAZY, Margaret! That's practically giving the book away!  Should we just go ahead and take all the clothes from your closet while we're at it?

No! Don't take my clothes! But do take my book! Give yourself and the women you love the gift that says: Don't be a hero! Be a goddess! Give them The Goddess Lounge! 

(PS: You look fabulous! Stop losing weight! You'll disappear!)

(PS: I do feel badly about my wanton and shameless salesmanship.)

Fire and Ice

Here is the last of the wonderful graphics my niece, writer and designer Kate Wong, designed for my novel, The Goddess Lounge. This is a quote I particularly like.

The full story is this. In the Norse creation myth, everything started when a drop of steam was created by the meeting of a volcano and a glacier. That drop of steam turned into humans, gods, giants, dwarves and everything else. But the volcano and the glacier: they never really go away. So often we find our own lives hanging in the balance: a volcano on one side, a glacier on the other. For a lot of people, it's too hard. Fire consumes them. Ice turns them into hardened shells. But not goddesses.  Goddesses are burnished by fire. They are illuminated by ice. Which is why, when given the choice, you should always choose to be a goddess.

Thanks, again, Kate. You know, you really should check out more of Kate's work. Here is a link to her website. http://stripedcatstudio.com/2012/08/12/katewongonline

I am not a hero...

Don't you love it?  My fabulous and talented niece, writer and designer Kate Wong, made me this too. I especially love the spur on the sandal. I'm going to put it up on Pinterest. Feel free to do the same...if you are into that sort of thing.  These are words to live by, people!

Lucky Me!

Lucky me! Look what my wonderful niece, writer and designer Kate Wong, made for me. It's a quote from my book.  Isn't it awesome.

Goodreads Giveaway

Pinching pennies? You can win an autographed copy of my novel The Goddess Lounge on Goodreads.   It makes a great gift! The contest ends Friday so don't delay. Click here to enter!

Good News/Bad News

Migraine Incidence by Age, Gender, Type (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The good news: My Internet is back!
The bad news: My car is broken.

The good news: A lot of people have had nice things to say about my novel The Goddess Lounge!
The bad news: My daughter is having migraine after migraine after migraine after migraine. She has an MRI today. She sees a headache specialist on Friday. It is is exhausting for all of us.

The good news: The kids go back to school soon and I will have more time to market The Goddess Lounge and work on my new novel.
The bad news: What does it matter if school starts if my girl is knocked out at home with near constant migraines and I'm so numb that I can only stream videos on Netflix?

Now I think I know why I was so anxious about my novel's release. It was a good thing, and good things are always followed by bad things. Deep inside, I knew the other shoe was about to drop. When you let good things in, you open the door and the bad things slither in and spring themselves on you when you aren't paying attention. Then again, good things also follow bad. So I think it's about my turn to win the lottery!

Because you always wanted to know

Everyday, you are probably asking yourself: Why is The Goddess Lounge, which is in many ways a tribute to Southern California, anchored in Altadena, California.  Find out the answer to this fascinating question here.

(P.S. Leaving a comment will help keep the chatter going, which is a good thing.  I know.  I ask so much. My apologies.)

Shoes

I'm going to be honest with you.  I'm feeling a little exhausted lately. I think all the adrenaline from The Goddess Lounge book launch is sputtering out.

So, of course, I bought shoes.

Pretty cool, huh?  They are Dansko's and, since we're being honest, I'm just going to go right out and say it: They were not on sale.

I know what you're thinking: "Oh, that fancy pants Margaret with her expensive not-on-sale shoes.  One novel and she thinks she's Imelda Marcos."

Yeah. I get that, but here's what I say.  "I am on my feet often!  I teach on my feet.  I walk on my feet.  Even when I'm sitting, I am often swiveling around my ankle (per PA's video below), which is connected to my foot."

To which you are thinking, "Oh, that fancy pants Margaret.  I bet she is going to say she writes on her feet."

Actually, sometimes I do.  It has to do with my hip, but be that as it may, I also think you should know that I will probably have these shoes for, like, five years.  Really. Despite what you are thinking, I am really not that big of a shopper.  So you could say the shoes were a GOOD INVESTMENT.

"Investment!  HA!" You are saying. "You just wanted those shoes, and frankly, with those speckly looking things they do not even look practical."

I know!  All right!  I know!  I just wanted them so much and I hardly ever do anything nice for myself.  So just leave me alone!

After the panic

It is my determined opinion that when freaking out before a public reading the best thing to do is clean your house.  Vacuum, clean the bathrooms, clean the kitchens, straighten, dust.  The sheer focus will be almost meditative, plus you will work off a lot of energy.  Only then should you shower.

Arrive early to your public reading destination.  Organize the books.

Then relax.  These are good people.  You love these people.

What were you so worried about?

(Wanna see a me in action?  For video of a little of my fancy footwork see this post by Pasadena Adjacent.  I'm actually a little entranced by my shoes. )

Panicked

Just a general call out for good thoughts today.  I have my first reading of The Goddess Lounge at 3:30, and I am a bit panicked.  

If you are around, come give me a hug.  If you're not around send good thoughts!

Goddess Lounge Book Signing and Reception
SPACE Arts Center
1508 Mission Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
3:00 to 4:30 in the afternoon.
Reading at 3:30 PM.

Acck!!!!

Ever wonder...

Goddess (Photo credit: campra)

Ever wonder what is up with me and all this goddess business? The fascinating mystery is explained at today's Pasadena Daily Photo.

PS: You're melting away already!  Eat some ice cream.

Goddess of the Week: Athena

Birth of Athena. Attic exaleiptron (black-figured tripod), ca. 570–560 BC. Found in Thebes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Elizabeth needs a goddess for dealing with migraines.  Oi!  She needs Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom.

Zeus, the big cheater who could never keep his toga closed, lusted after the Titan Metis.  But there were two problems.  One, Metis was just not into him.  Two, a prophet foretold that Metis would bear Zeus a daughter, and later, a son, and that the son would kill Zeus and become leader of the gods, much like Zeus had done earlier.

Naturally, Zeus never let a little thing like impeding patricide get in the way of romance.  He pursued and flattered Metis until she couldn't see straight, and then, after they had their little tete-a-tete, he swallowed her.  (Talk about your bad dates!)

Now Zeus had a new problem.  He had such a headache!  He was doubled-over in pain.  He moaned so loudly the whole world heard him.  Finally, the smith god had to split Zeus's head open with an ax!  And then what happened?  Athena, fully grown and dressed in stylish battle armor, popped straight out of his head.

Now listen, Elizabeth, because this is important: Do not split your head open!  That only works if you are Zeus.  But Zeus got help, and so can you.  See your doctor.  Also consider an acupuncturist.  Also, I'm hearing mixed reviews about oxygen therapy.  Check it out.  Mostly, be gentle on yourself.  Unlike Zeus, you did not swallow some poor Titan.  Your sweet body is doing the best it can dealing with a really crummy situation.  Give it some love.

Channel this goddess: When having a migraine or really bad headache.  Titans aren't the only food triggers, by the way.  Also watch out for bacon, wine, cheese, chocolate--basically anything good.  Enjoy your gruel!

Need a goddess?  I got goddesses! Post a comment explaining what you need or want a goddess for.  Then check back in a week or two and see what you got.  It's fun!  It's free!  It's better than having a fully-grown goddess stuck in your head.

PS: On another note, local readers might appreciate knowing that my novel The Goddess Lounge is now available at Vroman's Bookstore, 695 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA.  Each copy is looking for a good home and is fully house trained.  Tell your friends.

Also, I'll be reading from The Goddess Lounge at a book signing and reception this Saturday, July 21 at SPACE Arts Center, located at 1508 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA.  The reception is from three to four-thirty in the afternoon.  The reading will be at three-thirty.  A portion of all proceeds will go to SPACE Arts Center scholarships.  I'm making cookies, so come on down!

Welcome to the Goddess Lounge Book Party!

Well, Hello!  Welcome to the book party.  You look marvelous.  Have you lost weight?  You have?  Then I'll just have to steer you clear of my secret boyfriend Colin Firth.  He's in the kitchen fighting with my other secret boyfriend, Ewan McGregor, over who will get to play the male lead in the film adaptation of The Goddess Lounge.

I told them, "Colin, Ewan, relax, there are two dynamic male characters in the book.  You can each play one."

But they know as well as I do that only one of them can play the hero.  Plus, the really great roles go to the ladies--and, "no," I said to Ewan--"You are not wearing a dress!"  Sigh.  I'm just going to let the Hollywood people figure it out.  I am a creative.  I can't handle all this jealous, negative energy.

Anyway, I'm so glad you came.  Can I get you a shrimp on a little stick?  How about a drink?  We're serving Venus Nipples.  Here's how you make it: You take a fluted champagne glass, drop a marachino cherry in it and then fill it with sparkling wine.  Delicious! (But don't let Colin or Ewan have anymore,  they get so CRAZY--and I do have a husband, after all.)

What? You want to know where my creative inspiration comes from?  How I came up with such a fabulous character like Penne Armour, who tries so hard to be a good mother while negotiating work, family, dogs, traffic, and run ins with mean, high-end one-eyed sales clerks?  Oh, darling, what can I say?  I try to let my MUSE take over and simply let the story unfold.  It's exhausting, but then, so much of life is.

You want me to sign your copy of The Goddess Lounge?  Sweetheart, hand me a pen!  What?  You want me to sign five copies so you can give The Goddess Lounge to your friends, family, neighbors, and book club?  Of course, of course.  Anything for YOU.

Now available: The Goddess Lounge
In paperback
Kindle

And coming soon to Nook and iBooks.  

The Final Book Trailer

The last and final book trailer for The Goddess Lounge is up!  I do have to say, I think it really does speak to the beauty and wholeness of womanhood to see so many women, from so many walks of life and at so many places in their lives, in this collage-like video.  The voice over is by Petrea Burchard, who you might know as the goddess behind Pasadena Daily Photo.  She acts, she does photography, and she is a phenomenal writer.  She is also the very first woman showcased in the trailer, so be sure to look for her.

And here's a little secret: You can actually buy the book now.  Just click on the book cover to your right.  I feel nauseous just writing that.  Believe me, writing is not for the faint of heart, and as I so often need to remind myself: I am the faint of heart.

Goddess Lounge Book Trailer Winner

Congratulations to Cyndel, winner of the Goddess Lounge Book Trailer Contest.  Here is her picture.

As several people noted, Cyndel depicts a really positive model of aging, one that is active, energetic and eager to learn new things.  Here she is welding, a new art that has become interested in.

I want to thank, once more, everyone who sent me a picture.  The pictures that were not included in the first trailer will be in the second one, which will come out soon.

I also want to thank everyone for their comments and support.  I should tell you, that I feel sorry for everyone who knows me right now.  This whole book business has made me crazy.  I vacillate from feeling confident that the book will find an audience and that people will enjoy it to feeling fear and disappointment that no one will find the book, that it will get lost in the sea of books that exists, and that even if they find the book they will read it and go, "eh."  I admire people who can move full stream ahead without doubt.  What would that be like, I wonder?  How do you deal with these kind of things? Are you the type who can move forward and never look back?  Or do you second guess yourself and even sometimes paralyze yourself with doubt?