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I’ve been discussing books and cds that I would like to review for TitleTrakk (either upcoming titles that they would send me, or books that I picked up that would be appropriate to their site) with C.J. and Tracy. I don’t remember exactly how that conversation went, but somehow after I gushed how much I loved the Kristin Billerbeck novel that I picked up last weekend, the conversation ended up with them (they own the site) trying to convince me to do an author interview.

Me??!? Er. It wouldn’t be my first interview, but it would be my first that actually made it into print. That is assuming, of course, that she would consent to the interview. I haven’t actually tried to come up with interview questions since, oh, 1999? Not that the idea isn’t exciting. I absolutely love the idea- of the end result.

I always get incredibly nervous before I embark on a new creative endeavor. Nearly paralyzing fear if it’s something that has to be shown to the public. And yet the opportunity seems too good to pass up. Honestly, my original desire to be a writer was focused on interviews. That was a long time ago, but it seems the idea has come full circle. I could definitely use the clips, and the experience would be nothing to sneeze at. They’ve also agreed to look over the questions so that I’ll feel comfortable.

I guess this is the best way to get started, after all, I was just bemoaning my lack of proper clips. I’ll just have to do a little research (read over the archived interviews, the author’s website, etc), get some familiarity on the subject, and try to come up with a few questions other than her taste in coffee.

There are two girls (er, women. The three of us are all 27) that I’ve been friends with for the past 12 years. With our busy schedules, it can be a little difficult to find time for more than just a quick email, so we’ve taken to setting up the occasional coffee dates.

So today we met up at a Starbucks and got (wonderful) feta and spinach stuffed pretzels and the coffee of our choice (always a Caramel Mocha for me) and sat down to chat. While we were sitting, there a motorcycle pulled up and the man took off his helmet and walked inside. We didn’t pay much attention. A few minutes later, a second motorcycle pulled up, and the man didn’t take off his helmet. Girl #1 (I’m not mentioning names here) remarked that the helmet made the guy look like a stormtrooper. I agreed, and then we noticed that the guy didn’t take off his helmet before heading towards the door. Girl #1 mentioned this. The first guy (who apparently had sat down at the table directly behind us) spoke up and said “he will. Just as soon as he gets in here.” Now Girl #1 is embarrassed and trying to save face, while I’m laughing. Before we could turn around, the second guy walks in, still helmeted, and heads to the table behind us. That’s right, the table that the first biker was sitting at. The first biker looks at the helmeted biker and tells him how Girl #1 said that the helmet made guy #2 look like a stormtrooper.

At this point I’m all but on the floor laughing, Girl #1 has turned so red you could have set her on a street corner and used her at a stop sign, and we’ve all lost track of girl #2. Guy #2 is apparently quite tall and we were sitting, so he walks over (still helmeted) and literally looms over Girl #1. My mouth is actually hanging open waiting to hear what he’s going to say.

After a brief pause, I hear “*deep breath* I am not your father”.

If anyone followed my comment over at Miss Snark’s, I got that brilliant link from Mom and More’s blog. (she finds cool stuff)

Also, I’ve been gone for the past few days for a very good reason. Productive? No. I found a good book. A really good book. No, really, the kind you don’t want to put down but your husband makes you because you need to shower and he needs to eat? Oh yeah, and that job thing that you can only sneak a few minutes of reading time in before the boss sticks his head in the door and sees that you’re not working? That kind of book.

It’s called With This Ring, I’m Confused by Kristin Billerbeck. I love it. It’s a great book, her writing is strong, it drew me in immediately despite it being the third book in a trilogy and I never read the first two. And for once, the heroine does not have a glamorous job, and does not get a glamorous job! She’s a patent attorney who worked hard to get there- she didn’t get lucky because her uncle is well connected or because she befriended a dying old lady who liked her hair color. Yes, she has a gorgeous fiancee who is actually wonderful, and when things get rocky her first move is not to quit her job and grab the first sleazeball she sees.

I like chick-lits, mostly because they’re entertaining yet easily put-down-able, but this is definitely the best one I’ve ready so far. I’ll have to post separately on this later.