THE LIAR'S DIARY by Patry Francis

Did you hear about this amazing web movement yesterday about The Liar's Diary by Patry Francis? 300 bloggers got together and all posted messages about the fabulous Ms. Francis and her book. She is unable to promote the paperback release of her book herself, as she is presently recovering from cancer.

What a fabulous thing for all of these writers to band together and help a fellow writer! I bought my copy today and you should buy yours today, too! To see a full list of all of the wonderful people who were involved, go to Lit Park. And then go buy the book!

Well reviewed

Slate's got a fascinating article about the "top" reviewers on Amazon. Seems that those in the "Top ten" of Amazon's reviewers are reviewing up to 5 books a day. Grady Harp, Harriet Klausner.... have you seen these names as reviewers of your favorite books? The Gradys and Harriets of the world are either unbelievably prolific, or, as the article suggests, working with a staff of writers to produce so many reviews each day.

I should mention here that Harriet Klausner actually posted one of the first reviews of my book, but when I started to see the comments from various people doubting that Harriet really existed, I asked Amazon to take Harriet's review down (even tho, as I recall, she gave me a really good review!).

Don't get me wrong: I don't have a problem with publishers putting books into the hands of those who review the most books on Amazon (if that is, in fact, what they are doing, and I should mention here that I have absolutely no idea how Harriet Klausner got her hands on my book). What I *do* have a problem with is reviewers reviewing up to 5 books a day. There's just no way that a normal person can read that much. Can they?

And if people like Harriet Klausner actually represent a bunch of writers who are doing reviews, is that fair to then take the Number One Reviewer spot on Amazon? Shouldn't people who are *really* reading books and reviewing them honestly get a chance at this spot?

Get dirty with me!

Okay, that subject line really should have read "Come get clean with me" but that's not really that exciting, now, is it? And I just had to grab your attention to announce that I've been asked to read as part of the Dirty Laundry Reading Series here in NYC! It's the reading where you bring your dirty laundry (thus the name) out to a laundromat, and while you're washing and drying, a few authors read to you from their books. What could be better? Get entertained while you do your chores!

For those of you in NYC, here's the press release:

Date: Thursday January 31st, 2008
Time: 8-9pm
Location: Klean and Kleaner, (yes, it's a laundromat)
Tickets: FREE, bring your laundry, we provide the quarters and detergent!
173 East 2nd St. between A/B;Directions: F train to 2nd Avenue
Wash and Dry Productions, LLC
Presents"The reading series in your local Laudromat"
Dirty Laundry: Loads of Prose
Volume 15: The Agitatorswith

BRENDA JANOWITZ, author of SCOT ON THE ROCKS
and
ALIX STRAUSS, author of THE JOY OF FUNERALS

Wash and Dry Productions presents the reading series that adds a literary twist tothe laundry cycle, Dirty Laundry: Loads of Prose returns on January 31, 2008 with Volume 15 in a special edition we are calling The Agitators.Unusual venues are good ideas…they integrate reading into the real world."Roy Blount, Jr. (Vol. 7)

Rhapsodically biting and hilarious, New York fiction writers, Brenda Janowitz and Alix Strauss will read from their latest work. Your heads will literally spin with the twisted,yet heartfelt tales bubbling out of the minds and mouths of these accomplished authors.Here's more about the writers:

A native New Yorker, Brenda Janowitz has had a flair for all things dramaticsince she played the title role in her third grade production of ReallyRosie. When asked by her grandmother if the experience made her want to bean actress when she grew up, Brenda responded, "An actress? No. A writer,maybe." Brenda graduated from Cornell University and Hofstra Law School.

Her first novel, SCOT ON THE ROCKS (How I Survived My Ex-Boyfriend's Wedding With My Dignity Ever So Slightly Intact), is on bookshelves now. Brenda's second novel, JACK WITH A TWIST (Engaging Your Adversary And Other Things They Don't Teach You In Law School) will be out in July 2008. She currently lives in Manhattan and teaches creative writing at Mediabistro. Visit her at www.brendajanowitz.com.

Alix Strauss - The media savvy social satirist, has been a featured lifestyle trend writer on national morning shows and talk shows including ABC, CBS, CNN and most recently, VH1. Her articles cover a range of topics, from beauty and food trends to celebrity interviews, appearing in an array of publications such as:The New York Times, The New York Post, and Daily News, as well as national magazines: Time Magazine, Town & Country Travel, Travel & Leisure Golf, Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Self, Time Out, and Esquire, among others.. Her collection of shorts, THE JOY OF FUNERALS, was published by St.Martin's Press in both hard and soft cover. The Joy of Funerals will be heading to the big screen with Stockard Channing attached to direct. Alix will write the screenplay as well.

Currently, she is editing an anthology of blind date stories for Adam's Media called HAVE I GOT A GUY FOR YOU, due out in 2008while finishing up her next novel. She can be reached at www.Alixstrauss.com

This event is funded in part by Poets and Writers, Inc. with public funds from theNew York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.PLEASE NOTE: All laundry do-ers are offered quarters and laundry detergent