IT'S MAUREEN'S RELEASE WEEK! YAY

Since Maureen and I are related, by publisher & agent, I want to take this opportunity to shout out to the cyber world, I AM THRILLED FOR MY NG SISTER!

I snuck over to her other blog, www.nowthatyoumentionit.typepad.com and found out that the Chicago Borders has a vertical shelf, nearly as tall as Maureen, full of A Bump In the Road. She goes on to say there is a wall of pink, glossy covers with a black and white photo of herself atop the shelf advertising her book signing on Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. 1500 16th St., Oak Brook, Chicago. If you live nearby, please take this opportunity to stop in and tell Maureen hello . . . and buy a book.

Her questions for all of us are so much fun. Here's a peek into my world.

Question One: In A BUMP IN THE ROAD, Clare loves to watch and order products from infomercials. Have you ever ordered anything off of an infomercial? (Being tempted counts!)

If I had more money, I'm sure my whole house would be full of cheesy, malfunctioning, not-living-up-to-their-promises gadgets. I so love a gadget. In fact, I just saw one for removing corn kernels from the cob. Love it. Want it. Might have to buy it. I've almost bought The Total Gym from Christy Brinkley numerous times convincing myself that I might have a chance to have her bod since she's 55! But like I said, novelists with two jobs are low on the green stuff.

Question Two: The book opens with Clare and her husband Jake being tortured on an airplane by a toddler sitting behind them. If you have kids, any funny stories about traveling with them? If not, who is the strangest person you've ever sat next to on an airplane?

Having raised two boys, there were plenty of traveling nightmares but my strangest-person-I've-sat-next-to-on-an-airplane story is far better to retell. I was coming home from California. That's a heck of a long flight. Four and a half hours. Not only was I in a middle seat, I was sandwiched in between two Hare Krishnas. (Mohawk hairdo, habit, socks with flip-flops and all.) Are you with me, here? Try to imagine yourself in my seat. Their B.O. was absolutely suffocating, and upon take-off they pulled out their chanting beads and started to hum . . . loudly. And they never stopped. Maybe the jet's engines drowned out the hums for others on the plane but as for me - I was completely unnerved. When the stewardess finally walked by later and caught the look of terror in my eye, she took it upon herself to move me. To first class! It was the least she could do and she knew it.

Question Three: As a famous blogger, Clare is often recognized in the public, usually right after she's spilled something on herself or the like. As an author, have you ever been recognized by a reader? Or have you ever seen a famous author in public?

Ohhh, no. I'm a long way from that. Come to think of it I've never seen a famous author out in public either.

Question Four: Clare's sister Sam, who's in high school, throws a party while their parents are out of town. Would you ever have dared to throw a party when your parents were gone? (No need to actually fess up...unless you want to!)

Not only would I have thrown a party, I threw several. Like my NG sister Maureen, I spent many a high school weekend grounded myself. I'll never forget the time I hid my boyfriend in my parent's closest when I heard them coming in the door. At 2:30 am, when he was still stuck inside, I figured I might as well fess-up. Can't remember how long I was grounded for that one.


Question Five: One of Clare's guilty pleasures is watching really bad (and thus awesome), cheesy Lifetime movies--especially ones starring Tori Spelling. What is your guilty pleasure movie?

Let's see, reality TV is without a doubt my guilty pleasure. Topping the list is The Bachelor. Once I tune in for the first episode, I'm hooked. Although after last season, when the dude dumped the sweet girl only two weeks after he chose her, I was done.

Thanks for these fun interview questions, Maureen. Happy Release Week, girlfriend. You need a party!