I was thrilled when, at the age of 16, I was given a white Volvo sedan, one of my dad’s company cars, to drive — thrilled mostly because my other option was an ages-old Hyundai, a sort of puke-colored thing that always reminded me of a Flinstones-type of car with two running feet in lieu of an engine. The Volvo was reliable, a cool color, and, people often reminded me,…
Book Review – Oh My Stars
Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik Reviewed by Kristy Kiernan Disclaimer: I’ve met Ms. Landvik, and she’s been kind enough to say she would read CATCHING GENIUS. She is funny, and pretty, and sweet, and I swear I’m not just sucking up. Oh My Starsis a surprise. Always, in every chapter, this book is not what I thought it would be. (What did I think it would be? I thought…
Toes in the Sand by Deb Kristy
I’m sitting here on St. George, a tiny island off the coast of northwest Florida, feeling lethargic and yet sort of cute in my new pink bikini with a little skull and crossbones on the bum. There is nobody else on this beach except for my husband, who is dozing silently beside me, the smile on his face only slightly faded by sleep. The warm water of the Gulf of…
Travel Ham by Debutante Eileen
Travelers fall into two different categories: a) Planners b) Anti-planners My Dad is a planner. Family vacations were undertaken with the same level of care as the Allied Invasion, although it’s an unfair comparison as General Patton had far more support staff. My Dad was stuck with my mom and me. During family vacations we woke with the sun, there was a lot to see. If my mom or I complained my…
What I Did On My Summer Vacation by Debutante Mia
Now I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve been doing pretty well these past couple of decades without Disneyland. This is not meant as a criticism in ANY way to those who you who frequent the 160+ acre playground/fantasyland/shopping mall, but I’m just saying that planning a trip to said place takes, well, a lot of work, even if your in-laws are picking up the tab. It…
Gone Fishing by Debutante Jennifer
Last week, I announced to my family and friends that I was “on vacation”. “But what does that mean?” they all asked. I explained that people who had regular nine-to-five jobs took vacations all the time, so I was going to spend a week away from anything having to do with writing. I had just sent a draft of my latest work in progress to my agent, and I still…
How to Get Noticed in P-Town by Debutante Tish
Just about the same time as I converted to Judaism, my hair went curly. My sister said it was a freak hormonal thing that can happen to women in their early twenties, but as we now know, she cannot be trusted with the truth. I’m fairly certain it was the mikvah, the ritual bath in which a woman must immerse herself in order to become a Jew. Just prior to my…
Book Review – All This Belongs To Me
All This Belongs To Me by Ad Hudler Reviewed by Debutante Kristy Disclaimer: I know and like Ad Hudler. But I’m pretty sure he doesn’t spend much time online, so I feel confident that I could rip and shred and he’d never know. Thing is, it’s just not going to happen. All This Belongs To Me is beautifully written, well-plotted, and has one of the most endearing protagonists–Ellis Norton,…
How’d I Get Here? by Debutante Kristy
Anna might have had it tough being the first Debutante to grace our pages with her brilliance, but surely I am to be pitied for having to follow FIVE brilliant introductions? I shall do my best. I am actually rather bewildered by the fact that I am blogging. Many things that I’m doing these days seem to bewilder me. I always wanted to write for a living, there was never…
Coming Out Party by Debutante Eileen
Since this is a debutante ball, I thought I should let you know I’ve already “come out.” I was going through customs a few weeks ago and for the first time when asked what I did for work I answered, “I’m a writer.” I fully expected flashing lights, sirens and to be dragged to a back room where a burly customs agent named Flo would do a search I wouldn’t…
