What do the Edsel, lawn darts, bacon flavored chewing gum and DOMA have in common?

They were all ridiculous.

Green Acres....

Admittedly, I am the Eva Gabor, the Lisa Douglas of the gardening set. (No, I don't wear feather boas to mow the lawn.) We finally have some land to grow some vegetables and I think I may have gone a little overboard. Is 25 too many tomato plants? For 2 people? I cant even count the amount of cucumber and zucchini plants - mainly because I'm not sure which ones are which. But I don't care.

Enthusiastic? Yes I am.

Ive been gone - but I have a great reason...

Its been a while - yup.
In addition to exciting personal changes - I have also just completed a new novel. So stay tuned for new info about (working title) Caroline Starts Over.

Today's lesson

This is what I have learned:
It doesn't matter if you exercise 3-4 times a week while you are in your twenty and thirties. It doesnt matter if you run miles each day or lift weights for strengthening. When it comes down to it - Menopause will catch up with you and when she does, she will beat the ever livin' crap out of you rendering you unrecognizable.

Check out the blog tour for Paula Takes A Risk
http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/06/paula-takes-risk-by-randi-m-sherman.html

Here goes nothin' - the blog tour begins next week

The blog tour for Paula Takes A Risk- begins next week - I have to admit, Im not sure what to expect. It is a bit of an unknown. Sure I think my writing is clever - but...
Follow the tour - Lets find out together.
http://www.clpblogtours.com/
http://chicklitplus.com/future-tour-paula-takes-risk-randi-sherman/

July 16- The East Village- Review

July 16- Michelle’s Book Nook – Review
July 17- The Book Bag- Review
July 20- Chick Lit Plus – Review
July 21- Jersey Girl Book Reviews- Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
July 22- Samantha March – Q&A & Excerpt
July 25- Amie Louellen- Review & Guest Post
July 26- Storm Goddess Book Reviews- Review & Excerpt
July 27- Change the Word- Review

July 28- Change the Word- Guest Post

July 29- Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews- Guest Post

July 30 - Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews – Review & Q&A

Thank you to Samatha March of CLP ChiclitPlus for coordinating the tour.

Focus on Women Magaine - article

Check out the latest article about Paula Takes A Risk
http://www.focusonwomenmagazine.net/pdf/June-july-2012.pdf

Also - look for the upcoming blog tour in July

Blog Tour Dates for Paula Takes A Risk

Check out the upcoming Blog Tour for Paula Takes a Risk by Randi M Sherman

http://www.clpblogtours.com/
http://chicklitplus.com/future-tour-paula-takes-risk-randi-sherman/

July 16- The East Village- Review

July 16- Michelle’s Book Nook – Review
July 17- The Book Bag- Review
July 20- Chick Lit Plus – Review
July 21- Jersey Girl Book Reviews- Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
July 22- Samantha March – Q&A & Excerpt
July 25- Amie Louellen- Review & Guest Post
July 26- Storm Goddess Book Reviews- Review & Excerpt
July 27- Change the Word- Review

July 28- Change the Word- Guest Post

July 29- Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews- Guest Post

July 30 - Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews – Review & Q&A

Thank you to Samatha March of CLP ChiclitPlus for coordinating the tour.

Ebookmall

EBookMall interview Randi Sherman and Paula Takes A Risk

http://www.ebookmall.com/author/randi-m-sherman

Epoch Times Review

*The Epoch Times. *They posted a link reviewing Paula Takes A Risk in their latest issue.
The review is in Chinese but my publicist did tell me the reviewer recommended the book.
Here is the link:
http://e-paper.epochtimes.com/?Qwd=./Houston/20120601_875E&Qif=djyhou_875E_20120601_17.jpg&Qiv=thumbs&Qis=FS&Qtmp=popup

I have blog tour starting in July - stay tuned for upcoming details.
I also appreciate all of the efforts by Smith Publicity for setting up my interview with KPFA tonight. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one.
Of course - who doesnt like talking about themselves?

Interview was fun

I just finished up my interview with Veronica Faisant of KPFA about Paula Takes A Risk. It was fun. I was  a little nervous - and I think a good effort. Veronica clearly liked the book - very much appreciated.
Looking forward what comes next....

Listen in tonight to "The Week Starts Here" with Veronica Faisant
KPFA 94.1
May 13, 2012 @ 7:30 pm
Taking a risk and following a dream.

Newsblaze article

Catch the article about Paula Takes A Risk in Newblaze
http://newsblaze.com/story/20120508172024zzzz.nb/topstory.html

Preparing for an radio interview

You hear all of the suggestions: make a list of bullet points, think up pithy qucik stories. memorize - no wait dont memorize, be serious, be yourself, no funny is best - no... the list goes on and on. I am scheduled for my first radio interview on Sunday.
Its funny that 'Im a little.... well, a little more that a little nervous - as I performed stand up and improv - but I am. Hopefully - the old skills will kick in.
My focus - is to enjoy myself, share what I know - and let the interviewer ask me questions that I will answer, sprinkled with humor.
Listen - and let me know how I do
The Week Starts Here    
Sunday, May 13
Time: 7:30 pm
Station: KPFA
Host: Veronica Faisant
Website: http://www.kpfa.org/home
Topic: Taking a risk and following a dream.

The Week Starts Here - interview

Hello all.
Please tune in and listen to an interview with Veronica Faisant from KPFA from Berkley, CA and me 
Veronica's show: The Week Starts Here
When: Sunday night (May 13) at 7:30 pm.
Station: KPFA 94.1 FM
Website: http://www.kpfa.org/home
Topic: Taking a risk and following a dream

This should be fun - its my first interview regarding Paula Takes A Risk

Dream dreams

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true. - Leon Suenes

Recent interview with eBookmall

Interview with Randi M. Sherman

How much do you have in common with Paula?

Although Paula is a bit more trusting that I was, she shares traits with a younger version of me, both resigned to a prescribed life until we learned we could do or be anything we wanted. It just takes bravery with a little naivete sprinkled on top. I am taller than Paula.

When you were little did you ever imagine being an author when you grew up?

Never. I dreamed of being a famous actress or maybe a cowgirl, or a ballerina or a nurse, but never an author. Being a writer seemed to be too much like having homework ALL of the time.

Would you go back to being a stand-up comedian if you knew you could make a lot of money doing it?

Yes, but only if I could change my name to Ellen DeGeneres. Making a lot of money and being good at your job are two completely different things – just look at congress.
Although going back to stand-up comedy is not currently on my to-do list, I will never say never. And, given the circumstances I’d probably do anything if I could make a lot of money doing it. Please don’t tell my mother.

Name a book that you'd be embarrassed to be seen reading.

I’d probably be embarrassed if I was standing on a street corner somewhere, looking at street signs and referring to a tour book for another city.

Do you ever write while intoxicated?

I have poured myself a glass of wine at the end of the day but truthfully, I simply lose interest in writing at that point. I’d chose crackers and cheese with my cocktail over spellcheck any day.

Did you ever read a book and then wish you had all that time back?

Not really – If I don’t like a book, I put it down. Life is too short to be bored on purpose.

What was the book that most influenced your life and why?

Surprisingly enough the book was Real Moments by Barbara De Angelis. I guess I read it more than twenty years ago. The idea of living for the moment and not worrying about the past or what may or may not happen, simply allows us to enjoy things for what they are.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome when writing Paula Takes a Risk?

The biggest challenge was taking that final step to publish and release Paula Takes A Risk. I love all of my characters, and releasing them into the world, making them vulnerable to criticism was one hardest and possibly the bravest things I have ever done. When I sent them off, I wanted to tell them to hold hands as they crossed the street.

Are you working on any new books now?

I am, I am about 80% done with a new humor novel – it has a fabulous twist. I am so excited about it. The publisher will have to be very daring.

I also have other outlines waiting in the wings.

If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be?

Wonder Woman, she was smart, beautiful, had an invisible airplane and she looked good wearing boots with a bathing suit.

"And Guest" Two dreaded words

The most terrifying two-word combination that a single woman can read is “and Guest” written in calligraphy on the front of an oversized, ecru-colored envelope.  Even the most self-assured woman is stopped dead in her tracks when she realizes that she is expected to bring a date to a social function and she can’t think of anyone to take with her.

I recently received one of those envelopes.  My friend Sharon was getting married. My first thought was, Oh my God. Who am I going to invite as my guest? I can’t show up alone.  “and Guest” implies that they are expecting me to bring a date.  An escort.  A dance partner.

  I went through a mental checklist of all of the men I know.  Let’s see now.  What about Henry? No, he’s married.  John? No, he’s seeing someone else.  Robert? No, his behavior embarrasses me when we’re out in public.  There’s Carl.  No, I unceremoniously dumped him and humiliated him in front of his friends and co-workers.  Humm.  I wonder if he’s still holding a grudge?

I searched for my address book.  I frantically flipped through the pages trying to remember which men I hadn’t referred to as “The Asshole of the Year” to my friends.  Looking at the names, I wished that I had returned some of those telephone messages from phone calls that I had avoided.  Messages that were left on my answer machine by men while I stood there listening their voices over the speaker as they poured out their hearts onto a twenty-second tape.  As I considered how my past behavior resulted in my current predicament, I reprimanded myself, I have to change my ways.  Tomorrow.

I began to panic.  I suppose that I could respond and tell Sharon that I would not be able to go to her wedding.  No, that wouldn’t work.  I would have to come up with an excuse, a lie, and then I would have to remember it for the rest of my life.  Then I would have to be on my toes at all times and be prepared to convincingly discuss my excuse, in great detail, every time Sharon reminisced about her wedding.  Maintaining a lie for several years is just too much pressure for me to endure.  Lying was not an option.

Wait just one minute!  Sharon knows perfectly well that I’m not dating anyone right now.  Is she trying to punish me?  Is she trying to humiliate me?  How could she be so cold?  I became indignant, That’s it!  I’m not going and that will show her!  Those thoughts faded when reality stepped in and I remembered that the world doesn’t revolve around me and that Sharon’s wedding ceremony and reception were not maliciously planned with the express purpose of embarrassing me.

I thought about being honest and logical.  Perhaps I could call Sharon and tell her that I didn’t have a date to bring and ask her if she had invited any single men who also need a date.  No, then I would look pathetic.  Pathetic and desperate, a sad combination.

I looked at the invitation again.  The date of the wedding was six weeks away.  I had to come up with a plan of action.  Humm.  I could go out and actively pursue men.  Let’s see.  If I met a man this weekend, we could have three, four, possibly five dates before Sharon’s wedding.  We would appear comfortable together and after six weeks there would be a good possibility of some hand-holding and sweet glances.

But there was the very real possibility that I would not meet a potential “and Guest” right away.  I calculated, if I met someone two or three weeks from now, we might only be able to get in a few dates before the wedding.  This could create a familiarity and comfort issue.  What if I don’t know him well enough to determine what his idea of formal wear is?  It could be an expensive suit or a T-shirt with a tuxedo stenciled on the front.

I considered going to a popular restaurant in my neighborhood and making the announcement that I had been invited to a wedding.  I would explain that I had been asked to bring a date and that I would be interviewing applicants from the hours of nine to eleven at the end of the bar.  Along with proof of employment and a valid driver’s license, a list of three references must be provided.  Transients and drunks need not apply.

The weeks flew by and before I knew it Sharon’s wedding day had come.  I had not arranged for an “and Guest.”  I was going to the wedding alone, unescorted.  Things could be worse, I thought.  Sharon could have asked me to be a bridesmaid.

(From The Grumbling of a Chronically Single Woman, By Randi Sherman author of PAULA TAKES A RISK)

Sunny promotion

Never in my lifetime has anyone ever said:"Hey, Randi you should go into sales."
Some people are naturals. Me? Not so much.
Yup, I'm personable, funny, hilarious at times. Some people have called me smart and even charming (they have requested that I keep their anonimity, to protect them against backlash) - But a "schmoozing wheeler dealer?" Nope.

So here I am with the book PAULA TAKES A RISK ready to go - and I'm working to come up with some promotional ideas, You know, get my name out there.  Being a relative unknown - scheduling appearances and events focused on the astounding works of Randi Sherman are a little slow in the making.

So I'm thinking - How about a give away?  I'll go out to the super popular SF park, set up a table, maybe have some treats, start up some conversations and trade a book for an email address and a promise to tweet all of thier friends .

That's the plan. I can get my name out locally- during the next sunny weekend day in San Francisco.
"Great!" You're thinking, "It's never sunny in San Francisco. That's a safe and inexpensive plan."

For those of you who are familiar with Mark Twain and his supposed quote: "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco," you probably don't know that we have some of the most beautiful and mild days here. 

Okay. The plan is set. I have ordered a few boxes of books. I've got some T-shirts and I'll be ready to go...as soon as this rain lets up.

If you have additional promotion ideas - drop me a line.

A little help here

So - I have made it through the labyrinth of self-publishing, writing, editing, reediting, reediting, design, waiting, pricing, ISBN codes, identifying demographics and target audiences - all of it. I have the book in hand. I have followed instruction and the rules. I have contacted hundreds of
editors, reviewers, producer, executives of radio & TV sent Press Releases, About the Author docs, invited them to call me - then - crickets - tumbleweeds blowing across the plains - and now, humbly I must admit two things (1) I have no clout whatsoever and (2) I need help with promoting and distribution. Sure I thought I could do it all ... alas... maybe not and now... I am seeking the help of a professional.

Sure - I know I need to be patient - and I am - just seeking a little help
Agents, publishers, promoters - where are you?
Contact me
R