In the magical, mystery book world, this week feels like a tsunami of change, and frankly, not for the better for either authors or readers.

For starters, we lost two great writers and observers of the human spirit, John Updike and James Brady. Though different in style and substance, both took great joy in being the outsider looking in, and never failed to enlighten or entertain. But their greatest common bond was that they were prolific in a multitude of venues- fiction, poetry, gossip, memoir, articles, essays, criticism, magazine columns, short stories, reporting… true word warriors who given a pen and paper could tell you something you didn’t know in a way you would never forget.  Those of us who toil as authors pray that they left their muses behind.

Here is what else happened (and it’s not even Friday):

• Sara Nelson, the warrior, editor- in- chief of Publisher’s Weekly got shown the door (don’t take it personally Sara, they said. It’s not ’cause you’re not a great editor, it’s because ad sales are in the toilet and we needed a scapegoat).  I liked Sara and hope she finds a new home asap, just not in the print world where magazines are beginning to resemble newsletters and newsletters are now on-line.

• My own publisher, HarperCollins, presented to US employees a voluntary retirement package for those over age 55 (and from the looks of it, the offer has been extended to us authors as well). Fortunately, the employees overseas and specifically Zondervan are ineligible. Is that because no one knows where it is?

• The Washington Post’s Sunday book review insert, Book World, was announced D.O.A. in two weeks, making the New York Times Book Review feel like the cheese stands alone ( it will be one of the last remaining stand alone sections in a major newspaper that is devoted to books). Not to worry. The Post swears it is as devoted to book coverage as ever, it’s just going to be a tad harder to find the reviews.

• Speaking of the New York Times, with the economy also D.O.A., they decided to add salt to the wound to the already fatigued publishing world by devoting a front page story to the new trend- pay to play,  aka “print on demand.” Anyone can be an author now. Just write something. Anything. Then pay $99 to IUniverse to publish the first edition (and call before midnight to get your free Ginsu knives) and you can take orders for your books, even have the title listed on Amazon, just like John Grisham.

• And speaking of John Grisham,  his latest blockbuster novel, The Associate, was released this week, hopefully in time to fend off the hungry creditors at Borders and Barnes & Noble, the book chains that are investing more heavily in greeting cards and board games than they are in books.

• Finally, this week, as if writers didn’t have enough stress, their one remaining oasis, Starbucks, announced they are cutting more than 7,000 jobs and closing 300 stores. Do you know what this means when Starbucks’ odds of survival as are as dark as their Himalayan espresso? It means that soon there could be less than two on any block and for a quick fix, we will have to stick a little pod in our Keurigs and pretend it’s the same.

Not saying that any of this has anything to do with why John and James took a permanent leave of absence this week, but boy, just when we need inspiration most, we have two less voices to share their wit and wisdom. RIP my dear men…. and don’t forget to write.

You think “Lost” is a reality show? Ha! If I was the producer, I would make it  so much more realistic. Each episode would focus on what happens to a middle age woman who can’t find ANYTHING… EVER!

Trust me, it would be one scary adventure. Every week we’d see a freaked out woman who is running late, who forgot to get gas, and who just remembered she promised to pick up the dry cleaning. Cue close up of her tearing through her house and frantically rummaging through her pocketbook while screaming at family members, “Where are my friggin keys? Has anyone seen my keys?”

I could easily be the star of that show. I am forever in search of my reading glasses, my sunglasses, my keys, my two cell phones (the heir and the spare), my little Bluetooth device, my IPOD, all the chargers, one of the cordless phones, the TV controller (no not that one- the one for the Tivo), my favorite pen, the Post It note with that important, must-not-lose number, the other earring, glove or shoe which I’m sure I just saw yesterday, the new book I’m reading, the article I cut out of today’s New York Times, my  pocketbook and if I’m parked anywhere other than the front of my house, my car.

The other day while rummaging under the blankets for the remote (and finding my new watch which I feared had fallen off in the street), I thought about how easy my grandmother had it.  She never had to search for her glasses because they were kept on a chain around her neck. She didn’t drive so she never had to turn over couch cushions looking for her car keys. She had one good pocketbook for every day, which she kept in the dining room, and a dress bag for weddings and bar mitzvahs, which she kept in her closet. And if there was something important for her not to forget, she wore a rubber band around her wrist and voila, she instantly remembered.

So I ask? Do I really need all of this crap? Apparently yes. They have all become such appendages, I feel naked if I don’t know their exact locations. Which explains why my pocketbook resembles a piece of Samsonite luggage and why my back and shoulder feel like I’ve worked the fields all day. I’m only glad that when I step on  the scale, these items aren’t permanently attached.

Come to think of it, the scale is the one thing I would LOVE to lose! Maybe I should throw it in my pocketbook… that pretty much guarantees it’ll travel down some dark hole and I’ll never see it again.

This was a monumental day for the Rosenbergs and the Obamas. Sure, Barack Obama was inaugurated as our 44th President, and he has our family’s prayers and support, but closer to home, our baby Taryn turned 18!

Had Taryn been born a few months earlier, it would have been her joy and privilege to cast her first presidential vote for Barack Obama. She was behind him 100% and was happy to celebrate her big birthday on such an auspicious, historic day for the country.

Taryn is our youngest of three, but has taken a back to no one since day one.  I am proud to tell you that at 18, she has already demonstrated extraordinary poise, talent, intellect, judgment and leadership- much like our new President. You can also talk to her about anything- politics, music, travel, photography, movies… she is very well versed and opinionated (which is why I LOVE her). She does not shy away from sharing her views and I know this will serve her well personally and professionally.

Here we are when she is one month old… and then today. We are both having much better hair days!!!!

Happy Birthday Taryn and Congratulations President Obama. I look forward to witnessing your many accomplishments to come, but know that your creativity, compassion and integrity have already made their mark in the world. Here is to your dreams come true!.

May it be!!!

What do you get when you combine the energy, creativity and can-do spirit of a group of retired professional women? A wonderful gathering full of well read, smart talking ladies who have much to say and with apologies to no one, so much left on their plates to do.

No rockers for these grandmothers- they are too busy taking on second careers, volunteering at soup kitchens, doing freelance and consulting work and anything else that comes up. The group was founded four years ago by Harriet Kulka, who had just retired as a college administrator at the New York Institute of Technology, and Marci Tublisky as the Executive Director of the Hauppauge Industrial Association.They were wondering how they would survive retirement without a network of other successful women with whom to engage in conversation. Voila, they put the word out and now they are forty members strong and still growing.

How did they find me? One morning I was getting my hair cut at the Cactus salon. Marci overheard women talking about a new novel, Dear Neighbor, and mentioned that she’d like to read it. One woman pointed to me and said, “I heard that she is the author.” Marci walked right over to introduce herself and to invite me to speak to her group. Leave it to a smart woman to get the job done.  Photo: Harriet, Me, Marci

Anyway, last week it was my privilege to speak to the Retired Professional Women’s Network, the consortium of Long Island women who gather monthly to share ideas and good times. They recently visited the Tiffany exhibit at the Nassau County Museum of Art and have future plans to tour the Waldforf Astoria.

I so enjoyed our lively book discussion and hearing their thoughts on how they know they’ve fallen in love (with a book). For most it was the realization that they couldn’t put the book down and they had to know what was going to happen to the characters. I am happy to share that some of the members (not all) felt that way about my book, much to their surprise, and that delighted me as well as them.

The other highlight of the afternoon was that it was held in the beautiful dining room at the Culinary Institute on the campus of the New York Institute of Technology. Our delicious, gourmet lunch was prepared by students and they can cook for me any time! Yum!

Finally, I was so grateful that the group all showed up with donations for my pet project, The Pajama Program. Now I have more books and pj’s to deliver to the Long Island representative. ou need something done? Get a woman to say I’ll do it and there you go!

I am delighted to tell you that the sassy and fun Brenda Janowitz has not only joined us on Long Island, but has joined the ever talented Girlfriend’s Cyber Circuit. This is like the Good Housekeeping Seal of approval for novels worth noting.

Brenda is the author of JACK WITH A TWIST (Engaging your adversary and other things they don’t teach you in law school) and SCOT ON THE ROCKS (How I survived my ex-boyfriend’s wedding with my dignity ever so slightly intact), as well as the short story BASED ON A TRUE STORY.

About JACK WITH A TWIST:

A little pre-wedding anxiety is normal for every bride, and Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller isn’t worried. She’s got the loving support of the world’s greatest guy, so planning her nuptials should be a piece of cake… But that was yesterday.

Today, Brooke’s landed her first big case and has just discovered that the opposing attorney is none other than her fiancé, Jack. But that’s okay. These two professionals aren’t going to let a little courtroom sparring get their legal briefs in a bunch.… Right? Wrong! Now Jack’s pulling every dirty trick in the law books, and Brooke’s starting to suspect that maybe he isn’t the man she thought he was. Warring with her fiancé at work and at home, Brooke realizes that she’ll have to choose between the case of her life, or actually having a life.

Here is some high- voltage praise for Jack!

“a funny, sweet romance.”

• New York Times bestselling author Marian Keyes

“Another fun-filled page-turner from Brenda.  Every bit as sparkling as the champagne that the bride-to-be’s mother is so fond of…”

• USA Today international bestselling author Carole Matthews

“A funny, smart, true-to-life novel about being your own woman. Loved it!”

• Melissa Senate, author of SEE JANE DATE and QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE MARRYING

I recently had a chance to ask Brenda some questions about her writing life and her books, and here is what she said:

Q. If you could get a rave review in “People” magazine, what would you want it to say about your new book?

A. Ooh! Do you want to review my book for People?! I think that the greatest compliment that I could get is that someone had a blast reading my book, laughed a lot, and just couldn’t put it down.

Q. Writing a letter can be daunting. How do you even begin the process of writing a novel? Does it start with a title? A character? A plot? All or none of the above?

A. All of the above! I had a different process with each of my novels. When I wrote SCOT ON THE ROCKS, I had a general idea of where it was going, but by no means a real outline. I just let the story take me where it wanted and I did a lot of editing and re-writing to keep it tight and make it work the way I thought it should.

For JACK WITH A TWIST, I created an outline first to show to my editor so that she’d have a sense of the type of story I wanted to tell. It was really great to work off of an outline since it gives you the opportunity to layer on the things like themes and symbols that I added to second and third drafts of SCOT ON THE ROCKS. I feel that it made for a much richer first draft.

Q. Do you have show and tell with your first draft? Who do you trust for honest reaction, or is so fragile you show it to one you love who you know will be kind?

A. What a great question, Saralee! I always talk about this in my Mediabistro class: I usually give the first viewing to my best friend, Shawn. She’s not an objective reader in any way, shape or form—she just loves everything I write—but, it’s good to have that first reader tell you that your work is fabulous. Then, it goes to my mom. Now, you might think that your mom would be the one to pat you on the head and tell you you’re perfect, but my mom is always very realistic. She’ll give it a good read and then tell me exactly what she thinks.<br><br>

Q. What is one of the nicest compliments that you have ever received about your book(s)?

A. When Marian Keyes emailed me to tell me that she loved it, I pretty much fell over in my chair. As far as I’m concerned, Marian Keyes is a goddess—she inspired me to follow my dream to write a book—and to hear that she actually enjoyed something that I wrote was such a major thrill!

Q. Whose writing talent do you greatly admire, and which successful author makes you want to gobsmack your head because you cannot believe they’ve had a bestseller(s)?

A. Marian Keyes! Did I mention that she’s a total goddess!? I also love Sophie Kinsella, Emily Giffin, Laura Dave and Allison Winn Scotch. As for writers that make me smack my head, I’ll tell you later.

Q. My author fantasy is to have one of my novels optioned by Clint Eastwood and he insists that I write the screenplay adaptation. What is your author fantasy?

A. Ooh! That’s a good fantasy! For me, it would have to be that Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore snap up the movie rights and make JACK into a movie. They wouldn’t even have to let me write the screenplay. They, would, of course, have to give me a little cameo role!

Learn more about Brenda:

A native New Yorker, Brenda Janowitz has had a flair for all things dramatic since she played the title role in her third grade production of Really Rosie. When asked by her grandmother if the experience made her want to be an actress when she grew up, Brenda responded, “An actress? No. A writer, maybe.”

Brenda attended Cornell University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Service Studies, with a Concentration in Race and Discrimination. After graduating from Cornell, she attended Hofstra Law School, where she was a member of the Law Review and won the Law Review Writing Competition. Upon graduation from Hofstra, she went to work for the law firm Kaye Scholer, LLP, where she was an associate in the Intellectual Property group, handling cases in the areas of trademark, anti-trust, internet, and false advertising. Brenda later left Kaye Scholer to pursue a federal clerkship with the Honorable Marilyn Dolan Go, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York.

Since her clerkship, Brenda has worked as a career counselor at two New York City law schools, where she published a number of articles on career related issues in publications such as the National Law Journal and the New York Law Journal. She currently lives in New York with her husband.

You can learn more about Brenda at www.brendajanowitz.com and check out her blog at www.brendajanowitz.blogspot.com.

New Years Greetings, a little belatedly. I took a holiday breather from the great taskmaster, Mr. Blog and wondered if anyone would notice my absence. Sadly, there was not so much as an Internet peep. No, Saralee, we miss you. Please hurry back. No, Saralee, have you left the blogging business? No, Saralee, can you please add my link to your site in the event you actually do have a following?

What is a writer to do? According to my son, Zack Rosenberg, my guru on all things Internetty and technical, one must prevail. “Did you honestly think you’d have a huge following right off the bat?” Yes? Zack insists that if I keep blogging consistently (and no more holiday breaks!!!!!), readers will find me and return. In other words, if you build it they will come.

So with a new, stronger, bigger, better and improved resolve, I am back! And do I have a lot to say? No, but it never stopped me before. And yet in keeping with my new resolve, here are some personal and professional updates since I last checked in:

• Lee, Zack and I, along with Zack’s friends Adam and Kim, got to spend New Year’s Eve watching the famous ball drop in Times Square, but not outside in the freezing cold. We were warm and cozy, twenty floors up at 1500 Broadway, and what a view! The crowds, the neon signs, the fireworks and confetti- in my thirty two years in New York, I have never had this opportunity. And to share it with family and friends was even sweeter. Thank you Andrew Byrne and Heidi Rosenberg for the invite.

• Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead was chosen as a best pick of 2008 by Jennifer Vido, the book blogger for the Baltimore Sun and the columnist for Jen’s Jewels. There it was, nestled in between The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan, two of MY favorites this year. Thank you Jen. It’s an honor just to be nominated. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/2008/12/more_2008_best_picks.html#more
• This week I will be the featured author on ijustfinished.com where Review Coordinator, Renee Giroux, is hosting a series of interviews with me. Please take a look at this wonderful site for readers who want to read smart author profiles and honest book reviews.

Also this week I will be posting a review of Scot on the Rocks, by the delightful and funny Brenda Janowitz. Please come back for my special interview with her.

And that my friends is it for the first post of 2009. I hope that you and yours have a divine ‘09 and that peace and prosperity are just around the corner!