The Sleeping Beauty Interview

By Me, Margie

Big Day here at TLC!  Tonight is the Power Shower for Sarah Strohmeyer's fabulous new stand-alone, The Sleeping Beauty Proposal. Order it - RIGHT NOW - from that link right there, and Rebecca the Bookseller will make sure Sarah signs it just for you and she'll even spot you the shipping if you mention you ordered it from TLC.  Go - I mean it - do it now, I'll wait.

OK, good.  Today is also a big day because it's our first live interview.  It's me, Margie, interviewing Patty Pugliese from The Sleeping Beauty Proposal.  Everybody say Hi Patty.

Patty: Hi everybody.  Hi, Margie.  Thanks for having me.

Me, Margie: Thanks for being here.  Wow.  You look different than I expected.

Patty: (laughing) - yeah, I look different.  They have to read the book to find out why.  You know, Margie, you remind me of myself.

Me, Margie:  Sure I do. Hah!   That's a good one.  Oh - you mean like before you were old?  Yeah, I can see that.  We're both part Italian.  Hell, we're probably related.

Patty:  You're a funny girl.  Come back and see me in twenty years and we'll talk about who looks good (laughing).  Do you have questions for me, or do you just want me to talk about how great the book is?

Me, Margie:  I have questions, so just chill it on taking over, okay?  Do you have to be somewhere?  Because we're going to need to call ahead to arrange for one of those trucks with the red flags to go out ahead of you -- hah!  Just kidding.  You look great, you know, considering.  How many are there?

Patty: Shut it, Margie - they have to read the book.

Me, Margie:  Actually, they just need to read some of the great reviews - the bun's already out of the oven, if you get my drift.

Patty:  Yeah. I get it.  Subtle is not your strong suit - mine either, so we're good.

Me, Margie:  So I loved the book and you were my favorite.

Patty:  That's great. Lots of people say that.  But do you see my name in any of the reviews?  No.  It's Genie Michaels or Sarah Strohmeyer.  I guess I'll just have to have my own book.

Me, Margie:  That is a great idea!  Did you tell Sarah?

Patty:  I'm waiting to catch her at the right moment. 

Me, Margie:  Good plan.  Speaking of plans, you were the real brains behind the whole Power Shower and fake engagement thing, right?

Patty:  Yes.  Genie was a freakin' mess and at first it was just one of those things to get her family off her back, but then it kinda took on a life of its own.  Plus, the Power Shower thing is inspired, if I do say so myself.  I mean, there is no such thing as coincidence - look how it all worked out.

Me Margie: So tell everybody what a Power Shower is all about.

Patty:  Sure.  A Power Shower is like a regular shower except you don't need to wait for some man to ask you to marry him, or get you pregnant first.  What the hell is with that kind of antiquated concept?  We need to celebrate our independence, not our decision to link up with some guy who might turn out to be a total putz.  So you have a Power Shower for friends who graduate, or get their first house, or whatever.  Why should they have to wait for towels and toasters?

 

Me, Margie:  That is so totally true.  And you're a genius. So how come you don't get to have more sex in the book?  You got short-changed there. 

Patty:  Who says I got short-changed?  Does Sarah know you're doing this interview?  Because I thought Rebecca the Bookseller was going to do it.

Me, Margie:  Yeah, they know.  Rebecca is having a hot flash or something.  She's too moody lately.  They'd better have all that figured out before I get to The Change, you know?  Some of my aunts went totally batshit.  The Uncles were ready to send them all to a camp somewhere.  Like they do with teens in trouble.  The Aunts said "Go ahead.  Try it, you jackasses."  And that was the end of that.

Patty: I have aunts and uncles like that too. Thank heaven I met someone from the outside.  Maybe my kids will have a shot at normal.

Me, Margie:  Normal, my ass.  I'm sticking with my own kind.  Geez, I hope you didn't screw up your whole life or something.  But if you did?  We can blame Sarah.  I like blaming the bosses for stuff.  They blame me for everything.

Patty:  Really?  That sucks.  Hey - I'm a lawyer - maybe we can sue them for something.  How about sexual harassment?

Me, Margie:  Y'know, I mentioned that once and they laughed so hard stuff came out somebody's eye sockets.  It was gross.  They said there sure as hell was sexual harassment going on but I was the culprit, not the victim.

Patty:  That's impossible.  You're the subordinate.

Me, Margie:  Who told you that?  No way, man.  Plus,we're not supposed to talk about that stuff on the blog.  I mentioned leather one day in the same blog as silk scarves and almost got canned on the spot.

Patty (she is trying not to laugh, but I'm not dumb, I can tell):  No, Margie.  Subordinate in the workplace.

Me, Margie:  Whoa.  That stuff in this office?  No freakin' way - they walked in on me once in the supply room, and it wasn't even out there, and I thought Nancy was going to crap a bird.  A big one, like an eagle or something.

Patty (totally laughing out loud now):  MARGIE.  Listen.  Subordinate has a legal meaning.  It means you are not the boss.

Me, Margie:  Duh.  I know that.  The boss is called a---

Sarah:  Hello, there.  Any one want to tell me what the hell's going on here? 

Patty:  Hey Sarah!  Nice to see you.  Margie thinks you screwed my life up.  So you might want to keep that in mind.

Sarah:  Good lord, Margie.  This is supposed to be about the book.

Me, Margie: Don't blame me.  Your friend Patty over here keeps bringing up subs.

Patty: I do not!  I was just trying to explain to her the difference--

Sarah:  That's your first mistake. 

Me, Margie: I heard that.

Sarah:  I know.  You were supposed to.  Why do I always get a headache in this office?

Me, Margie:  Probably there's mold in the walls.  Or, you know, radon.  If you guys would spring for a nicer office, it wouldn't happen.  Do you need something for your headache?  Because I have some--

Patty and Sarah:  Shut up Margie.

Me, Margie:  Just trying to help.

Sarah:  I think you've done enough.  Thanks though.

Patty:  Well, it was nice to be here.  I think.  The book is great.  You'll love it.  I'm in there, so that's reason enough to buy it, really.

Me, Margie:  She's right.  It's fantastic.  Patty, you're the best.  Thanks for stopping by.  Do you need, you know, a wheelbarrow or something to get out of here?  Hah.

Sarah:  That's plenty, thanks Margie.

Patty (sotto voce): Good luck with that one.  I thought I was a handful.

Sarah:  You really are a genius.

Comments

[Mary Alice and Mystery Lovers]

You gotta love that Me, Margie!
She's not kidding about the book. It's terrific and if you don't want to get on her "dead to me" list, you better scram over to www.mysterylovers.com right now and order your signed copy of The Sleeping Beauty Proposal. I'm just saying.

[Harley]

I want a Power Shower.

[William Simon]

Patty AND Margie in the same room?

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us....

[Nancy Martin]

Patty, I sincerely apologize for the behavior of our subordinate. Thank you for coming to the offices of TLC. I'll deal with Margie later, or maybe she'll redeem herself tonight at the Power Shower. (Yes, Margie, you can put in some overtime during happy hour.)

Loved the book, Sarah!!!

[Sue L]

What a great way to start a Friday!

Cannot wait to read this book. Congratulations, Sarah, on creating a character that can go toe-to-toe with Margie.

[Josh]

You know, even after I learned what you meant by "Power Shower," I wanted to come this evening and tomorrow. Alas, I can't make it, but I did buy the book. I hope everyone has fun and someone blogs about it next week.

[JJ]

It's our very own version of The View, right here on TLC!

I'd buy a ticket to see these two. Of course, I'd buy a ticket to watch Margie talk to herself, so I guess that's not saying much.

Great job, Sarah and Margie. Looking forward to the book - my sister's birthday is coming up and she loved The Cinderealla Pact last year.

[Coco]

Love the Margie blogs - and now we have Patty too!

I am so excited about this book. I just loved the Cinderella Pact and this one sounds terrific as well.

i alread ordered it, so it should be here today or tomorrow.

Congratulations, Sarah!

Margie - overtime at happy hour? You sure have this job figured out!

[Kerry, the Martial Tart]

It's a good thing I know enough not to actually have my coffee in my mouth when I read Margie's blogs. And I totally want Patty to come back! Of course, those blogs might need warning labels. I'm sure a lawyer like Patty will understand.

I've just ordered the book myself and will be counting down the days until it arrives. I hope everyone has fun at the Power Shower -- I'll try very hard to be there in spirit, or spirits, or something like that.

[JS]

Margie - excellent! It's like I can see the two of you sitting there, talking, hands flying.

I'll pick up the book at lunch time.

Best of luck to Sarah for great sales!

[Maryann]

Great interview, Margie...of course it helps to have an incredible interviewee :o) I'd buy the book from Mystery Lovers but since I work at B&N I'd rather the home office see a sale from central Illinois(believe it or not,it helps get more copies). And we have The Cinderella Pact on our Beach Read table... told our assistant manager it was a must read and she agreed. Although, I could get an extra one for my sister...
Great Friday blog...and Sarah, great sales!

[michele martinez]

Margie, I just talked to Rebecca. Apparently you called her and told her this interview had been rescheduled for tomorrow? Did you ever think maybe you might have a teeny tiny problem with needing attention? Anyway, Rebecca's fuming and she's on her way to the office right now. Please, whatever happens, no blood. We just got the carpets cleaned.

[beachfla]

I've been away on vacation and was thrilled to come back to TLC to see this great interview. All we needed was to have had Rebecca in on the interview! I did as I was told by Margie (who is to be feared, right?!) and ordered the book from Mystery Lovers this a.m. Can't wait to read it, Sarah! Oh, yeah, where is Patty admitted to practice law?

[Margie]

Hi! It's me, Margie.

I have to go shopping now, because Nancy told me I have to go to the Power Shower which means I need to go buy towels or something plus I need new shoes.

So that is so great that Rebecca is coming in - she can check the voicemail and stuff.

I heard several of you have already ordered the book from the link to Mystery Lovers, which is great. Maryann - good point, honey. Make sure SPB is right up in the front of the store toom okay?

So what's with the rest of you? Let's get on this, people. I mean, I totally cannot do everything around here.

[ramona]

Sarah, I received my postcard the other day--so beautiful. Can't wait to see the book in person. And then read it, of course.

FYI, and because this is the kind of exciting fun stuff I do for kicks, I checked my local library's wait list. There are 43 in line for SBP, which is currently in "newly acquired" limbo. Just some trivia.

Pssst--Margie, you buy shoes off the rack? Is it only boots that get the handmade treatment?

[Maryann]

I'll do my best, Margie...and I did order one from Mystery Lovers as well. I figure my sister will want to 'borrow' this one(she never returns the ones she borrows), so I'll get the one at B&N for her. :o) Keeps the peace and adds to the sales, right? (And I'll start reading it while I wait for the one from Mystery Lovers.

[Cinema Dave]

I'll shelve it as soon as I see it.

[Debby]

Great interview! It was so nice to hear what Patty has sort of been up to lately! LOL!

I picked up four copies last night, after admiring the tower display that the clerk and B&N had ust finished stocking. I have to go back tonight for pictures.

Have fun at the Power Shower! I so wanted to be there, but alas, I wouldn't be home in time tomorrow for Red Cross.

The book is awesome! The characters are amazing! The conversation witty and fun! So, don't keep this book a secret...if I tell two (or more) friends, and they tell two (or more) friends, then soon the whole world will be reading Sarah!!! :)

[Nancy Martin]

I just parked by the salon, and I could swear that's Margie in there getting her nails done. Again. And h as anybody seen the office credit card lately? The one we use solely for office supplies??

[Petey]

I guess I should have waited, but I bought it yesterday, and it's great. I'm buying it for my sisters too!

[William Simon]

Been busy all day, but wanted to throw in my two cents.

SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL is *not* just a woman's book. It's simply a good book. I've been beating the bushes for it since I read it last month.

It's great.

[NJ Joe]

Patty is a PUGLIESE?

Good God - look for sales in Jersey to go through the roof when that little tidbit gets out!

[Mary]

I got the book last night and read it all before I could go to sleep - I just love the characters (I think Patty might have been my favorite too) and I loved the message of the story - we don't need men to be happy - it's when we find our own happiness that we are in the best place to find a partner.

It's on my shelf right next to The Cinderella Pact. Cannot wait for Sarah's next book.

Much as I loved Bubbles, these are worth losing her.

Thank you, Sarah for another wonderful book.

And Margie - thank you for the laughs!

[Rebecca the Bookseller]

Thanks to everyone who ordered - and you, Maryann for supporting us as well as your own store!

Everyone still has time to order - if you want it personalized, please just tell us in the Comments section - I'll make sure it gets done for you.

A reminder too that early sales (that would be today and over the weekend) make a big difference not only in making the lists, but for re-orders. So please make a point to buy The Cinderella Pact asap - I mean, if you're hear reading, you are going to love the book.

Let's all help Sarah make this wonderful book a best seller!