Monthly Archives: May 2007

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Arrived Safely in New York

Well James and I arrived safely in New York, where we will spend the next four days exploring the Big Apple and attending Book Expo America. Book Expo America (BEA) is the largest annual conference in the publishing industry, and the place to see and be seen if you’re in the business of BOOKS. My friend and colleague Edwardo once said to me – “If you make it to one conference a year, you have to make sure you get to BEA…” So here I am, travelling all the way to the East Coast, trying to get my network on…

Over the next few days I will be attending workshops/receptions/parties, cruising the exhibition halls, expanding my professional network, and pitching my book to people who can help make my publishing dreams a reality. It’s a very exciting time and I’m ready to put myself out there and raise my profile as an up and coming author 🙂 I also get to meet up with writer friends I’ve met over the past year (since we’ve all migrated to New York this weekend for the same reason), and catch up with old friends (Hi Omar!) from all over the country. I’m sure it will be a great time.

Not all business though 🙂 James and I also plan to do a bit of sightseeing while we’re here, which will be fun since this is my first visit to New York City. The most eagerly-anticipated event on my tourist agenda? Catching a Broadway showing of my favorite play EVER – RENT. No day but today baby 🙂

As an aside, we flew over on JetBlue Airlines, and I gotta say, JetBlue kicks all kinds of ass. I fully recommend and endorse this airline – best flight experience EVER, and that’s saying a lot cause I am one of those people who hates to fly… Tons of legroom, comfortable seats, decent selection of snacks, and most importantly, each seat has it’s own TV that has 40 cable channels. Watching TV totally helps pass the time, and this should be standard on all airlines, lol. Awesome, awesome, awesome. If JetBlue flies to where I need to go, they definitely have my business from here on out.

Okay, be on the lookout for more chronicles of my New York adventures! And wish me luck!!!

Family

CONGRATULATIONS ERIC!!!

Well it’s official folks – ERIC PASSED THE BAR!!! HE IS NOW, OFFICIALLY, AN ATTORNEY!!!

Sorry, I know I’m shouting, but this is SO DAMN EXCITING! By far the coolest thing to happen to the Casher Clan since Devin was born 😉

Passing the Bar is a huge, huge deal. A major accomplishment. Not only is it an incredibly difficult, 3-day exam, but the California Bar Exam is one of the hardest tests in the nation, with only a 40-50% pass rate. And my baby brother is one of the 60% that passed this time around!!!

I can’t even tell you how ridiculously proud I am of Eric… He is ambitious and determined and works so hard not only to achieve, but to excel at everything he does. And now that hard work has finally paid off. Finally, after so many years of hustling, studying, and struggling, he will finally get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. The start of a new life chapter, filled with limitless possibilities for growth and prosperity. Long overdue and well-deserved little brother! Now you can focus 100% on your bright and glorious future!!!

It actually has an interesting symetry that almost exactly one year ago we were celebrating Eric’s graduation from Law School. And now the circle is complete. And the celebrating can begin!

I love you so much Eric, and am so incredibly proud. YOU inspire ME more than you know. I can’t wait to have a Steph and Eric celebration dinner as soon as I get back from New York 🙂 You freaking rock man!

Writing

Writing Update

Hello loyal readers 🙂 As I prepare to head off to New York for Book Expo America (the grandaddy of all writing/publishing conferences), I realized I was long overdue for a blog entry and writing update. Yes, fear not, I am still writing and pursuing my dream of getting published. My silence in the blogosphere is not a sign of inactivity, but rather a symptom of blog fatigue. I hope to remedy that in coming weeks.

I went on at length in a previous post about my new relationship to deadlines 🙂 My approach to writing of late has definitely been on the leisurely side. I’ll have bursts of productivity, followed by long stretches of inactivity. I’ve also been travelling quite a bit, and reading quite a bit, so my “free” time has been split between competing priorities. But I am still committed to finishing my second book, and I’m proud to report that I’ve just entered the home stretch on that project.

In about five more chapters, WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH will be DONE. Finally. Man, it feels like just yesterday I was struggling to complete my FIRST novel, and now the second one is almost ready to be unveiled to the world. Very exciting. With this, I’ve proven to myself that this writing thing isn’t a fluke, that I have stories inside of me that need to be told, and that I am perfectly capable of getting them out of me, onto the page, and into the world. That’s still the plan anyways 🙂 Stay tuned!

Sports

The Warriors Advance!

God I love a Cinderella story…

So in the 11th hour, the Golden State Warriors secured a spot in the NBA Playoffs for the first time in 13 years. That’s a long-ass time people. So long that those of us that actually live in the Bay had given up hope long ago on a run at the Championship… Many of us lived vicariously through the brief but entertaining reign the Sacramento Kings (Go Kings!). But the Warriors are on fire right now, playing with all kinds of heart, and kicking all kinds of ass.

Last night they knocked the number one seed Dallas Mavericks out Playoff competition in the upset heard ’round the league. (Sorry Leish!) It was awesome!!! I am the ultimate champion of the underdog, and it was so satisfying to watch the Warriors give it their all and emerge victorious. They’re putting the Bay on the map ya’ll!!! It’s so exciting and I am so proud.

My New Jersey Nets also advanced to the second round today, so I’m a very happy girl so far. My dream Finals would definitely be the Nets vs. Warriors, but I suppose we should take it one game at a time, lol.

Soldier On Golden State… We Believe…