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I loved this book and give it a radiant five stars. I really enjoyed reading this collection of magazine articles written by a favorite author (see here, for example). The way they are arranged they serve as a memoir of her experience and advice on topics ranging from writing to dogs, to the L.A. Police force, to her grandmother, to marriage, and then to bookstores. She has both her feet on the ground here and articulates herself in an open and accessible way. She neither holds back nor wanders aimlessly. I can’t encourage you enough to read this, especially if you have ever considered being a writer. The bits on writing I will probably return to and read again.

Since I read the uncorrected proof a publisher sent me before this book was printed, I show at the bottom the cover you’ll be looking for at your independent bookstore or the library. (Don’t you like how it notes on the back that for publicity they targeted major national book blogs? Yup, I guess that includes this blog, but please be assured that although I got this book for free, this enthusiastic review is entirely my own unbiased opinion.)

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