Rumor has it that Book Soup at South Coast Plaza is closing at the end of March. I had my first book launch there and liked the store, only I must echo that lousy refrain, Location Location Location. It’s too hard to get to the store for book browsing. You have to park in the South Coast Plaza parking lot and hike a ways to get to the store. So much easier, I have to admit, to pull up to Borders and run in. Too bad. I do like the store.

I had my other book launch at Dutton’s in Brentwood, one of my favorite bookstores of all time. All these little outposts circling a courtyard. But the landlord has other plans, wants to upgrade and keep Dutton’s but Dutton’s isn’t so sure.

And finally, West, the magazine that accompanies that Los Angeles Times on Sunday will no longer be publishing fiction. The future of the magazine hangs in the balance, so I hear. I hope they bring the essays back. I always looked forward to them.

I seem to have gotten into a habit of photographing my mantel when I change the books on its corner, so here is my January mantel.

Spoke before a wonderful group of women, PEN Women of Palm Desert, yesterday. Only a few chapters here in Southern Cal., and this was one of them. Educated, creative, productive women. Very worth the 2 hour drive each way. They sold out of books. But cold! Of course I love it, but it was odd. The last time we were out in Palm Desert, it was 50 degrees warmer–114 degrees, in the summer. They spoke of ice on the pavement early in the morning, and bougainvillea that was now black from freezing. And little dogs out for a walk, slip-sliding around.

On my 9/14/06 post, I talked about contests and basically expressed a general disdain for them. Well, The Sobol contest was cancelled. There just weren’t enough takers.

Here’s the story.

I love it when I love what I’m reading. Right now it’s Almost by Elizabeth Benedict. Just finished The Practice of Deceit, her last novel, and loved it, too. Written from a male POV. She also wrote The Joy of Writing Sex and is going to be on the show tomorrow for the entire hour.

When I walk, I listen to Anna Quindlen’s new novel, Rise and Shine, which I also love. Written in first person, past tense, it’s a good one to study, re: great characters and a hefty plot. I’m not at the end yet–probably another 20 pages or so–so I’ll report back when I’ve finished. I like that Quindlen was a journalist (still does essays) and turned to fiction. You can see her skill at reporting all over the place in her fiction and it works so well.

So for my question once again: What are you reading now that you love?

Yup, Travis is back in school and I’m back at work on Starletta’s Kitchen. Trying to get more food into the book. If I don’t, I have to–eek–change the title.

I was just noticing that a lot of blogs by male writers are impersonal. Informational and interesting, but not personal. Just visiting The Elegant Variation (http://www.marksarvas.blogs.com/), which I like very much, and it got me thinking. So I thought I’d made a gross generalization. ; }

Everyone back to writing (if you took the holidays off)?

Here’s an interview I just did for “Wow-Women on Writing,” with Annette Fix. The Web site has a ton of good information for writers, and interviews with writers. Also check out the interview with Diana Abu-Jaber and Cynthia Kadohata.