One more night on the road. I love book tours, but sometimes these hotel rooms start to close in on you, and I start to miss Mr. Mary Kay, and the Boomerang Boy, and Weezie and Wyatt. And to be truthful, I miss my pillows. My own, big, fluffy down pillows. But mostly it’s all good. I haven’t zeroed out any signings on this tour. YET. Of course, it’s threatening to snow this afternoon and evening in Birmingham, where I still have two more signings today. We Southerners are notoriously snow-shy. It’s not that we’re weather weenies. We brave hailstorms and tornadoes and droughts, and heat waves. You’ve never been hot ’til you’ve been stuck in a traffic jam on I-285 in August with an air conditioner on the fritz. But we have snow so seldom down here, most towns and counties don’t have snowplows. And the only people with snow tires are transplanted Yankees–who love to tell us how they do it “up home.” Helpful Hint–Never, ever, offer to tell a Southerner “how we do it up home,” unless you enjoy getting the death-eye. In Atlanta, if even the teensiest flake falls, we rush to the stores for milk, bread and videos. Also beer, and in my case, chocolate. My reasoning is–they have tons of snow in Switzerland, and everybody knows the Swiss are famous for chocolate–hello? ever hear of Swiss Miss? So the only way to guarantee you’ll make it through a snowstorm is to lay in an emergency supply of chocolate. My hope is that everybody in Birmingham will rush out to get chocolate and milk and bread, and then they’ll realize they should also stop by a bookstore and buy DEEP DISH. And then, tomorrow, I’m hoping the folks in Greenwood Mississippi will turn out at Turnrow Books, where a real live chef will make the tomato soup chocolate cake from DEEP DISH. After that, I’m headin’ home. Another reason I’m looking forward to going home is that this is Scott’s Antique Market in Atlanta. I’ve missed the last three months of Scott’s, so I am not about to skip going out there Sunday with the junk posse–snow or no snow.

I had a wake-up call at 4:20 a.m. to make my flight out of Memphis to Kansas City. So when I finally got to my hotel here, I was dog-tired. I read some e-mails, had some lunch, read, took a nap. And then at 3:30 p.m. there’s a knock at my door. Tired, cranky, I demanded to know who was there. “Guest relations” the man said. His disembodied voice reminded me of the old “Land Shark” routine from Saturday Night Live. Remember? “Candygram”? Anywho, I went to the door, opened it, and there was a man standing there with a tray of huge chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered strawberries and grapes, all drizzled with white chocolate. Apparently this is one of the perks you get when staying on the concierge level at the Sheraton here. I was happily munching away when my cell rang. It was Stuart, the best damned agent in the world, posing an odd question. “What’s the luckiest number?” he demanded. “Dunno,” I said. And then he hollered “Thirteen, as in DEEP DISH is number 13 on the New York Times Bestseller List!”
I think they heard me screeching clear over in St. Louis. And I know the people on the floor below me thought there were elephants roller skating overhead when they heard the sounds of me doing the happy dance all over my hotel room. My past three books have made it to the extended NYT list, but never the printed list before.I am over the moon. Wow! Chocolate covered chocolate chip cookies and my first trip to the PRINTED New York Times list, all in the space of half an hour. Life is very, very sweet tonight. Also fattening. So thanks, kind readers, for buying my books, and telling your friends, and coming out to see me in DC, Raleigh, Souther Pines, Atlanta, Memphis and Kansas City–at the very cool Rainy Day Books, and everyplace else. Tomorrow, on to Birmingham. Y’all come!

The Peabody ducks have been put to bed for the night, and so have I. It was raining when I got into Memphis last night–and snowing when Iwoke up this morning. I did a television interview on WREG this morning. One of the hosts, Marybeth Conley, had actually read most of DEEP DISH! You have no idea how unusual this is with television interviewers. Generally, they have so many authors and guests coming and going, they’re doing well to get my name straight, let alone actually READ the book. Refreshing! I lolled around in my room most of the day, doing some internet stuff, then left for my signing at Davis-Kidd Booksellers. I got down to the hotel lobby just in time to see the ducks parading back down the red carpet from the fountain We had a nice crowd for this lousy weather, so thanks Memphis! Then it was back to the hotel, room service dinner, a glass of cheap chardonnay and a dial-up movie. I chose 27 DRESSES, becuz, well, I was in a chick-flick mood. But I’m sorry to say I didn’t love 27 Dresses. Mostly becuz they threw every chick-flick cliche in the book at this one–the meet cute between adorable not-so-plain Jane and adorable, cynical journalist Kevin, the sarcastic, slutty half-drunk best friend, the cliched bad bridesmaid dresses, the selfish gorgeous drop-dead blonde sister–played by a Cameron Diaz wannabe actress. We even had the hunky eco-conscious yet unbelievably clueless boss George, and the beaming, hard-working hardware-store owning Dad. I could see pieces of about ten different chick-flick movies in the past few years in this movie. And you know–it kinda pisses me off. Movie people throw together a stale casserole of a script and cast likeable actors in it, and rake in the dough. And chick-flick loving people like me watch it anyway, in the hopes that maybe, just this once, they’ll get it right. Next time, I’ll just wait til I get home and watch When Harry Met Sally. Tomorrow–on to Kansas City and Rainy Day Books.

If it’s Sunday, this must be Atlanta. Today was catch up day. Time to unload my suitcase. Unload the dishwasher. Open the mail. Read e-mail. Do laundry. Watch the clip of myself on CNN.com from last week. Yikes! Remind me not to watch myself on television. Ever. Again. I look like a ginormous yellow school bus in my yellow jacket, which I thought was so cute and spring-like. But here’s the link, just in case you need to feel superior to certain schoolbus-like Atlanta-based authors. My sister-in-law Jeanne has moved back to Atlanta as of this weekend, so we had a wonderful leisurely brunch at a great restaurant in Decatur, Cafe Lily. Food is always yummy, prices great, service friendly. Then a walk around the neighborhood, as it was a glorious sunny day in Atlanta. The DEEP DISH signings have been wonderful. We had a great crowd at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, in fact, it was standing room only. Sitting in the front row were my Scribblers buddies, Sarah Shaber, Bryn Witchger, Margaret Maron, Diane Chamberlain, and of course, QRB owner Nancy Olson, who runs just the best independent bookstore around. We all had dinner beforehand, including another scribbler, Katy Munger, and her daughter Zusu. Also checking in at the QRB signing were the Pink Posse, a group of fun-loving gals who once tailgated a talk and signing I did at a library in Raleigh. They all sat in the front row sipping bottles of orange juice–which I later found out were spiked with likker! They brought me my very own kit for their “Carolina Delightful Cocktail”–which includes Cranberry Juice too. I had a chance to see lots of old friends even tho I was only in Raleigh for a day. I shopped at my friend Beth’s KnickKnack Paddywack. To celebrate the publication of DEEP DISH I bought myself a teensy little sterling silver trophy. I have 3 others like this one, two of which I picked up on our antiqueing trip to England a couple years ago. Also bought a really unusual piece of the blue and white transferware that I love–a sardine dish. It is rectangular, attached to a plate, and has a lid. It’ll never see a sardine at my house–I wouldn’t touch ’em with a ten-foot-pole. I had fun arranging my new pretties on my
Welsh cupboard. Beth and I are plotting a May trip to the Brimfield Antique Market. Also checked in with Roi, my hairdresser in Raleigh, who sat me down, re-colored and re-cut my hair (even tho my Atlanta hairdresser had just done it–Roi has certain standards) and did my make-up for the signing. Now that’s the kind of friend to have! I felt like a princess by the time I got to QRB. Friday I had a signing at The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC, and another nice turn-out. I flew home Friday night, got up and went to my signing at the Barnes & Noble in Buckhead–and went junking along the way. I only hit two sales, but I did find some cool new watering cans, which I’ll put in Maisy’s Daisy when I head down to Savannah at the end of the month. Tomorrow I’ll be signing at Scott’s Bookstore on the Newnan Square. Miss Earlene is a wonderful bookseller. And the Newnan Square has lots of fun shops and restaurants, including The Redneck Gourmet, which makes an awesome pimento cheese sammich. The only fly in my ointment these days is Amazon. Two people have decided to rain on my parade by posting negative reviews of DEEP DISH. I just wish these folks would have done like my grandma said–“if you don’t have something nice to say, keep your mouth shut.” Oh well.

Wow, the DEEP DISH tour is officially up and running. The launch party at Wordsmith Books in Decatur Monday night was great, like 200 people showed up to show the love. And drink. Good Lawd my peeps can drink some wine. But since wine consumption seems to be directly connected to book-buying, it’s all good. On Tuesday I did what we in the biz call “drive-by signings” at 9 bookstores in and around Atlanta, and then Tuesday night I signed at the Books-A-Million in Peachtree City, south of town. It was a great signing, and I got to see old friends and meet new fans. Then it was up at 5:15 a.m. to catch a plane to DC. I’m staying at The George Hotel, which is one of these fab Kimpton boutique hotels. The bathrobes are zebra-striped! I did make a brief junking trip to Georgetown, where I checked out my favorite charity consignment shop, Christ Child Opportunity Shop. They always have great antiques–especially good for vintage jewelry, silver, china, ect. Didn’t buy anything today, due to a tight luggage situation, but it is a wonderful place to browse and shop. Signed tonight at the Borders in White Flint Mall, and amazingly–becuz I didn’t think I had so many peeps here, people DID show up to show the love. Including two friends who’d driven two hours to see me. Then it was back to the hotel for some room service dinner and some Law and Order. Tomorrow I’m up at 5:15 again (ouch) to catch the plane to Raleigh. Really looking forward to hooking up with old friends and neighbors and the wonderful folks at Quail Ridge Books. If you’re in the Triangle area, stop by Quail Ridge around 7 and say hey.

Hi boys and girls! Today’s ‘Kickin’ it with Mary Kay’ will cover a concept the book world calls Log Rolling. Simply put, Gidget sez something nice about me, and then, I say something sweet about Gidget, and we are just BFF. (That’s bestfriendsforever for those of you, who, like me, are old and out of it). This is what we call Log Rolling. My friend Phil Kloer, who does a book blog at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution gave me and DEEP DISH a shout-out on his blog today. So in the time-honored tradition of log-rolling, I thought I’d give you the link to his blog to see all the nice things he said about me and my new book.
www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/
accessatlanta/book/
Anyway, Phil is an old pal from my long-ago (nearly 17 years ago) days at the AJC, so if you’re at work, and you feel like a little time-theft, stroll over there and take a peek. I’m getting pretty amped up–only three more days till DEEP DISH pubs. Yay!

Tonight Mr. Mary Kay and I attended a sneak preview of a wonderful movie. It’s called
BONNEVILLE, and it stars Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Joan Allen, Tom Skerritt, and Christine Baranski. Jessica Lange plays Arvilla, a new widow living in Pocatello, Idaho, faced with a dilemma–does she scatter her late husband’s ashes, per his wishes, or return them to her resentful (and uptight) step-daughter for burial in Santa Barbara. Arvilla hijacks her two best friends, played by the always amazing Kathy Bates, and Joan Allen, who plays a good little Mormon girl tempted by everything from coffee to a Vegas slot machine. The women take Arvilla’s late husband’s ’66 Bonneville on the roadtrip of a lifetime. BONNEVILLE has virtually no naked boobies, blood splatter, high explosives, androids, or cyborgs. Will Farrell and Luke Wilson, not to mention Owen Wilson (i can’t tell ’em apart) are nowhere to be seen. It’s a lovely movie about three middle-aged women facing the next chapter in their lives. You should go. Right now it’s only being screened in select places, but if enuf people go, they’ll put it into wider distribution, and maybe the people who make movies will make MORE movies not involving plots that revolve around cyborgs and high explosives and Will Farrell. Not that I’m against those things. I just think we could maybe see some movies without those devices once in a while.

An online publication called Romance Reviews Today sent me a nice advance review for DEEP DISH, which I thought I’d share. And it wasn’t even written by my Aunt Alice!

DEEP DISH – Mary Kay AndrewsHarper Collins (Hardcover)ISBN: 978-0-06-08376-5March 2008Contemporary RomanceGeorgia, Present DayGina Foxton hosts a cooking show on Georgia Public Television called Fresh Start, dedicated to the idea of healthy Southern cooking using the freshest ingredients. The season’s filming is nearly done when Gina finds some unpleasant changes in the show — experienced crew replaced by newcomers, and cheaper ingredients substituted in her recipes. Gina is furious and confronts Scott Zaleski, the producer and her boyfriend, about what is happening. An angry discussion reveals that their sponsor, Tastee-Town, has withdrawn their advertising dollars, dropping the show. A separate conversation with a crewmember reveals more — Scott was caught in a compromising position with the wife of the owner of Tastee-Town. Faced with the loss of everything she has worked for, Gina agrees to go along with Scott one last time; she will participate in a cooking contest sponsored by the Cooking Channel. The winner will host their newest show on Southern cooking.Tate Moody, host of Vittles, a hunting, fishing, and cooking show, is her only competition. Tate is more serious competition than she realizes; he is a hunky outdoorsman who can really cook, making him very popular with the fans who watch his local show, as well as a definite distraction to Gina. Their competition is held on Eutaw Island, and they will have to dig up, hunt, or fish for anything they cook. Tate has been on Eutaw Island before, but Gina has more determination and ability than anyone suspects. What seems like an easy win for Tate, the experienced hunter, is complicated by the fact that he is more attracted to Gina every day.DEEP DISH is a bright, breezy and humorous story full of Southern charm, and with a few touches of big city wit provided by secondary characters. Ms. Andrews has drawn on her Southern roots to provide a believable set of characters and a setting that rings true. The small, primitive island on which the competition is held throws the two likable characters into close proximity, but they don’t fall right into lust and bed; there is a lot of interesting detail to delight us. Even better, some of the recipes for the dishes Tate and Gina fix are at the back of the book. Who wins the competition? Pick up DEEP DISH and find out!Lisa Baca
Romance Reviews Today