How to Sell a Book about Weird Girls…

Last week, I had my annual “chick check” appointment. I would like to remind everyone that annual exams are very, very important. However, that’s not the point of this post.

After my exam, I needed to go to the lab to have some bloodwork drawn. It was lunchtime though, and I knew that the line at the lab would be long – so I decided to grab a bite at Pappa’s BBQ first. While there, I finally started to read “Why Girls are Weird” by Pamela Ribon, aka Pamie. Kathy had picked up a copy for me in July when Pamela was in town for a book signing. Having a signed book that says “Hey Christine – you’re hot! Call me!” makes me happy. Very happy, in a good giggly way. (I missed the book signing because I was at a baseball game with my family – Walgreen’s had a night out at the ballpark, and I couldn’t miss it.)

So, I start reading the book. The title and cover alone are amusing, but the real charm of this book for me is that it is written as if it was a journal or a blog. (A blournal? No, that’s just wrong.) Instead of chapters, it is divided in to sections with numbers – 000001, etc. It’s great. Absolutely wonderful to anyone who has blogged.

I was anxious to dig in, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. The very first “entry” was about Anna K., the book’s main character, and her perverted Barbie clan. I laughed so hard I had to put the book down so that I could breath again. Seriously. I could relate to every word.

I used to have a Malibu Barbie – she had a tan body with painted on tan lines where her swimsuit was. I got creative and scratched off the paint where she should have had nipples and pubic hair. (Granted, Barbie may may go for the Brazilian Wax these days, but back then – she had pubic hair.) I though it was ridiculous that Barbie didn’t have nipples and pubic hair. Come on, if we’re going to be realistic and give her tan lines, let’s give her the rest of the package too.

I also had the Donny Osmond Barbie, just like Anna K. I preferred men with dark hair, and Ken was just a bit too blond for my taste. I traded with a friend of mine – she liked Ken, so I got her Donny. He has a hole in his hand for the microphone, which is a bit odd – but I dealt with it. Donny liked to get it on with the hot Malibu Barbie chick. Oh yeah…

Once I regained my composure and stopped reminiscing about my perverted Barbies (including puberty Skipper that grew boobs if you twisted her arm), I read some more and finished my lunch – without choking, which was quite a feat from all the laughter. As I stood up to leave, the women at the table across from me stopped me to ask what book I was reading. They said that they could tell I was really enjoying it a lot, and they wanted to get it too.

So that’s my trick for Pamela to sell more books. Just plant people around the country and have them read the book in public places, and their roar of laughter will get others to ask about it. Meanwhile, if you have blogged for any amount of time at all, I highly recommend you get this book. If you have blogged for a long time, you’ve gone through the different stages of blogging just like Anna K. – and you will appreciate it even more.

It left me thinking a lot about my site, the blogging world, the drama, the laughter, the tears. There are many good things about having a public site – and at times, there are bad. In the end, we grow, we change, and hopefully we become better because of it all.

Now, go get a copy of “Why Girls are Weird” and laugh yourself silly, just like I did. I love a good book – and this is one of them. I didn’t want to put it down, I dreaded it when I reached the end. Fortunately, I can still get a taste of Pamela’s writing by reading her journal and her blog. I just hope that a sequel comes out to the book – I just have to know what happens to Anna K!

And really, it’s ok to admit it – you know you did perverted stuff with your Barbie’s too. Come on, there is no reason to be ashamed…