Who Has Time To Write?

Here in Glendale, California on the last leg of the BlackBerry Diaries US book tour, after stops in Boston, Bridgewater, Las Vegas, and Atlanta.

Yesterday, we decided to mix it up a bit and have another author join me on stage. Irene Zutell, a former People magazine writer who confided to me that the celebrities you think are nice, really aren't (name names Irene!) has just released her third book "Pieces of Happily Ever After", and she generously agreed to share her Saturday afternoon with us. She read from the book and we had a fun time on stage chatting about how to find time to write while balancing our family lives. We also found out our books kept each other up late reading before the show (her book is really great - she actually mentions a BlackBerry in the first paragraph - we were meant to meet).

Irene has two young girls, who, along with their Dad, joined us at the show. Irene finds her best writing time is late at night. (I'm like "after 11 you mean?" She says "11 is pretty early for me."). I find that first thing in the morning, before the kids get up, is my best writing time. And I write in 20 minute increments. Truthfully. It's all part of the blended life I keep talking to Moms about, on this tour.

We asked some Moms in the audience to share why they are thankful they have children in their lives (with US Thanksgiving coming up next month), and more than one Mom said she was thankful because it made her think about something other than work.

Luckily, my kids are IN my work, so I can think about them all the time and it can be considered "doing research". As can, hopefully, the hour I wasted this morning watching MTV's "The Blingingest Sweet 16 Birthday Parties Ever". I no longer think I spoil my children, fyi, if I ever did.

I also consider my time spent on Twitter to be great research and insight into the lives of the busy Moms (and a few Dads) that I follow. It is amazing that what some people can get across in 140 characters or less.

As we head into our final two events this afternoon, I feel thankful that I've been able to share so many fun moments with Moms, my RIM peeps (affectionately known as Sarah "Miss America", and Adam "The Tall Josh Grobin"), as well as the amazing women at Weber Shandwick out of Seattle, most specifically KPo and JRuck (I'm KBuck...it's a long story.)

Off to Long Beach tonight, to take part in the Women's Conference, starting tomorrow, courtesy of my friends at Verizon, and RIM.

I wonder if they'd consider partnering up for my next book "Shut Up & Eat", as I transition from BlackBerrys to blackberries. Anybody listening? Campbells Soup team? Kraft Dinner people? Call me.

Now back to some more research...I think they're counting down the Top Celebrity Baby Showers next.