WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS BOOK?
I always wanted to be a writer, but as a sociable person I ended up in public relations. A year ago, I was a busy communications professional. Several months before that, I was a woman who turned 40 in the middle of her little sister’s battle with cancer.
After an 11-month battle and losing her, my brother-in-law was a widower, their son was a 15-month-old motherless baby, and my family was heartbroken. I found myself in the middle of a crisis recovery effort.
I took stock of life and made the only decision that made any sense to me at the time -change my job, my availability, and start writing. This was a radical choice, but it gave me flexibility to help my brother-in-law by babysitting when he had out of town business. My own son is in middle school and will be off to college in few more years, so of course I was thinking about spending more time with him, too. I was fortunate to have the support of my husband, making this choice possible. Above all the seemingly logical or illogical grief-induced reasons for me to take a step back from my career, I was following my gut which was screaming at me. It was directing me, pushing me to follow this path.
HOW DID YOU START?
I started writing by transcribing old journals and developing short funny stories about my life. The short stories developed into chapters of this book. In the beginning, my idea was to write a bereavement book, which detoured into humor, and I ended up achieving both. I think. I hope! The result is a mother-daughter memoir that does in fact deal with grief, but also makes the reader laugh and appreciate the power of this special relationship. I'd like to think it also celebrates womanhood.
WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR THE TITLE?
My mother loves to clean and I hate it. She is pragmatic and I am philosophical. The title is a parody of the expression "Dance like no one is watching," and it just blossomed into the perfect umbrella for our differences, similarities, and experiences. I tested it out on a few women and they smiled at it, so I knew they got it. And I do vacuum like no one is watching because it isn't pretty!
EXPLAIN THE QUOTE ON FRONT OF THE BOOK.
“You’ll laugh, cry and appreciate your mother or daughter as never before. A masterpiece! -- Very Famous Author”
In public relations, I write quotes for people all the time. So when I received the drawing for the cover, I immediately made a mock cover. Then I proceeded to take famous people and make quotes for them, tweaking their names – Helen Generous, Guennifer Haniston, Dr. Joyce Sisters – and placed them under the title "advance praise…" for the back cover. Each time I looked at it, I laughed. In reality, I am not plugged into the celebrity world, so when it was finished, I just left 'very famous author' on the front. If anyone is interested, the quote is available for naming. When I saw that Snooki from Jersey Shore published a book, I was more convinced than ever to make sure my book found its way into stores! I'd rather see my mother as a female role model. Sorry Snooki, you won't be considered for the very famous author quote. But the offers should come rolling in since it's already a #1 New Pork Times Bestseller.
WHAT WILL YOU DO NEXT?
After my own 11-month journey, I am also looking forward to speaking about the book, about bereavement, and women’s relationships. I will continue babysitting for my nephew Owen as much as possible, enjoy my son's baseball and basketball games. I do have a few other books in the works also. It feels like a well-balanced life!
WILL THERE BE A VACUUM II?
The readers will have to tell me. My mother never stops giving me new material, I can assure you!
