I will be in San Francisco and L.A. to promote Stepmonster and talk about stepmother reality beginning this Sunday, May 17. My stepdaughter is coming with me for moral support and technical assistance (she's media savvy and knows how to upload photos to my blog, so this time I will have some to post. It's really way beyond me).
When the author of a classic in stepfamily studies emails you out of the blue to praise your book, it's incredibly exciting and gratifying. When she's also an expert stepfamily therapist who has made a career of saving the most endangered marriages of all — well, even more so. And when she's the person who coined the term "stepcoupling," it's reason to crow. So pardon me if I crow, for just one second. In Susan's words:
Second Wives Club is a website with great information for women with stepkids, including essays and articles on everything from parental alienation to financial planning in stepfamilies to navigating family court and understanding stepfamily architecture.
I just listened to Susan Davis Swanson's interview with parenting author Joe Bruzzese about stepfamily life. Susan, director of The Stepfamily Center in Beverly Hills, had lots of smart observations and helpful suggestions. Among them: stepmothers, feel free to step out for some fresh air, time with friends, and personal rejuvenation when his kids are around; and remember, conflict and struggle are inevitable facts of stepfamily life, not signs that you, your marriage, or your stepfamily are a failure.
If you'd like to hear podcasts (and watch a video) of my recent NPR interviews about Stepmonster, become my fan on Facebook (go to the "About the Author" page on my website, www.wednesdaymartin.com and click on "become a fan on Facebook"). Then, when you click on "Events" on my Facebook fan page, you'll see three links for three different NPR podcasts, including the video excerpt from my interview with Brian Lehrer on WNYC.
You might know about Jacque Fletcher's terrific book, A Career Girl's Guide to Becoming a Stepmom, and her smart and popular blog, becomingastepmom. Jacque has been featuring Stepmonster of late — I'm so excited to have her support here, and grateful that she's helping spread the message about the emotional reality of women with stepchildren. Check out her reviews and mentions of Stepmonster, and access to a podcast she and I recently recorded at:
Okay, here it is, since you asked...
...and if you were there, thank you for coming! It's a great independent bookstore and I was so pleased to have them hosting the reading and reception. When I overcome my technological ineptitude, I will post some photos of the event! Meanwhile, words will have to do: lots of friends, women with stepkids, and people interested in learning about stepfamilies turned out for wine, cheese, and a copy of Stepmonster.
You can hear the podcast of my WNYC interview on the Brian Lehrer show by going to www.wnyc.org, then clicking on Brian Lehrer, then going to his podcasts.
If you can tolerate the adenoidal timbre of my voice, you might want to check out this podcast of The Coy Barefoot show...: