Leslie Schnur

After twenty years in book publishing, I was laid off in a merger. And my dream came true: I got severance. And I could afford to take a little time (with the support of my sweet husband) to try something I've always dreamed of: writing.

So, I wrote a screenplay called Severance (about a woman who tries to get fired but keeps getting promoted) and then I wrote a novel, The Dog Walker, and now I've written my second novel, Late Night Talking, to be published in May 2007.

I feel so lucky. How many of us get to do what we love? Sadly, too few. And if you do, like me, you have to go through hell first to get there. Getting fired is no fun, no matter how you look at it. But turning it into an opportunity was.

I have 2 kids, twins, a boy and a girl, now 10 years old, who don't remember when I was a publishing exec, and only think of me as their old mom who's always talking to herself. Who they have to plead with, "Mom, please don't embarrass me." "Please, Mom,stop singing on the street." "PLease don't tell that kid to pick up his litter." PLease please please!

But I think they're proud of me being a writer. I know I am. Writing is hard. Sitting in front of that empty screen, hearing in your head what you want to say and then having it come out not quite as brilliant as you'd heard it, inventing and revising and revising and revising...did I mention revising? It's all wonderful and it's all harrowing and horrible.

But if any of you have an inkling that it might be something you'd like to try, I say go for it. Sure, I knew people, so it was easier for me than most to get them to read my manuscript. But I still had to do the work. And if you're willing...well...not much that I've done, except being a mom to my kids, is as fulfilling.

Oh, and I have a dog, too. Actually I have two dogs. (Both from shelters, by the way.) The first, Milo, is a sociopath. He really doesn't care if he pleases you or if you love him. All he cares about is food. He's part Bassett Hound, part Beagle. Stubborn. And a hunter. All nose. And he howls if he's left alone. So, instead of annoying our neighbors and risk being evicted, we had to get a second dog. His name is Doc, and he's part dachsund, part something else. He's sweet and loving and pees all over my one nice rug. My friends laugh at me, behind my back and right to my face. They cannot believe I got a dog for the dog. But if any of you are dog owners out there, you get it, I know.

My first dog, Charlie, was the best dog in the world. But he died at 16 years old, and I will always miss him. Sometime I think Milo knows this and that's why he's so aloof.

Alright, enough about me. Let me hear from you!