Hi, folks:

The journey after publishing "Tales of the Troupe" has been a truly amazing one.

At a book expo in New York, no one made any sales but my book got stolen, making me something of a celebrity. Several people shook my hand, and one guy said, "No one cared enough about my book to steal it." I also made a great friend, fellow writer Lisette Brodey.

The experience gave me an idea for a column in the local paper, the Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle, called "Good Enough to Steal." Meanwhile, members of the troupe have been hearing about the book. Jay Martel, the Creative Director, e-mailed me saying he had bought the book on-line and couldn't wait to read it. I had to warn him that he and Bruce Handy (now a heavy hitter at Vanity Fair) were the villains.

I was exchanging posts with former Chucklehead Bob Keenan. I wrote: "Say, um, Bob, do you know how to cover up scratch marks to the face? I had a date last night that ended really, really badly."

A lady named Vanda posted: "If we scratch you, that means we really, really like you!"

Me: "A lot of women must really like me, especially the ones with restraining orders against me."

Vanda: "Restraining orders are so coy. 'I don't want you near me!' Yeah, right!"

Me: "Bob, who is this lady? Never mind, I'll go on Zabasearch, get her address and phone number, as well as her credit and criminal history."

Vanda: "Stalk me all you'd like."

Bob: "I knew Vanda through Chucklehead. She is a yoga teacher with a wicked sense of humor. Nothing in common with you."

Vanda and I became Facebook friends, exchanged phone numbers. She sent me an e-mail message this morning to call her on her cell as she drove to Mexico. We talked for over an hour and I may wind up writing her life story. Stay tuned!