Dear Kelly,

Natalie and I are starting to think that maybe you aren't paying attention to us. Sure, we understand, really we do.

It's just that we're authors, you know—creative types, and so we're a little insecure…

Which naturally leads to Natalie and I (I blame Natalie) cooking up some new ideas to get your attention. Not to worry—it's all good stuff. You know, like asking our blog readers to submit photos of hot guys. Wait, hold on, Natalie's yelling at me.

What? We're not doing Kelly's Hot Guys? No?

Oh, all right. Natalie is saying no to the pictures. Frankly, I think it's because Natalie has all the hot guys locked in her basement. In fact—have you seen the TV show DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES? I've heard rumors that Natalie is the inspiration behind a few of those characters.

But back to the blog. So Kelly, my point is that we believe you are a valuable asset to readers out there, and we're thinking we might be doing a little Blog Overhaul to keep things interesting. After all, Oprah is bringing back her Contemporary Book Club, and we all know that Oprah's choices can be a little….depressing.

We need Reading with Ripa to bring joy back to reading!

(Don't worry, I'll work on getting Natalie to relent on the Kelly's Hot Guys!)

Kelly, now that I have your attention, I have another question. Do you watch your finished work?

I don't read my published books. I've been thinking about this because I'm doing page proofs for my book that is coming out in February, TRHILLED TO DEATH. Page proofs are the final version of the book before it goes to the printers—it's my last chance to make corrections.

But there's no rewriting. No revising. No tweaking. I can only correct things like spelling, grammar, punctuation and the odd word that mysteriously gets dropped or added. I always hate the book at this point because I can't change things. I'm using the critical side of my brain to catch mistakes, but I'm not allowed to fix weak sentences, or poor word choices or flat out bad writing.

The critical side of my brain won't be constrained by those stupid rules. It sees everything.

"You used the same word twice in the same paragraph!"

"Quit using the word "just:!"

"That's a weak sentence, or confusing sentence, or passive sentence…"

But I have to ignore all that. And by the time I'm half way through the page proofs, I'm convinced the book is bad.

As in embarrassingly, career ending, awful.

Thankfully, by the time I get to the end of the book, I'm usually feeling somewhat better. But if I'm that neurotic reading the page proofs, what would it be like to read the actual book and find a misspelled word…?

Okay, since I've given you the possible news of a Blog Revamp, promised to try and convince Natalie to post occasional pictures of hot guys (for research of course) and asked you my important question, I think I'll send this off and hide so Natalie can't find me!

Sincerely,
Jennifer
http://jenniferapodaca.com/

Dear Kelly,

Do we have any real IMPACT?

So many people are devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It's heart wrenching and emotionally draining to watch the tragedy unfold on T.V. Clearly, those who survived will need years to rebuild their lives. It will take years to rebuild the cities. The blood, sweat and tears will take a toll on people.

And this is where you come in.

Bear with me here. Oprah does her part by going to the heart of a disaster and shining the bright light of her camera onto the wreckage. That is what she does and she is good at it. Oprah works to improve the world we live in with her ability to shine the light on human suffering. She has IMPACT.

But that is not what we, you and I and other entertainers, do. And we are left feeling inadequate and maybe a little useless in a time like this. That is not to say you haven't helped, I know you have, Kelly. I'm talking about our life's work.

You and I, we try to bring laughter, joy, and occasional tears of release to people. You do it through acting and I do it through my books.

Then huge disasters strike like 9/11, the Tsunami, the London explosions and now Katrina, and we are left feeling as if our work is pointless in the big picture.

As if we have no IMPACT in a time of need or crises.

So for the last couple weeks I have struggled with that. Just as I did after 9/11 and at other times of huge, previously unimaginable, tragedy or crises.

And then I remembered my mother's last days. She was ill and in a nursing home, and her days were torture for us, those who loved her. I remember it all vividly. And I remember something else—I was reading the Harry Potter books. And they brought me moments of relief in a pain filled time. I'd spend the day taking care of my mom, come home and take care of my family, and at night, I would sink into those books. I could take my first full breath of the day and let the stress, the aching worry and heart squeezing pain go. Because a little wizard boy named Harry Potter took me to a place where magic was possible.

In times like these, we must remember how important laughter, joy, and just a simple light moment are to those who are suffering. Providing those moments do have a real IMPACT. It gives people a break so that they keep going. And so Kelly, with all the people who will spend years rebuilding their lives, and all those amazing people who will help, let's IMPACT their lives with some desperately needed fun and laughter. Maybe you can consider bringing back Reading with Ripa because people are really going to need a light beach-read more than ever.

And most importantly, remember that each of us can make an IMPACT. Let's all reach out and help out neighbors in this time of need.

Jennifer
http://jenniferapodaca.com/

Dear Kelly,

Hey maybe now that summer is officially over and the kids are back in school, you'll have time to answer us! But if not, that's okay. Natalie and I understand. We have kids, we have careers, we have husbands…

Speaking of husbands, I have to say that in most ways, mine is very supportive. I love him, and he really does help me out in countless ways. For instance, when I went to Reno for a conference a couple weeks ago, he took several days off work to hang out with the kids. He's a good buy, BUT, this is how our weekend went:

Hubby, "What are you doing?"

Me, "Working." I'm at the computer, duh!

Hubby, "Is that your book?"

Me. "I have my book file open, but I thought I'd write a quick blog."

Hubby. "Shouldn't you be working on your book?"

Me. "Yes." Big sigh and I shut down the blog and open my book.

TEN MINUTES LATER

Hubby, "What are you doing?"

Me, Gritting my teeth, "TRYING TO WORK ON MY BOOK."

Hubby, "It's a holiday. Should you work so hard?"

AN HOUR LATER.

Hubby, "What are you doing?"

Me, "I thought I'd read. You're right, I need to relax."

Hubby, Turns on TV. "Hey, look at that."

Me, "I don't like boxing."

Hubby, "But he has man boobs. Look!"

Me, "Which one?"

Hubby, "Wait, they camera will go back to him."

Me, "Just tell me when." Back to reading.

Hubby, "No watch! Keep looking."

Me, "You know I hate boxing. It's stupid."

Hubby, "But he has man boobs!"

TEN MINUTES LATER

Me, "Fine, I'll put down the book. Oh look, man boobs."

Hubby, "See. He should lose weight."

Me, "So what do you want to do tonight?" I've put down the book. Hubby has my full attention which I know from experience that was his goal all along.

Hubby, "Shh, I'm watching TV."

Anyone want to guess why I write murder mysteries?

So Kelly, Natalie and totally understand why you just don't have time to answer us. It's not the kids, the career…it's husbands!

Jennifer
http://jenniferapodaca.com/