Sorry, dear Leila Text afficianados, for the lack of updates over the past week. I have been very preoccupied because I just SOLD MY FIRST NOVEL. It's called Wayward Girls and it will be published by Simon & Schuster in fall of 2010. My novel has almost nothing to do with text messaging, except that in one scene one of the characters sends a text. Still. I thought you might want to know, anyway.

Other than that update, life remains the same, and texts of congratulations intended for me come interspersed with texts asking other Leilas where they left their bio textbooks, or whose turn it is to pick up the kids from soccer. So let's get down to business.

Are you with your dad this weekend coming up?
from a 508 phone number, Sunday, September 6, 11:26 AM

I just hope this isn't sent by Leila's mother. I like for parents, at the very least, to know their own joint custody schedule.