no WAY! Am I really FIRST!

I hope that I am "the first" to congratulate you!! We are all SO EXCITED that our purl gets a book deal!!!

OK - I may or may not be first, but HOLY MOLEY!

YEA LAURIE!!!! That roar you hear in the background in the cheering of all your internets friends and stalkers. We is MUY happy.

Now - the question of the day - if I send you a copy of this book (or eleventy hundred), all with return postage paid, WILL YOU AUTOGRAPH???

Am sooo proud. As if I helped. As if...

so instead of basking in the joy that is me to be knowing (aka internet stalky into personal life with invite), I shall just have to order the book. Over and over again.

congrads. Way to sit on the secret. When is the book tour??
:)

Congratulations!!! What an awesome accomplishment! I can't wait to read it :)

Oh, I meant to ask, Do you own shoes like that?

OMG! I so can't wait to read this book!

I'm very happy for you... You ROCK! :)

I will indeed sign it, Suzi, in fact send me all your books! I will sign anything! Better yet I will just come to NC, less postage LOL.

Congratulations, I have been waiting for you to write a book! I look forward to reading it later this year.

That is so exciting! I'm preordering it today. Do you get to go on a book tour? I'll totally come if you tour anywhere in the Midwest.

Wow, my comment sounded gross, but I meant, I'll come to your signing. :-) I want a signed copy if you're not touring where I can get one in person.

thank goodness. please please do a book tour I am dying to hear if your voice sounds like the one in my head when I am reading! I's orderign today as well!! congratulations for looking your fears in the face!

OK - if you come to NC, we will put you up in nice beach house on Okracoke island (which is so very funky and fun to visit) and you can enjoy the outter banks and knit and or drink and walk on the beach.

:)
Seriously, just ordered FIVE copies. I will send them to you (at some point when I get them I will need your PO box address) and I will give you instructions on who to address each copy to, and OH MY GOD I'M ALMOST FAMOUS BECAUSE I HAVE AN INTERNET FRIEND WHO IS PUBLISHED!!!!!

See how I make it all about me? Yeah. hmm.

Anyway, thanks so much!!! And I'm SO excited. a whole BOOK. That's like finding CrazyAuntPurl.com for the first time and starting with the archives.... sigh. Good times.
:)

I have shoes similar to that (bought them for a date, alas) you don't think I have to wear them on a book tour if I have one, do you? I mean they are pretty but OH MY GOD so uncomfortable. Definitely 5-minute shoes.

Congratulations!!!!!

Wow!! I can't remember whether I have ever actually commented here, but if I haven't, I am officially de-lurking to say CONGRATULATIONS!! I love, love, LOVE your blog, and I can't wait to read your book. One night soon will see me holed up in my room with a glass of wine trying to read it over my cat as he attempts to sit on my head!

Congratulations again, Laurie!!

Thank you so much everyone! I hope you like it!

Congratulations! Who designed the cover?

OMG! This is awesome! I can't wait to buy the book!

btw... is there a book tour? If yes, please come to DC. We have really cool yarn stores! You cannot resist the call of the yarn stores!

I have been lurking, reading, reading your blog almost forever, making no comments,,,,,,(Note the commas)!!!!!!!! It is time come out of the shadows, to tell you CONGRATS!!!
I was thinking just last week,,,,,,,"Why doesn't she write a book?" I am on my way to order,,,,,,,,,,,

Way to go Purl!!

You have definitely made some sweet lemonade (or maybe sweet lemon tea!) out of all those lemons that have been thrown your way!!

So. very. proud. of. you!!

Oh, WOW! Make them send you to Houston on your book tour. Maybe I could then meet you and Drew all at the same time. How fun would that be? I'll be putting in a pre-order today.

An artist named Andrea Brower designed the cover :)

I almost forgot,,,,,,,,on your whirlwind tour,,,you must make some midwest stops,,I own a yarnshop........

Congratulations, CAP! You listened to the demands of the Internets and wrote the book we all knew you had in you! As president of the local SnB and Friends of the Library in Franklin, VA, I hereby invite you and your entourage (you ARE traveling with an entourage, n'est-ce pas?) to bring your book tour to southeastern NC and make a talk!

What wonderful news! I read your blog all the time but never commented because I'd be like #174 on the list and I figured you'd be tired of reading the comments by then, and I could never think of anything to say that hadn't already been said. If you go on a book tour and get to Mississippi I'll take you yarn shopping at the WalMart and the Hobby Lobby. They have yarn AND coupons.

So wonderful for you. Yay !!

Another newbie lurker jumping out to say "wow"!!! Congrats. on living out your dream....you must feel on top of the world right now....enjoy the view! =)

Pennie

I KNEW it. I kept wondering when you'd spill about a book deal. Your writing is too funny for publishers to overlook. Congratulations!

Huge congratulations!

If it is any consolation, the author blurb in my book contains huge lies, all cooked up by my publoisher. Where do they get these things?

And after I corrected all their lies, they went ahead and printed 'em anyway!

OMG, I am *so* excited for you!!!!! Every single time I read your blog, I think: this chick needs to write a book. You bring such a unique voice to everything - hilarious and insightful at the same time. I can't wait for the book!

Go you! And congrats!

Yay!! Congratulations!
Frankie is cuter than that cat.

Congratulations - I can't wait to read the book!

oh, My, GOD!!!!!! I am so happy for you, and my pre-order is already in.

D-I-V-O-R-C-E: A whole lot of money
Cat Care: A whole lot of money
Merlot and Cheetos: Not as much money, but still...

Personal growth and finding yourself: PRICELESS

W. :)

Congratulations, Laurie!!!

I, too, want an autographed copy. But I live across the pond! *sniff*

Wow, you go girl! They picked the picture because you are one smiling, gorgeous, happy looking woman. Can't wait to read the book.

OMG I just peed myself I was so excited for you! [Did I just tell the Internets THAT?]

This will definitely be the one book I get FOR SURE this year!

YOU RAWK!

You sneak! Congratulations! Is 8 AM too early to toast to your success?

Yeehaw. I knew, just knew, you had it in you! I can't wait for my copy. I will hold it up to all my friends and say I knew her back when...

Now I just have to find it in me.

That is so wonderful! Thank you for some good news on a Monday morning! Just think, when you are rich and famous, your darling cats will bask in really expensive cat litter and Mr. X. will not benefit at ALL!!! Sorry, I'm petty and vindictive!

Seriously, CAP. Great job! I'm so happy for you! Can't wait to read the book! More important than the Harry Potter #7, you are!!

Laurie-

I was on a plane this weekend and in the boring i-am-the-magazine-in-the-back-of-the-chair-in-front-of-you-magazine there was an article about craft and it said you were writing a book. I was going to email you and be all sneaky-like and I don't know you but hooray for writing ab ook! but now I can tell everyone! congradulations, dear!

I am so glad you have a book! What a great goal to finally reach! I wish I didn't have to wait until October to read it!!!! My story is similar to yours, except for the divorce thing, but still took six years of my life, and I started cutting up fabric as therapy ... well I did therapy too, but still cut up fabric. Thank you for being so brave to write such a great blog!!!

I am so glad you have a book! What a great goal to finally reach! I wish I didn't have to wait until October to read it!!!! My story is similar to yours, except for the divorce thing, but still took six years of my life, and I started cutting up fabric as therapy ... well I did therapy too, but still cut up fabric. Thank you for being so brave to write such a great blog!!!

Like some other commenters, I don't think I've commented b/c I'm always number 3085+. But I read every day and love how you write! Rarely does a knitting blog make me laugh out loud! This book deal couldn't have happened to a funnier, more deserving person!

Hey, Laurie -

Grey hair isn't so scary-crazy-lady - just look at the pic on my blog.

On second thoughts, which aisle is the Clairol in??

Congrats on the book; I did wonder where all the knitting content had gone :)

Congrats! I cannot wait to read it!!!

That's wonderful news. Congratulations! I think you need to come to the East coast for a book tour.

well, I'll be! I am so pre ordering this book!
I am also an acolyte of the gray hair and non diet school. Life is just too g-dammed short!

I can't wait to get it! I'll even pay Amazon's extortionate international delivery charges!! (I love exclamation points, too!!!) ;-)

Very, very cool! I knew you should write a book. I'm glad the publishers felt the same way.

BTW, spell check is over-rated. I've met the a@@ that wrote the first one and he did it simply because he can't spell anything correctly.

Please, please come to the bay area on your book signing tour!

Congrats again---you deserve it!

p.s. Guess who got the creativity after the divorce?

It's all been said before, but you are so incredibly inspirational. I understand what you mean about the crippling fear that comes with thinking you may not live up to someone's expectations. But Laurie...YOU PUBLISHED A BOOK. Savor every moment of this incredible achievement...and the wonderful experiences that are going to come with it. You must be absolutely bursting with joy. Congratulations! Even though I don't *know* you, I am truly, deeply proud of you.

I was thinking this before, if ANYONE should be published it's you, with your humor and writers gift- just, congratulations.

Can't wait!

Laurie, I'm so happy for you!!! Tears-in-my-eyes kind of happy. Yay!!!!

Mega-congrats Laurie!!! Threw in some extra exclamations just for you! I would love to hear about how you went about getting the deal (are my aspirations of being published showing?). Also, Canada loves you too, if you do a book tour don't forget to drop by. Especially Halifax. Will you sign my cats?

Have pre-order your book and I can't wait!

I check in with your blog now and then and enjoy the good read - I'm happy to hear about your book! Best wishes!

I am SO excited for you! This is precisely the sort of book I want to read, and then prolly re-read, and most likely afterwards read some more. Wonderful!
Congratulations, many many time!

This is FABULOUS news! I'm so happy for you and all of us who get to read your book! I wanted you to write one and you were sneakily doing it all along! Yayyyy!!!!!

Congrats!
Have it saved will buy it on payday!
Again congrats.

Wow! Congratulations! I can't wait to pick it up!

I'm so very proud of you and a big 'wooo hooo' on your book. It's going to be a long wait until October to get my copy.

I start my work day with you -- can't wait check in on your blog to see what my favorite 'Southern Gal' is up to and all the news about the cats.

You all have a good week and give those kitties a hug from your fan in OKC, OK !!

Now how totally awesome is that?!? (You don't have to answer this one.) Congratulations on it - and maybe eventually Amazon will get their shit together and get a real book blurb up there for you. Woot!

Are you going to sell it yourself?

If I mail a copy (with retun envelope & postage) can you sign my copy?

I always knew the book was only a matter of time. Congrats!

That's great. And there's a certain irony in this wonderful news. Someone needed to get divorced so they could 'find their creativity' or some such nonsense.
And although it's been a hard row to hoe, YOU'VE come out of the experience all personal-growthy, creativity-enhanced, with fans/friends/internet stalkers all over the country (the world!), and now you've written a book.
Go you.

Eeeeee! Congratulations, hardworking writer lady! I've got it sitting on my Wish List, which functions as my quick 'n' dirty list of Stuff To Remember I Want To Buy When I Get Paid Every Two Weeks.

Squeal! Squeal! Squeal! Mazol tov, Laurie!

Writer's fear - know all about that, and the word "fear" doesn't even do it justice. But look at you, all booby and gorgeous on your cover shot! Love the title, and I can't wait to read the book.

If you can add that interpretive dance bit to the book signing tour ... how many million hits on YouTube would that get? :-)

CONGRATS!!! first of all, i cant believe you didnt let us in on the secret! and that is so awesome you wrote a book.

are you gonna do a book tour? come to Michigan!

This is so exciting and wonderful! I am so happy for you and very, very proud. I feel like we've been through thick and thin (because I indentify with you so much) and this is a great moment in your life I'm so happy to share in. . .in a small way via "innernet stalking".

I am de-lurking to say: YAY!!!! I read your blog every single day and every single day I wish that you would write a book. Hallelujah! My prayers have been answered! You are so inspirational and funny and heart-warming. I can't WAIT to read your book.

Wow! That is awesome.

WAY TO GO!!!!!!!! I prebought the book! My wish is that you will be nekkid rolling in money $$$. Congratulations - with my whole heart.

I've been lurking for a really long time now on your site, and I just have to say how wonderful I think this is for you! You've got balls of steel lady! I can only think of the phrase "the best revenge is looking good." I think you got revenge in spades on the jerk that left you. Not only that, but you grew as a person. A lovely, wonderful person. Good for you! I know that some miserable woman out there, going through the same hard time that you did, is going to pick up your book and get a new outlook on life. Congratulations!

How exciting, congratulations Laurie!

Wooo Hooo!!!!!!!!

Congrats to you! I'm so proud. And going right now to pre-order!

Truly wonderful news, congratulations!!!!!! You bring sunshine to AR every morning and make me so homesick for my San Fernando Valley. Can't wait to read the book.

You rock!

Congratulations, tears of joy for you!

Congratulations! On the book, on keeping a secret and keeping going on throughout your fears! YAY!

Congrats, Laurie! Mississippi loves you!

We maybe even can muster up enough literate people to read your book. ;-)

Yeah Laurie!!! I can't wait to read it! Congratulations!!! (I can use exclamation points too!)

All I can say is.. You done good GIRL! Said from one southern Oklahoma gal, now living in Seoul, Korea, to another transplanted southerner in California.

Hey, if you come over here-- I can take you to the yarn market.. It's a huge, huge place full of wonderful yarns imported from: Japan, Turkey, Italy, England, Spain, and several other countries to numerous to name. *Plus, about 1/2 price of USA yarns. I'm not kidding it is a 5 story building-- full of yarn, fabrics and everything of that nature. (2 connected buildings) You even get 'free bamboo knitting needles' with yarn purchase.. NOW, if that doesn't temp you to come over here.. I don't know what would? :D

All I can say is.. ahhh.. you put my favorite kind of cat on the cover.. the black and white kind!

Congratulations, my dear! I wish you the best!

Congratulations! I look forward to reading your book. I hope it will be as helpful to me as reading your blog has been. (No, that was not sarcasm.) (No that was not an emoticon, it is simple punctuation.) I'll be quiet now.

OMG. That is awesome news! Sneaky little devil, you.

Yay! You wrote a book!
You just sold your first copy in Germany... actually, not. You're going to sell it as soon as it's on the market, I just pre-ordered it - this is the first book I ever pre-ordered, cos I knew I'm going to like it after having read your blog. I only wish I didn't have to wait until late October (that's when your book is going to be published here)!

Bravo Laurie! Congrats!

Congratulations! That's really awesome - a book!

Forgot to add- I did order the book- so, one has been purchased for Seoul, South Korea. *I'll figure out a way to get your autograph. :D

Congratulations! You rock!!! I'm ordering my copy right now. I hope Frankie isn't bummed that she's not on the cover.

PS. When does Soba's book come out?

I am completely and utterly not suprised by your news. In fact, I think it was my idea that you write a book. ;) You were quite wise to take my advice - and I hope it sells bajillions and I'm going to go pre-order it RIGHT NOW.

How cool is that!?! Congrats girl, I hope you sell eleventy-billion of 'em!

Well done!!!! Whuh whuh whuh!!! (Imagine me in brown and white polka dots and with Julia Roberts' bod at a polo match)

That is wonderful news and I was always hoping you'd write a book. There are millions of women out there who will relate so much to your stories, whether they knit or not. Congrats. By the by, do you own any shoes that look like those on the cover? ;-)

Goddamn, woman! It's about time! Although, most of us suspected something like this was up with you...

CONGRATULATIONS!

Way to go Laurie!! I am so proud you of!

Laurie that is awesome! Good for you and how AMAZING that you kept that secret. WOW!

So when's the tour?

Comment no. 8,543 to say: SQUEEE!! YAY!!! I am so happy for you that you wrote your first book, and happy for the rest of us who get to read it! You notice I said your FIRST book...

And LOL to the poster who said that YOU were the one who "found your creativity" in the divorce. You were always the creative one, I suspect.

Congratulations again, you so deserve this!

This is the BEST news - way to go, Laurie!!! Not to bring you down or anything, BUT with all this good news, surely you are just waiting for something to go wrong?! What happens if Francisco comes back and meets your new gardener? Think of the material you would be able to collect for the sequel! PS: Laurie is a boy's name here (UK). Tally ho!

OOH, I just thought of a question. Does amazon tell you how many pre-orders you have in already?

Wow, what fantastic news! Congratulations!

I am curious how the whole book deal got started in the first place. Did you initiate the process? Or did a loyal reader who also happened to be in the biz approach you with the idea? (My fiance has been after me to write a book for months now, but I think what's holding me back from actually doing it is that I'm convinced it'd never get published because I don't have any connections in the publishing world.)

Yay!!!!! Congratulations! How exciting! Can't wait to read it.

Congratulations! I love the picture of you selected for the book. I am so impressed that you could work full time, write this book, knit, take care of the cats, and keep up with this blog! Congratulations!

Absolutely fantastic! I suspected you might have been writing a book. If you have a tour make sure it stops in Cincinnati! I'm so happy for you.

Congratulations! You are obviously not human if you were able to keep a book deal a secret for almost a year. I am surprised you did not explode all over your keyboard only to have your cats lick up your remains.

Well, hey, isn't that great news! I pre-ordered as soon as I read your post. My estimated ship date is October 23rd, 2007. There's nothing like the speed of modern life, is there?

Congratulations! I too am a closet writer who hopes the opus I am now struggling with will someday actually deserve the title of 'book'.
I hope that you have a signing someone hwere in the Valley so I can meet you have it signed! Excellent work!

THAT'S AWESOME!!! Yay you! I'm so excited! (hmm, clearly the exclamation points are contagious)

I pre-ordered, but have to wait till OCT! Oh well, by the time it comes, it'll be a surprise so I'll get another dose of excitement!

Congratulations!!! Someone as fun to read as you are deserves this!

Congratulations! Felicidades! And the same sentiment in every other language as well! I'm very proud of you! Exclamation point!

Congratulations. I had a feeling you were up to something sneaky like that. Perhaps you can get Reese Witherspoon to option it since she is a divorced southerner now too.

YAY!! Great job keeping the secret ... I never would have been able to! I am going to go preorder! What could be better than an entire BOOK of crazy aunt purl?!?!?!?!?!?

YAY!!

OMG...congratulations on the book!!

Another lurker who always thought you should publish a book.

Congratulations!!!!!

Congrats on the book! It looks awesome! :)

Oh, and one more thing besides the spellcheck. My southern Aunt corrected me and says, "Y'all is singular. A'll Y'all is plural."

*wink*

I have ordered a copy for the library where I work. Can't wait for it to be published. Congratulations.

OMG! Congratulations! This is so fabulous! I'm so happy for you!

This is even better than getting a new gardener...

Laurie, I just wanted to say that in the two years I've been reading your blog, you never cease to amaze me with your personal growth, your comma splices, your catties, your stories and your fearlessness. I am so very impressed that you actually DID what you wanted to do! While I know that the "race is only with yourself", I'm pretty sure Mr. I-Need-My-Creativity-Back hasn't been anywhere near as creative as you since he foolishly cut you out of his life.

I'm going to pre-order the book today (hope Amazone.ca will ship it up to the Great White North). You really are something special.

leslie

Please please come to Fayetteville, Arkansas! I'll make you a batch of homemade fried okra! Congratulations Laurie!

Wow! Yay!!!! Congratulations! Pretty soon you'll have your own cabana boy posse!

WOW! I LOVE your blog -- you writing is so funny and insightful. Thanks for writing a book for us too. Congratulations!

It's about time!!!

OMG YOU MIGHT GET TO MEET LETTERMAN AND CRAIG FERGUSON! IN THE FLESH!

[I am so jealous!]

I'm having a hawaiian punch and vodka and so celebrating for you!

Woo hoo! BOOK tour! BOOK tour! BOOK tour!

Great job Laurie, it has been a joy visiting with you and now I can add your book to my own book collection. I feel like a proud Mama and can't wait to get my copy. Cheers to you Crazy Aunt Purl!!!!!

Really, truly congratulations. Funny that when anyone would comment you should write a book lately I had a feeling you would, just didn't know you had.

Hooray! Congratulations! Can't hardly wait to read it, extra commas and all!

Wow - amazing Secret-Keeping-Abilities! Very impressive. Especially when so many of us have been begging you to write a book!!

Please go on tour! PLEASE!!!

Congrats! I cannot WAIT to read it. Gotta run to amazon now....

Darned you! Tears on happy days too? I keep a box of Kleenex next to my computer just for CAP-time. Never fails. I am sooo happy!!! You have inspired so many of us crazy cat ladies through your writing and now you are spreading your message of wine to the world! All my friends, family and the man in my life know you and make fun of my CAP-isms! Snakes on a Plane! Innernets! Eleventy! Heading over to Amazon right now! Thank you, Laurie. You are the bestest! Love you in a friendly innernet not weird way.

Halleulija! (See I don't have spellchecker either.)

This is the best Monday morning I've had in years. I will order your book on May 1, when my little pile of "mad money" replensihes itself with the next paycheck. Viva la budget. Viva la CAP.

Congrats, Laurie! Wow, you really CAN keep a secret! All the time I've been reading your blog I've been wondering why some publisher hadn't snapped you up. Hah! Wishing you lots of success!

Congratulations!!!!! You are SO good at keeping secrets. All this time, we were telling you that you should be writing a book. I'll definitely be reading it!

And you're a Perry, from the South? Me, too!!!

Congratulations!! Wow, you really can keep a secret. Super mad props on your newest victory!!!

WOW-EE!!!! I am so happy for you! I love reading your blog and I will definitely buy your book! You go girl!!!

Book tour. Book tour. Book tour. To Toronto ...... in the winter(we all know how you love to go to cold weather), And you could get a sexy new parka, you'd look great, you should come and do a reading and we'll get all liquered up at a lettuce knit SnB. poetry, wine,dancing in the snow. You need to do a book tour for stories for the next book, Crazy Aunt Purl goes a travelling.

,,,,did I use enough commas ,,,

Come up and play ,,,I mean Go on tour.

Congrats! As for your writing and self-helping abilities, JUST this morning, I was about to email a friend of mine and recommend your website to her for its self-helpfulness. Now I'll just tell her to buy the book!

Yay for you!

OMG! Fantastic! Congratulations :-)
I can't believe you managed to keep the whole thing such a secret! (I know I couldn't have)

Now we have to wait til October! Keep on writin'! I love the laughs! Amazon isn't going to know what happened to it's pre-order department. An avalanche of us knitting crazy cat ladies has landed on them!
I am so happy for you.

This is soo great! Rock n' Roll! I can't wait.

This is an entry from my blog, I thought you might want to read it :D

"Thursday, April 19

Thank you Aunt Purl

So, I was reading one of the 3 blogs that I keep up with the best I can, and I thought, how wierd and wonderful this all is. To put your inner most thoughts and feelings out in the world... the WHOLE world. That is what the www is after all, the world wide web!!

That people we don't even know could be reading our "diary" and finding comfort and hope, and feel a little less alone. We are all in this together after all aren't we. How wonderful.

And, its a 2 way street! GREAT! Not only can we read about others, learn from their insight, but we can also put our thoughts out there! Any little thought or feeling.. just put it right on out there! We can just look right on inside and with out fear of being judged or being wrong, we can just freely let it flow, get it out, get it off our chests, and hopefully even come to conclusions about ourselves, "find" ourselves if you will.

I don't know if the same feeling comes from keeping the little pink diary with a key under your pillow, I never was the "diary" type, or if it only comes from thinking that maybe someone, somewhere has stumbled across my little page and maybe they have made similar observations about life or themselves, or maybe something I say here may help someone see things in a new light like other's blogs have done for me?.. Someone that I'll never know, never converse with, not even know they were here.

Hmmm I like it."

I wish you lots of luck, and can not wait to read your book :D
Margie

FANTASTIC NEWS!!!
I think i will start knitting a leopard covered kleenex box to deliver to you when you make it to Boston for the book tour! Now you HAVE to do the tour!

I'm a lurker, but I must delurk to wish you huge CONGRATULATIONS!!!! With excessive use of exclamation points & everything!

Outstanding news. I am definitely a buyer. Your words have lifted my heart on so many dark days - thank you. Thank you thank you. I wish you all the best - you deserve every success. I really cannot say enough good about your writing.

Oh my dog! If'n you do a book tour, you gotta come to Vermit. The crazy girls here (Norma, me, and others) could show you a gooood time. bwahaha!

Congratulations!!! And thank YOU for writing this blog and your book. I'm going to order it as soon as possible, and an extra copy for my sister as well. October is sooo distant. As other have already commented, many of us have thought after each new posting: "Laurie really should write a book". Way to go!

YAY YAY YAY!!!!!

I have been telling everyone I know that you need to write a book, that you are so UTTERLY TALENTED!!, and you have!!!

YAY YAY YAY!!!!

I knew it!!! And here you were, chuckling wickedly to yourself all the while you were told at least ten times a day in your comments to write a book. I just knew this would be your year! YAY, 2007!!! Yay, Laurie!!! :-)

Be sure to come east on the book tour. Lots of fans this side of the Mississippi. :-)

WOW! I am so freakin impressed, but not surprised. I totally love your writing style. I also was able to appreciate the arc of your life story when I was unemployed, and read all of your archives because I was so bored and depressed. I'm totally ordering the book right now. At my new job. So I can read it when I'm fired... No, really. I can't wait to read it, and then read it out loud to my boyfriend. Congratulations!! I'm soo happy for you.

I've been lurking for a long, long time, but today seems like the perfect day for me to say, "Congratulations!"

I can't wait to read your book!

Yay! I'm so excited that you finally followed your dream and wrote us a damn book! I'm so overwhelmed right now, that I could be so happy and teary and proud all at the same time for someone I've never even met. Then again, I've been reading the blog for so long that when I read, I swear I hear your voice. Congratulations, Aunt Purl, you are an inspiration to all of us to follow our dreams, they really can come true!

Congratulations, Laurie! I can't think of anyone who deserves this more.

I have to wait until OCTOBER?? That's ok - I'll just keep reading your blog for my doses of laughs and tears and laughing tears and being so very dang proud of you.

You walked away from that divorce a winner, Laurie. He's a looser who lost the best woman he could have had -- oh wait a minute! You became a better woman that he lost because of all the personal growth you've done since the looser lost you. He, on the other hand, has only gained in the looser department and is a bigger looser than he was before, because he lost the opportunity to be married to a published author. Bet he still hasn't done anything creative since he left!

If/when you go on book tour (a leave from Guys With Ties or just a few vacation days taken around holidays and weekends?) please come to Massachusetts (Webs in Northampton isn't too far from me).

Wooohooo this is great! This is the morning of my 50th birthday as i write this and guess what i'ma gonna pre-order my wise old self? :P
Hey maybe you'll get to go on tours with the Yarn Harlot!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

How excellent! Can't wait to read it!

Congratulations! I hope you are very proud of yourself. I know I'm proud of you. I don't know why I am, but there you have it.

You're due to come into your own, Darling Laurie. You go!!!

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you.

My questions are: was this before or after I wrote you an outline? (I like to think I might have nudged you a millimeter or two. Humor me.) When is your book tour? (You HAVE to do a book tour. Oh yes you do.) And, most important, what kind of wine is your totally most favorite kind? (I know it's red. I am clueless about red: I don't drink red. More for you.)

Congratulations! We just knew it was only a matter of time--so good to see the publishing world can recognize a winner. I am really happy for you. This proves what I always say: everything happens for a reason, just keep believing. Can't help thinking that all you went through was leading you to this wonderful event! So impressed that you kept the secret, kept up the blog, and got it done! Superstar, you! yay, exclamations!!! I predict big sales.

Congratulations, Laurie! Everytime I read your blog, I always wonder, why doesn't she write a book already? Count me in to read it!

OMG Laurie! That's so great! You big secret-keeper, you! I'll be pre-ordering, oh yes I will. ;)

Congratulungkins! And a big 'ol can of "Take THAT!" to your skunky ex-husband!

OMG I think your me! I've been reading your blog for about 6 months and you make me laugh hysterically, as well as touch on some subjects that make me wonder if your looking into my life. Can't wait to get your book..(Its something I always wanted to do but just never went through with it.

OMG I think your me! I've been reading your blog for about 6 months and you make me laugh hysterically, as well as touch on some subjects that make me wonder if your looking into my life. Can't wait to get your book..(Its something I always wanted to do but just never went through with it.

Congratulations, Laurie! Everytime I read your blog, I always wonder, why doesn't she write a book already? Count me in to read it!

AMAZING!!!! Congratulations! I cannot wait to read it.

Congratulations! I'm so excited for you, and for those of us who have been wanting you to write a book! How in the world did you ever keep it a secret, especially when people like me kept leaving comments, tell you that you should write one?

I have a question: how did it happen? Did you get an agent, or did someone just phone one day and ask you to write a book?

Congratulations! And well done in the secret-kepping department. I look forward to your book, just like I look forward to a new Crazy Aunt Purl blog post.

Whoo hoo! A book! That's great!

Congrats, baby! And what a secret it was...

Laurie thats so awesome. Very very happy for you girly.

I can't wait to get the book! Then, when I finish it, in like, two hours, I can start forcing my near and dear ones to read it, too. As it is, they all kind of look at each other when I laugh and talk about something you wrote like I know you, and I'm not just an obsessive reader trying not to sound dangerous when I comment. Love You! Love this blog and all the commenters! Love that we all read you EVERY DAY, and you were still worried that anybody would read your book, even though we've been BEGGING you to! Love your kitties, who want their own coffeetable book of cuteness and witticisms! Love the run-on sentences, and commas,,,,, and exclamation marks!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY! Love the cover, love the concept. Love your lack of spellcheck and comma abuse. Rock on, gallie!

Congratulations, Laurie! Everytime I read your blog, I always wonder, why doesn't she write a book already? Count me in to read it!

Congratulations!! I've been reading your blog since you started it. I loved the way you wrote.
I told myself, she should be a writer. Lo and behold-look what happened. I've turned my non-knitting friends onto you and they love your humorous writing. Salute!!

Yeah for you! You'll have to post your iternary for your book tour! I can hardly wait to read your book!!!
Enjoy this time throughly!

JUST ORDERED MINE!!!!! YAY!!!

Yer gonna get writer's cramp from signing all our purchases.

Woo!!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

My hat is off and my heart is full for my "favorite" daughter. I couldn't be more proud for you and of you!!

I never had a doubt about your creativity or your talent. Since you were three years old you wanted to write a book....I just didn't think you would evere have to go through so much heatache to get there.

I love you and will always be there for you.

Dad

Oops!!!That was heartache...apparently my spell check doesn't work either!

OMG!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that!!! I ordered, and I guess I'll just have to wait until Oct. to read! GOOD FOR YOU!!! (I like exclamation points, too!!!!!)

Hi Dad!!!!

This is SOOO on my wishlist! Can't wait to read it. Congratulations!!!

Oh Laurie I could hug you, and not in the weird get off me, i dont know you kind of way. Im just so happy this happened for you.
I will definitly be buying your book, and because it sounds great, not just because i read your blog!
Yay You!

How freakin awesome! I'm super excited for you, and yay, I will get to read so much more Crazy Aunt Purl!

I am a usual lurker, but a faithful reader and just had to write and tell you how excited I am for you!!

Will there be a book tour? (I'm sorry if this has already been asked and answered, I suck at reading everyone's comments.)

Girl, your day has finally come! Bring out the kleenex and pasa the bubbley. I couldn't be more proud of the woman you have grown into. You deserve it all. Love you!!!!!

LAURIE!!!!!!!! I'm so dang happy for you I actually have tears in eyes......YOU ARE DA' BOMB BABY :-) Okay I carried it a step too far. I have a tight nit group of friends (4 to be exact) who I refer to as my 'committee' :-) Every member of the committe is getting a copy for Christmas.....my brother and mum too!!! I can't wait til you hit Portland - I'll be there :-) I'm sooooo happy for you Laurie, lots of hugs and love!!!

Brava!!! Author Author! I can't wait to get my hands on your book and add it to my knitting library.

Does that still make you all tingly ... to hear someone say "YOUR book"?!?

Holy crap, your dad is making my eyes all watery!

Good for you! I've been reading the blog since nearly day one - it's great when good things happen to good people. And the best part??? Mr. X left you to "get his creativity back" and here you are - you're the one that's got the creativity and undoubtedly accomplishing far more on the creative front than him. So good things can also come out of bad experiences!

So excited to read your book. CONGRATUATIONS!!!
You have a book, published, with your name on it..on Amazon...yay for you!! So excited for you!

Fucking Awesome. So Fucking Awesome. I am so happy for you. Just pre-ordered it too. *grin*

So you do realize you're ass is coming to Reno for a book signing? Just Sayin'. ;^)

High fives and merlot all around! Congrats!

that is ALL KINDS of awesome!

Oh I have tears in my eyes after reading what your dad posted. *sniff*

You are an inspiration Laurie.

And I don't understand commas either. That's why there are editors!

YOU GO GIRL!

Hooooooray! I'm so happy for you!!!

that's the coolest thing i've ever heard! i love your blog and have sent a number of non-knitting folks here because you're just so funny and honest and such a good writer. plus the kitty pics don't hurt.

many many congrats! now i got to go buy me some!

Wow! That's amazing and wonderful and totally deserved! Congratulations, Laurie!

Awesome! Congrats!

You so totally ROCK!! :-)

And please make sure your book tour includes the mid Atlantic. ;-)

Congratulations!

CONGRATULAMATIONS!

Congratulations on the book, Laurie!!! Finally! I pre-ordered mine. This is so exciting! I may have to use up my yearly quote of exclamation points!

You sneak! All of this time we would comment that you should write a book and you were!!!! Girl, you are verrrrrry good at keeping secrets. CONGRATS on the book! You must make a book tour stop in Dallas! Margaritas and Tex-Mex! Mmmmmmm.

Can't wait until October!!

That book will be coming all the way to Scotland just as soon as it's released. Fabulous Laurie! Get working on the follow up so you can do that nekkit rolling in money thing.

First off, congratulations in the biggest, baddest way you can imagine! I started reading your blog last year and immediately had to backtrack. Your writing captivated me - helped me get through some long work days, served as a reward for completing some tedious stuff and made me snicker madly when i was feeling blah.
I'm truly happy this made your dream come true, but beyond that, I know it's gonna uplift anyone who picks it up. First copy is going to my sister (next copy's mine).

WOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!! (Yep. An exclamation point & comma lovin', ellipses-over-using person here, too. [g]) Congratulations, Laurie, and waytago! May it be a best-seller. Honestly, how could it not be? It'll go like hotcakes.

So ok, when on your book tour will you be dropping by Portland and bookreaders' Heaven On Earth, Powell's City of Books, huh? We do have hot weather without rain here during summer. No, really. You, too, could enjoy 100+ muggy days in late July and August. (We don't have that much A/C in non-business locations, because builders apparently *never expect the heat*. Fortunately, our hotels aren't that stupid.) Just don't let 'em schedule you for mid-Oct to May, 'cause *that's* the rainy season. [vbg]

PS - *love* that title. One of the. Best. Ever.

So! Excited! I've always wondered when you were going to write a book.
And the comment above from your dad....that is so sweet!

Congratulations!!! Can't wait to read it! :)

I am so happy for you - I got chills reading your post. Your blog has touched me in many ways - I'm looking forward to reading your book.

Yeeeessss! SO excited...this means a book tour and this means personal appearances and this means autographs...Have you been practicing? How about a book launch at Unwind Yarn...though that might be to small for the throngs of fans...

Congratulations.

I hope it is a best seller!!!!

Man, Laurie....are you feeling the love?!?! How great is it to have this many devoted friends? It is because you are so damn likeable and easy to relate to.
Loved the messages from your folks too. Congrats again...

I've been a lurker on your site for several months now, I kept coming back as I could relate to you so well-I also have a Cheeto and Merlot problem,(and incidentally I'm currently owned by FIVE cats) Actually, I have two, the other three are just squatters. I am so thrilled about your book, I didn't hesitate one second and pre-ordered me my very own copy. I'm just about to start my own blog- still deciding on what to call it. All I can say is congrats and thank you- your humor and wit is very uplifting and I can't wait to read more.

Oh, Laurie - CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Wow.
:-)

All I can say is wow! and congratulations! I read your blog every day, and although I don't always comment, I have come to look forward to reading your little piece of the internet. I am always amazed at how you and I are alike - the way we see the world is sometimes earily similar. (The inappropriate hugging especially!!) Well - here's an inappropriate hug across the web from me to you - congrats!!

Laurie,

I am so happy for you I could cry. I may cry later, when I am toasting you with a glass of wine. I am so proud of you. You GO girl!!!

OMG! You are gonna be MAD rich YO!

Much love and tacos,

Christina in San Antonio TEXAS!

Congratulations Laurie! So excited for you, and I'm looking forward to the book!

I am soooo incredibly excited. I've been saying 'I hope she writes a book' since I first started reading your blog.

I'm so proud of you Laurie! Thank you so very, very much!!!

Tickled pink,
Kay

congrats! i think it's great that mr. x left & YOU got YOUR creativity back. can't wait to read your book!

WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I join in the collective cry for a book tour! Come to the midwest! When's the big party for the book launch? How are the cats responding to living with such an august personality - a PUBLISHED author?

Came across your blog via The Crochet Dude and would like to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! Although I'm not a knitter... your books sounds interesting and hilarious.

Congratulations, Laurie! I've been reading your blog for a few years now and enjoy every word. Somehow I knew that a book deal would be in your future - and look at you now! I'm looking forward to reading it.

Wanted to be the first to say "Wahey" but it looks like 219 people beat me to it!!!!

It's on order baby!

Congratulations CAP! I so look forward to reading your blog, every. single. day. Sometimes I just feel like a weirdo (sp?) hoping you have posted. Your writing so speaks my heart and deepens my compassion for myself and others and just gets the lead out of my soul.

And NOW...you've gone and written your first book (note I said 'first'). Oh Bravo and lots of congratulations.

Yeah, I guess there would have been high-tensions in Chez Furball if only one cat had been chosen for the cover...

As others have said, I don't really know you, but I'm so proud that you've done this with your life. Gee, how did you fit all that in - your mind is amazing...bravo again.

Laurie! I'm so excited for you, my pre-order is already in. (I'm pretty sure that's a comma splice, but who knows/cares!)

Please Please come up to Canada for the book tour!

Delurking to say WoooooooHooooooo! Congrats!! Couldn't happen to a nicer gal!

WOO!! HOO!!

Congratulations!! I'm headed over to pre-order right now!!

Way to keep a secret!

YAY! Purl Book! Yay!

And those are some FANTASTIC shoes your cover-self has on.

you rock lady, great job and contrats. Now I'm off to pre-order.

we all love ya!

I meant to say earlier that I am a wee bit disappointed that the real live Insane Kitty Posse isn't on the cover. Sometimes it takes a little Roy and Soba pic just to make it through the afternoon. Oh, and - your dad. What a gem.

i haven't read the post yet...but i needed to comment before the number of comments reached the stratosphere....

but it's about friggin' time!!! congratulations girl! i can hardly wait! i never pre-order but i may have to. also, i want a signed copy. so you'll definitely have to do a book signing back east.

i'm proud of you!!!

no i'm going to go read the post.

Congratulations! Every time I read your writing, I think you should write a book - and I'm right! Good for you for being such a good secret-keeper. Can't wait to buy and read your book!

As a member of the minority readers of your column (aka I'm a guy), I'd also like to say congrats, and to tell you that I just ordered a copy as well. Today, I'm going to contact a couple of university librarians, and see if they want to update their knitting sections - most seem fixated in 1957.

You really do need to get an agent, Laurie, and hook up with a good speaker's bureau. Wine and cheese are usually considered staples at such events....

Woohoo - congratulations! I knew this was going to happen and have on occasion wondered if it was already in the works. I'm really looking forward to reading it!

Way to go, Crazy Aunt Purl! You have faced all your biggest fears and CONQUERED them and shared them in PUBLIC, too! What's next?

Just when I was sitting here marveling at the fact that I'm all goose-bumpy and heart-palpitate-y for your triumph when I've never even met you (even though I've "known" you for nearly two years), and waiting to finish scanning the comments to add my own, danged if your dad didn't swoop in and make me tear all up.

I'll wager he's beyond gratified to have beheld, over the years, how much genuine affection streams your way every day. And there's undoubtedly much more that doesn't get posted.

Also, I truly hope "they" didn't edit away the essence of your style, which is as much in your quirky punctuation and charming verbosity as it is in the King's English, if not more.

Love and a victory dance to you.....

Oh Laurie. How do we love you? Let us count the ways...

...whole big bunches. :) Congratulations! And yay me - I get to have a book by Crazy Aunt Laurie Purl ON MY BOOKSHELF!

Thank goodness! Congrats I'm ordering mine now, and your dad is making me all misty too :)

Best to you and when you come to Minneapolis for a book signing you are welcome to stay at my house, and I know a great place to have some (or perhaps a lot of) wine.

ok i just read the post, and now i'm getting misty. i'm really proud of you! yay!

by the way, i hear you're meeting my other very favorite author ms.mcyarnpants next week. dont' have too much fun without me. i'll be very jealous.

Hey Girl!!

I just got back to Denver last night and I'm back at work, and thought I should take a little break, come see your blog and post a comment about how much fun I had meeting you and Mr. Frank ... and look at you! I'm so excited! When are you posting your book tour schedule? You must (must!) come to Denver!

Words cannot express the joy I felt when I read that you have written a book! I'm a relatively new reader (6 months or so) of your delightful, insightful and always amusing blog and I can't tell you how many times I'd read a post and think "This woman needs to write a book!" October can't get here soon enough. Congratulations!

Holy Cow!!! Congratulations!! This is gonna be awesome...I'm pre-ordering!

Also, holy crap, I see you've broken into Amazon's Top-500 in less than four hours! Oprah, Schmoprah. ;)

(just kidding - send her my best when her booking agent calls you tomorrow!)

Ooooooooooh, you're a sneaky one!!! This was long-coming though, and may I chime in and give a huge congratulations!!! (Look, I can abuse exclamation marks as well, hehe).

I've been reading your blog for like, EVER and have been waiting for the day this post came out. I'm sooooo getting my copy forwarded to you so you can AUTOGRAPH IT!!!! I "know" an author over the innernets, how cool is that?!

Sooooo happy for you, Laurie!

I've been sitting here for the past year muttering, "That girl needs to write a book." I'm pre-ordering it now! Yay for you!

GOOD FOR YOU! and BIG congratulations! What wonderful news to read on a Monday morning :)

I *totally* vote for a Crazy Aunt Purl Book Tour/Pub-and-Yarn Crawl.

WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!

Another lurker emerging from the shadows to say congratulations! You've worked hard for this success and deserve to enjoy every minute of it.

Re Amazon: ask your publisher to update the offending Amazon description, or pester them to show you how to do it yourself. It's easy for publishers to change book descriptions on Amazon--I work in publishing, and have done this many times. Good luck!

Wow, what fantabulous news! I can't wait to read the book; I'd buy it for the title alone.

Now you can tell all your blind dates that you're a published author! Oh wait, maybe you want to save that info for the second or third date ... in case you just have to blog about them the next morning!

Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!

AWESOME!!! I am off to steal the husband's credit card and pre-order me a copy!

Way to go and I can't wait to read it seeing as I love your website already.

OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!!! I can't believe it!! I'm SO ordering/reserving one RIGHT NOW! And October is a perfect month, it'll be like a birthday present. Oh, I'm so proud of you! You wonderful lady you!

many comments. must be short. daily reader. first time commenter. But...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Not only on your book but on the improvements on your life. Thank you for taking the time to share and uplift us all.

well. blow. me. over.

could i be any happier for someone i never met? i don't think so!

you are very impressive, and have dished out a lot of inspiration to a lot of people out here in the internets.

also: who are these people who COMMENT BEFORE 5:30 AYEM?

are you coming to pdx? pretty please?

Congratulations!!!! And aren't you the sneaky one? There's no way I'd have been able to keep that secret, I'd have exploded long ago.

Liza {who's off to make sure her local bookstores order this!}

OMG! I don't know who I am more excited for ... you for having authored a book ... or me for getting to read it!! Whoo hoooo! And now I will get to stalk you in Portland when you come up here on your booktour! (there WILL be a booktour, right??).

Hey! That is WONDERFUL!

But you had already given me faith that things get better. For real. And they are.

So thanks.

Hey! I'm just going to talk like we've known eachother forever, even though we don't, even though I've been reading your blog for a couple of years now, and you have no idea who I am. I'm SO PROUD of you for writing a book! Every time I'd read one of your entries, I'd wipe the laugh-tears from offa my face and say to myself, "Dang, Aunt Purl really needs to write a book!". And now you did... and I'm so going to buy it!

And you want to know another thing? I thought about you the other day in the grocery store - yep me, the person you don't know from Adam. Anyway, I noticed that my store started stocking okra pickles. Okra pickles! My grandmother is from Texas, and instilled all of her grandchildren with a great love and respect for okra, especially fried. So, I was standing there marveling at this jar of okra pickles and wondered if Crazy Aunt Purl ever had okra pickles. And then I wondered how your okra seedlings were doing. Wierd huh?

Anyway, thumbs up on the book!!!!

Congratulations! I can not wait to get your book into my hot little hand. Amazon sucks and screws up a lot of descriptions so don't feel to bad. So are you going to send a copy to Mr X and gloat? I think you should.

Hi Laurie -- CONGRATULATIONS! I ran, didn't walk, (okay, typed really fast) to pre-order the book! Your weblog has always been one of my favorites and I'm so happy that this wonderful thing has happened for you!!!

Yayy!!!! I am SO buying this book!! I might even go ahead and embarass myself by reading it on my flight home. I know you'll make me laugh my ass off.

I had no doubt that a book would be written by you "someday," I just had no idea it would be today! I enjoy your blog so much and I quite literally can't wait to read the book! Congratulations Laurie! :o)

HUGE congrats to you on your first book (notice I say "first," cuz I know there's more stuff hidin in there than you could put in just one book...).

I love your blog, and I know I'll love your book! Please come to Seattle on your book tour, because I absolutely have to meet the only other woman I have (not) met that got told she was gettin' left by a rotten husband over dinner, besides me! :p

Congratulations! I will definitely buy your book, the title alone slays me!

Cho......You have grown from a scared little girl into a magnificent young woman. You had a period of hitting rock bottom, but without that, you would not be the beautiful woman that you are today. I stand and applaud you. You are an angel from above. Hold your head high! You have made your dream come true.You have no where else to go but up. I am so very proud of you! I love you.

Aunt Pam

Holy s**t!!!! Congrats!!!!! I. Cannot. Wait. To. Get. Your. Book.!!!!!
Is it here yet?
Please, Please come to Idaho for your tour!!!
Can you tell me how you found a publisher and all that?
sigh, catch in throat, you are an inspiration.
Diane

Okay, I had to close my office door and go into the ugly cry. Thank you so much for the comments, for the LURVE. thank you. I need a leopard kleenex cozy for my much-needed kleenex.

YAY! LAURIE!

That is so freakin' cool!

And it's about time.

and HOW DArE you keep a secret from us??!! LOL!!

Way to go, girl.

yeah! I'm so happy and proud to be your post office box neighbor! My book club is soooo reading this book and I can't wait for the tour!
It has been said before, but you are an inspiration and a joy. congratulations. congratulations. congratulations.
PS I hope Soba never sees that cat on the cover.....I can't imagine the pain she'll inflict.

Congrats Laurie, that's such exciting news! Is there a book tour in your future? ;)

You're the next Bridget Jones!

I knew you had a book in you! Anytime I ever told anyone about your site, the first thing they said was that you should write a book. Now that the first one's finished, when are the next eleventy coming?!!? No pressure! What a great gift to yourself to sign your book contract on your birthday! And it's coming out just 9 days before my birthday! Thanks; I know what I'll be asking for! I was born in 1971 too and it makes my heart full to know that if someone my age can do what she has always dreamed about, I can too!!

Congratulations!

And more congratulations from across the pond. Please add Aberdeen (the original one in Scotland) to the book tour list. Been following the blog for the last 2 years and have cried and laughed so many times while reading it. Myself and a friend have appropriated many a CAPism and can't wait until the book comes out. And reading your Dad's comments just made me cry buckets. It's not Merlot that will be getting popped on the book tour but some vintage Bollinger. You deserve the best and have helped me through some really hard times better than any self-help book you'll find on the shelf of a bookshop spouting forth the same rubbish. Your experience is real and heartfelt and loads of us have been on the ride with you. Can't wait to see where it's heading next. Huge hugs XX

Laurie,
Lovely, just lovely that you have written a book!
Now all the world can enjoy your humor(my fav part of your writing). When is the book tour!!!??? I live in Florida.
Love ya.

Oh! My! Gosh! I can't wait to read it!!! That is so cool Laurie! Congrats!!!!!

Congratulations! :)
Fabulous author photo, by the way.

Could I BE more proud of you??? I am crying happy tears for you right now; the book is going to be a HUGE success!! When's the book tour??

Please tell Mr. Biodome to kiss it (in Macy's window, too!) Have you informed the cats that their mother is famous now?? That should be worth at least a small decrease in poopage. Out of respect, of course.

I love you!!! Let's celebrate!!!! :O)

CONGRATULATIONS!! I love reading what you have to say EVERYDAY! I'm looking forward to your book and will definately contribute to you "roll nekkid in money" dream! So, how does this work? You decide you would like to write a book and knock on a few doors? Do people 'lurk' the blogs and come after you? Please share the story of writing your first book, as I'm sure there's a few tales (or tails) there!!
I'm very happy for you...Enjoy!
Lynn

Ooooh! I can't wait to get the book!!!

I hope you are planning a tour stop in the Bay Area cause I will SO BE THERE!

I just have to post again, because this is such awesome news. I just cannot, believe it. I'm so happy and excited! Oh Laurie, please tell me in your great book tour you'll come to Arizona? I know we don't got much, but we got a giant hole you can throw rocks in, and some awesome, umm plants? Oh well, I tried. Man, I feel so strange. It's like knowing a cool celebrity online. If you do go on a tour and a crying, bouncy mexican wants to hug you, don't be alarmed I won't give you a disease. I just want to be able to say I got to hug one of the coolest, most inspiring woman of our time.

Yay! We hounded you nearly to death to write a book, and here you've been writing it for a year! Congratulations. I hope you'll be rolling nekkid in money very soon!

I never had any doubt that this announcement would come one day! Your wit, humor and natural storytelling ability (as evidenced in every single post!) would definitely lead to a book and more wonderful wonderful things.

That was a lot of words to say: SQUEE! Congratulations!

You go girl!
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I'm repeating myself, but you might be bigger than Bridget Johns. You do know how to write and you are sooo funny.
Hopefully it'll sort your financial problems too.
Way to go Laurie
Such great news, can't wait to read it.

Congratulations, you have to come to Canada for your book tour, then you could wear some of your lovely knitted stuff.

smokeyjoe-
Us'ens who be living on the eastern side of the country. We have to get our sorry selves up whilst you are still dreamin' of merlot and hotties.

what gets me is that we all hit Laurie's site FIRST THING when we hit monday. lol

Laurie!

Atta girl!! You inspire me!!! I am ordering it, RIGHT NOW!!!

good on ya!!

I am so excited for you! I've already emailed all my friends to tell them about the book!

You Go GIRL~
How absolutely Fantastic!!! I am so proud of you. You are the perfect example of ...
How To Make Your Dreams Come True...
By Crazy Aunt Purl

That it SO COOL! Congratulations Laurie, I can't wait to read it!!!

Good for you!! I've recently started reading your blog and love it. I think it's great that you took a chance on a dream--that's awesome!

Congrats Laurie!!! The book is definitely going on my wishlist. Will we see the crazy knitted cat thingy in the book?

Congratulations Laurie! I'm so happy for you!

I have to say that I think it's funny that Mr. X left to "get his creativity back" and in the end it's clear who got the creativity... and 4 cats too! :)

It's preordered!

D@mn you can keep a secret!!! So very happy for you, Laurie.

I pre-ordered mine! Congrats Laurie, this is quite a coup, though I knew all along that you had it in you.

Congrats!!
I can't wait for your Book Tour. I'm sure your book is as funny as you blog entries. I have sent you blog addy to several close friends, we call eachother just to talk about CrazyAuntPurl.

I'm so Excited for you.

Who was it that said "Living well is the best revenge"?

Dude. This is fabulous news. Awesome. And so incredibly, undeniably well deserved. I can't wait to be able to get my sticky little mitts on it. Yay You!

And also, your Dad made me cry.

heh. 300 comments already?? this early??? ON A MONDAY???!

BTW, ordered ordered ordered, and congrats!

I don't know that I've ever commented, but I've been reading every post for well over a year, maybe two now and I have to say congratulations! My life is very different from yours, but I still can identify with and appreciate your stories and experiences. Your writing has a wide appeal. Yay! a book!

ROCK ON! I am so very happy for you! Seriously! I just did a twirl in the middle of the office, which got me a lot of odd looks and a few raised eyebrows. I'm thrilled, and can't wait to get my copy! YAY!

Congratulations, Laurie! I'm sure your book will be every bit as fun to read as your blog is. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

I just had to delurk to say CONGRATULATIONS. I maybe can't spell cuz that looks odd all in capitals, but spell check isn't kicking it back so we must be good. Right up on my wish list that book goes, and come October, when I can get my free shipping, because after all free shipping is important, you are coming my way. Are you doing any book tours? We have a spare room and only three cats, but lots of yarn, and private space and easy access to the train in Philadelphia.

YAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am SO excited for you! I wish you nothing but lots of luck with the book, and LOTS OF SEQUELS!!! Consider it preordered!

You figured in a dream I had last night that started with me watching (or maybe actually being in) a movie with Jim Carrey (a non-existent movie, I might add - and it's not like I'm a HUGE Jim Carrey fan, either, but that's the nature of dreams, huh?) and ended with you and I working together in some kind of company where I did accounting work and you were training me. Um, hello? Stay-at-home mom and former EDITOR here. The maths? Not my strong suit! Not to mention - you - office chick, not cubicle rat. Weird.

Anyhoo, mucho congrats - wish I lived nearby and we could pool our cats (I have 4, too) and have one hell of a par-tay!

OMG I need a drink from all the excitement... but it's 10 a.m. .... mas coffe por favor!!!!

Maybe you could get some Irish coffee? (wink wink!)

CONGRATS! I have a question: I've been reading your blog faithfully since (almost) the beginning....is there any new material in the book, or is it essentially a "best hits" collection of your favorite blog posts?
BTW, I'd like to join the other commenters in saying a book tour would be fab - come to Rochester, NY!!

Awww...your dad commented! And your Aunt Pam! That's so sweet!

Congratulations! You are awesome at secret-keeping. I can't wait to read the book.

You rock!

That is awesome! Congratulations! I can't wait until October to get a copy and read it. And I second the comments on a book tour. If I may suggest a stop somewhere in Virginia, preferably Richmond since that's where I live, but I'm willing to travel to another town to see you :)

LizR, not sure she should tell the cats.... you-know-who would probably actually INcrease her output, lest anyone forget who's the real diva around there!

Laurie, what are you gonna tell Cute Boss when he discovers your secret identity and reads your archives?!? ;)

Beth, it is 30% stuff I have covered on the blog, and then about 70% new, and in novel format. It's a good balance I think. I also felt more comfortable writing some things in a book (isn't that weird?) like about dating heh heh.

I am so pleased for you! I love to hear true-life stories of folks who find a way to turn the lemons life gives 'em into lemonade. Yay Laurie!

Laurie!!! YAY!!! You wrote a book!!! Since the day I "met" you I always told you to go out and write a book!!! I can't wait to get my hands on it!!!! I am very proud of you!!!!

You rock Laurie!! I am soooo excited for you, this is fabulous! If you come to Seattle on the book tour I will be front and center! I meant to de-lurk and meet you as I used to work in Downtown LA and lived by the Farmer's Market, but never got the courage up to do it. (see, you are not the only one who has issues meeting new people, even those you read about every darned day!). Then I moved to Seattle, so I have to be happy just reading the blog. :)

Anyway, Congrats again, that is amazing and I am pre-ordering as we speak.....

Oh, now that my excitement is a little over, here is a question.
Why is the book on sale? Why not the full price?

now I forgot to leave my name, huh,

Congratulations!!!! I am beyond excited for you! I will definitely buy your book.

It's on sale for a limited time, I didn't set the price so I have no idea how any of it works, I was just glad my parents didn't have to pay $16 for it. You know. Frugal souther genes :)

Yay for you!!
Now, presumably you are going to tour to promote this book? And that you are going to come to Vancouver?? A la Yarn Harlot, you must let us know how to inundate your publicist with appearance requests!

I'm so happy for you I could cry! Like others have said so many times before, I relate so much to what you write about. Like today, "The way I got fat and stayed there because it was an apology for the things I was good at"... holy crap, I got chills reading that. I swear my husband thinks you are my imaginary friend because of how often I tell him about something you wrote. Congratulations!
ps- if there is a tour, be sure to stop in Chicago!

Congratulations, Laurie!!!!! Wonderful news!!!!

Laurie--
I am so excited for you! Congratulations on your book (your first book, because I hope that you will keep writing).
Your blog has helped me more than you will ever know and I know that your book will touch and help so many more.
I have already pre-ordered the book on Amazon.com
Congratulations!
Kathy

Whoa! That's a big ole monday morning surprise! Congratulations on getting published. I can't wait to read it.

Laurie, I have tears in my eyes right this second. Tears of happiness. Happy for you. Happy for another po' southern girl who always wanted to Be A Writer, and also make the world a better place.

I did get to write stuff ... tons of educational materials about wildlife conservation and responsible pet care ... acres of websites about spaying and neutering and keeping your pets from running loose ... and Powerpoint presentations to get politicians to vote for all this stuff. And in doing all this I remained more or less anonymous, because it is not about me. It is about my job. I am doing it For A Good Cause, which is right and proper and which I do not regret.

But I have yet to have a book of my very own, full of my own thoughts, with my own name on it. I am working on that situation, but I don't have the slightest clue how to get a publisher interested because I have always written for employers, not publishers.

But YOU have a book, and I can be happy for YOU, and you are my inspiration to keep on plugging until I, too, am holding my very own book in my two sweaty Southern hands.

And I know for a fact that you will not allow your publicist to book your tour only in the North, so please clue me in when you are in the back-home region and I will be delighted to help you when you are on the New Orleans/Baton Rouge/Lafayette leg of your tour.

And I'm glad you're proud of your gray hairs. I refuse to dye mine -- unless I go purple.

WOO-HOO! YEE-HAW! They should have a parade in Carencro just for you. CONGRATS!

I am completely and udderly thrilled for you. (Oops. Shoulda used spell check.) You deserve every freakin' bit of success and I cannot wait to read that book!

That is so great!!!!
When will it be translated into Norwegian????

The best news, ever, Laurie!!! You are such an inspiration and your ability to put into words what so many women have experienced and feel is uncanny and so worthy of a book. I've been laughing and crying with you for a long time and feel so happy for you right now!

So.....who will play you in the movie??? And, I sure hope that the fur friends will get their proper due, as well.

If the book tour brings you to New England we would sure love to host you on Cape Cod. You are famous here, too!

I have to post again 'cause I followed the link to the real description, read then saw your picture and it made me cry! I'm so happy for you!!!!!

Laurie,

Your Dad's comment made me cry!!! He truly is a "gem"!!! I just ordered my copy!!! I'm so excited!!! Will you be signing our books!!!

You Go GIRL!!! Please do send one to MR JERK -X so you can have the BIGGEST laugh in all divorce history!!! I am so PROUD!!!!!!!!!!

Laurie,

Your Dad's comment made me cry!!! He truly is a "gem"!!! I just ordered my copy!!! I'm so excited!!! Will you be signing our books!!!

You Go GIRL!!! Please do send one to MR JERK -X so you can have the BIGGEST laugh in all divorce history!!! I am so PROUD!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!! I am so happy for you and so excited to read your book :) (darn that we have to wait all the way until October, but oh well!)

Can't wait for the book tour!!

Congrats! You are my favorite blogger and I'm so excited for you. If the book is anything like your blog, you'll make the New York Times Bestsellers list in no time. You are witty and engaging, and really touch a familiar chord with so many issues. Best wishes, Jennie

Will you still remember us when you're sitting next to Oprah after your book is picked for the book club? Is the Pulizer next?
Had to comment again! So Happy 4U!!!!

My copy is ordered! Congrats! I will tip my wine glass to you on your accomplishment!

Congratulations! I am also a frequent visitor posting her first-ever comment. I will definitely pre-order...just as soon as I can think of something else to order so I can get free shipping. Gotta pinch those pennies, y'know. And if you ever find yourself out in West-by-God-Virginia, I'll be hounding you for an autograph, too. Have a SUPER day!!

WOW! A HUGE congratulations to you. How fantastic to see one of your lifes dream come true.

I am usually just a lurker here, but I had to come out of hiding to say congrats! I am really excited for you and look forward to reading your book.

Well, good gracious! I thought something was up. That should raise you up a tee-tiny bit. And count me in on the interpretive dance, I loves me some drunken interpretive dance.

Bossy is so proud of you - sensational news! Bossy has similar good news: She wrote a book too! It's called Drunk, Drunker, and Drunkest: the True-life Misadventures of a Blogger Who Couldn't Pay Her Way Into A Book Contract.

Congratulations! And I loved your annotated blurb.

Do you know that you're currently #379 at Amazon? Not bad for a book that hasn't even been printed yet! Hope you've got a bottle Veuve Clicquot on ice.

You're very inspiring.

w00t! I am SO pre-ordering one for me and one for my mom.
Please, PLEASE come to seattle for a book signing!

I've been reading your blog for a few months now, and knitting for two years. Knitting, specifically knitting in groups) has been such great therapy for me and I've met some really great people and finally feel like I have great friends.

This weekend I decided for some reason to start reading from the beginning to get a little context. I totally felt like a stalker, but then I saw on one of your posts that you are a blog stalker too and didn't feel so bad. Besides what are archives for anyway?

I work for a community newspaper and I was thinking as I read and read (I'm only on May 2005 so far, I think) that I wished Laurie lived here and could be one of our community contributors. So it is really, really awesome that you have a book. I am so excited for you.

Congratulations!

So awesome!!! I'm going to order it right now, and put on display in my home, so whenever anyone comes over I can point at it and say "See this book? The author sent me an email once!!!"

See...you're not alone in your exclamation point over usage. :)

That's fabulous! Congratulations!

I know what I'm about to say is not very ladylike but I have to let it rip because HOLY SHIT MY BLOGGER WROTE A BOOK! I could not say congratulations enough, or thank you enough for writing the one blog that I've kept up with over the years. I'll definitely be preordering it, and in the meantime it has a proud place on my amazon.com wishlist amongst the indie rock and DVDs of TV shows I used to watch in the early to mid-90s.

Wow, a book by you! I am so looking forward to the release! You are definately an inspiration for others that anyone can accomplish anything if they put their mind to it. Even if wine helps.

Laurie,

Wow! I don't know if I'd be considered an Internet friend or stalker, because I do feel like I know you even though we've never met. And I'm oddly proud of you in the way that I would be proud of knowing someone who has accomplished something so amazing for herself. I'm not mama bear proud, just stand taller proud because I know of you.

Congratulations! (I'll be in San Diego for two weeks, if you want to get coffee - let me know!) (OK, now I'm definitely a stalker).

Laurie,

Oh my freakin' goodness!!!!!I'm so proud of you! I can't wait to pre-order it!!! (On pay day, of course *smile*)

As my boss would say, You're a Rockstar!!!!

I have happy tears streaming down my face. I am soo proud and happy for you. You have brought so much joy to me with your blog and insightful musings. I can't wait to buy copies for myself my friends and family. Congratulations Laurie

Good for you!! Can't wait to read it!

Hey, congratulations! Can I pant after you for an autograph next time you come to SnB? :-)

Congratulations! I'm really proud of you, and can't wait to read it. I love me some good story-telling!

if you only knew how many times you've inspired me! and to how many people i've insisted must read your blog. now i'll sit those same people down (and then some) and get them to press the pre-order now button. which of course, i've done myself.

Congrats on your book, and cheers for many more.

HEY LITTLE GIRL, I THINK I REMEMBER WHEN THAT "AUTHOR'S" PICTURE WAS TAKEN! ! !
CONGRATS, AND SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE AT AN EXCITING TIME.
LOVE YA, AUNT DEBBI

OK, I have been reading your blog for 2 years now (it was forwarded to me from a friend when I was in the midst of horrific breakup hell) but I have never commented. I have passed your blog on to many people, and often wondered why you have not written a book. I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU! And I just reserved a copy.

Congrats Laurie! So very exciting for you! Make sure you do a book tour and come up to San Jose/Bay Area for a book signing! :)

Wow! That's so cool Laurie. Congrats!

I think it's a good idea you went with a made up cat for the cover. That way no one got jealous.

Congratulations Laurie! What a sense of accomplishment you must feel. Off to Amazon to pre-order! Can't wait to read it; I love your humor, humility and pullyourselfupbythebootstrapsness (there's a made up word for your copy editor). I think I'm more excited for your book than I am for the new Harry Potter book - and that means a lot in my world. Love the title too.

Congratulations!!! Writing a whole book!

And after reading the correct description... is that CATerpillar, the large knitted cat thingymajiggy that you've never shown us?! I'm very excited to finally see it!

Though I'm *way* more excited to read the whole book!

Laurie - congratulations! I figured you were in the process of writing a book because you never responded to all the pleas.

You are an inspiration to all of us to live out loud. I have wanted to write a book since I was three years old to but I was always afraid that I wouldn't be able to stop once I started. Maybe I'll start writing things down now. A little. And living out louder. A little.

Let me know if you want to come to Alaska on your tour! LOTS of weather for hand knits. Even in the summer!

HOLY CRAP! I'm doing the happy dance in my cubicle for you right now! I'm sooooo happy for you! Congratulations! Yay purl! I've been reading your blog for a while now maybe about a year and I feel like i know you. Thanks for taking us on your journey and sharing thiis good news. I'm just so excited for you! I will pre-order. Congrats agin!

Congrats! I love your blog, as do all 300+ other commenters out there.

A few years ago, I never heard about blogs. Then I heard about publishers reading blogs to find new authors and now here's your book.

Congrats again!

HOLY COW!!!!

I can't read 355 comments to see if I'm the first, but YOU CAN STAY AT MY HOUSE WHEN YOU ARE IN MINNEAPOLIS ON BOOK TOUR!!! (No cats but lots of yarn and a poodle who acts like a cat mostly. And plenty of merlot.)

Hooray! Congratulations! You Rock! You are and INSPIRATION! and YIPEE!!

and all that sort of sentiment.

Congratulations! I'm sure the book will be wonderful :-)

Congratulations Laurie! I've been a faithful reader of this here blog for a very long time, and I'm so thrilled for your book, I can't wait to read it!

Thank you for your blog and for sharing all you do with all of us. You are such an inspiration!

OMG, OMG, OMG, Laurie! I am so freakin' excited!!!! I ordered the book and now I can tell people how I almost know you! I say we all meet in where? Kansas? the day the book comes out for a champagne/beer bash. I'm so there. Congratulations, I'm so proud of you!

2 more things, Who will play you in the movie adaptation? And When will you come to the NY/NJ area? Just so I can come out and stalk you.. I mean meet you.

Excellent news!! I was wondering when you'd write a book...

I am all teary-eyed reading this. I am so happy for you.

A big CONGRATULATIONS to you, and if you do a book tour, make sure you make it up to the Seattle area.

This is sooo exciting!! Congrats!! I cannot wait until it comes out!!! (I think I might need a little help with the exclamation points, too)

I mostly lurk but come out of the woodwork whenever one of your posts makes me tear up, and this one did for some reason - I am just so happy for you. I'm so glad someone was smart enough to sign you up, and I hope you sell a gazillion copies (I will certainly do my part to boost sales) and that this is the first of many. And no, it may not make you rich, but I bet you are going to get all kinds of great and even unexpected response. CONGRATULATIONS!

I am also totally in awe of your ability to maintain boundaries about revealing information on your blog - you were so right not to blog about this, but I would never have been able to hold out!

congrations! I can't wait to read it!!!

Way to go!! That is such fantastic news. Your books has made it's way to amazon.ca and onto my wish list :)

P.S. Is the book dedicated to Mr. X, thanking him for going to find his creativity?

Congratulations! I cannot wait to get it and read it. I love your blog, so I am SURE I will love your book.

Your book is in the top 100 most popular on Amazon! Are you stunned? We aren't. :-)

Way to jumpo into life with both feet!!! Im so prooud and so thrilled and so heartened at all the wonderful things you are acomplishing!!!
I've pre ordered. By the time it gets here,,, I may be trying to start my crawl out of the hole as well. Thanks for the inspiration...
SaraJ

YAY! So proud of you!!! Of course I pre-ordered already.

I am really looking forward to finally seeing the CATerpillar!

I am floored, this is like a huge group effort, and we just made it to the top 100!!!!!!!!!!

OMG, OMG, you have REALLY been busy! I had no idea! Congratulations on striving to make your dreams come true. I will use this as some personal inspiration, and of course I have got to now go order the book!!!

P.S. - Is the kitty pi not in the book?

Oh, Laurie!
I'm jumping up and down and screaming! Our CAP wrote a book! Oh, hooray! Good for you! Can't write any more -- got to order a book.

Also, is there some way to buy from the author and put more $$$ in your pocket?

Congratulations Laurie! It's such a pleasure to read your blog and enjoy many heartfelt laughs. Can't wait to read your book! Your ability to keep going when you don't feel like it and to push yourself to do the things many of us are afraid of is truly inspirational. All the best to you in life and love.

"memoir in merlot" should be the title to the sequel!

totally having DH buy it for me (pre order that is) for our anniversary which is in Oct.
Congrats!

I am so proud of you, Auntie! ♥

Just ordered a copy! Congratulations!!!! AND, it looks like it is due to arrive just in time for my birthday... Happy Future Birthday to me!!!

Congratulations! I'm SO proud for you. And, you know, even though this is all about YOU, as it should be, and personal growthy things (yay! for that) I think it's entirely appropriate to send a teen-aged, or even 3rd grade, shout-out to mr.x...NYAH! NYAH! NYAH! NYAH! NYAH! to him-and his creativity. Look who is the creative one? And healthy and happy and beautiful and oh, so loved by so many. So, there! PTTTHHHH!!
Also, I thought about you at supper Sat. nite. We went up to the TN River & had FRIED. Fried everything: catfish, hushpuppies, er, french, and "OKRY." Even dessert--fried chocolate pies. And sweet tea. (not fried, nor was the slaw) Not one thing good for your body, but so so good for your soul.

I will add my congrats to the thousands of others! I love reading your blog and just pre-ordered your book, can't wait to read it, if it is half as good as your blog, it will be awesome. Way to go!

Hooray! This explains why you were uncharacteristically quiet in response to all the comments saying "please write a book!"

We have pre-ordered from Amazon. Would love to buy from the LYS, but they are slow to get new books and waiting six months is going to be hard enough. :-)

I just ordered it and it's at #91!!!

Laurie, Can I post a link to the book on the other blogs that I read, too?? Including mine??

I have saved the e-mails you sent me last year like they were the Dead Sea Scrolls; now I'll a have a real-life book to seal under glass here at home!!!

FG has thought for many, many months now..."why has CAP not gotten a book deal yet?" "If greektragedy gets one how come not CAP???"

Yet here it is, you have one, and FG is very very happy that the Book People have realized what a good thing a book by CAP would be.

Fantastic news!!

Talk about being able to keep a secret!!!

Wow, that is just AWESOME!!!

DUDE. You are an AUTHOR. A real, honest-to-god, my book is on amazon.com and you can pre-order it today AUTHOR. How crazy is that?

I am so proud of you! Even your college poetry was awesome (and I would feel that way even if my exposure to it weren't clouded by vino) -- this is what you were meant to do!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

LOl Liz, yes yes yes! This is crazy. I thought I might make it to the top 6,000 if I were lucky. #91 is like... OK, I have ugly cried all damn morning. This is insane!!!

Man, this is the best news EVER! I am so happy for you!

Jen, thank you. You are a huge part of this, I love you!

Congratulations! I have already pre-ordered the book!

Also, there's nothing I like better than drunkenly reading poetry. Out loud. With friends.

"Wear waterproof mascara and keep your panties on."

I think I'll cross stitch that on a sampler...

and CONGRATULATIONS! It is pre-ordered. It is pre-ordered with next day air delivery. You rock.

SO awesome :) Can't tell you how proud I am of you for sharing your struggles and helping other people make it through the tough times :)

Good for you!!! I'm so happy for you, and I can't wait to read your book. I have lurked for a few months...laughed, cried, and looked forward to each new blog entry. I wish all the best for you and your lucky kitties!

Wow, congratulations! That really IS better than scabies.
And, that also explains WHY you've never answered any of my emails.

Looks like SOMEONE found her creativity. Ain't karma a bitch? Congratulations Purl!

I can't wait to get the book on tape! Congratulations my dear.

Pre-Ordered!!! Do the Men In Suits know why you're doing the ugly cry today? Love from HotLanta! AlliMack

congratulations, dear.

i have wishlisted you, and i mean that in every way possible. :)

CONGRATULATIONS CAP! Oh how exciting!! :-D

I've ordered two copies - one for me and one for my mostly-computerless sister - she can't read your blog on her ancient computer but I know she will love your sense of humor!

You realize you are going to be inundated with books to autograph, don't you (including mine)?

Yours is the blog I look for every single day; it always puts me in a better frame of mind. I don't usually comment as you have eleventy-million comments by then, but I want to say:

Thank you for writing your blog!

So proud of you! Can't wait to read the book and get infected!

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! CONGRATULATIONS!!

As of noon, California time, your book is now at #91 of the Amazon best-sellers for the day!

Is that awesome, or what?

Crazy stalker #400 wanting to add my congrats! Can't wait to read you book. You so deserve it. You make my day every time I come to CAP!

Random freak-out moment.

Hi. We don't know each other. I'm a 17 year old n00bish knitter, and your blog was one of the few I stumbled across in my search to actually learn. I still read it, I quite enjoy it.

Here's the freakout:
OMG WE HAVE THE SAME LAST NAME AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE FATE'S TELLING ME I'M GOING TO BE A GOOD KNITTER SOMEDAY TOO endfreakout.

...yeah.

I would have voted for Roy. He's my fave :-)

congrats to CAP!!!

We had a cover design that had Bob on it and it was so cute, but there were a lot of Roy fans, a big Frankie contingency and of course Sobakowa is always in charge... it was tough, we had to keep in mind how important it was not to violate the cats' privacy, too, hehehehehe, so we got a stand-in cat.

You finally wrote a book?!?! YAYYYY!!! I am so excited to read it now :D Obviously you have a following, and I'm with those in the Midwest (Michigan, what?) that think you should come out here. I was shocked that the cat on the front wasn't one of yours, though! I see with all the *meetings* and all about it, but still :P Congrats!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay! I am so happy for you! This is wonderful, WONDERFUL news! I would've loved me a Bob cover, but I think this cover is fantastic. And the Author picture? Pretty sassy, lady! You don't know me from anyone, but I just wanted to say that I'm so proud of you!

Congratulations! Cannot imagine how thrilled you are, and what a huge relief it must be to finally be in the open about it - how wonderful!

you rock. I so wanna be laurie if i grow up

Amen! And Finally!! Congratulations Laurie!!! Can't wait to read it!!!!!!

THIS IS SO EXCITING!

bravo and congratulations, miz purl. also, it's because of you i had the courage to go to my local yarn shop and knit and talk to people. which sounds like a small matter but, as you would say "ya'll know".

thank you.

Laurie,

You're more popular than Barack Obama!

(He's only 86).

Laurie - Auntie Purl: There are 420 comments before mine (maybe more by now) and I'm going to read them ALL. Later. ButI had to write first. I thought I was busting with pride on you (as though I really WAS your bubbe) every time you did one of those neat taking-care-of-yourself things. But THIS? I would be busting right outta my bra (except only I can't wear one on account of the shingles *ow*). I am SO signing up for that book, and I (and all of us, I'm sure) want it right NOW. But we can wait. For our Crazy Aunt Purl: HIP HIP HHOORRAAYY! X 3. Now then, I'm making a cup of tea and read the comments of my fellow CAP-fans. (Hugs to each of your kitties too, if you please; you've just gone up in THEIR estimation too, and that is an Accomplishment.)

Congratulations!!! I read your blog every day(it's the first thing every morning).. Just last week I thought; this lady should write a book.. and NOW!? Hee.. I can't wait to read it! :)

(A tour signing books in Norway, it's a bit much to ask for, right? It would be great though.. and I do have a spear bedroom...)

Almost pointless to add another voice at this point, but what the hell - congratulations!!! Can't wait to read it!

Wow! Congratulations lady!!! I have ordered it and I SO can't wait to read it!! Oh my God, I am SO proud of you Purl!

LET'S GET THIS BOOK TO #1 PEOPLE!!!

Yay Laurie! Congratulations! And I can't wait to read it!!

This is fabulous news! And yes, I pre-ordered and am really looking forward to reading it.

Oh, and for the record, the publicity picture is JUST booby enough. It is perfect and you look beautiful and fun. What a nice combination!

Congratulations!! Boy, can you ever keep a secret! Does this mean you'll be going on a book crawl and we'll be able to see you when y'all come to our town?

BTW - I'm not going to read through all 430 postings before mine so maybe this question has already come up, but...

Are those your sexy legs wearing those hot shoes on the cover of YOUR BOOK?

You are totally at #82 on Amazon now!!!!

dude that is the coolest thing I heard all day!
Congrats! Can't wait to get it in my hot little hands.
You rock!!

Thank you all for the awesome comments. I feellike I am watching a stock ticker or election results or something, I am obsessively refreshing amazon.com for the ranking. I think it is HILARIOUS that in the category of "Divorce" I am #1.

That's right -- I'm #1 at Failed Marriages!!! heheheheheeh

Well, heck, whatever it takes, right? LOL

I am so proud of you. I remember when you first started posting and you were struggling everyday to see a purpose to the madness of your life.

Look at you now!!!

Number 82.... ok, I am going to pre-order mine right now. Why do we have to wait for October?

Oh Laurie - this is such wonderful news! I love your blog - it is the first one I check each day. I cannot wait for your book to come out!

Congratulations big time! And if you ever do a book tour, make sure one of your stops is near Washington, D.C.! I'll be there with bells on - and possibly some shoes like the ones on your book cover!

Linda

YAY!

You're already at #82!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Breaking lurker silence of two years to say congratulations. I'm sure many will understand when I say I've become very fond of you in a non-creepy stranger with non-inappropriate gestures way. Attagirl! Sign me Rooting for Laurie in Nova Scotia, Canada. Or, just

Yeah, Spel Czech's no fun.

I used to write bad poetry, too. I really wish I could find the folder I wrote it all in. I was about 10 at the time, though, so who knows where it ended up. Mom's keepsake box maybe?

And, the gray hair comes from having kids. I've got tons and three kids. They say writing a book is liking giving birth to a child. It's such a part of you. So, it makes sense you'd get some gray hairs with it.

Congrats! I was able to order one too. BECAUSE OF THE PINK BUDGET!!! Yep. I really believe you should let people know, even strangers, when they have helped or inspired you. So, yes. Because you inspired me to budget with your fabulous pink spreadsheet, I can now afford to go to Amazon once in a while and order a book. Thank you sweetie. Another hug (not inappropriate) Today a book, next year a house, because of a Crazy little Southern Lady who was kind and honest and nonjudgemental.

Your book is #82 in sales on Amazon! How utterly COOL is that! Cannot not wait to get my copy! You done good, girl!

Hugs to your Fab Four, and to you! Congratulations and happy dancing all around!

#1 in "Divorce"!!! YIPEE!
You can be like me. My marraige wasn't, but my divorce was spectacular! They're still talking about it in my hometown. Talk about a cautoinary tale...

I am SO proud of you!!!!

I already pre-ordered my copy and of course, you know that once it's out and we've all read it, we'll all be ordering multiple copies for our friends and acquaintances who are going through rough times as proof that you CAN get through anythign and make a better life for yourself than you ever thought possible!

What does your Dad think of the fact that you have 500 people from all over the WORLD rooting for you and telling you how you've helped make our lives better?

This is so, so awesome!

#1 in "Divorce"!!! YIPEE!
You can be like me. My marraige wasn't much, but my divorce was spectacular! They're still talking about it in my hometown. Talk about a cautoinary tale...

Awesome! That is so great

Putting it on my Amazon.com wishlist right.... now!!! Congratulations.

Also: what do I have to do to get 441 comments? Sheesh!

www.opaqueprintproduction.com/jbblog
http://tasty-uglybakery.blogspot.com

THANK YOU! You have been a part of my daily routine for a little over 2.5 years. OF COURSE I will pre-order the book ... will you PLEASE do a book tour?! (Sorry if one of the 444 other posts already asked that ....)

Huge Congrats! You deserve this!

well, I'll be danged girl! I am pea-green with envy! You go girl

wow wow wow. you are amazing and inspirational. big fat congrats. may this be only the beginning of a new amazing journey.

So I had the busiest weekend ever, and am just now reading this and am accepting the fact that I am commenter number 430 something... BUT, YAY!!!! This is the best news. But I have to tell you something really freaky... especially after I read your first comment to Suzie, about coming to NC.

Friday night, this past Friday, I had a dream that I was at a party, in NC, and Madonna was there. And that was all ok and normal and I was like "hi, Madonna." And then out of nowhere, who walks up? None other than CRAZY AUNT PURL! And this is really weird and you're probably going to think me crazy stalkerish now, but hey, might as well finish what I've started here.

So, in my dream, my friends are thinking I'm crazy cuz I'm tripping all over myself to go say hi to my favorite blogger. Who happens to be standing beside Madonna who is just, ya know, run of the mill person at the party.

In my dream, I was totally like, "I knew you'd go on tour" and my friends were like "why does a blogger go on tour?"

I had no explanation, until now. Now I know, you'll be in NC doing book signings! GO YOU!!! :)

And I'm a little freaky and promise I won't jump you at the local Barnes and Noble when you're doing the east coast tour!

YAHOOOOOOOOOOO I have to tell you - I emailed my friend last week (also a reader) b/c I had clicked on the ad's section of your blog, seen the title and googled it - found it on amazon and sent her the link. we celebrated for hours! Can't wait until October :)!!!!

Mazel Tov, Laurie. G-d bless you.

Congratulations! That is awesome - can't wait to read it!

Laurie.......you're #82 now!! Holy crap!!

Woohoo!!! It's on my wish list. Can't wait for it to come out!!!

ForeWord Magazine suggests you will be in New York in June for the 2007 BookExpo. Is that true? I hope so. I wouldn't be able to make it but that would just add to the excitement!

I will indeed be at BEA in June! I'm very nervous. It's very exciting, but... oh my gosh I am so nervous!! So I'm bringing an entire entourage, my parents and my Aunt Pam are coming to NY and so are Faith & Jennifer. I'm trying to fanagle a badge for a cat or two....

I haven't gotten a lick of work done today, reading all the new comments. And reading your update on doing the Ugly Cry, started my own Ugly Cry, for you. Again. The love here on this bit of innernet, wowsers.

I haven't gotten a lick of work done today, reading all the new comments. And reading your update on doing the Ugly Cry, started my own Ugly Cry, for you. Again. The love here on this bit of innernet, wowsers. And, I posted it on my newbie blog because if I can share the wonderfulness of Purl with 2 others, well, it is a good day.

Laurie, I've been reading your blog for a couple of months now, and I love every post. You are a terribly talented writer. I am so happy to hear that you wrote - and PUBLISHED - a book! Do you know how amazing that is? I've been thinking about writing books since, oh, birth... but have yet to embark on that journey. For this moment, I'll live vicariously through your accomplishment!

Laurie,

I am so happy for you. I am teary. You know like padgent queen fanning her eyes teary. I think you have taken the phrase making lemonade out of lemons to a new level. Girl you made champagne out of lemons. You are awesome and I can not wait to read your book. I am totally addicted to you blog (even have my mom reading you daily) and I know I will be waiting with bated breath to devour every word.

Yeah!

Stacey

I'm pretty new to your blog and have totally, completely fallen in love with it and with you! And so this news is really exciting -- I'm very happy for you and will always be grateful to you for helping me understand some things about myself. It's been a great ride -- and it's only the beginning!

Wahoo!!!!
I'm so excited for you, I cant stand it! I have been reading your blog for about a year and 1/2 and have enjoyed every single post! Now I get to read a whole book!
Congratulations!!!
If you do a book signing in Boise, Idaho you would be most welcome to stay at my house!
Brook

congrats.

I see you are #1 on the Movers & Shakers list on Amazon, too! You went up 721,573% so far!!!

I am so in NYC for June 2. If y'all need a tour guide let me know. It would be my honor!!

Add me to the list of people who read faithfully (religiously, really) but rarely comment. Congrats! This is so awesome!

You're 70.

Leading the Crazy Aunt Purl charge in Aus.....I'm off to purchase!

Laurie - You're at # 70!!!! OMG I'm so freaking happy for you!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!

OMG # 70!!!!!!!!!

I am on the phone with Drew and we keep refreshing the page to make sure it's REAL. I'm floored. I'm completely in shock it's... it's not even fathomable. OMG!!!!!!

did i misspell fathomable? LOL

Oh my DEAR HEAVENS, what FABULOUS NEWS! Congratulations my dear, looks like you found Mr. X's creativity. (GAWD, that has to feel SO DAMN GOOD. HA!)

I didn't marry my Mr. X, but we spent nearly 5 years together and it was lonely. These days, when I'm sitting in my house alone with my cats, knitting, or attempting to plant flowers in my yard (72 hours and no dead plants yet!) I think of you and your courage. You are so inspiring and I am quite sure your book will be a smashing success! In fact, I'm going to pre-order me a copy right now.

Thanks for putting yourself out there, whether you know it or not, just knowing that you once felt the same way I do now (and lived to tell about it) has helped me through some dark times.

Well at least you know what's better than scabies. Priorities!!! Ha.

Whoa Nellie!! At 70!! Purl, I think maybe you are one popular writer!!

Yeah, I can use exclamation points with the best of 'em....

Anyway, like everyone else in the universe, I wish to extend my most heartfelt congratulations! I am so happy for you! And of course, the cats.

If you do a book tour that stops in DC or B-More, I promise I will bring you flowers and Veuve!

Oh dear, I'm four hundred and something...will you even get to read my comment, I wonder...? Even if you don't...or manage to six months from now (hee!), I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS! A BOOK! How COOL is THAT?! I visit your blog often and I just think you have such a gift for writing. I always thought you should write a book and now I'm thinking that you should write a screenplay. Whaddyathink? Really, I hope that your knitting club pops open the bubbly for you. I sure would! Congratulations!

Dang, Aimee beat me to it. I didn't actually SAY congrats, did I?

CONGRATS!!!

(Also, I just ordered 4 copies. This has gotta be the earliest I ever started Christmas shopping.)

YES!!!! YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!

YEEEEE-HAAAWWWWWW!!!!!

*jumping up and down my kids think I am INSANE but look, they've joined me*

You are my freakin' HERO!

Yay!!! Congratulations to you! If you come to Square Books in Oxford, MS, we will take you out for fried green tomatoes. :) Can't wait to read it!

Holy crap! Congrats!! Way to keep a secret! That's quite an amazing journey to realizing your dream. You deserve every moment of how cool it is to be a published writer (other than your other stuff, of course). I hope you enjoy every single minute of it!!

under the piles and piles and piles of comments you may see this one. I've been reading your blog for nearly a year, although I am older - not going to say how much and married a long time...it didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying every single word you write. So many times you've made me laugh just when I needed it. I can relate to love of cats too. But I didn't stop to finally write a comment for all that......I wanted to say to you CONGRATULATIONS on your book! That is a HUGE accomplishment, HUGE! and regardless of instant wealth (or lack thereof for the moment) you can seriously bask in knowing you accomplished a great task some of us only dream about. I will be buying your book...and I don't even knit....and I will certainly tell other people about it. (that is if there is anyone left who doesn't read here). Way to go Laurie - oh and PLEASE don't keep it a secret when Oprah's people call!

Congratulations Laurie!!! I can't wait to buy it and read it. I'm so happy for you. :)

Don't forget to put your own book up as an ad for the Million Dollar Cat Fund!!

#447! Whoo hoo! LOL. Seriously, a HUGE CONGRATS to you! It couldn't have happened to a nicer person.

Yet ANOTHER long-time lurker coming out of lurktivity to congratulate you on your book! Already ordered it (doing my part to keep you at #82 on Amazon) and will advise all my friends to do the same.

Laurie, you have an amazing way of taking your, um, unique experiences and view of the world and making them universal and real (you know I mean unique in a good way, right?). I can't tell you the number of times your words touched me, and in fact reflected exactly how I was feeling, but I hadn't figured out how to say. You figured it out, not only for me but for so many others. You so richly deserve this book deal and all this praise!

Oh, by the way, even though you don't know me at all, I am a native New Yorker and would be happy to show you around in June. Not in a stalker-y kind of way, of course. And oh! I have 3 cats, so how dangerous could I be? (heh)

Do any of your co-workers know about the book?? The ugly crying has to have tipped them off!!

Sorry that I keep writing....I am just so freaking proud of you!!! My kids can make their own dinner tonight, right??

477 comments! Will you even see me way down here?? Laurie, it is official. We are twins...a few years apart, but otherwise identical...other than the hair color...and where we grew up...

I was loving watching you overcome your weight struggles and I now have been working hard for months to overcome mine. You gave me the faith that I could. Now, here you have accomplished one the biggest things I have ever wanted to do: write. All the questions about "Am I good enough?" is what has kept me from trying. I have a kabillion started stories and then fear kicks in and I back away.

You are my hero. You give me faith that I can overcome my own fears, my own issues. You amaze me every single day. You have inspired me time and time again, but this one just might take the cake.

I'm so proud of you; proud to know you, even if just in blogland. You have transformed yourself into the most incredible butterfly. I love you to pieces just for brightening up my days, making me think and making me laugh. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Well now you know that you will have sold at least 500 judging from the comments!! Awesome!! I am new to your blog and emailed a couple of weeks ago that I hoped you would write a book and now look! The universe gives you what you want. I am proud of you and happy for you and me!!

MB from CT

"the way I hide from success because it's a lot easier to not try than to try and fail." Sigh. What a great example you are for us, Laurie. I am so proud to "know" you thru this blog, and can't wait to read the book.

btw, and I know it's not about dishing out revenge and flashing success to the ex-husband, but seriously, ha ha?

Laurie, a jillion people have already said it ahead of me but this is fabulous! Congratulations. Now we can all lay off with the "Laurie, y'all should write a book" nagging.

I want you to know, I'm a new fan of yours, but I went back and read your old stuff so I could feel caught up. Let me just tell you I haven't sat down and read an actual book for fun in a couple years. Yours will be the first!! Congratulations!!

You are an inspiration. Success is the best revenge! (although I agree with Lori M :) Can't wait to read your book.

I've never commented to you before, I think. Oh wait! Something about Mercury Retrograde is seeping through. But anywho. I read you religiously like tens of thousands of others, apparently, and you are such an inspiration. Congratuwelldone--you deserve this and so much more!

A published book, blog all over the news, meeting all kinds of people--seems that your professed incapacitating shyness, vulnerability, and fear were a little disingenuous...

Laurie,

Please come see us down here at Polk County...this is where it all started for you!!!! I mean your writing and stuff!!!! LOL

When I see you ...you'll remeber me as I'm going to scream at the top of my lungs.."OMG LAURIE I LOVE YOU" just so that you can experience the whole "famous" thing!! LOL

HAHA Karen!! Ask that question of Faith. Or Jen. Or Drew. Or my parents, who literally thought I had become a recluse for 17 months and flew out here to make sure I didn't have tin foil on the windows.

Having a book doesn't mean I'm JUST REALLY GREAT WITH PEOPLE. It means I'm better alone in a room with a keyboard and a cat.

You're 47.

And it doesn't matter if anyone calls me disinwhateverenough today or if they call me fat or ugly or anything at all at all at all.

I am having a great day and not gonna let anything at all take the shine off it :)

Because OH MY GOD 47!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laurie, you are just really great, with or without a book.

Laurie, you did get a lawyer to draft your royality agreement right?

Lucia I love you!
Aimee isn't this like watching election results?
I keep thinking... OMG... am I hallucinating? Am I asleep and dreaming? It's so surreal, I remember saying to Drew, "If I sell 12 copies, I will be happy and we'll make jokes about it..."

Beyond wildest dreams.

huzzah for you!! i'm really proud of you!! enjoy the day! i can't wait to read your book!!

You are the new "Secret"!!!!!!
Go Laurie Go!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to read your book!! We'll get you on the best seller list Laurie!!

Just have to add my congratulations!!! You're a daily read for me too. You've so inspired me by your living out loud (I love that phrase!) and one day, I'll get to that knitting group!

Laurie - Congratulations on your book!

You are the new "Secret"!!!!!
Go Laurie (Perry) Go!!!!!
I got excited to know your full name 'cause I'm a fool!!!!

It is even more fun then election results! Though i may get carpel tunnel syndrome from refreshing.

I keep wondering when, and IF, the plateau is coming, maybe it is the Australian contingent that just got up and is buying away. I really need some CNN commentary!

good thing the cats weren't on the cover; they'd be wanting their cut.

:)

got excited and double posted too!!!!!

Direct quote from Amazon:
Crazy Aunt Purls Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split (Paperback)

Who doesn't put in the appropriate apostrophe in the description?? Especially when it's on the COVER of the book?!

Congratulations, Laurie. You totally, rock.

So I'm the 500 and I think 3rd person to tell you this already, but...

CONGRATULATIONS! I could not be more proud.

wow, you're already up to #47 on the amazon book list. Congrats!

Laurie:

#47 and over 500 comments! And it’s only 5:00 EST. What a wonderful affirmation that you’re an amazing writer and have an incredible gift to touch people.

As all those other stalkers --oops, fans-- said before me, congratulations! Though we’re eagerly awaiting October, we also look forward to coming back to visit you here on the internets.

Congrats - would you consider signing our books if we sent them postage paid? A book signing event would be great but darling - all of your fans are scattered throughout the U.S. ( I suspect - the world).

Ironic that he left to find his "creativity" and yet - you found YOURS!! Ha. Suck it Mr. Ex!

Yes, epiphany, definitely!

(I meant yes about the signing thing)

;)

Congratulations on everything: you are admirable, hysterical, inspiring, so enjoyable to "know" (via the blog, of course).

Yeehaw!

I can't tell you how many of us out here on the "innernets" are cheering for you. And one of these I will actually make it to S'n'B to actually meet you in person!

Congratulations Laurie! As happy as I am for you (being a complete stranger to you and all), I'm immediately jealous of your editors. Yes, your editors. I am an editor of knitting and crochet books, I would have LOVED to be your editor. Imagine what I could have written off as "work"--the dinners, the wine (oh, the wine), the cat toys! Maybe I should go to work for HCI and demand your next book (yes, your NEXT book). After all, I knit and I am currently (ever, always) covered in cat hair. And after another drink or two ... Well, congratulations! It's so incredibly cool you've gone and wrote [sic] yourself a book!!

Congratulations! Laurie, I am a faithful reader of your blog but have never commented before. Your book announcement is thrilling! I have pre-ordered it and can't wait to read it.

Hey Laurie - Congrats to you - I am so very excited to get your book. Each day, I print of your blog + comments to take home - as my "Book" for the evening. I will also want to send my book with a postage paid envelope for you to sign - I can't wait to get your book. Your mailbox will floweth over with books from your fans wanting your signature. Better warn the Mailbox Peoples--just sayin'. There were 520 comments so far - probably the biggest one ever. Fun to see your dad commenting too. You so Rock!!

We - your internets family -so love you!! Thanks for writing - and keep on writing!!

Sue

Here I come late to work on Monday and there's already 500+ comments. I'm so happy for you and the kitty posse, and I've already pre-ordered my copy(s).

YEAH!!!! Congratulations!

#47?! Is it too late to renegotiate your contract?

I just showed my husband your book cover and he said: "Why didn't she put the cat with one fang on the cover?? He's so cool!!"

I promise I'll stop commenting. I live vicariously through you. I will even break my no-sugar diet with a big glass of red wine tonight in your honor. Only for you!!

You're 44.

Woo Hoo!
I'm IN AWE! You are amazing, and I CAIN'T wait to read it! (Amanda- you now officially know what to get me for my B-day!)

This is regarding the posting from Karen and you being disingenuous.....

DON'T MAKE ME COME DOWN THERE!!!!!

From: Mama Purl

LOl that's my mom. She will seriously kick booty. hehehehe ask her about the time we got in a melee at a Christmas Parade in Columbia, TN... not pretty ....

Between the time I ordered and checked back again, you went from #47 to #44.....perhaps you're about to become a publishing phenomenon! I'm incredibly impressed and SO thrilled for you!

All I could think when I read this was "wow, Laurie got published" and wanted to tell someone my "friend" got published. Then realized I'd have to explain that no, I don't really know you and no, you have no idea who I am, but hey - My friend got published!!

Congrats!!

I'll help your mom. I am fierce. Karen is one of those people who want to hang around a person as long as they are down, but once you have succeeded over your pain she is jealous and petty.

I think we can get you into the 30s... hopefully soon, since I am in Denver and work is coming to a close. Someone out west will have to over my compulsive refresh duties.

Too cool!

Lady, I know I'm commentor # 534 trillion but wow you have a lot of love here. This is what I get for being sick on a Monday and coming into work late, not time to catch up with my internets. I'm sure you'll find yourself rolling nekkid in the cash soon enough.

Add my congrats to the pile. You are the pre-order queen!! How many people are getting this as gifts from me? Um, everyone!

Oh thank all the gods I don't have to keep it to myself any more!!!! YAY!!

Psychomom has your back too!
disingenuous.... Heh

Happy Dance for Laurie!!

I can't tell you how many times I've thought - "Why doesn't this girl write a book, her blog sure sounds like she could!"

I am SO glad to hear about the book! I love your writing, Laurie, and I absolutely am looking forward to reading it in person. Congratulations!

Congrats Laurie! I can't wait to read it :)

I am SO glad to hear about the book! I love your writing, Laurie, and I absolutely am looking forward to reading it in person. Congratulations!

With dinner to prepare and diapers to change I didn't take the time to read all of the comments, so excuse me if this question has already been asked.....are you working today? Because, damn girl, I'd just be sitting at home reading all these fabulous comments, playing with my cats and tying one on with the best Merlot money can buy!

Congrats, I've placed my order....now get to work on book #2!

WOW!!!!!
537 comments.
My imaginary friend Laurie is a good keeper of secrets and a damn good blogist. Bet the book is grand.
Congratulations!!!!!! And long may the exclamation mark live!!!!

Congratulations, you deserve every accolade. ((70% new stuff, seriously? You really do write A LOT, I can’t wait to devour every word))

Cheers!

I just wanted to come out of the woodwork and say CONGRATULATIONS! You deserve this! I can't wait to get my copy!

Wow, congratulations on your book! :)

So proud of you!!! I kept sayin' it.

WOW! That is awesome news. Congratulations to you! I'm totally placing my pre-order right now.

I'm de-lurking and posting my first comment as a congratulations to you! this is huge & awesome news! :)

(oh yeah, and i love reading your blog!!)

yeah. ditto to ALL of the above.

I have been reading your blog for 2 years and have been too much of a wimp to comment (sorry), but this is such fantastic news. Good on you for doing this and sticking it to ... everyone :) I can't wait to read it!
Nicola, also covered in cat hair

I am the 553rd post - which should only go to tell you that at least 553 people will buy your book - and that's pretty exciting in itself!

Congratulations!!! We're all so proud of y'all.

I am the 553rd post - which should only go to tell you that at least 553 people will buy your book - and that's pretty exciting in itself!

Congratulations!!! We're so proud of y'all.

Congratulations! Talk about turning lemons to lemonade. Good for you and I wish you very good success with this fantastic accomplishment.

Whoo-hoo! Congrats!

Congratulations! People are going to love your stuff...I'm so excited to tell everyone I was reading your blog way back when.

Congratulations, darl!!!!

This is just the best news ever - congratulations!(!!!)

YOU GO! I can't WAIT to read the book!

WOO HOO!!!!! Congrats!!!! Without reading the other 550+ comments, this is FANTABULOUS news :)

I am so excited for you! I've been reading you from practically the beginning and can't wait each day to read what you have to say. Congratulations on the book, I'm putting my order in too!

That's so exciting! How wonderful to achieve something so momentous. Congratulations!

Off to push your sales even higher...

Congratulations on the book, I can't wait to read it. I love your blog, its a great read. You are an amazing woman.

Laurie, Like all the other lurkers who read every day (and pitifully, sometimes re-read the really good ones) I never comment because there is no way you could read the hundreds of comments every day-but what the heck-time to represent! I am so proud of you and jazzed that you faced that mountain and climbed that sucker! An excellent day, it is. Congratulations! Life is good.

Well, surely there is nothing I can really add; I just felt you should have an extraordinary number of comments on the day of your announcement! Big big congrats to you--I can't tell you how much it pleases me that someone I've been rooting for has something so neat happening.

Yet another long time reader and first time commenter coming out to congratulate you, Laurie! I think of you and your blogs as gifts to the world! Your courage and generosity with your time and your thoughts create a win win exchange. Note how many of us out here look forward to your "living out loud" on a regular basis. I too am older, 75, (and BTW have knit 14 hats and 4 scarves, thanks to you, and given them to an Indian reservation in South Dakota.) You deserve each and every one of these hundreds of accolades! I'm off to place my book order now....

i read your column every day (for the last 2 years or so) but i haven't ever commented. but this calls for a congratulations! it is on my amazon wish list, & i can't wait to make your leopard print kleenex cozy! ;p

Laurie, I'm sooooo happy for you. I've been reading your blog for over a year, and I love it. (So do my two Ragdoll kitties, India and Eja.) Can't wait to get my hands on the book. How are we going to wait until October? Keep up the great work. All the best!

am I the only one who thinks it is just wrong that Soba or Bob is not on the cover????

Love Ya Laurie... congrats..
Heidi in Idaho

that is AWESOME! i can't wait for it to come out =)

Congratulations on accomplishing one of your dreams.
I am in the midst of reading your archives (I'm a new reader of only 2 weeks) and if everything from Feb 06 forward is as good as what you wrote before, gurrl, you've got a bestseller.
I'm twentythousand years older than you (although many would say I am far less mature), but I am learning so much from you. Thank you for living out loud, so that I may get the courage to do so also.

yea!!! you go girl.

Congratulations, Laurie! You're a fantastic person and an incredible writer. Yes, dreams do come true, and it happened to you.

Congratulations.... I just found your website recently and I'm addicted to it... Can't wait for the book....

CONGRATULATIONS.

Congratulations! Great blog and I'm looking forward to a great book.

500+ comments! You go girl. Just sell one book to each of your commenters & you will do better than many authors. Best seller list for you.

I too have been reading your blog for years and never commented but Oh My God! I'm just bustin' with pride for you. I love your blog and I can't wait to read your book. Congratulations Laurie. You really deserve this.

Okay, Laurie, without getting all stalkery, I'm not Tatania-just Heather in WV, who posted a few moments ago. If you knew how proud I am of strong women who rock their worlds, even when it is so damn hard sometimes-I don't have cats, but I do have 3 boys who've been all mine (didn't leave me for his "creativity", at least I don't think that was her name) with zero support for the last decade-and I celebrate your success and much as I get happy about my own successes. Okay, that didn't come out coherently, but you know-just saying-we're proud, you rock, life is good.

You need to put a link at the top of your sidebar so everyone can pre-order! :)

Congratulations!

hey, i thought this was a joke at first....i mean how does one keep such a secret??? and from people who she shares alot of intimate details of her life?
well you snuck off on the side and gave birth to a book! you....you....GO GIRL!!!!! i dont know how you have the freaking time or energy for all this ..quite frankly. and i guess you blog only at work, so you can free up night hours... how u dont get your chatty ass fired is beyond me! what with all the blogging, and web surfing, and taking bathroom pics. hee,hee,hee....
i love the idea of the book... not crazy about the cover art...but hey, it will still sell. and i hope you get lots of work from it. become a columist? u can pull a sex in the city, but call it no sex in the suburbs!
ok...enough for now. i want to know how that new gardener in doing on your place. ;o)

WOW! I can't wait to read it all up! What a wonderful thing to have YOUR name on a book! Are we going to see you in the heels on the cover?!

Oh thank GOD! I was about to run out of books to read! LOL I love reading your blog though, so now I have something to look forward to! Hooray!!! And congratulations! Oh, and !!!!!!!!! (!!!)

I think that "Disingenuous Karen" is afraid that you are actually not just like us, after all. But that's the lesson here isn't it, you ARE just like us but in being honestly yourself you are realizing your dreams, despite feeling awkward, and shy, and hopelessly weird.

I can't wait to read your book. I may be the only one who buys it for the knitting patterns. Heh. (Just kidding. But I need even more help in the knitting, which says a lot. I've never actually finished anything. Knitting or writing. heh).

I admire you. You are so brave. You feel like the rest of us but you did it anyway. YaY! YaY! Yay!

(Yes, I am such a freak that I read all 500 bazillion comments. Your blog is intriguing not only because of what you write but also because of how people react to it.)

Delurking to say how absolutely delighted I am for you! Talk about (or should I say write) transforming the substandard affections of one ho-hum hubby into the real/true/everlasting adoration and love of thousands of fans!!!!! Not a bad trade-off. My sincerest congratulations, plus some happy tears on your behalf. Can't wait for the book to arrive---October seems a long way off.

Congragulations Laurie! You are absolutely amazing and deserve all of the good coming into your life. I will be tracking down your book and buying it asap, well as soon as i find it here in sydney australia :)

I'm so proud of you!

And my computer is so thrilled that it's showing all the other commenters' comments right at the same time in the same place as I'm typing. This is a good reason why I never learned to touch-type; if I were looking at the screen, and not the keys, as I was typing this, I'd be sea-sick by now.

There's a smartass in every crowd--just take pleasure in all of we who are soooooo proud and happy for you!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

WOW congrats and more congrats, will you sign my copy and will you sign the book yourself or are you going to have one of your flunkies do it, or worse get yourself a rubber stamp?

Congratulations, Laurie! I can't wait to read it!

You're up to #44 on Amazon now! And I'm so glad it's not published yet, because then I'd have to break my vow not to bring another book into my house before I move next month! ;-)

Congratulations, Laurie! We are all so proud of you!

Hello!
I just happened to stumble on your site and I have to say you make me want to go buy your book.
I loved reading your site. I'll be back again!

Dora Renee' Wilkerson
http://www.bricoreandfamily.blogspot.com/

Holy Cow! You can keep a secret, girlfriend!!!!!!!

Good for you and sorry your not rolling around nekkid in money. Course you'd probably have paper cuts from hell if you did that.

Think we should all tie one on and do an interpretive dance in your honor!

Congratu-freaking-lations! That is the best news I've had all day.

Okay, well, I'm off to Amazon to pre-order me one of those books.

Holy Crap!!!!! YOUR BOOK IS #44 ON AMAZON'S BEST SELLING BOOKS!

all four felines are now doing that interpretive dance, rolling around in the dry cat food.

Hope your book tour will bring you to Australia! Am so pleased and happy for you to have done this - it is a truly great achievement. I love reading your blog and can't wait to read the book!

I was sure hoping you would do that book! Hurray!
I read your blog every day without fail, and I knew you had a book in you! You couldn't "fail" if you tried!! This blog is "proof" that you have succeeded in every way possible, so keep growing and keeping us all entralled with your every written word.

Congratulations, Laurie! I knew you were an amazingly good writer, but I never realized you got that much traffic! (I hope that doesn't come across as insulting...I was just thinking that I had to share my good find with only a few hundred people, but 10,000? Yikes!)

You may have already answered this question in the 500 other comments, but will you be doing a publicity tour? Where we can get our books signed? 'Cause that would awesome!

Anyway, look forward to getting and reading your book :) You totally deserve this!

Could I be 599? Wow! What a ride!

600th!

Wow, you go girl!

I just went and pre ordered mine. :-) That's so fabulous and I'm really happy for you!!

WooHoo Purl! I'm on my way over to give you a BIG HUG! Great news... I've always said 'You should write a book!' - really. I said it. Congrats!

That is soooooo wonnderful!!! Congratulations!!!!!

I, for one, am not at all surprised -- I'm very very happy for you but not at all surprised.

It was just a matter of time before someone as talented, funny, and inspiring as you got what she deserved: success, fame, and the adoration of the innernets. You're one of the most courageous and authentic people I have had the pleasure of coming across - including my relatives and co-workers and I see them almost every day!

Wishing you continued success - you deserve it!

It's like you're paralleling my life. (Did I spell that right?)

Congratulations!

Absolutely fan-freaking-tastic news!

I usually check your blog in the morning, but the innernets were not speaking to us earlier. Of all the days!

Now then. Amazon. Right. Ordered, and one for a friend. :)

Not a chance I'm going to miss having this book.

Ordered my copy, and at this point, you were still #46 on Amazon's list ;) You totally RAWK!

That's great news!! Congratulations many times over. You kitties must be SO PROUD.
*runs off to preorder*

LOL! We're gonna break your blog, leaving so many comments!

1) I knew it!
2) It's about damned time!
3) Congratulations :)

HOLY COW!!!! at this point, i am number 605 to comment on this subject !
there are blog sites that have been up for two years and still don't even have that many hits... MUCH LESS that NUMBER OF COMMENTS !?
how just totally kool is this for you ! i can only imagine. it has been a dream of mine as well to WRITE. anything. just WRITE it down. like you. and there you did it! CONGRATULATIONS a hundred and fifty times!!!!
good luck in the future, and i will surely be buying your book !
btw... this is the first time i have come to your site...and already, i am HOOKED
thank you for the inspiration.
there is always hope...that someday something great WILL happen.
thanks, and congrats!!!

Congrats! Now what about the BOOK TOUR?!

Oh wow. Congrats! *insert celebratory booty dance here*

Laurie, I am SO PROUD of you!!!!!!!

I'm the 607th commenter!! It's my first time to talk to you Laurie!! I'm so very proud of you and look forward to reading your book!!! (I've pre-ordered). I too have been through the trials and tribulations of divorce, love to knit, have two kitties (and one dog) love animals and wine.

You are like psychologist extrordednaire!!!! You uplift me everytime I read your blog!! I'm a South Carolina girl for the last 17 years, born in Portsmouth, Virginia.

You go!!

Thanks for taking the time to write!! You help more people than you will ever know!!

Just one more thing that tells me you rock.

Just adding my name to the very many who have already said congrats! I can't wait to read it!!

Huge, giant congratulations from another of your readers/fans who has never commented before. They used that photo because you look beautiful and happy. I love the title - you are just the best!!!!

OK, honey, I don't come out of lurkdom very often, but I'm always here (Bloglines. You know.) I am really happy for you -- what a feeling! You sound so proud and amazed and astonished, not to mention a little humbled at the same time. Right on!

omigod! a book! (omigod! more than 600 comments??)

i can't wait to read it. i'm so thrilled for you, for the book and the growth that came with it.

WOW!! Congrats!!!! I ordered my copy!!! I hope you have a book tour up here in Maine!!!!! We have lots of yarn stores too. Love your writing and your humor...and your punctuation and spelling!! - Dale

HUZZAH for you Laurie!

You were always perfect the way you were and are, you just needed to find that out yourself. And why shouldn't you have a book, you have been entertaining us for quite a while. And there will be more books to come so that you can roll nekkid in the loot!!!!! You most certainly deserve this and so much more!!!!!!!! Sometimes it is hard to believe when you are facing such fears that such riches can be bestowed on one. But I believe that when you do face them you are blessed with such abundance you might not even have imagined. Does this mean that Soba is also one paw closer to world dominance??????

Congratulations dear Laurie! If anyone was going to achieve dream fulfilling, goal achieving demon wrangling score settling empathetic laugh inducing nekkid money rolling nirvana while delighting family and friends with much deserved success it was going to be you. Look at that - no commas and it still works.

From the Completely Selfish Dept: When you are appearing and nekkid money rolling and all the etcs. will you still write the blog? Opening the back door to receive the joyous greetings of my Jack Russells and reading your blog are two of the few things I look forward to each day.

From the Give Me A Chance to Catch My Breath Dept:
Screenplay next? "Gifted dialog writer" has been my mental comment from the first time I read your blog.

From the 'Fraid I'll Miss Something Dept: Maybe a "Calendar" section for the blog? Booksignings, morning show appearances and the like.

Wow, I knew her when! I couldn't be happier for you!

top of the hour and you're up two points to 42!!!
I don't think you're gonna beat that harry potter kid, though. Hope you're not too disappointed.
:)

I know you're thrilled. Any chance we can up to the publishing date? You're probably sitting on the bus on the way home right now, itching to get home on the innernets and check!

hugs, sweetie! This has totally been Laurie's Day!

Allow me to add my most heartfelt congratulations to the chorus here, Laurie. I'm thrilled for you and can't wait to read the book. I hope you get to do a little tour up here in Canada and wear your knits in northern climes! I'd totally make a road trip to Toronto to get my book signed, and say hi!

Yay Laurie! Congrats! Can't wait to get the book!

Congratulations Laurie! This is freakin' awesome news! If this book was written in the same honest and funny way that you write your blog, then you have a bestseller on your hands!

I can't wait to read it!

All I can say is CONGRATU-F***ING-LATIONS! I am so happy for you. And I'm sure the rolling nekkid in money will come with the next book or two (yes, I said NEXT BOOK; try not to hyperventilate). :)

Congrats, Laurie! I've ordered my copy!! I'm impressed by your ability to keep a secret - and not even let one little slip out!

Congratulations!!!!

I just L-O-V-E your blog...I read it all the time and just die laughing (with real tears!). You make the most ordinary things the FUNNIEST! I'll be buying the book and watching for the book tour to get it signed! Congrats! You deserve it!

Awesome! I'm so excited and happy for you. I'm going to buy it right this minute!

How wonderful!!! I love reading your blog so you book no doubt will be great!!

sandy

(Definitely a lurker.. what can I say, hundreds of comments scare me.)

Laurie, honestly, congratulations. How does success taste?

- batman

Fantastic news! Congratulations! It's so wonderful to see how much life can change for the better. I hope you realize what an inspiration you are for so MANY people.

OMG!!!! Congrats!!!! This is awesome and I can't wait to read it!

Oh, and how cool is it that your parents read your blog and leave you comments! Hi Mom & Dad!

Now I am going to go and tell everyone about my Crazy Aunt Purl!

P.S. I am pre-ordering a copy of it too!

Congrats! That is fabulous!

I'll buy your book if you knit me a square for Hokie Healing...

congratulations!! so so happy for you -- someone very deserving of such a great thing.

I don't give a damn what it's about---if you wrote it, I will read it and love it, guaranteed. I will toast a glass of wine the size of my head to you and dreams coming true and hope in the face of adveristy and sticking it to the weiner ex-husbands who walked out and knitting as therapy and run-on sentences and being prepetually covered in cat hair no matter how much you lint roll and being able to laugh about the stupid/sad/poopy things that happen in what was supposed to be a storybook life. Because I can relate to it all and OBVIOUSLY I'm not the only one. Congratulations---on the book and on keeping the secret!

I don't care what it's about---if you wrote it, I will read it and love it, guaranteed. I will now toast a glass of wine the size of my head to you and dreams coming true and hope in the face of adversity and sticking it to the weiner ex-husbands who walked out and knitting as therapy and run-on sentences and being perpetually covered in cat hair no matter how much you lint roll and being able to laugh about the stupid/sad/poopy things that happen in what was supposed to be a nice little life. Because I can relate to it all and OBVIOUSLY I'm not the only one. Congratulations---on the book and on keeping the secret!

Fantastic!!! Congratulations, Laurie! You SO deserve all the goodness and hugs and smiles being sent your way. Gosh, dreams do come true! And, girl, you can keep a secret like this?? You oughtta be in the government line of work!

I just found your blog through another blog that I watch. Wow I really like it already. Reminds me of how I write and HOW I FEEL lol. The dream that I was afraid to follow? Find a job where I can sing. So today was my audition to get into music school for K-12 vocal music education. Terrifying. But at least I am doing it. :) Thanks Purl. :)

I know your email must be overflowing but I had to offer my congratulations to you too! Way to go!

WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Wow!!
This is so incredibly cool.
Be very very proud of yourself.....you deserve it!

CONGRATS!!!!!!

Excellent news.

Karma, dude.

Congratulations, Laurie! Who knew that living out loud would reap such a wonderful new life for you.

congrats! this is awesome

I was just thinking, "when is Laurie gonna write herself a book"? And you already had! So sneaky! I like exclamation points too!

Congrats!

Awesome. I have to tell you -- many, many times when I have been reading your blog I have thought "she should turn this into a book." I'm so glad you did. I just pre-ordered it on Amazon.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just pre ordered my copy - next time we come to L.A. Minou wants an autograph!!!! (If only we had known we would have gotten one last time)

I better take over for Aimee the Sis (since she's my sister and all) and say You are number #42 on Amazon right now. WOOO!

I've been telling everyone about your book. :)

My mom and have been saying for MONTHS that you need to write a book!! I screamed out loud when I read your post. I'm so happy for you. And I'm pre-ordering this right now. And I'm sending this book info to all the friends I've shared your blog with. Congrats, Laurie. You're awesome!

Ok, I doubt you'll make it to this comment, because I'm somewhere near comment #700, but congrats! This is awesome news... your blog is definitely the funniest one around! I just can't wait to read your book!

I just discovered your blog recently (in the columbus sense of discovery) and after a few reads, I thought, "my god this woman should write a book!" Congratulations, you did it!

Add another congratulation from Down Under, Laurie! You've been an inspiration, touching the hearts of people all around the world. And I ordered the book!

I am so freakin' far down the list that I'm sure you'll never even make it all the way down here (stinkin' network outage at work delaying my reading of your blog, today of all days!!)

Regardless, I had to join in with the millions of other commenters and say a big huge CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I am so very, very proud of you and as someone who has also written a book (still in the works of getting it published) I know how hard you must have worked and how HUGE of an accomplishment this is. I can't WAIT to read it and am desperately hoping for a book tour so we can all get to say our congrats in person!

Many, many hugs and kisses from a devoted fan.

Good lord look at all these commenters... where have ya'll been hiding?!?! Laurie, first of all.. embrace those greys. I skipped grey and went right to white, at 21. This year, with all it's stress has encouraged those damn hairs to breed like rabbits, much to the mortification of my friends. Too bad for them. Anyhow.. Congratulations on the book. I can't wait to have mine... I'm so very happy for you.

Oh, my! Look at all the comments! Laurie, I have tears in my eyes reading this. I'm so happy for you. I'm also off to pre-order my very own copy. I bet the kitties are so proud of you. XOXO

Whoo-Hoo! #663! Neener, neener, nee-, ah whatever. Anyhoo, you're an inspiration for me to write my book, except that I don't get 663 comments in a year, let alone one post. Maybe if I wrote about my cats...

Wow, what a day this has been for you. Congratulations, I'm so proud of you. and look at all these comments. People are coming out of lurkdom to congratulate you. Will be preordering as soon as paycheck arrives. Can't wait to read it and hopefully see you rolling nekkid in the money.

The comments are amazing! Thank you! I am overwhelmed ... and yes I read them ALL!!!!!

Laurie, after your book hits the bestseller list, I have confidence that you will be able to create your own personal cat litter factory, with Bob as quality control chief.

Laurie,
After two years of reading your blog, I think it's about time to de-lurk to say CONGRATULATIONS! You are amazing and funny and inspiring. I was at the tail-end of my divorce when I first started to read your blog. I know I'm not the first to say it, but knowing that you were going through the same thing and having the same feelings really helped me. Thank you for living out loud and doing it with your own signature style!

Right on girl! YAY!

I discovered your blog a year ago and have been so completely amused by your writing...always thought to myself how great it'd be if you wrote a book - and here you have! Also - being a huge cat freak over here - gotta say - LOVE the posts that include your 4 furballs.

Congrats on the book! You rock Laurie!

Much extraordinary amazingness Laurie! I am so proud of you (you don't know me, just one of your readers but I am absolutely beaming with empathic pride for you!!!).

OMG, I'm so proud of you - if that seems pushy as I don't 'know' you I'm sorry but Wow, and I've only just read the comment above this one. How you kept it a secret, that's impressive. But the cats, have they seen the cover? Are they talking to you?

Congratulations, Laurie!!!!!!!!

Wheee! Congratulations!!!!!!! I am so excited for you!

From a first time poster but a long time reader, Congratulations and the very best to you and your new career as an "author-ess!" Make sure to tell your publisher that you must come to Hawaii for your book signing tour. Would love to meet you and have my book signed in person.

Yay!! Congratulations!! We all knew you could do it! And you, miss keepin' secrets all last year when we were all trying to get you to write that book.

CONGRATULATIONS! Your success is well-deserved, hard-earned and a fitting return for all the enjoyment you have given your readers. I ordered 4 copies and as Lucia said, getting the holiday shopping done early. Really early.
I'm sure Finance Girl will be able to advise you of all the fabulous BOOK TOUR-related DEDUCTIONS you will be able to take, or maybe just let your publisher pay for everything. Heh. Please add Boston to your list of places to which you are traveling!

And you are NUMBER ONE on Amazon's list of Movers and Shakers as of a few minutes ago, total rank #46 (was 609,612 [!]) an increase of -get this- 1,325,143%. You totally deserve this; congratulations on the fruition of your life's work. Have you thought about selling autographed copies of the book on your CafePress site? and maybe a CAP Book Tour T-shirt? :)

I knew about your book since last week when I was browsing at Amazon! It doesn't amaze me,you have the spunk but IT THRILLS ME!YES!!YES!YES! So my question to everyone now is WHO IS THE CREATIVE ONE NOW HAH??? Go Laurie!Go!

PS- under "product information" Amazon has an option to let you update/change listings, you may be able to fix the entry that way. Seeing as how you're the author and all that.

Big congratulations. Well done. Looking forward to it.

Laurie, I'm so frickin' proud of you, though I suppose I've no right to be! Reading your blog has helped me and made me laugh so many times. I'm so happy that you are you and that you write these wonderful things. I can't wait to buy your book...It looks like about 600 others feel the same! Yay you! and thanks!

Congratulations!

As I type this, you're at #47 on Amazon. Wow!

Well well well...

How's that for a nice surprise?

If there's one way to triumph over X, it's to get 'custody' of the creativity in the divorce...

WOW!!! This is fantastic news - for us as your readers and for you! They say living well is the best revenge... I suspect Mr X will have to find an alternative universe to avoid running into your success and growth.

So when are you doing a book tour of Australia?

I * can't * wait * !!!

Hope you've got a UK publisher too - or we can just buy it from Amazon I guess, hah!

Damn, here I am, late to the party. Y'all push in and make room.

Let me just add my Amen!, my Woo Hoo!, my Life is Good! to all the comments here.

Plus we need a few gratuitous exclamation points: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And, let me, add, some random, commas,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

And one snarky comment: So WHO got their creativity back? WHO? WHO? I'm just sayin....

Gotta go and order copies for ALL my chick friends back in America.

Hey V-Grrrl! I love your snarky comment!!! wished I'd said that instead! Hi Laurie! It's me again. Just make sure your posters are all over the town where your X now lives, twice as many as everywhere else!!!!!!!

yayyyyyy! it's too late for me to type anything other than... yayyyyyyyyy!!!!

YES

I
am

SO

SOO

Proud of you.
You have to do a book signing in SF - c'mon,
it's a car drive.

Gurl,

almost 700 comments

#50 in the Amazon book Sales ranking

and your dad!!

Congratulations, Baby
(going to go back to reading the comments)

So excited and pleased for you! Can't BELIEVE how many comments you've had ... no wait, yes I can. You're a part of so many of our lives now ... Really, REALLY looking forward to having the book in my hot little hands. Another order (2 copies) from Down Under ... does the book tour extend here? :)

Big happy hugs to you!

OHMYGOD! This is amazing! Congratufuckinglations on the book! You must be so damn proud of yourself!
Ha! I can't be the only one who thinks that it's great that Mr. X left to "get his creativity back" and you wrote a bloody book! You're the one who got your creativity back! You're the one who got everything back! You must be so happy for your book! YOU KICK SO MUCH ASS!! You are a serious inspiration to me and to a lot of other women I'm sure! Just...wow. :) You kick so much ass. You really turned things on their head. You went through a really hard time and you not only came out on top you came out on top with a bloody book!! I knew you'd go places. :) I've been a Loooooong Time Lurker but I had to de-lurk to say this. You make me have more faith in my own ability to do...well...anything because you have shown me that even when things are really really bad that really really teriffic things can come of it.
Ok..now I'm crying just a little. You're just...the best. THE BEST. Have I said too much? I might have a slightly inappropriate habit of erm...talking too much and saying wrong things when nervous/excited. But...well, you're the best. Just had to say it. :)

Hey, congratulations!!! I can't wait to read the book! Also, way to keep a secret. I don't think I ever could have done that.

Karma: it's not just what's for breakfast.

I am SO SO SO SO SO SO SO happy you have a book, I had hoped and wished that you would have this dream come true. Plus i love your blog and cant get enough of it and hoped that there would be a book for me to read too and now there is!!! YAY! lots and lots of cat hair covered love from me in London, UK. ps if you're ever in town I'll show you the sights! x

Yay! Waving imaginary pompoms. Amazing!

CONGRATS!!!!
You certainly suprised me...a blog is hard enough to maintain especially yours and to write a book also....YOU ROCK. I simply can't wait to read it and I'll certainly be posting my congrats and AWE of you on my blog. I visit you EVERY day and so enjoy reading about what your up to now.
My best wishes to you for mega success with your new book.

Oh, I'm all choked up! Congratulations! I'm so proud of everything you've done! I'm am way looking forward to reading your book. You're very funny and insightful and thoughtful and, um - oh, yeah - FUNNY =) Rock on, grrl.

OMG!!! I am so excited for you!!! Maybe you aren't rollin' around in the dough nekkid - but still - you are PUBLISHED!! Who cares about that new-fangled, mythical spellcheck? I love me some comma splices and lots of exclamation points, which is just one of the many reasons why I love your blog. I'm betting the rest of the world is going to love your writing so much, too, that this will just be the FIRST of your many books.
Even if you never get all the way down the page to this comment (number 696 - which at least isn't that whole 'number of the beast' one), I just had to leave it, 'cause I'm so darned excited for you. You give inspiration and hope to the rest of us 'blonding' (ok, graying), crazy cat ladies who like to write and also, sort of almost knit (ok, I have re-worked one row, 12 times now, but still trying).
Congratulations, Laurie, you soon-to-be, even more famous and fabulous writer, you GO girl!

Wow! How did you keep that a secret for so long?

Just in case you are going to read up to 700 comments, Congratulations!!!

O my gosh, you are FREAKING serious! The first half I was wondering if you were joshing us. That's AWESOME, Lori. And 700 posts, good grief. I'm buying a copy today. CONGRATULATIONS!

OMG, congrats! I am so excited for you--and I'm ordering the book right now!

Hi Laurie,

I hope you read down this far. You've been an inspiration to me in so many ways, and I read your blog daily for my CAP fix. I'm thrilled for you and your book, and I'm off to order it.

Just wanted to come out of lurk mode to offer some well-deserved congratulations. You go girl!

I am not a cat person, I can't knit, but you truly rock. I have been reading your archives for a month or so now and find your writing inspiring in so many ways. And incredibly funny. Congratulations and I wish you all the success for the future, signed a de-lurker from Downunder.

# 703, so congrats from me 2 u
best wishes 2 u cap
angie

Congratulations! I wish you the best of luck with your new book!!

CONGRATULATIONS!! It's been a while since I delurked to leave a comment here, but like everyone else, I am sooo happy for you!
Way to keep a secret!
Oh, yeah, and for a book tour?? OMAHA....it's so...central....people would come from miles around to see you!
I only skimmed the 700 comments (!) but did I see that someone offered to put you up in a beach house? Well, I don't have a beach house, like someone else offered, but I'd totally put you up in style here in Omaha!
Congrats!

Oh my God!!!!! I am so proud of you Laurie!! I've ordered my copy and am looking forward to the movie, which I imagine will star Renee Zellweiger as the lovable Crazy Aunt Purl. Really, you are inspiration. Mr. X leaves to "get his creativity back", and in the end YOUR creativity is the gift we all receive. Thank you!!!!

(Did I use enough exclamation points?)

Hot Damn, Girl! You are AWESOME!!! I am so proud of you - You inspire me EVERY day!

Congrats on the book deal - I promise to pick up a copy - Are they going to carry it at Borders, too? I am in Australia, and they have the Borders here!

Cheers,
melissa

Wow. Congratulations, Laurie!

Laurie - Another long time reader, first time poster. You are absolutely amazing. Your stregnth and attitude inspires me beyond words. Can't wait to read the book - off to pre order now!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kellie

When I ordered last night you were at #42, and I just want to point out that people can say all kinds of nice things in comments, but when they put down $$ to buy your book, it's because they REALLY LOVE YOUR WRITING!
Remember that.

OH MY GOD LAURIE!! Congratulations!! I'm so excited for you and proud of you! A real cover and EVERYTHING...ROCK ON, lady.

Congratulations, Laurie. I've been saying you should write a book since I started reading your blog. You went and did it, girl. I'm so proud I could cry. I can't pre-order just yet b/c I'm moving in a month or so, but as soon as I'm settled in at my new address, you can bet your bottom dollar (Annie!) that I'll pre-order.

Hey - long time lurker here, but i had to break my silence to say CONGRATULATIONS! I haven't even pre-ordered Harry Potter but I'm going to get on this one right away. WOOHOO

What a ride....this is amazing and so fun to see all the lurkers come out of hiding. Amazing!

OMG!!! Your dad wrote the sweetest coolest message ever! He's so cool! You're so cool! Go Perry family!
Yay for dads..., and cats..., and wine

I'm a long time lurker but I wanted to say congratulations, that is seriously wonderful news.

Now to figure out the shipping to London...

Oh - and I think the number of comments on this particular post might actually reach the real eleventy-billion!

I'd say that by the number of comments, you've probably got a bestseller here! Congrats, AUnt Purl! Nobody deserves this more than YOU!

Not a lurker, but an infrequent commenter...CONGRATULATIONS. That is so awesome and for all of us who said, she should write a book - thank you!. I'm sure I've repeated what everyone else (except Karen) has already said, but who, except you, has the patience to read over 700 comments!

Hey Laurie - I am a faithful reader but infrequent commenter. Just had to tell you how awesome it is that you wrote a book! Holy Crap what an accomplishment.

I'm the one who once asked you if you were having a secret affair with your gardner. You said no (I thought I was being funny - but ah apparently not) - just wondering - any mention of a similar character in your book?

That's amazing! I'm super impressed - both that you wrote a book and that you kept it a secret so long!

WOW--700++ comments! Congratulations on the success you so RICHLY deserve!!!

Congratulations, Laurie! I read you every day and want to tell you how proud I am of you. I'm going to pre-order right now!

You be sure and let us know when you're gonna be on Oprah. I don't have Tivo, so I'll have to take the day off.

soooooooooo happy for you!

Yayyy! This is so exciting!

Laurie, you continue to inspire. Congratulations! You are so deserving. Just this weekend, I recommended your site to my aspiring writer, book-devouring, blog-shy, sister-in-love (brother's sweetheart). Now I can introduce your writing to her in a familiar format, and hope she also falls under your So'thern Comfort, y'all-drawlin' spell. Thanks, Laurie, for sharing wonderful You.

I have read your diary for quite a while now, and it always makes my day. Your words have made me laugh and cry and think and imagine. I never comment, but all my friends know that I am obsessed with reading this blogger over in California. I’m usually too big of a chicken to actually comment, since my foot and my mouth seem to enjoy conspiring together against me when I’m trying to not say anything awkward. But, since so many other lurkers are coming out to say congratulations, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass. So, congratulations!!!!!!! I am so happy that your life’s dream has come true, and I wanted to thank you for sharing all of your dreams with us every day. Oh, and I’m a librarian, so you KNOW that your book will be on our library’s shelves-- as well as my own!
Come see us in Memphis!

Congratulations!!!! 750+ comments!
Seems to me when "someone" left to find their creativity, the right person found it! It's a wonderful accomplishment.

Look at you and your 700 billion comments! Congratulations. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.

Here's the thing- I'm MARRIED, Don't Drink (have other vices...like YARN;) BUt am ocassionally covered in cat hair--- and it DOESN'T matter! I will pre-buy asap--- 'cause you're hilarious!

Wonder what my husband will say, when he sees the book sitting on the night stand... hmmmmm ;)

This is just freakin' fantastic! Congrats on realizing a dream.

I can't wait to read it...I'm going right over and pre-order my copy!!

Love the title!

Yay Laurie! *doing jazz hands* Can't wait to order it!

I went straight to amazon and ordered the book -- yeh! who's going to play you in the movie version? long-time lurker, lynn

Yippeee!!!! Very, very cool.

Wow!

I'd be way too chicken to "live out loud" but you seem to express it so well. Many of us single gals have been through the exact same stuff, just never knew how to express it verbally . . .

. . . And I really look forward to reading your blog every day!

I wish you the best!

I finally went back and read through (my day has been put on hold by a repair person so I have reading time) and your Dad and the rest of your kin just made me do the ugly cry in a big way.

Somebody said about you being on Oprah. Girl, you won't be ON OPrah, you're going to take over the show when she retires.

Hugs again! I'm throwing cat hair confetti!

Ok...I too am delurking to comment for the first time to revel with you in (y)our happiness.

You far surpass me in wittiness but I too: am a dumped woman, drink vino too much, am covered in cat (and dog) hair, and have a blog.

KUDOS and HERE'S TO CREATIVITY!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations! I only recently discovered your blog, but I have read it religiously since. I am so excited to read your book and will be preordering it today.

Do you know if Mr. X knows about the book yet? I can only imgine how sweet this revenge tastes!

Don't worry about not making a lot of money of the first book. The big bucks won't roll in until the movie deal.

Congratulations!!!!!! I was hoping you'd write a book! I can't wait to read it!

Whoooohoooo!!! I jumping up and down!!!I had thought maybe there was a man in your life... like the big one.. the real thing, and you just didn't want to "write it down and make it real".
Who knew you were writing a book all this time!
You must have been terrified. And then, not having your "therapy" to verbalize the whole thing was probably torture.
I have already signed up - Amazon will probably have to get off their butts and fix the description as they have probably presold the first edition! :)
Plus, word of wisdom, when other people do our stuff, it usually isn't what we would do. It always looks goofy. You just have to step away from it and let it go!
Super duper Congratulations!!!
Holly

Wow!!! How exciting!! I can't wait to read it. I've been thinking a lot of how awesome it would be to write a book. I have a lot of ideas in my head but they are more the kinds of book I would have to research. It's not quite time yet (you know that whole working on my masters thing) but I hope someday to do it. Once again you have motivated me!

Laurie -

I feel like the background music on your blog should be from the Lion King:

"Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings
The world, for once, in perfect harmony
With all its living things"

As always - looking forward to your next post!

Sue

Maybe someone already said this, I read through the first 500 comments and then started skimming because I really do need to get some work done, but I was looking at this from the perspective of a mom...if I saw one of my kids go through what you have gone through and then be so willing to share all of the pain and heartache and then see what an impact they had had on such a huge group of people, I would be sooo proud. I was amazed at how many comments were made EVERY MINUTE! I was already choked up thinking this before I saw your dad, your aunt, your mom commenting. We all want to make a difference in the lives of others and you have done well. I am officially de-lurking to tell you I have been blessed by you.

big congrats!

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Laurie, I read your blog even though I don't knit, I'm happily married and an old and wise 43. I am however covered in cat (and dog) hair. Your wit and spunky attitude are always shining through your entertaining and very moving writing . I wish you all kinds of success with the book!! Hooray!

Allow me to be the seven thousand and thirteenth person to say congratulations! It is so heartening to know that your voice -- which you have so bravely posted virtually every day -- is being appreciated, heard, and published in a book on paper by a big ole company. I am inappropriately but tremendously proud! Congratulations! (And huge props on keeping the secret!)

Many, many congratulations. I am in *awe* that anyone could keep that kind of secret.

P.S.: Some of us copyeditors *like* made-up words.

Miss a couple of days reading the blog and BOY! - major stuff happens! Absolutely fantastic news! What else can I say but the same as 750+ others already have? CONGRATULATIONS! I'm on my way to Amazon to pre-order right now ...

I never comment...well, maybe I did once...but, I have to comment about this, right? That's fantastic news, Laurie. Congratulations. You would not believe the grin on my face right now. Way cool.

What wonderful news!! I'm so happy for you, and I can't wait to read it! (Yet another fan of the exclamation marks here.) (!!!)

Thanks for sharing some of the creative (terrifying) process. I tend to have alot (ok, most...ermm..all) of the same fears, and have started to tell myself the same things that saw you through. There's something kind of wonderful in knowing that someone has met and conquered those same thoughts.

I hope you get rich too.

Huge congratulations- I'm so proud of you, even though I've never met you! I hope I can buy your book over here in the UK.

Oh my god, Laurie! Congratulations! I wasn't here for a couple of days and totally missed this and am usually just a lurker, but i just wanted WOW! and this is so exciting for you! I'm going to order my copy now. !!!!

Mama Mia!! Normally, I read through all the comments but God Almighty, girl!!! I just pre-ordered and along with everyone else I will be so proud to own your book! Yaaaaay!!! See me with all the exclaimation points, also? I started reading the first few comments but I'll have to finish another time. Uh, yeah...whew! I'll have to work on that one! I'd like to send you my copy, too, for your autograph when I receive it but I don't know how feasible that will be for you and if you further replied on this. I'll just wait and see what happens!

Yay! Yay! Yay! :)

Eeeek!

I feel like I was busy for like 4 whole days (I read shtuff on Friday) and wham! There's a ton. This is great newsy news! Maybe I should knit you a Raoul the Pool Boy (though I probably finish a project or two first).

You are absolutely hilarious, so I anticipate purchasing with great glee!

SUCH A HUGE CRAZY ASS DEAL!!!!!!! I am choking back tears from my grilled cheez. SO VERY F-ING THRILLED FOR YOU!!!! and jealous because i've always wanted to accomplish some sort of greatness myself!!You've come SUCH A LOOOOOOONG WAY BABY!!!!!! congrats congrats congrats....... WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!

Congrats, that's so amazing! And very much deserved!

I'm glad you didn't have to choose one cat over another. But I actually think the artist channeled my old "college" cat who took a journey to the giant kitty sofa in the sky a few months ago. Looks so much like her! (The cover is very cute!)

You know, with all you have been talking about with deadlines and long hours etc. etc. I kind of figured you might have been working on a book! Congratulations!!! I am sure it will be entertaining and inspirational! I am buying it!!

WHO found their creativity!?

My question: How do you get your head through the door after receiving 761 commments? Wow.

I'm not surprised... I work in book publishing and have been thinking ever since I started reading your blog, "Some publisher should get her to write a book!" HCI is great. I'm sure they'll promote it well. Have fun at BEA. I only go when it's in Chicago. You will be SHOCKED at how humongous it is. But cool, too. I can't wait to read it!

I got that Joy Joy Joy Joy down in my heart
Down in my heart
Down in my heart
I got that Joy Joy Joy Joy down in my heart
Down in my heart for you

Oh, FINALLY! Congratulations, Laurie!

i've been reading your blog for sometime but never commented... a big congratulations to you. thanks for all the laughs! wow, it's so exciting.

I can't even BEGIN to read all these comments. CONGRATS! That's SO awesome. And NOW we have an event which warrants a CAKE! xo

Grumpy isn't even REMOTELY the word anymore, is it!?!?!
WAY TO GO, girl!!!

xoxo, Wendy :)

Whoo hoo! Congratulations on a job well done!

I hope your ex finds out about this and turns green with envy! After all, the best revenge is DOING WELL and you certainly are doing that!

Money? hell, who needs that. You've got fame already, and as a writer I bet it's satisfying enough just to know people are "reading you"!!

You will make whatever you want to happen, happen.

Again, great job!

Oh, Laurie! A more wonderful thing could not have happened to a more deserving person. GOOD FOR YOU! I am definitely going to buy the book, and I'm hoping the book tour also includes London! I also promise to buy your second book so that you may roll around nekkid in all that cash! Well done!

You deserve it and more. I'll definitely buy a copy when it comes out!

Nothing much to say but - congratulations!

I go & have a baby, come back 2 weeks later to catch up & you are a published author!!! Congratulations! I can not wait to read it!!!!!

OMG!!! Where have I been??? I'll tell you - Amazon, I've just ordered 3. Roll on October! Congratulations - way to go! xxxxx