chambermaid a k a saira rao visits n y c

UPDATE! saira rao's reading last thursday in nyc was fabulous. she spoke (to a large, loving crowd) about her journey in writing the book, the extreme negative reactions, & her next project. then she read an excerpt about the judge careening into a sinkhole. great stuff. she signed my book (along with a friend's who joined me), so i was on cloud nine. saira was just in philly so check out her website (see below) for more appearances near you!

also, more recent press & gossip about the "real judge"! -- finally some positive media support for saira...


since my last post on chambermaid, i ran out to my favorite bookstore (three lives & company in the west village), bought it & started reading. well 2 days later, it was all over. i just couldn't get enough of sheila raj's judicial (mis)adventures. the whole time i was reading, i thought-- yeah, this would make a perfect series (it's slated for lifetime)! i felt physically exhausted by sheila's endless ordeals with her wacko judge (and the greasy, dancing bun on the top of her head), her efforts to stay sane and find a trustworthy soul in the system while navigating the illogical rules of the "torture chamber" and enduring the constant attacks on her ethnicity with biting wit. i feel a special bond with sheila (and brilliant writer saira rao) who validated much of what i felt during my painful clerkship year and i especially cheered at sheila's attempts to outsmart janet, the bible-thumping, ass-kissing, do-nothing secretary to the judge.

i don't want to reveal much of the plot or whether the ornery (to put it mildly) honorable friedman ever shows a heart... but whether you suffered as a law clerk in your own "torture chamber" or just to laugh at the intensity of over-intellectualized young lawyer go-getters, pick up chambermaid... you won't be disappointed & you'll find a fresh, real heroine in sheila.

meet "shelia" in person-- check out saira rao's upcoming appearances. i'll be there, ready to cheer for aggrieved clerks everywhere...

in nyc: 7pm on thursday, july 19 at barnes and noble at sixth avenue and 21st street.