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Author Revealed

Pamela Ribon
Photo by Jason Wesley Upton

Pamela Ribon

Pamela Ribon is a bestselling author, television writer and performer. A pioneer in the blogging world, her first novel, Why Girls Are Weird, was loosely based on her extremely successful website pamie.com. The site has been nominated for a Bloggie in... Read full bio

Author Revealed:
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Live your life in more than eight words.
Learn more about Pamela Ribon
Pamela Ribon Revealed
About Pamela Ribon
  • What is your birthdate?:
    4/4
  • Previous occupations:
    Movie Theater Usher/Box Office Girl, Tech Support Phone Monkey, Anime Voice-over Actor, usher/security for a hockey team in Texas, motel desk clerk, scholarship fundraiser phone monkey, and one day at a Taco Bell.
  • High school and/or college:
    Katy High School in Katy, Texas, and I went to college at the University of Texas at Austin
Revealing Questions
Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
A. Well, I guess I would say that my--
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Live your life in more than eight words.
Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?
A. I guess I'm at my happiest when I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be at that given moment, whether it's early morning in bed reading a great book while drinking a fresh cup of hot coffee, or smashed into a packed subway in a foreign city, holding hands with the one I love. It's that feeling where there's no thought of being anywhere else. I'm describing contentment, aren't I? Maybe that's what makes me happy. Oh, whatever. I could be exhausted, freezing and hungry, but if someone's making me laugh, I promise you I'm happy.
Q. What’s your greatest fear?
A. Getting struck by lightning at the same moment I'm drowning in a lake of doll heads.
Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?
A. I know this from what people say when they're mocking me. "Oh, I see."
Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
A. I wish I knew how to write a song. It does seem like magic to me. How do you guys hear notes in your head?
Q. What is your greatest achievement?
A. Look, I've published some novels. I ran a marathon. I finally found a haircut my mother likes. I've done a lot of traveling and I've been incredibly lucky in an industry where the odds are stacked against you daily. But one day I saw Brad Pitt jogging. THAT was a really good day.
Q. What’s your greatest flaw?
A. A flaw is just a talent someone else finds annoying.
Q. What’s your best quality?
A. My brain is holding onto all the useless crap yours had the good sense to forget.
Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
A. I can be a THING? This is blowing my mind. Why would I want to become a THING? Am I a talking thing? Do I feel? Or am I like, a remote control? Okay, I'll be a color. I'll be purple. "What happened to Pam? I haven't seen her lately." "Oh, she turned into a color. See? She's everywhere." "Hmm. That's not a good color on her."
Q. What trait is most noticeable about you?
A. I'm not sure, but I do know that most people will have known me for like, six months before one day they're standing next to me and suddenly realize, "Whoa! You are SHORT! I had no idea!" My secret: big shoes, bigger personality. ... I think that's also Pee-Wee Herman's secret, but whatever.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?
A. Ponyboy Curtis
Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?
A. Dr. Evil
Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
A. Aimless whistling. Why does everybody else have to hear your not-song just because you've got nothing better to do?
Q. What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
A. Please give me a stage and turn out the house lights.
Q. What’s your fantasy profession?
A. Professional Karaoke Joint Superstar with a sold-out world tour
Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
A. Be funny, respectful and kind.
Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
A. French Fries. I think I already do this.
Q. What are your 5 favorite songs?
A. "The Good Life" -- Weezer, "Idioteque" -- Radiohead, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," "Distractions" -- Zero 7, "It's Oh So Quiet" -- Bjork, and like, three hundred other songs. This is an impossible for me.
On Books and Writing
Q. What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
A. The Outsiders, Catcher in the Rye, Naked, Brave New World, The Grapes of Wrath
Q. Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
A. Write every day.
Q. What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
A. "I thought I was the only one who felt that way/thought that weird thing/had that mortifying thing happen to them! Whew!"
Q. How did you come to write Going in Circles?
A. I think anything I write comes from an equal desire to make people understand me while I'm desperately trying to determine exactly what's wrong with me.