Once upon a time I met a guy at a Sushi Bar in Santa Monica. I was going to Ballet, he was…studying handwriting. We started talking. Actually, I believe he asked me to write something down on a piece of paper so that he could, oh I don’t know, give me more insight into me. Perhaps it was kismet. I had just lost my job, and he happened to need an assistant.  Or perhaps he was just trying to pick me up. He was after all, as I found out later, working on a book about the pick-up artist community.  

Why am I bringing all this up? Life has a strange way of coming full circle. Working with Neil was definitely interesting, and the characters I met during that brief period were even more. But then I moved on, because we all eventually do, and I needed a real job. So I moved down to San Diego, and after a while lost touch with everyone until…I moved back up to LA, and one night found myself getting hit on by one of these PUAs. 

The next day I couldn’t help myself. I got on Facebook and looked up Neil, and by crossing that path also found Ross Jeffries, and then J The Ripper was asking if he could interview me on his podcast; suddenly I was back in the game:)

So that’s what I’m doing tomorrow night, podcasting with my new PUA friend. Of course I thought it was because J was excited about Sex, Life, & Hannah and wanted to talk about the books, but no, he just wants me to dish about Neil, to which I responded: If you think I’m going to talk about me and Neil making mad monkey love in front of a picture window…I’m not. I’ve got some wild stories, but alas, none of them involve Neil. J said that was OK. The only other thing I’ve been told about tomorrow night is to say “Pancake” if things get a little too crazy. OK J. Pancake it is.

Stay tuned for the link to the podcast.

Here it is: http://www.casanovacrew.com/Podcast/ep23.mp3

And here is a link to the Casanova Crew forum: http://forum.casanovacrew.com/viewtopic.php?f=158&t=13483

Thanks boys, that was fun:)

Dear Keira,

I would LOVE for you to play the role of Hannah in the Sex, Life, & Hannah TV series. I think you’d be perfect. First of all, you look the part to a tee: “I stuff extra padding into my tight lacy bodice to give a greater impression of cleavage; unfortunately, I need it. At least I’m skinny. I’d rather be skinny and flat than voluptuous and fat. Skinny chicks can always move to L.A., get boob jobs, and start dating young, hot, model/actor types—even when they’re forty and divorced with three kids”. Just please don’t ever get a boob job.

And how could it not be fun to play an amusing, neurotic , twenty-eight-year-old woman looking for love in LA? You would have a plethora of lines like this: “Ben’s probably not even interested in having sex with me. I’m sure he makes out with like ten girls a week. He’s probably got a telephone book of phone numbers he can call for sex. He probably only made out with me because he was high. Maybe it was even out of pity because he heard I had just broken up with my boyfriend.” But you would have to work on that American accent…

And there would be a number of great sex scenes, which we would definitely arrange with people you were attracted to (I’ve been told to pull off a great sex scene there has to be chemistry on and off camera): “I shift away from him, waiting for some sign of regret for what he’s just said. Hoping to hear that he did it in a regrettable fit of emotion, or that he really did it to send a foster kid to college, or that he’s kidding—that he still has the ring sitting on his desk, waiting for the right moment to get back together with me and propose again. Anything to make me feel like I haven’t just been dry-humping a selfish, self-absorbed prick”. Although I’m not sure how you feel about sex scenes. I’ve only ever seen you in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but I did read an interview with you in Esquire once, where you did say you were OK with going topless, and you did in Domino. I think I’ll put that movie in my Netflix cue.

Anyway, I’ve just started working on the pilot today. And by “started” I mean I’ve booted up Final Draft on my computer. So you’ve got some time to think things through. But I hope you say yes, because it would make me quite happy, and it would make it easier for me to sell the pilot. And it would be something different to add to your budding portfolio. By “different” I mean TV, which I hope you don’t poo-poo. It can be ground-breaking, look at Mad Men. Really, I think this would be a win-win for us both.

Warmest Regards, Dorota:)

I must say, there was a lot of chaos surrounding the Sex, Life, & Hannah Book Club meetings in San Francisco. First we were going to have ONE meeting, then two, and then briefly it ballooned to three; at which point I stopped updating the blog post and just decided to roll with it. I rolled with it so much I didn’t even know I was going until the morning of last Thursday. Talk about spontaneity–which I both love and fear.

I understand why there is a hesitation to commit to anything considering the world we live in. We are bombarded by news, status updates, and event invites through radio, TV, our computers, and phones. It’s effing overwhelming and oftentimes easier to just stay home and do nothing at all. Especially since so many of us feel over-worked, under-paid, and frustrated by the lack of authenticity. Couple all that with a book series you’ve never heard of (yet) and it doesn’t matter how much free food and wine is promised…so I COMPLETELY understand.

However difficult it seemed to get a group of girls together to talk about men, sex, and relationships and live vicariously through Hannah for a few hours, Friday night really did turn out awesome! I felt the energy in the room once we got started, and loved all the discussions that followed each segment I read. It was like a big group therapy session, and I think we all needed it:) Girl bonding is really fun, especially over a fictional character whose adventures all of us can relate to in some way.

Thank you ladies of San Francisco! And thank you Nikki–you know this would not have happened without you:) I hope you all had as great a time as I did. I am once again energized to continue down this path of writing about Sex, Life, & Hannah. So off I go…

 You can check out more pics from San Francisco at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sexlifeandhannah.

Lovely ladies of San Francisco, here is the update for next week:

Sex, Life, & Hannah SF Book Club Meeting – Thursday
Date: Thursday, June 3.
Time: 7PM-10PM.
Place: Jenni’s Abode. Address will be e-mailed to you upon RSVP.

Sex, Life, & Hannah SF Book Club Meeting – Friday
Date: Friday, June 4.
Time: 7PM-10PM.
Place: Maggie’s Posh Place. Address will be e-mailed to you upon RSVP.
 
Sex, Life, & Hannah Walnut Creek Book Club Meeting – Saturday
Date: Saturday, June 5.
Time: 2PM-5PM.
Place: Nikki’s Sanctuary. Address will be e-mailed to you upon RSVP.

RSVP: hannah@sexlifeandhannah.com or call me: 310.386.3988.

Tickets
$10 at door; includes a lifetime SLH Book Club membership.
**If you are a SLH Book Club member already, both events are FREE.

Both meetings are for ladies only! Wine and snacks included. I will be bringing books for purchase.

Why are we getting together? So that we can girl bond!

We’re going to drink wine, chat, and escape our world for a few hours by reading about Hannah’s; her on-again-off-again romance with The Ex, her rebound romp with sexy boy-next-door Ben, her fling with mysterious Mr. Smyth, and how she ended up getting naked with her new boss…

This is girl bonding at its best, hope to see you there!

If you want to get up to speed with Hannah’s adventures in advance, get your Sex, Life, & Hannah Book Club membership and download both books.

I’m super excited ladies!

I know, it’s not a short video, but I had a lot to say about our amazing (and first) Sex, Life, & Hannah Book Club meeting. It happened last night at Taylrz Joynt. Big thanks to Taylr, and all you amazing girls that came out last night!

Next meeting: poolside. Stay tuned for more details, and if you’re not a member yet, what are you waiting for… BECOME A MEMBER!

Buy your tickets here:

 If you are a Sex, Life, & Hannah Book Club Member, please RSVP: hannah@sexlifeandhannah.com

p.s. If you are reading this on your mobile and can’t see the image, here is the low down:

I will be reading from, signing, and answering questions about Sex, Life, & Hannah on April 22, 2010.

Time: 7pm-10pm

Place: Taylrz Joynt; 13549 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Tickets: $10, $15 at door. This includes both books!

SLH Book Club Members get in FREE.

See you there!

Goodmorning cold and blustery Los Angeles. The weather may be crappy today but the memories from yesterday are keeping a big smile on face:)

Yesterday I got to hang with Langdon Bosarge of Langdon Nation on Hot Talk L.A. If you’ve never heard of Hot Talk L.A. or Langdon Nation you are in for a real treat. It’s really good L.A. radio streamed via the world wide web, and if you live in L.A., you know how hard it is to find good radio.

I met Langdon at the Sex, Life, & Hannah Bachelor Auction in February where he was awesome enough to donate himself for charity and we immediately hit it off. Hanging with Langdon is definitely like hanging with your gay best friend, and in his words, “everyone needs a gay best friend”. I couldn’t agree more…

We unloaded about everything from Ricky Martin FINALLY coming out, to why honesty is empowerment, and why the Vaginger is the new mimosa.

Listen here: http://hottalkla.com/media/langdonnation/playlist/Langdon0404Derota.mp3

or here: http://hottalkla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2692:langdon-nation-32-sex-life-and-vaginger&catid=108:langdon-nation&Itemid=331

Thank you Langdon! And see you at karaoke. You don’t have to take your clothes off, to have a good time, oh no. You can dance and party all night, and drink some cherry wine, uh huh…

That was a really fun night:) Thank you to everyone that made it happen and came out. I especially want to thank Em&Co on 3rd. Check it out, it’s got lots of cool stuff made by lots of local designers as well as international superstars.

EM & Co
7940 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323)782-8155
emandco@sbcglobal.net

www.emandco.com

Sometimes I feel like I need to explain myself. Especially to people who haven’t read my books and just see: SEX in the title. Or maybe they read a risqué excerpt and immediately put the entire series in the soft porn category. Or they read a blog post about me recommending a vibrator and think my next career move is working for the Pleasure Chest. People, you know who you are (DAD!). Did I just write that out loud? I did, because last week I got a bit of a lecture via email from my dad about the “type” of books I was writing. Well, what better way to clear the air than to blog about it to the world. Express your thoughts, expose the truth, and empower yourself. Because THAT is what Sex, Life, & Hannah is really all about: Expressing yourself and being honest so that you can be empowered and get everything you want out of life.

Since we’re talking honesty, I didn’t set out to write a Girl Power book. I wanted to write a fun and frank book about love and relationships, and yes, sex. Because these three things shape so much of your life and who you are (they sure as hell continue to shape my life). We seem to always  be talking about who we’re dating or who we wish we were dating, or why we just can’t seem to figure out how to have an orgasm with a man. And if we’re not talking about that, we’re talking about the job we love to hate, or how to give a good hand job (stay tuned). We’re talking about this stuff because it resides in our most intimate thoughts; those thoughts that make us most vulnerable and effect whether we sulk or strut. So we want to feel like we’re not quacked up, and that other people understand, or have gone through what we’ve gone through. When we can relate or others can relate to us, we feel…normal. If there is such a thing, but regardless, when we feel like we’re not alone we start feeling better about things and that we can get through even the most unpleasant hurdle. So whether I intended it or not, Sex, Life, & Hannah WILL make you feel better about things.

To wrap this up I’m going to give away the ending of the book series: Hannah becomes an independent, confident women that gets everything she wants. You know why? Because it’s possible. We all have the power to shape our destiny and be truly happy. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what situation you are in right now–you have the power to change it. And if you don’t know how, read Sex, Life, & Hannah and read this blog because they will help you figure it out.

p.s. Dad, I hope you understand now that your daughter is just trying to do her part to save the world.

I started publishing in 2005, before the publishing world started going up in flames; before Google tried taking over libraries; and before Rupert Murdoch started screaming about not allowing his newspaper’s articles to be indexed by search engines. The waters at sea were relatively calm and, dare I say, predictable–but not for long.

Over the last couple of years we’ve seen digital technology influence our reading habits at a greater pace. We read our news through our Blackberry’s, we subscribe to e-blasts to read about cool events, promotions, and sales, we read tweets from our fave celebrities, and we find outselves curling up with our laptops in bed to read a juicy book. The future is clear my dear Hannah fans: it involves less paper. And I’m happy to say Hannah has embraced it all.

As of right now you can read all of Hannah’s adventures anytime and everywhere. And if they’re not somewhere you want them to be, they will be soon, or you should send me an email. How is this possible?

The Sex, Life, & Hannah website is membership-based, so anywhere you have access to the Internet, you can read Hannah’s stories. Anywhere means your laptop, desktop, iPad, Kindle…you get the drift. And there’s also a mobile version of the website, so you can read Hannah’s stories on your iPhone, G1, Nexus, Blackberry, you name it; for when you’re stuck in a cubicle, at an airport, or with your inlaws…

All this easy access for a one-time fee of $8.99. So stop worrying about having to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest gadgets or apps from Apple or Amazon–all you really have to do is buy a Sex, Life, & Hannah Book Club membership for $8.99. And if you want another option, I just made available Sex, Life, & Hannah::Volume 1, WINTER SEASON as an ebook download through my store for $4.99. The Sex, Life, & Hannah::Volume 1, SPRING SEASON ebook will be available soon. Yup. Easy and cheap, that’s the motto around here. Hannah has, as they say, entered the digital world.

So last night I was hanging out with Eddie, my Printer (I know, what a dichotomy), and we were talking about how this shift to digital publishing really is a great thing. Our voices can be heard by the world, we can be entertained and informed with the touch of a button, and we can stop killing so many trees. As I thumbed through the mock-up for my limited edition print run of the SLH Spring Season, I cried out “this is so amazing!” I told Eddie I was super excited about having all my books accessible digitally because it meant I could print a lot less; and the printing we were doing was more environmentally friendly. We were using recycled paper, we were using non-toxic ink, yet still giving readers the full book experience if they really wanted it. Hannah had embraced change; in all it’s awkward, fast-paced, and often-confusing glory.

Everyone familiar with the Sex, Life, & Hannah book series has read about all the eligible bachelors Hannah has stumbled over. There’s The Ex; the self-absorbed metrosexual who cares more about getting a down payment for a Mercedes than getting Hannah’s engagement ring back.  Her neighbor Ben, so-good-looking, yet so-not-able to last longer than three minutes in the sack.  Mr. Smyth, the man she meets in a woman’s bathroom, and who breaks up with her in his bathroom. Cain, a Superman-Doctor that turns out to be her Kryptonite. Ace—a John McEnroe on and off the court. And there’s more…

Want a shot at a date with one of Hannah’s fine men?

This February 10^th, Hannah will be hosting a bachelor auction at Em&Co—the cutting-edge fashion boutique in West Hollywood. Why is Hannah putting these men on the auction block? Maybe she’s readying herself for something new in the summer… The event starts at 7 PM, with bachelors strutting their stuff at 8:30 pm. Author Dorota Skrzypek will be signing books; music, tasty treats, and Hannah’s signature cocktail will be served up all night. Sex, Life, & Hannah books and merchandise will be on sale with proceeds going to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

When: Wednesday, February 10, 2010; 7:00 – 10:00 PM 

Where: EM & Co, 7940 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048  

RSVP/Info:     323.782.8155 // rsvp@emandco.com

Sex, Life, & Hannah follows Hannah as she comes of age in the dirt of the L.A. singles scene. From the juicy highs to the heartbreaking lows, Hannah strives to become an independent, confident woman that eventually finds true love. Want the full scoop on Hannah’s Spring Season, with no explicit detail spared?  Order or download Sex, Life, and Hannah::Volume 1, Spring Season by Dorota Skrzypek at:  www.sexlifeandhannah.com.

Dorota Skrzypek writes about one woman’s journey. One woman that gets laid a lot.

EM & Co, a West 3rd Street boutique, supplies fashion-conscious shoppers with a well-orchestrated mix of fashions from world-class designers (i.e., Vivienne Westwood, Iodice, Stella McCartney, JC de Castelbajac, Beatriz), as well as innovative styles from emerging L.A. talent. Featuring over 30 lines from around the world in its gallery-like space, EM & Co is also an active supporter of local talent, hosting monthly art exhibits and other events featuring local artists and designers. For more information about EM & Co, please visit: www.emandco.com. To view photos from past EM & Co events, please visit: http://emandco-calendar.blogspot.com/.

As you may already know, Hannah’s story begins on New Year’s Eve when her boyfriend of five and a half years breaks up with her. The stories that follow align with each season. The first book spans the first three months of the year, the Winter Season; the second book picks up on March 21st, when the Spring Season begins–you get the drift. Because my way of story-telling so closely resembles the dramas of famous soaps such as General Hospital and Days of our Lives, I have decided to present Sex, Life, & Hannah in a similar fashion.

Starting tomorrow, December 31, The SLH Soap Opera begins. you will be able to tune in every other day (or so) to read about Hannah’s life as she experiences the highs and lows of finding love in L.A. The book series will be presented in segments on the Hannah Blog, available for everyone’s viewing pleasure for the day. After the day ends the posts will turn private, and will only be available for SLH Book Club members. 

If you subscribe to the Hannah Blog (check out subscription options on the home page), the SLH Soap Opera will show up in your inbox daily. It’s pretty cool…my way of giving you a glimpse into the hottest chick lit of the digital age. Soap manufacturers wishing to sponsor should contact me ASAP:)

As I continue to debate this quandery, I wanted to make a quick announcement to all you Hannah fans out there. I now have a Facebook page! Just sign into Facebook (or sign up), type in: Sex, Life, and Hannah, and become our fan! But it gets even better. I am giving my first 1,000 Facebook fans that buy a SLH Book Club Membership, a free book. That’s right, F-R-E-E. That is a slammin’ deal; don’t miss out.

And now…I am super late. Gotta go and get ready for work. At least my hefty commute will give me some time to think about the Mask Maker…

If you have checked out our membership page, you already know that our Sex, Life, & Hannah Book Club membership is a one-time payment of $8.99. That’s online access to ALL of our books for $8.99. If you haven’t read about that yet, go here: http://www.sexlifeandhannah.com/membership/.

What you may not know yet (because I just put the info up today) is that you can gift this membership to as many friends as you want. All you have to do is buy a membership, and then type in all theirinfo, so that the login information arrives in their inbox.

I also created a little e-card that you can email to your friends in advance of your gift purchase. No paper, no packaging, no driving, no waste; just a little thoughtfulness during the season of giving:)

If you have any questions about our SLH Book Club gift, e-mail me: hannah@sexlifeandhannah.com.

Spread the love.

Sex, Life, & Hannah is proud to sponsor the Indie Fasion Show at Taylrz Joynt. Red carpet starts at 7pm, fashion show at 9pm, and the beautiful people will not be fashionably late. Be there or miss out on a kickin’ gift bag.

Date: Thursday, September 24th, 2009
Place: Taylrz Joynt, 13549 Venture Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
RSVP: taylrzjoyntboutique@yahoo.com or 818.907.7818

See you there!