Okay, you know how I love hosting authors and guest posts, so this week, I have a special treat. I’ve got an interview with Lisa Becker, author of Click: An Online Love Story that is going to be coming up on Thursday, September 1st. (Full disclosure: I loved online dating. I don’t date guys who can’t form a coherent sentence with a minimum number of spelling errors. Men who cannot tell the difference between “its” and “it’s” need not apply.)

This looks like a really fun book, so I’ve got a couple of things for you. First, a teaser to get you in the mood. Second, the interview, coming up on Thursday. And after the interview, I’ll have links to Lisa’s Facebook page, where you can get sneak peeks into her next book, Double Click, and maybe even get a character named for you!

Now, a little something to get you in the mood for Thursday (and warmed up for my Tuesday Teaser tomorrow):

From:  Renee Greene – January 14, 2011 – 9:04 AM
To:  Shelley Manning
Subject:  Fwd: Shalom

Okay, so I sent my profile in last night and thought I would take a chance that someone emailed me this morning.  Yes, I know that seems egotistical thinking that someone would email me so quickly after my profile was posted.  And considering it didn’t officially go online until 1:00 am, I’m not sure I want to date anyone who was trolling the Internet for a date in the wee hours of the morning.  But, to be honest, I’m kind of excited about the possibilities.  Imagine that.  Me…being hopeful.  Who knew?  Anyway, I was elated – yes, elated – to find I had a message.  Hurrah!  Then I read it.  He is very religious, is looking for a “spiritual” woman and lives in Israel.  Good lord!  (HA! Maybe that does indeed make me “spiritual” enough for this guy.)  Israel!!!

Okay, don’t get me wrong.  I have nothing against Israel.  I am one of the Chosen People after all.  And, apparently “chosen” in more ways than one, huh?  But do you picture me living in an area where 1) Most people take the bus – I’m from LA for goodness sake, where we LIVE in our cars.  In fact, I have this theory that no one walks in LA.  But, we all own treadmills.  So, even though it is nice all year long, we won’t walk outside.  We’d rather walk in our houses.  But, I digress.  Back to what’s important here: 2) These buses blow up into fiery messes; 3) And speaking of fiery messes, it is hot in Israel. Yes, yes.  It’s a dry heat.  But you know what?  A blast furnace is a dry heat.  But it’s still HOT and I wouldn’t want to live in it.  Yeah, right.  Like I’m going to start a relationship with some man in Israel.

And, he is so intense about Judaism.  I haven’t been to temple since my nephew’s baby naming three years ago.  Oh, this would NEVER work.  NEVER.

So, how do I get out of this?  Do I ignore his message?  Do I email back and say thanks but no thanks?  Yikes!  I’m not sure what to do?