Act As If

Act As If: Stumbling Through Hollywood with Headshot in Hand is now a book! Based on my long-running column for NowCasting.com, which is itself based on my 30-year acting career, this is the book for the actor in your life, aspiring or pro. Some blurbs: 

"…all graduating MFA students who want to make a living in 'The Biz' should be handed this book with their diploma, to give them a realistic view of the business they want to pursue. It's an honest, practical and remarkably uncynical look at the job of being an actor."

            Rick Hall, actor—Good Luck Charlie, 24, Curb Your Enthusiasm

"This book is a must for anyone thinking of taking Hollywood by storm. Petrea can point out common pitfalls while throwing in a dash of empowerment. It's your life, your career. Keep your eyes open and be sure to have this book on your nightstand."

            Liz Hanley (aka “Blanche”), Theatrical Agent, Bicoastal Talent

"I felt like I had a friend after reading this, someone who knows and expresses so eloquently the ups and downs and striving that an actor goes through on their artistic and career journey. It’s a delight, it’s fun, it’s comforting, and it’s real. Give it as a gift to yourself, or a fellow actor."

            Fran Montano, Artistic Director, The Actors Workout Studio

Act As If is officially in "soft launch." Everyone's already busy with the holidays, so I'll do an official launch (hard launch?) in the new year, with a contest and everything.

However! There will be a pre-launch on November 29th at Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse, from 2-4 PM.

(This leaves room for a post-launch, a launch-launch, and a lunch-launch. Watch this space.)

Flintridge Bookstore is celebrating Small Business Saturday all day on the 29th, and you should come! It's a wonderful store with all the books you want, plus gorgeous gifts, AND coffee with treats. Easy to get to, at 1010 Foothill, and there's plenty of parking behind/under the store. Here's a chance to expand your literary horizons and check out Flintridge.

My Thanksgiving weekend is planned thusly:
Thanksgiving, which I will enjoy so quietly I'll be able to hear myself chew.
Black Friday, which I celebrate annually by hunkering down in the house with the curtains drawn.
Small Business Saturday, please see above.
(Apparently the western world still keeps Sundays open for church.)
Cyber Monday, when we're encouraged to shop online exactly like we do every other day, and when I will likely stay offline and write.
And Giving Tuesday—because after having spent the weekend acquiring, it's time to share what you have left, if anything, with the needy. I'll probably do that online.

Remember, books make great gifts!

Thanksgiving

I think it's a good idea to have a day set aside for thanksgiving. I'm a positive person and I count my blessings more than once a year, but it's good to be reminded. What a great holiday. A whole day set aside for being thankful.

I thought of listing the things I'm thankful for, but you know what happens--the list gets too long. Of course that's why we do it--to remind ourselves how long our list is. My husband, my dog, my home, my friends, my life...how fortunate I am.

Blessings on you!

Thanksgiving

Under southern California circumstances, a photo of chocolate turkeys in the rain is appropriate for Thanksgiving. Chocolate, turkeys and rain are just three of the many things I'm thankful for.

I could go on, but let it suffice to say that the list of things for which I'm grateful is far longer than the list of those for which I'm not.

I started writing this long, preachy thing about looking on the bright side on a rainy day, blah blah. But you know whether to be thankful or not. You know what's working for you and what isn't.

So let me just wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Today and every day, may you find your equivalent of chocolate, turkeys and rain.

Just Breathe

Today I have to make one more run to the grocery store. Tomorrow I'll be hiding out. If I leave the house Friday, you can bet I won't be going anywhere near where commerce takes place.

I can't remember the last time I went shopping on a "black Friday," but it was before they called it that. Something traumatic must have happened because I haven't ventured out again. Whatever it was, I've blacked it out. It's easy enough to reconstruct: traffic, overloaded parking lots, crowds, artificial bargains, fatigue. It must have gotten to me.

I'm better now, more relaxed. I'm just practicing my own, age-old holiday tradition of not shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I'll see you out there next week and don't worry, I can handle it. I'll be the one screaming "ohm" at the top of my lungs.

Friendly Skies

I liked this view when I got out of my car at the grocery store yesterday. I don't photograph clouds often, but that's because we don't often have them. These looked like they decided to squat right down on the roof.

I expected frenzy inside the store, but I guess that doesn't happen until Wednesday. Is it cocky of me to think we have everything we need for the week? (As I knock softly on my wooden desk.) I don't mind going back to the store if I need to, it's not the worst thing. (The worst thing is shopping for gifts the day before Christmas.) I only have one rule for the day before Thanksgiving: "don't travel."

If I were looking for Mr. Right, though, I'd make an exception this year. Boy howdy! Who knows? You might find Mr. Right at the airport. I hear the TSA's a solid job. So if you have to travel, make the best of it. When life gives you lemons, they say, make lemonade.

Thanskgiving, 2009

I hope Paula of Pensacola Daily Photo won't mind me quoting her: "expressing gratitude isn't saying what you're grateful for, it's what you do with what you're grateful for." It's much like the old chestnut (or the old pecan), "actions speak louder than words."

I like that because it reminds me I can talk talk talk (or write write write), but it's what I do that counts. My actions are so much more important than my "blahbedy-blah Thanksgiving platitudes." (Shoot, I worked really hard on them, too.)

I'm grateful for so many things I can't list them all here but they include my husband, my dog, my home, friends, food and freedom. I'm going to spend time enjoying all of those things today.

I wish you more blessings than you can count.

A Thanksgiving Moment

As we savor this week of Thanksgiving it's useful to take a moment to reflect on what's important, before the rampant consumerism of Christmas sets upon us.

Ohm.

Thankful

Thankful we had rain the past two nights.
Thankful I have shelter.
Thankful I have meaningful work.
Thankful I'm safe.
Thankful I love my home, family, friends and my photogenic town.

And that's just for starters.

Some of you may remember our friend Abraham Lincoln of Brookville Daily Photo in Ohio. Abe has to spend Thanksgiving in the hospital with a collapsed lung. If you've got a minute, you might click on over there and wish him well.

(Hmm. Thankful for good health, too.)

Wishing you many, many things to be thankful for.