TWELVE QUESTIONS FOR... Rachel Kauder Nalebuff

Rachel is the mastermind behind My Little Red Book ("a rich, welcome collection for readers of various ages and, perhaps surprisingly, more than one gender," --Booklist), which Twelve will publish in February. Recently, we asked her to answer Twelve questions for us (something we hope to make into a regular Author feature); you can visit Rachel's website here.

1. What are a few of your favorite books?

Lolita, Tropic of Cancer, Fear of Flying, Everybody Poops.

2. Can we coerce you into naming a favorite Twelve book?

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles is a clear winner. I mean, I am going to culinary school.

3. You're always so polished when we see you. Did you come out of the womb like this?

Depends on the time of the month.

4. "Traumarama" is this feature in Seventeen magazine where people talk about their horrific, embarrassing moments. What do you think of Traumarama? Are we allowed to like it? Or is it bad?

I love the concept of Traumarama. It's exactly the same message that I hope My Little Red Book sends: talking about cringeworthy experiences, especially with a sense of humor, alleviates embarrassment and lets girls know they are not alone. It’s just too bad that most of the stories are incredibly banal and written casually enough to be part of an IM conversation.

5. O, wise Francophone: Is there a prevailing French attitude on periods?

There is the old French superstition that women can't make good mayonnaise during their period...but seeing as I've only had good mayonnaise so far, it's probably no longer true.

6. What do guys say when you tell them about the book?

Ironically, guys have taken it way more nonchalantly than girls. The ones that are taken aback will ask, "You wrote a book?" and not "You wrote a book about Periods?" As it turns out, one of my guy roommates may be one of the book's biggest fans: see his blog at http://yaudaipur.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-little-red-book.html

7. Did Gloria Steinem intimidate you?

I first met her I when was 14 and she had just given a talk to the Yale Women's Center. After, a swarm of reporters and feminists were crowding around, yelling questions, and there I was, still embarrassed to talk about periods out loud, holding my measly collection of ten stories in a manila folder to show her. When it was finally my turn to speak, I froze. So, yes. And she still does.

8. There's a site where people post artwork they've made from their menstrual blood. Thoughts? Feelings?

Why not? Men piss pictures in snow without any controversy. But as to the quality of the art itself, it doesn't..erm..inspire me.

9. What was it like to collect the first few stories-- before you hit your stride?

Those were definitely the hardest stories to collect. Those first few women were the biggest risk-takers of the book and I owe them enormous thanks.

10. Are you nervous, at all, to be known as "the period girl" at college?

I'm trying to tell myself that it will weed out the guys that I wouldn't want to know anyways.

11. Will you celebrate when the book comes out, wherever you are? (India, maybe?)

Of course! I'm already brainstorming for a painlessly punny title of the event. I've nixed Cherry in the Sherry Shindig, the full strop frolic, and the period party. I'm thinking...the masqueRED.

12. Are we ever going to get croissants in the mail?

Well, I got a B+ for my croissant class. And I wouldn't want you to have subpar croissants, now. But check out the picture and I'll let you be the judge.

[Ed: They look good to us!]

Who Are You, And What On Earth Are You Doing?

"It is almost as if you were frantically constructing another world while the world that you live in dissolves beneath your feet, and that your survival depends on completing this construction at least one second before the old habitation collapses."

-- Tennessee Williams

So far, we at Twelve haven't done much writing, leaving it in the capable hands of our authors. They speak for us, and we've been very happy with this arrangement. Writing, after all, is something that requires great perseverance and perspicacity (to say nothing of perspiration), as Mr. Williams says.

Now, however, we're willing to tempt these perils. With this blog, we hope to create a place where you can read about Twelve's books, and get to know us and our authors. We'll even herald the books of other publishing houses, in a feature called "Required Reading." Above all, we harbor the hope of creating a larger "Twelve community."

In the spirit of building from one world to the next one, we now declare this blog "online." Please bookmark this page, and feel free to give us feedback. Welcome!