Amanda Ford Would Like A Kiss
A while ago we were looking for a picture of a mojito and in our search we ran into local author (and mojito photographer) Amanda Ford. She told us she had a book coming out and we said, Great, let us know when it's on the shelves and we'll interview you.
The book is called Kiss Me I'm Single: An Ode to the Solo Life, and its message is of "fierce individuality and even stronger identity." Her book signing is tonight, Thursday, at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park at 7pm. (If you can't make it, she'll be at Queen Anne Books on October 16th.) Visit her website for more about Amanda.
US: *shuffling papers* Why are you writing about being single? Just something you had to get off your chest before you pass? Death can come at any moment you know.
AF: In some ways, coming to terms with singleness is like coming to terms with death. I know many people who would choose getting hit by a bus over going out to dinner alone. And in truth we are all essentially, when it really comes down to it, alone whether we have that magical "one" or not. So I guess I wrote the book to make peace with my own solo status and, by extension, my death.
US: Okay, wow. We were just kidding. Now let's loosen up. So you're late-20s, single in Seattle, you must have an opinion on "Seattle Nice" and dating. Just an excuse for losers?
AF: Yeah. Right. I am almost 29. And the other day I was at Caffe Fiore. I sat next to this cute guy at the window counter. When he got up to go, I turned to him and asked, "You aren't leaving me already, are you?" He looked at me like I was insane, mumbled something unintelligible and walked out the door. I was like, "Dude. Chill. I'm not trying to have your babies. I'm just flirting." So I guess the whole "Seattle Nice" thing exists as long as you remain closed and uptight and freaked out by dating. I don't have a problem meeting people here, not men to date or women to have as friends. But I put myself out there a lot. And I don't take any of it seriously.
US: On your site, you say, "I hope that when I am wrinkled and shrunken and gray, I will look back at my uncertain youthful self with love and a chuckle." Two part question: Why do you hate old people? And -- and let us finish please! -- Isn't this whole "embracing singlehood" thing tapped out?
AF: Let me tell you a story. A middle-aged man recently said to me, "You young single women have so much fun whoring yourselves around, but someday you'll be old and ugly and nobody's going to want you." So to answer your questions: First, work that supports singlehood remains relevant as long as people keep spouting off these idiotic, archaic notions. Second, I do not hate old people. I do hate emotional babies of all ages who project their baggage onto those of us who are happily making the most of our lives.
US: Okay, enough Morley Safer, let's switch to Barbara Walters. One of the comments you got on Amazon was: "This book was recommended to me as I was going through a challenging period of my life and I must say it was marketed poorly, because this book is for ANYONE reexamining their lives!" You wrote it after a divorce. Share, please. Get messy. We don't judge.
AF: I wanted to live in Ballard. He wanted to live in Bothell. I now live in an artist commune near a forest. He lives in a mansion in Texas.
US: This part's for the search engines. 1) Is this a book Paris Hilton or Britney Spears should read? 2) Why no blurb from perennial bachelor George Clooney? 3) Is this a book Oprah would recommend if she weren't too busy shilling that vile The Secret? Answer any or all.
AF: 1) When Britney and Paris read my book, they will both put me on retainer as "Personal Guru." I promise. 2) George Clooney has already endorsed the sequel to Kiss Me, I'm Single entitled Kiss Me, I Transformed Perennial Bachelor George Clooney Into My Doting Boyfriend. 3) Why does everybody assume that authors only write books in hopes of appearing on Oprah? I'd prefer to be interviewed by Terry Gross or Jon Stewart.
US: In closing, you moved back to Seattle from Chicago. Is this because Seattle's a better place to be single? Don't be afraid to slam Chicago here. They can take it. Also, we don't much care for NYC, so you can go there, too.
AF: In most cases, Chicago sucks compared to Seattle. This, however is not one of those cases. The men in Chicago are chivalrous and outgoing and hot. Sadly I could not fully enjoy this aspect of the city when I lived there. I relocated to Chicago to live with my boyfriend at the time, who, now that I think about it, vaguely resembles Mr. Clooney.
