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« In Praise of Lucinda | Main | Pregnant with Possibilities »

Mommybloggers dish with Lucinda

Mommybloggers: Thank you for joining us, Lucinda! Tell us, how did you become a blogger?

Lucinda: I actually started my blog without knowing anything that a mommy blogging community existed. About a year ago, I decided to start using the baby's nap time to work on my writing. I liked the idea of an online journal that anyone could read and comment on, so I created a Blogger account, thought up the name "Suburban Turmoil," and started posting.

For the first three months, I didn't tell anyone in my real life about my blog and had only about five loyal readers. Very slowly, I started discovering other bloggers and gaining a small readership myself. Eventually, I had to tell my husband about the blog because I wanted to hire a blog designer. He was pretty shocked that I had been blogging for months without his knowledge.

Mommybloggers: You write under the assumed name Lucinda Ferrara, which we just love. You also don't reveal your family's names, preferring to use nicknames. Does this allow you to discuss subjects that you would otherwise avoid? How much of yourself do you put out there?

Lucinda: This is an interesting issue for me right now, because I'm working out the details of a project that would require me to use my real name on my blog. In the beginning, the idea would have horrified me- I was convinced that if the other moms in town knew about the "real" me, they would show up at my house in a mob with clubs and pitchforks.

I've had such overwhelming support from moms online, though, that I've slowly been telling more and more "real life" people about my blog and so far, I haven't lost any friends over it. I'm finding that there's an enormous freedom in "exposing" my blog to people I know. I'm sure I will get some criticism from the community if I use my real name, but then again, why would I want to spend time and energy on people who wouldn't like me if they really knew what I was thinking, anyway?

My close friends would tell you that my blog is all me. I am in real life who I am on my blog- "Only you're funnier on your blog," my husband would probably say! However, I'm careful not to write anything that would hurt my daughters or my husband. I don't really believe in airing my dirty laundry online; I save that for e-mails!

Mommybloggers: As a full-time stepmom to two teenaged girls and mom to a toddler, you find time to juggle your writing with the kids' schedules, and manage to have dates with your spouse. What's your secret for keeping your sense of humor?

Lucinda: I am very lucky because my daughter still sleeps 2-3 hours every day while my stepdaughters are at school and that is my writing time. Period. If people call me during that time, I tell them I'm writing and hang up!

I am also very lucky that my stepdaughters are of babysitting age and constantly in need of money. My husband and I get in a date night about once a week. We also go on a weeklong honeymoon once a year when the girls visit their mom. We take the baby to stay with my parents. It has been wonderful for my marriage.

As for my sense of humor, I quickly discovered that writing funny posts makes me feel better about my life in general. Through blogging, I've begun looking for funny and quirky things about my everyday life, rather than slogging along like so many others in a gray, suburban existence. My outlook has vastly improved.

Mommybloggers: Your writing can be found all over the web - at DotMoms, Mamazine.com , The Whole Mom, Mothers Movement Online and you've graced Mommybloggers.com with your hilarious story "Star Cross'd" - is there an art to getting your work out there?

Lucinda: Well, before I started my blog, I was submitting my writing to publications and getting rejection letter after rejection letter. My blog has been my golden ticket to getting published. I guess editors look at it and think, "Well, somebody's reading her, so I guess I'll give her a try..."

Mommybloggers: You're an Emmy Award-winning former television journalist - any regrets about walking away from your star-studded career?

Lucinda: No, no no no no no! Celebrity is not all it's cracked up to be. Anchoring the news got mind-numbingly dull and as a reporter, I never knew when I'd be assigned to go knock on the door of someone who'd lost a husband/child in a tragic accident/murder and ask "How are you feeling right now?" and "Would you talk to me about it on camera?" I had enormous ethical dilemmas about that kind of thing. Beyond that, I felt I had proven myself in TV news and was very happy to leave that career behind.

Mommybloggers: Dish with us - celebrities, rock stars...you've had the opportunity to meet a lot of famous people. What has been your favorite encounter?

Lucinda: I live in Nashville, so I've interviewed nearly every country music singer out there. I know things that would make your hair curl...

The people who were nicest aren't necessarily the most famous- the author Nicholas Sparks, Dolly Parton and singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell stand out. And I love interviewing country singer Blake Shelton- He just cracks me up. Most of you probably don't even know who he is.

The most difficult interview? I spent five hours grilling Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn about every detail of their lives for a biography program. Five hours, people. And some of the stuff was really uncomfortable to talk about. After that interview, I figured I could do anything!

Mommybloggers: You mention in your 100 things that you've sang on British Radio, and at Westminster Abbey, and yet you haven't graced the public with your dulcet voice since your 23rd birthday. What the heck happened at that party? Did you get injured crowd surfing?

Lucinda: Ha ha! No! I just went in a different direction and now, I'm so rusty, I'd be embarrassed to sing in front of anyone but my daughter. My last public performance occured when I took the microphone from the singer of a small jazz ensemble at a ritzy nightclub and performed for the crowd. My girlfriends had taken me out for a night on the town and I was showing off. I'm a closet Cole Porter junkie- I know the words to most of his songs.

Mommybloggers: We saw your three-way with upcoming Mommybloggers featured guests Susie Sunshine and Lisa of Niihaus. How has the internet affected your social circle?

Lucinda: Until I met Busy Mom in person (she lives about five minutes away), I worried about meeting bloggers or talking to them on the phone. But when Busy Mom and I get together, we never run out of things to talk about. It's been the same way on the phone. I think I could've easily pulled an all-nighter with Susie Sunshine and Lisa if I hadn't had to put the baby to bed. Tuesday night, I talked to MommaK for an hour and it was just wonderful. She's a fellow stepmom/mom and she totally gets it.

I have a good amount of friends here in town (most of whom don't know about the blog) and more friends I keep up with in my hometown (who do know about the blog). My blogging girlfriends are becoming another cool social circle for me. I'd really love to get together with them one weekend for a girls' trip. We'd have a blast!

Mommybloggers: We're still hoping to talk you all into joining us at BlogHer this year. It's not like it's a cult or anything.

Lucinda: Oh yeah, I know. I would be there in a heartbeat if I had the cash. I should hold a carwash or something!

Mommybloggers: Tell us about this Brady Bunch fixation you have.

Lucinda: Man, you really did your research!

I've always had a thing for the Bradys. When I was in high school, a crazy friend and I would call each other on the phone after school when The Brady Bunch came on and watch it together, discussing each scene and laughing hysterically. It's funny- I haven't seen my friend in years, but he reads my blog and is probably reading this right now.

Mommybloggers: We've howled our way through your hilarious posts about potty training. We've been there, or we'll be there soon. How's that potty doll working out for you?

Lucinda: Little Miss Piss? Oh, she's doing very well, thanks for asking. Only now, Baby has graduated to watching me pee. She stands right in front of me when I'm in the bathroom, points, laughs and says "I likes! I likes!" Another thing they never told me about being a mother...

Mommybloggers: Along with MommaK, you've founded a monthly award called "The Perfect Post" - given by bloggers to bloggers. What was your inspiration? Can anyone participate?

Lucinda: I had been thinking about the concept for a long time- I've always thought that amazing posts deserved some kind of award or extra recognition. I mentioned it to MommaK and we worked out the details. She makes a button each month that winners can put on their site and a few days before the awards, we e-mail it to all the awarders to give to whomever they choose and we link the awarders and awardees on our sites.

It has really taken off and I just love doing it. Everybody feels good, anybody can participate, and I have been introduced to so many great writers as a result.

So if you're reading this and you want to give out a Perfect Post Award next month, e-mail me at lucindathemom@yahoo.com and I'll add you to the mailing list.

Mommybloggers: What else is in the works for you? Movies? Meet-ups with celebrities?

Lucinda: Well, there's the aforementioned Big Project that will probably change my life if it all works out (and not so much in a win-the-lottery way as in a no-turning-back-you're-a-kinda-snarky-writer-and-now-everyone-on-your-street-knows-it way). So keep your fingers crossed.

And I'm also working on a little somethin' with Susie Sunshine, Lisa of Niihaus, MommaK and a few other lovely ladies. That's going to start up soon if all goes well.

Mommybloggers: And here are the questions we subject all of our featured bloggers to (With apologies to Bernard Pivot and Inside the Actors Studio):

1. What is your favorite parent related word?

Mommy. I love hearing my daughter say "Mommy." Unless it's attached to "I have a poo poo."


2. What is your least favorite parent related word?

Poo poo (see above).


3. What is your favorite creative censored curse word used around children?

I'm not very good at the censorship thing. But I'm getting there, so curse words are turning into whatever I can come up with at the last minute.

Fu-ddy duddy!
Bi-scuit eater!
Shi-boygan!


4. What is your favorite hiding place within your home when you need to get away from it all?

There isn't one. My husband comes and finds me no matter what. I've told him a few times that I really wish I still had my own bedroom- just to have a place to go and be alone during the day and look at my Ricky Schroeder posters on the ceiling...

5. What hiding place have you been found in too often and can no longer use?

The liquor cabinet? Just kidding!

6. If Oprah exists, what would you like to hear her say when you arrive at the Oprah Winfrey show when she features the Mommybloggers?

Lucinda, I laughed my ass off reading your blog! Can I link to you?

We hope you've enjoyed our chat with Lucinda - be sure to check back tomorrow as we feature a guest entry by the hilarious Lucinda of Suburban Turmoil.

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Comments

Jeezus! You're famous too and not to far from my fair Mississippi town. Hm... I may have to tag along with you and Busy Mom!

If Lucinda was a stock, I'd invest heavily - and I'm not just saying that 'cuz she paid me.

Wonderful questions and perfect answers!

Oh that was just great. You are too funny girlfriend. I do hope we get to meet one day!

Everyone needs to get their daily dose of Suburban Turmoil. Lucinda is one of the funniest voices out there!

I can't tell you what this interview has done for my sex life. My husband read it yesterday and thinks I'm "like a celebrity now!"

Thank you, Mommybloggers!

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