* Aug 4, 2008 An additional note from Janis: As of the weekend my book and CD were released, Amazon.com have managed to list the CD as, variously, "out of print," "out of stock," and "unavailable." People who pre-ordered it received e-mails saying it wasn't available. People who complained received e-mails saying they should try used CD stores. I can't get a human being to talk to me there. At this point, having complained and complained, I've given up. I recommend that anyone wanting the CD purchase it here, and I also recommend you all support independent bookstores as much as possible. At least that way, a live person will deal with your complaint.

Oh, and anyone wanting to post a review of the CD that tells people it's available here is welcome to do so at Amazon...

Aug 1, 2008
News update

(Webmaster note: We really, really try to consistently deliver a news update monthly that is worth every penny that you pay to view it. Tha being said, given the flurry of activity around the release of the both the autobiography Society's Child and the Best of Janis Ian 2 CD set, accompanied all of the headaches of managing these through the various means of fulfilment, along with a pretty full tour schedule... well, sometimes it's a near thing.

Then, every once in a great while, something major will come off the rails. In this case, our old site counter, which WAS linked to a different site (Sitemeter) suddenly crapped out...taking the entire site down with it. Literally every page had to be edited to remove that steaming piece of crap. Researching the problem led us to decide not to continue using this product. Therefore, the update, running late to begin with, did not actually manage to get completed until the second.

About the time we were ready to publish, my downstairs neighbors moved out. I was glad to see them go since they were, frankly, slobs, and my guests had to walk past the open sore they called their patio to get to my stairs. How does this impact our update? Well, they arranged to have their cable disconnected, but Comcast decided it made more sense to disconnect mine, terminating my internet connection and therefore the means to upload the new, already late update.

Hours of wacky hijinks with the Comcast automated phone system ensued, most of which entailed listening to automated helpful tips on how to reset my modem...24 hours later that issue was finally resolved, and your update is FINALLY available...

Anyone who has a problem with the delay in recieving the update is invited to complain to the webmaster. Those that do will be first against the wall come the revolution...

And now, on with the update...

D'roo catches a fish...

Why don't sharks attack lawyers? Professional courtesy...

There's probably not going to be a website update because I'm on a land line here in Cleveland Ohio... hopefully John will get the photos, and all the captions... hopefully...

I took Pat to Las Vegas for her 60th birthday, and as a special surprise I got row 13 center tickets to Bette Midler. The most gracious performer alive, she not only posed for photos after, but sang "Happy Birthday" to Pat as well!!!

We also went to the shark reef. No those aren't real sharks behind us. The real sharks are back in New York, running the music business.

I went to visit author Judy Jance who I've been corresponding with, and we spent a too-busy but wonderful day together. She picked us up at the airport herself, fed us an amazing lunch, then had the cojones to hang around Woodinville all day watching "Hippiefest" set up. She even stayed for the show! Outside of being a wonderful writer, she's what my mom would have called a "helluva broad"!!

I also did my first ever real book signing at Borders Columbus Circle in New York. Imagine my shock when Marjan from Holland and Wendy from Australia showed up!

Then I went on to play Falcon Ridge. Well, sort of. I did the Saturday workshop, which was all about my book and the CD set. There were an awful lot of people there.

Sunday I did a signing at The Book Loft in Great Barrington, and then headed for the festival to play the closing set - only for the first time in my memory, a festival closed its "doors" early because of pounding hail, wild winds, and general destruction!! I'm told the actual big tent poles were lifted out of the ground and into the air, landing with a horrendous crack as the tents collapsed. It's a miracle no one was hurt!

I got to see myself reviewed in O Magazine, as well as 4 stars from Mojo and 3 1/2 from People! You can see a lot of the new reviews on the website under the Press URL.

Meanwhile, back home, D'roo finally managed to catch a fish...

I'll be home in 21 days (but who's counting), and the only thing on my agenda will be a talk, reading, and Q&A at my local Green Hills Public Library,  pm on Saturday August 23. I'm very very excited about it, because I love my library and the folks who work there. I know of at least 3 people coming so far...

Hope everyone out there is all right. Sorry this is so brief!!!
I'm running... running... running...