Alexandra Sokoloff, Goddess

I think Alexandra Sokoloff is a Goddess and apparently I don't care who knows it.

I was talking with my friend James; displaying lots of energy, waving my hands about [not quite to the point of using puppets to illustrate my points, but close] and he just started grinning at me.

Well, that's not unusual, people often grin at me. I'm a delight to be around. I am. It was just that this particular grin didn't quite go with the story I was telling. I'm used to people laughing at me and laughing with me, but this grin was starting to drain the oomph out of my story, so I finally just stopped and said "what?"

"You're so cute when you do that."

"Do what?"

"You know that thing you do whenever you say Alexandra Sokoloff."

"Huh? What thing?"

[Grins some more in a now rather infuriating way.]

"Can I show you? You won't get mad?"

After assuring him that I would be fine with whatever he wanted to tell me, he turned his back, shook himself out, rolled his head on his neck and turned back around.

In a surprisingly good imitation of my voice and manners [I say surprisingly, because I sound like Minnie Mouse, he sounds like James Earl Jones, and he's HUGE , I'm tiny]

Sucks a deep deep breath in, holds palms face up near waist "Oh, Alexandra Sokoloff [lets breath out, drops hands to thighs] she's such an amazing teacher!"

Well, she is. [grins sheepishly] I hadn't noticed myself adding this gesture, obviously, but the impression was so dead on that I was convinced that whenever I speak her name, the gesture goes with it.

When I first happened upon Alexandra [thanks Jake!] it took me days to finally comment at her site. She is so articulate, passionate and knowledgeable about the craft of writing, it's hard to imagine that anyone could add something to the conversation that she hasn't already covered. But the thing is? They do. They do it all the time. And that's the point for her. She wants you to think, she wants to challenge the way you are thinking, and she wants to give you resources to take away with you so that you can build your craft.

Then, when I finally did comment, she said hello and remarked upon what I had said and then went on to expound upon it…..and it was just like being welcomed into someone's livingroom.

My hesitation in commenting wasn't because she's intimidating, she's warm and caring and funny and generous and has a naughty sense of humor. It's just that she seems to go so effortlessly about her career that it's hard to imagine that she has to do everyday things like grocery shop or brush her teeth.

I've seen casual photos of her now, but I think my favorite photo is the one that I "borrowed" and put at the top of this posting.

This photo personifies only one aspect of her personality, the aspect that has that dark flair of the dramatic, but it does the work. You see it, and know this chick means business. She's serious about her writing and is going to share it with you and you will LEARN, even if you only browse her site.

So, yeah, I think Alexandra Sokoloff is a Goddess, and if that means that my friend has to grin at me every time I say her name, so be it. It's worth it.