In Hats and Eyeglasses, you mention the Catskills early on. When did you move up here full time?
I moved up for the first time in 1971 and I went to work as a cook at The Joyous Lake, which was the hottest bar in Woodstock. All kinds of great musicians played there: Taj Mahal, Dave Mason, Carly Simon. Then I left for Miami again for a few years. But the siren song of the Catskills drew me back again in 1974, and here I still am.

Why the Catskills?
I think the Catskills exert some kind of power over certain people. Maybe it’s a high pitched sound that only some of us can hear! Yeah, that’s probably what it is. And I’m definitely not immune to it.

Iris Murdoch has a quote about writing:
“Art is concerned not just primarily but absolutely with truth. It is another name for truth. The artist is learning a special language in which to reveal truth. If you write, write from the heart, yet carefully, objectively. Never pose. Write little things which you think are true. Then you may sometimes find that they are beautiful as well.”
Writing Hats & Eyeglasses was brutal, because I had to confront things in myself that no one knew about. But I finally got through the layers of lies and deceit and wrote the truth. And as they say, it set me free! Okay, that’s not true, but it did make me feel immeasurably better.

As a critically acclaimed writer and teacher (2003 Artist in Residence SUNY Ulster, what is your advice to the novice or to the student?
Write. You can’t be a writer just because you daydream about it. It has to do with words on paper. Oh, and always err on the side of being a big tipper.

What are you working on these days?
A really filthy, salacious novel about middle aged sex. It’s so much fun to write, but half the time I'm blushing.

What was your most interesting interview—is there a favorite, one that stands out for any particular reason?
So many great ones—Elizabeth Taylor at her house, CD shopping with Jeff Bridges, arguing politics with Spike Lee in Brooklyn, hiking in Mohonk with Aidan Quinn. One of my favorites is Sean Penn. I did four interviews with him over a one year period, and in the beginning he wouldn’t open up at all. But I grew on him, I guess, and he was so frank and funny and himself. He introduced me to his whole family and I adore him. Hollywood hates him though, which is why they ignored his amazing film Into The Wild this year.

How do you make it through a Catskill winter and then, Mud Season with your sanity intact?
Is my sanity in tact? I’m thrilled that you think so. Mud season I can deal with, but I’m really a Miami girl at heart, so all winter I dream of the beach. I used to walk around shivering all winter, but a few years ago (after I had lived here more than 30 years) my girlfriends had enough of me and bought me a ski suit, long underwear, great socks and fleece layers. It changed my life. My new favorite thing to do is grill in a snowstorm, dressed in my ski clothes. It’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Anything else you’d like to mention…
Support living artists. Buy local. Laugh til seltzer shoots out your nose.