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Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Alisa Valdes Rodriguez, author of the new book, Dirty Girls On Top. The cubana writer was very knowledgeable of the print world and is in the process of crossing over into Hollywood-for more on that check the homepage article on SiTV.com. Below she schools me on why men are embarrassed to admit they read chick lit and talks about her haters.

Why would a guy read Dirty Girls On Top?
AVR: I try to write for human beings and the publisher decides what genre you're in. I always feel a little sad when guys say, "I'm embarrassed to read your book." They'll come to the readings and sit in the back of the room, then get the book signed and tell me, "I really am straight." I understand the value of marketing but as a writer I try to write universal stories. I think men can learn a lot from reading something that focus on women's lives.

Years ago your departure from the L.A. Times and the accompanying resignation email rocked the newspaper world. Even though it's been some time, it still pops up on the Web.
AVR: That particular controversy feels like ancient history to me but because of the Internet it comes up. The particular site it comes up on [that guy] writes about porn. That's what he does; he's a sleazy, slimy guy who always wanted to work at the L.A. Times and they never hired him because he wasn't good enough. He became obsessed with me and shows up at my readings so for him to be coming up on a page along with a NY Times profile is funny to me because it speaks to the equalizing capacity of the Internet. As for people talking about me, in the beginning being a journalist and you're the person who does the talking it was very hard. I felt very exposed. Then I realized in the past couple of years, people who write negative things don't know me and they're tending to write about their own issues and not me.

Uno,

Jesus