Louise's Bio

I write - all kinds of things for all kinds of places. I've written seven, count 'em -- or at least count those that are in print -- books for children and adults. My most recent book, Other People's Dirt: A Housecleaner's Curious Adventures, was published by Algonquin Books, and reissued in paper by Plume. It's been translated into French, Italian, German and Chinese. Who knew that I'd ever write a book called "Les Moutons Sous Votre Lit"? (Dust Bunnies Under the Bed!) The book did well, despite some brouhaha from society matrons who didn't want their secrets told, and the bonus was that the National Endowment for the Arts awarded me a hefty and sweet chunk of change for it as well.

I write a weekly feature for the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine called "On the Couch." (It's a couples column, but I promise, it's not sappy.) Others articles have been published in such disparate places as The Washington Post Magazine, Forbes, Health, San Francisco Magazine, Salon, Cosmopolitan, BARK, and the New York Times Magazine. I also record commentary for All Things Considered on National Public Radio - listen in elsewhere on this site. I report news for public radio as well. If you search about, you'll find my by-line in a bunch of other places, too.

Once upon a time, I wrote short stories. These have been collected and anthologized, and one even snagged me first prize in the San Francisco Bay Guardian's short story competition.

When I'm not writing, I'm surfing, dog-loving (see the I-Love-Lucy page) and teaching martial arts. Or doing something else entirely.