Queen of the Oddballs: And Other True Stories from a Life Unaccording to Plan
A hilariously offbeat memoir about an adventurous young woman's escapades as she defies conventions and transforms an ordinary Los Angeles life into a star-studded, extraordinary miracle of self-discovery.
Queen of the Oddballs forms a chronology of Hillary Carlip's habitual straying from roads more traveled -- from a wisecracking third-grader suspended from school for smoking (while imitating Holly Golightly) to a headline-making teen activist, juggler and fire eater, friend (NOT "fan") of Carly Simon and Carole King, grand prize-winning Gong Show contestant, cult rock star, and seeker of spiritual and romantic truths that definitely defy expectations.
Illustrated with ephemera -- from diary entries and photographs to a handwritten letter from Carly Simon -- Queen of the Oddballs presents a virtual time capsule of pop culture's last four decades and celebrates a creative life lived to the hilt.
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Hillary Carlip, author of Girl Power, has written commentaries for NPR, and is a performer and artist. She is the creator of the acclaimed personal essay Web site freshyarn.com, and she lives in Los Angeles.
"[Ms. Carlip's] curriculum vitae reads like a Cliffs Notes version of American popular culture..." -- New York Times
"Carlip has lived a life that would make Leonard Zelig jealous." -- Entertainment Weekly
"Funny, endearing, and sweet for the soul, this is a lovable memoir." -- Bust Magazine
"[T]he charm... lies inher whimsical surrender to celebrity culture, balanced byher awareness of how silly it all is." -- The Advocate
"Quirky... hilarious... this unconventional tale of self-discovery offers an unforgettable ride." -- Pages Magazine
"An unpredictable, fresh, distinctive memoir ... it will suck you in before you know it." -- Laurie Notaro, NY Times bestselling author of The Idiot Girl's Action Adventure Club
"Colorful? She was a kid Auntie Mame! Her book should be mandatory reading for anybody contemplating fabulousness." -- Paul Reubens, Pee-wee Herman
"Hillary Carlip is the best kind of eccentric: Genuine, ballsy, funny and soulful. ... She deserves to be our queen." -- Beth Lisick, Author of Everybody into the Pool
"A hilarious and inspiring read for all of us who were too afraid to be ourselves. Or stalk Carole King." -- Jenny Bicks, Executive Producer, Sex and the City
