I just returned from the Aspen Summer Words Literary Festival and to use a word that I normally try to avoid, it was AMAZING.

First of all, how often do writers have a chance to meet other writers? Writing is a solitary pursuit. It’s me, my computer and well, that’s it.  So you can imagine what a treat it is to meet other writers, especially ones from other countries.

Mona Eltahawy was ON FIRE. If you do not know who she is, look her up on YouTube right now and join her Facebook and Twitter page. (She tweets like every 9 minutes so you will learn a lot.)

Khaled Hosseini was his usual self…adorable.  He’s working on a third book and we all look forward to reading it. (By “we” I mean me and thirty million other people.)

Assaf Gavron…my new favorite Israeli writer. His book ALMOST DEAD will blow your mind, no pun intended.

Rabih Alameddine’s bestseller THE HAKAWATI is out in paperback and if you have not read it yet, RUN to the store and buy it. Holy, moly, I would pay to have reviews like that.

I finally had a chance to meet Reza Aslan, and yes, he is really smart, cute and witty. He has a bunch of projects in the pipeline, a media mogul in the making. He is our own Rupert Murdoch, but in a good way.

Elinor Lipman…if you like my books, you will LOVE hers. Come to think of it, I just love Elinor.  She is completely amusing, like a one-woman show that you could watch for hours.

Colum McCann received the Aspen Prize for Literature. How is it that Ireland produces such fascinating writers? It turns out that Colum was close friends with my other favorite Irishman, the late, great Frank McCourt. Colum had to leave the festival early because he had to give a speech for the president of Ireland. I’ve heard that excuse before.

I also met two writers whose work I have not yet read, but now I will. Derek Green and Randall Kenan…remember those names and if they ever have a reading in your area, go. Their talent and warmth will win you over, or I will personally refund your money.

If you are ever in Aspen, make sure to drop by the Nugget Gallery. It’s a small photography gallery full of soul.

Lest you think my life is all ritzy, glitzy with trips to Aspen where I get to hang out with fascinating people, let me just say that I am now looking at a pile of laundry the size of Mt. Olympus, an empty refrigerator that needs to be filled and a house that needs to be cleaned. Yes, mom is home.