Just Laugh - About Us: 20 Questions with the Contributors... -- Linda Sharp

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The Making of
Just Laugh magazine

Get to Know the Editors...

20 Questions with the Contributors...

Name: Linda Sharp
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Website: Sanity Central

Started with Just Laugh: July 2002

Favorite Food: Sushi (Eel .... don't get all squirmy and go Ewwwwww)
Favorite TV shows: Six Feet Under, Sopranos and yes, I freely admit to being a Friends, Frasier, Will & Grace lover
Favorite Comedian: George Carlin
Favorite Movie(s): The Four Seasons (Alan Alda, Carol Burnett), Singin' In The Rain, Con Air (Quite the varied taste, huh?)
Favorite Book: The Grass Is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank (Erma Bombeck) and The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Hobbies: Exercise, baking, traveling, wine collecting, dining out, Las Vegas (that's a hobby, isn't it?)
Awesomest Candy: Milk Duds - Period. (...but Candy Corn, Kit Kats, and Jelly Beans will do in a pinch!)
Inspiration: Erma Bombeck, Dave Barry. Also my deceased Grandma Ho - what a women she was...about four feet six inches, came into this world named Elsie Semen. Got married - new last name: Yount. Got divorced, remarried. New last name: Hofacker. (I always said she MUST have married for love) God love her, she was the feistiest woman who lived every second of life until she went to sleep and passed on at 86.
Sexiest Disney Character:

For a casual romp? Gaston from Beauty and The Beast. "I use antlers in all of my decorating..." - what a guy.
For a serious relationship? Mr. Bubbles from Lilo & Stitch - serious, smart, brooding, dry wit, buff bod, and an air of mystery.

Biggest Waste of an Hour: DMV line or sex and no orgasm
Best Way to Spend an Hour: full body massage
What I'd Like Heard at My Funeral: "She was a handful...a funny bitch, but a handful. God help God now!"
What would happen if you didn't have a TV? What!?!? No SpongeBob Squarepants!?!? BITE YOUR TONGUE!!!!!
Most Noble Pet: Noble? A pet? What is noble about crapping in the yard or licking yourself all day long? Next question?
Current CDs in Stereo:

Aaron Carter
Matchbox 20
Now 9
The Bee Gees, Greatest Hits
Bon Jovi, Cross Road

How did you get started in the business?

I have always been told I have "a way with words". Once I began having children, I would regale my friends with tales of my days - they would be in tears from laughing so hard. One of them kept telling me that I just needed to "write that down". I finally did. Submitted a piece, got accepted and it took off from there. I have been VERY fortunate.

Why do you do what you do?

Because it comes naturally. I am happiest entertaining people and love being able to work, stay at home with my kids and make a living at something I truly enjoy.

Where do you get your ideas & topics from?

My family, news reports, emails from parents around the world.

Which piece are you most proud of/which do you enjoy the most?

The piece I wrote the morning of 9/11 called "Talking To Your Kids About The Terror In Terrorism". One of my regular online publishers had it up and running by noon, EST that day. It was picked up by media outlets both mainstream, print and online, run everywhere, and I received thousands of emails from parents around the globe thanking me for giving them some direction in how to talk to their children. I felt like I had filled an immediate need.
On the humorous side? I still enjoy reading my Cosmo send-up piece about Condoms.

What are your "forbidden" topics? (what won't you write about)

There is really nothing I won't touch. However, I try to write without a huge amount of profanity, keeping it restrained to damn, etc - it IS possible to be funny without engaging the "F" word. (Although I find the "F" word highly useful when I am verbally angry.)

Comments...

Buy my book for every parent you know. (Nuff said?)