Welcome to my blog, Are You Kidding Me? As my kids started to grow up and out, I filled the void with writing. I bundled up all my frustrations and oozed them out onto paper, one pain-in-the-ass problem at a time and it felt good.

When I share my work, people laugh and can relate. That’s because my problems are like yours. Does your husband need to be reminded each week to take out the trash? So does mine. Do your kids complain about everything from the way you drive to your fashion sense? Mine too. Do the holidays cause you to overdose on Maalox? See what I mean? You’re just like me except I write about it, much to the chagrin of my family.

I live in Pleasanton, CA with my college sweetheart, Mike, and a white furball named Stanley who loves peanut butter treats.

Now go grab a coffee, relax and have a good laugh on my behalf. I don’t mind.

Do you know Stacey Gustafson? It’s a Q & A!

Where did you grow up?

I’m proud to be a city slicker from St. Louis; you know that place with the Arch. It’s home to a bunch of really delicious bad-for-you food like toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake and Provel cheese.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

It would have to be sledding down Art Hill after the first big snow with my father. It was a good day when I came home without a head injury or my fingers sliced off by another sledder.

What inspired you to become a writer?

Mrs. Hill, my high school English teacher, picked me to be Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper. Sometimes I think she just wanted to load me up with extra work so I would quit talking in her class.

Who are some of your favorite writers?

I love Lisa Scottoline and Janet Evanovich, tough, sassy, funny women.

Do you think you’re funny?

People laugh when they’re with me but maybe they’re laughing at me, either way I enjoy the attention. I discovered around 8^th grade that I could make my mom laugh her butt off when I imitated Mick Jagger and Elvis, or my father.

Did you ever imagine you would write a book?

I had a dream I would write the Great American novel then downgraded it to a pretty good book. That’s the one I imagined writing.

What inspired the cover of Are You Kidding Me?

I want my book cover to portray the way I feel every day, not mad or sad but frustrated. I’m frustrated with the laundry, waking up before 9AM, self-checkout lanes, public restrooms, Brussels sprouts, roundabouts, and the carpool.

If you had to sum up your book in three words, what would they be?

Funny, relatable, and honest.

If you could choose any celebrity to be on the cover of your book, who would it be and why?

Patricia Heaton would be a perfect fit. In real life and onscreen, she exemplifies the way I feel, a regular mom who gets frazzled often, speaks her mind, blows up but in the end, loves her family.

Do you think Big Foot exists?

If he’s out there, the poor guy must be walking with a cane, more like Grandpa Big Foot. Since Big Foot is described as a big hairy creature maybe I’m married to him.

What is your favorite TV show?

I watch so many comedy sitcoms I can recite the lines. I study the delivery of jokes from my favorites like Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queens, Everybody Hates Chris, Modern Family and The Middle.

What is your favorite movie?

Hands down, it’s got to be School of Rock. I’ve watched it 30 times at least. It’s a comedic treasure, full of great lines. When Jack Black says, “Okay, who’s got food in here? You’re not gonna get in trouble, I’m hungry,” I’ve spit milk right out of my nose.

Are you a better cook than your husband?

In order to be better at something, you need competition. My husband makes pancakes on Saturday. That’s it. I must say he’s the better cook!

Ice cream or custard?

If you have to ask this question, you’ve never had frozen custard from Ted Drewes in St. Louis. It’s made of at least 10% butterfat. That’s an ingredient I can get behind.