My last day in London and it's hot & sunny. People are wearing lots of skirts, shorts and skin. And I keep catching strong whiffs of body odor, which is always reassuring to me.

I meant to write before, but I found myself using up my words in interviews — many interviews, I'm happy to say, because of Rina Gill, my publicist. It's been emotional at times to talk about my novel Thief  and the intersection between my fiction and my own life story. I have to talk about my teenage self and my work as a writer, so it's like being two ages at once, sixteen and 40-something. (I'm not reluctant to admit my age, but I have to have some secrets.)

But I've also had moments of pure happiness here. Everyone at Atlantic made me feel like a million bucks, and more importantly, like a welcome friend. But I have felt championed by Atlantic from day one. And I loved the launch dinner they held for me the other night.

After our meal we headed out on the town in the company of Frances of The Frantastics , a wonderful person and brilliant performer whose act is described as "Elvis and Johnny Cash in frocks." I didn't know all the songs Frances played on the ukelele, but I was able to sing along with "Ring of Fire." I just wish I had asked to hear "Rock Island Line."

Little tidbits I've loved about London: all the men wearing pointy-toed shoes, which look so sexy I can hardly stand it; the old trees in Bedford Square; roses in bloom around Heathrow; every voice I hear — also so sexy I can hardly stand it.