Question: Can you judge a book by its cover? Asking for a friend.

Santa Barbara Independent's Tessa Reeg writes:

 "When I met Sandy Resnik (pen name Sandy Pearl) at an AWC Santa Barbara mixer earlier this year, and she told me she had a book about to be published, I was immediately interested. As she told me that it was about her life and gave me a description, I could see by the way she spoke about it that she had quite the story to tell — and that I definitely wanted to read it! 

Then the Phone Rang takes the reader along for the ride of Sandy Pearl’s life — from her difficult relationship with her family to coming of age in the early 1970s and leading to a freewheeling life of exploring Hawai‘i, France, Greece, and more, as well as the funny, chaotic, and even dangerous situations she and her friends found themselves in. From there, she takes us back to California and through her career starting as an assistant at a record label and culminating in Grammys after-parties, working on the first film production allowed into Graceland after Elvis’s death, and producing commercials featuring the likes of Dinah Shore, Steven Tyler, and Betty White!Among it all, she describes her long-term relationships, dealing with a stalker, and the friends and family that come and go as life goes on and things get complicated. To Sandy, the sound of a ringing phone became a sign that something was about to happen — and that whether that change would be for better or worse, she could handle anything life sent her way.

If we could all look back at our younger selves with the same grace, wisdom, and, most of all, good humor that Sandy Pearl does, I think the world would be a much better place. From the highest highs to the lowest lows, she navigated it all as best as she could and now is able to look back at it, realize the lessons she learned, and even spare a word of advice for the younger generation (particularly women!) going through similar things. Her honesty is incredibly refreshing, and even as she describes situations such as her strained relationship with her mother and her ex-husband’s battle with mental illness, she doesn’t sugarcoat the reality while still conveying that even when you feel like things can’t get worse, they can always get better. Here is the story of a woman who has lived her life with a can-do spirit, a willingness to work hard, and a beautifully open heart. Sandy Pearl’s book is a reminder of the way life’s twists and turns can bring you amazing things if you’re willing to pay attention when opportunity knocks — or when the phone rings.

Sandy is also hosting an author talk at Chaucer’s Books on Wednesday, July 9, at 6 p.m. I definitely plan on attending; come join and pick up a copy of this wonderful book!" 

              - Caitlin C., Librarian