December 2025
CoreSport
Author signing at the CoreSport Christmas Party, December 2025.
Can you judge a book by its cover?
Asking for a friend.
The Book
Then the Phone Rang:
My Journey from Hitchhiking Hippie to the Hollywood High Life
This book offers a heartfelt glimpse into my life, filled with tales of adventure, courage, insights, and a few unexpected twists along the way. From my hitchhiking hippie days to Hollywood dreams and so much more…
Grab a copy and join me on this journey!
📍 Available locally at Chaucer's Books, Tecolote Book Shop, and The Mesa Bookstore.
"If you don't take a chance, you don't have one."
It's a Wrap for the 2026 Santa Barbara Writers Conference!
Still buzzing from immersion in this sea of storytellers! I couldn't wait to return to where it all began in June 2024 and celebrate my journey with you.
It felt surreal to be even a small part of that same literary legacy in which Ray Bradbury shared his "zen," Charles Schulz sketched his wisdom, and Fannie Flagg—who was the opening-night keynote speaker—discovered her fried green tomatoes.
It was an exciting and amazing week full of learning and connecting with talented, like-minded individuals. The days quickly passed with dynamic workshops, enlightening panels, book signings, and inspiring keynote speakers. Evenings provided excellent networking at happy hours and banquets, where laughter and stories were shared among both new and familiar friends, culminating in the closing-night dinner and awards ceremony.
During the event, I also had the honor of participating on two panels: Book Marketing Magic & Authors of the Roundtable Seminar, hosted by Rachel Sarah Thurston, and the Nonfiction Author Panel, moderated by Matthew Pallamary.
Book Marketing Magic & Authors of the Roundtable Seminar
Photo credit: Rachel Sarah Thurston
Nonfiction Author Panel
Here are some behind-the-scenes photos from SBWC:
Watch this YouTube podcast hosted by Lisa Angle of Angle on Writing, where I discuss Memoir, Hybrid Publishing, and Book Marketing.
▶ Watch: Memoir, Hybrid Publishing, and Book Marketing Check out my Amazon reviews →
I am happy to speak at your book clubs. Please email me at sandraresnik@yahoo.com if you're interested!
October 25, 2025
Tecolote Book Shop
Author talk and signing followed by a lively Q&A at Montecito's 100-year-old Tecolote Book Shop. Many thanks to everyone who came out to support me!
September 9, 2025
Santa Barbara Woman's Club
Author talk and signing at the Santa Barbara Woman's Club.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Chaucer's Books
Check out the YouTube link to my author talk and book signing at Chaucer's Books.
▶ Watch the Chaucer's Books talk on YouTubePraise
Endorsements
"A great, engaging read; it was fun to relive the most iconic era of rock 'n' roll. Sandy nailed it with her unique and authentic style."
"This book delivers heart, soul, relatability, wit, and humor while evoking nostalgic memories of classic times in the music business."
"A collection of stories and vignettes with a cinematic quality, allowing you to visualize yourself in the midst of the action."
"Sandy has a gripping story to share, which she presents with insight, authenticity, relatability, and abundant wry wit."
"I've been following Sandy's journey for decades, from backstage at a Foreigner concert to anxiously awaiting news from the ICU. She is a terrific storyteller; readers will find much to connect with in these pages."
"This book knocks it out of the park! What a storyteller! Sandy's life experiences and adventures transcend conventional genre lines and will resonate with people of all ages."
"Having been 'in the room' for the past sixty-two years and experiencing many of the moments described in this book, I found myself laughing, crying, and smiling as I vividly relived countless memories."
"What fun! Being a 1950's kid with a parallel life, it's cool to see the voyage of a fellow traveler and one told so straightforward, with confidence and humor."
"Then the Phone Rang is an engaging, heartfelt, and thoroughly entertaining memoir that proves real life can be every bit as captivating as Hollywood itself. Sandy Pearl takes readers on an unforgettable journey from the free-spirited days of hitchhiking and self-discovery to the fast-paced world of the entertainment industry, creating a story that is both deeply personal and universally relatable."
BC Silver · Former Kirkus Reviewer
Endorsement
"A collection of stories and vignettes with a cinematic quality, allowing you to visualize yourself in the midst of the action. There are plenty of dopamine hits available to choose from within these pages."
Dusk Weaver · Award-winning author and editor
Endorsement
"Sandy has a gripping story to share, which she presents with insight, authenticity, relatability, and abundant wry wit. This book is more than a good read; it is an outright adventure."
Jim Hallock · A decades-long fan
Endorsement
"I've been following Sandy's journey for decades, from backstage at a Foreigner concert to anxiously awaiting news from the ICU. She is a terrific storyteller; readers will find much to connect with in these pages. As anyone who knows Sandy would expect, she is courageous, vulnerable, insightful, and incredibly witty."
Caitlin C. · Librarian
Endorsement
"This book knocks it out of the park! What a storyteller! Sandy's life experiences and adventures transcend conventional genre lines and will resonate with people of all ages. Grab a copy of this book; you won't regret it. Two thumbs way up."
Jessica Daniels · Book Marketing Strategist
Unsolicited Praise
"Then the Phone Rang is an engaging, heartfelt, and thoroughly entertaining memoir that proves real life can be every bit as captivating as Hollywood itself. Sandy Pearl takes readers on an unforgettable journey from the free-spirited days of hitchhiking and self-discovery to the fast-paced world of the entertainment industry, creating a story that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.
What makes this memoir so enjoyable is Sandy's storytelling. She writes with warmth, honesty, and an effortless conversational style that makes readers feel as though they're sitting across from a friend hearing remarkable stories over coffee. Every chapter offers a new adventure, unexpected opportunity, or meaningful life lesson, making it difficult to put the book down.
Beyond the Hollywood experiences, the memoir is ultimately about embracing change, trusting life's unexpected turns, and having the courage to follow opportunities that arrive when you least expect them. Sandy's journey reminds readers that success often comes from remaining open to possibilities rather than following a carefully scripted plan.
The behind-the-scenes entertainment stories are fascinating, but it's the authenticity of Sandy's voice that truly makes the book shine. She captures the excitement, uncertainty, humor, and humanity behind an extraordinary life without ever losing sight of the personal experiences that shaped her along the way.
Readers who enjoy Hollywood memoirs, inspirational life stories, entertainment industry books, and memoirs filled with adventure and personal growth will find much to appreciate here.
A wonderfully uplifting memoir that celebrates resilience, opportunity, and the remarkable places life can take us when we dare to answer the call."
Nora H. · Lifelong friend
Endorsement
"Having been 'in the room' for the past sixty-two years and experiencing many of the moments described in this book, I found myself laughing, crying, and smiling as I vividly relived countless memories. With Sandy's relatable style and authentic voice, readers, too, will feel as if they are in the room, embarking on a journey that offers entertainment, insight, and inspiration. I've cherished sharing this adventure called life with you, whether in person or otherwise, my treasured friend. I have no doubt your phone will keep ringing, and you'll continue to turn the page."
Reviews
What critics are saying
Readers' Favorite
"Life can be exciting, challenging, or dull, but for Sandy Pearl, it was always eventful. The vibrant music scene of the '70s and '80s is described in fascinating detail, with all its glamour and shadows exposed. The short, punchy chapters unfold in rapid succession. The style is candid, chatty, and amusing. This is a thoroughly entertaining memoir that is both charming and insightful."
Santa Barbara Independent
"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. Her honesty is incredibly refreshing. 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."
Readers' Favorite · by Leonard Smuts
Full Review
"Life can be exciting, challenging, or dull, but for Sandy Pearl, it was always eventful. She shares her story in Then the Phone Rang: My Journey from Hitchhiking Hippie to the Hollywood High Life. She begins by taking readers back to the family dinner table in Santa Barbara in 1959, aged 8 years old. She had two older brothers, a distant father, and a mother who tended toward narcissism. She dropped out of college in 1971 to travel overseas, with its adventures and misadventures. She returned to the USA to become a hostess at a restaurant in Los Angeles, meeting famous people. A receptionist position at Atlantic Records on the famed Sunset Boulevard followed, before being promoted to Publicity Department Assistant. Finding romance in the office, she resigned but stayed in the thriving music, television, and movie industries. She moved in with her eccentric partner, but with no prospect of marriage, they split after 12 years. She underwent therapy and revisited her relationship with her mother. The vibrant music scene of the '70s and '80s is described in fascinating detail, with all its glamour and shadows exposed. The author does not set out to make startling disclosures about the celebrities that she encountered, remaining tactfully silent, but telling some interesting anecdotes. The celebrities that Sandy mingled with certainly were an eclectic bunch. The ringing phone always preceded change, generally for the better.
Sandy Pearl shares life-changing moments, such as being diagnosed with pneumonia after collapsing at the age of 58. This forced a change of pace and a shift to freelance work. Romance eluded her at times, and she went through both marriage and divorce, followed by more therapy. Friends and family members died or moved on. The short, punchy chapters unfold in rapid succession. The style is candid, chatty, and amusing. There is never a dull moment, making for easy and enjoyable reading. The book is illustrated with family photographs that bring the players to life. A bonus is a retrospective update as to what became of the main characters. Then the Phone Rang illustrates that life can have its synchronicities, although sometimes you have to use your contacts. Sandy shares her resourcefulness and vivacious character to the full, reflecting that a career in the music, television, or advertising world is not for the faint-hearted. This is a thoroughly entertaining memoir that is both charming and insightful."
Santa Barbara Independent · by Tessa Reeg
Full Review
"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."
Behind the Book
A few personal notes
My bookmarks arrived!
This is really happening!
A sneak preview
Here's a peek at some of the chapter headings in Part Four: Serendipity.
"The year was 1975… a bit of humility never hurt anyone." 😊
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all the readers who are free to read whatever writers choose to write, and to those who discover a piece of themselves within these pages.
