I'm Just Saying

by Sarah Smiley, Carol Leifer (Foreword), Ward Carroll (Foreword)

Learn the military's phonetic alphabet if you wish, but I prefer to
irritate my husband by making up my own instead...this is only
slightly less efficient but much more Fabio-Underpants-Naked.

- Sarah Smiley in I'm Just Saying...

For nearly five years, Sarah Smiley has been entertaining readers of
her syndicated newspaper column "Shore Duty" with tales of being a
military wife and mother of three young boys. Now Smiley's best work
is gathered in a collection published by Ballinger Publishing, due to
be released August 16, 2008.

The 288-page paperback book includes forewords by Carol Leifer (former
writer for "Saturday Night Live" and "Seinfeld," the basis for the
character Elaine on "Seinfeld," and screenwriter for Paramount
Television's proposed adaptation of Smiley's columns for a half-hour
sitcom) and Ward Carroll (author, former Navy pilot, and current
managing editor of Military.com).

With commentary on everything from husbands who leave their lunch on
top of their car to Amish Friendship Bread and why children are always
bumping heads, Smiley's writing will "put a grin on your face," says
Time Bete, Director of the Erma Bombeck Writer's Workshop.

"Even those
with no connection to the military will relate," writes Bernie Grimm,
Fox News Analyst.

"Sarah Smiley's columns read like amusing dispatches from your
favorite friend, rather than two-dimensional words on a page. Smiley
has the knack of turning the ordinary, and not-so-ordinary travails of
a modern-day military wife into an absorbing narrative. There's
nothing stoic about this Navy wife who writes with the kind of
three-beer honesty that seems both amusing and brave at the same
time." - Frank Cerabino at the Miami Herald

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2008

About the author

"Uplifting" - Oprah's O Magazine
"an unexpected voice..." - NYT's
"All heart" - USA Today
"Funny, smart and real" - Dave Barry

Sarah Smiley had a syndicated newspaper column for 16 years before she retired in 2018.

Sarah has been featured in Parade Magazine, The New York Times, and USA Today, and on the Today Show, Katie Couric, Nightline, MSNBC, CNN and Fox News.

Sarah has been a Navy dependent for more than 36 years. She and Dustin have three boys, Ford, Owen and Lindell. They live in Maine, where Sarah retired from writing in 2018.

Reviews

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Smiley's banter-like way of giving little glimpses into the life of a military spouses.
You don't have to be one to get a laugh out of the everyday life challenges that she writes about, you just have to be human and have a sense of humor.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed so hard I cried. Couldn't stop reading the stories to my husband who had a good laugh too. Ahhh, the joys of being a NAVY wife...er spouse!

[Bobbye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book of short essays. Perfect for the military wife with kids. Storys are so true.