I did the worst thing Monday night. Between a flurry of phone calls and emails with my web designer in anticipation of the launch of The Secret Between Us Tuesday morning – and a flurry of phone calls and emails with my agent and my editor about next year’s book – I was working at my computer for most of Monday evening. I went to bed late and woke early, checked my calendar for the day – and realized that I had completely missed a phone call that I was supposed to make to discuss Family Tree with a book group in Florida at 8 the evening before!

I’ve never missed a meeting before. Oh, I’ve worried that I would. I was raised to arrive places early and to pay bills as soon as they come, so I often call book groups a minute or two before the appointed hour. I love these groups. I’ve visited nearly 30 of them since last March, and while each one is different, they never fail to give me a boost.

I blew it this time.

What to do? I sat here horrified, drinking tea to ease a nascent headache, watching the clock, waiting until 9 AM to call the leader of the group, the hostess of the evening’s debacle. When the time finally came (actually, a minute or two early, as is my way), I put through the call.

“Hi, this is Barbara Delinsky,” I said, rushing on, “and I am so, so sorry. I was here at my desk all evening, dealing with two crises, and … just … blew it when it came to your group. This was my bad all the way.”

She could not have been nicer or, amazingly, given what I’d done, more enthusiastic that I had called her. But she did tell me (a) that she had hired a black-tie caterer to serve dinner at the book group meeting, (b) that the dessert was a special sheet cake in the shape of a book, (c) that she had bought a new phone to optimize speakerphone capability, and (d) that the group had rehearsed the questions they were going to ask me. Needless to say, they were devastated when I didn’t call.

She and I had a great discussion, agreeing, among other things, to reschedule the meeting. I hung up the phone and promptly signed copies of The Secret Between Us for each of the 12 members, then drove to Kinko’s to instantly FedEx them out.

Did I tell you that this woman had also sent me pictures of the members of her group in advance of our meeting? She had to have been one of the most eager, most generous, most comprehensive meeting preparers I’ve ever dealt with. And I let her down.

Why am I telling you this? It isn’t something I’m proud of. But it is part of the HOW TO of being a writer. It relates to the business part. Ahhh, for the day when all I had to do with my life was to write books! I would estimate that I spend 40% of my work time on business. There are lots of things to keep straight, and I don't only mean the crises of my current characters. I’m talking about things that have to do with that most precious commodity, my readers.

If you’re a member of the group I stood up last Monday, please accept my sincere apology. I look forward to talking with you in the near future.

If you’re a member of another book group, please know that I’ve now instituted safeguards so that this never happens again. If you want to test me out, send me a note through CONTACT and we’ll slot your group in.

Not in a book group? Just my average, prized reader? The message here is that I’m human. I'm hoping you'll love me, warts and all.