Christian comedienne Kerri Pomarolli will be in Fresno this Friday night for a Girls Night Out event at Northpointe Community Church.

Kerri will be filming a DVD on Friday night so she wants as many people to come as possible. Northpointe is offering BOGO (buy-one-get-one free) and all the proceeds will go toward the support of Gabelcrest, a Salvation Army transitional living program for recovering women and their children.

Check out this video of Kerri if you interested in what her comedy is like.

  As you may have known, my “Pre-New Year’s Resolutions” were to finish reading two books before classes started back on 1/9. I am so proud to say that I finished last night! Here are my very amateur reviews of them…

I finished The Shack by William Paul Young first. I absolutely loved Young’s use of language in this book. It made me feel like I was intertwined with the characters and were seeing what they saw. While I still have many questions about the book, it really does challenge the “in-the-box” relationship one might have with God. I identified with the way Young described those who “make time” for God instead of letting him live in and through you. I hope to read it again and try to break it down more.

I turned the final pages of Tricia Goyer’s From Dust and Ashes last night. I was surprised at how much I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I have never been much of a history buff. But there I was, at the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp, crying the same tears as the main character, and feeling the same love of God that Tricia described. I felt convicted as Helene struggled with waiting on the Lord, because I, too, struggle with making hasty decisions without His involvement. I even picked up my Bible right after I finished the book to look up some verses mentioned in the book. I would definitely encourage others to read this!

I so enjoyed my time with the previous books that I have ordered 3 more: A Promise to Believe In by Tracie Peterson, A Valley of Betrayal by Tricia Goyer, and Guys Like Girls Named Jennie by Kerri Pomarolli.  I am looking forward to journeying through those.

What did you think of the two books I just finished? Let me know!

-Brittany

When we launched the Authors@Abunga online chat program in July 2008 our hope was that we could connect readers with some of their favorite authors and maybe make a few book sales in the process. One of the biggest challenges for the program turned out to be that we have a plethora of authors wishing to participate.   It is a challenge only in the sense that we do not have enough time slots to handle this demand.  What an awesome problem to have.

Gavin and Paul

I am so excited about the October chat line-up too.  Yesterday we had actress, comedian and author Kerri Pomarolli who had so many funny stories about the single life. Coming up next week we have Kathy Peel who will give us money saving tips on having an organized home – who can’t use that in today’s economy? On October 22 we have William Paul Young, author of NYT bestseller The Shack.  He and Abunga’s CEO are at the same conference as I write this post so I am a little jealous that he gets to hear the “real story” first hand.  It will definitely be interesting to read Paul’s thoughts on how and why he wrote the book. I have a feeling it is not why most people think. Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren of Purpose Driven Life, will round out the month talking about her book, Dangerous Surrender, and her passion for HIV/AIDS victims in Africa. 

Awesome…  How many times do you get the opportunity to talk to authors like this directly and ask them the things you really want to know about their stories, their work or their passions in life?

If you have not visited one of our author chats yet you should definitely check it out. Authors@Abunga is every Wednesday at 2:00 pm EST. Chat transcripts are available a couple of days following each chat.

If you have attended a chat I would like to know what you thought and if you haven’t yet, tell me who you want to chat with next year. Post your comments to the blog.

Chat with you again soon.

~Kerri

By Amy Sondova Kerri Pomarolli is a popular speaker, author, and comedienne hailing from Los Angeles, California. Backseat Writer recently reviewed her book, Guys Like Girls Named Jennie (read review), and asked Kerri to Take 5. She agreed and send back her answers in bright fuschia font color. You can visit her online at kerripom.com.

In Guys Like Girls Named Jennie, you are very frank and open about your dating experiences. What did the guys you dated think about that when they read the book?

Well it was different in each case. Joshua Cohen considers himself a hero. Todd from early on and Brandon Duck–they loved it. One guy who I wrote about in college…I met up with him later and finally confessed to him about my book. He’s the one I had the huge crush on who could sing. He told me he loved the book and wanted to buy 100 copies. So all in all, it’s been pleasant. One boyfriend, I think, wanted part of the commission!

As a single woman, I found your book refreshing and real. Seriously, it seems like Christian do get married very early in life. What encouragement do you have for those of us who are still single and struggle?

I was 31! I’m still alive! I have a beautiful child and and it all worked out so I’m not sorry I waited. What if I didn’t and married the wrong guy? You know I still have nightmares about that sometimes and I wake up remembering I have Ron [McGehee]. It’s all good. God had the timing. I just had to keep on truckin’ and waiting until it was “right!” I knew in my gut it was right with Ron and you will, too. You just don’t get to pick the date.

When I finished your book I immediately checked out your website to see what happened next, I was excited to see that you married Ron, the last man you talk about in your book. What has happened in your life since marrying Ron?

I got really fat and had a 10 1/2 pound baby girl named Lucy! Now we’re in “Mommy and Me Pilates” but we don’t go a lot because Mommy can’t get the stroller out of the car. I’m on tour non stop with Ron–go figure. We barely have insurance because we’re comics!

It’s been a roller coaster because marriage is really hard and no one told me that (wait for my next book). But I know it’s God’s plans so I try to eat a lot of chocolate and watch reality TV when I need a break. I’ve written another book How to Ruin Your Dating Life and working on other projects. We’re hoping to see this book “Jennie” turned into a film soon. I’m working with Ron on a TV show on the web called www.ilovekerri.tv. We film at our home. I could go on and on but basically it’s one day at a time and doing what God wants that day.

I was watching some of your “I Love Kerri” videos on YouTube and couldn’t help but think how amusing you are. Then it struck me there are far less female comedians than men. Why do you think this is?

Ya know, you’re right; I am amusing! No, seriously, there aren’t enough women comics. I am not happy about that. We need to be represented. It’s been a male dominated field for too long. But so was rocket science at one point. We just need to step out there and do it. I need co-workers! I’m not sure why more women haven’t tried comedy. It’s cheaper than therapy. But seriously, I think it’s hard for women to be vulnerable in front of strangers. I just like to talk so doing it for a living is perfect for me.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh out loud in a highly unfeminine manner?

Oh my gosh! So many things! I get really mad at Ron and then he makes me laugh so I get hiccups that are really loud. I can’t stop laughing and I’m trying to be mad. My baby makes me laugh every day because she thinks she’s 16. She’s trying to walk so she runs around doing swan dives off the furniture fearlessly all over the house. I laugh at my friend’s project, which is called “The Sweatshop”– the Asian Version of the “The Office.” It’s a sweat shop in Malaysia performed by Dat Phan, Amy Anderson, and some other brilliant comics!

Print copy of Take 5.

By Amy Sondova Finally, a book for the single woman about dating—written by a woman who actually goes on dates. Kerri Pomarolli’s Guys Like Girls Named Jennie (Zondervan) is a fresh approach to tired old singles books. Instead of bogging readers down with dating tips, Kerri takes us through her dating history—detail by excruciating detail. This comedienne/actress/author writes conversationally and more importantly, realistically. Reading each chapter is like sitting down for a smoothie with Kerri as she recounts her latest dating disaster or plans her next great romance.

Being a single woman myself, I found Kerri’s forthright attitude about dating, courtship, how the church views singles, and trying to find God’s best to be so true. In fact, Kerri says the things the rest of us are thinking, and she communicates her message through humor. For example, she writes, “Doesn’t it seem like all Christians get married right after puberty? I mean, if you’re twenty-five, a Christian, and single, people need to be lifting you up in prayer.” Exactly. Kerri tackles these issues head-on, refusing to hold back, and readers will love her for it.

It’s not just the humor that makes Guys Like Girls Named Jennie so enjoyable; it’s Kerri’s ability to break down her experiences with a dose of humility and vulnerability. When she goes too far into a relationship emotionally or physically, she is quick to admit her folly. “Okay, it’s a given that I never made it through watching an entire movie with a boyfriend without some massive make-out session…” she writes while seeing a man she refers to as Mr. H. It doesn’t work out with Mr. H because he doesn’t share her convictions, nor does it work out with Joshua or Doug or Rob or many others. In fact, one of Kerri’s relationships ends with a stalker from a Christian dating site. Ouch! Towards the end of the book, Kerri winds up starting a relationship with fellow comedian Ron, who is clearly the best of the lot (though Kerri does date some pretty amazing eligible bachelors).

Perhaps the most touching parts of the book come when Kerri dares to ask the questions on the hearts of women like, “So, God, are you saying I can’t handle a boyfriend right now? Am I so much more ill prepared for marriage than all of my friends who are married?” She even touches on a very sensitive issue—what if there is no Mr. Right for her? What if God’s best doesn’t come? Interestingly enough, I would have never imagined that a beautiful woman like Kerri would have any so many dating foibles. Sure, she has little trouble getting dates, but a lot of trouble finding the “right” guy for her. From the beginning of the book until the end, Kerri grows from a girl who wants to date a Christian man into a woman who only wants a man after God’s own heart (one who will pray with her and for her).

Whether you’re single, dating, married, or divorced, Guys Like Girls Named Jennie is a book for every woman at any time of her life. Kerri’s experiences are laugh-out-loud funny, heart-breaking, real, and also offer insight into the heart of God and His love for His children. Incidentally, Kerri’s story does have a happy ending. Find out what happened between her and Ron at her personal website, kerripom.com.

A lot of people don’t like swearing and dirty humor…fair enough. Here are some really great clean comedians in L.A. that I recommend.

Bone Hampton
Kerri Pomarolli
Ron McGehee
Bernadette Balagtas
Michael Batts

Visit their pages…they are really funny and cool people. Being a clean comedian is the most difficult thing to do in stand-up comedy. I have a huge amount of respect for these people. It’s easy to get a laugh by simply saying “fuck”. But to get people to laugh without swearing…those are what I call “mic skills”. You’ll be listening to these comedians…and about 5 minutes in…you’ll realize…they have not said a curse word once…but you are still laughing like crazy. It’s amazing.

On a side note…the best clean comedian in the country is Jim Gaffigan. HE’S UNREAL! I’ve seen him do 7 minutes on bacon at Largo.