Stephanie Kallos's debut novel, BROKEN FOR YOU, received quite the acclaim upon its release last year. But as the Seattle Times' Misha Berson reports, this Friday night she'll experience an unusual kind of déjà vu, being in the audience for the premiere of the play based on the book.

"I have nothing to do with it, other than lending them my husband," says the warm, vivacious author, who lives in North Seattle with Johns and their two sons. "I have great respect for Book-It. And it's been three years since I've been involved with the novel in any way. I'm eager to let go of it and see it with fresh eyes." While the once-actress is happy to be a mere spectator at the Book-It opening, she has no regrets about her theater years. "As an actor you need to learn how to climb into someone's head, and under their skin," she reflects. "I don't know how I'd be a writer if I hadn't done that."