Pamela Erens (right) greets guests at the party celebrating the publication of her new novel, The Understory, held in the loft of her friend, artist Susan Sugar. "Though most reviewers will pin this as Erens' debut novel, do not be fooled," quips GalleyCat party correspondent Amanda ReCupido. "Her husband informed us that she wrote her first novel at age 11 (and not the pink-journal kind, either)."

"The loft itself was the perfect setting for the evening's event," Amanda adds. "Before reading, Erens reminisced about going into labor with her first child in that very room during her baby shower. Further still, her protagonist's eviction struggle is widely modeled off of the real-life battle for Sugar's living space. Both of Erens' children were present to hear mom read and were toting a well-worn copy of the latest Harry Potter in addition to Mom's book; wonder which one they'll choose for a bedtime story..."