In Loose Diamonds, an engaging collection of essays and observations, Amy Ephron, the acclaimed, award-winning author of the One Sunday Morning and A Cup of Tea, paints a rich, vivid, and comic portrait of modern living from a modern woman’s perspective. Fans of the writings of Amy Sedaris and Joan Didion’s Slouching Toward Bethlehem will enjoy Ephron’s funny, incisive take on the intricate weave of a woman’s world.

From a bizarre afternoon with Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme to the startling discovery of a secret garden, these are the stories—some hilarious, some heartbreaking—that define a life:

• Witty Observations: On quitting being psychic, the perils of mistake-shopping, and why single women who buy champagne by the case rarely end well.
• Hollywood Life: A startling interview with one of Charlie Manson’s followers, a childhood friendship with the mysterious architect of Hollywood Park, and other only-in-L.A. encounters.
• Post-Modern Family: Navigating the absurdities of divorce, dating, and carpool-lane confrontations in a world where everyone seems to be someone’s ex.
• A Modern Woman’s Perspective: A poignant and surprisingly funny reflection on what it means to lose everything—from a spec screenplay to a lifetime of jewelry—and what you find in its place.