Today is the day to laugh at someone's hard work.

Mrs. Zulkey.com, my advice columnist, is my Mom, who really enjoys trying to help solve your problems, whatever they may be, for some reason. Email her directly here.

By the way, happy birthday to me, tomorrow: Zulkey.com will be four years old. I can't believe I haven't found a more productive way to spend my time in all these years.

After an illustrious career in advertising (she invented the Snapple Lady campaign), today's interviewee packed it all up on September 11, 2001 to do some writing. Her book, The Booster, is out next month, which is about a shoplifter and also just may be inspired by her life in the ad game, working with Donny Deutsch. She is also the Editor-In-Chief of Core, The Dirty Magazine For Smart People

The Jennifer Solow Interview: Somewhat Under Twenty Questions

Are there guidelines for writing a fiction book where the characters are veiled versions of real-life characters? Are there some things that you're required to change?
I asked my agent that very thing. "Like, is there a handout on this or something?" I asked. She said, "Look at Devil Wears Prada!" (say it with a New York accent if you must) "Do what you want."

I had a very brief and non-illustrious career as a copywriter. I think I was under the impression that it was going to be fun-time creativity before I went into it. I left feeling like an asshole but glad to escape the constant competition and belittlement. Does this sound about right?
Um, well, not for me. I moved past that emotion (with the liberal use of alcohol and anti-anxiety medications) to become a highly paid, well-recognized figure (an art director, actually) in the business. THEN I left. If this sounds enviable, ask my children who were put to bed by a babysitter five days a week. I wish I had left earlier. I paid a price.

There are plenty of books out now about fashionable women who live in Manhattan: what sets yours apart from the others?
The Booster has all the trappings of, dare I say, a chicklit novel: the boyfriend, the clothes, the chick. But the humor is biting and aims high (if you catch my drift) Jillian is a dark and twisted character.

It's like the girl who shows up with chipped black nail polish and Doc Martens to the tea party. It was invited for the cake, but doesn't quite fit in.

Which Spike is more fun to work with, Jonze or Lee?
Anyone knows that, Zulkey! Absolutely Spike Jonze. For one, he is an awesome bowler. We bowled nearly every night with tons of famous people and skateboard freaks. For two, Spike is a serious prankster. Everyday some bag of shit or something was getting delivered to our hotel rooms. For three, Spike drives a Crown Vic wearing an afro wig and a fake neck brace. I mean, hello? How fun is that.

Spike Lee? Don't ask.

I was in Mill Valley last year visiting a friend and I saw not one but two slugs, one of which was in my hostess' guest bathroom sink. Do you have slug issues?
Well we do have all that nature and junk out here.

What's your favorite overpriced shampoo of late? (Mine's Framesi)
For expensive shampoo, I go old school: PhytoCitrus
I am also a big fan of EO Chamomile and Honey. It's NOT overpriced.

Do you think there was any significance to the fact that you were presenting on Breck shampoo the day you realized you wanted to quit advertising? I just ask because that brand seems very '70's to me, not very 21st century.
No, but I do think there was a significance to the fact that two giant buildings blew up a few blocks away from me that day. The whole scene was very surreal: blonde girls shaking out the hair and riding in convertibles on the video screen and the Twin Towers burning out the window.

What's the biggest misconception about what life is like working for a major ad firm?
That it's real.

If you had to shoplift something for your mom for Mother's Day, what would it be?
If I had the balls, I would shoplift something really big and expensive and get caught. The publicity would be HUGE and I'd become instantly notorious. I'd say, "It's for my Mom…It's Mother's Day…I was researching my book…It's not mine…Claire Zulkey told me to do it…Do you have any idea who I am?!"

Do you still follow advertising? What are some of your favorite ads right now?
I got rid of my TV. I've been media-ignorant since 2001.

What are you working on now?
I'm working on my second novel.
It's about sex in the suburbs.
I'm currently doing a lot of research.

Being a Famous Author and all, are you familiar with Neal Pollack, the (former) Greatest Living American Writer?
I know Neal (actually Neil) Morrow, my first grade boyfriend, and I know Herky Pollack, with whom I played doctor every chance possible. I do not however know Neal Pollack, proving the theory that if I did not French kiss you while a bunch of kids were cheering "Go! Go! Go!" and I did not pull down my underwear and let you listen to my heartbeat down there, I have no recollection of who you are.

What happened to the screenplay you wrote while you were working on The Booster?
It's hibernating for winter. It's called Getting Charlie Able and it's about a redheaded actor in Hollywood who kills off all the other redheaded actors up for a competing role. I'd like to wake it up someday.

Tell us about Core: How did it get started and why should people read it?
I was about to get married to my (ex) husband and creative partner. We were asking ourselves questions about monogamy and sex and every wine-filled dinner conversation we had with our friends was about vibrators and clitoral-verses-vaginal orgasms and bisexuality and fantasies and S&M and strip clubs.

We were also designers and appreciated beautifully designed, highbrow magazines. And at the time we started Core: The Dirty Magazine For Smart People (early 90's), nothing like that existed. We held meetings for the magazine in the middle of the night and went to our day jobs at 9 am. We threw parties at our loft like it was the Playboy Mansion of Tribeca.

People can't read it because it doesn't exist anymore, but at that time in New York, let's just say we were a very fun couple to know.

How does it feel to be the 142nd person interviewed for Zulkey.com?
Special.

More interviews here!