On Tuesday I attended a career seminar/book signing held by Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio, author of the The Girls Guide to Business series. Their latest book, The Girl’s Guide to Kicking Your Career Into Gear (yes, their series doesn’t have an apostrophe but the book titles do–go figure) is about how to ask for a raise, a promotion, a corner office, or just a longer lunch break. (It also covers how to switch jobs if the one you’re in is making it hard for you to get what you’re asking for.)

You can read my interview with Kim Yorio (the shorter one) on ReadExpress.com here: Real Chick Lit

In the course of writing this story, I didn’t exactly have the opportunity to read the book, so I can’t vouch for its content, but I can certainly vouch for Caitlin and Kim, who are both very well-spoken, enthusiastic, knowledgeable women. (And I don’t believe the bit about Caitlin having a fear of public speaking–nice try, ladies.)

The ‘girls’ mentioned a story about being on The Today Show: the first time, Kim freaked out and Caitlin did all the talking. The second time, just before the cameras went on, Caitlin said she thought, “Oh my god, people actually watch this show.”

I had my own mini-moment like that yesterday, when I introduced myself at the end of the presentation and the girl behind me in the book-signing line said “Oh, you wrote that article? That’s how I knew to come here.”

Oh.

People actually read this paper. Hmm.

It’s easy to get suckered into the idea that you’re a lone writer toiling in obscurity, but everyone–from the top guy at the Post to a blogger with a Technorati authority of 3–has to remember that there ARE people out there reading.