Speakeasy with - Amy Sedaris

Actress, writer and sister to humorist David Sedaris, Amy Sedaris is a social butterfly compared with Jerri Blank, her surly, snaggle-toothed, jailbird alter ego from "Strangers With Candy." In her new book I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence (Warner Books, $27.99, 304 pp.), Sedaris demonstrates her bohemian, low-budget but surprisingly practical approach to parties and cooking. Sedaris shares her ideas about entertaining at the Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore, at 7 p.m. Nov. 28, but gave us a little taste through a phone interview.</
Although the book is basically about practical ideas and recipes, it's also filled with funny little touches. How did you strike a balance between humor and information?</
I think a book about entertaining had to be entertaining. ["Candy" co-creator] Paul Dinello collaborated with me and helped bring out the humor when I was treating it seriously. If I wrote something like, "Someone always leaves one of my parties saying 'That's the best time I ever had!'" Paul would say "You're the one who says that."</
How does your approach to hospitality compare to Martha Stewart's?</
I've been called "a poor man's Martha Stewart" and a perfect parody of her, but I've actually never seen anything by her or read any of her books. My book was inspired by the women who came before her: visually, by Betty Crocker, and in recipes, by Fanny Farmer. All hospitality books are basically the same, and I didn't want to do anything too kitschy or retro, even if the book looks that way. I just thought it would be something that people who did a lot of entertaining would find funny. I also think it can make the readers into better guests, because they'll know what the hostess has to go through to make her party outstanding.</
Why didn't you write about entertaining at the holidays in the book?</
When I first did the pitch for the book, I looked at a list of things that I thought would be challenging: to entertain an old person, a sick person, a lumberjack. For some reason it didn't occur to me to mention the holidays and I never went back to correct it, even though I'm a holiday person.</
Do you have any suggestions for enjoying the holidays?</
I've heard that for some people, the holidays are about medicating themselves just so they can get through them, but we all get along in my family and look forward to getting together. But like I said in the book, I don't like showing up at someone's home right when they're putting the turkey in the oven. I'm like, "Dammit, now I have to be here all day!" I don't think you should spend a lot of energy and money giving people food and drink all day, then the big meal. Start with the meal, then sit down and drink.</
Between the humorous photos of you in the book and your tendency to play unglamorous roles such as Jerri Blank, it's like you treat fashion modeling like stand-up comedy. Are you drawn to doing funny pictures?</
I've never been interested in standing in front of a camera looking sexy. I feel more comfortable playing unattractive people than beautiful people, which is something you generally have to do with comedy. And I love costumes — it's like playing with one of those old disguise kits. I also think it's funny that the book is about entertaining, but I'm the only person in the photos, so it seems kind of lonely.</
What are some tips for rescuing a bad party?</
That's a tough one. That's why preparation counts so much. The first 15 minutes of a party will tell you exactly how good it's going to be. You can't count on loud music or liquor to come to the rescue; sometimes they'll just magnify everyone's bad time. It also helps to have a time limit, so at least you can say, "This'll only be bad until 11 p.m."</
Is it true that when you perform in stage plays, you sell homemade food items in the lobby?</
I always have something to sell, usually vanilla cupcakes for $1 a piece. But it's never about the money, but having a transaction with people.