Stephanie Faul is a freelance writer, editor and journalist who lives in Washington, D.C., in an old house primarily furnished with stacks of books, plants and plastering tools. She enjoys Irish music, Vietnamese food, Italian footwear, Siamese cats and English novels. Growing up in the nations capital has given her a unique perspective on the foibles and quirks of her compatriots and has taught her more than she ever wanted to know about cocktail parties, politics and hyperbole. Ms Faul comes from a typical American background: half Czech immigrant, half Connecticut Yankee, with a Ger...