About the Author
Erec Smith has been a writer since before he could spell, which was a real pain in the ass to his older sister, who he asked to spell every word he knew. "How do you spell Once? How do you spell Upon?" By the time he got to "A Time" she was fed up, and he'd have to go draw, or play kick ball, or whatever the hell it was kids did in the 80s.

Now, he has a Ph.D. in English from University of Illinois, a teaching gig at a small liberal arts college, a wacky novel by the name of Creamy Nougat, and a bunch of other obscure articles on rhetorical and writing theory that he actually find interesting (if no one else does). Lately, he has become the content director and occasional writer for GetOnTheCouch.com. He likes the idea of people getting real advice from real people, and he tries to put the most interesting and experientially eclectic articles on the site (a variety of viewpoints is ideal. At the very least, it's more intriguing).
There is a lot to be said about romance and relationships in this world. At GetOnTheCouch.com, it is our goal to let it all be said. We've inspired web-surfers from all over to contribute to this grand, world-wide discussion of the trials and tribulations of love (and lust). From the wacky to the serious, GetOnTheCouch.com expresses and exposes the truth about the romantic experience through essays and member contributions on topics from singlehood to marriage.

Now, you can enjoy the best of GetOnTheCouch.com in the new book, Get On The Couch: Relationship Advice from Everyday People. This first volume of the handheld version of the hit new website is a compilation of essays focused on observations and advice about love and romance. Also, enjoy the real questions and answers that we've collected from the site, so far.

Topics include cultivating a healthy marriage, sexual peeves, the sexiness of douche bags, the pros and cons of sociopathic dating, interracial relationships, dealing with in-laws, and more.

So Get on our couch, relax, and get real insight from real people.
Get on the Couch is partly defined by what it is not: the same-old cliched "advice." Instead, these real experiences and honest observations show us that there are common experiences to all relationships. While it does do some traditional advising, these words come from people who have dated that career-obsessed or super-family-oriented partner and have some wise words to share. Overall, this collection points to the importance of healthy relationships and happy people and show that these things depend on figuring out who you are as a person and as a couple. As a bonus, the essays also give options for dealing with open relationships or partners who blink excessively or chomp their teeth during sex. Get on the Couch should give us all hope for finding and maintaining successful, enjoyable relationships. My sister’s getting a copy for her birthday.

--Brooke Ethridge, Loyola University, New Orleans