(FORTUNE Small Business) – Normally the Editor's Notes drill requires me to wax poetic about the contributors who help put out this magazine. And I was about to do just that with Anne Fisher, the author of this month's cover story ("Is Your Business Taking Over Your Life?" page 32). Until, that is, I got the following bio from Anne via e-mail--and realized no one does Anne Fisher better than Anne Fisher. So here's the truth about Anne in her own words, which capture the very essence of one of the smarter and more entertaining writers out there. "Hank: Here's my fascinating life story. (Got any No-Doz handy?) I joined Fortune as a reporter in 1980, was promoted to associate editor (a now defunct title that meant "writer") in 1983, then left in 1986 to write a book and try freelancing. This experience gave me a tremendous sympathy for the self-employed. Ha! (Especially in New York City, where we have a nasty little thing called the unincorporated business tax. Moans, rants, and complaints about it available on request.) That book, Wall Street Women, was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1990. Besides Fortune, my work has appeared in Barron's, Ms., the New York Times, and other places. Came back on the staff at Fortune in 1992 and am now a senior writer who writes the Ask Annie career-advice column in the magazine and (weekly) on the Web at www.askannie.com, among other things. I'm also a regular contributor on a nationally syndicated radio show called On the Job (check local listings, etc.). Could you please, please mention my new book, If My Career's on the Fast Track, Where Do I Get a Road Map? It was published by William Morrow in April and is coming out in paperback in January. It's sort of based on the Ask Annie columns but has a lot of other stuff in it too (because my contract said it had to be 50% previously unpublished material). I've won a few awards over the years but nothing major like a National Mag Award or a Loeb, so perhaps no point mentioning. And that about covers it."

If you're a true believer in customer service, check out Brian Clark's interview with former Philadelphia 76ers chief Pat Croce on page 42. You could argue that Croce turned around the basketball franchise on the strength of his plus-sized personality--and Allen Iverson. But Croce's real strength is his relentless courtship of customers. The guy really believes his rap and puts it into practice successfully. As always, write me at hank_gilman@timeinc.com. Thanks for reading.