Before I begin, let’s take a moment to celebrate the incredible accomplishment that is Colleen’s Launch Day! As authors, we only get one Debut day, so let’s make the most of it. No one does insane glee like Oprah! I’ll admit, when I read the description for Colleen’s book, I was a little skeptical. A cancer book. That’s all I saw. Another cancer book. So, dear reader, let me be very clear….
Yes, yes, yes …. I SHOULD be on Oprah. I know that because EVERYONE tells me that. And I know that because FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MALARIA is true and riveting, uplifting, motivating and ever-so-slightly spiritual – all things Americans need right now. Plus, it takes place in Africa, touches on themes of racism, sexual abuse and overcoming hardships – all things that Oprah loves. Yes, of course! My…
I’m willing to bet it’s the Number One thing a new author hears: “You should go on Oprah!” There’s so much packed into that statement. It’s a compliment: “You really could get on Oprah! You’re book is just as good as MIDDLESEX!” It’s optimism: “Your book would stand out from the pack, I just know it!” It’s cheerleading: “I want you to be a success and I know that would…
One of my biggest dreams came true this year with the publication of Falling Under. Of course, it didn’t all happen the way I imagined it, which means it was both more and less than I expected. I didn’t realize it would be so stressful. I didn’t realize how little control I would have over the process. But I also never dreamed of the friendship and generosity that could be…
I was wracking my brain for some clever beauty secret to share with all of you, and I could not stop flashing back to an early episode of the Oprah show I watched in my teens: A very attractive woman in her forties claimed the secret to keeping her model-perfect skin so smooth, youthful and beautiful was to slather it with a big ‘ol glob of spermicide. Yes. Every night…
Earlier this week I attended a reading given by the incomparable Elizabeth Berg. The library meeting room was packed–and at noon on a Tuesday! Elizabeth was gracious, elegant, and so polished. She’d clearly done this before. For example, on OPRAH three times. Oprah. Three. Times. Whoops! I fell down there. Was feeling a little faint. I’ll pull myself together. Where’s my brown paper bag? I introduced myself to some women…
It’s 11:30 on Tuesday night and I’m thinking about being lucky. A friend of mine, the soon-to-be-published Abby Wittnebert said something the other night as we were drinking wine at Kristin Harmel’s book party. We were talking about publishing and luck and taking chances, and how bravery frequently pays off. We were sharing stories, and I told her that it was part of me to take chances, to try to…
