I'm thrilled to be the Honorary Spokesperson for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Taste of the Towns event on June 5th. http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=252816. As I mentioned, both of my parents battled blood cancers last year, and I'm very active in helping this amazing society fund the research and patient care that we're quite confident played a *huge* part in my parents' care. (Dr. Botti for President, by the way) So in addition to being spokesperson at Taste of the Towns, I've just received a packet for the Mother's Day Tea Party -- a brilliant idea: a virtual Tea Party on Mother's Day, with Red Rose tea bags sent to everyone on my list. No crumpets necessary, just good will and a great cup of tea. Plus, I'm donating 15% of my royalties for 2006-2007 to the LLS, as I have with the Jersey Battered Women's Shelter in the past. I couldn't be happier about being in a position where I can make a difference for any patients and their families...having experienced the kindness of others who came before me when I and my family were in that dark forest.
I have a Maya Angelou quote hanging in my living room that seems quite appropriate to share: "When we cast our bread upon the waters, we can presume that someone downstream whose face we may never see will benefit from our action, even as we enjoy the gifts sent to us from a donor upstream."
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Back to the books...
After a walk at the park this morning, plus a detour to walk by the lake this afternoon, I dug into my new project. I'm partnering with Casey Cooper, who did the flowers for Oprah's surprise birthday show and the Oprah million-dollar wedding show, on a new book about defining your bridal style. After 28 wedding books, I thought I had tapped out the market, but this is truly new and original, all about getting brides and grooms to think about their favorite places, songs, fabrics, colors and memories to bring those things into the wedding. As I'm writing this, I'm thinking, "Wow, I really need to get more plants for my house" and "Hey, I'm in the mood for mango salsa on my salmon." So if I can stay focused while it's over 60 outside and begging me for iced tea at the lake as a diversion, I'll finish two chapters today. Not bad.
And no, didn't get to see American Idol. Preferred the stimulating conversation of J.
I'm reading everything by Jodi Picoult now that my very stylish and very fun book club chose 'Vanishing Acts' for this month's read. I've long been an 'everything by Barbara Kingsolver' kind of person, but I'm in the Picoult Camp now. She's a writer whose style I envy...phrases just stay with me much like they did with 'Lovely Bones' and you're disappointed to get to the last page and have to part ways with such amazing characters. I'm just starting in fiction, and while my orange-throwing, feng shui-obsessed bridesmaid is a hit with book clubs and in fan letters, I still feel like I have more growing to do as a novelist. Right now, I'm working on a new novel that includes the letters my great-uncles sent home from World War 2 (amazing story -- all four brothers went, their seven sisters awaited, all four came home safely). These were amazing men; they were like grandfathers to me, especially my Uncle Augie whose picture sits on my TV console next to my grandmother's. I'm sure we romanticize them in the family, make them mythic heroes, but they truly don't make 'em like that anymore. So I've captured their letters for this novel and the plot is marinating. It's a departure from chick lit, leaning more toward Picoult-style, a new atmosphere. So of course, I've taken a big interest in avoiding it, cleaning out my cabinets and going for walks at the lake. Inspiration always comes at night for some reason, just as I'm falling asleep, so I'm back up and legs curled in on my couch, scribbling out dialogue and scent and silhouettes and scenery, the feel of a crisp letter from the 1940s, the exact brown of an old coffee stain on parchment. My flashbacks are set...but the present-day plot hasn't come to me yet. It will...
And in other news, my living room is filled with cases of books. I'll be appearing at the 4pm Wedding Salon in NYC in April and we're giving away 300 copies of my books. Each one autographed. So on the next rainy day, out comes the Sharpie....
And no, didn't get to see American Idol. Preferred the stimulating conversation of J.
I'm reading everything by Jodi Picoult now that my very stylish and very fun book club chose 'Vanishing Acts' for this month's read. I've long been an 'everything by Barbara Kingsolver' kind of person, but I'm in the Picoult Camp now. She's a writer whose style I envy...phrases just stay with me much like they did with 'Lovely Bones' and you're disappointed to get to the last page and have to part ways with such amazing characters. I'm just starting in fiction, and while my orange-throwing, feng shui-obsessed bridesmaid is a hit with book clubs and in fan letters, I still feel like I have more growing to do as a novelist. Right now, I'm working on a new novel that includes the letters my great-uncles sent home from World War 2 (amazing story -- all four brothers went, their seven sisters awaited, all four came home safely). These were amazing men; they were like grandfathers to me, especially my Uncle Augie whose picture sits on my TV console next to my grandmother's. I'm sure we romanticize them in the family, make them mythic heroes, but they truly don't make 'em like that anymore. So I've captured their letters for this novel and the plot is marinating. It's a departure from chick lit, leaning more toward Picoult-style, a new atmosphere. So of course, I've taken a big interest in avoiding it, cleaning out my cabinets and going for walks at the lake. Inspiration always comes at night for some reason, just as I'm falling asleep, so I'm back up and legs curled in on my couch, scribbling out dialogue and scent and silhouettes and scenery, the feel of a crisp letter from the 1940s, the exact brown of an old coffee stain on parchment. My flashbacks are set...but the present-day plot hasn't come to me yet. It will...
And in other news, my living room is filled with cases of books. I'll be appearing at the 4pm Wedding Salon in NYC in April and we're giving away 300 copies of my books. Each one autographed. So on the next rainy day, out comes the Sharpie....
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
The first day....
My first post...on the first day when it actually FEELS like spring outside, so of course I want to shut this down and go for a walk around the lake. But I'll stick around...coffee's on and I'll be helping my neighbor's aunt with her novel manuscript later this morning.
Rather than rattle off the titles of the 28 wedding books I've written, let me introduce myself with some more unexpected things...I live in an old Victorian mansion that actually *is* haunted. Nothing scary, no Redrum in the mirror or bleeding walls. Just a tug on my skirt now and then, the bread on the kitchen counter falling to the floor, a reflection in a mirror or window, the sound of laughing in the other room. My housemates have seen or heard her too, and we think there might also be a child or a pet of some sort. I don't blame them. This house is so gorgeous and has such personality that I'd never want to leave either. As long as they're friendly and I'm not levitating off the bed, they can stick around.
In other fun news, my younger brother is planning his wedding. We've just chosen the bridesmaids' dresses, and in all honesty this dress is more gorgeous than my wedding dress was. Red, backless....just stunning. I'm thinking back to other bridesmaids' dresses I've worn in the past, and Steve's fiancee Deb gets a big thumbs up for this selection. So I imagine that this blog will focus a lot on the wedding that I'm a part of, since I've been reporting on and writing about weddings for so long. I have a unique perspective...
I'll also be going to a wedding in a few weeks with J, the handsome man who has excellent taste in wine, movies, and women (that would be me). Yes, my dating life will be a part of this blog, since I'm often asked "How can you write wedding books when you're not even married?!" Sigh... Especially wince-worthy when it's my nephew asking that. The answer: I'm phenomenally happy with my life. If a really amazing man adds to it and makes me smile during the day thinking about something clever or inspiring he said, if that first kiss melted my shoes, fantastic....so stay tuned for my report from the wedding I'll be attending with J. He's 6'1", so I'm going to have to wear high heels. I'm used to being in bare feet while working at home, so this should be interesting.
Other snippets: I'm a huge American Idol fan, so Tuesday and Wednesday nights are blocked off my schedule. No writing, no TV or radio interviews, just AI; I'm working on a new book with Casey Cooper, who did Oprah's flowers for her million-dollar wedding contest; It's baseball season again; I have Girl Scout cookies in the freezer; I raise money for the leukemia and lymphoma society since both of my parents were diagnosed with blood cancers in the last two years (Mom's in remission, Dad's undergoing chemo); and I'm trying to re-create the fondue dipping sauces I had when I lived in Europe. Still can't get them right, but I'll keep trying.
Tonight is writing by the fireplace with a great glass of Pinot Noir, lemon chicken and garlic spinach, a rationed Girl Scout cookie or four, and watching American Idol after talking to J. Does it get any better than this? My ghost says No...
Stay tuned...
Rather than rattle off the titles of the 28 wedding books I've written, let me introduce myself with some more unexpected things...I live in an old Victorian mansion that actually *is* haunted. Nothing scary, no Redrum in the mirror or bleeding walls. Just a tug on my skirt now and then, the bread on the kitchen counter falling to the floor, a reflection in a mirror or window, the sound of laughing in the other room. My housemates have seen or heard her too, and we think there might also be a child or a pet of some sort. I don't blame them. This house is so gorgeous and has such personality that I'd never want to leave either. As long as they're friendly and I'm not levitating off the bed, they can stick around.
In other fun news, my younger brother is planning his wedding. We've just chosen the bridesmaids' dresses, and in all honesty this dress is more gorgeous than my wedding dress was. Red, backless....just stunning. I'm thinking back to other bridesmaids' dresses I've worn in the past, and Steve's fiancee Deb gets a big thumbs up for this selection. So I imagine that this blog will focus a lot on the wedding that I'm a part of, since I've been reporting on and writing about weddings for so long. I have a unique perspective...
I'll also be going to a wedding in a few weeks with J, the handsome man who has excellent taste in wine, movies, and women (that would be me). Yes, my dating life will be a part of this blog, since I'm often asked "How can you write wedding books when you're not even married?!" Sigh... Especially wince-worthy when it's my nephew asking that. The answer: I'm phenomenally happy with my life. If a really amazing man adds to it and makes me smile during the day thinking about something clever or inspiring he said, if that first kiss melted my shoes, fantastic....so stay tuned for my report from the wedding I'll be attending with J. He's 6'1", so I'm going to have to wear high heels. I'm used to being in bare feet while working at home, so this should be interesting.
Other snippets: I'm a huge American Idol fan, so Tuesday and Wednesday nights are blocked off my schedule. No writing, no TV or radio interviews, just AI; I'm working on a new book with Casey Cooper, who did Oprah's flowers for her million-dollar wedding contest; It's baseball season again; I have Girl Scout cookies in the freezer; I raise money for the leukemia and lymphoma society since both of my parents were diagnosed with blood cancers in the last two years (Mom's in remission, Dad's undergoing chemo); and I'm trying to re-create the fondue dipping sauces I had when I lived in Europe. Still can't get them right, but I'll keep trying.
Tonight is writing by the fireplace with a great glass of Pinot Noir, lemon chicken and garlic spinach, a rationed Girl Scout cookie or four, and watching American Idol after talking to J. Does it get any better than this? My ghost says No...
Stay tuned...
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