Diary: It’s Started

It’s Started

Monday, May 4

New York—Bumped from Good Morning, America. First day of new team and new set. Not a good day to have a guest who isn’t TV savvy. I’m relieved. The publisher isn’t. We both know an appearance on GMA is good for the book. They promise to re-schedule but will they? [Yes, Thurs. May 7, 8:30-9:00am slot]

Associated Press
An interview at home in New York. Both the reporter and the photographer grew up on my books. They have stories about Margaret and Forever. The photographer tells me she had her choice of shooting me or the Aga Khan that night. I’m flattered. Tell her I would have opted for the Aga Khan. I dress up in my new – bought just for the booktour – lilac sweater set and tall shoes. Then I feel silly since we all know I wouldn’t be sitting around the house in those shoes! Story and pix to run next week, I think.

Newsday
Another at-home interview. Gently scolded by photographer for not having powder to take the shine off my face. It’s not shine, it’s moist, I explain. At my age moist is good! Use paper towel, he says, and blot the moist spots.

Tuesday, May 5

Run out early morning to buy powder. Today there will be no shine!
Several print interviews.
Lunch with a friend from Santa Fe.
Haircut.
Buy shoes.

Barnes and Noble – Huntington, Long Island – talk and signing.
It’s pouring. Vicki, the publicist from Delacorte, picks me up at 5:45 for a 7:30 appearance. It’s slow going because of rush hour and the rain. Instead of arriving twenty minutes early, as planned, we get there exactly at 7:30. I don’t see anyone waiting…but when we get into the “events” area it’s filled with people of all ages. I’m overwhelmed. I never expect anyone to show.

But there are little kids in the audience and Summer Sisters is a book for adults so…

Got to run, off to bookstores around the city to sign books.

In this Section

• A Personal View

• Judy’s Anxiety Diary
  • Anxiety
  • It’s Started
  • TV or Not TV
  • Doing Better
  • Mother’s Day
  • Seinfeld
  • Sinatra
  • Twelve Cities in one Day
  • Pancake Makeup
  • Hitting the Lists!
  • The Computer Ate Seattle

Also See:

• How I Became An Author
• Writing Q&A

“…her writing sings.”
“…pretty darn good.”
—Hartford Courant

Email
A friend of mine passed on an advance copy of Summer Sisters, which I devoured in a day. And despite all the rejection and cynicism that’s out there in the publishing world, your book reminded me why I love to write so much. Besides being a fantastic story, it was a great inspiration.
Stephanie, Princeton, N.J., May 3