Did You See Holly Would Dream on the Today Show?
June 4, 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
I am beyond thrilled to tell you that Holly Would Dream is finally out! Yesterday was the release date and you can now acquire it for your very own library (along with ten additional copies for holiday gifts – they’re only about $11). Seriously, buy them now when I really need my book sales numbers to climb, I mean, when you won’t have to fight all those other aggressive Christmas shoppers and brave the icy streets. You can order the book this very second from Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com. Just click on those links and you’ll go right to my book page. Take your time. We’ll wait.
A Review
In case you haven’t been paying super close attention to my newsletters, Holly Would Dream is about a woman who wishes her life could be like an Audrey Hepburn romantic comedy (Sabrina, Roman Holiday, Funny Face – she’s not picky), but of course it isn’t. Until it is. My desire was to write a book that felt like one of those delicious Hollywood classics with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly dashing around the Mediterranean in a little white convertible trying to catch a thief. Here is how my friend Charlene Dupray from southnfrance.com (the best bon bons you can buy in the world) described it. By the way, if you want to forward this email to your friends and recommend Holly, that would be lovely indeed (as Audrey Hepburn might have put it).
Recipe for a delicious summer novel:
Place towel, bag, and cold beverages on a well-heated beach. Grease body generously with sunscreen; large black sunglasses optional, but recommended. Assemble the following ingredients:
* 1 young, thoroughly modern heroine completely obsessed with elegant screen legend Audrey Hepburn
* 2 evil co-workers blended with a pinch of Devil Wears Prada and a dash of Ugly Betty
* 1 fresh, saucy gay sidekick
* 1 hunk of a straight man with a large fortune, private jet, and good heart.
Mix well. Next, add:
* Several cups of witty dialogue and funny situations
* 3-5 handpicked, exotic locations
* A heaping teaspoon of sea and salt air
Top with old Hollywood glamour and lots of 1950’s film references.
Garnish with 2-3 twists of plot and a generous dollop of haute couture.
Your dish should look very much like the Holly Would Dream book cover at the top of the page!
Speaking of which, I don’t know if you saw Today Show yesterday, but that very book cover was prominently featured in the 9:34 a.m. fashion show. This adorable little girl pictured above is Phoebe, my friend Lori’s daughter, who came with us to the Today Show.
That’s right, my wonderful girlfriends from Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts and I decided to go down to the Today Show wearing our Audrey Hepburn little black dresses, sunglasses, tiaras, pearls, and gloves (no long cigarette holders in the interest of not poking anyone’s eye out in the crowd). Our desire was to have fun and be interviewed by Al Roker. Our back-up desire was to have fun and get ourselves and the book cover featured on air (which we did). One thing about Mama Gena’s students is that we never miss a chance to have a good time.
When I told my kids what we were doing, Schuyler called me a “loser” and Sam said, “Whatever you do, don’t go on national TV and say you’re my mother.” Right, like I would use my five second chance to be on national TV plugging my book to embarrass Sam by telling the world I’m his mother. If I didn’t know better, I’d say children think the world revolves around them.
Anyway, during the 9:30 fashion show, my friend “Edith” (her real name has been changed because she works for NBC and this adventure was not in keeping with her executive responsibilities) asked a man in the crowd standing behind the fashion show moderators to hold up a gigantic sign of my book, which he did. So for the whole segment, my book cover was prominently displayed in front of millions of TV viewers. If I can figure out how to post the segment on line, I’ll send you the link. It was tres fabulous. I’m hoping it has the subliminal effect of getting people to go out and buy my book without knowing why they so desperately crave it.
If you ever want to go to the Today Show to get on TV, talk to me first. I figured out a lot of tricks after yesterday’s experience. Hint: Arrive by 6 a.m., bring a baby, a large group of people in matching tee-shirts, be from Iowa or Mississippi (or say you are and fake an accent) and tell Al it’s your birthday (even if it isn’t). There’s more, so call me if you want my advice.
I have book readings coming up! Hope you can make one of them:
Thursday, June 5 (tomorrow!!!)
Barnes and Noble – 7:30 pm
6th Avenue and 8th Street
NYC
Dress like Audrey Hepburn! Prizes will be awarded.
Black dresses are fine, or even her Moon River ensemble.
Tuesday, June 17
The Tattered Cover – 7:30 pm
Colfax Avenue Store
Denver, Colorado
Thursday, July 10
Barnes and Noble – 7:00 pm
Mayfair Store
Wilmington, NC
Anyway, love you all. Please order your books today or go visit a local bookstore to buy them in person. It’s really important for authors that their books sell well in the first week, so you would be helping me a lot if you picked up your copies (remember, Christmas!!!) now. I’m not just telling you this for me, but for authors everywhere that you want to support. Also, if you read Holly Would Dream and love it (as I know you will), please tell ALL your friends about it. The best way for a book to become popular is by positive word of mouth. And you can also post your reviews on Amazon or B&N.com. These are all things you can do that help a lot. Thank you for being such loyal readers of my books.
xoxo
Karen Quinn