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Serendipity
April 20, 2007
You know how it is -- when you've got a new car, you notice other cars. When you are pregnant, you suddenly see all the other pregnant ladies -- the streets are full of them! And so on, and so forth.
When you're in publishing, you notice authors. However, famous authors don't tend to pop up with the same frequency as, say, women with the same espadrilles you just bought. But those less-frequent sightings never stop giving me a thrill. About a year ago, I went to see a reading given by two very well-regarded authors -- and as I got up to get my books signed, nearly knocked over novelist Luanne Rice.
Today, I made reservations online for an Upper East Side restaurant because it was convenient to the place where my dear friend P. is working on a consulting job. She and our friend J. had never been to the restaurant, either, but they trusted my instincts, Lord love them. We had a terrific meal. But it was even more terrific because of what happened next.
First, I went upstairs to the ladies' room, following another woman also en route to the loo. When we walked in and realized we'd both have to wait, she turned around and I realized it was Leslie Bennetts, whose new book The Feminine Mistake I blogged earlier this week. I introduced myself and told her how much I'd enjoyed reading her book, and how many things I wanted to ask her about it. Bennetts told me she's been dismayed by some of the reviews and press she's received, because people don't seem to understand how dangerous it is for women not to have their own financial resources. I got her card, and I hope that I'll soon be able to provide you with an interview here.
Then I walked downstairs and saw Dominick Dunne having a solo lunch of spaghetti carbonara. I met Dunne last year at The Quill Awards, and he told me he had a novel coming out this year and would be delighted to do an interview -- so despite feeling a bit brazen, walked over and re-introduced myself and told him I look forward to his upcoming book.
Dunne, sartorially resplendent as I imagine he must always be (I'd love to know where he gets his ties, so I could get some for my husband!), said he regrets that he hasn't finished the book yet, and he's off on Monday for a couple of months to cover a trial for Vanity Fair. However, he promised to speak with me once galleys are out, and blew me a kiss as we said goodbye. Sigh.
OK, so I'm a pushover.
But tomorrow, I'll be having lunch with Luanne Rice at the same spot where I met her last year (you can look for that interview in a May PW issue). I love serendipity -- but I love it even more when it leads to productivity!
Posted by Bethanne Patrick on April 20, 2007 | Comments (5)
