2/6/17, Whirlwind and a Baby Shower

Hi Everyone,

I hope all of you are well and enjoying life.

Whirlwind time for me again, working on several books at once, in various stages, re-writes, edits, corrections, fact checking, outlines, first and final drafts, and a set of ‘text proofs’, which is the last stage before a book goes to press: they send the printed pages, and it’s my last chance to make changes and corrections. So that has been keeping me mega busy!!! Throw in the usual travel between the two cities where I live (six thousand miles apart), and New York halfway between to see my daughters there—-and I have been Busy!!!

I want to thank all of you for buying my new hardcover book The Mistress, it was on the bestseller list at #1 for two weeks in a row. That is ALWAYS a thrill!!! I never take it for granted, and I am always grateful for it, and the sign that you are enjoying my books!!! Thank you with all my heart!!!

I spent a weekend in New York, and gave a baby shower with two of my daughters, for another one of my daughters who is having a baby. It was really fun and very sweet, it’s her first baby and we’re all excited for her. It was a very sophisticated baby shower, without the usual games and decorations. She works in fashion, so the young women who came to the shower were very stylish, and my daughter looked beautiful in a white lace dress, and the two daughters who hosted it looked knock out too (one in a long pale blue pleated dress with a pale blue top, and the other in a gray and white wool check Vintage Chanel Couture coat dress, with black pants with it. It was fun talking to the guests, not much baby talk there, it was all about the business of fashion, and upcoming fashion week, which is always a madhouse of hard work for anyone in fashion. For two weeks before the shows, they work til 2 am every night, and are back at work at 7 or 8 am the next day. There were several well-known young male designers at the shower too, Alexander Wang (whom I’ve known since he was 14, he went to high school and design school with my girls) and Joseph Altuzarra, two of my daughters work with them. It was also fun seeing what they were all wearing, some great very stylish looks on the young women there. We held it in the afternoon, for a British style high tea, with little tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and assorted cookies and cakes—-which they all ate very sparingly, if at all. Some of the young women there already have children, and are facing the challenges of working Moms, which I still face today, even with grown children. My children live in 3 cities, thousands of miles apart, and when they need me for a fun event, like the shower, or a problem, I need to be able to instantly reorganize my life and schedule, get on a plane and go to them, in spite of deadlines or whatever I’m working on. Motherhood is a forever job, with all its responsibilities. Hopefully we can be present for our children forever. In any case, the baby shower was really fun, and a happy event. And I got back on a plane the next day to head for my desk and the work waiting for me there. I have my readers to keep happy too!!

I do a lot of writing in winter, it always seems like a good time to stay home in the bad weather, and it was freezing cold, rainy and even snowy at every stop on my travels.

I hope you’ve been busy doing fun things, and interesting projects, or just keeping up with the things we all have to do, which can be overwhelming at times. Sometimes it’s hard to get everything done!!! We’re celebrating my youngest son’s birthday this week so that will be fun too!!!

My new puppy Lili is settling down a little, though not too much yet. She took her first long trip with me, with my other two Chihuahuas, Minnie and Blue, and she did pretty well. She’s full of fun and mischief, and still driving the other two crazy wanting to play all the time. My youngest son got a puppy at the same time I did in October, and so did my oldest daughter. My son sent me a photo last week—-his puppy, a Boston Bull Terrier with an adorable face, named Francis, ate his couch while he was at work. He wasn’t too thrilled!!! Mine isn’t eating couches, but she wants to play ALL the time (much to her new sisters’ dismay, who get tired of wrestling with her!!! And having her steal their toys!!)

Take care and have a great week and I hope you’re enjoying whatever you’re doing. I work so hard, and have always been a ‘duty’ person—I always do my ‘homework’ before I play, and have all my life, and take care of others before I take care of myself, and by the time I get it all done, there’s rarely time to indulge myself. And I am discovering as time goes by, that it’s important to do things for yourself too. I put a sign in my office last year that says “Do More of what makes you happy”. It’s actually good advice…..I’ll try to keep it in mind!! You too!! Have a great week (and do something nice for yourself!!)

much love,

Danielle