Hi,
I’m getting ready to go to NY tomorrow. Crown wants me to do a two or three minute video to send off to bookstores (presumably online) and talk shows. I’m trying to figure out what to wear. Do I want to look like the basically funky author that I am or do I want to dress a little more upscale? Ronnie, my landlady and friend, is pushing for a more business look. She just dropped by with some necklaces for me to wear with my outfit (haven’t decided which). And I will borrow some mascara from her. I can’t remember the last time I wore mascara. I’m feeling very middle class at the moment; not my usual self-image.
Jay Sones, the marketing director at Crown, asked me to send him some text for the video. I woke up in the middle of last night and wrote and sent something. Haven’t heard back yet. I’m a very confident writer…that part went well. But I must say that I’m not so sure of my skills as a video-maker.
I guess I just have to keep reading what I wrote. I don’t memorize well either. Besides, I think it will sound stiff if I try to memorize it. Oh dear, I don’t do insecurity very well!
I would so love to see that anthology hit the best seller lists. We’re planning to have everyone buy the book (Female Nomad and Friends) the same week (beginning June first) so that it has a chance to hit the best seller lists! I’m counting on you to buy lots of copies; it’s a great read and a wonderful gift. Funny, sad, poignant. I’ve set up a fund that will send all the royalties to Rotary in New Delhi to provide scholarships to vocational schools for slum kids. There are forty one authors in the book and we’re all excited and happy to help so many families. Love, Rita
Rita, I wish I had looked at the site a day earlier so I could have invited you to coffee or something while here in NYC!
I read Tales of a Female Nomad in the summer of 2003, when I was planning a trip to New Zealand. I thought I would be so lucky to have even a fraction of the experiences of your extended journey. I did have a wonderful time traveling all around the North & South Islands — I was WWOOFing, — but ended up returning to the U.S. after 6 months. I still have “itchy feet,” but now, at 41 y.o., I’ve been conducting more of an inner journey these past few years with just relatively short trips for holidays. Anyways…
I chose your book for my book club, due to meet here in Manhattan on April 15, and found this site when I was searching for info on your recent activities. I think several of my friends are going to be extremely interested in your Gap Year movement and I am going to direct them to the Let’s Get Global website. I can’t wait to revisit with you via Female Nomad and share thoughts with all of my well-traveled book club members. Please let me know if there’s any chance to have you join us!!! Looking forward with great anticipation to the new book. Fondly,
Gwen
Gwen, Hi
I’m on my way back to DC on the bus (with internet!). I’d be happy to go on speakerphone with your book club. When I get back to
DC, I will have a look at my calendar to be sure there’s no conflict. Write me an e-mail with your address and a reminder of the date and time and I’ll let you know for sure. Check out my latest birthofamovement post. I’m about to write it now. (It’s five PM on Friday.)
Hi Rita!
I’m in the same book club as Gwen and she asked me to follow up with you about possibly joining us via speaker phone on April 15 at 7:30 pm. I’m going to try emailing you as well. So sorry we missed you in NY. I’m one of those people that is interested in promoting the Gap Year!!! I still remember how horrified my friend was (she’s a teacher) when I told her graduating seniors that I totally recommend a year off to explore! “But I’m just trying to get them into college!” she fumed. LOL
Today I was on a site visit to a school in the Bronx and was reminded again how valuable an international education can be. I meta young man who had never been out of the Bronx until he was accepted to a program last summer in Germany. At first he didn’t want to apply because of “his girl” and he couldn’t possibly leave her for 10 days. Now he visits other schools to talk to students about the program and will be returning this summer to Germany and Italy. He end up leaving his girl because “her world is too small, all she knows is the Bronx!”
Anyway, just wanted to share that with you! If only we could get more kids out of the Bronx for overseas experiences!
As a fellow backpacker, I really loved reliving my travel memories through your stories. And I have questions, so I hope you can join us April 15. Otherwise I’ll be in touch again!