Mar 6, 2010, Sneezing and coughing

Well, I completely missed February. All I can say is that it was very cold, miserable and snowy. And I've had a dreadful cold for a couple of weeks - I'm not alone, it seems half of New York is sneezing and coughing.

The main focus for me has been my book. I swear Shakespeare must have written all his plays in less time than I've spent on my book. I cannot believe how much time it all takes - it's a wonderful and fun process getting it "right" but I sure have spent hours and hours on it.

However, I think it's going to be good although I just can't seem to come up with a title. I want it to continue with the theme of the Camel because now I have such branding recognition. I didn't come up with the title for my last book until it was going off to the printers.

Getting my photograph taken soon for the cover and for publicity - lots of things are coming together I just don't have a title. Any suggestions?

Now that Spring is very much on the way - it's warm and sunny today, it's just a teaser but definitely a taste of things to come - I have some more travel in the offing. I'm speaking in Georgia and in Connecticut and will be going to Paris for a couple of weeks at the end of April. I don't know Paris well at all so it should be fun just walking around and taking it all in. I will try and take the Euro Star to London for a few days - just to touch the home soil.

Last evening I went to Sing Sing prison and with another woman friend of mine, gave a talk on etiquette - it wasn't about which fork to pick up but about appearance, manners, attitudes, etc. They loved it and we got some amazing feedback. It was quite something to be talking to men who are doing twenty to twenty-five years and they want to talk about manners. Everyone has the urge to strive for "better."

I'm reading The Great Hunger by Cecil Woodham Smith about the Irish potato famine - it's really quite horrific especially how cruel the English were. I knew of course, there had been the famine but I really didn't know any of the political details.

I'll write another entry next month.