I am not dead, just ruminating. I went on a fabulous birthday vacation. I thought 70 would feel old, but I feel the same as I did at 60, and even 50, so I’m not buying into that I’m-getting-old crap, but it is forcing me into action.
(Quick vacation recap) I started off in Seattle and spent time with my daughter, her wonderful friends, boyfriend and his mom Michelle (who may be the nicest human I’ve ever met). They all treated me like a queen, so thank you my dear daughter and friends!
Then I went to LA to spend time with my son, who gave up his queen-sized bed and slept on the floor so I could have it to myself. (Now that’s love.)
Then I went to Vegas, with friends to see my friends’ daughter, Natalie Briggs’ as one of the stars in the Cirque du Soleil, Michael Jackson One show! It’s at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. That’s a link to tickets.
These acrobats are like human springs. The things young, very in-shape people can do with their bodies leaves me speechless, and you know how rare that is.
Back in LA, Andy took time off work and accompanied me to Sequoia, my favorite place on earth (where he did not have to sleep on the floor). Then I went back to LA to visit the friends I didn’t get to see last time I was there. Thank you Sue, and Zoe and Myron for putting me up!
I came back feeling like I was out of gas (not literally…after all I am 70 now). But I wondered why I felt so depleted and it was because I knew what I needed to do and still hadn’t done it yet. My mom had her big dream come true by the time she was 69, and here I was at 70 still waiting to make mine happen.
So, finally, after 40 years of writing, re-writing, talking to family, collecting photos, anecdotes and talking your ears off about it, I know that now is the time to get my book about my mom out there because I’m getting a little help from the Huffington Post.
They’re scheduled to run the story of my mom winning on the Price is Right on September 23rd. (Her episode aired on September 24th in 1982.) According to Wikipedia, The Huffington Post has a circulation of 25 million, clearly a few more than this blog. So, now is the time to make the most of that publicity. I’m going to publish the book and record the audiobook and hopefully both will be ready sometime in November. Right now it’s called, “Come on Down! A Little Story About My Italian Mom’s Big Dream.” I’m also toying with: “Saint Anthony Must Have Spun the Wheel. How My Italian Mom Won on the Price is Right.” Let me know which one you like better.
This is where I’m going to need your help! I’ll be doing my own marketing, but YOU can help by re-posting info about the book/audiobook when they come out and for God’s sake, please buy a copy (or twenty). And, if any of you have the inside track to Oprah, that would be lovely.
If you know any radio show folks or TV people, or Italian American organization leaders who I can connect with to secure an interview, that would be wonderful. I am going through all my emails to make sure I have everyone’s email. If you don’t currently subscribe to this blog, which is FREE, please do so now. It’s really easy to do. On your phone, just scroll to the bottom of the screen and you’ll see the block that says sign up. On your computer it’s on the right side of the page.
And please tell ALL your friends and family. I’m hoping the book and the audiobook will make their way into people’s homes and give them a laugh and a good recipe or two for the holidays.
I have so much to do my head will probably explode, but it’s happening! Thank you for all your support these past ten years. And, as always (and definitely not mandatory) if you enjoy this blog and would like to be a supporter so I can stay out of horrendous debt while self-publishing, just click on buymeacoffee.com/FranTunno
Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh! (Yes, that’s me screaming because this is both gratifying and terrifying.)