So, this is the summer of my next book. My fourth book. It has been gestating for about four years now, so it feels like the mother lode.
And I feel like I am about four years pregnant with it. I am kinda waddling around, ready to go “push push push.”
And just like the unpredictability of all progeny, who wake us at inconvenient times, this book wants to be written at 4:30 a.m., which is not exactly my usual writing time.
I thought I was being fierce, back in the day, when I used to get up at 6 a.m. to write the other three books.
And I was.
But now, I am being super fierce to the 10th power, to awaken and invite this book to pour through this hot little body before dawn.
I am making up for all the sunrises I have missed over the years.
But I have enjoyed my little morning ritual so much, at my beach house this summer.
Yes! to waking before the sun!
Yes! to new creations!
Yes!! to going to bed at 9 p.m.!!
And you know what happens, when you are having fun and partying with “what is”- you know- when you are really really celebrating yourself and being so grateful for the awesome gifts of right now- some unasked-for grace lands in your lap.
I got a call from the New York Times, asking me to tell them about my Sunday morning ritual.
How cute is that? Just as I am in the midst of trying desperately to adjust to my new morning ritual, inquiring minds want to know.
It gets even better-
How did they find me?
Well, my beloved old pal, Schmoe (Sister Goddess Joanne La Marca), was having lunch with the woman who edits the Times column. It was just kinda random. They live in the same town and have some of the same friends.
And Schmoe got to talking about me.
And the work I do,
And the woman from the Times looked me up, and called me.
Kinda cool, right?
Well, let me take you back to the coolest part.
Oh, about 15 years ago, or more, I wanted to practice being a TV star and having my own talk show. So Bruce and I made our own cable TV show, called 'Relationship Technologies', in our living room for Manhattan cable TV .
Remember that? Where anyone and everyone, including your dog, could have their own TV show? And after a few months of making this thing in the living room, we found out about a friend of a friend who was doing a similar thing, but at a rinky dink studio on West West West 59th Street. So, we met this guy, Schmeff, and his friend Schmoe, and we split the hour studio rental with them and their gang of friends. We would be their audience, and they would be ours, and we made our crazy little TV shows together. Twice as much fun.
We would meet at the Olympic Flame diner and plan our shows, and then go to the studio and make them.
So hilarious.
And then, life went on.
And we lost touch.
But, fast forward 5 years, and I get a phone call- "Mama???? It's Schmoe!!!!!!! I am working as a producer on the Today show now, and your book just landed on my desk. Do you know how amazing that is??? There are 50 producers for the Today Show.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And somehow, they gave this piece to me!!"
We screamed with delight.
Screamed. With joy.
And how blessed was I? Schmoe, working on the Today Show!! And me, publishing my first book!!
I was a first time author- but with Schmoe producing my segment, they build me a whole set, replicating the Pleasure Palace, with velvet couches and flowers and boas.
So, for my first ever appearance, for my first book, Katie Couric and I lounged on couches wrapped in pink feathers, talking about The Womanly Arts.
Talk about living your dreams.
This led to countless fun, sexy, funny, hilarious appearances on Today, for which I am so grateful.
And Schmoe?
Well, she became a Sister Goddess.
And, after a long, dramatic courtship, married the man of her dreams.
And is now mom to a gorgeous little 3 year old boy.
I wanted to tell you this story, because that is what my new book is about. You. Me. Schmoe. All of us, living our Courtesan's Journey (the working title of my new book). The legendary story of choosing to live the adventure of desires that want to live, through us, in this lifetime. Choosing to follow the courageous adventure of living YOUR dreams (not someone else's) and making those dreams come true.
My great desire is that after reading this issue of the newsletter, and then, in a few months, reading my book, you will be even more inspired to risk living your own desires.
And, just because the universe is so fun, funny, and generous, all of you who read the New York Times can enjoy my morning ritual with me, in black and white, this Sunday.
Check me out in the Metropolitan Section in a column called “Sunday Routine.”
