I don't traditionally follow celebrities on social media. However I do admire Valerie Bertinelli for fighting back against ways that the television industry disregards women as they have the audacity to age in their body shape and appearance.
After being summarily dismissed by a network, Valerie is getting ready to share her talents independently through her Valerie's Place online. There she will continue her tried and true talent for cooking, as well as launch a book club.
Thatโs where she and I intersect.
In promoting her book club, Valerie has asked authors to pitch their books as possible club choices. She didnโt have to ask twice for me to tell her about The Secret Sand Circle. As I wrote my book's description, I was sure it would resonate with her. I couldnโt wait for that phone call announcing my bookโs inclusion in her club.
Sadly, Iโm still waitingโฆ.
But there's good news to share as well. Last night in an Insta video, Valerie stated that she was in Buffalo for her son Wolfโs concert.
Wait! What?
Valerie Bertinelli---the woman I have been trying to convince to select The Secret Sand Circle for her book club is merely miles from my home?
Immediately I commented on her post, welcoming her to Buffalo. After a few minutes, Valerie (ok, maybe one of her people) liked my what I wrote. Thatโs all it took for me to write another, longer comment about my book and offer to bring a copy to the venue where her son was performing.
This time---crickets.
The longer I sat on the couch the more I stewed. Until I realized that it didnโt matter what Valerie did in responding-- or not. It mattered what I did.
So, I grabbed a copy of The Secret Sand Circle, inscribed it to Valerie, added a bookmark and put them in a manila envelope with a note suggesting that it would be a great book for her club. Then I jumped in my truck with the concert venue as my destination. I had no idea how I was going to get my book to her, but I was determined it was going to happen.
Twenty minutes later, and, following a phone call to a friend who knows the security setup of the club, I parked illegally on the backside of the venue, in-and-among the tour buses. I jumped out into the dark and rainy night and headed to the security entrance. When the door opened, I was faced with a retinue of security people.
Taking a deep breath, I spewed the speech Iโd been rehearsing during my drive---which may have included a few little white lies (LWL).
โHi, (here I added the name of one of the club co-owners LWL #1) he told me to come to this door. I have a book for Valerie Bertinelli. She's here tonight for her son, Wolfโs concert.โ
Nods by the security guys encouraged me to believe they were buying my story, so I continued.
โIโve been messaging with Valerieโs people on Instagram (LWL#2) and they told me to drop a book for her here and ask security to deliver it (LWL #3).
Sheโs starting a book club and has been asking for authors to suggest their books. Iโm an author and Iโm from Buffalo, so please make sure this gets to her.โ (Finally---a redemptive statement of truth! )
The security posse listened politely and even smiled in encouragement. Thatโs what made me ask the name of the gentleman who accepted the book. Later, when I talked to my friend who's familiar with the venue, I described the man to him. He laughed when he said, โThatโs the other owner of the place.โ
As an Irish Catholic, it's been deeply imprinted into my being that lying--even white lies--can end in a โpunishment. โ In this case, that could be Valerie not receiving the book, or receiving and not liking it.
Then again, Iโm hoping God is a booklover and will take pity on my Indie authorโs heart and soul. And any day now, Iโll be hearing from Valerie that she has chosen my book for her club..