Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Two Degrees of Separation- from Oprah!



I can hardly believe it has been a month since it happened. I think it's amazing even though nothing really came of it... it is just a hoot and a story I will be telling my grandkids.

It's no secret to my close friends and family that I love, love, love Ms. Oprah Winfrey. I even gave her a mention in my book. So it would come as no shock to anyone to know that I have been composing a letter to her since the moment I finished writing my book. I just had a wild inclination to share it with her and perhaps she would consider it one day for her book club or make mention of it in her O magazine. Wild thought, I know. It started as an idea that a client gave me, when he asked me how I was going to get my book in Oprah's hands, or anyone else for that matter. A man with much business savvy and marketing expertise, he threw out some ideas to get noticed, one being to hire an impersonator of someone the person I was sending the book to admired.

Hmmmm, I got to thinking...Oprah was a big Barack Obama supporter. Perhaps Michelle would be the way to go. So I googled impersonators in the Chicago area where Oprah's Harpo Studio is located. I came up short on Michelles, but almost jumped out of my chair when I saw Barack. Mr. Reggie Brown had it all, the looks, the voice and had been on George Lopez and Hannah Montana. I found my man and I was sold. I wrote to him, never thinking he would accept my offer to go to Harpo and deliver my book to Oprah. After all, this man was being paid well to do appearances and high-powered functions and here I am with my lil ole girl-next-door request.

Be that as it may, I was driving home one afternoon with a friend in the car when I got his call. I couldn't believe my ears. He wanted to help me out but unfortunately he was living in California now. Bummer. But he was nice as he could be and he said that next time he was in Chicago to visit family he would let me know. He told me perhaps in April. I was a little disappointed and did not want to wait but I figured I would spend that time perfecting my letter and designing a pretty box to send it in, along with the book of course.

So you could imagine my surprise when he called me a week later and told me he was unexpectedly going to be in Chicago in about two weeks. He wanted me to send him a copy of the book so he could read it. Once we got all the logistics straight, I needed to overnight the book to him so he would get it in time and then send out my box to his parents home in Chicago so it would be waiting for him when he arrived...I was so excited!

I worked on getting some contacts for him so that he would at least get to a receptionist, however I would've been thrilled if he just made contact with the security guard. I felt that no matter what, this situation will get talked about and then maybe my book would wind up in someones hands who could make decisions and not just tossed in the garbage. So everything was going smoothly and the package was waiting for him when he arrived in Chicago. He planned to visit Harpo Studios on Friday when she tapes live. He called me play by play. He had a buddy of his dress up as secret service to make it look official. He called me while he walked down Washington Avenue and people were asking him for his autograph and coming over to see him. He was pumped and I was pumped for him. He had his own agenda that day, but I didn't care. I was happy to be part of it all, even if it was via the phone. I prepped him on what to say and wished him my best as he got ready to approach the building. He then added a tidbit of info that really sent me into a tizzy. He didn't need my contact that day because he had one of his own... a friend who worked there in a high position for O radio would be meeting him at the door to escort him in. Well get out of town!!!

I was jumping out of my skin, met a girlfriend to tell her about it and then rushed home to watch Ms. O at 4 p.m. my time. He was there. He called me. He said he came in and the receptionist was blushing and people came out to see him. He was escorted across the street to security clearance and then took a walk through part of the studio. He said it was so beautiful in there and the decor was amazing with fireplaces and so inviting. He took a walk down the "blue" hallway that i am guessing leads to where she tapes the show. He could see it. He was equally thrilled as I was. Pink and Dwayne Johnson were guests that day. I was watching, knowing he was standing right there with my box. He called me back when the show was over to tell me that the hand off to his friend was successful. She told him that she would do her best to get it to Ms. Winfrey.... okay freaking out! Good going Reggie. He was also invited back to see the show and perhaps get a chance to meet her. Yeah for him!

It has been a month and although I did not hear from anyone, nor did I expect to... I am still tickled and laugh inside every time I think of Oprah and that she may be reading or have read my book on her way to somewhere fabulous or maybe even while curled up next to her five dogs or winding down before bed with some green tea.
HA! What a thrill.. and a good feeling to know I did something...I tried for the impossible.

Here's more of what folks are saying about A Wasted Life

- Marlo,

I want to thank you for autographing and personalizing my copy of A Wasted Life. Rich and I both read it and enjoyed it so very much. What a very talented writer you are! I thoroughly enjoyed your easy style, especially the dialogues, and the way you told the story from both your perspective and your father's. What a wonderful adventure it was for me! Of course what really is important is the intrinsic message of the story. Living life to the fullest, being grateful for all the people and blessings one has, and not being afraid to tell those you love how you feel about them every day is what it's all about. Life is too short to do anything but that, as you stated so well. It is a message for all people and for all time. -Rich and Marie

- Marlo, I wanted to let you know that my Aunt read your book and LOVED IT ♥ ~ she has been smoke free for 27 days !!- Utona O'Shea
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1 comment:

  1. Liza & ChanceMarch 3, 2010 at 6:57 AM

    What a great update and testament to just following your dreams and not letting anything get in your way - not even Oprah's security team! :)

    ReplyDelete

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The story

If art imitates life, then “A Wasted Life” is a perfect example of that. Most all of us could probably say we have felt that we missed an opportunity at one point or another. Or maybe we have felt that we had followed the wrong path at a critical turning point. Maybe our eyes were closed to something wonderful right in front of us and once we realized it, it was too late. All these experiences are realized in "A Wasted Life."

Based on the true life experiences of a New York man who was, for all intense and purposes, on a fast-track to a successful career and family life, “A Wasted Life, “ tells the provocative fictional tale of how selfish pride, narcissism, poor judgment, addictions and bad habits can get in the way of your dreams and desires.

The title of the book is derived from a comment Robert DeNiro made in the 1993 movie “A Bronx Tale,” and sort of picks up where that theme left off by way of a very gangster-esque main character. This book is rich with animated and entertaining characters mixed with factual details of pop-culture and events that happened in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and into the new millennium. The story is told through two people’s eyes, Joey Martino and his daughter Nina and explores a very dysfunctional father-daughter relationship.

Nina starts off the story with a festive holiday celebration only to be interrupted by an unexpected phone call from an estranged Joey. With mixed and torn emotions, this forces her to recall many turbulent and violent memories about this once powerful air-traffic controller and union leader. Fast-forward to the current times where Joey picks up the narration when he finds out he has cancer. The story becomes a tormented person’s road to finding himself and forgiveness. An unlikely friendship ensues between Joey and a Jamaican nurse, illustrating how compassion can go a long way. Meanwhile, a mysterious reporter steps into Joey’s life to chronicle some of his past. The latter coupling takes on a life of its own, similar to a patient/ therapist relationship, giving Joey so much to hold on to during his fight to survive.

Hopefully you will come away with a new found enthusiasm for life, appreciation for loved ones, motivation to cultivate lost and new relationships, and passion to pursue your dreams and talents.

How it Started...

Well about 10 years ago, when I lived with my roommate, we were both journalists and we had both always wanted to write a book. It was a goal for each of us, so we challenged each other and got started. Needless to say as time went on, work, love, marriage and kids got a hold of me, thank GOD for those things, but I let the book idea go. I guess you could say, life got a hold of me… Then after a series of tragic losses, I began to realize that life was too short to let dreams go by and let things just happen to me. After all I was someone who always set goals and conquered them. I was a marathon runner for goodness sake. An opportunity presented itself during a brief meeting with an acquaintance who is a life coach who wanted to get healthy and fit. Since I am a fitness professional, the wheels were set in motion. We were going to barter our services to each other and make our dreams happen. We set a start date, made each other accountable and gave each other a year to reach our goals.
That year was riddled with highs and lows for me as I was working, being mom to my two young children and trying not to let this “hobby” of writing a book interfere with day-to-day life. The biggest low came with the news that my grandmother, who was like a second mom to me and whom I affectionately called “nanny,” was very ill. Being there for her was never a question, but it was hard on everyone involved, day after day, caring for her and watching her suffer and seeing her pass on. I still miss her terribly. Through it all though, I still kept on writing the book, and oddly enough I felt like I had an angel on my shoulder telling me to keep going with my dreams and goals.
I am happy to say, nanny (grandmother) helped me finish the book ! We did it lady!

It was a long year but a very interesting and cathartic journey. Even if I shared it with nobody else I was elated with what I had done. A few close friends and family members read the book and it drove them to fits of laughter and tears. They urged me to let people know about it. It has the power to touch so many people for so many different reasons. I believe we can all relate or recognize ourselves in some of these characters. So here it is… and I’ve got lots more stories where this came from.