“How about an April 1 publication date?” Larry, my editor/publisher, said referring to my book: “Beyond the Spotlight: On the Road with Phyllis Diller.”
“Sure,” I said, not realizing the significance of that day.
It’s been just over a year since my book came out and whether the April Fool referred to me or Phyllis, I’m still not sure, but looking at my latest royalty check, I’m thinking it might be me. This check combined with the money I earned pouring wine last Saturday will just about cover the cost of my new shoes. Granted, they are Cole Hahn, so pricey, but still by now I expected that I would have made enough money to buy new shoes every week! (Where are Simon & Schuster when you need them?)
“It’s not a big house publisher you need,” Shawn told me when I was lamenting this a few weeks back, “it’s a movie deal!” Oh, yeah, that would work. So, as I was saying, where is Columbia Pictures when you need them?
Then a couple of days ago at the pottery studio, some of us were commenting on the fact that the old words: “clerk, janitor, housewife,” were no longer acceptable. I mentioned that at a recent book signing a woman corrected me when I said I had been Phyllis Diller’s secretary. “You were her Administrative Assistant,” she said. Funny, nobody told me. I always thought I was a secretary (and a darn good one at that!).
“Wait a minute,” Linda said. “You are the one who wrote the book about Phyllis Diller?”
“Yes, that’s me.” Clay Arts Vegas, the pottery studio where I go to sling mud, had graciously and joyously hosted a book signing for me last year and I’d left some of my books in their showcase. I figured Linda had seen them.
“I heard about that on NPR when we were driving back from California this weekend.”
I stopped breathing. The pottery wheel stopped spinning. I stared at her. “You heard about my book on National Public Radio?”
“Yeah, on Fresh Air. Terry Gross was talking about comedians and he mentioned a book about Phyllis Diller.”
“REALLY?” If that were true, my book sales would be through the roof by now. I haven’t had any calls from Larry saying “OMG, what’s going on?” so figure that probably isn’t the whole story. Still, when I look on Amazon, there are very few books about Phyllis Diller and most of them were written by her, so now I’m curious to find out what it was.
“I’ll ask my friend. She’ll remember,” Linda told me.
I gave Linda my card with my e-mail and blog addresses. “Please have her e-mail me. I’m dying to know.”
Of course, it’s probably nothing. I mean, NPR. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the head? If that turns out to be true we’ll celebrate big-time. Heck with the champagne, barkeep — Cole Hahns for everyone!
If you haven’t read my book, please check it on on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Spotlight-Road-Phyllis-Diller/dp/0985972882. If you haven’t written a comment yet, please do — it helps with the marketing.
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