Yearly Archives: 2015

All the Young Dudes …

dec172015-2
Here I am as Cherubino in Beaumarchais’ play The Marriage of Figaro at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. It was 1982, and yet another example of my life imitating my art. I played a confused and heartsick kid, okay a boy, but still typecasting. Like Cherubino, I pined for true love and ran around trying on new identities – and costumes! I would eventually find it but not until many years and many mistakes later and in an unexpected way.

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nov092015-2
Dearly Departed

When I started working on HEART OF GLASS, I was struck by the number of people who appear in the book who are no longer on this earth. There was the old boyfriend who I discovered had died of the flu at the age of fifty-one, and two close friends who literally dropped dead of heart attacks in their forties. Last week my wonderful old pal Morris Lafon went the way of the angels much too soon. Mo was a true artist, who moved to New York to work in downtown experimental theater in the seventies. He was friends with Janis Joplin, threw Alan Ginsburg out of his house for hitting on his friends, and snuck a bottle of vodka to Nicholas Ray in the hospital when he was dying. I will never forget Mo’s marvelous laugh, hilarious stories, his zest for life – and the time we danced the Lambada at my thirtieth birthday party. I love you Mo and you will always be with me.

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Introducing the sequel to CHANEL BONFIRE, HEART OF GLASS.

October15-2015

I wanted to share the cover of my sequel to Chanel Bonfire, titled Heart of Glass. My dear friend, Ann Marsden, took this picture of me at her loft space in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1983. I was one lost and confused girl, and Annie became my fast friend. She was one of the smartest, wildly talented and supremely stylish people I ever met. She never wore socks in the sub-zero Minnesota weather and wore her camel colored coat unbuttoned draped around her shoulders as she drove a vintage Mercedes around town with an Astrud Gilberto cassette stuck in the tape player. When we arrived at our destination, she’d pull out a popsicle stick and jimmy the meter. Sadly, she no longer here which is why I am so happy her photo is on my new cover and she gets a credit. Love you Annie. You’ll always be with me.

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A few things people get wrong …

I’m advised not to respond to reader reviews, but sometimes it’s tempting! One recent review on Goodreads assumed that my sister and I had lost touch. Chanel Bonfire is dedicated to my sister, who I consider to be the hero of the story in many ways, and we remain close.

Another common critique is that the book has no pictures. This was an editorial decision made by my publisher, Gallery Books. You can go to the Chanel Bonfire Facebook page or the website www.chanelbonfire.com and see photos of many of the people who appear in Chanel – friends and family.

I hope that clears up a few things!
September28-2015

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Come Fly With Me!

July28-2015
The new paperback edition of Chanel is out today!  And it’s being featured at the Hudson News Store in all your favorite airports!  Perfect for vacation reading!

Both the photo of my mother, Georgann Rea and the one of me and my sister Robin were taken by my late step-father, Oliver Rea.  The new edition also includes the first chapter of the sequel, Heart of Glass due out in March 2016!
Happy Summer!  Happy Reading!

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New Paperback!

July14-2015

Fresh from the publisher!  My first copies of the new Chanel paperback which includes the first chapter of the sequel Heart of Glass!  The books will be available two weeks from today and will be featured at Hudson News in airports all over the country! I think Gallery did a lovely job.   And I absolutely love the Tiffany blue.  That’s my mother on the cover and Robbie and I in the inset photo.  I hope you like Chanel and will look forward to Heart of Glass which is being published in March, 2016.

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Congratulations Goodreads Giveaway Winners!

July7-2015

Congratulations Erika from Austin, TX, Julio from Portland, CT, Jill from Downer’s Grove, IL, Alyson from Wheat Ridge, CO, and Tracy from Southfield, MI!  Out of over 1,600 entries, you’ve won free copies of Chanel!  You should receive them this week if you haven’t already.  And if any of you choose the book for a book group, I’d be happy to Skype with you and answer any questions you all might have.  I’ve done it with many groups all over the world and it’s always a terrific time!

Wendy

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School’s Out! And In!

june27-2015

I’m always flattered when a teacher uses my book in a discussion on memoir or workshop on telling one’s own story.  And I was thrilled to be back in the UCLA classroom of the great writer and brilliant teacher Alison Singh Gee.  If you haven’t read her wonderful book, “Where The Peacocks Sing” you should.  Just click on the Amazon link to the right and order it for your Kindle or have a copy delivered!  And you can also check out her author page at MacMillan:  Alison Singh Gee

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New Cover for Summer!

Chanel Bonfire reissue (1)

This is an early proof copy of the new paperback cover for Chanel due out this summer!  The reissue will include the first chapter of the sequel, HEART OF GLASS!  That’s my mom on Lyford Cay with Robbie and me in the inset.  The photos were taken by Pop, my once-upon-a-time stepfather Oliver Rea (note the misspelling of his name on the credit).  Should be out in July in time to take to the beach!

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