Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Why I Traveled from Mississippi to New York to Meet Jackie Collins

20 years.

Before 2015 that is how long it had been before I walked the streets of New York. I was 19 years old the last time I was there, and though my intentions were always to come back for a visit or to catch a show, it never happened. That is until June 2015.

So what brought me back to the Big City all the way from Mississippi? Two words: Jackie Collins.

I have been a fan of her books for over 25 years, and have had the honor of interviewing her now 4 times on my radio show Conversations LIVE as well as feature her in the pages of Conversations Magazine. We have chatted, laughed together and stayed connected---but never met. So when I was offered the opportunity to not just discuss her new book THE SANTANGELOS with her over lunch but have some one-on-one time, there was NO WAY I could resist.

On Wednesday, June 17, 2015---just one day after her new book released---I found myself at the Hotel Plaza Athenee in New York at an event hosted by Socially Speaking and Get Red PR with other fans/bloggers/journalists sitting at the table with the international bestselling author.
She was everything you would have hoped she would be: gracious, confident and all too ready to discuss her new book and to listen to us as well.

It was intriguing to hear her discuss the characters she has created, the parallels to pop culture today and even elaborate on her love of creating strong female voices in her books.

I could not have asked for a better experience, especially when it came to getting my book signed and reading her inscription...

Not only has Jackie Collins created a timeless character in Lucky Santangelo but she, herself, is timeless as she shows no signs of slowing down, even discussing with us her autobiography that is now in the works.

The time with Ms. Collins was well worth the trip, and I would happily do it again.

Listen to my most recent interview with Jackie Collins on #ConversationsLIVE radio show here: www.spreaker.com/user/cyruswebbpresents/jackie-collins-on-conversationslive 

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