Lauren's Blog

Chasing Harry Winston Goes to Hollywood!

2008-09-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

I'm *thrilled* to announce that Chasing Harry Winston has been optioned by Universal Studios! Mandalay Pictures is set to produce, Andy Tennant will direct, and Gina Wendkos will adapt the book to the big screen. Check out what Variety posted today:

Universal, Mandalay chase 'Harry'
Andy Tennant to direct 'Winston' adaptation

By MARC GRASER

Universal Pictures has picked up the rights to Lauren Weisberger’s novel "Chasing Harry Winston" for Andy Tennant to direct and Mandalay Pictures to produce.
Gina Wendkos will pen the adaptation of the book that revolves around three young women who each vow to change their entire lives for the better in the course of the next year. Pic will focus and expand upon one of the three storylines.

"Winston" is Weisberger’s third bestselling novel after "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Everyone Worth Knowing."

Tennant most recently helmed "Fool’s Gold" and the Will Smith comedy "Hitch."

Wendkos wrote the two "Princess Diaries" films for Disney.Mandalay prexy Cathy Schulman and senior VP Scarlett Lacey brought the book to Universal.

Company has Martin Campbell’s remake of "The Birds" also set up at U and Werner Herzog’s "The Piano Tuner" at Focus Features.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117992041.html

2008-07-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Stella (left) and Mitzy (right) duke it out on the rough streets of New York

Finally back and settled into being home and enjoying every moment. I should be outlining plans for the next book (an am, if my editor or agent happen to be reading this, I really am), but it's just been such a lovely summer so far.

In book news, Barnes & Noble chose to feature all three books (TDWP, EWK, and CHW) on their stepladder this week. If you get a chance, stop by and see the awesome displays they have set up at the entrance of all their stores. Thanks to B&N for their incredible support.

Otherwise, not too much to report. Spending way too much time at the new Whole Foods that just opened in Tribeca (been there every day for the last five), playing with the dogs, and alternately shaking my head at the masses lined up 10-deep to buy an iPhone and wishing I were one of them. Oh yeah, and outlining! Constantly outlining. As always, I invite you to write in with any story ideas. You'll get zero acknowledgement/credit (and I'll vehemently deny taking your idea), but if you don't mind that, send away! xxx

Home Sweet Home

2008-07-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Belated Fourth of July to everyone! It might be Monday, but hell, Nicole Kidman doesn't seem to know that (she named her Monday-born kid Sunday today), so I'm going to pretend I don't either. It's indescribably wonderful to be back home after nearly five weeks on tour. Not that it wasn't fun--because actually getting to meet you all was the great part--but I definitely started to fantasize about sleeping in my own bed. Upon returning last week, I promptly slept for two entire days and then spent time reveling in the small things: taking a Diet Coke from my fridge without getting charged $6, roaming around in only a T-shirt without needing to post the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door, and my personal favorite, taking a bath without having to envision what grossness may have preceded me.

Home has been so wonderful, in fact, that I refused to leave it. Unlike most fellow New Yorkers, Mike and I did something blasphemous this Fourth of July weekend: we stayed in the city. I know! It's horrifying to admit, but we actually had a long overdue NYC weekend. We saw Tell No One at the Sunshine Cinema and both loved it (not only was it well-written and acted, but it was also subtitled, which had the added bonus of making it feel like a cultural undertaking instead of just an awesome movie), had a BBQ with friends on their roof deck, hit some golf balls at Chelsea Piers (and by "hit" I really mean "attempted to make occasional contact with said golf balls"), met some other friends at Dean's for brick-oven pizza, walked the dogs along the Hudson River, and generally ate more Pinkberry than anyone should admit to--ever.

Merely reporting this has exhausted me, so I'm off to find more yogurt and another nap, in that order. xxx

Hometown Visit

2008-06-30T14:17:00.000-07:00

Well, not quite hometown, but hanging in Philly has been great (not to mention highly caloric). Yesterday was a fantastic brunch party at the Four Seasons, where it was wonderful getting to catch up with so many Allentown folks and a take a breather from the book tour for a couple hours. Sending out a huge hug to Eric Allen, the catering manager there, for making everything so wonderful for us--it really was a perfect party.

Don't think that heaping quantities of pastries, blintzes, Bloody Marys, fruit, bagels, lox, and the most incredible omelette bar I've ever laid eyes on was sufficient, though--no, no, no. A mere three hours after brunch was over, a group of us made our way over to Geno's for cheesesteaks (and Diet Cokes, natch). For you purists who would appreciate this, I ordered mine with onions and Cheese Whiz, and finished the whole gigantic disgustingly delicious thing.

This morning I finally got back to work (this is a book tour, after all, and not--as I seem to think--a reason to eat my way through every sizable city in the continental United States) with an interview on Good Day Philadelphia. I panicked slightly when Chanel asked "Do you think there's a readership for books like yours?" (Uh, I hope so. I'm praying that it's not only my immediate family buying those books out of guilt and obligation), but overall it was quick and painless. Went directly from there to Marathon Grill, my all-time favorite brunch place in Philly with my friend Alli for--you guessed it--yet another meal, and I'm headed out now to read tonight at the Barnes & Noble on Walnut Street. Come say hi if you're nearby, and if I miss you tonight, there's always DC tomorrow night.....xxxx

Canada AM

2008-06-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

I won't go so far as to say Canada AM this morning was fun, but it definitely wasn't torturous either. Which is something. Everyone I met who worked for the show--in the green room, make-up, on-air--was absolutely lovely and welcoming. However, just as a teensy point of constructive criticism: next time it would be great if you could keep the gaggle of 6-foot, 115-pound models there for a different segment in a separate room from the rest of us. Live television is stressful enough without having to face an entire pride of leggy girls at 7:30 a.m. Thanks :)

Click here to watch me saying the exact same thing I've said in the past 2,000 interviews.

I spent the rest of the day recovering from my run-in with the models at the super swank Spoke Club in Toronto. Simon & Schuster kindly installed me there for the day to have lunch, do another round of interviews, and drink my body weight's worth in coffee.

And thanks again to last night's Indigo crowd! Sending a special shout-out to the guy who's making an imminent trip to Tiffany in preparation for popping the question (you know who you are). Congrats in advance on your total rock-star plan! xxx

Go Indigo!!!

2008-06-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

I'm delirious with exhaustion and happiness, but I wanted to send a quick thank you out to everyone who joined me earlier tonight at Indigo. You Torontonians are pretty great, eh? Seriously, it was awesome getting to meet each and every one of you.

Tune in tomorrow at 8:40 a.m. to watch me deer-in-headlights on Canada AM....

More when I recover from the inevitable humiliation. xxx

CBS Early Show

2008-06-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Grinning maniacally through the terror. Maggie was as nice as they come, but television scares the hell out of me....

As luck would have it, my recent visit to The Early Show at CBS was taped instead of live (and I'm sending out huge thanks to whatever cosmic force caused that to happen). As a result, the producers kindly edited out my stammering, flustered one-word answers and cut the clip in such a way that viewers could possibly believe that English is actually my first and only language.

The Road Show Hits San Diego...finally!

2008-06-17T15:40:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to head into Warwick's, nervous as always before readings

Rick and Kiley came by to say hello and show us the ropes in La Jolla (note: terror on Rick's face at the thought that his wife might force him to read this book)

Answering great questions from a lively San Diego crowd.....

There are definitely worse places to visit on a book tour than San Diego, and not surprisingly, we had a great time. Granted, it was absolutely freezing (San Diego has the world's best PR--ask anyone who doesn't live there, and they'll swear it's got the best weather in the country), but we survived so-called June Gloom like champions (translation: we complained the whole time to anyone who would listen).

Mike met me at the airport and we proceeded downtown to the W Hotel, a super trendy place with an awesome terraced "beach" complete with fire pit and all sorts of beautiful people. Or so we heard. We spent most of our time there alternately huddled in multiple layers of all the clothing we'd packed and riding the pitch-black, disco-fabulous elevators up and down, all the time wondering who thought to put strobe lights in hotel elevators.

When we finally forced ourselves into the harsh cold world, we headed to the hills for the night's reading. Warwick's, an awesome independent bookstore in La Jolla, hosted a great event. Afterwards, we had dinner at George's with friends Rick and Kiley (featured above), and while gazing out over the majestic Pacific, briefly wondered--as every New Yorker who visits San Diego inevitably does--why the hell we don't live there. Then a blast of arctic air hit, and we remembered: New York might only have two decent weeks of weather a year, but when they happen, they're heavenly.

That, and you don't have to drive. I hope the Hertz people aren't reading this--or, come to think of it, the S&S publicity department--but we returned to our trusty rental car after dinner only to discover we'd lost the keys. Rick finally noticed that the idiot New Yorkers (who haven't driven on a daily basis in ten-plus years) had left the keys in the ignition and the car doors unlocked for no less than five straight hours. And no one took the car! If that's not reason enough not to love La Jolla, nothing is....

Sweltering in Houston But Good Times All Around

2008-06-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Signing the author wall at Blue Willow Books

Blue Willow put together a gorgeous window display, complete with a ring-stacked stiletto

My friends Dan and Taryn came out to say hello (and thankfully refrained from asking any questions during the reading). Hopefully LaDainian had fun too......

Houston was on fire (it felt like 100+ degrees with 100% humidity), but Blue Willow Bookshop put on one hell of a great event last week. Almost a hundred people turned out for wine, Champagne, and an excerpt or two from Chasing Harry Winston--one of the most fun events of the entire tour.

Afterwards, a group of us went out for dinner and had a blast. After weeks of bland hotel chicken Caesar salads, I pleaded for something with some taste, and Houston more than delivered. We hit up El Tiempo for fajitas and queso, the undeniable best purveyor of both in the continental United States, and the margaritas weren't too lousy either. All in all, Houston rocked. And if anyone can figure out how to package and ship that queso.....

Dreams Do Come True: CHW in US Weekly

2008-06-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

US Weekly hits my mailbox every Thursday, which means 2 p.m. rolls around and I can be found in my building's mailroom with outstretched arms and an embarrassingly eager smile. However, the one week I'm late to the game--and five days late at that, thanks to highly outdated issues in a remote mountain hotel gift shop--is the only one that really matters. Although I still haven't seen a hard copy, a friend was kind enough to forward me this little clipping from this week's US Weekly (apparently, Andrew Firestone is on the cover....why, I have no idea).

I've been lucky to have my books mentioned in every publication from The New York Times to People magazine to The Atlantic Monthly to USA Today, but nothing--and I really mean nothing--gives me more pleasure than seeing Chasing Harry Winston nestled comfortably in the pages of my all-time favorite publication.

Stay tuned for updated tour pictures, and if you're in the San Francisco/Corte Madera area, come say hello! I'll be reading at Book Passage tonight in Corte Madera and tomorrow night at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Click here for all the info.

Chasing Harry Winston Goes Underground

2008-06-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

If you've been on a subway in New York lately, you might have caught a glimpse of the Chasing Harry Winston ad campaign. There are posters plastered all over the stations and trains (making for some unnerving morning commutes for my friends and family who innocently glance up, only to find me maniacally grinning at them from above). Mike snapped a picture of one such poster where a creative rider had blacked out my two front teeth, and he can't stop showing it to people, all the while cracking up and saying things like, "That was a couple weeks ago. Can you imagine what they've done to her now?" I'll spare you that one, but check these out:

Chasing Harry Winston in the NYC Subway

Chasing Harry Winston in the London Underground

Chasing Harry Winston in--where else?--a Harry Winston storefront!

Loving Life in Austin

2008-06-08T15:57:00.000-07:00

Some of my younger readers offered to sign books in my place (an offer, incidentally, I was very tempted to take them up on)

My dad helped keep the usual pre-reading nerves at bay with his always calming logic....("Hey, La, it's not like you're David Sedaris and hundreds of people are going to show up.....") Which was of course, wise AND true.

Hi y'all! Despite the crushing heat wave, I'm having a great time in the Lone Star State. Kicked things off Tuesday with a reading at Borders in Dallas—and had the pleasure of meeting fellow chick-lit author Emily Giffin, who came out to say hello—and caught up over dinner with an old friend from high school (thanks, Cheryl!). My dad met me in Austin yesterday to check out life on the road, and we had a terrific time. Lunch at the historic Driskill Hotel, a reading at Book People (which might just be one of the best bookstores I've ever been to—and trust me, I get to my fair share of bookstores), dinner at a cute little restaurant named Wink, and—because we were only in Austin one night and how could we not—a little live music at the Continental Club. I'm headed now to Houston, so if you're in the area, come on out and say hello.

Also, I owe all of you a HUGE thank you. I just got word that Chasing Harry Winston will debut at #6 on the New York Times Bestseller List on 6/15, and I could not conceivably be more excited! Thank you all for all for making it happen—I have the best readers on earth.

May 27, 2008

2008-05-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that my new book, Chasing Harry Winston, goes on sale today! You can read a sample chapter at either Amazon or Barnes & Noble and hopefully write lengthy, glowing reviews about how much you adore the book (before you actually read it is just fine with me). Or, even better, stop by your favorite local bookstore and pick up a copy.

We'll be kicking things off with the first reading tonight in New York at the Tribeca Barnes & Noble (97 Warren at Greenwich Street; 7:00 pm), so please join us if you're in the city. If not, chances are good I'll be somewhere near you in the next few weeks—check out the upcoming tour schedule and please, please, please come say hello.

Thank you so much for all your amazing support. I'm 100% certain that I have the best readers on earth, and I can't thank you all enough.

April 26, 2008

2008-04-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to post the jacket design for CHASING HARRY WINSTON! We went through a lot of rounds trying to get the shoe and the rings just right, and I hope you'll all agree that the art department at Simon & Schuster did a phenomenal job with this cover. Publication date is Tuesday, May 27th (the day after Memorial Day), but you can pre-order your copy right now at Barnes & Noble or from Amazon. Also, check out the Appearances page for 2008 tour dates. Meeting readers is by far the best part of a book tour, so please please please come out and say hello.

On a personal note, Mike and I got married April 5th in Anguilla at Cap Juluca, our new favorite place on earth. The ceremony was at sunset, on a bluff overlooking the ocean, and we were lucky enough to have our closest friends and family with us. The picture below was taken by our great friend and photographer, Garrett Nudd.

We are currently on our honeymoon in the Maldives (with two laptops, a BlackBerry, and an iPhone, naturally), and we're having a terrific time. More to come when we're back stateside....

February 12, 2008

2008-02-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

It's been a long haul title-wise, but the new book has finally—finally!— been named. We will be calling it CHASING HARRY WINSTON, and it will be in bookstores on Tuesday, May 27, 2008. Check back soon, as I will posting a description of the book and a picture of its cover the second we have it finalized (but in my modest opinion, this is the best cover of the three).

Otherwise, just trying not to complain too much about the frigid NYC temps (and failing), and getting very excited for our upcoming April wedding (around the corner).

Please keep writing to say hello. And add your email to the mailing list so I can keep you updated with book updates, appearances, and unwelcome gossip about my personal life. :)

October 23, 2007

2007-10-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

I hope your spring, summer, and fall were terrific, being that five whole months have just evaporated without so much as a single page update. So it goes.

It's been a busy few months. Turned in the first draft of the third novel, as of now creatively titled Untitled. (Again, I welcome all title ideas! Who cares if you don't yet know what the book is about? A good title is a good title, you know?) I'll hopefully be permitted by the higher powers to give a plot synopsis next time I post (translation: I'll finally figure out what it's about myself), but I can tell you now that UNTITLED is scheduled to be published in June 2008, just in time for some good old-fashioned beach reading.

On a more personal note, Mike and I got engaged last month! We're planning a Caribbean destination wedding for the spring of 2008 and are both super excited. So excited, in fact, that I don't even have anything snarky to say about this. :)

And lastly, a friend just forwarded a YouTube clip of a recent Office episode. Now, for you regular readers, you know the show—based in Scranton!—is already close to my heart, but when they go ahead and reenact scenes from TDWP, well, I love them more than ever. Click here to check it out:

YouTube clip: The Office—The Devil Wears Prada

Keep those emails coming!

June 4, 2007

2007-06-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

Until this week, the coolest pop-culture reference I had seen regarding The Devil Wears Prada was a nifty little tidbit in Newsweek. The title read "The Pope Wears Prada," and it featured a pic of the Holy Father wearing a pair of Prada loafers. That one was fun, but it paled in comparison to this gem (brought to my attention by my much-cooler-than-I-ever-was-or-could-hope-to-be cousin, Alex Weisberger). It seems that a one Mr. Kanye West has included a TDWP reference in his latest single, "Can't Tell Me Nothing." Now I'm not sure I have these lyrics even remotely right, but after about 100 listens, this is what I gleaned:

Life is a, uh, depending how you dress her
So if the devil wear Prada,
Adam Eve wear nada,
I'm in between, but way more fresher
But way less effort, cause when you try hard,
That's when you die hard.

You can check out the video here.

Sing it, Kanye! Thank you, Alex. I'm dyin' hard right now with excitement.

April 8, 2007

2007-04-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

I've been Nibbied!

And it was only after countless emails back and forth to Harper Collins UK, a whirlwind 48-hour trip to London, and a bumbling, partially incoherent acceptance speech that I worked up the nerve to ask why the British Book Awards are called "Nibbies." Turns out the award statues are shaped like pen nibs—a detail I completely missed, thinking only that the bronze block with a dagger-like point would never make it past airport security.

The ultra-posh ceremony included a thousand-person seated dinner at the Dorchester Hotel and enough papparazzi to make you think (just for a second, but still!) that books are, like, totally chic. It was a magical night, and as I sat between two gorgeous and charming men (boyfriend Mike on one side and Gordon Ramsay on the other), I tried not to freak about turning thirty. Oh yes, the Nibbies and my 30th birthday were all wedged into a single day!

Blessedly, at this milestone, I have so much support from all of you. As one kind reader wrote: "According to my calculations, you're thirty today. Christ, that's old."

Then there was: "Happy 30th birthday, Lauren!!! Your older than my cousin Kim and she is much much much older then me."

And my favorite (from a self-proclaimed 39 year-old): "Welcome to our decade."

Thanks, guys. You're the best. More to come when/if I recover.

January 30, 2007

2007-01-30T19:08:00.000-08:00

How do you spell S-L-A-C-K-E-R? It's been forever since I updated everyone on all the exciting news (and by "everyone," I mean "the four or six of you steadfast souls who regularly read these entries").

Congratulations to Meryl Streep on her, oh yes, Golden Globe win for best actress and her—yawn, ho-hum—ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION. And a huge congratulations also to Pat Field for her Oscar nom, Emily Blunt for winning multiple BAFTA's, and Aline McKenna for her Scripter nomination, an award that recognizes authors and screenwriters of a produced book-to-film adaptation.

Had a great time at the CAA Golden Globes after-party a couple weeks ago. Mike and I spent the entire night trying to appear calm, cool, and collected (and totally unimpressed, of course) with the parade of celebrities. Basically, this consisted of death-gripping—and sometimes double-fisting—glasses of champagne. I would hiss something along the lines of "George Clooney, two o'clock" and Mike would respond with "Did you see Penelope's amazing...uh...figure, in that dress?" We managed to maintain a modicum of dignity with TomKat, Nicole, Naomi, Renee, Demi & Ashton, Sienna, Justin, and J.Lo spottings, but Posh (sans Becks) and House from House nearly put us over the edge. I like to think we were Stalker Chic and not too terrifying, but that may be wishful thinking.

Speaking of celebrities...with so many of you writing to ask what lucky dog inspired Millington the Yorkie in Everyone Worth Knowing (okay, so it's been like two people in four years, but whatever), I realize that I've never properly introduced Mitzy the Maltese. Below is a picture of Mitzy walking the mean streets of New York. She looks like she's about to jump a Metro North train to Westchester with a copy of the Times, doesn't she?

Please keep writing! Lord knows I'm not.

xx Lauren

December 14, 2006

2006-12-14T19:12:00.000-08:00

So, I'm too excited now to write about anything other than....The Devil Wears Prada's Golden Globe nominations! It was announced just today that TDWP was nominated for Best Motion Picture—Comedy or Musical (in addition to Borat, naturally). Meryl Streep was also nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture—Comedy or Musical and the super-cool Emily Blunt scored a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.

If you haven't seen the movie yet, now's the perfect time: the DVD came out earlier this week, so check it out!

November 9, 2006

2006-11-09T19:14:00.000-08:00

Let's just get right to the point: if, for some unfathomable reason, you haven't yet seen Borat, I strongly recommend sprinting to the nearest theater. I had the odd experience of watching a mockumentary about a faux-Kazakh while visiting Aruba last week, and while not every joke translated exactly, it was worth it to see an Aruban audience laugh hysterically at the New York City subway scene. Sprint now.

Aruba was terrific, but unfortunately it meant I was out of town for the airing of the Quill Awards on NBC last weekend. The actual ceremony was held at the Museum of Natural History in the beginning of October, and I was thrilled and honored that The Devil Wears Prada received the first annual 2006 Variety Quill Award for Blockbuster Book to Film. Check out some pictures from that wonderful evening.

Also wanted to say a huge thank-you to everyone who's written to me lately. In trying to meet my deadline for book #3 I've been remiss about responding, but please know I read—and love—every single email! Thanks especially to the following readers who have recently written in from all over the world. Better not send me your mailing addresses or I'm likely to show up for a visit....

Mauricio H. and Paty L. from Mexico
Sashka A. from Bulgaria
Irina S. and Anton P. from Russia
Maria N. from Argentina
Kayhan T. from Turkey
Kari H. from Finland
Nurit O. from Israel
Federico A. from Peru
David D. from Spain
Lizbeth S. from Denmark
Federica S. from Italy
Kumudu K. from Sri Lanka
Alexandra B. from Sweden
Vida P. from India
Joy C. from Croatia

Please keep writing!

October 15, 2006

2006-10-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

So, the Venice Film Festival was only what...a month ago? Five weeks? Talk about some serious slacking on the MFOD front. However, with such a solid fall TV line-up, I it seems inconceivable for anyone to do anything but hit "Play" or "Record Entire Series." From the merely passable (Ted Danson's Help Me Help You comes to mind) to the utterly sublime (Grey's, of course), I've been parked on my couch, clicker in hand, from the moment the plane touched down in New York.

Venice was fantastic, of course, if you're into all-night partying, posh hotels, mile-long red carpets, and gorgeous actors at every turn. Sigh. The Devil Wears Prada had its European premiere at the festival, followed by a celebratory party—prepare yourself for the ultimate name-dropping here—on Valentino's yacht. I desperately tried (oh how I swear I did!) to take a few pictures to share, but his security detail was not amused. Check out some other Venice pics, though.

And please keep the letters coming! They're the only hope of saving me from twenty hours a day of America's Next Top Model.

xo Lauren

P.S. Just in case you haven't read/seen/heard enough TDWP, those good people at Fox are developing a TV series called...go on, just try and guess here...The Devil Wears Prada! Check out the Variety article for details.

September 1, 2006

2006-09-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

So, I know I said this was going to be my rarely updated online diary, but that was longer than even I expected. Life in New York during late August has just been so fabulous, so incredibly exciting, that there has barely been time for anything else. You understand.

The waterbugs are at their fattest, the trash piles feel higher than ever, and of course, there's the undeniable thrill of having sweaty, bare-shouldered strangers rub up against your own exposed skin in the furnace of the subway car. But who's complaining? Instead of suffering the usual late-summer New York indignities, I tried to outsmart the seasons this year and visit the family in South Florida, a.k.a. The Only Place In The Country So Hot And Humid It Makes New York City Look Like Amateur Hour. My planned long walks on the beach became long walks at the Boca Town Center Mall (the Gap Body there gets my vote for best overall AC), and my dreams of writing at seaside outdoor cafes were quickly replaced by writing sessions spent under the vents in Starbucks. I did, however, get the genuine pleasure of spending a writing afternoon at my favorite bookstore on the planet, Books & Books in Coral Gables. Owner Mitchell Kaplan welcomed us with a secluded table, great coffee, and some of the best AC in town. Should you ever find yourself within a hundred-mile radius of Miami, you must must must stop by this little book oasis (that just so happens to be wedged in the middle of some damn good shopping. Incidentally).

But enough whining...for now. I'm headed this weekend to the 63rd Annual Venice Film Festival, and I could not be more excited. The Devil Wears Prada will be premiering there September 7th, and I plan to spend each and every free second before then stalking stars, sneaking pictures, and otherwise humiliating myself and my colleagues. Check back soon for an update.

Hope you all have a great final summer weekend, and please continue to keep in touch.

August 17, 2006

2006-08-16T19:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first installment of what will surely be my rarely-updated, completely-neglected blog. Only, I hate the word "blog"—it's up there with "panties," "pucker," and "moist"—so maybe from now on we can call it something really creative and clever, like my First Online Diary.

I've decided to start my FOD because I have been receiving massive amounts of emails and letters from all you readers, and I have been utterly horrid about responding in anything resembling a timely fashion. But please please please know that I read—and obsess over—each and every word you send my way. There are nights I'm so consumed by all the ideas and anecdotes you share that I keep reading your emails....straight through a new Entourage or a rerun of Grey's Anatomy. Now that's love. So please don't give up on me yet. Keep writing, and I swear I will eventually respond (read: just as soon as this season of One Ocean View is over).

Things are finally settling down a bit after a busy early summer spent following all The Devil Wears Prada movie developments. For far longer than is healthy or normal, I dedicated twelve hours a day to watching all the TiVo'd episodes of Meryl, Anne, and Stanely do the talk-show circuit. I instituted random walk-bys of the theater near my apartment to see if any shows were sold out and began anonymously interviewing people who were exiting the movie. I downed extra large coffees from the corner bodega to make possible late-night internet stalking of the day's reviews. There was barely a moment to see the movie myself (I have only managed seven times so far) before collapsing into bed under a framed copy of the official movie poster. But I recognize that it's time to move on, and I promise that's exactly what I'm going to do—just after I post some new pictures from the premiere and a highly edited, completely biased collection of glowing TDWP movie reviews.

In related good news—and due in large part to the above mentioned movie buzz—The Devil Wears Prada hit #1 on The New York Times Bestseller List, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today this summer. The paperback of Everyone Worth Knowing also spent a good chunk of time various lists, albeit it a few slots behind Prada. I have only you, the loyal readers, to thank for welcoming both books into your lives (well, you and the marketing team at Fox 2000, of course).

So welcome. I'm thrilled to be up and running after a brief hiatus, and I can't wait to hear from you. Please continue to keep in touch—your emails are more addictive than all the "Stars: They're Just Like Us!" columns combined. And as you well know, that's saying an awful lot. I'll be back to update my FOD soon....