Minneapolis Summers…
This is Lilo Blum…
She was the owner of Lilo Blum’s Stables just off Hyde Park in London. Caroline and John Kennedy rode there as did their cousins the Radziwills and Zsa Zsa Gabor and Topol and many others. She was a feisty older lady when I was a girl in London. While Mother was off spending her giant divorce settlement, I worked for Lilo grooming horses, mucking out stalls and leading tourists on horseback through the park in exchange for time on a horse. I was crazy about horses then. There’s a hilarious story about me and a group of young Saudis that didn’t make the final edit of Chanel Bonfire. I’ll post it on the blog soon. But in the meantime, here’s a story about Lilo from The Age in 1972 right about the time I was there.
It’s a ways off but I’m VERY excited about appearing in the wonderful Julie Robinson’s Literary Affairs Summer Books & Breakfast series!
I’m always gratified when Chanel Bonfire touches someone and I enjoy hearing their extraordinary stories of childhoods lived in adversity of one kind and another.
At my Glendale Public Library event, I was introduced by this charming man, Leon Mayer, who runs the community outreach committee there. Leon had read my book, and shared his story with me. When he was ten, his dad died, and his mentally ill mom gambled away their savings on the stock market, leaving them destitute. He ended up in a Jewish orphanage – which he loved. There were three meals a day, a bed with clean sheets ,he played sports and went to school. He went on to become a lawyer. It was a pleasure to meet this dapper fellow.
How are YOU celebrating National Library Week?!
While Holly Golightly was researching the richest men in Brazil under 40, I was at the Glendale Public Library having a terrific time! Thanks to everyone who came out and to Leon Mayer of the Friends of the Library, The Mayor of Glendale, Frank Quintero and State Assemblyman Mike Gatto for the lovely gifts and kind words about me and Chanel Bonfire. You’re all darlings!
A great review from my new favorite book review!
A Memoir As Disturbing As It Is Comical
Congratulations to Courtney Cook of Strongsville, Ohio, and Jeanna Wersebe of Morro Bay, California!
Your Chanel Bonfire audiobooks will go out this week! Stay tuned for more Goodreads Giveaways. And if anyone is the Los Angeles area tonight, I’ll be speaking, reading and answering questions at the Glendale Public Library’s kick-off event for National Library Week. Stop by at 7PM 222 E. Harvard St., Glendale, CA 91205. Hope to see you there!
