Valerie Ann Leff, who I’ve never met, was scheduled to read at Brooklyn Reading Works in January with Ann Marie Cunningham. However, she was unable to do so because she didn’t move to New York as expected.
Valerie Ann has been graciously keeping in touch with me and was very apologetic about the cancellation. Ann Marie Cunningham did a terrific reading of her rodeo story and was joined by Paolo Corso, who read from her short story collection, "Giovanna’s 86 Circles."
Now Valerie Ann sends this good news. Look out for her television series on NBC. Congratulations to Valerie Ann. And we’re still looking forward to hearing you read at Brooklyn Reading Works one of these days.
It’s official — my novel, Better Homes and
Husbands has been purchased by NBC for development as a television series.
I’m writing to each of you to share my good news and also to express my
appreciation to you. In some way, each one of you helped and supported me as I
was writing and then promoting my first book. Maybe you came to a reading or
helped arrrange one in your city, wrote me a blurb or review, bought the book
early, had me to your book group, recommended my book to a friend or gave it as
a gift. Some of you taught me, gave book parties, came to readings over and
over, helped me refine my writing when it was in process, told me not to quit
when writing seemed like a really, really bad idea. It wasn’t a short journey to
this point.The story of the deal: Meryl Poster, former head of production
at Miramax, picked up my paperback in a New York bookstore to read over
Christmas vacation. She loved it, and in her new role as development consultant
at NBC-Universal, decided to purchase the rights for a television series. In
January, she tracked down my number and called me at home.I wish I could write you each individually, but I
am lucky to have a lot of wonderful people in my life. If it were not for
each one of you, that book never would have been written, never made it to
paperback, never been there for my producer to pick up and read. So thank
you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!