January 29, 2010 • Print This Post
It’s been a super busy month, my first at Brava. Thank you so much for all your emails, calls – even flowers! I truly appreciate your warm welcome.
This month’s picture was taken at the Kensington holiday bowling party. I’m definitely a team player, but I’m lucky if my ball doesn’t head straight for the gutter. I had a great time getting to know my new colleagues, particularly Helen Dressner, who sells all our books to Barnes & Noble. Laughing over our lamentable bowling skills led to a discussion of Brava’s performance at B & N and a decision to meet with Tommy Dreiling, the buyer there. We’ll be getting together for lunch next week to talk over new trends.
Kensington holiday bowling party
Another great opportunity to talk about sales, covers and marketing strategies came this week with the launch meeting to discuss books scheduled in Brava from January through April of 2011. This is each editor’s chance to present our books to the people who will actually be selling and marketing them, and to explain what’s special about each title. I was really impressed by the level of commitment and enthusiasm of everyone present. Did you know that our publisher, Laurie Parkin, has the sales history and backlist of every author at her fingertips? Or that Mickie Searcy, our special sales manager, and Justine Willis, our retail chain sales manager, read every one of our books as well as most of the competition? Very cool.
This week also brought a wonderful Today Show interview with Kate’s mom, Alice Duffy, who made her Broadway debut this month in PRESENT LAUGHTER. Here is the link so you can hear about her extraordinary career and her tribute to Kate.
All the best,
Alicia Condon
Posted by Alicia Condon @ 3:00 am • Filed under: Alicia Condon
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Hi, Alicia! Sounds like you are settling right in. I’m one of the Brava debs, although I’m a little past the virginal white-gown stage.
My very first date in high school was a bowling date, where I broke all my long, laboriously-polished fingernails. I never went out with that guy again.
Hi Alicia,
The video of Kate’s mom was very touching. A lot of resemblance between them. Kate would definitely have been fussing if her mother hadn’t gone on broadway
You’ll love it at Kensington.
Best,
Karen Kelley
Welcome to Brava, Alicia! I’m new here, too, but so far—it’s aces.
And I am so looking forward to chatting & working with you again. It’s been ages!
Welcome to Kensington, Alicia! Glad to hear you had fun at the Kensington bowling party, even if your bowling skills sound far too much like mine. Kensington has a wonderful team and they’re scads of fun to work with.
May this be the start of many, long, happy days here -
Diane
Welcome, Alicia. Looking foward to working with you!
Charlotte
Welcome to Brava, Alicia. I’m looking forward to working with you.
Alicia…we knew it would take someone uber business savvy and truly compassionate to step in the gap created by the loss of Kate Duffy. You certainly fit the bill. I’m eager to hear the results of your chats with the B&N people.
Though I almost never cried, I did watching that video.
Now, off to get the bride-to-be nails done and then back here to write like a mad woman until I can’t keep my eyes peeled any longer.
Alicia–
welcome again and thanks for the info about other K team members! I think I know Justine from her Levy days?! Great to have you here on the blog, too! Let the fun begin!
Terri B
Alicia – Welcome to Brava! Of course, I’m a newbie here too.
I look forward to working with you and wish you the best!
Bianca
Hi Alicia! Coming in late, sorry about that! No excuses other than swiss cheese brain.
As with everyone else, I’m thrilled to have you as my editor and look forward to what we can do together. Maybe even go bowling to see who can have the lowest score. LOL.
Beth
I love to bowl. The funniest thing that happened to me was being on a bowling team with a group of Air National Guard members. In the middle of the tournament the guard members got sent overseas and we females didn’t have much of a chance of winning the tournament. Thanks to some having hefty handicaps, we held our own, but didn’t win.
Welcome and chances are…you bowl better than I do! As it is, I’m banned from golf on board cruise ships!LOL…