I've just returned back to the hotel after a packed day in Chicago, but I'm so glad to be here as it is one of my favourite cities to visit in the USA. I'm so impressed by the weather here at the moment, it's just beautiful, especially since many people have been telling us that it often snows around this time of year (the photo above is taken from our room)! Bright and early this morning I had a live interview on Channel 7 ABC Morning News. On second thought, it wasn't exactly 'bright' this morning seeing as when we left it was still very dark! Later on this morning I did live interview on NBC's iVillage. Stephanie was able to take photos on the set so I've posted a few of them above. It's both exciting and daunting doing live interviews, knowing that many people are watching you in their homes and if you make any mistakes there is no way to edit them out!
At lunchtime I had a really interesting meeting at The Women's Athletic Club in the city where I spoke to a group of women about "A Labor of Love" and also had lunch with the ladies there. It was great to be able to discuss my book at length and get some feedback. More busy times continued this afternoon when I did an interview with The Tribune and a taped segment for WGN Radio. I'm not sure when the radio interview will air, but the article in The Tribune will be published in January. I can't believe it is nearly the end of the year all ready!
We're in Chicago.
New Jersey Book Signing.
Today we made the drive back to New York City via New Jersey where I had a book signing at Barnes and Nobles in Clifton. Once again some gorgeous babies and children came to visit. I feel so lucky that people come and bring their babies to see me, and trust me in their presence. Isabella (in the top photo) was even wearing an outfit from my clothing range! And Julia brought me some beautiful drawings that she drew of my photographs!
Borders Signing.
I have just got back from a signing at Borders in Philadelphia and thought I'd post some photographs, especially the one's with the beautiful little babies who came along!
New York and Philadelphia.
Wow it's been a really busy but very exciting couple of days. We are currently in Philadelphia after driving here from New York City yesterday afternoon. I've never been to Philadelphia before and the buildings in the city centre are just amazing, you can really get a sense of the vast history of this city. Before we drove down yesterday I did two television interviews in New York. The first was a taped interview for "CW Morning News" (the second and third photos above are us at the taping). After that I taped two segments on the Martha Stewart Show which was very exciting indeed! My daughter Stephanie and my husband Kel were able to sit in the audience for the segments I was on, so they were able to watch the show and get a sense of the workings behind the scenes. The top photograph above Stephanie took in the dressing room before I went on. The Martha Stewart Show will be airing on the 5 November.
And this morning I did two interviews for local stations; "Good Day Philadelphia" and "The 10 Show". Both of them went really well and we were able to drive past to see The Liberty Bell on the way back to the hotel. My only complaint is the rainy weather here today! I have a telephone interview this afternoon and then a book signing tonight which I'm really looking forward to because so far everybody we have met in Philadelphia has been so friendly!
NY1.
After Good Morning America I taped a segment with Shelley Goldberg for NY1 called NY1 Parenting. She was so lovely and the interview went really smoothly. The photo above is from the set, I'm there with Kel and our publicist Sandi. The building that houses the studios was decorated for Halloween so we couldn't help but take some more photos. I've also included one Stephanie and I took of ourselves!
The Big Apple.
No matter how many times I come to New York City, I always get so excited to see such iconic places like Times Square! My daughter Stephanie took this photo of my husband Kel and I after the Good Morning America interviews.
Good Morning America.
Well so far, today has been a big day (but in a good way). First of all I had an interview on Good Morning America so we all got up early to head to the studios this morning. It's so interesting to get a look backstage and see how the shows are put together and all the people behind the scenes that you never usually get to see. I had three interviews to do there one after the other which was a bit daunting, but once the first one was over I was into the groove and felt much more relaxed. David Muir spoke to me first in a four minute live interview, it's amazing how fast the time goes when you are on air! It can sometimes be hard to make sure that you get everything across, but it all went really well. Secondly I had a radio interview and then a taping with Tanya Rivero for a digital segment. Tanya has recently had a little boy and I was lucky enough to see a photo of him! He was so sweet!
The First Signing!
I've just returned back to the hotel in New York from my first signing in Long Island this afternoon. I'm thrilled with how it went, I must admit I was a little bit nervous on the way there! Book Revue was such an amazing book store, it was a real pleasure to be there, and the crowd that turned up were all so nice. As you can see from the images some gorgeous little babies also came along which always makes it extra special! My daughter Stephanie is traveling with us to photograph the tour, it is great to have her here to capture all the signings and the people we meet. And it's off to bed now because I'm going on Good Morning America tomorrow morning, very exciting!
Postponed.
Unfortunately my radio interview with Joan on WOR Radio was postponed this morning, but will be rescheduled for next week so I'll be sure to keep everyone updated. I will be doing a radio interview tomorrow though for New York listeners on the Good Morning America Radio show on ABC Radio between 9.20am and 9.30am! I'm about to leave for my first "Labour of Love" book signing on Long Island this afternoon, I can't wait to get on the way. I'm always thrilled to meet everyone and I'll be sure to post some photos later on.
New York City!
I am so happy to be in New York, it has got to be one of my favourite cities in the world! We arrived last night from LA, and today I have been doing some work in my hotel room, but it's not hard when I get to look out at such an amazing view! I will be doing my first book signing tomorrow afternoon, and for all of you who live in New York I will be doing a live radio interview tomorrow morning (Tuesday) on The Joan Hamburg Show, WOR Radio at 9am.
Signings.
Yesterday morning we arrived in LA bright and early and headed down to the store at Downtown Disney where I spent a couple of hours signing copies of "A Labour of Love". I was so excited to see all the books there, and to think about them soon being released into the public domain! It was also great to touch base with the team who work in the store. As well as signing books, I also took some time to sign some of my miniature plush toys in eggs. As you can see there were quite a few to get through!
Leaving on a jet plane.
Well the time has finally come, and I'm about to leave on the "Labour of Love" book tour! I'm currently sitting at the Sydney International Airport awaiting a flight to Los Angeles where I'll drop into my Downtown Disney Store to visit the team before flying to New York to start interviews and book signings. I'm so excited about the launch of the book as it is a project that I've been working on for a couple of years now, and it was such a new experience for me being able to express myself through writing as well as through my imagery. I hope it will bring a new perspective to my work. Of course I'm also a bit nervous, but I'm sure that will subside once we get on the way! I'll be uploading dates and times for book signings in the agenda that can be found in this blog so make sure to have a look!
You are a Marvel.
My inspiration for this piece was a quote (from the famous Spanish cellist Pablo Casals) which I came across many years ago. It must have been around 1997, as at the time I was shooting for my second coffee table book "Until Now" and I was so moved by the words I immediately decided to feature them in the beginning of my book. For me these words so completely encapsulate my feelings about babies, and their absolute sense of promise for the future, if only they are nurtured and unconditionally loved from the very beginning. For many years afterwards, I had thought that it would be amazing to combine some of my imagery with the quote itself, and over the past six months I have finally been able to do so. The music contained in this piece is original, and was composed especially for this project. Of course I knew the words by heart, but when I first heard the music overlayed with the quote, I was moved to tears.
The English/US version of the voice-over was done in a studio in Los Angeles, during one of my many visits there, and in a Sydney recording studio I directed readings in Italian, German, Dutch, Spanish and French. I was initially concerned that here in Australia, it wouldn't be easy finding these great voices to read in all the different languages, but everyone was amazing. Now people keep making suggestions for even more languages! Next week I will direct a Japanese and Mandarin version. Doesn't it just prove what I have been saying for many years, babies effortlessly speak to people the world over!
Little Maddison
Last week I was in New Zealand visiting the team at the studio and in our offices. We were lucky enough for Vanessa (one of our employees) to bring in her beautiful daughter Maddie who is now 3 months old. She was wearing one of the outfits from our new fairy design range. She looked so cute!!
