With the launch of my book, TEA TIME ENTERTAINING, in March of 2004, my life suddenly became a whirlwind of book signings, tea talks and cooking classes.  Friends and students have asked how I promote my book so here goes.  In March, I sent a proposal to Cunard for presenting tea talks aboard one of their ships.  Two weeks later, their enrichment director called me, excited about my book and asked me to lecture aboard the Queen Mary2, their newest and largest ship.  She told me I was a “unique lecturer”. I was billed as an “On Board Author” in their bookshop and library where my books were displayed for sale.  Mailings, letters and phone calls to tea shops, organizations, cooking schools, book shops, and emails became a daily part of my life and my husband’s.  We had a new business!  The most rewarding part of promoting this book has been meeting fellow lovers of tea.  Many I have met in person; others write or phone to thank me for writing this book.  It has been worth all the effort.  Maggie Tyler, the widow of Rod who wrote the foreword for my book, has managed to put a copy in every province of England as she says it is the last thing Rodney wrote

            In April I attended the IACP conference in Baltimore where I signed books.  Sat next to two women on their way to hike in Europe.  They saw my book and ordered two. I went to Washington, D.C. where I did a tea talk for Les Dames d’Escoffier.  In May, I jaunted off to San Angelo, Texas to teach at Sugar Bakers with a book signing.  While there, Dolores Kostelini interviewed me for her radio show in Virginia and wrote an article about my book for the Lexington News-Gazette.  Sheila Kaufman reviewed my book for her Maryland Courier paper.  Nell Anne Hunt wrote a review for the Las Colinas Journal.  Carol Ritchie of Cookin’ with Carol had me as a guest on her television show speaking about tea and demonstrating proper scone and sponge techniques in June.  That same month, my artist friend (who created the fairy tea invitation for my book), Angela Marshall, hosted a tea party in her home in Irving for friends to launch my book.  Let’s Pretend Tea Parties in Grapevine, Texas had me for book signings in July.  Tina Danze wrote a super article about my book for the Dallas Morning News in July which resulted in many sales.  Karen Harem of The San Antonio Express reviewed my book in a delightful feature.  August saw The Houston Chronicle article spiking sales.  I held a tea class and book signing for the Dallas chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier at Central Market and raised $270 for our chapter for scholarship.  John Harney of Harney Teas created a signature tea of Darjeeling with roses to accompany my tea talks. In September, I flew to New York for book signings at The Carlyle Hotel with their pastry chef preparing recipes from my book.  At a meeting  of  my daughter’s PEO Chapter in New York, I offered to donate a portion of every book their members purchased towards their Cottey College Scholarship Fund.  My daughter is a graduate of Cottey College. That same month, The Cultured Cup in Dallas had me for book signings at their wonderful shop.  The Dallas Morning News featured me as the Doyenne of Tea.  Traveled to Fort Worth to appear at the Home Show.  In October, Cookworks in Dallas had me conduct a tea class in their wonderful store.  Flew to Chicago for the LDEI annual conference and had book signings there and at Suzette’s Creperie in Wheaton, Illinois.  Taught a tea class at Central Market in Dallas.  Janeen Sarlin used appetizers for a cocktail, not tea, party in her weekly Southampton Press column.  November was more book signings at Market Street in Colleyville and McKinney.  Taught at Central Market in Fort Worth.  Luncheon in my honor, hosted by Deidre Vick, at The University Club in Houston with my 91 year old Mom in attendance.  Taught at the Houston Central Market.  December was a speaking engagement at The Antique Sampler Mall in Arlington, Texas just before jetting off to New York for some R&R before boarding the Queen Mary2.  Saw Bobby Short at The Carlyle and am glad we did before he passed away.  December 6, we checked in for the Queen Mary2 cruise visiting Puerto Rico, Curacao, Bonaire, Barbados, Martinique, St. Maarten, and  St. Thomas where a fellow tea speaker gave me information on a native tea infusion. Guests of Captain Paul Wright on December 7. When we were at sea, I presented five lectures on the subject of tea with their pastry chef making recipes from my book.  At the conclusion of each lecture, I had book signings in their fabulous library.  The art work on this ship is extraordinary as is the cuisine in several of their restaurants.  Lotus is a special Todd English restaurant.  Cooking classes were available in The Carvery with a featured chef. Daily and nightly entertainment provides something for everyone.  Magicians, musicians, singers. comedians, jazz, movies, exercise, dance classes, planetarium showings with Harrison Ford narrating, astrology, art and international affairs lectures, bingo with barely time for a nap.  With eight restaurants, thirteen bars and an English Pub, there was food and wine to suit everyone's taste. The Christmas decorations were going up throughout our voyage and we sang carols in the Grand Hall.  Commodore Warwick was our skipper for the second week and we met him at a special reception.  Our trip ended at Fort Lauderdale on December 20 and we got in high gear for Christmas at home with our daughter, my sister and my mom. 

            In January, 2005, we flew to sunny California to celebrate the third birthday of our son’s twins, Luke and Ella.  On to Napa where I spoke on February 4 at COPIA with 75 attendees in this center for wine, culture and fine food.  Attended a Past Presidents of LDEI meeting at Cakebread Cellars followed by a dinner in the Julia Child dining room at COPIA.   Back home for a lecture to the Greater Plano Newcomers Club with 169 attendees.  March found me in New Orleans at Longue Vue Gardens for a tea program with mostly Red Hats in the audience.  Celebrated our daughter’s birthday at Commanders’ Palace, Herb Saint and Ralph’s on the Park and are we glad we did.  Longue Vue asked me back but now that Katrina ripped through, this is not the birthday destination it once was.  The Tea Time Gazettte favorably reviewed my book in the winter issue.  In April, I had a meeting at The University of Texas Departmental Visiting Committee for the Department of Human Ecology and did a book signing at The Tea Embassy in Austin. In May, grandma and grandpa babysat our precious four while their parents went to Hawaii as a company award for their dad as top salesman.  To New York to celebrate my spouse’s birthday and had a book signing at Tea Antiquities.  In June I celebrated my birthday in Galveston with all my family gathered together with my Mom.  Taught a Garden Party Tea class at Central Market in Fort Worth.  July saw the passing of my wonderful Mom who was a great fan of tea.  In August, lectured to the Abilene Woman’s Club in a lovely facility with a large group sipping a cuppa.   Took my two oldest granddaughters who are pictured in the Fairy Tea,  to the Les Dames Raiser Grazer honoring Julia Child.  September saw me as the featured speaker at the Victorian Lace Antiques show in Richardson, Texas with an audience of 200.  Tea Time Magazine featured my book in their Fall issue with five pages from my book.  In October, I learned my book was one of seven finalists for cookbook of the year in USA Book News Awards. The opening of The Enchanted Cottage in Waxahachie, Texas was the venue for a book signing in November.  The Beverly Drive Book Club in Dallas prepared recipes from my book for their tea after my tea talk.  Traveled to New York to speak at The University Club, built in 1899, whose French pastry chef did an excellent job of executing my recipes for the 55 attendees.  The day before Thanksgiving, Irving Community Television ran an interview with me about tea with a sumptuous tea table in my home.   The Irving Rambler ran a story about me and tea by Brynne Syssom.  My husband and I took our Christmas vacation for ten days over Thanksgiving in New York while our daughter vacationed in South Africa.  Saw the Macy’s Day parade and enjoyed balmy weather.  The Denver Gazette featured my book in a holiday article on tea.  In December spoke to Plano PEO chapter and at a birthday tea party given by my British artist friend, Angela Marshall. Spent all the remaining days decorating and cooking for all my family of ten were coming for the holidays.  Managed to find a Stepping Santa I saw in New York to add to my Christmas décor.  Hosted a Christmas Tea honoring my granddaughters. With my Mom not with us, we did manage to celebrate with her spirit.  My life has been enriched with the publication of this tome on tea.