Way back when, in November 1999, just a few weeks after the publication of my first book (Red Roses Mean Love), I was interviewed by Jill Vejnoska, a features reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I was really excited about it, and Jill was extremely nice and witty during our phone interview. She told me the story would be in the Sunday paper, on the front page, “unless there’s a war,” she joked. A few days later a photographer from the paper came to the house and snapped some pics to accompany the article. Totally cool! On Sunday morning, I ran outside to snatched up the paper from the driveway. Back in the house, I pulled out the Living section and looked on the front page.
No story, no picture.
My stomach felt like it crashed to the floor. I turned to my DH and said, “Holy crap, we’re at war.” I rifled through the other sections of the newspaper to find the main section to find out what country we were at war with. And this is what I saw:
No war. Me. Yes, that’s ME. Sitting at my desk. On THE front page of the AJC. I about passed out. I had no idea Jill had meant THE front page of the paper! My husband and I couldn’t believe it. I shook my head and said, “I bet I’m the only Yankee who’s ever been on the front page of the AJC without having committed a heinous crime.”
Needless to say, we bought about 20 copies of the paper. I laminated the article and have it in a frame along with a cover flat of Red Roses Mean Love, as well as the pages from the New York Times and USA Today when I hit those print lists with the anthology It Happened One Night. The frame hangs on my office wall and I get a tingle of pride every time I look at it. And I tell you all this because I’ve kept in touch with Jill all these years, but we’d never met. Until yesterday. She’s doing another story about romance writers and she came to my house to do another interview. We marveled over the fact that the last time she interviewed me, my son was in third grade–and he’s graduating from college this Friday. Here’s a photo of Jill and I standing by the framed article of our last interview.
She told me the story won’t be on the front page this time 
but that’s okay. We had a terrific time together and it was great to meet her in person. I’m not sure when the article will be in the paper, but I’ll keep y’all updated.
So, lots of excitement here at Casa D’Alessandro–newspaper interviews, my parents arrive on Wednesday, and on Friday we’ll see our baby boy graduate from college–I really can’t believe it. What have you been up to? Ever been interviewed? How did it go? Any graduations coming up for friends/family? Seen any good movies? What’s going on in your life? Enquiring minds want to know!
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great story about the interview and meeting each other face to face years later. And congrats on your college grad. That’s an outstanding accomplishment. No graduations here, but I was once interviewed by the newspaper for a documentary I produced. It was all very exciting!
Our oldest grandson graduates from college on Saturday. My mom is coming in on Thursday for the weekend. Her b’day is Wed. I get visitation every year. We’re having a cookout on Sat and out to brunch on Sunday and then the movie in the afternoon while hubby takes a well deserved nap!! I have a lot of cooking to do for the party Thurs and Fri.
I have been interviewed back in another lifetime. Local, national and one time for French and Swedish Radio. Very strange. I got over my fear of speaking in public tho!
As for big plans for the weekend, frankly, I want to RELAX. Last weekend was such a go-go-go-go-go-go and I’m thinking that I want to work in the garden, catch up on my to-do list and see the Avengers, which I am dying to see and see the Hunger Games, which I still HAVEN’T SEEN. Sigh. I need a life.
Go see! I would love to know what you think of the Hunger Games movie. My daughter enjoyed the Avengers, except for Scarlett Johanssen. She apparently didn’t dig Scarlett’s role in this.
Ahhhh…. Jacquie, this is such a warmy and tingly piece. It’s no wonder you write romance.
I think it’s fabulous that the AJC recognizes the great talent within the community and that she came back to revisit the interview.
And a mega-big-smoochy congrats to your son on college graduation. It is kinda scary, because I think I remember when he started college, and I thought that was like…yesterday.
First off. Congrats proud momma! A college graduate is always a good thing!
Avengers was a funny movie, especially when the Hulk …never mind. If you haven’t seen it I don’t want to blow the funnies.
Yes actually I have been interviewed a few times for different things. Nothing spectacular. I have even made my home town newspaper more than once. My opinions and such. (I am very opinionated, ask Sherri!)
I am great with paint colours but then I did enjoy art classes when I went to college/university. I even do not mind painting. I am weird!
I am planning a teeny lil birthday party tomorrow for one of my ladies. She is going to be 80. Sneaking banners and balloons and stuff is so much fun!
I’ve heard Avengers is really good–I definitely want to see it. The b’day celebration sounds great–hope you have a terrific time!
I have to go see it again!! Taking mom on Mother’s Day and I can’t wait!
Congrats Jacquie and son! And thanks for the warning about painted swatches.
A coworker is graduating from college in 10 days and a friend’s daughter is graduating from high school in June.
The movie I want to see next is The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, with Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy among others. Here’s the link to Roger Ebert’s review: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120502/REVIEWS/120509993
I don’t always agree with him, but the cast and story look good.
I’ve heard of this movie–the cast is definitely stellar. Am adding it to my “Wanna See It” list.
That is so cool! Both times! Sort of a full circle moment! Congrats on having a college grad. Huge milestone. We’ve now completed year one! Can’t believe how quickly time goes by. It’s overwhelming and wonderful and all kinds of emotions rolled up into one!
Love the framed stuff too. V. Cool.
Thanks, Dee! It really is shocking how quickly time passes. HOW do these kids keep getting so old, yet we remain so young and fresh?
Congratulations to Christopher! I know you’re so proud. Best wishes for the next awesome phase of his life. Graduations will take some time around here, but it will be great when it happens. The daughter just finished her first year and we’re bringing her home again this week.
Interviews, done a few. They’re fun, and always a little aw shucks surprising to me that people care. But I’ve never had front page!
Thank you, Sherri! I think Christopher is a bit shell-shocked that college is over and that it went by so fast.
I still chuckle about the front page. REALLY glad I’d cleaned up my office, LOL!
What an awesome feeling!!! And I can’t believe that your son is already graduating. Time really does fly!
Congrats on the article … and on finally meeting Jill in person!
It was such great fun meeting her, Julie! She had the BEST stories. She’s met George Clooney! Not only met him, but met him at the Golden Globes! Which means, yeah, she’s been to the Golden Globes. I want to retire from writing and become Jill’s assistant, LOL!
I started my renovations yesterday, so that’s all I can think about. Right now, I am obsessed with paint colors. I have no confidence in choosing paint!
Congrats on the graduation and the article jacquie. Both well deserved!
Well, sometimes there’s so little difference on the little chips, but such a huge one on the wall.
Thanks, Julia! And I agree with what Dee said about the paint–hard to tell with those little chips. BUT–we once tried those little samples of paint–you can buy like an 8 oz. sample in Home Depot and/or Lowes. We bought about 6 of them and painted swatches on the wall to see which one we preferred. We picked one, but even after THREE COATS of paint, when you looked at that wall at a certain angle, you could see the outlines of those swatches! Not the color–that didn’t show through, but the lines where we’d painted the swatches. So I wouldn’t recommend those samples–we’ll never use them again.
I let the kids pick out their bedroom colors in the new house- both made bold choices that came out looking great. Just make sure it’s a color you’re going to want to live with a long time, because painting is a pain (even when you hire someone to do it).
Your house feels like a warm color house to me, peaches or taupes or something with a warm feel would be the way I might go, though blues are always soothing… decisions! What are you leaning toward?