1/3/22, Barbara Walters
The world has lost a remarkable woman, Barbara Walters, and I have lost a dear friend. When I wrote my first book at 19, it didn’t make me famous and it wasn’t a bestseller, but it opened doors to me to extraordinary people I would never have known otherwise, and I didn’t understand then. They saw something in me that I never saw in myself. As a teen ager and my early 20’s, they mentored me, encouraged me, protected me, taught me so much about life. My agent, Mort Janklow, who died in May, Alex Haley my mentor, and Barbara.They were giants in the world. I had no idea the huge difference they would make in my life, and that our friendships would last forever. I met Barbara when I was 21 and a nobody, and Barbara was already a huge star. She was an incredible woman, a trailblazer, a giant in a world of men. She was brilliant, courageous, kind, discreet, elegant, funny, she gave the best birthday parties in the world. She didn’t gather people, they were drawn to her like a magnet. She was HUGE, she changed the world for women, for journalists, for people, the first woman news anchor, she interviewed commoners, kings and presidents. She even interviewed me once I was famous. I was privileged that she took me under her wing and cheered me on. My last letter from her was on December 15th. My heart aches at the loss of her now. Even at 93, it is too soon. She will forever be the brightest star in the sky, and in my heart. I will cherish her memory forever.
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Dear Danielle,
Unfortunately I don’t have Facebook but would like to comment on a recent book of yours titled “The Challenge”. Please allow me to say that I have enjoyed your novels most of my life & I am now 76 years old. You have been my favorite author for many, many years. Your stories take me to places I have only dreamed about & your narratives always entice me to read more. However, I must comment on the latest novel “The Challenge” I read. I found this to be so interesting & sort of off beat for you. What I did not like & please do not take offense is towards the end when the lady caught her husband red handed in the Committee Room. Why did you feel the need to go in to detail about their sexual foray? Honestly, I had difficulty continuing the book. It was not only disgusting but distasteful & repulsive. I am not a prude but saw similarities to the filth Harold Robbins used to write. Your story was exciting & thrilling without resorting to such explicit nastiness. Your books stand alone without any dirt added. Please continue with your fantastic stories but ditch the dirt. Thank you for all the years your books have been so special to me.
Hi Danielle,
I knew it was Barbara Walters whom you based Blaise from “A Perfect Life” on! You were absolutely inspired by Ms. Walters to write such a strong, interesting woman.
On another note, I hate to be such a downer, but I didn’t like the sexual assault joke Joachim von Hartmann made in one of the last few chapters of “The Butler.” I’m not by any means a prude, but that joke can be a trigger for rape/sexual assault victims. I meant no offense to you. Please be more careful when making jokes of that nature, and make sure someone is not tampering with your galleys (I have a feeling that might be the case here).
P.S. I still love your books! Thank you so much for your wonderful books and I’m looking forward to reading the two new paperbacks of yours my mother gifted me at Christmas.
Hello Danielle,
I personally believe in life after death, and I think the ones we became close to in this life, we meet again later.
This being said now, separations do bring all sorts of feelings to process…
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the Swiss-American psychiatrist who wrote On Life After Death, contributed greatly to my believing in what, after all, Christianity (among others) teaches us.
And I will forever remember this conversation I had with my father, who does receive signs from deceased loved ones every now and then. I was complaining to him that it had never happened to me. He then said: “You need to open the door to the possibility of it happening to you.” Me: “Yes, but… oh! okay, Dad. Okay…” (reluctantly) “I open the door!”
Not long after that I received what I do believe is a sign from my dear grandmother, the first one of a beautiful series that brought me much joy and serenity. It changed my life.
I wish you the best, have a wonderful day, and much fabulous inspiration like always!
Love,
Beatrice