Hello family and friends….it’s been an incredible seven days!! We sold almost 1,000 copies of Promises I Made My Mother in book signings in Vicksburg with Pat Hopson at the 2009 Miss Mississippi Pageant (Anna Tadlock was crowned the 52nd Miss Mississippi), in Yazoo City at Essco Drug Store with Max and Rita Sanders and my friends Steve and Ginger Roark and Dora Lee Clark, in Jackson where I spent three days with my mother’s sister’s child (1st cousin Mary Rogers) – signings at Barry and Angelyn Cannada’s gorgeous home, where they hosted an incredible book signing party for me with all of my Ole Miss/Mississippi friends from years gone by…Dennis Legate, John and Emily McVey, Nancy White, Marsha and Frank Tindall, Besty Ritter, Kathryn Sams, Susan McNamara, Courtney Love, Joy Aden, Helen and York Craig, Helen Valentine, Paula Hood, Pamela Houchins, and Pryor Graeber…..also spoke and sold books at the Jackson Junior League Sustainer’s Book Club, and the Blair Batson Children’s Hospital (sold 500 books at the hospital fundraiser). I then flew to New York to tape two episodes of Iron Chef with Chairman Mark, Chefs Symon and Morimoto, Julie White, John T. Edge, and Tia Carrera, then to LA to see Mary’s last performances as the lead in the LA Regional Production of “Light In The Piazza”….she was INCREDIBLE…brought the sold out audiences to tears and then to their feet. Lily Tomlin, Doris Roberts, Marilu Henner, Joan Van Ark, Jewelers Mitch Edwards and Perricles Rellas, Fox Studios Marketing President Tony Sella and wife Peggy, KCET’s Mare Mazur and husband John, and 2009 Miss America Katie Stam joined us for the final performances this weekend. And finally today, I spoke at two services at Dr. Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, where I was introduced and interviewed by my special friend Kathy Ireland, and we signed books for two hours afterward. The services were taped for “Hour of Power” airing August 9th. It was a wonderful week. Next up…multiple book signings at the Natchez Food and Wine Festival, a trip back to New York to appear live on the Sean Hannity Show on August 4th, and dinners with my agents, publishers, and former Miss Americas Gretchen Carlson and Susan Powell. Stay tuned! Love, SAM