When my book about Alzheimer’s disease and storying was published (this is not a plug, so I am deliberately not providing a link), I handwrote a little letter to Oprah Winfrey on a special card, and wrapped the note, and my freshly published book, into a package and snail-mailed it to the address on Oprah’s website.
At the time, Oprah was promoting books she liked via her bookclub so I was rather hoping she would make me instantly famous and I kept waiting for her phonecall to me. So, when I received a letter from Oprah, my excitement was huge! But when I opened the letter it was from one of Oprah’s personelle and it expressed gratitude for my gift but implied that my generosity might be better served if I targetted more needy people (of course it didn’t say that, exactly, but that was the gist of how I read it).
Well, that was a very good lesson in humility (which I was already pretty good at anyway), and it taught me a massive thing about laughter, about laughing at myself and about dealing with seemingly dashed hopes.
I sometimes wonder where that copy of my book is. I have a little fantasy that it is on Oprah’s coffee table somewhere and one day she might pick it up and read a bit. You never know! I have enormous admiration and respect for Oprah Winfrey; her honesty, achievements and generosity are all part of the aura of her legacy and her presence.
I just want her to love me back a bit – just a little bit!
jmgoyder 
When I’m on Oprah’s show, being interviewed about my book, I’ll ask her about yours. I promise.
Me too – it’s a deal!
Awesome! But not…Good try! I’ve been thinking about inventing something and selling it to Wal-Mart. So what about your book? Lots of people use their blogs to promote good information. Go for it! I’ll purchase one.
Gosh, Julie, for all that Oprah and her assistants might know, YOU might be a needy person (looking for a ‘break’).
It’s so easy for people, (them), to jump to conclusions.
Most people are ‘needy’ – there are just different levels & types of ‘neediness’ (in my opinion).
It was years ago now – haha!
It would be a good idea to promote your book on your blog site … that dear Julie is part of the reason for having a blog / web site. It is much easier for people to purchase one then, because people will want to.
Okay, dear Ingrid – ha!
… and just because it’s promoted on your site doesn’t mean people have to buy one or feel pressured or anything but at least they have a choice …
Oh my gosh, you are awesome! You crack me up! LOVE this post and even though I’m no Oprah, I’ll plug your book here in Vermont, Julie! How ’bout you send ME the link?!
We gotta stand together in this big ole world. In the end, we’re all just doing our best each moment -you, me and Oprah! 🙂
It was a long time ago when I was naive!!! I’ll put the link up today.
Hooray!
It’s always galling to get the form letter.
Voice of experience!
The link, or we take Woodroffe for ransom…
Okay okay!!!
I like it
Oprah doesn’t know what kind of inspiration she’s missing out on!
Perhaps I should just ring her up – anyone got her number? Hahahahaha!
I would feel what you did, so maybe I need a lesson in humility. If she was promoting books through her book club, I seriously wonder how she ever got to know about them. WHO, as in WHO was the person who collected them, for Oprah. I so wonder.
I think it’s “nice” to get a response from them. And if it’s on a card, it would probably make a perfect book mark.
I know I kept that card but can’t find it – ha!
Dang! Well, if you find it & decide to sell it on Ebay, let me know!!! 😉
keep up the faith – you never know – you may be discovered by Oprah any day now
I agree with dcwisdom above- post a link to your book – we all love you enough to let you advertise your own stuff for pete’s sake (who is Pete?)
Yes, who is Pete?
Her loss…and of course all her millions and millions of adoring fans! Look at it this way…if you’d gone out and gotten all famous and stuff, we’d never have gotten to know you! So…again, her loss our gain! Go Oprah! hehe
Ha! I didn’t want fans, I wanted wealth and book promotion! Oh well!!
you never know sometimes…
Oprah’s “people” missed out on a good thing. You should totally provide a link for your book. This way we know where to find it! 🙂
Ok – I will!
i hate disappointments, but i am proud of you for sending it to her. i am sure she still has it, if who i think she represents is true
It think if she had read it, it would have given her a good idea for a show topic!
yes and now a days, she needs a brand new topic. i wish she would not have given up her show and started own. it is not as successful as she thought it may be
I don’t know the latest because we only get a couple of tv stations!
you are not missing anything. reports say she is not very successful on her new station
Oh!
Well, it never hurts to try, right? And I think it was nice of them to send you a letter back. Most companies now never bother doing that…
Good way of thinking about it! It was kind of funny at the time.
I can relate. I follow several good comedians, some famous, some not so. I always imagine I will write something witty one day and one of my favorites would respond to me. I know he’d like me and we’d become fast friends and he would help me realize my old dream of doing standup.
Ah, dreams.
Do you have vids of yourself doing standup?
No. Only one vid was ever made, but it was badly done, and pretty much incapatible with all known software. Probably just as well.
Bummer.
Ah, shucks! Maybe next time. I’m sure your book is very informative and helpful.
I think I might update the book and see about getting it republished.
You never know! You could be at a dinner table with Oprah and Gayle sooner than you think!
Bella and DiDi
You never know!!!
That was a rude respone IMO I’m not an Oprah fan for a couple of reasons, now I have one more.
Ha! I’m not really a fan perse but at the time I wanted to get rich – hehe!
On a more serious note, the book is about listening to people with dementia and I thought Oprah would be a good vehicle through which to spread this idea – alas, no.
I think, seriously, that I might need this book, as my mother-in-law seems to be starting that slide, unfortunately.
Just posted an excerpt -so sorry to hear about your ma-in-law.
This post reminds me of when I saw a certain ‘comedienne’ (used in a similar way to your ‘personelle’ haha – couldn’t resist – back to my point!!) – Dawn French – who was on a talk back show and they had question time and a woman stood up and told the host how she was on her morning walk and she saw Dawn French coming out of her house and so she thought she’d be brave and said ‘Hello Dawn French, I’m a huge fan’, and Ms French politely replied ‘oh get f…ed’. Dawn was horrified she’d been dobbed in and insisted it wasn’t true and when the woman said that she was telling the truth, Dawn made the host get rid of her!!
At least Oprah’s ‘personelle’ were a little bit helpful.
Haha! I didn’t even realise my personelle faux pas – ok so it’s personel, right?
Haha, personnel
Gimmee a break – I’m just an Engliss lecruahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn’t see a link for your book. The only place I could find it was in the UK. Have you thought about making it available for e-readers?
I put the link into the most recent post – the book is in the publisher’s control but as far as I know it can be ordered from any bookshop anywhere and is already an e-book. Here is the link again –
http://www.fremantlepress.com.au/books/1039
You had to have the guts to step out there and take a risk, just to send it in to Oprah’s staff. Kudos to you!! Lots of people aren’t ever willing to take that risk of “rejection”, if that’s what you call it–I would call it a success on your part!
At the time I was brimming with confidence – ha!
Don’t worry. Oprah loves everybody!
Ha!