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Newsletter

Welcome

I love to connect with my readers, and in my monthly newsletter, I share my thoughts, updates about events, a discussion of what I've been reading, stories from life in Connecticut, and much more. Feel free to browse my past newsletters and stop by at the beginning of each month to read my latest note to you.

Latest Newsletter

Photo by Elissa

I love seeing the American flag waft in the wind from my living room and study.

October 2024

10/1/2024

I love you!

Happy October: we’re entering a new season! The month of September exceeded my wildest hopes and dreams. I savored embracing the light during gloriously sunny days.

Toward the end of the full, richly lived month, I experienced the most spectacular sunset overlooking the harbor in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. The sun was mirrored in the water, a large fire sphere steadily descending downward, becoming invisible. When the vibrancy of the red-orange fireball dropped, the sky fell into darkness. Luckily, the sky didn’t fall on us! I was able to be present, fully focused and engaged in a moment of captured beauty. I intend to keep this transcendent experience alive in my consciousness to enlighten me when the sun sets early.

Now we move into fall; with the fading of light, the leaves are turning and falling. The crisp, cooler temperatures offer a definite vigor. I ...

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All Newsletters

December 2007

12/1/2007


It is hard to believe it is December. We’re in the thick of the holiday season, perhaps the busiest time of the year. I hope this letter finds you well and in the spirit of love. Peter and I are thriving, grateful for the gift of family, friends, work ...

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November 2007

11/1/2007


The entire month of October was inspiring, happy and as stimulating as any period of time I can remember. As the Forum Speaker at this year's Riot Relief Fund Luncheon,I gave a short talk on Aristotle’s increasing relevance on our lives today. The Riot Relief Fund supports ...

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October 2007

10/1/2007


Ah, as the saying goes, the days dwindle down to a precious few, September… the weather was spectacular, the sunsets astonishing, and we enjoyed an ideal month of solitude and society – a perfect balance of quiet days in our writing rooms and travels.

Because I am happiest with a pen ...

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September 2007

9/1/2007


Happy September! I always feel a special delight as we enter the crisp, clear, sparkling days of fall, carrying the summer’s magic in our hearts. I’m inspired to begin a new season, a new life chapter and look forward to an exciting schedule ahead. I feel deeply refreshed ...

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August 2007

8/1/2007


Happy August!

Peter and I are settling into our cottage. We had the movers bring all of our clothes, writing materials and office files here. Everything else is in storage in New York. In the twenty years we’ve loved coming to Stonington to our beloved cottage, it has always ...

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July 2007

7/1/2007

Happy August!

Peter and I are settling into our cottage. We had the movers bring all of our clothes, writing materials and office files here. Everything else is in storage in New York. In the twenty years we’ve loved coming to Stonington to our beloved cottage, it has always ...

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June 2007

6/1/2007

The big news from me is that I have finished re-writing the edited copy of Happiness for Two and will continue to fine-tune it until mid-June when it goes into production. My literary agent Carl Brandt and my editor Toni Sciarra are extremely enthusiastic about this new book. The publisher ...

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May 2007

5/1/2007


A few minutes ago our daughter Alexandra’s beloved golden retriever, Carter, died a peaceful death of old age. Alexandra was with him. This is a death in our family. Carter and Alexandra were devoted to each other and, in truth, he was her best friend.

I’m reminded of ...

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April 2007

4/1/2007


Happy spring! Peter and I are glad to report that the end of February and the month of March were joyful. We were productive, and at a book event in New York City, we learned from my editor Toni Sciarra that You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the ...

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March 2007

3/1/2007


The month of love was the happiest, most exciting February I remember. We were on book tour in Charlotte, North Carolina, when You Are Your Choices went into a third printing! This thrilled me beyond words as I jumped for joy at hearing the news from my editor Toni.

February ...

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February 2007

2/1/2007


Welcome to the month of love, a time to celebrate love and appreciation. My mantra “Love & Live Happy” holds great meaning in February as I reach out to those I love.

January could not have been a more productive, happy month for me. The “New Year, New You,” book launch for You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life got off to a brilliant start: My publisher told me over lunch that HarperCollins went back to press with a large print run after only two weeks. The book is selling beautifully. Imagine, before even leaving on book tour, my new book was in a second printing! Obviously, I’m thrilled beyond measure. This kind of energy is a very good sign.

I gave a talk at the Winthrop-University Hospital Arts & Humanities Program to doctors, nurses and staff. I called my friend Dr. Anthony Petro in Jackson, Mississippi, to ask him what advice he had for me to say to the doctors. Anthony is a general surgeon. He told me the “mistakes” he’d made. He said, “Alexandra, first, I’m a person, a father, a grandfather and a husband. Second I’m a surgeon.” Anthony told me to tell the doctors:
(1) Never forget who you are.
(2) Don’t work too much. Go home and hug your children, your spouse and your puppy.
(3) Be yourself.
(4) Don’t be on automatic pilot. Embrace everyone around you.
(5) Remember, you’re part of a team.
(6) Before you enter your home, let go of stress. (7) Seek beauty and reason.

Anthony’s advice sounds wise and wonderful for all of us. This talk was my first for my new book, You Are Your Choices, making it quite a celebration for my 25th published book. I had a lot of fun.

I feel especially touched my friend Major Matthew Kennedy is reunited with his wife Kerri and four children, Kathleen, Colleen, Matthew, Jr., and Michael, after serving as an Army helicopter pilot in Iraq. Kerri sent me a great photo from the front page of the Cape Cod Times of Matt holding his 5-year old son Michael while Kerri takes a photo to mark his return from the Middle East.

I began my book tour on a triumphant note. At a power lunch with my publisher, editor and literary agent, I was told they want from me a new book, Happiness For Two,” to come out for Valentine’s Day, 2008! Nothing could make me happier. As you know, I’ve been struggling with a book about friends and then marriage. Even though I’ve been writing a book of essays about things I’ve taught myself, I’m putting that aside temporarily and will work on Happiness For Two under a tight deadline – I love to write about happiness and having the book focusing on how two people can be equally happy together is most exciting. I’ve written Living Beautifully Together and Living in Love; this new book will expand on ways we can increase our happiness when we are with another person we love. It will be all-inclusive, not just couples or partners.

Peter and I flew to ...

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January 2007

1/1/2007


Happy, happy New Year! I have a powerful feeling that this fresh new start, beginning the 7th year of the third millennium, will transform our hearts. We will re-new ourselves.

New Year: New You

I hope this holiday season filled you with hope and love. While it is not possible ...

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WELCOME

I love to connect with my readers, and in my monthly newsletter, I share my thoughts, updates about events, a discussion of what I've been reading, stories from life in Connecticut, and much more. Feel free to browse my past newsletters and stop by at the beginning of each month to read my latest note to you.