Thank you to my best friend
I am still in a quasi trance from the July 2010 news that my book Everyday Etiquette was going to be published by St. Martin’s Press. My mind haunted me with crazy thoughts like, “They picked me by mistake. I was dreaming it all or worse… I was being pranked.”
I vacillated back and forth between euphoria and nauseous fear that I would wake up from the dream. St. Martin’s Press shared with me that the contract arrives later than a slow boat from China and they weren’t kidding. The offer was verbally given to me in July and the contract didn’t arrived until October.
I loomed by my mailbox for the first month. After that, I just watched from the window for almost two more months. When the contract finally arrived, I was out of town speaking in Chicago. So my husband called with the news, “The contract is here!!” and I said, “Do you really think they meant to send it to me?” I could hear his eye balls rolling through the phone. I read and re-read the contract especially the section with my name and title of the book. Maybe there was another Patricia Rossi that was an Etiquette Coach with a book titled Everyday Etiquette?
It wasn’t a dream at all. The offer, the contract, and the book were indeed real.
September 13th, 2011, Everyday Etiquette launched and sold out on Amazon the first day. Within a few weeks a 2nd printing was already on the press. Shortly after Christmas I received an unexpected holiday gift from my publishers: Everyday Etiquette went into it’s 3rd printing in just 16 weeks!!!
So, thank you dear family and loyal friends that supported this project from day one and also to the thousands of new friends coast to coast and abroad who made Everyday Etiquette a part of their book collection. I still sometimes wake up in the night, go into my office and pick up the book just to make sure it is really real.
Thank you all for making my dreams come true.
Manuscript for my book
It's official I got a book deal. I'm preparing for my head shot for the book jacket.
Thanks so much Tom and Yvonne Cronin for cracking the door open so just enough light could come through to light my way. You both are everything family should be encouraging, supportive, and memorable. Tom and my family meeting at Flairon building in NYC.
I'm meeting with editors and literary agents in the boardroom at the Flat Iron Building in NYC.
Lunch with my editor, Elizabeth Beier. This was an unbelievable moment in time for me.
Bobby and me holding cue cards at Live with Regis and Kelly.
Me and the fabulous Kelly Ripa.
At the FOX news station, with Anne Dwyer, preparing for my book launch interview.
My wonderful intern Phoebe Diane. I could not have done it without her. She always did so much more than I asked her to do.
A beautiful gift from Sylvia Karalis.
My friendster (friend and sister) Sylvia Karalis.
My three graces, Jodi Avery, Wendi Braswell, and Sylvia Karalis, planning my book launch party.
Russell Rhodes of FOX News helping with my book launch.
My official book launch with Cyndi Edwards, Lyndsay McDonald, Rob Scweitzer, Larry Cotton, Deanna George, and Maureen Famiano. They were all so wonderful and had real joy in their hearts for my book launch. I thank them all from my heart...
Skip Mahaffey Radio I had the good fortune to be with the people I love on the day of my book launch. Skip Mahaffey is a close family friend and I was so happy to be with him the day of my book launch. That made it so very special.
Flowers from my family
Flowers from my good friend, Gina Parris
Flowers from our cousins; Tom, Yvonne, Kellyann, and Kristin. Thank you for believing in me from the beginning!
Kind words from family
Our friend Dan Whitney, a.k.a. Larry The Cable Guy, giving ME a few of HIS Etiquette pointers.
A book signing for Business and Professional Women - Tampa Bay.
We had a great response from Business and Professional Women - Tampa Bay.
A book signing for students at University of South Florida.
Thanks so very much Kathy Zader for an amazing virtual book tour that took us to sell out on AMAZON the first day. Thanks also for being my CEO, CFO, COO, President and Girlfriend. You made it all a huge success and I am truly grateful.
A book signing at Generations Church
Signing books for the MOMs Time Out.
Posing with Florida Mortgage Lady, JoAnn Rooney at a book signing for Tampa Bay Realtors Association.
Thank you Jodi Avery, Chuck Philips, and Sylvia Karalis for buying cases of books to share with your business clients, co-workers, friends, and families.
Phoebe and I having lunch with my friend and Tampa Tribune editor Jeff Houck.
A Tampa Tribune article.
Thank you Heather Goodwin and Totally Unique Nail Boutique for making Everyday Etiquette book of the month for December. Thank you for so many book sales.
Thank you Bethany and Moda Hair Salon for keeping me blonde and loving on Everyday Etiquette.
Thank you Jennifer Bingham, owner of Cru Cellars, and Jen Straw for making me part of your November book club.
Cru Cellars Book Club
Speaking and signing books for FTGI.
Jodi and me at Empress Tea Room.
I had just finished speaking for Working Women of Tampa Bay, when the building alarms started going off! I made it all the way from the tip to the bottom.
Escaping from the top floor of the Bank of America building before I had a chance to sign my books for attendees.
Running down steps with awful smoke smell and alarms blaring - Evacuate the building now, danger, danger.
Tampa's Mayor, Bob Buckhorn and every fire truck in the city were outside to greet us.
Signing books on the back of a fire truck once we made it down to safety.
Fire trucks everywhere, but I always find time to sign my book 🙂 Many thanks to Jessica Rivelli and Working Women of Tampa Bay.
A big thanks to Carin Swenson Jones at Casual Chic Boutique!
— with Shawn Campbell Noe, Carin Swenson Jones, and Vickie Murphy
I would like to thank Kaleisia Tea Lounge USF, CARD, Pat Toth and Chris Roover for everything during my book launch.
Thank you to my hometown store, Central Drug in Bessemer City, North Carolina, for selling so many books.
Once again sitting at the counter where I used to sit as a little girl sipping Orange-Aid.
I found myself in the middle of a buzzing Author's Reception. All I could think of was, I should have brought a pipe and sport coat with leather elbow patches. It was amazing to have been chosen as an author for The St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading.
Heading to the Authors Reception.
Sabrina Rocco, writer for LoveNotes St. Petersburg Times; Sean Daly, music critic; Me and my friend Diane Persall at the authors reception.
From Twitter to dinner, be kind.
My husband Bobby, me, Dr. Kanika Tomalin, Author Terry Tomalin, Steve Persall Movie critic for the Times and his lovely bride Diane Persall
Capital Grille - Tampa, host of my Book Launch Party
Invitation to the Book Launch Party
Pass to Book Launch Party
Yum! Appetizers
Thank you Sheri Boesch and family and Network Limousines for helping us arrive in style.
Thanks to Wendi Braswell for getting me ready.
A big thanks to my photographers Mike Fowler and Jeff O'Kelley
A big, huge thank you to Kelli Hadd and all of my Capital Grille Family for a magical, magical book launch party!
Aerial View
Aerial View
Aerial View
Aerial View
Signing books for friends.
Putting my John Hancock on a book.
Bill Davis, Wendy Braswell, and Chris Davis.
Shar, Dr. Chuck, and Tony.
Eat, Sleep, Read
My family
My family
My friends
Deanna George and Ryan
Dr. Alan and Judith Haimes
My girlfriends
Phoebe with my good friend EZ McLilly. They are like family to me.
Happy times at the Book Launch Party.
My son Harrison with Johnny Alejandro
One of my younger friends, Ren Vardas.
Cake from The Capital Grille to celebrate my birthday and book launch.
Post Book Launch Party birthday celebration with a few neighbors and friends.
Here’s my secret to how I got my book published.
Click here to read about it.
I am so happy for you! Thank you so much for being such an inspiration to Phoebe!!
Karen,
Phoebe was my shining star pre,present and post book launch. She is an amazing public relations and social media master mind. I will forever be grateful for Phoebe. She gives 200%, when I only asked for 100%. Thanks for your kind message Karen.
My best,
Patricia Rossi
Patricia,
I am so happy for you. Wow what a whirlwind! It’s amazing to have seen you travel this road. No one deserves it more than you. I have never seen anyone practice what they preach more than you. Love you so much xxoo Natalie
Natalie~ YOu believed in me from the very beginning. I loved teaching at Cafekiln. Remember when I had that call with John Tesh’s people/Camp and I parked outside of your store for good luck. Love you Nat! Patricia
Patricia,
I am so happy to have been able to watch all of this from concept to success! Your book is my new favorite gift to give to everyone I know! So obviously, I am anxiously awaiting your next book!!!!??? 🙂
Many Many Thanks Gretchen ~ It has been an amazing adventure. Thank you for laughing and cheering with me.
My best,
Patricia Rossi
Congratulations Patricia, how very exciting!! I must say I was laughing so hard at the intro paragraphs, because that sounds so much like me, I was beginning to wonder if we’re related somehow!
You’re well deserving and should be profoundly proud of your success! Thank you so much for sharing the reality of your journey, and all the wonderful pics that commemorate it!
xo
Margie
Margie~
Thanks you for all your kind words.
I am so happy you enjoyed reading the post.
My best,
Patricia