Sunday, August 24, 2008

A "Quickie": Meeting the Presidential Couple the Clintons - Special Book Offer

I am just back from vacation and swamped, as you can imagine.

Hope you are enjoying what is left of the summer.

It is flying by.

Wanted to write a "quickie" post, to keep in touch, and share with you a totally cool experience I had while away.

I was vacationing with my family at our annual summer spot, Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY. I highly recommend it if you enjoy beautiful scenery, the mountains, water, hiking, etc. A real gem of a place!

We've been going for the last 7+ years each August.

Mohonk is known to have a celebrity clientele, since it is such a special resort. This year, was a particularly surreal experience.

I had the opportunity to meet former President Bill Clinton and the Mrs...Hillary. They stayed one night, and I had heard they were in the House.

Being the consummate author/book promoter that I am, I quickly signed a copy of my book and threw it in a tote bag, and went in search of them. I was on mission to give them a copy of HOW TO MARRY A MENSCH.

I was unsuccessful the first day, and went to sleep disappointed. The following morning, my sister mentioned to me at breakfast that she had just seen them in the gift shop.

I went racing down there, and walked right into them and their team of Secret Service, and Mohonk security. What a thrill!

I patiently waited for an opportunity to speak to Hillary, but she was quite busy schmoozing.

Then, I spied Mr. former President standing in a corner looking through a stack of Mohonk t-shirts. I approached a Secret Serviceman and asked if it was ok if I gave a copy of my book to Pres. Clinton, and after looking it over, he said "yes."

So, I approached Mr. President...tapped him on the arm to get his attention.....and handed him HOW TO MARRY A MENSCH. He was wearing reading glasses, and stood quite tall, as he lowered them and took the book. He looked at me and then the cover and smiled and said something to the effect, "I like this...you should tell Hillary." I replied, "I will and perhaps it might interest some of his single friends."

I was awestruck! It didn't really sink in until afterwards.

I wrote in the book to them: "to a mensch of a political couple" (I wasn't sure quite what to write. What do you say to a former Pres. and his powerful political wife?)

It was a fleeting exchange, but it meant a lot, and I then walked over to Hillary who shook my hand, and said it was nice to meet me.

Quite a once in a lifetime experience!

I didn't have the nerve to ask for a photo with them, though the author/publicist in me knew it would have been a totally amazing photo opp. I did take a quick shot of them amongst a crowd, with my cell phone, which came out grainy because I was in a hurry and shook my hand.

Mohonk was nice enough to give me a shot of Pres. Clinton, which I appreciated.

As an author, when my book first came out, one of the greatest thrills for me was knowing that people would buy it and read it. Now, I can add to that, knowing that a former President and his wife held my words in their hands.

I was thinking afterwards that I could have suggested they pass it on to Chelsea. Certainly marrying a mensch (decent person) would be something her parents would no doubt hope she'd do.

NOTE: IF YOU'D LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF HOW TO MARRY A MENSCH, I AM OFFERING THE BOOK AT A VERY SPECIAL PRICE...BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE. DROP ME A NOTE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED -- RGNEWMAN@OPTONLINE.NET. IT MAKES A GREAT GIFT! AND YOU CAN SAY YOU HAVE THE BOOK GIVEN TO THE CLINTONS!!

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