She's Really a Nobody

In Feb, when I tore my calf muscle and wore DAS BOOT for 14+weeks, I decided, after drowning my sorrows in cupcakes and coffee for a week, to send out 75 query letters for my manuscript. (It's a diet/exercise/weight loss type memoir thing.) Of those 75 letters, I received about 70000 rejections (I kid, it only felt that way) and one request to see my proposal. I sent it off on pins and needles.

And heard that the proposal wasn't well done and didn't express the spirit of my manuscript. And I spoke on the phone to the agent, who told me what to do and how to do it, and encouraged me to resubmit. I took the summer to think about it and determine if I really wanted to do this. And I decided that I did want to do this. So I gathered up my courage, took her suggestions in hand, and revamped the proposal. I changed the title and did all of the changes that she suggested. And I emailed her, telling her that I'd be in NYC this week and asking if she'd be available to meet.

She indicated that Thursday afternoon was a great time for her, and I went to NYC. When I checked into the hotel, I discovered that the event I was participating in had a scheduled completion time of 2, and my shuttle was scheduled to pick me up at 2:40. In other words, there was no way possible to meet with the agent - but I had a few free hours on Wednesday. I emailed her to tell her that I was in town, got directions from the concierge, and started walking. It was a long walk, and about 20 minutes in, my phone buzzed with an email. She wasn't in the office. I called her and we talked, and I decided that I'd drop the proposal off at her office anyway. I was already out, there was NO WAY I was returning home with the proposal in hand, and I *hoped* it would show my determination to do what it takes to get the book published.

All total, it was about 36 or so blocks down and 2 blocks over and it took about 45 minutes. I was glad to get into the air conditioning and cool off for a minute - it was really hot out there and I'd been walking in jeans and a black t shirt. The actual delivery was anticlimactic and I let out a sigh of relief as I made it back down to the street. I reversed the walk and when I got back to the hotel I noticed a large crowd of people, cameras in hand, congregating outside the entry.  I also noticed that the hotel, The Sheraton, looked a little different than I remembered. I looked around and noticed that everything looked the same - Rosie O'Grady's was across the street and the other landmarks I'd picked out were still there - and I thought to myself, Maybe I just came in a different entrance before. I walked in and was stopped by security, who asked to see my room key. I produced said key and was waved through, and I noticed that the foyer was different and, also, filled with businessmen and a flurry of activity, almost the opposite of when I'd left. Feeling a little Twilight Zone-ish, I looked around and saw that, yes, I was in the Sheraton. So I went up to the 9th floor, and when the elevator doors opened - to a dark blue wall and a sofa, rather than a beige wall and flowers - I decided that enough was enough and I rode that same elevator right back down. I went out of the elevator and as I entered the foyer, noticed through the glass windows what I'd apparently been too out of it/not paying attention/blind to notice - that there were TWO Sheraton hotels DIAGONAL from each other. I'd been in the WRONG one. Duh.

So I walked out the door into the throng of papparazzi/camera wielders/tv spokespeople/newspaper reporters - and immediately everyone went NUTS. I mean, bonker nuts, taking pictures and shouting - for about 3 seconds - and I stopped in shock. And then, as clear as day, I heard, "Stop. She's no one." And, just like that, the cameras stopped and no one looked my way, and I puzzled through what just happened. It wasn't until I found my way to the other hotel, the correct one, that I was able to find out what was going on.

Apparently, I'd been in the wrong hotel, and the wrong hotel was the one that the Clinton Global Initiative was being held in. It was full of Clinton, dignitaries and other fellow important people - and not me. It was - illuminating.

Comments

[Jessica]

Remember that at your first book signing at the Barnes and Nobles hopefully right down the street from me!!!

[Headless Mom]

I'd take your picture!

Good luck with the proposal. I'll fight to purchase the first one!

[Debby Pucci]

Don't you just love a little bit of excitement. Best of luck with your proposal.

[Busy Mom]

You're someone to me! I have das boot, now, btw.

[melissa]

great job on getting your manuscript to your agent!! what an interesting story about the hotel! i bet that felt quite odd! LOL

melissa

[Kim]

Hmmm, well try to not take it too personally. But the statement is kind of a slap in the face. I would say it was also a perfect opportunity to evaluate your own self worth. I hope you came up as pretty special in your own mind.

[The Only Girl]

That's too funny! Can you imagine living your whole life in a daily web of papparazzi like that?

[Brenda]

Ohmygosh...maybe you don't think so, but I can really see the humor in this! I looked through the list of important attendees -- they must have thought you were one of them trying to be incognito! (Maybe Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah,Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan??)

[Megan]

Big-time TV producers and reporters do some incredibly insensitive things sometimes. It is amazing how ruthless that business is, and not so much in a good way anymore.

And you might have thought the fact that you were wearing jeans and a black t-shirt would have tipped them off that you weren't part of the Clinton group, without them having to say that.

But anyway, that Sheraton mistake, I bet someone staying in one of the two hotels does the exact same thing every day.

[Carmen]

Oh, no - I totally see it as funny. I wasn't upset at all. The reality is that everyone is somebody TO somebody - and everyone is nobody to somebody.

I wasn't offended - I laughed about it all day. Especially as I'd just finished feeling like a big shot for turning in the proposal - the world has a funny way of bringing stuff to humble you, yes?

[kyooty]

see nowif I was in charge of the "picture taking" I would have known "ohhhhhh look it's CARMEN!!!" and you know got everyone taking pics. Really they lost a good story

[Katherine]

LOL we have a man on our street that waves to everyone as they go by. NICE and funny guy. He used to be a top lifeguard in va. bch and a very well known surfer, globally. He is now overweight and older with bad knees. But he said he decided to surf one day. Went out there and was AWESOME. Rode some huge waves and felt so good about himself. He got out of the water, walked up the beach and a woman said to him, "Did you used to BE somebody?" LOL too funny

[Pearl]

So, you got a taste of what it will be like when your book hits the big time, huh? One day those photographers will be kicking themselves for not getting more shots of you today!

[twitter.com/JendisJournal]

It was great to hang out with you during the Today show.
I hope your proposal is accepted. One day I'll wish I had your autograph. At least I have our picture together - even though it's at 5:45 am.

[Paulette]

Sounds like a scene written for a comedy. In a twisted way, your experience is comforting to those of us who find ourselves in such predicaments and wonder "what just happened?" Wow, and what a real life scene turning out to sound like a metaphor. Cool that you write. I am interested to read more. Did you really lose that much weight?

[Karen]

I'm thinking you were probably more interesting than the "somebodies" who were at the Clinton conference...

[Angie Gray]

It's one thing to be a nobody, but to be a NOBODY like this, is like being somebody. kwim?

[Lisa @ All That and a Box of Rocks]

You should have said, "Oh, yes I am someone! I just walked 36 blocks & back in this heat in a black t-shirt to deliver MY book proposal, buddy. And not only that....I've given birth to SIX children."

[workout mommy]

good luck on your proposal, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

and I agree, you should have shouted "I'm not a no one, I'm CARMEN dammit!" :)

[kristen]

www.ubanmommyblogger.blogspot.com