Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Dear Friends,
As 2021 draws to a close, I want to thank you for making Effortless Entertaining not only successful but joyful! I want to thank all who have brought EE forward from the book launch in December 2017 and give you a glimpse of our future.
Most recently, Covid kept me from speaking in person in 2019 and pretty much through 2020. Blessedly that led to my hiring a phenomenal business coach, Sallie Holder, who advised me to launch the virtual workshops. Thanks to our talented graphic designer, Jenny Mey, and our superb website company, Bellaworks, we launched the workshops in record time. The workshops were incredibly well received — I’m not sure who enjoyed them more — our participants or me!
Meanwhile, our eagle-eyes administrative assistant, Rosalyn Cox, managed the book sales and tracking, and just like that, we realized we’ve almost sold out of Effortless Entertaining, the Guide. WOW! We’ve printed three runs, and we have decided not to reprint in its current format. Stay tuned! Bill Whitley, who inspired EE, and I may launch a new series.
I also want to take a moment to thank the original EE team who helped me create the book. Of course, Bill Whitley inspired the idea, gave me the title, and encouraged me along the way. Frances Schultz and Kathy Izard were generous with their time and wisdom. Anne Neilson guided me early on and referred me to my first extraordinarily talented graphic designer, Christine Dryden and Bellaworks where Cathy Bradley keeps us humming. Lisa Rubenson and Maya Myers were my brilliant and insightful editors. Blair Oliver was our first social media assistant. And our most fun early helpers, Hallie Cochran, Helen Dooley, Forest Richardson, and Grace Hoover. It truly takes a village, and I’ve had an incredibly talented and devoted team!
Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank all of you — family and friends, old and new. You know who you are! You purchased A LOT of books for yourself and as gifts, hosted and attended focus groups, invited me to speak, hosted me in your homes, and participated in workshops. You reached out with the most thoughtful notes and responses to The Dish and on Instagram. I’ve loved hearing your successes and responding to your questions and SOS emails. You’ve sent ideas, thoughts, and prayers. You’ve stopped me in parking lots, grocery stores, and so many other places. What a delight and joy it’s been to experience the EE community in so many loving, wonderful, and, yes, entertaining ways!
I look forward to 2022 and all the fun it will bring … workshops for sure, speaking engagements already on the calendar, and hopefully more as we continue to emerge from the pandemic and possibly a new book series. Exciting! Although we will take a few weeks off for the holidays and to strategize in early 2022, we look forward to being in touch soon with 2022 plans!
I pray God’s abundant blessings for you and your families, certainly during this most sacred season and throughout this next year.
From our family to yours with love and gratitude,
