(and there’s a story behind every one of them …)
1. I won the “Big Deal” on Let’s Make a Deal hosted by Monty Hall dressed as Raggedy Ann. My ex got it when I divorced him, claiming it was all his. Jeeze.
2. Not paying attention one afternoon in a Las Vegas hotel, I ran into the butt of an elephant … not once, but twice. After all, it had to be an illusion, right? Nope, the Elephant was real.
3. I was the mother of 3 kids under the age of four before I could legally vote. No regrets.
4. I was so broke, that I was a proficient poacher when I lived in Montana. My family ate.
5. Over dinner one night, Gloria Steinem tried to talk me out of publishing one of my best-selling books, Woman to Woman: From Sabotage to Support, that landed me on every major daytime TV talk show, a cover story on People magazine, features in the Wall Street Journal, Time, News and the National Enquirer. In excess of 1,000 combined TV, radio and print positions. Obviously, I didn’t take her advice.
6. I wrote to Merv Griffin and asked him to give me permission to use his TV show Jeopardy’s music for my presentation, Creating the Confidence Factor. Got it.
7. I was pulled out of a conference audience by Johnny Carson’s favorite animal handler, Jim Fowler to be his assistant. He pulled out a 12-foot boa constrictor and handed it to me. Gulp
8. I have made a living with my mouth and words for over 35 years. During that time, I’ve had to re-invent myself when my sons died; I died; a partner embezzled $1,000,000 and we lost everything including home, cars, health; survived cancer; recovered from a brain injury via a speaking gig fall that took away my ability to read for 18 months. Yet, I have a good life.
9. When I was 30, I clinically died. When I was brought back, I was paralyzed for three months below my waist.My second reinvention was to follow.
10. My favorite foreign rights sale was to Saudi Arabia for The Confidence Factor … a book was written by yours truly, a woman; and a book is written for women. Not only was it sold once … the publishing company came back and paid to republish after the contract was over. Love it!
Contact Info:
You can find a variety of ways to contact Judith on The Book Shepherd’s Contact Page.
10 MORE…
1 One time, a girlfriend and I got the idea that we wanted to go see the TV show, Let’s Make a Deal with Monty Hall in person. Of course, why just watch, why not dress the part? I stood in line dressed and made-up like Raggedy Ann—and natch, I had my daughter’s doll with me. When the producer walked by, I don’t know what possessed me, but I gently “bopped” him on his shoulder with the doll. Turning around, he had a glint in his eye and said, “Come with me.” I did and ended up on the show on an aisle seat. Oh boy, what an afternoon I had!
2 Pure bliss to me is digging my toes into warm sand and seeing the ocean in front of me. I have to have at least one beach fix a year, more is always better.
3 When I see a parade go by, it brings tears to my eyes. Yes, it does.
4 My 4th-grade teacher’s Mrs. Russell wise words can be heard every day in my head—Avoid using the words always and never—they will come back to bite you. I was 8 years old! And her words are embedded in what comes out of my mouth.
5 Of all the media that I’ve gotten—from multiple appearances on Oprah, Donahue, Geraldo (yes- the Geraldo!–you have to ask me about the time I started to push back my chair to get off the stage when the show was live), Sally, Jenny, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Good Morning America, CNN, etc., etc.—the show that stayed with me the most was the one I did with Joan Rivers.
The topic was women betraying women and my book Woman to Woman: From Sabotage to Support was what brought me to her producer’s attention. Instead of being the off-the-wall commentator/participant she could have been, she was interested, thoughtful and participative. Now, did she have a little fun with the topic? Yes, but she had clearly been sabotaged by others and knew what that type of betrayal can bring. She honored me and my book … even bumping the next guest and keeping me for half of her hour show!
Who was the single best host with the audience? Hands down, it was Phil Donahue. The smartest of all the hosts–he treated his guests as honored guests–he would come and get you in the Green Room and personal escort me to the stage, saying, “Please welcome my guest to the stage” before the show began. He often asked me to stay post the show so the audience could talk to me and I loved it that he would have his producers escort me back to the Green Room and then come and again thank me for being there. Phil Donahue was and is a class act.
6 I’m an intuitive cook and think nothing of having anywhere from two to forty for dinner. The best of times!
7 When a Book Shepherding client’s book arrives in my office from the printer, my sense of joy for the completion of this stage of their project is immense. I immediately call everyone who participated in the creation—the cover designer, interior designer, illustrator, printer, author—anyone and let them know how beautiful the book looks, feels, is. And then I post a review on Amazon to support the author. It’s a happy dance for me!
8 My idea of a great way to spend an afternoon or evening: a big bowl of popcorn and my favorite peach ice tea plus a movie with hubby and friends. Love it. 
9 I have an annual Dinner on the Deck BBQ celebrating the arrival of Summer Solstice and dozens of friends to celebrate the warmth. I’m a sun type of gal!
10 I was a child-bride and got married when I was 16. I refer to that marriage as my “training marriage”!
Contact Info: You can find a variety of ways to contact Judith on The Book Shepherd’s Contact Page.