The first time I met Danielle it was over the phone, just a day after my agent mailed out the proposals for Tales From The Scale.

It was, quite literally, a life-changing conversation.

What I remember most from that conversation was how talking with Danielle was just like talking to any number of my girlfriends. The process of selecting a publisher for the book was nerve-wracking and it seemed as though my entire professional career hung in the balance. I was clear in what I wanted for the book, but mostly I wanted for it a good home where it would be loved as much as I did. I knew it was the sort of book that, at a larger house, would never get the kind of attention I wanted for it. More than anything, my confidence in my ability was so woefully low at the time that I knew I needed to feel comfortable with whomever I worked.

What with my writing being so ... overdramatic and a little bit pretentious and all. Ahem.

I wasn't lauded as a great talent, because I'm not, and there was such a whopping dose of luck heaped onto me with getting this book that I felt completely in over my head. What I needed for this first shot out of the gate was, quite honestly, a friend. I found that in Danielle.

It was just more good luck that I also found in her a fantastic and talented editor. Tales has done well, thanks in no short part to Danielle. Our phone conversations and emails were many, and she made the entire experience one of the most memorable, not to mention fun, of my life. I haven't seen her in a year, when she left my hotel room in Boston, crocked off her ass as we'd both, along with her partner-in-crime, Ron, spent a night cavorting around my second-favorite city eating and drinking more wine than you can shake a stick at.

We'd returned to my room, and proceeded to sing and dance and drink some more before we had to call it a day. I had a television appearance the next morning and she had to work. We've bemoaned on a frequent basis the pity that is our geographical distance from each other. She's moved on to a house in New York City, and the day that she called to tell me was a sad one for me.

(With all love and respect, of course, going out to Jennifer, her fabulous replacement at Adams! Word up to Meredith, too!)

Danielle and Ron were married last weekend in their hometown, and a beautiful bride did she make. I'm glad D got off her ass and started a blog as it makes keeping up with her life much easier, including the beautiful pictures from the wedding.

Congrats, kids. A long and happy and magical life to both of you - for God's sake, though. Can you do something about that tiny Upper East Side apartment you two live in before I get out there? Where am I going to sleep? The bathtub?!?

Posted by Erin at 12:11 PM | filed under: Odds and ends

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