Elisa Lorello, Author and Writing Coach
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Anniversary

9/9/2021

 
If you subscribe to my newsletter (and if you don’t, now’s a good time), you’ll know that I’m taking a mental health break this month. But I wanted to share this milestone—an anniversary, if you will.
 
Eight years ago on this date, I launched my memoir Friends of Mine: Thirty Years in the Life of a Duran Duran Fan.
 
If you looked solely at the numbers, you might say its success was modest, at best. Mediocre, even. It didn’t chart in any best-seller categories. Its sales-to-date haven’t warranted any plaques, and it hasn't won any awards or honorable mentions (except for cover design, and rightfully so).
 
And yet, I consider it one of the most successful books I’ve ever written.

  • For one thing, it was part of a college course reading list. That alone is cool.
  • It is, in a way, responsible for my husband and I getting together.
  • It’s been seen and touched and signed by Simon, John, Nick, and Roger.
  • It continues to find new fans—and subsequently, new friends—around the world.
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That last bullet point is the one I’m most proud of and most moved by. Ninety-five percent of my Twitter time is spent conversing with fellow Duranies (the rest is about books and cats, if you’re wondering), and so many of them found me (or I found them) as a result of this memoir. We support each other creatively, laud each other’s projects and triumphs, and seek solace in each other during difficult moments.
 
It very well might be my only book that still generates conversation (see podcast links below).
 
I wrote and published Friends of Mine during a time in my life when I was on a fast track to the top of the world. And what’s happened since its release is enough to fill the pages of another book (SPOILER ALERT: a rough draft of said book is already done). Nowadays, when the fate of my author career is still unknown and unresolved, I know one thing for sure: I want to publish that second memoir. Preferably by 2023, ten years after Friends of Mine.
 
Because we’re still on this journey, Duran Duran and me. As I write this, I am surrounded by posters and Funko Pop figures; memorabilia and that photo of John Taylor and me holding each other’s books in 2012—I’m about four months away from the age he was back then. That alone is hard to wrap my head around. We’ve quarantined together. Felt our way through the darkness. We’re emerging on the other side with music to show for it. With writing. With something to celebrate.
 
So today I raise a glass (or a mug with JT on it) to my favorite band, still going strong 40 years later. They’re still the band to dance to when the bomb drops. Still the band to swoon over. Still the band to write about, to be inspired by, to blast in the car with the windows down. Still the soundtrack of my life.
 
Dare I say, still friends of mine.


WANT A SIGNED COPY OF FRIENDS OF MINE? Make a special request when you order from This House of Books, and they will ship it to you. (Make sure you specify your request in the Comments on the website's order form, or call the store directly and let them know. Also specify whether you want a personal inscription.)


Click her to listen to my interview on The D Side
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Click Here to listen to my interview on the Duran Duran Albums podcast
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Chasity Ritter aka Chaz Taylor
9/9/2021 04:25:13 pm

This is such a great anniversary to celebrate!! This book is how I found you as well and I considered it very special even though I love all your other writings as well. Each thing you said about it today is so true And in my heart I will always consider you a “Friend of mine”. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for you and yes Duran Duran will always be the band to be dancing to when the bomb drops for sure ❤️❤️❤️

Elisa
9/10/2021 11:18:39 am

Thank you, Chasity! <3


Comments are closed.

    Author

    I'm an author of commercial women's fiction and a writing instructor. My claim to fame: I can say the alphabet backwards.

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  • Welcome
  • About Me
  • For Readers
    • The Faking It Series >
      • Faking It
      • Faked Out
      • Ordinary World
      • She Has Your Eyes
      • Love, Wylie
    • Standalone Novels >
      • You, Me & Mr. Blue Sky
      • Big Skye Littleton >
        • Montana Quarterly Q&A
      • The Second First Time
      • Pasta Wars
      • Adulation
      • Why I Love Singlehood
    • New Releases >
      • All of You
    • Friends of Mine
    • Anthologies and Additional Publications
  • For Writers
  • Blog: "I'll Have What She's Having"
  • Contact Me
  • Media Appearances