“You could put together some query letters, test the waters a bit, but honestly, you should get an agent and let them do the heavy lifting. Yes, you’ll pay them a share, but they have the connections and— Hang on.”
“What?” Blaise asked.
“I’m not backtracking on the agent thing, but there is another way. You could get an entertainment attorney. They’d probably still have the connections, and they’ll only take a one-time fee to vet the contract. Either way, I think you need a professional on your side.”
Blaise nodded. “That’s not a bad idea to get some kind of representative. The modeling business was the same way. Sort of.”
“Well, look, if you want to start by querying publishers, you could certainly do that, too. If you get an offer, which I suspect you will, you can find an agent or an attorney to represent you, and you’ll have the pick of the litter. Whatever way you go, I think this is a really smart idea.”
“You do?” Blaise exhaled. “Thank you for saying that.” Her expression shifted downward slightly. “I could use the money after what happened.”
Cece understood. Blaise had shared with the Queen Bees about how she’d been scammed out of most of her savings when she’d been grieving her late husband. “I’m sure.”
“Do you think that story will need to be part of the book?”
Cece paused, then nodded. “It’s the whole reason you’re writing it. And being brave enough to share it openly could mean other women don’t fall victim to those kinds of scams.”
Blaise took a breath. “You’re right. And you make a good point. Okay, I’ll include it.”
“Is there anything else I can do to help?”
“Maybe.” Blaise chewed her bottom lip a moment. “I’ll be perfectly honest—I started modeling at age fourteen. I got my high school diploma, thanks to tutors, and I don’t think they were all that great. I love to read but I don’t know the first thing about writing.”
Cece smiled. “That is definitely something I know about. I’ll tell you what: I’ll help you if you’ll help me.”
“What do you need help with?” Blaise smiled. “Going out with Joe again?”
“Yes, but that’s not what I was referring to, although I can see that I need your help with more than one thing.” Cece knew it was a risk to ask. Blaise had already turned down Cece’s request to interview her forThe Buzz. But maybe this would be different now that Blaise needed her help. “What I was talking about is I’m starting a podcast, and I’d love for you to be my first guest.” If Blaise said yes, it would really start things off with a bang.
Cece held her hands up. “No questions about you losing your savings or any of that. We’ll strictly stick to whatever you want to talk about. So long as it’s interesting. Maybe you could even think of it as a kickstart to your memoirs. What do you say?”
Blaise had a thoughtful look on her face but for a second, she had no reaction. Then she nodded. “Why not? If I’m going to write a memoir and tell my story to the world, I’d better get comfortable with it.”
Cece hugged her. “Thank you!”
Blaise laughed as Cece let her go. “You’re welcome. When do you want to do this?”
“As soon as I get my studio set up and get comfortable with my equipment. It’ll be a couple of days at least.”
“Okay. Just let me know. In the meantime, I’ll do a search online for how to write a query letter and see what I can come up with. Will you look at it for me?”
“I’d be happy to.”
“Thank you.” Blaise was all smiles as she headed for the door.
Cece nodded. “I can’t wait. This is going to be so much fun.”
And alotof work. Which she needed to get busy doing.
Chapter Four
Essie Rodrigez-Holt listened as her husband talked. This was information she needed to understand so she could relay it to her daughter.
“Sophie doesn’t have a case. Bob has assured me of that,” Frank said.
Bob was actually Robert Welford Brown, one of the premier lawyers in Florida, if not on the entire East Coast of the United States. He was Frank’s attorneyandone of his golfing partners.
“That’s good,” Essie said. “But what if she doesn’t respond to the letter?” Bob had sent a letter explaining to Frank’s daughter that she must cease and desist immediately or face a reciprocal lawsuit.
