The first time I met Sue was at her Secrets of Getting Published seminar. I was writing my memoir, Single to Baby, when two people mentioned her name in three days. I've never turned my back on a coincidence. I waddled my seven-month pregnant belly up six flights of stairs to attend the six-hour class. I was hooked on Sue's energy.
Susan Shapiro's wonderful and witty break-out novel, Speed Shrinking, is the story of self-help guru, Julia Goodman, a sugar addict who consoles herself with cupcakes when her therapist and best friend both move out of town. As her weight increases prior to a national television interview, Julia realizes that she can’t coat her feelings in frosting forever. She embarks on a mission to find a new therapist by speed meeting 8 shrinks in 8 days.
At the book launch at Knickerbocker Bar and Grill, karma met counseling. The room was filled with super-charged writers, therapists, students, agents and sugar addicts. The highlight of the evening was a three-minute speed shrinking event where guests had the opportunity to sit down with seven real self-help gurus to get advice, the power of "showing not telling" in action.
When it was time to begin the event, I whirled around to see which expert was sitting near me and found Dr. Diana Kirschner, author of Love in 90 Days. I confessed I found love in less than 60.
-Lori Vadala Bizzoco
