How many of us turned on the evening news to see Katie Couric on her first night at the job? How many of us picked up the phone when she was done and phoned a friend to discuss her performance? How many of us have found Katie to be a topic of conversation among groups of our friends, particularly when those friends are female?

Me. Me. Me. I'm guilty of all three -- guilty, because there is a certain ... cattiness to it. Were we as eager to assess the performance of Charles Gibson when he took over as evening news anchor on another station? No. Charles isn't a woman. If he were, we'd have been more avid critics. We would have taken his performance more personally.

That, I think, is the gist of it. My knitting group discussed the phenomenon yet again last night, this time with regard to Meredith Vieira. Women are harder on women because we identify with them and SO want them to succeed that we protest each and every tiny fault that, we fear, might prevent that. As a woman rooting for a woman, we look at hair and makeup and clothes, because the real world has conditioned us to deem these important. Yes, we consider substance. But we know that if we show up somewhere wearing a jacket that is too tight or makeup that is too heavy -- or if we've put on a couple of pounds -- the men in the room will notice and pass judgment before they hear much of what we have to say.

On the Katie issue, I'm as guilty as the rest. I want her to look perfect, as I define perfect. I want her to sound perfect and report on exactly the things I want to hear. I want her to set the world on its heels. Poor Katie. I'm a tough critic.

For the record, I am a devotee of Charles Gibson, in large part because the ABC White House correspondent, Martha Raddatz, is a close friend of mine. I loved Elizabeth Vargas before Charlie, and I loved Ann Curry on TODAY.

I'm loving Meredith Vieira more and more as she grows into the job. I'm enjoying her maturity, her humor and her gravitas, her banter with Matt and Al. I don't love all of her clothes, but then, I don't love all of my own. I like her makeup, and I love the fact that she has bad hair days, just like me. I'm counting on other women feeling the same and, thus, guaranteeing her success.

Yes, I'm harder on women, but only because I want them to succeed.

Posted by Barbara Delinsky at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Are you one of those who believes that a writer finishes a book and, shazaam, it's in print and a bestseller? So many people I talk with do believe that, but it's far from the truth. When I finish a book, it goes to New York, where a whole team of experts then only begins each his own job.

I was in New York this past Thursday meeting with these experts, and they are amazing. I'm talking about my agent and publisher, my editor, the directors of publicity, advertising, marketing, and sales -- and, of course, the sales force, without whom my books would never get to the stores. These people are all at work now in the pre-sell days of Family Tree. They're doing a fabulous job. I've never before been as impressed with the smarts, energy, and commitment that has been directed my way. I headed back to the airport Thursday evening filled with hope for the success of Family Tree.

But tired? Whoa. I left my house Thursday morning shortly after 8 AM and returned to it shortly after 9 PM. That's 13 hours. Of those 13 hours, I was "on" (with publishing people) only from 12:30 until 5:30. That's 5 of the 13 hours. And the rest? I was "in transit." Traffic? Bad on the Boston end and a nightmare in New York. Between this week's meetings of the UN General Assembly and Bill Clinton's Global Initiative, many of the streets in New York were closed off for security purposes. This clogged up the rest of the streets.

I was actually OK. I had my knitting with me. So I knitted while we sat. The actual flights -- 37 minutes worth of each -- were the shortest legs of the day. My take-along scarf grew significantly that day. But I was glad to get home that night.

I'm not a New York person. Sorry, New Yorkers, but I'm not. I like trees. I like sweet smells and freedom of movement. I like open fields.

But then, you already knew that, didn't you?

Posted by Barbara Delinsky at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPLIFT, for those of you who don't know, is my breast cancer book. Originally published five years ago, it came out in a 2nd Edition in 2003. The 3rd Edition, coming to bookstores any day now, has a gorgeous new cover and contains new material that celebrates not only the 5th Anniversary of the original publication, but the addition of five years to the survivor totals of many of the original contributors, who do, themselves, tell you what their lives are like now.

Formally titled, UPLIFT: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors, this book is filled with practical tips and upbeat anectdotes from breast cancer survivors of every age and walk of life. My proceeds have all gone to charity -- funding three years, now, of a breast surgery fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.

If you know anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, I invite you to support this cause. Buy a book, send me a note, and I'll send you a book plate with the name of whomever you're giving it to. What better way to mark October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month than this?

Ah, but there is one better way. Schedule a mammogram. Mammograms save lives. One saved mine.

Posted by Barbara Delinsky at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm in heaven! Yes, I wear jeans, but I think they are very uncomfortable. Me, I'm a leggings person -- still have them in my drawer from the last time they were in style. And now they're back. No, I won't wear them with under a micro-skirt the way kids are doing, but I think they have an elegance when worn with a long, belted blouse or a belted sweater. And with high boots? Really smart, really comfortable, really warm in winter. I gotta say, the return of leggings does compensate some for the demise of summer.

Posted by Barbara Delinsky at 01:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)