SHERRILL BODINE'S "ALL I WANT IS YOU" BOOK LAUNCH

Author, philanthropist Sherrill Bodine played host to a bevy of well heeled Chicago ladies and gentlemen Thursday(1/5/12) evening at the Drake Hotel Palm Court for the launch and blog tour of her new book “All I Want is You.” Guests included: Hazel Barr, Steve Starr, Paul Iacono, Laurie Davis, Karen Peters,LeAnita Ragland Brooks wearing one of her jewelry pieces (she just had a great writeup in Sheridan Road Mag). Mrs. Bodine shared that in the book “All I want is You” Pandora’s box vintage store is based on Laurie Davis’ store Lulu’s at the Belle Kay. “Laurie has introduced me to the joys of vintage clothing and jewelry and I am now an avid student and collector.” Clayworths department store is clearly the late great Marshall Fields department store.

“All I want is You” is based on Venus’s quest to clear her father’s name after he has been fired and accused of theft by the Clayworth family after many dedicated years to the family and store.

Vintage boutique owner Venus Smith is stunned to realize her newest acquisition comes with a larcenous legend. Stolen years ago, the antique mermaid brooch belongs to the Clayworth family. The right thing to do would be to return it, but that means facing Connor Clayworth O’Flynn, the sexy department store heir Venus has had an unrequited crush on since childhood-and the man who helped ruin her father.

As far as whom her characters are based on, she incorporate real people  but mixes and matches the body parts and personalities-Chicago has so many fascinating characters.

On how she gets into her writing process. After an idea has been fermenting and once she decides to start writing she begins by purchasing a thick ruled thick notebook and lots of pens and that’s the first process
She then writes around the house especially in her office loft. The first draft is done on paper, then it is typed up. Once that is done she prints it out for edits usually done by her fireplace cozied up with a cup of coffee. The fireplace in her bedroom was inspirational for the love scenes in the book.

Dorothy Whealan and Patrick Plante
Sherrill’s literary agents: Shelby Campbell, Danielle Egan-Miller, Jonna Mackenzie
Signing for Bonnie Gross

Ellen Wesley and Hazel Barr
Marcia Buchannan
Kelsey and Karen Peters
Moet was a sponsor of the event
 Michigan Avenue Magazine was the media sponsor

Monika and Geoffrey Dixon
Lynda Silverman and Laurie DeMarino

Leslie McClean and Javier Ramirez

Jewelry designer LeAnita Ragland Brooks

Maureen Schulman, Laurie Davis, Mary Lasky

Linda Heuring and Guest

Debbie Fligelman and Amanda Clothier

Sherrill was surprised by her Illustrator with a personalized piece

Elizabeth Drasutis with Sherrill

Cece Gonzales and Melinda Joseph

Cece Gonzales, Melinda Joseph and Gitana

Mary Lasky’s shoes-siiiick!