May Newsletter 2011

Vol. 447 No. 990

Happy Beginning of Summer:

I've written umpteen newsletters over the years but I've always posted them only on my web site. It finally occurred to me (duh) that not everyone automatically comes to my web site every single month to see what's going on. (Hard to believe, I know.) So, I'm now going to send out my newsletters to everyone on my mailing list every month. This May newsletter is longer than most since so many things have happened. Plus, the sucker's late -- sorry about that.

What a May -- these feet scarcely touched the ground. First it was a quick flight to Long Beach to see Kiwan Watts compete in the Junior Olympic National Championship (I'm his sponsor). He's an incredible gymnast. He came in 7th out of 280 kids countrywide in his age group: 14 and 15 year olds. This means -- drum roll -- he will compete at the Visa National Championships in Minneapolis in August. Yes, yes, I'm going. I told him when he hears me shouting for him, to say "there's my blond mama." If he comes in the top 6, he will compete and train internationally. And then what? We will see. You can look at some photos of Kiwan on my Facebook page (Facebook.com/catherinecoulterbooks). You will be amazed.

Two days later, we were off to Italy -- Rome, The Amalfi Coast, Capri -- Rome is beautiful, Amalfi is more beautiful, and Capri wins the prize. About Rome: Mid-May is not considered tourist season, but it was packed to the rafters. If you've been to the Spanish Steps picture this: every single step covered with bodies and the square so crowded you had to thread your way through. At the Trevi Fountain -- they've built bleachers (yes, BLEACHERS), and I swear to you, at 10:30 at night, it was still crammed.

I'll say it with no hesitation, the Vatican Museum outdoes both the Louvre and the Met -- so many ceilings to look up at, so many Madonnas (Madonnai?) and childs (children?) to see, so many miles to walk, so many people to avoid mowing down, so many security people in the Sistine Chapel whispering loudly, "Silencio!," and of course the many Vatican shops to peruse.

Onward to the incredible Amalfi Coast (a two hour drive from Rome): We stayed at the Caruso in Ravello, just down the road from Amalfi -- you'll get a good flavor from the photos on my Facebook page.

Capri: It's a 45 minute hydrofoil ride from Amalfi to the island. Here's what I think: everyone got together in an "Island meeting" and decided there would be no trash anywhere on the island. It's the cleanest tourist destination I've ever seen in my life. You walk down streets that look like Hollywood stage sets with charming boutiques and kiosks lining them, and great restaurants. Even the harbor is colorful, filled with restaurants right on the water, and clean. With Capri, you hit the jackpot. They can't overbuild since there's a multitude of sheer cliffs. (It isn't true that Tiberius threw boys who displeased him off the cliffs-- it was the People magazine of the day that reported that to smear his reputation.) There are the Siren Rocks -- remember Homer's Odyssey and Ulysses had to tie his men to the boat to keep them from swimming to the sirens for who knows what sort of wonderful debauchery? The Blue Grotto was Tiberius's private swimming pool. (It's not true that he drowned boys in the pool. It was that People magazine again). We stayed at the Caesar Augustus on AnaCapri (means simply "above Capri") with its gorgeous double infinity pool where you lie out on a chaise lounge and watch birds bathe and cavort, and drink lemoncello. This was tough to take but somebody had to do it.

It's a huge bummer, but all good things must end. We came home to pissed-off cats, beautiful Sausalito weather, and happy faces.

On Saturday, we fly to the Outer Banks for a week on the ocean with the family. Our numbers are down this year, only about 30. I hear it's going to be in the nineties, so that means the ocean can't freeze your parts off.

I've started the 16th FBI thriller for 2012. The working title is BACKFIRE. Let me know what you think of it. Do you remember Federal District Court Judge Ramsey Hunt from THE TARGET? Well, some bad stuff happens to him. We also have a U.S. Deputy Marshal Eve Barbieri, and Sean, who wants to marry Emma Hunt when he grows up.

Be sure to enter the SPLIT SECOND/WHIPLASH contest on Twitter or Facebook or my web page -- stay tuned.

Have a great June,

Catherine Coulter

P.S. The cats are no longer pissed off