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Turning Points
May 14, 2003
Written by Mary Frances Hickey, with Nancy Megan
Photography © Maryanne Russell
"Introspection forces me to level with you and confess that all through my early days, I led a life of complete debauchery," smiled PR icon Charlotte Kelly Veal, adding "better early than late."
One of the most powerful women in Finland brings her hairdresser with her, points out Jane Friedman, the savior and CEO of Harper Collins, citing the cardinal rule that "You have to look good."
Nan A. Talese, whose literary imprint is equated with excellence, acknowledges, "My husband and children always came first, and my bosses had to understand that."
Appearance, family duty and wild times are not touchstones expected from a panel of stars that blaze brightest in the firmament of communications. But this truthful, guileless wisdom was reported and discussed at an exceptional breakfast event at the Marriott on May 14. This kind of exchange, with intimate, frank and practical information, with women at the summits of their careers is what NYWIC does brilliantly.
Friedman, Talese and Veal, all MATRIX winners, spoke in depth about the crucial moments, some crises, some occasions for professional triumph, that marked a significant moment that meant a sea change in their lives. All were profoundly thought out, as were their presentations. Perhaps out of respect for NYWICI's forum, our members and surely for president Patrice Tanaka, each speaker's revelations smacked of thorough research, preparation and straight-out concern for the best advice they could give. And they are funny women.
"Yes, I saved civilization at Harper Collins," admits Friedman, whose sales at Harper Collins so dwarf all other book publishers they seem a caricature. But she really did. The company had so lost its way, it was routinely mocked for its lousy and money-losing "hits," the nutty fees it paid celebrity authors (i.e., $5 million to Jay Leno whose book bombed) thereby neglecting good and new authors. This year, Harper Collins boasts 19 best sellers, and is the home of stable authors and growing titles. But when the awesome Murdoch's News Corporation asked her to come in to fix the publishing company, Friedman balked. "It was flattering and a challenge I knew I could handle; I could do it, but did I want to?" After starting out as a Dictaphone-typist, then a publicist, she had joined Knopf and blossomed during its glory days, working for legendary editors Bob Gottlieb and Sonny Mehta. "My first boss, a Jewish prince, could only be replaced by a maharajah prince!" she wisecracked. The family she nurtured at Knopf for 29 years grew as important as her real family, and the pain of leaving was worse than her divorce. In 1997, "I was so comfortable; my kids were grown, I had the success, enough money." Why indeed would she want to take on a demoralized, financially aching company ruled by a scary tycoon? The book world is a better place because she did, and she's the role model for common sense, a sharp mind and an understanding ear.
Carpe diem may be the subtext, but the turning points in Nan Talese's life have been rooted in her absolute belief that she must be true to her passion for good writing and her devotion to her family. No editor is more respected or beloved that Talese, "but I never wanted to be a worker," she stressed. She had to. Her family needed money, so she did what her husband asked, "Why not books? You are always reading, so?" Talese's insight and instinct served her well as she rose from secretary and copy editor to Editor. But she feels that the benign neglect men paid women ("Oh, women were never treated seriously!" The group agreed.), helped her grow. Whither her husband, author Gay Talese, went, she followed, kids in tow. In Sicily for months, she encouraged the authors who depended on her by telephone. While her husband wrote, she edited seven books, happy to be out of sight.
Talese's sensitivity to her writers, to their potential and their vulnerability has made her a kind of literary saint. Whenever she moved, writers like Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, Pat Conroy and other praised authors moved with her. One terrible turning point came when she was at Simon & Schuster; she was well-placed but miserable. "I thought of suicide," she sighed; "No one would speak to me." Yet, her intelligence and abiding faith in good work led her to Doubleday and her own imprint. The quality her name on a book spine brings is wonderful, but she admitted. "I don't know what the next turning point will be. My 46-year marriage is still a roller-coaster." Turning points that come next must involve books, both Friedman and Talese agreed, baffled by the failure of other publishers to imitate their profitability. Both recognized that now readers need more spirituality and greater sense of the wider world.
The wind beneath Charlotte Kelly Veal's wings was hot. "Relocating from hometown LA to New York City reflected my philosophy of life: "Stay out in the traffic and something will hit you!" When Helen Gurley (co-secretary at Foote, Cone & Belding and a lifelong friend) married producer David Brown, he presented Veal with an opportunity to "grow by terror." She won the coveted position of executive secretary to the famous producer David O. Selznick , who was working on a Broadway musical version of his famous film Gone with The Wind. Veal immediately found herself in New York City, working and living at none other than the St. Regis Hotel for five months, a heady, glamorous and unparalleled experience for the young secretary from California. The project failed but Veal was fascinated by New York City and, with Selznick's blessing and help, she returned to stay.
Veal's continuing journey successful PR woman was marked by her standard of excellence, sense of humor, and passion for mentoring. Having honed her craft in the luxurious fields of advertising (McCann-Erickson), broadcasting (NBC-TV) and magazines (Hearst), she began to thing about "doing something more, giving something back." Through a chance meeting with Dr. Judianne Densen-Gerber, the brilliant and controversial founder of Odyssey House, Veal joined the drug rehabilitation agency as Director of Public Information. The job was huge, and giving back was immediately apparent: drastic pay cut, ferocious hours, being in charge of a locked facility two nights a month, and supervising a staff of 50% recovering addicts as part of their treatment.
Flip side was working with such as Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Tish Baldrige plus traveling with the 24/7 Dr. Densen-Gerber to all six Odyssey House USA locations. "Press relations were challenging," Veal emphasized. "But victories outnumbered defeats, and placing the Odyssy House Children's Choir in Rockefeller Center at Christmas was always a win win!" After three years and satisfaction with having made measurable contributions to the image and marketing of the program, Veal returned to the private sector, her values and priorities solid.
Friedman, Talese and Veal are in sync: One must work hard, be ready to lose sleep, then work harder. But never betray your dream, your potential or your family. No one can have better models.
To view more images of the event, visit the News Archive.
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