SPIRITED WOMAN NEWSLETTER
Copyright Nancy Mills. All rights reserved.
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CONTENTS
* Spirited Woman Quote
* Editor's Spirited Message
* Spirited Woman Q & A - THE SAUCY SISTERS
* Spirited Woman Media Coverage
* Upcoming Spirited Woman Workshops
* Host a Spirited Woman Workshop
* Join the Spirited Woman Club - Get a Free Listing
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SPIRITED WOMAN QUOTE
"Every spirited woman knows that she is enough as she is." - Nancy Mills
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EDITOR'S MESSAGE
Well, here it is. Wave a banner. Shout it out. The first national SPIRITED WOMAN newsletter has arrived. Six months ago when the newsletter began it was designed for the many spirited women of Santa Barbara, but things have changed dramatically. The Spirited Woman Workshop has expanded to many cities, media exposure is on the rise, and the Spirited Woman Approach to Life is catching on. Who-ee! So, I welcome all of you, new subscribers and old, to a new chapter.
This month in the expanded Q & A, you'll be reading about The Saucy Sisters - aka Barbara Nowak and Bev Wichman - two of my favorite sisters on the planet. The interview is filled with laughs and insight about these two dynamic siblings. Also, be sure to check out the new Hosting a Spirited Woman Workshop section and don't forget (whatever you do) the new listings section - it's gone national.
The SPIRITED WOMAN newsletter is meant to be fun, informative, and inspirational. Your free monthly tool to stay connected with other spirited women nationwide. I welcome you forwarding this newsletter to ALL your spirited friends.
As always, I would like to thank you for your support, comments, suggestions, and friendship. And I genuinely look forward to meeting you (again or for the first time) at a SPIRITED WOMAN Workshop in your city.
Nancy Mills
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SPIRITED WOMAN Q & A
THE SAUCY SISTERS, aka Barbara Nowak and Bev Wichman
I met Barbara Nowak over twenty years ago in LA. At the time I had my own public relations business and she became one of my clients. I immediately loved her. Fun, a spark plug if you will - I knew Barbara, who at the time was in the corporate world - was destined for great things - in what - I don't think either of us had a clue. I just knew that Barbara had big dreams and that she would achieve them. When she introduced me to her equally fun-loving sister Beverly (Bev) Wichman, who was also in the corporate world, I knew that someday those two would set the world on fire. Or at least light it up.
Well, I must have been psychic. Now here's the story. For over ten years, I completely lost touch with Barbara and Bev. I didn't know what they were up to, where they lived, what they were doing - nothing! But, one day in December of last year, when I was looking for representation, I ran across their name on an agent's web site. "Oh my God," I said to myself. There's Barbara's name. There's Bev's. They've written a book "The Saucy Sisters' Guide to Wine." Wow, they've done all these things. I've got to find them. So, I called the agent cold and told her the story. She said, "Get me your card, I'm having dinner with them in New York next week."
And that is how we reconnected. Through an agent, a web-site, a tearful phone call, and a bit of luck. In 1993, Barbara and Bev had moved to Nashville. Bev wanted a change from LA and Barbara's husband Paul, the lawyer, was having a mid-life crisis and wanted to write country western songs instead of lawsuits - Barbara went along for the ride. Once in Nashville, Barbara and Bev's life took off in a whole new direction (what an understatement). In 1996, they coined themselves "The Saucy Sisters" and from that inspired moment came books, the "Eat, Drink, and Be Saucy" radio show which ran from 1996-2001, television appearances, newspaper columns, and local celebrity hood.
Bev now lives in Philadelphia, nearer to their ailing mom. Barbara still resides in Nashville. Her husband is back in law. In March, 2004, I am sure their lives will change again. "The Saucy Sisters' Guide to Wine" will appear in bookstores everywhere, and they are planning to go on a cross country promotional tour in something akin to a "grapemobile." Okay it will probably be a purple RV. I will be seeing Barbara in a few weeks in Nashville, where she has forced me to come (just kidding) to do a workshop. I can't wait.
Call them siblings for life, restaurant reviewers, radio personalities, frequent dining partners, wine enthusiasts, food enthusiasts, restaurant enthusiasts.... Barbara and Bev have done it their own way. Filled with spirit. Read on.
Q: How did you come up with the name Saucy Sisters?
A. Bev - That’s probably me. It evolved around an event Barbara was doing. Barbara had been involved for many years with the local PBS stations – either hosting their pledge drives or participating in some of their cooking segments. We had recently moved to Nashville and they asked her to participate in a cooking segment for their pledge drive. It was called "P is for Pasta," etc. Barbara said, "I’d love to do it, if it is okay, why doesn’t my sister join me?" They said yes. So we had to come up with a pasta recipe, and I was just driving one day thinking about the sauce and I’m wondering if we're "saucy." I wasn’t really sure if that was good or bad, so I called Barbara up as soon as I got to a phone and I asked her "Are we saucy?" And she said, "Well, of course." So I said good, what about calling us "The Saucy Sisters" and this is "The Saucy Sisters Bow Tied Pasta."
A: Barbara – That was the beginning of The Saucy Sisters and it stuck. When we decided to go after doing a radio show we thought we have to have a name and of course, The Saucy Sisters is just so catchy, and that’s what we were going to be talking about – food, restaurants, wine and so on – so The Saucy Sisters was it.
Q: When you were on the show did The Saucy Sisters immediately get a response?
A: Bev – Oh my gosh, what was so interesting, here we were, novices in Nashville. Barbara was wanting to break into TV and I said, you know, you need a sidekick. I’m a real radio junkie and when we moved to Nashville from LA, Nashville was just barren as far as any great radio shows and I said why don’t we pitch a radio show. Barbara researched how to do that and sent off the letter to several stations locally and immediately got a response. They no sooner received the letter when they said they wanted to meet. I think the name and the concept, were both number one, catchy and number two, timely.
A: Barbara – What happened was we went in for this radio interview with the owners of the station to pitch our show. After about half an hour they said, "So when can you start?"
A: Bev – I said, "Would you like a demo or something?" And of course we didn’t have one and I wouldn’t have known what to give them. And they said "Oh no, we just like the way you interact."
A: Barbara – We immediately went to the bar downstairs from their offices and we said, "Oh well, what do we do now?"
Bev – Here we have a radio show and we didn’t have a clue what to do.
Q: From the radio show, is that how you ended up getting the TV appearances and things along those lines?
A: Barbara – Yeah. We started becoming known around town as being connected with food and wine, and this was even before our book (Best Places to Eat in Nashville), and we thought we just needed to branch out – we are such hams. There was one show in particular, the "Talk of the Town," and every woman in Nashville knows it, so we pitched them about doing just one segment on restaurants. We did it differently than people were probably expecting. We got different kinds of food from different restaurants, but we did it in a theme – and the first one was so much fun, and they had so much fun, they said can you come back again. So when we did, we said we are going to take this a little farther. We’re not going to just bring the food and talk about it. We’re going to come dressed as our theme.
A: Bev – So we decided to come as Germans since it was around the Octoberfest, and Nashville is fairly conservative anyway and this TV show is very conservative, so we were a little over the top. We showed up in our little dirndls and with these huge liter mugs of beers and fabulous array of German food –they were speechless.
A: Barbara – I think they thought we tanked up before we started. We really hadn’t.
A: Bev – We became regulars. They actually got to like it because they just never quite knew what we were going to come as.
A: Barbara – They always knew our theme but they never quite knew how we were going to be dressed. They would place bets before we arrived.
A: Bev – One of the funniest ones was Valentine’s Day. We really weren’t sure what to do, so we showed up in our respective wedding dresses.
A: Barbara – One Christmas time we came dressed as boxes.
Q: What is it like to work together as sisters? The good, the bad, the ugly.
A: Barbara – Bev, you can start with the ugly. Well, I don’t know about the bad and ugly part because even in the bad - I guess we have had occasion to argue over business things - but we are so close we get over it. That is the good part. We think along the same lines so in terms of business related issues that come up we pretty much can handle all it. I don’t know –what do you think Bev?
A: Bev – Oh gosh, to me there is nothing bad, it is all a plus. It is like the best thing that has happened to me in my life. I mean Barbara stimulates my mind. I’ve been in human resources, in the business world for so long, it gets somewhat tedious and I didn’t realize I had all this energy and creativity in me. Just working with her brings it all out and it allows me to be sort of wild and crazy in my thoughts. Barbara is not only entrepreneurial but also thinks "lets just do it." The worst that could happen is that people will say no. Actually I was worried about the radio show because we were so close and I’d heard many stories of family members working together and ruining the relationship, but it has only strengthened it.
A: Barbara – It may sound a little strange but Bev constantly surprises me. She just makes me laugh so much. Bev is a pretty, mild-mannered soft-spoken kind of person, but she'll come up with stuff and I'm just rolling on the floor. She'll just come out with outrageous things and I think I wish I had thought of that. It brings me lots of joy to be able to work with her.
Q: How did you get involved with food and wine?
A: Barbara – Well it was probably the one thing we could do well. From my perspective I had always been interested in food and I remember when I graduated from college telling everybody what I really wanted to do – not that I pursued it - was to travel around the world and write for a gourmet magazine. Then years later when we were in California, I had this book in mind to do, and that was my first book "Cook it Right." I was still in the corporate world, but when I left it, I knew that this is what I was going to do. I loved it and that was really my first foray into something about food. Obviously I enjoy cooking, but I later found out writing about food was my talent. My book came out shortly after we moved to Nashville and then I pitched the Tennessean, our local paper to do a column on food and restaurants. The editor happened to like the way I approached it and the way I wrote. The column ran for several years. I also had a home-style column.
A: Bev – It is so different from Barbara, even though I kind of ride on her coat tails. I do have a couple of things to say regarding that. Of course our parents are fabulous cooks. We grew up in a household where at a young age they experimented with all different types of cuisines. We also lived in New Jersey not to far from New York City where we went out to eat a lot, so we were exposed to different kinds of foods in restaurants. At a very early age I got an appreciation for cooking and eating and dining and for wine. So we always had that love. But another interesting thing that happened was when I was living in Los Angeles, I just fell in love with this radio show, "The Paul Wallach Show." And ultimately, I also had a crush on Paul Wallach, I went to an event where he was there raffling off a dinner and I was determined to be the winning person on that, which I was. We ended up going out to dinner. We actually became really good friends, even ended up dating. I was on his radio show after I had run the LA Marathon. I learned some of the insides and outs of how he worked. He was also a very well known restaurant writer in Los Angeles. He sort of was my mentor. At the time I didn’t dream of doing it myself. But it all came in very handy when we ultimately did get our radio show.
Q: You’ve really parlayed the concept of The Saucy Sisters. How did you do it?
A: Bev – We were also in the right place at the right time when we moved to Nashville. I think we could of done this in any market but it would have been a lot tougher. Nashville was just ripe for something like this. First of all the radio just stunk and talk radio there was in its infancy and interview shows were practically nonexistent unless they were on country music.
A: Barbara – At the same time, the food industry here in Nashville was just beginning to take off. It had been a wasteland in years prior. There were new restaurants moving in, some hot chefs from New York and LA. Certainly the timing couldn’t have been better and the environment. How we got it done, because we did not have contacts, was a determination and the feeling that we’re just going to blaze a trail and try it. The worst thing that can happen is that somebody will say no or we will fail. God knows we failed at other things before so it is not the end if something doesn’t work out the way you planned. But miraculously because of the timing the actions we took really paid off. Part of it like any other business is networking and I guess knowing who the players are and seeing what you can do to meet them and talk to them. We just persevered.
A: Bev – I know regarding our book "Best Places to Eat in Nashville" there was no restaurant guide and Barbara and I just looked at each other one day and said we have to do it. Here we were off writing a book and I will never forget it. We were closing in on finishing it, I think close to pulling an all nighter, and I said to her, "I can’t believe we’re writing a book." Of course Barbara had already done one, but it was such a wonderful experience.
Q: What advice would you give someone to create a niche, or a name for themselves, with the media?
A: Bev – I would say try and do something a little different, do not try to copy anyone out there. The thing that initially worked for Barbara and me was the sister thing. I knew Barbara was trying to get into the media and preferably television. She's a beautiful woman but she is another pretty face, so she needed a side kick, something to differentiate herself. And I could sort of tag along to at least get her noticed. But what’s so funny over the years since ’96 you see many sister and brother acts. I would suggest somehow differentiating yourselves from what is the norm because the norm today is not going to be what it is tomorrow.
Q: Barbara, why do you feel you are a spirited woman?
A: I have enthusiasm for life and I found out that when things aren’t going the way I want them and I feel myself getting into a depression, I make believe that I am really happy, and I talk to other people like I am really happy, and it turns out that I become really happy. Even when I start out a day and I’m feeling like crap, and I'm talking to somebody but I am pretending that I’m spunky and I’m enthusiast and I’m having fun, it’s amazing what happens on the other end of a conversation. People just mirror back the enthusiasm and it is just a contagious thing.
Q: Bev, why do you feel you are a spirited woman?
A: Mine is pretty much the same thing. I love, love challenges even in the tough times. I say it is a challenge and it is something I will get through and I have gotten through tough times as everyone has. I look back and say "wow’ I am all the better for it. I just love the challenge of life, I love the good, the bad. I understand it and know it is there and I know I have grown from it. And regarding the happiness, I start everyday saying it is a new day. It is just a goal. I am not going to get out of bed unhappy no matter what problems or troubles or difficulties I might be facing. I say it is a new day and just like Barbara I end up happy. I will go to work and greet people with a smile – and when some type of acknowledgment or cheer is returned – it gives me all the joy in the world.
THANK YOU BARBARA & BEV. SAUCY SISTER POWER FOREVER.
Barbara and Bev invite you to check out their new Web site at SaucySisters.com. And to look for their book "The Saucy Sisters' Guide to Wine," in stores next March. You can also reach Barbara at 615-790-7240.
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SPIRITED WOMAN MEDIA COVERAGE
A big round of applause! A big kiss to the universe! The SPIRITED WOMAN Workshops are starting to get press coverage EVERYWHERE. In the past year since the first workshop began last October in Santa Barbara, a multitude of media - from newspapers to internet dot com's have written it up. Plus Nancy Mills is starting to make both radio and television appearances. Wow!
Newspaper/Magazine Media Coverage Through September 2003:
Coastal View News
Mail Tribune
Santa Barbara News-Press
Santa Monica Mirror
Southern California Senior Life
The Jewish Journal
The Montecito Journal
The Santa Barbara Independent
Valley Voice
Venice Magazine
Whole Life Times
Nancy Mills' Recent Radio Interview:
Northwest Passage
KLCC in Eugene, OR
9/15/2003
Interviewed by Tripp Sommer.
Stay Tuned For Nancy's Interview on:
Healing Arts
Jefferson Public Radio in Ashland, OR
Airs: 5-6pm Sunday
Set for October Airdate.
Interviewed by Colleen Pyke.
Healing Arts
Wisdom Media
Set for November Airdate.
Runs multiple times and internationally.
Interviewed by Colleen Pyke.
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UPCOMING SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOPS
To say the workshop is catching on is an understatement. More than 100 women have taken the workshop since it began a year ago in October 2002. And since each workshop is limited to no more than 12-15 women that is a big feat! Plus it's now offered in several cities. Please check out the remainder of the 2003 workshop calendar below and also find out what is in store for 2004.
For more info on the workshop or to sign up for one please call Nancy Mills at her toll free number: 888-428-1234 (in Santa Barbara call 805-698-3555) or e-mail her at: thespiritedwoman@aol.com.
2003 FALL/WINTER WORKSHOP CALENDAR
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP
Thursday Evening, October 16, 2003
Time: 6:30-9:30 pm.
Locale: Hanging Around Gallery, 113 17th Avenue South
Cost: $55
Workshop includes three hours of creative playfulness and growth. Emphasizes your ALIVENESS and reinforces YOU ARE ENOUGH AS YOU ARE. Great for transitions, change, movement. Attendees range from writers/artists/healers to business owners. Led by Nancy Mills, creator of the Spirited Woman Approach to Life. Limited to 12 women.
SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP
Saturday Afternoon, October 17, 2003
Time: 1-4 pm.
Locale: Hanging Around Gallery, 113 17th Avenue South
Cost: $55
SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP
Sunday Afternoon, October 18, 2003
Time: 1-4 pm.
Locale: Hanging Around Gallery, 113 17th Avenue South
Cost: $55
SANTA BARBARA
SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP
Saturday Afternoon, October 25, 2003
Time: 1-4 pm.
Locale: Nancy's Cottage (above the El Encanto Hotel)
Cost: $50
LOS ANGELES
SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP
Saturday Afternoon, November 8, 2003
Time: 1-4 pm.
Locale: Ocean Air Skin, 1634 Hill Street, Santa Monica, CA
Cost: $55
SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP
Sunday Afternoon, November 9, 2003
Time: 1-4 pm.
Locale: Ocean Air Skin, 1634 Hill Street, Santa Monica, CA
Cost: $55
2004 SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOPS
Goals! Aspirations! Over the next few months, Nancy plans to book workshops in the cities listed below for the 2004 calendar year. She is also open to your suggestions for other cities and is currently available for bookings.
San Francisco
Las Vegas
Denver
Boulder
Los Angeles
San Diego
TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS.
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HOST A SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP
In your city.
It's great fun! You'll love it. Anyone who hosts a workshop in their home or business receives a free workshop, great publicity, and a chance to meet other fantabulous women. Since the workshop size is small, most spaces work out ideally. If you'd like to host a workshop outside of Santa Barbara, contact Nancy Mills at 888-428-1234 (in Santa Barbara call 805-698-3555) or e-mail her at: thespiritedwoman@aol.com.
AND NOW FOR THE THANKS!!!!!!!
Angela Brown, the owner of Ocean Air Skin in Santa Monica deserves a five star rating for hosting the September LA workshops. Her home is fantastic (so is her in-home skin care business) and she went out of her way for the women who attended. Next month on November 8 & 9th, she will be hosting again. WAY TO GO ANGELA!
Kathy Houston, the hostess of the recent Portland workshop deserves the Zagat award for best loft. Beyond gorgeous. The women who attended the workshop loved it. Kathy is not only terrific - but terrifically talented. She is an awesome WEB designer (read more about her in the listings). She read about the workshops in a forwarded newsletter and asked if she could host one. THANK YOU KATHY!
And, and, and...I could not have done the recent Spirited Woman Workshops in Oregon without the generous help of the following people: Candy Davis, Katsu Shibata, Robert Canaga, Anne Decker, Michael Brein, Jane Brockman, and Chris at SisterSource. A BIG THANK YOU TO ONE AND ALL.
LAST THANKS BUT NOT LEAST THANKS - To the many wonderful spirited women who attended the workshops in Los Angeles, Ashland, Eugene, and Portland this past September. You were beyond remarkable.
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THE SPIRITED WOMAN CLUB - LISTING BOARD
Here's the good news. If you have taken the SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP you are automatically a member of the SPIRITED WOMAN CLUB, and you'll receive a FREE listing (up to 60 words) - monthly. For those of you who have not taken the workshop (come on girls, you need to join the club!) - the listing is only $15 per month per listing. What a great deal!
This listing board is a great way to advertise your service, business, workshop, event or WHATEVER - and to stay connected with other spirited women. Currently, the newsletter reaches close to 1,000 women. Think of it as your very own SPIRITED WOMAN DIRECTORY. Be sure to check out what other women are offering and support them! Also, see below HOW TO PLACE A LISTING.
WEBSITE DESIGN & FACE-LIFTS - Future Developments builds affordable professional web sites for businesses of all shapes and sizes or reworks tired old websites. We offer the following services: web design and development, website promotion through Search Engine submissions, website hosting set-up, e-commerce web design, and custom programs. Kathy Houston. 503-223-8708.
INTERIOR ALIGNMENT FENG SHUI - Creates a sacred space by incorporating the best of the mystical traditions of the East and the practical methods of the West. Helps you realign stagnant or unhealthy energy and to restore harmony, balance and support in your surroundings. Also accelerates progress toward desired goals and aspirations. Karyn Armstrong, karyn@harmonicspaces.com. 503-525-2521
EDITING INTERNATIONAL, LLC - We are award-winning writers, published authors, and dedicated editors who have guided hundreds of writers in achieving their dreams. We provide in-depth critical analysis, editing and consulting on nonfiction and fiction, personal coaching, group instruction, workshops, and insider know-how about approaching literary agents and publishers. Go to www.4-edit.com or contact Candy Davis, cdavis@willamette.net. 541-942-8329.
2004 FANTASY SHOE CALENDAR - Beautiful creative shoe pictures for the woman who loves shoes or 12 months of humor for the rest of us. Each month is printed on photographic paper and is suitable for framing. Designed and hand-embroidered by Margo Von Phul. A great gift when you want something special and unique. PO Box 503, Carpenteria, CA 93104. 805-684-0901.
TREAT YOURSELF TO REIKI. Let go of the stress of the day as you become filled with renewed vitality. Reiki is a safe, gentle form of touch and energy work that promotes relaxation and healing. I am a reiki master and have been a practitioner since 1995. $50/session. Frederica Welch, fhbwelch1@cox.net. 805-962-1969
KATZ & MOUSE WEB DEVELOPMENT. Your business deserves more than a "cookie-cutter" site. Our starting point for each project is you: We listen to your vision for your site. Each project is carefully planned to offer outstanding visual appeal and effective, on-target communication. Visit us at: http://www.katzandmouse.com. 805-899-3001.
PIANO LESSONS. Classical and Jazz. Children and Adults. All Levels, All Ages. Now accepting students. My studio or your home. Background piano music for weddings and parties. Nancy Harris Jones, MA, Piano Performance. Member Music Teachers' Assn. of California. Member Music Teachers' National Assn. 805-967-1160
WILD WOMEN OF SANTA BARBARA HANDCRAFTED SCULPTURES - "Wild" combination of glass, wire, clay and beads, the sculpted bodies are fused or lampworked with indivually-stylized details such as glass eyes and beaded hair. Uniquely created by Joe-el Helgesen, renowned jewelry and sculptor designer. 805-686-2417
ITALIAN LESSONS - I am a native Italian and I would like to teach you my beautiful language. For over 18 years, I taught in a private school in Santa Monica. I teach beginners to advanced, both grammar and conversation. Laura DeLuca. 805-565-3720
WEBSITE HOSTING AND DESIGN - The Digital Literature Institute is a nonprofit established to help individuals and organizations archive and share their stories through the use of multimedia tools. For info about domain hosting packages and website design visit http://www.digitallit.org/design or mail: info@digitallit.org.
HOW TO PLACE A LISTING
E-mail a 60 word or less description of your listing (word count must include phone number and such) by the last day of each month (i.e., October 31 for November issue) to: thespiritedwoman@aol.com and put "LISTING BOARD" in the subject line.
All past SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP attendees receive ONE FREE listing per month. All additional listings are $15 per item per month.
For those of you who have NOT attended the SPIRITED WOMAN WORKSHOP it costs $15 per listing per month. Please follow the above instructions.
Checks for all payable listings are to be received in advance of the next monthly issue (Nov. 1) and sent to: Nancy Mills, P.O. BOX 20042, Santa Barbara, CA 93120.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER:
Place "YES I WANT TO SUBSCRIBE" in e-mail subject line. To unsubscribe place "unsubscribe" in e-mail subject line.
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PLEASE FORWARD TO OTHER SPIRITED WOMEN.
Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute the SPIRITED WOMAN newsletter with the understanding that the copyright notice and all the content is to be attributed to Nancy Mills. Copyright Nancy Mills, October 2003. All rights reserved.
THANKS FOR YOUR SPIRIT! SPIRITED WOMEN! AND YOUR SUPPORT!
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