When you sit alone at your desk writing a book, you imagine what it will be like when you can finally share it with audience. As I’ve launched Growing More Beautiful I’ve had the pleasure of speaking in front of groups large and small. Seeing heads nodding in recognition and hearing the knowing laughter has moved words on a page into a shared experience. It has been a thrill.

I’ve seen firsthand that women long to learn and grow, to feel engaged, and that they would rather be supportive than competitive. Each of my talks concluded with a question and answer period, and audience members have raised the most intriguing subjects. When I finished my book, it seemed that I had put everything I knew into it, but clearly women are hungry for more information. I’ve been asked about everything from freckles to looking faded, from how to wear skinny jeans to surviving unsuccessful shopping trips. I’ll be answering some of the most frequently asked questions in my column in the months ahead.

As 2009 draws to a close, I’m looking back over one of the most surprising and eventful years of my life, filled with challenges and disappointments as well as celebration and festooning. I expect many of you had a similar year. Thank you for making the time to come to an event or to talk about my book with your friends and loved ones. I am truly grateful for your support. More than 100 people attended my talk at the Book Passage last month and that tells me the message of Growing More Beautiful is getting out there and it will continue to touch my readers. I’m just along for the ride.