You don't know me, but I just wanted to write and tell you that your book is wonderful. I'm 58 y.o. and live in Iowa. I've been a serious DD fan since April 1997 when I brought "Calamity Jane" home from the video rental store. The rest, as they say, is history. I've been a Dayniac ever since. I go to Carmel every year for Doris' birthday and stay at the Cypress Inn with a group of other DD fans and friends. This year, Doris' helper (Barbara Brown) arranged for us to meet Doris briefly on the evening of April 3. She came out on her deck, and a group of us were down below, on the golf course. It was at sunset and it was starting to get dark. Doris was dressed all in white and she looked like an angel above us. She talked briefly to each of us by using Barbara's cell phone. It was surreal! Well, anyway, I wanted to tell you that I loved reading your book and I have a belated birthday present to send you! I make commemorative booklets of Doris' movies. This year I presented her with a 232-page tribute to Love Me or Leave Me. She wrote me the sweetest 'thank-you' letter. Like you, my life has been so enriched because of Doris. I never tire of her music or her movies.
I'm wishing you all the best, Mike. Again, congratulations on the book!
Regards,
Lloyd
FROM MARGE MITCHELL IN BALTIMORE, MD:
Hi Mike,
Enjoyed your book. It really reads like a memoir; I learned a lot about you as well as her. For starters, you and I graduated high school and college the same years. I loved the last line of Chapter 27, when you transferred to Loch Raven High and "thought you'd died and gone to heaven." All those years I knew you (and your stories were legendary), I actually never knew you were a Doris Day fan! I'll be calling you very soon to bring by the book for you to inscribe.
Congratulations, Marge Mitchell
from Pat Walton in Maryland
Hi Mike---enoyed your book. I remember enjoying Doris Day 's movies and recordings,but I learned a lot more about her from your book. What an interesting run you've had as her friend.--especially enjoyed reading about your career, too. I like the way you wove the two stories together through the years. It was the perfect way to tell them both.
from Dorine in Belgium
Well Mikey, I have to say your book got to me.It is not only about Doris, but the choice of words and the accurate descriptions. You must have gotten tuns of mail by now, especially from your students. But the English language has always been a passion of mine. So I love every word you use, and sometimes re-read bits in your book. Anyway,thanks to you I have seen the "DDay Best Friends" parts that one can watch on youtube. As well as the Sentimental Journey documentary in 7 parts.You see,you elevate people's attention, no matter what time..Anyway, as I am a sentimental old girl (lol), it brought me tears as I stumbled upon Doris & Les Brown reunited in the mid 80's. I once wrote to Doris how good she is at moving forward, but does she ever look back? And yes, she does. Looking back is good as long as you can let go, Right,Mr.D? Thanks for your inspirational book,and all you do for us DD-addicts.... Dorine
CHRISTIE S. did a special ad for the book which previously topped the dorisday.net forum. This is how it looked:
iF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COPY YET, GO GET IT!
Doris Day...Mike's "Secret Love" no secret anymoreIn a time when biographical books tend to smear the subjects, there comes a book which gives honest compliments to a real icon who is beloved world wide. Now 7 years old, the book is still viable and readily available in print and on kindle.
Ad for book on dorisday.net Aug. 3, 2012-PRLog-- Paul Brogan, author of "Was That A Name I Dropped", has this to say about this book about Hollywood Icon, Doris Day:
"Michael DeVita has written a book that will delight not only Doris Day fans but anyone who has an interest in reading about a gentleman who has led quite an interesting life himself.
As a writer, I have a deep appreciation for how difficult it can be to write a balanced story where two fascinating lives (the author's and Miss Day's) intersect as they do in "My Secret Love Affair with Doris Day". Fortunately Mr. DeVita is an exceptionally competent storyteller who walks that line with stylish aplomb. The book is funny, sweet, heart-warming as well as providing detailed information about Miss Day that supports the reason she remains an entertainment icon.
This book is also a piece of Americana as the reader follows Michael's journey through many decades of his life - and what a life it is. You come away wishing that at some point in your life, you might have had a teacher like Michael DeVita because its obvious that the skill he breaks to this story he also brought to many a classroom.
The book is well worth a read and should be one you put on your bookshelf and take out from time to time to re-read. When a story can retain its initial magic with multiple readings then it has clearly achieved what any author would like from their book. You could sum up Michael's book with the title of one of Miss Day's many Gold Standards - "It's Magic"!!!
Available in paperback and on kindle, the book can be purchased through Amazon.Com . Check out the reviews on Amazon. Mike is a new author, who also operates a website devoted mostly to his favorite star. It is found at:http://www.songsandmemories.com.
Read about how a lifelong devotion to a star like Doris can affect the very soul of a person's life. One of Mike's passions about Doris is her incomparable singing voice, which was what first attracted him as a little boy and comforted him all through his life. A playlist of the majority of the songs mentioned in the book can be heard on the music websitehttp://www.spotify.com. The link for the playlist can be found on the main page of the songs and memories website.
A first book by the author, all of the proceeds go to Miss Day's Animal Organization (http://www.DDAF.org), which is Ms. Day's passion today. The author hopes the readers enjoy his story and are able to see the uncanny parallels in their lives, she as a major star, he as a teacher, and, of course, now that the book is released, the secret is no longer.