Get over Narnia. Here comes “The Ivy Chronicles.”
This chick-lit book is penned by Denver alum Karen Quinn. She’s the daughter of the late Sonny Nedler of Sonny’s on Fillmore Jewelry in Cherry Creek. Mom Shari and brother Michael still run the shop. The book is out in paperback and Karen’s in town riding the wave.
“Ivy” was a sleeper hit when it hit the shelves a year ago. It’s about a NYC woman running a biz called Smart Kids that helps get the little yard monkeys into exclusive kindergartens. Who would have thought it would strike such a chord?
Well, Catherine Zeta-Jones, for one, who immediately bought the rights to play Ivy in a movie, with Jerry Weintraub set to produce. The book went on to became a huge bestseller in England and was picked as a “summer read” for the “Richard and Judy” show, the UK version of “Oprah.” It started to sell like a million little Ivies.
Next up from Quinn, a book titled “Wife in the Fast Lane.” It’s another look at the rich in NYC.
Quinn is back in Denver for a few days for a series of talks. She’ll be speaking at 6:30 tonight at a Fashion Group International gathering at the Denver Press Club. Tix are $30, which includes hors d’oeuvres. Call 720-922-9715.
All’s fair
In the current Vanity Fair, diarist Dominick Dunne takes a look at tycoons and how their wives – or widows – live in the shadow of pending trials.
His take on the late Denver billionaire Marvin Davis and his wife, Barbara Davis, is filled with juicy bits on the squabbles of the rich, which have always fascinated Dunne. The tone might be a tad nasty because at the Carousel Ball once, Marvin Davis called Dunne over to his table to announce, “Hey, Dominick, you’re getting fat.” Dunne admits he had put on 25 pounds, but was still “thin as a reed” compared to Marvin.
Dunne quickly traces the lawsuit where Barbara’s daughter Patricia Davis Raynes accuses her family of fiscal misconduct, robbing Patricia of hundreds of millions of dollars because “she dared to question Marvin and she dared to leave Colorado to lead her own life.”
Friends are quoted as saying “Barbara is a complete and total wreck. This has just devastated her.”
Dunne urges Barbara to settle out of court. “If this family winds up in a Los Angeles courtroom, there will be broken hearts, unhealable wounds, and daily embarrassments in the press coverage, which their friends and enemies alike will devour.”
That’s cool
Colorado already has the “Cool Mom.” Now we’re trying to get bragging rights to “Funniest Mom in America 2.” Ten remaining contestants are yukking it out in NYC as you read. Denver has two standing: Just Jay and Rubi Nicholas, both from Denver. The contest continues through this weekend; the series begins April 4 on Nick at Night.
City spirit
The “Buffalo Bill in New Orleans” exhibit opens at the Buffalo Bill Museum Feb. 26 – check how he lost his outfit to the river and stayed on to influence Mardi Gras … Sez who: “I’d give up now, but I don’t have the time.” Jane Belenky
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
