As a longtime fan and admirer of Oprah Winfrey, I have to say that the opening of Godmothers bookstore is nothing short of magical. The collaboration between Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Victoria Jackson, and Oprah herself, feels like a dream come true for anyone who cherishes literature and the power it has to transform lives.
As a devoted fan, I’ve always admired Oprah Winfrey for her knack of catapulting authors to stardom. Now, she’s using her literary influence to support the launch of a new bookstore, Godmothers, co-founded by Jennifer Rudolph Walsh – a former agent at WME who spearheaded Oprah’s “The Life You Want” tour back in 2014. With decades of experience working with renowned authors like Tom Clancy and Brené Brown, Walsh embarked on this exciting new venture in the fashionable seaside town of Summerland, California, last weekend, partnering with fellow co-founder Victoria Jackson, a philanthropist and pioneer in the cosmetics industry.
Walsh shared with The Hollywood Reporter that it’s deeply heartening, ‘We truly brought our dreams to life with Victoria.’ Godmothers feels like a sanctuary, a home to us,” Walsh expressed.
After stepping down from my role as WME’s global head of literary, lectures, and conferences in 2019, I’ve been taking a much-needed break, which I like to call a “sacred pause.” I cherished every moment of that phase in my life, but my soul has grown since then. The accolades I received were validating, but the move from New York to California was about finding harmony with nature – something I lacked in my previous chapter. Now, I’m perfectly balanced for this new adventure. As a gamer, I can say that just as in a game, life has different chapters, and sometimes you need to take a pause, level up, and prepare for the next stage.
Over the weekend, Godmothers officially opened its doors, hosting a grand three-day event filled with festivities and prestigious gatherings. Notable attendees included Oprah, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Ted Sarandos, Nicole Avant, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, and Paramount CEO Brian Robbins. His son, Chef Miles Robbins, along with his business partner Kamil Jumale, who possess a Michelin-star background, provided delicious comfort food from an Airstream trailer on the premises.
Nestled within a 1920s barn transformed with a contemporary makeover by interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, the bookstore radiates tranquility. As Jackson explains, “Our aim was to create Godmothers where visitors would instantly feel a sense of calm and comfort.” Jackson, who has recently launched her No Makeup Makeup brand and published her new book titled “We All Worry, Now What?“, is the driving force behind this peaceful space.
The inaugural weekend featured guest appearances by acclaimed author Shaka Senghor, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, as well as a musical performance and guided meditation with MILCK. Notable figures from various industries will make regular visits throughout the year. On September 18th, filmmaker and actor Ed Burns will talk about his debut novel, “A Kid from Marlboro”, and Laura Dave, author of the New York Times bestseller “The Last Thing He Told Me”, will converse with Jordan Moblo from Universal Studio Group about her latest work, “The Night We Lost Him”.
Being in that room with Victoria, 100 others, and Oprah interviewing Shaka Senghor was an incredible full-circle moment for me. It’s the kind of environment my soul yearns for – intimacy. As I’ve often shared, our stories uncover the hidden truth that beneath our skin, we are more similar than dissimilar. Shaka’s discussion on prison reform resonated deeply with me, not just because it was an authentic narrative, but because I see it as a part of what I call ‘intimate activism.’ This is the direction my life is heading in from now on.
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2024-09-11 21:25