After all, it’s not about conspiracy, it’s about connections. And the Hachette Book Group is counting on what it feels is a fact, not fiction, that's there's money to be made off the Madoffs.
In July of 2011, an unnamed source at the parent company of Little, Brown and Company - Hachette Book Group – informed me that an internal database listed a pair of authors, for the "uncorrected advance proofs" of a manuscript with the working title of Untitled By Anonymous, Laurie Sandell and Catherine Hooper. Uncorrected advance proofs is publishing patois for the bound prepublication rendering of a book before its first hardcover or trade paperback printing.
Catherine Hooper has been quite the press item herself, mostly because she’s made no secret of her engagement to Andrew Madoff, the surviving son of super swindler Bernie Madoff and the brother of Mark Madoff, who took his own life in 2010 rather than live it out under a black umbrella of scorn.
The book, of course, has turned out to be none other than Truth and Consequences: Life Inside The Madoff Family [© Little, Brown and Company 2011] which is to be released on October 31, 2011.
It's by Laurie Sandell, a contributing writer, freelance journalist and author, whose graphic novel, the ironically entitled, The Impostor's Daughter A True Memoir was published, you guessed it, Little, Brown and Company in 2009 . According to her website, she’s still in her twenties and spent four of them “traveling around the world, having unsavory experiences she later justified as ‘material’”. Readers may rightfully wonder, material for what?
Daddy Dearest
“Laurie Sandell grew up in awe (and sometimes in terror) of her larger-than-life father, who told jaw-dropping tales of a privileged childhood in Buenos Aires, academic triumphs, heroism during Vietnam, friendships with Kissinger and the Pope. As a young woman, Laurie unconsciously mirrors her dad, trying on several outsized personalities (Tokyo stripper, lesbian seductress, Ambien addict). Later, she lucks into the perfect job--interviewing celebrities for a top women's magazine”
“Growing up with her extraordinary father has given Laurie a knack for relating to the stars. But while researching an article on her dad's life, she makes an astonishing discovery: he's not the man he says he is--not even close. Now, Laurie begins to puzzle together three decades of lies and the splintered person that resulted from them—herself".
Wonder Woman?
So what kind of girl is this Catherine Hooper, you may ask? Well, let’s begin at, please pardon the pun, the bottom, her bottom that is, because that’s where she has a tattoo of boyfriend’s name “Andy” branded. But that’s not all, folks. To prove how serious she was about her love for Andy, Hooper posed "scantily clad" in his favorite fishing magazine Fish and Fly. Last but not least, on Andy’s birthday this past April in the card she gave to him she wrote: "Hope you have a fun day doing all the things people in prison wish they could do”. However, her greatest gift to him to date has been giving him something that no one else would because of his name – a job – with the firm she founded to help people deal with whatever life throws at them, Black Umbrella.
"You can still have a full life while remembering what really happened. When all of this happened, we decided that we weren't going to sit around all of the time with our laptops on our laps reading blogs. We were not going to sit around talking about how horrible this is. There are some things that are just going to be a disaster no matter what you have planned…Take me for example I was a retail consultant for the fashion industry. So to be in any way connected to scandal was not going to be feasible. I took the bull by the horns and resigned from my main client immediately”.
Perhaps understandably, her relationship, both business and personal, with Andrew Madoff has been met with skepticism, if not scorn, from the social circles [not to mention, of course the public in general] the Madoffs were used to moving in, but that has not stopped Catherine Hooper from doing her thing, despite widespread criticism that her business plan is no plan at all.
"It’s all stuff you can do on your own — you don't need to hire me. There are so many great resources out there... As I was watching [New Orleans] fall apart on television, one part of me was saying, 'I can't believe people didn't take the steps to prepare for it since they were so vulnerable'. Another part of me was thinking, 'I live in New York City, and I haven't taken any steps to prepare myself either, since I'm in a vulnerable part of the world as well'…"When I talked to friend and families about my own plan, very often people said, 'Could you come do that for me? That's been on my to-do list forever’…I don't want anyone reading this to think this is the only way to do it. It's like having a personal trainer, having someone walk you through the steps to make sure you're doing it right".
That Old Black [Umbrella] Magic
So what is that folks at BU actually do?
“As every major disaster demonstrates, millions of families lack a true emergency plan. Black Umbrella builds practical, efficient disaster plans for individuals, couples and families. By working with your family using our method, we build a program to protect your identity, assets, and lives. We hope you never experience a major disaster, or even a crisis in your own world, but if you do, you’ll be glad to have your umbrella. Our clients are diverse but share a unity of purpose”.
What does BU cost?
“Level I: Basic Family Preparedness $750; Level II: Advanced Family Preparedness $1,450; and Level III: Advanced Family Preparedness + Maintenance $1,950…One year of unlimited service, with your specialist on call to run family practices, refresh emergency supplies, or replace any family plans to account for evolving circumstances”.
Who at BU has preparedness experience?
“Marc Alabanza's formal training in preparedness began in 2004. Marc has trained extensively in outdoor fitness and survival, orienteering, backcountry and urban search and rescue, and hazardous extrication. Having the fitness level necessary to meet the physical rigors in disasters are paramount to Marc’s preparedness philosophy, so he has extensive martial arts and fitness training. Marc is an avid outdoor enthusiast and passionate rock climber with over 10 years of climbing experience. He also enjoys hiking, climbing, backpacking, backcountry travel, and has shared his passion with others through teaching and coaching outdoor fitness, yoga, kickboxing and self-defense”.
Hooper Pooper Scooper
Which Caroline Hooper does Little, Brown have under contract?
Catherine Hooper [#1]: Tested and proven business leader with significant experience in marketing, communications and customer service operations. Recognized for communications skills, marketing and business acumen, organizational and project management, managing change, leadership and mentorship. Excellent reputation for achieving results by building collaborative relationships, identifying and seizing opportunities, creating strategic initiatives and mobilizing employees.
Catherine Hooper [#2]: I am a communications professional with experience and passion for fundraising, grant writing, manuscript editing, and document design. I seek to create high-quality, effective communications that increase my company's reputation or drive my organization's financial success. I am skilled in written and verbal communication media, and I create quality communications to fit many audiences and purposes. My dual master's degrees in writing and communications taught me to analyze audiences to find the most persuasive approaches in sales and fundraising. My experience in sales leads me to successfully build rapport with ongoing clients and confidently approach new ones. This experience helps me collaborate successfully, multi-task, and manage and motivate a team.
Will the real Catherine Hooper reveal herself?
Catherine Hooper [#1]: Experience; Marketing Communications Coordinator, Scripps Health, Nonprofit, Hospital & Health Care industry, July 2011 – Present (1 month) San Diego, CA; Communication Intern, Scripps Health, Nonprofit; Hospital & Health Care industry, August 2010 – July 2011 (1 year); Communication Intern, NARAL Pro-Choice of Minnesota, Public Relations and Communications industry, November 2008 – May 2009 (7 months); & Advertising Representative, The Journal, Newspapers industry, June 2005 – June 2006 (1 year 1 month).
Catherine Hooper [#2]: Experience; Grant Writer Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph (Foundation), Nonprofit Organization Management industry, October 2009 – Present (1 year 10 months); Writing and Editing Consultant Freelance Consulting, Writing and Editing industry August 2008 – Present (3 years); Director of Operations The Writers Place, Writing and Editing industry, October 2009 – June 2010 (9 months); CESR Writing and Editing Specialist Minnesota State University, Mankato, Writing and Editing industry, May 2008 – August 2009 (1 year 4 months); Director of Development, Development Consultant , The Arc of Minnesota Southwest Fund-Raising industry, April 2008 – June 2009 (1 year 3 months); & Technical Writing Intern, Volunteer Theresa House Homeless Shelter, Nonprofit Organization Management industry, September 2007 – May 2009 (1 year 9 months).
Will Catherine Hooper still be standing by Andrew Madoff's side at the altar?
Sources:
• Bosman, Julie., Mystery Book 'Untitled' Shakes Up The Publishing World © The New York Times July 28, 2011.
• Coffey, Laura T., Q&A: Andrew Madoff's fiancee on preparing for disasters - Catherine Hooper founded company to help people brace for anything © USA Today April 14, 2011
• Eder, Steve & Pilon, Mary., A Madoff Son Looks Forward – In Wake Of Scandal and Suicide, Pursuits and Relationships Serve As Anchor © The Wall Street Journal December 20, 2010
• Egan, Nicole W., Catherine Hooper Gets Her Life Back © PEOPLE April 13, 2011
• Weiner, Juli., Mysterious New Book ‘Untitled by Anonymous’ Inspires Guessing Game © Vanity Fair July 28, 2011
Rick Stelnick - Rick Stelnick is a superannuated political scientist, crime historian and historical detective.
