The glamorous actress who invented the book tour - Martha Hall Kelly (2025)

I’ve never been more excited for a book tour. My upcoming fifth book is inspired by my mother’s family on Martha’s Vineyard, so it’s more personal, and I wish I could walk across America Johnny Appleseed-style, sowing my story and chatting with every reader I meet. But since I have to finish writing book number six, I’m helping my publisher Ballantine plan a really personal tour instead, to some of my favorite bookstores and venues: my hometown bookstore Hickory Stick Bookshop, RJ Julia, and Parnassus Books. We’re even throwing a Martha’s Vineyard launch party at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury, down the road from my mother’s old farm. And my mother’s favorite bookstore when she was alive, the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, which makes an appearance in the new book, is selling books at one of the Vineyard events.

I’ve never had a summer book release before (only spring books), which means Reading with Robin’s Robin Kall can throw the world’s most fun Rhode Island beachfront party for launch week and I can visit to my old hometown of Darien to be part of the “Ladies of Summer” event with Barret Bookstore.

Naturally, I’ve started thinking about what to wear (my favorite part of the tour prep!), which justifies endless Instagram swiping. Since the tour schedule packs in at least one city per day, the travel can be harrowing and fitting a killer wardrobe in one carry-on is the ultimate challenge.

I ask author friends their secrets for a successful book tour and most just shake their heads and say, “Stay hydrated,” though one advised me to bring plenty of underwear since her agent once had to mail her some on tour.

So, imagine my delight when I discovered one woman who serves as the perfect instructor, who did it all so effortlessly, the one who pioneered the book tour for writers: actress Gertrude Lawrence.

An English actress and musical comedy performer who appeared in the West End, on Broadway, and in film roles in the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s, Gertrude could do it all. She was stunningly beautiful. World famous. And best of all, had Noel Coward as her BFF (he even wrote a play for her).

But behind the curtain? She was running out of money. While she loved a lavish lifestyle, including expensive cars and hotels, fashion was her biggest guilty pleasure and she spent thousands on clothes. According to her friend and lawyer Fanny Holtzmann, “Gertrude spent money like an entire fleet of drunken sailors.” Not a disciplined saver, Gertrude ended up with no savings, bad credit and a mountain of debt.

To replenish her bank account Gertrude wrote a tell-all autobiography A Star Danced, published in 1945, and to guarantee the book was successful she hit the road, complete with trunks of couture clothing and accessories. (Can we just pause a moment and appreciate the matching coat and gloves above?) She left her home in the town of East Dennis on Cape Cod and traveled the length and breadth of the United States selling it.

Accustomed to touring with theatre companies, Gertrude was tireless on her book tour, vowed to visit “every scrumptious little American town” and signed so many books she needed a bowl of ice to keep her hand from cramping. Her signing lines were David Sedaris-long since she chatted at length with readers and allowed them to take pictures with her (possibly the first author selfies, too?) and she did media along the way as well.

Gertrude described her travel as, “One-nighters, constant dashes for railway stations, eating at drugstores.” Having eaten CVS-bought cashews and a pint of Cherry Garcia for dinner once on book tour in Cleveland, I felt an instant kinship with Gertie.

A Star Danced took off and Hollywood made a film about Gertrude’s life, starring Julie Andrews, and she returned to Cape Cod exhausted but happy.

Unfortunately, record book sales were not enough to fix Gertrude’s chronic money problems and she passed from cancer in her early fifties. The day she died, as a final gesture, Broadway theatres dimmed their lights for her—making her the very first person to receive that honor. Thousands lined the streets for her New York City funeral, and she was buried in the champagne-colored gown she wore in The King and I.

Gertrude Lawrence was an exceptional person, and she completely embraced the point of the book tour—to connect with readers, wear whatever makes you feel like a million bucks, and have some fun after sitting at a typewriter for two years.

Gazing at her tour photos makes me want to go pick out outfits and pack my clothes right now. Happily, I still have a few months to order the matching jacket and gloves.

Come be part of my journey, The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club—on tour this summer. I’m going to these scrumptious cities and towns with my bowl of ice:

Will I see you there? I’d love to know in the comments section if you’re able to join me!

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