More than 50 guests attended the signing of Amy Weitman’s debut book, “My Malibu Death.” The signing served as a fundraiser for Malibu Global Awareness, a non-profit organization that supports Doctors Without Borders.
The event took place at the residence of local Malibu resident Farima Damavandi, a member of the Malibu Global Awareness Board of Directors.
Actress Aissa Wayne, daughter of the late John Wayne, read aloud her favorite sections of the book to the crowd that gathered.
Weitman donated all proceeds from the sale of her book at the event to Doctors Without Borders, which will go directly to the Japan tsunami relief effort.
“Donating the money to support Japan tsunami relief just seemed like the natural fit,” Weitman said.
“My Malibu Death” is a self-published fiction book set in 2007 illustrating the journey of main character Deborah Miller as she reinvents herself, Weitman said. From the outside she appears to have the perfect life, She’s attractive, intelligent and wealthy. But from the inside, She’s miserable. She’s depressed and trapped in an unhappy marriage, which mirrors the dysfunction of her materialistically obsessed beach town, Weitman said. While she tries to escape and reinvent herself, her Malibu past follows her, which makes her transition into her new life difficult.
“The book is based on observations I made while living in Malibu for 10 years,” Weitman said. “And while the title is ‘My Malibu Death,’ it could very well be ‘My Newport Beach Death,’ ‘My Aspen Death,’ or any other affluent town.”
Although the main character isn’t based on a real person, it is a sketch of many people and situations, Weitman said.
“The book shows just one aspect of Malibu,” Weitman said. “I know there are other sides of Malibu, including Old Malibu, that my husband has told me so many stories of.”
Weitman has been married for 14 years to Brian Weitman, who works in the garment and apparel industry. They have two children, an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son. While having lived in Malibu for many years, they now live in Santa Monica.
Weitman appeared on the Dr. Annie Thiel Show, an online talk radio show, where she discussed her book.
“We had more than 10,000 listeners from all over the world,” Thiel said, “including people from Egypt, Israel, Holland and England. Women are really connecting with it.”
Thiel founded Malibu Global Awareness in memory of her late husband Dr. Richard Thiel, who was an active supporter of Doctors Without Borders. Since it’s start, Malibu Global Awareness has raised close to $1 million through fundraisers for Doctors Without Borders, Thiel said.
Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 70 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect or catastrophe.
Guests who attended the event last week were eager to have their copy of the book signed by Weitman.
Malibu resident Corie Tappin said she couldn’t put the book down. “The main character was portrayed very well. I could feel how she feels.”
“The main character, Deborah, in the book represents a lot of women in my generation,” Weitman said. “Women who are in their thirties and forties, and are eager to do the right things, but sacrifice themselves in the process. I have had a lot of people come up to me and tell me they could relate to it.”
Weitman received her bachelor’s degree in Communications from University of Southern California, her master’s degree in Education from Pepperdine University, and took several writing classes at University of California, Los Angeles.
“I feel like the most comfortable way of expressing myself is through writing,” Weitman said. “In a way I lose myself while writing. It’s my passion.”
“My Malibu Death” can be purchased at Diesel bookstore in Brentwood, Village Books in Pacific Palisades, Deyermond Books in Santa Monica, and online at www.amazon.com.