From the desk of Penelope Alice, Britain’s most fabulous PA: Donna Coulling book launch party

When people are asked who their idol is, most will give the name of some celebrity or sports star. I tend to be a realist and look up to others who can actually give me proper advice on my chosen career; hence Donna Coulling’s website has become my first stop for tips on networking – next to PA Life, of course. Now Donna has released The Chamber of Celebrity PA Secrets and I was one of those invited to attend the launch of her latest title.

The party was held at the impressive London Marriott Hotel County Hall in South Bank. You’ve probably walked past this one if you’ve ever been to the London Eye – it’s just about right on top of it. In fact, the riverside rooms offer glorious views of the landmark, which gets more impressive when the lights come on after dark. We were tucked away in a private area of Gillray’s Steakhouse and offered a helping of the restaurant’s signature melt-in-your-mouth beef, cured salmon and yummy Yorkshire puddings, as well as a refreshing fruity gin cocktail. Have a peak at the gorgeous meeting spaces on the website at tinyurl.com/yvwcel.

Our gracious hostess, the lovely Donna Coulling, was delighted by the feedback she received on her book, which outlines her advice for becoming a successful PA (not just a celebrity’s assistant, mind you). In it, she speaks from her experience of “making up” the role and building her career through networking and learning from others. In top form, she worked the room and made sure she had a chat with everybody, lending her infectious laughter to many a conversation.

If you haven’t yet read The Chamber of Celebrity PA Secrets, I highly recommend it, even if you don’t have aspirations of working for the rich and famous. Check out the synopsis on Donna’s website at donnacoulling.com, or head to Amazon to download the e-book.

This blog originally appeared on the PA Life Club site. To read more of Penelope Alice’s blog entries and get access to a range of fantastic benefits, including discounts and special deals at dozens of selected retailers and venues, as well as exclusive monthly competitions, networking events and 50% off PA Life’s new training courses, click here: palife.co.uk/pa-life-club