Author Event: Alison Cheperdak

Have you ever wondered what to say to a new colleague, whether your text sounded a little off or how to handle a tricky conversation with grace? Us too!

Join us as we partner with M.M.LaFleur to host etiquette expert and local author Alison Cheperdak to celebrate the release of her new book, WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID?, on Thursday, March 19, at M.M.LaFleur’s Georgetown showroom.

WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID? is a modern, practical, confidence-building guide to every social moment life offers, whether big, small, awkward, or high-stakes, inspired by Alison’s real-life experience navigating high-pressure rooms, from live TV studios to the West Wing of the White House.

Alison has helped thousands of people build confidence, clarity, and connection in their everyday lives through her etiquette seminars built around the belief that how we treat people matters more than ever. At this event, we’ll dig into why treating people well matters and how we can approach all of life’s situations with grace and aplomb. Alison will share some real-life examples and stories, tips for making people feel at ease and navigating difficult conversations with respect and emotional intelligence. She’ll also answer audience questions and guide us through a few role-playing scenarios for practice.

Book-as-ticket required for entry. Doors will open at 6 pm and the event will begin promptly at 6:30 pm. Guests will also be treated to light refreshments and 15% off all M.M.LaFleur purchases when you shop during the event—the perfect opportunity to discover investment pieces that work as hard as you do.

About the Author
Alison Cheperdak is the founder of Elevate Etiquette, a modern consultancy offering social, business, and dining etiquette training as well as international protocol. She is also the author of Was it Something I Said? Everyday Etiquette to Avoid Awkward Moments in Relationships, Work, and Life. A former White House staffer, attorney, and TV news reporter, Alison brings a thoughtful and contemporary perspective to modern manners. She’s trained teams at Harvard Law School, the U.S. Congress, and Fortune 100 companies, and her etiquette insights reach millions through national media and social platforms. With a warm, engaging style, she helps people navigate life, work, and relationships with confidence and kindness.

About the Book

Have you ever felt unsure about what to say to a friend, a colleague, or your boss? Do you freeze in small talk, tiptoe through tricky topics, or second-guess your instincts in high-stakes moments like salary negotiations or meeting your partner's parents? If so, you're not alone. And the good news is—you can learn to handle it all with ease.

In Was It Something I Said? etiquette expert Alison M. Cheperdak demystifies social and professional situations, teaching you how to address each one with respect, confidence, and grace.

In any scenario, whether in your personal or professional life, respecting others and ourselves requires soft skills and social-emotional intelligence—in a word, etiquette.

Drawing on her experience in high-pressure moments as a lawyer, news anchor, and White House West Wing staff member, Alison shares the soft skills that set people apart in social and professional settings—grace under pressure, kindness in action, and polished presence without pretense.

This book will help you:

• Honor others and the important moments you share with them.
• Talk to strangers, start and end a conversation, and speak about yourself with charm.
• Navigate awkward situations (and recover from them!).
• Demystify dress codes and dining etiquette in all sorts of settings.

Whether you're giving a toast, sending a text, or sitting down to dinner, the small things make a big difference. Was It Something I Said? is your guide to handling them with heart, confidence, and care—so you can build deeper connections and move through the world with gracious ease.