driving mr. deepak

Dave Barry wanted to go to McDonald’s. Michael Moore took in a Dodger game. John Irving brought his whole family along. “Luckily,” notes Diana Faust, “we weren’t going far.”

Faust and partner Deb Morrison-Littell own D2 Media Services, one of a handful of L.A. companies charged with ferrying best-selling writers on press junkets. The media-industry veterans drive writers to TV and radio tapings, book signings and tourist attractions, sometimes even to drink. “We had one adventure writer who needed a shot before each appearance,” Faust says. “It was interesting finding bars in different parts of town.”

We tagged along on a recent outing with Faust and multi-tasking spiritualist Deepak Chopra, in from La Jolla to pitch his latest tome, “How to Know God.”

10:30 a.m. Faust leaves her Silver Lake home with cell phone, pager, itinerary, books, parking meter change, bills for valet tips and a goody basket of snacks, chopsticks, toothbrush and a disposable camera, because “some writers meet their idols in the green room and want a photo.”

11:45 a.m. Arrive Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills to pick up Chopra.

11:50 a.m. In her Acura Legend, Faust chattily fills Chopra in on his day, with the last stop at a public television affiliate. “PBS! I’m so happy,” he says. “The others can be so superficial.”

12:10 p.m. Traveling down Robertson Boulevard, Chopra sees billboards bearing slogans he finds “offensive.” Faust tells him they’re for an arena football team whose launch date has been delayed. “The law of karma,” he shrugs.

12:30 p.m. The “Donny & Marie” green room at Sony Studios in Culver City. Faust doles out bottled water. The book’s publicist arrives late because her car has been rear-ended. Chopra checks his messages and notes, “The high-tech world has created meaninglessness in our lives.”

1:30 p.m. On the way out, Chopra takes the “Donny & Marie” courtesy tote bag.

1:45 p.m. Arrive at valet parking at Century City Marketplace. Chopra signs books in Brentano’s, and Faust energetically affixes “autographed copy” stickers to them.

2 p.m. Chopra asks after Dr. Andrew Weil, whom Faust had driven the previous week. “Andy has a nice beard,” he remarks as the car pulls into the Four Seasons.

2:45 p.m. Faust notes the day’s expenses, returns phone calls and manages a rare lunch break of Cobb salad and several glasses of iced tea.

4:55 p.m. Back in the car with Chopra, Faust muses on the kindness of a driver who’s letting her make a left turn into CBS’ Television City. The car, it turns out, has broken down.

6 p.m. “Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher” taping begins, and Faust returns her first personal call of the day. “If you get hungry,” she tells her boyfriend, “go ahead and eat.”

6:47 p.m. On the ride downtown, Chopra worries that he’s made an off-color remark about George W. Bush’s, well, laying on of hands to John McCain. Faust reassures him that that’s what viewers expect from “P.I.”

7 p.m. Chopra tapes “Between the Lines” for PBS.

8:10 p.m. “Be careful, this road is really bumpy,” Faust cautions Chopra as he signs books while riding down Beaudry Avenue. She knows “at least four routes to the airport and two alternative ways anywhere.” At the 105 Freeway, fog kicks in, and Faust calls to see whether the plane is delayed. “If I’m on the plane, it will take off,” Chopra insists. “The clouds will part.”

9:10 p.m. With Chopra safely airborne, Faust pulls into her driveway and tallies the day’s mileage (71). Opening the trunk, she finds a stowaway. “This always happens,” Faust sighs, removing Chopra’s “Donny & Marie” tote bag.