Q and A: Week of Jan. 12

READERS: It’s time for a CONTEST. Supernatural-mystery writer Victoria Laurie — who just so happens to be my favorite author of this particular genre — has been kind enough to autograph TWO copies of her latest book, “When,” for TWO of my lucky readers. Laurie is the author of the Psychic Eye series, as well as the Ghoul Hunter series, and she has just written an entirely new book (which I hope becomes a series) for her young-adult audience. But young adult doesn’t mean it’s a kiddie book.

“When” is told from the point of view of Maddie, a high school student who, when she looks at someone, sees a series of digits floating just above his or her brow, with the digits representing the date that person will die. She and her mom, struggling to make ends meet, use her talent to make extra money. Things get scary when a woman comes to ask about her sick daughter. While Maddie has good news about her daughter — she’ll get better and live a long life — the woman’s middle son is a another story. His deathdate is within days, he soon goes missing, and the FBI thinks Maddie is involved.

To enter to win an autographed copy of this book — which hits store shelves tomorrow, Jan. 13 — just answer this question: If Maddie could tell you your deathdate, would you want to know? There are four ways to enter (and you can do all four): Send a letter to Cindy Elavsky, KFWS, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475; email letters@cindyelavsky.com; follow me on Twitter (twitter.com/Celebrity_Extra) and tweet your reply to me; and follow my FB fan page and post your answer there.

Q: I thought I had read a while back that a movie about the life of Whitney Houston was going to be made. Is that still happening? — Freesia L., via email

A: It is indeed, and Lifetime is the station that will bring the story of the life of the critically acclaimed songstress whose life was tragically cut short in February 2012. Angela Bassett makes her directorial debut with the Lifetime Original Movie “Whitney,” featuring Yaya DaCosta (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler”) in the lead role, with Arlen Escarpeta (“Final Destination 5”) alongside her as Bobby Brown. The much-anticipated world premiere will be on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. “Whitney” chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer, and model Whitney Houston and singer and songwriter Bobby Brown, from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. Throughout it all, difficulties followed the superstar couple while they dealt with the overwhelming rewards and consequences of the fame and fortune created by Houston’s meteoric rise, which would soon overshadow them both.

Q: Is it true the J.K. Rowling’s latest book series is going to be turned into a movie? — Hal R., Albany, NY

A: Not a movie, Hal, but a series. BBC announced last month that they are going to adapt Rowling’s Cormoran Strike novels into a series, beginning with the first book, “The Cuckoo’s Calling.” Rowling will collaborate on the project in conjunction with BBC and Brontë Film and TV. Brontë Film and TV is also producing Rowling’s “The Casual Vacancy” adaptation, a three-part series that will air on BBC One in this February. There’s no word yet when either series will be available in the U.S., but I’m hoping they’ve worked out some sort of deal with PBS (or another station), where we get to see it here across the Pond a few months later that the Brits.

Q: When will “The Walking Dead” return from winter hiatus? I am going through serious withdrawals here! — Larry E., Orlando, Fla.

A: You’ll have to wait just a little bit longer, Larry. Season five continues on Feb. 8 on AMC. Series star Andrew Lincoln told “TV Guide” that this half of the season contains two episodes that are probably his favorite since the pilot episode. Sounds great to me!

Chris Pratt as Johnny Karate

Q: Can you tell me when “Parks and Recreation” will be back? I thought it had one more season. — Daniel G., via email

A: “Parks and Rec” will be back for a 13-episode seventh (and final) season tomorrow, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET. The season begins in the year 2017, with the town of Pawnee not quite the same as when we left it in 2014. Chris Pratt’s fun-loving and dim-witted character of Andy stars in a Johnny Karate TV show (see pic on left); Leslie and Ben have toddler triplets; and Tom is a mogul of some sort. Jon Hamm, Rashida Jones, Rob Lowe, Megan Mullally and Natalie Morales will all pop up during the show’s final season.

Q: I keep hearing great things about the FX series “Fargo,” but I don’t have cable. Is it out on DVD, or is there another way I can watch it? — Frannie D., Springfield, Ill.

A: Season one of this wonderful FX drama/suspense series — which just won the Golden Globe for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television — stars Billy Bob Thornton (who also won for Best Actor), Colin Hanks, Allison Tolman and Martin Freeman, and is now available on DVD. And Hulu recently announced that it has acquired the streaming rights for the series. No exact date has been announced, only that we should be on the lookout for it ahead of the series’ season two premiere this fall on FX.

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Q and A: Week of Oct. 1

Q: I know it won’t start back up until next year, but can you give me any scoop about “Hannibal”? — Linda F., Galveston, Texas

A: As we saw in the season-two finale, Gillian Anderson’s character, Dr. Bedelia du Maurier, was more than just Hannibal Lector’s psychologist — she’s his getaway buddy (possibly lover?). Executive producer Bryan Fuller confirmed that Gillian has been bumped up from a recurring character to series regular. He also teased that when the show returns in 2015, it will be one year after Hannibal and Bedelia jetted off to Europe (after the bloodbath that he caused at his house), and that the show will feel like “a pilot for a new series starring Mads Mikkelsen and Gillian Anderson.”

Bryan Fuller told TVLine.com: “The cast and crew of ‘Hannibal’ are positively giddy to be welcoming Gillian to season three as a series regular. A striking presence on stage and screen, she brings wit, grace and intelligence to every role she embodies. Screenwriting is so much easier when you’re inspired by a great actor, and Gillian has filled the ‘Hannibal’ writers room with wonderful inspiration. I can’t wait for audiences to see her make a bigger meal out of ‘the Cannibal’ than ever before.”

Q: “Banshee” is my all-time favorite TV series that airs on Cinemax. I’ve watched seasons one and two several times, and have bought the DVDs for both seasons. Can you please tell me when season three will return? — John F., Palm Springs, Calif.

A: “Banshee” will return for a new season in early 2015. The series — which is executive-produced by one of my favorite authors, Jonathan Tropper, and one of my favorite screenwriters, Alan Ball — centers on Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who tracks down Carrie Hopewell, his former lover and partner in crime, who is now the wife of the Banshee, Pa., prosecutor. Lucas becomes Banshee’s sheriff and continues his criminal activities, even though he’s being hunted by the criminals he betrayed years earlier.

A bit of a spoiler for you: Jonathan Tropper revealed that while Proctor still will be an important nemesis for Lucas, Chayton will be back in a big way. Also, Dennis O’Hare, whom I loved on “True Blood,” will guest-star on one episode.

Q: Will “Cougar Town” be back for another season? — Carly T., via email

A: The Cul-de-Sac Crew will return to TBS for its sixth and final season in early 2015. SPOILER ALERT: Brian Van Holt, who plays the hilariously dim-witted Bobby Cobb, will be leaving the series early, with his final appearance in the season-six opener.

Q: I was happy to read in your column that “Beauty and the Beast” would be returning, but I haven’t seen it on the CW’s fall schedule. — Tina R., via email

A: The cop drama/romance/fantasy series will return for a third season as a midseason show, which means sometime in early to spring 2015.

Q: I know you like to read, so I was wondering if you knew the answer to this. I heard that one of my favorite books is being made into a movie. It’s called “Veiled Threats” by Deborah Donnelly. Is that true? — Regina T., Akron, Ohio

A: It has indeed been made into a movie, now retitled “The Wedding Planner Mystery,” and it will premiere on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 9/8c. The show stars Erica Durance (“Smallville”), Brandon Beemer (“Days of Our Lives”) and Andrew Walker (“When Calls the Heart”). I spoke with Brandon recently, and he told me about working on the film and with Hallmark and with the lovely and talented Erica Durance.

“I’ve always heard that Hallmark was a great, great network to work for. They run a tight ship. They know exactly what they want, and they know exactly what they are doing. I read the script, and I thought it was pretty fun, and it was good. I also loved the fact that I’d be working in Vancouver. I’ve never been to Vancouver. I was very grateful. So I went to Vancouver and had one of the best times shooting a project that I’ve probably ever had. The people were so great. And Vancouver was so awesome.”

Q: I just got caught up on season one of HBO’s “True Detective,” and I wondered if you could give me any scoop about season two. — Kyle L., via email

A: I can tell you that Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn have signed on to star in next season’s hit HBO series, which is rumored to be about the “bloody murder of a corrupt city businessman found dead the night before a major transportation deal.” It will involve three police officers from different cities working together. There is no casting news yet on who will play the third police officer, who is said to be a female character.

Q: Can you give me any info about the latest 007 movie? Is it still happening? — Paul T., via email

A: The 24th James Bond film is indeed happening, Paul, with actors Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris returning, along with director Sam Mendes. They start shooting in December, with an anticipated fall 2015 release date. Sam confirmed that the latest film with be the second of a two-part project, meaning it will be a continuation of “Skyfall.”

READERS: I have some exciting book-to-series news for you. Hulu announced that it has ordered a nine-hour series adaptation of Stephen King’s 2011 bestseller “11/22/63,” a thriller in which high-school English teacher Jake Epping travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The series is being developed by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions. Of this latest project, Stephen King said: “If I ever wrote a book that cries out for long-form, event-TV programming, ’11/22/63’ is it. I’m excited that it’s going to happen, and am looking forward to working with J.J. Abrams and the whole Bad Robot team.”

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Interview: Author Em Barrett Takes a Self-Publishing Chance

As many of you know, I am an avid reader. And recently, I had a contest (which is now closed) to win a set of books from one of my new favorite authors — Em Barrett. Em has written the books “Leaving Green Island” and “The Almosts.” The story follows three 20-something girlfriends trying to navigate the present day — trying to find the right job, the right boyfriend and the right life — as we also get a glimpse into the past to see how they ended up where they are today. I tell you, I couldn’t put them down. So I decided to contact Ms. Barrett and meet the author behind this book series. And now, I introduce her to you.

Celebrity Extra: Your books take place in Michigan — did you grow up there and/or used to live there?

Em Barrett: Yes, I did grow up in the suburbs of Detroit, and I spent a lot of time in the summer up in northern Michigan (where the fictional Green Island is). Not anywhere as swanky as Green Island, or even close, but I really love it up there. I was always a big reader and liked writing, but fiction writing wasn’t something I got into until more recently. I went to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for undergrad. I was an English major there, and I loved that, and I loved books, and I loved writing papers. But rather than trying to pursue that, I took a more carved-out path and decided to go to law school. I went to the University of Michigan for that as well.

Then I moved to Chicago and worked as a corporate lawyer at a big law firm there for six years. Overall, I pretty much hated it, like a lot of people do. That was when I started writing “Leaving Green Island.” It was kind of my fun side project, and a way to vent some of my frustrations with law-firm politics and life. And also just a means for expressing some of my thoughts on the world generally while creating this other fictional world. It ended up being so much fun that I was hooked after that.

CE: Based on what you just told me, then you did draw from your own life to write these books?

EM: Yes. For the settings and jobs and relationships, I draw a lot from my own life — mainly because I feel like that makes it come through in a more honest way. It makes the characters feel more real, but it also makes it easier for me to write stories that come across as genuine when I actually know what I’m talking about.

CE: Are your characters based on real-life people, or just some aspects of their personalities?

EM: Everyone’s always trying to figure out who is who in real life but, no, they are fictional. I actually feel like with each of the three girls, I put different parts of myself into them. I relate to each of them in different aspects of their personalities. I definitely draw from my dynamics with my close friends and my roommates from the days when I used to live with a lot of my girlfriends in college. I’ve stayed close with them, so it gives me a lot to draw from. But the conversations aren’t real and the characters don’t reflect three specific people who are actually in my life.

CE: When you wrote “Leaving Green Island,” did you have a sequel in mind, or did that just sort of happen?

EM: There was a big break in between writing the two books, and I definitely did not have it in my mind that I was going to write a sequel when I wrote “Leaving Green Island.” I just wrote “Leaving Green Island” kind of as a fun project and thought, “I’ll see what happens with it.” I was self-conscious about the whole thing at first, so I started off just having a few good friends read it, and eventually I let my parents and other friends read it and so on. For a little while, I tried to find a literary agent and see if I could potentially get it published with a major publishing house.

I was working a lot at my law firm back then, and I was also pregnant, and then I had my first child, so I was just so busy that it felt like I couldn’t keep sending out these letters to agents, feeling that they were just being thrown in the trash. So I stopped writing, put the book away, and didn’t think about it for a while. Around that time I started seeing different articles pop up about self-publishing, and how it was making waves, and self-published writers were having a lot of success. There were all of these new opportunities to market self-published books through Goodreads and Amazon and whatnot. So, my husband really encouraged me to try that.

My first instinct was, “No, no, no. I just wouldn’t feel confident doing that.” I was really wary of the idea, but, after having friends give positive feedback on the book, I decided to get some more objective opinions and then decide. I had a couple of friends give it to their book clubs, along with a feedback sheet and say, “This is my friend’s book. She really wants brutally honest feedback. She doesn’t want to publish it and have everyone write horrible reviews. Be honest about what you think.” The response was really positive. That gave me the little boost of confidence that I needed to decide, “What the heck? I’ll try it.”

I self-published “LGI” in summer 2012, and I tried to learn how exactly to market a self-published book. I was figuring it out as I went. It was really fun to do. It was my own project where I could control everything. When I started to get a few fans, a lot of people said they wanted a second book, that they wanted to know what happened next. And they were interested in other characters. So I thought about it for a while, debating if a book about Nevada or Lizzy or even some more-minor character would be best. The story for “The Almosts” came to me over time. I was also in a new stage of my life with a baby then, so that gave me a lot of new experiences to draw from. I tried to incorporate those into the book and hoped they would resonate with other women.

CE: So, are we gonna get a third book written from Nevada’s perspective? I, for one, would love that! She’s a great character.



EM: Thank you! I’m toying with it. So far I have hesitated for two reasons: One is in trying to market “The Almosts” and get the word out to people, it’s a lot harder when you’re trying to market a series. While you can read it as a stand-alone book, I think it provides a lot of background about the characters and their relationships, and the nuances of what’s gone on between them if you have read “Leaving Green Island” first. It’s hard to market a book and say, “Buy my new book. Oh, but buy my old book first.”

I’m worried if I get into a third one where I’m saying, “I have this book but you should read these other two first,” it might be really hard to get the word out. And my other holdup is that I feel that Nevada is kind of a mystery. She’s really loyal and always there for her friends when they really need her, but she also can be a little bit prickly, and I think of her as having this complicated childhood and past. And so I don’t know if she’s better off left a mystery or whether it’s better to unveil everything that’s going on in there. So, I don’t know. We’ll see.

CE: How do you feel about some critics comparing you to Emily Giffin?

EB: I was very excited when I read that. Obviously, I take it as a huge compliment. I like her books a lot, and she’s been hugely successful. While I hope my voice is unique as well, I’m beyond flattered to be compared to Emily Giffin.

CE: You moved back to Michigan from Chicago recently, yes?

EB: Yes, we moved back here in the summer of 2013. At that time, I left my law firm job with the hope of pursuing writing full time, as well as spending a lot of time with my daughter. And I’m expecting another baby as well.

CE: Congratulations! You might have your hands too full for writing pretty soon!

EB: Thanks! And yeah, things are busy but I really am trying to buckle down with my writing to see if I can really make it or not. I feel like this is a good time to try to do it. Hopefully you’ll be hearing a lot more from me soon. That’s the plan for now. We’ll see what happens.

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Interview: Godfrey Gao, Thankful for His Breakout Role

Godfrey Gao as Magnus Bane in "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones"

All that screaming and excitement you heard last night were the frantic cries of YA book lovers everywhere: "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones" opened with fanfare. Fans of the book series were thrilled; the critics, not so much. But, you know, they said the same about "The Twilight Saga," and a bajillion dollars and a bajillion fans later, I don't think anyone really cares what the critics say.

If you've read the books by Cassandra Clare, or if you saw the film last night, I think we all can agree on one thing: The 800-year-old powerful warlock Magnus Bane rocks. And so does the actor who portrays him, Godfrey Gao. I spoke with Godfrey by phone last month, which happened to be the weekend of his first Comic-Con ("Comic Con-was crazy," he told me. "I mean, I literally went through like 20 interviews on the red carpet. I about lost my voice by the end of it.") "City of Bones" is Godfrey's first English-language film, and before fans even saw a teaser poster of his Magnus Bane, he'd already gained an additional 20,000 Twitter followers. Ah ... the power of the YA supernatural/thriller/romance/adventure book.

Celebrity Extra: First off, tell me about Comic-Con. That must have been exciting.

Godfrey Gao: It was very exciting. It was my first time at Comic-Con. I saw some cool outfits. One of my favorite outfits was this guy dressed up as Batman, but he was topless. You know the Batman logo? He had that logo on his chest, but it wasn’t a costume; it was shaved into his chest hair. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. There were Ironmans, Supermans and Spider-Mans ...

It was surreal for me because I’ve never seen that before. I’ve heard a lot of stories about Comic-Con, and it was just too bad I didn’t get to step out on the floor and see all these people. I was just there, in and out. I did interviews, did my radio, did my TV, and did my panel. The panel was crazy. There were more than 6,000 people. I was so nervous. I have never spoken in front of 6,000 people before, and that was something surreal.

CE: I saw how fans were lined up for 8 to 10 hours just to see you guys!

GG: I saw people camping outside. It was crazy. The lines were like mountains of people.

CE: Tell me about how you got this coveted role — Magnus is a breakout favorite character for most fans of the book series, myself included.

GG: Oh, I’m blessed and very thankful that I was cast in this role. At first, I didn’t know what "The Mortal Instruments" was until they were looking for an Asian character. So, I picked up the books myself, and I started reading them. I started reading about my character, and it was really, really interesting, and it kept me on my toes the whole time reading it. Obviously I’m a big fan as well. It was crazy how I was cast for the movie: There was a huge list of Asian top-tier celebrities who were trying out for this role, and at the end, I got it.

I’m still blown away by this cast, and it’s a great opportunity for me. I’ve always wanted to come to North America and start something. This is my first English feature. I’m just glad to be on this project with this beautiful cast and director.

CE: Just watching the different trailers for the movie, it looks pretty exciting. And I hear they gave the green light for the second book to be made into a movie.

GG: I can’t wait to see the movie myself. Just by reading the books — I've read the first three books so far — you can see it’s really exciting stuff, and I just can’t wait to hopefully be involved with every movie from now on.

(photo courtesy Jet Star Entertainment)

CE: How did you train for the role?

GG: For Magnus there wasn’t really any training for fight scenes, whereas all the other cast had training to do. Which I was glad because they looked really tired (laughs). They'd have to shoot, and on their weekends, they'd have to go train. Or sometimes even after they shoot, they'd have to go train. It’s pretty crazy. They were just really tired on set.

But I’d love to do some training myself. I love action. I want to do everything myself, as well. Aside from the movements, preparing for Magnus was pretty stressful for me because this character is really mysterious. You don’t really know much about his background, at first. I didn’t even know how to bring this character to life, and that’s a bit strange. I had to talk to Cassie. I had to talk to (director) Harold (Zwart). I had to learn a lot from the fans and the Internet about this character. This is definitely something new for me. I’ve never done this before. I’ve always played the rich, handsome guy that’s from outside of China and has a good family background. He always wears suits. He has a company and stuff like that.

So, this is definitely one of the out-of-the-ordinary characters for me, where I get to put makeup on like glitter, nail polish, eye shadow, and wear crazy outfits. At first when I got the makeup on, I was just like, “Man, what have I gotten myself into?” But it was really enjoyable. At the end of the whole transformation, I felt like I literally had powers. The outfit was so cool; the look was one of a kind.

My first day on set, we shot the scenes where I was pantless. I was just wearing underwear. It was pretty crazy. I guess Magnus wore a lot of costumes when he partied so much, and when people arrived at his party, he didn’t care what he was wearing. He forgot to put his pants on to greet people. So the first day on set, I was in my underwear in front of like a hundred people. It was pretty exciting, but it was also very cold because we were shooting at night and we were shooting outside.

CE: This movie could be a wonderful jumping-off point for you to really make a name for yourself in Western movies. What opportunities do you hope this movie brings for you?

GG: Oh, man. I don’t even know what’s going to happen. I’m just enjoying myself. And I’m just very grateful that there are so many supporters and so many people who love this character. This is just the first one for me and hopefully there will be more — maybe more movies or other roles to come. You never know. This is just a first step. As this door opens, there are more opportunities for me, and I’m just really glad there is because I love to learn, and I’d love to move here.

I’d also love to go back to Asia and do another movie. Hopefully an East/West joint movie with a Hollywood actor and an Asian actor. I’m just excited. The industry is getting bigger and bigger, and the Chinese market is huge. A lot of production companies want to shoot in China as well. I just can’t wait to have a joint project like that. And hopefully there will be the next Chinese superhero, like a Chinese Superman, or something like that. I just can’t wait for that day to happen.

CE: What do you know about the sequel, "City of Ashes"?

GG: I believe they are starting to shoot at the end of the year. I don’t know if I’m going to be in it because we haven’t really signed anything yet. But they’re really interested, I guess, just by the Comic-Con response, how the fans reacted. I guess I’ll be in the second one. I would love to shoot some more. I believe the second movie has a lot of Magnus stuff in it, as did the second book. I’m just looking forward to it, and hopefully I can be on set and be reunited with all the cast again, because they are really fun to work with.

CE: If you hadn't been cast as Magnus Bane, which other character would you have liked to have played?

GG: Honestly, for me, if I had to choose another character to play, I’d choose Valentine. He’s a bad-ass.

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Q and A: Week of Nov. 26

Tara Summers

Q: I am a big fan of “Sons of Anarchy,” and I was wondering who the pretty blonde is? She was on a couple of episodes and played Karen. I know I’ve seen her on something else prior to this. — Geri R., via e-mail

A: Tara Summers, who turns 33 in December, plays Dr. Karen Dunhill on FX’s rough-and-tumble, motorcycle-filled crime drama. Tara is a TV and film vet who’s been in lots of series and feature film, including “Alfie,” “Boston Legal,” “Dirt,” “Factory Girl,” “Damages” and “Ringer.” You can see her this winter in the feature film “Hitchcock,” which stars Anthony Hopkins (as Alfred Hitchcock) and Helen Mirren (as his wife, Alma Reville), with Tara playing Rita Riggs.

Tara told me what it was like working with the two legendary actors: “Helen Mirren … it’s really like her movie. She’s extraordinary. It focuses on the love story between Hitchcock and his wife, and how she was the silent partner in the operation. His wife had a lot more to do with it than we will ever know. And Anthony Hopkins is one of my heroes, and he was so generous and so kind. He’s always in a good mood, and just so amazing to work with and to watch.”

Q: My friend told me that the CW is remaking “Sex and the City.” Is that true? If so, why? It was great as it was on HBO. — Penny W., Seattle

A: The CW is not remaking the hit HBO series, which starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. Rather, they bought the rights to the prequel, “The Carrie Diaries,” based on the book written by “Sex” author Candace Bushnell. “The Carrie Diaries” — set in the 1980s — chronicles Carrie Bradshaw’s (played by AnnaSophia Robb) coming-of-age as she navigates her senior year of high school and discovers the glittering lights of Manhattan, and lots of shoes. “The Carrie Diaries” premieres on the CW on Monday, Jan. 14, at 8/7c, followed by “90210,” which moves to 9/8c.

Q: I was a big fan of “The Cosby Show,” and I wondered whatever happened to the actor who played Rudy’s friend, Stanley, on the show. — Justin W., via e-mail

A: Merlin Santana, who went on to play Ohagi on “Moesha” and Romeo on “The Steve Harvey Show,” died on 2002 at the age of 26. Tragically, he was falsely accused of attempted rape of 15-year-old Monique King, so her boyfriend, Brandon Bynes, shot Merlin six times, killing him. Brandon received three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison, while Monique received eight years in juvenile custody.

Q: When will “Cougar Town” be back? — Jennifer T., Tampa

A: TBS has announced that “Cougar Town” will return for a 15-episode fourth season beginning Tuesday, Jan. 8. So raise a glass (of red wine, of course) to the return of your favorite cul-de-sac gang, as they begin a new era on a new network. I can’t wait!

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Interview: Rebecca Bloom, Jill of All Trades

For me, one of this year’s summer must-reads is Rebecca Bloom’s Eat, Drink, and Be Married. The book follows the story of four women, who’ve been friends since college, as they reunite for the wedding of one of them. And like most longtime friends, even if they haven’t seen one another in a while, they can pick up right where they left off. And this also means that old insecurities and slight animosities can also pick up where they left off. I spoke with Rebecca about this book, her previous books, and what she has coming up next. For info on getting your own copy of Eat, Drink, head here.

Celebrity Extra: When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? Was it something you had just always known, or did other circumstances steer you in that direction?

Rebecca Bloom: Actually, after college I thought I wanted to be a chef, so I went to culinary school and was doing that for awhile. Between all the little scars and burns and cuts that I would give myself —being in a restaurant is very different than cooking for your friends and family — simultaneously I was doing a lot of writing. My first novel, Girl Anatomy, which is published by William Morrow, is sort of like a happy accident that came out of that time. I started writing it as a short story, but it evolved into 12 short stories with the same character in all of them. Through a series of wonderful events, my book got published.

So my writing took off, and I published my second book, Tangled Up in Daydreams, and after that I was offered a position of editor at LA Confidential magazine. I decided to do that because writing is very solitary, where you’re sitting alone a lot in your house, and I needed a different outlet. I was editor for about two years, and then I got to writing my third book, Eat, Drink, and Be Married.

CE: There is also a gorgeous poem in Eat, Drink — “A Scientist’s Paperweight” — did you write that?

RB: Yes, I did. Thank you. I had written that a while ago for someone. I always was writing poetry. My first book was the first thing I tried to write that wasn’t a poem, because I realized there’s really no market for poetry, even though I really liked writing it. I can’t sing, so it wasn’t like I was gonna become a singer-songwriter girl, so poetry was sort of my only option. A good poem can capture something in a way that nothing else can.

CE: I was reading that a certain celebrity has been seen reading Eat, Drink ….

RB:  It was Charlie Sheen. You can find the picture online. It is really kind of funny.

CE: What is your writing schedule? Do you have a set schedule, or do you write when inspiration hits?

RB: I used to be more disciplined; now it’s sort of gone out the window a little bit. I’m really still trying to figure out how to do it all, with my other big responsibilities — my kids — so it’s a bit challenging. But when I’m really writing, I definitely put in the time. I like to write when I’m inspired, like in the backseat when my son is asleep in my lap.

CE: Do your works border on the autobiographical side, with stories and situations you’ve been through with your friends and family, or do you try to keep your writing work separate from your real life?

RB: I definitely think that as I’ve written more, it’s gotten less about me and my friends. Now I feel more confident being able to be creative and not have it be so true to everything that I already know. No one character of mine is a literal representation of someone I know, but there are pieces here and there.

CE: How do you feel about the label “Chick Lit”?

RB: I think I was more offended by it before because, why does it have to be classified? But now I’m much more of a realist than when I started writing, and you have to do whatever you can to market your book. It’s a way to classify and sell, and ultimately that’s what any writer should want. I’m not as against it now. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating women’s accomplishments. The Help was awesome, and that was chick lit and a chick flick, so if my book is classified as chick lit, that’s fine.

CE: One of the things I really liked about Eat, Drink is that we get to see what’s happening from lots of perspectives — all the girls and even some of the guys. What made you decide to go that way with it?

RB: I’d been wanting to write a book from multiple perspectives, so I definitely did that on purpose. It’s interesting because one of the editing notes that I had gotten that I didn’t end up taking was, “This is from so many different points of view, does the reader get confused?” I felt it wouldn’t be confusing because each of those women has their own thing and own thought processes. I liked being able to explore each of them as a main character.

And because it’s a wedding, there is so much going on that I wanted to be able share all of that. I was thinking about the movie The Big Chill — you can’t do the story justice unless you hear from all of them.

CE: Have you got another book stirring around, just waiting to be written?

RB: Yeah, I think I finally figured out what I want to start writing about, so I’m starting to work on my outline. I think I’ve figured out my next book, which makes me feel better, but I’m also having another baby, so I have such a small window to try to get the bulk of it done.

CE: When you do have free time when you’re not writing, what do you like to do?

RB: I make jewelry, and I have a couple of reality projects that I’m working on with a friend producing, so I’ve always got some iron in the fire. I’m kind of a Jill of all trades, so to speak; anywhere that my creative side takes me, I tend to go. I like writing books, but it’s a tricky business right now, so I have to figure out a way to make it friendlier on my pocketbook. 

Readers: A few months back, I held a contest for one reader to win a copy of Eat, Drink, and Be Married. After sifting through the entries, I have randomly chosen a winner: Dorine T. of Terryville, Ct. Be on the lookout for your book, and I hope you enjoy it! 

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Q and A: Week of June 25

Timothy Hutton

Q: When will my favorite show, “Leverage,” be back with new episodes? — Paul T., via e-mail

A: The premiere of season five of the hit TNT show will be Sunday, July 15, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. This year brings 10 all-new episodes starring your favorite gang of thieves, grifters and con artists led by Academy Award-winner Timothy Hutton, along with Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge. This season promises to deliver high action and intrigue — and maybe some more romance — as well as big-name guest stars, such as Cary Elwes and Treat Williams.

Q: Is it true that Matthew McConaughey finally tied the knot? — Tina R., via e-mail

A: Lustful ladies all over the world had to give up the dream of becoming Mrs. M. in early June, when Matthew married longtime girlfriend — and mother of son Levi, 3, and daughter Vida, 2 — Camilla Alves in an intimate ceremony at the couple’s home in Austin, Texas.

Q: What’s next for the beautiful Andie MacDowell? It seems I see her only on hair color/make-up commercials anymore, and I really miss seeing her in movies. — Britta, Fairview, Mich.

A: Andie just started production in mid-June on the new Hallmark Channel original series “Cedar Cove,” which is based on the best-selling book series of the same name by Debbie Macomber. Andie will star as Judge Olivia Lockhart, whose Cedar Cove Municipal Court is the professional milieu and social microcosm of issues the judge will face in her own day-to-day life with family and friends. The series kicks off with a two-hour pilot, scheduled to air at the end of the year, with a weekly one-hour series to follow in early 2013.

Readers: For your summertime reading pleasure, I want to give one lucky reader a copy of Rebecca Bloom’s “Eat, Drink, and Be Married.” Simply e-mail me at letters@cindyelavsky.com by July 31, and tell me your favorite beach read. This contest isn’t just for the ladies, although many beach books are classified as “chick lit.”


I asked Rebecca if it bothered her to have books pigeonholed as “chick lit.” She told me: “I was offended by it before, but because I thought, ‘Why does it have to be classified?’ But now I’m much more of a realist than when I started writing, and you have to do whatever you can to market your book. It’s a way to classify and sell, and ultimately, that’s what any writer should want. So, I’m not as against it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating women with your writing. ‘The Help’ was awesome, and that was a chick flick and chick lit, so if my book is classified as chick lit, that’s fine with me.”

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Q and A: Week of March 19

Q: The addition of James Spader to “The Office” as Robert California has really helped with Steve Carell’s leaving. Now I hear that James is leaving the show. Is it true? — Donald D. in Minnesota

A: James Spader will not be back next season. Executive producer Paul Lieberstein (who also plays Toby) says that it was always James’ intent to stay only one season. In fact, he was scheduled to be in only last year’s finale but, as Paul stated, James’ scenes were so compelling, “those two scenes became a season.”

Q: I’m going through some serious “True Blood” withdrawal. Do you know when it’ll be back for its fifth season? — Kristen B., via e-mail

A: Eric, Bill and company want to do bad things with you for 12 episodes this summer. If you hunger for a new Sookie adventure, then head to your local bookstore on May 1 for the release of “Deadlocked,” the latest installment in the Southern Vampire Mysteries on which the HBO series is based. You also can reacquaint yourself with season four on May 29, when the series will be released on DVD and Blu-ray.

Q: I am thrilled to hear that “Titanic” is being rereleased soon in 3-D. Can you tell me when it will hit theaters? — Jeanette F., Gary, Ind.

A: Look for the big boat on the big screen starting Friday, April 6, and be prepared for even more thrills than the original release. Because of the new 3-D effects, it can only make the sinking scenes even more intense. And believe me, they were scary enough to begin with — even for the actors involved.


I spoke with “Titanic” co-star Eric Braeden, who portrayed John Jacob Astor, and he told me about filming his drowning scene. Eric, who also has played billionaire businessman Victor Newman on “The Young and The Restless” since 1980, revealed to me: “That was one of the scariest moments in this business for me, because you had all that water coming from the sides, and 150 tons of water coming from the top. Once the water reaches a certain level, then everything that is not bolted to the bottom just crashes through the room. With the water rising and rising, and then suddenly 150 tons comes on top — it was one of the scariest moments I’ve spent in this business.”

Q: My husband and I love “A Gifted Man,” and wonder if it’ll be back this fall. — The Crouses, Virginia Beach, Va.

A: Things are not looking good for the CBS medical drama, which stars Patrick Wilson. Its ratings have been pretty low, and two of the series’ stars have been cast in other fall shows as backup. You can sign a petition for CBS to keep the show at tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/a-gifted-man-petition-22315, or via snail mail: Ms. Nina Tassler, CBS, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039, RE: A Gifted Man.

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Interview: Alina Adams Brings Soaps Into the Digital Age

While you might not know Alina Adams by name (yet), you do know her by her body of work. She’s worn many hats in the soap-opera community, including writer, host, content producer, developer, etc. She’s authored soap-opera tie-in books “Oakdale Confidential,” “The Man From Oakdale” and “Jonathan’s Story,” and is also the woman behind the “Another World” website, which has carried the show on into the 21st century even though the NBC version was canceled in 1999. Alina is also the writer of Mindy Lewis Bauer’s Twitter feed (twitter.com/MindyLewisBauer), the writings of the popular “Guiding Light” character, who chronicles the ongoing drama that’s still happening in Springfield, after “Guiding Light’s” 2009 cancellation.

Perhaps most forward-looking of all Alina’s projects is the development of enhanced electronic books which, in addition to standard text, features video, music, graphics and links relevant to the story. An enhanced e-book can be experienced on tablets, iPads, smartphones and computers — all you need is an Internet connection and a free Kindle app. I spoke with Alina recently about electronic innovations and the future of soaps.

Celebrity Extra: One of your first interactive projects in the genre was to bring “Another World” back via storytelling on AnotherWorldToday.com. How did you decide on the format in which to bring it back?

Alina Adams: TeleNext had put up reruns of “Another World” on hulu.com. It was 2009, exactly 10 years after the show had gone off the air. I suggested we do some out-of-the-box thinking. Instead of just telling people: “Here are some reruns. Watch these episodes,” we’ll update the story. Let’s work with the characters that were in the episodes that they were showing and use the episodes on Hulu as flashbacks, and combine text and video in a completely new multimedia format.

CE: And then when you incorporated Mindy with that by having her refer to “AW” on her Twitter feed, that was a great tie-in.

AA: Everybody loves a crossover! You could either pick up new readers — or in this case, new followers — or you won’t. It’s highly unlikely you would lose anyone as a result of it. So it’s a win-win situation.

CE: Mindy’s “Guiding Light” Twitter started as a promotion for the 25th high-school reunion of the Four Musketeers (Phillip, Beth, Rick and Mindy), and you guys decided to keep it going. Back then, it was affiliated with “Guiding Light,” but you’ve decided to continue it on your own since the show’s cancellation.

AA: TeleNext knows this is going on. They can’t officially sanction it, but they are not taking it down. It says right there on the profile: “This is no longer affiliated with TeleNext.”

CE: I also love the interactive quality of Mindy’s Twitter, where she asks her followers for advice on what to do in certain situations.

AA: Twitter is terrific that way. It creates immediacy and intimacy. And believe me, the fans definitely have their opinions on how things should be handled, and they aren’t afraid to voice it.

CE: Tell me about your enhanced electronic book “Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime’s Greatest Moments.”

AA: I reached out to the fans on transmedia — Facebook, Twitter, fan clubs, soap sites — and I asked them to tell me their favorite, most memorable moment from the beginning of soaps until now. I received a wonderful avalanche of responses. Once I compiled those lists, I went to either the actor, writer or producer who was involved in the scene, and I got the story of how the scene came together.

For example, after Linda Dano tells you about what it was like to shoot the intervention scenes on “Another World,” there the scene is — you can click a button on your tablet and watch it. I developed the idea as a fan and as a consumer. If you’re reading a book that’s telling you about something great that happened, you want to see it right then, and we now have the technology to make that happen.

Read more about Alina Adams and her innovations for the future of soaps at alinaadams.com. And if you need a belated gift for the soap lover in your family, go to amazon.com and order “Soap Opera 451” for immediate download.

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Interview: Deidre Hall Knows Beauty

We all know Deidre Hall as the brilliant and gorgeous Dr. Marlena Evans on “Days of Our Lives,” who she’s played for the better part of 35 years (with a few years off here and there to work on different projects, including one of my favorite childhood shows, "Our House"). And in those 35 years, plus the time she spent as a model before that, you can bet she’s learned a trick or two about beauty. So she and longtime friend Lynne Parmiter Bowman have written all their beauty nuggets down for the masses in the book “How Does She Do It? A Beauty Book.” (Available at amazon.com. Or you can go to deidrehall.com for details on how you can order an autographed and/or personalized copy.)

Celebrity Extra: What made you decide that now was the time to write a beauty book?

Deidre Hall: Lynne and I wrote “Kitchen Closeup,” and that was fun. But what I know is beauty. It seemed a little bit daunting at the time, writing up a beauty book, but then it just all really came together, and that was it. I figured, I’ve done 35 years in front of a camera, so, if I haven’t learned a thing or two about beauty, then I should just pack up my tent.

CE: You collaborated with Lynne to write this book — how did your partnership in writing come about?

DH: It doesn’t feel like working with her, and that’s the truth. We talked earlier about having spent so much time together [while working on “Kitchen Closeup”] sitting around the kitchen table and her stirring and me writing, or her writing and me stirring. We’ve shared these kinds of health issues and food issues for so long that it was natural to write that book.


And then it was natural to write the beauty book, because we also spent that amount of time in front of a mirror. “Oh, what’s that color? Where did you get that? I want one of those!” It’s what women do. Women share the wealth. And we’ve spent a lifetime doing that. And finally we thought, “You know what, we seem to know a lot about things that people don’t seem to really know about.” And so that’s what it was. It was fun, fun to put it down on paper, and it was a labor of love.

CE: One of the things I like about the book is that the advice and tips you give are good for twentysomethings, thirtysomethings, fortysomethings and beyond. Was that a goal of yours, to reach out to many age groups, or did you have a specific group in mind when you set out to write this book?

DH: Part of our conversation in writing the book was saying there’s nothing for women over 50 out there! They care! We all care! Why are there not beauty secrets for women who have sagging skin and lined skin and dry skin and that sort of thing? We wanted to make sure that that was also included in what we wrote.

CE: I know some people, myself not included, are critical of plastic surgery, saying that it’s “cheating” in some way. What are your thoughts on plastic surgery?

DH: I love it! I love that we have an option of changing the way we look if it makes us feel better. And it’s just as simple as that. There’s no judgment on it. There is no criticism of it. It’s a wonderful option for people who want to take it. The No. 1 surgery in this country is breast augmentation. Women spend more on that than any other surgery combined.

CE: While this is a beauty book, it’s also a good self-esteem booster for women, kind of empowering. Was that one of your intentions when you were writing it?

DH: We didn’t set out to change women. We just set out to sit down with them and say: “Honey, come here. I want to share something with you.” Wow, that’s a complicated question. We know that women at their very core like to share the neat stuff. So, that’s what we meant to do. Just share with women everywhere the things we’ve learned over many years.

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Interview: Eileen Davidson's Fourth Book Is a Page-Turner

Most of daytime fans know Eileen Davidson as Ashley Abbott, whom she’s portrayed on “The Young and the Restless” off and on since 1982. But many might not know that she is also an accomplished author. Along with co-writer Robert Randisi, she has penned four “Soap Opera Mystery” novels, the latest installment being “Swingin’ in the Rain.” In “Swingin’,” Eileen explores the world of swingers’ clubs as a backdrop to murder.

Celebrity Extra: Here’s a question I am sure is on everyone’s minds: What made you decide to set your new book in the world of swingers?

Eileen Davidson: I had heard about different people living in Malibu who were into it. And I was like, “You’re kidding!” It was just really shocking, and it seemed like a great backdrop for a murder mystery. After I did some research, I discovered how prevalent it is in society. I’m fascinated that so many people are into it, that it’s kind of a very well-kept secret. And I’m wondering if they ever run into each other at the dry cleaners or in the carpool line.

CE: How did you research it?

ED: This is a true story. I was at Scott Baio’s birthday party, and a woman came up to me and said she was a big fan of my books and asked when I was going to write the next one. And I said, “Well, I’m kind of in the middle of writing it now.” And she asked, “What’s the premise?” And I told her, and she goes, “You’re not going to believe this, but one of my good friends was the manager for one of the top swingers clubs in L.A. for 10 years.” So I gave her friend a call, and we spoke for an hour, and she gave me so much information. She told me everything, and everything she told me I put in the book: game rooms and the dark room, where everybody denies going into, but it’s always full.

The club she managed is closed now, but she said: “I know of someone who is running another one. And if you want to go, I can get you in there.” And I was thinking I should go there for research, but then I thought, Do I really want to do that? So I told her that maybe someday I’ll check it out. But I don’t know.

CE: In theory, it seems like a good idea, but then when it gets down to it ...

ED: Exactly! Exactly! I guess my Catholic upbringing is alive and well.

CE: I like that you incorporated Alex’s fears now that we’re down to four network soaps. What are some other bits of soap business that you bring to your books?

ED: The opening scene of the book actually happened to me in the ’80s while I was filming a scene for “YR.” We were filming the scene at a park in the pouring rain, and I had a crewmember underneath me trying to push me up this steep, muddy hill that I needed to get up, and I kept sliding down. So, I have some guy under me, not in the shot, trying to get me up there, and I keep falling down. We laughed so hard, because I could not get up that friggin’ hill.

CE: I am really enjoying the slow development of Alex and Jakes’ relationship. It’s realistic, and it’s getting better and stronger. Do you purposely keep her relationship with Jakes grounded so that Alex herself does not go crazy?

ED: That’s a good way of putting it, actually, because there is so much crazy stuff going on around her that there has to be something that is a grounding force besides her daughter. So, it’s just kind of the way the relationship evolves. When he was first introduced it was not supposed to be like a love interest, but it evolved that way in the first book. It was just sort of this natural evolution.

If you want to get in on the mystery, buy Eileen’s book “Swingin’ in the Rain” on amazon.com, or wherever books are sold. And check out her first three books while you’re at it!

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Interview: Michelle Young's Fantasy World

As I am sure all of you read my reviews of Dragonstone and The Dragon's Heart in a previous posting, you are by now familiar with up-and-coming author Michelle Young. This weekend, Michelle is hoping to take DragonCon by storm as she introduces new readers to her world: the magical world of Latharia. I had the chance to interview Ms. Young about her books, her beginnings, her inspirations and her plans for the future.

Celebrity Extra: Had you always known that you wanted to be a writer, or did you develop this love later in life?

Michelle Young: I’ve always loved writing, but I never thought I would be a writer professionally. At one time I was going to go to school to become an English Literature Teacher, because I love reading the classics; I love creative writing, but I never thought I would do it professionally. And then it just kind of happened.

CE: How did the whole thing happen?

MY: The best way to say it — and it sounds really weird — but I had this story in my head, and it got to the point that I was compelled to write it. And I sat down at my computer — because my kids were younger, so they would go to bed and my husband would play his video games — and this is my relaxation at the end of the day. I would sit and write it. And I kind of thought it would be a romance. And I was just embarrassed. I was embarrassed of the subject; I was embarrassed to think: “I think I could write a book?!?” So I didn’t even tell my husband. We were married almost 18 years and I tell him everything, but I didn’t even tell him. 

And after a month of me writing it, he came up behind me and I slammed down my laptop. And he said: “What are you writing? Who are you writing to?” So I had to confess to my husband, who was amazingly supportive. And the more I wrote — it got to the point that I was sitting at my computer eight to 10 hours a day, just writing. I only worked part time, so my days off I would do that. My husband would take the kids camping for the weekend so I could just write. And after spending thousands of hours writing it, I thought, “I wonder what it would take to get this published?” 

I stumbled onto the Central Florida Romance Writers Association and went there a few times. I learned a lot but got intimidated by all of these other authors. There’s about 50 members and about a quarter of them are published, and some of them are big published. And I’d gotten to the point where I thought, “I am not that good, and I am never going to get published.” I’m going to go to one more meeting and see what happens. And I went to that one more meeting and it just so happens Rhonda Penders — the owner of the Wild Rose Press in New York — was here on vacation. So the president had invited her to come speak to our little romance writers group. She took pitches after the meeting. So I talked to her, I pitched, and she said: "It sounds really good. Submit it." So, I did and I got accepted.



CE: Were you nervous about the whole pitch?

MY: Oh, yes. And the whole point of the Wild Rose Press is that they’re a gentler publishing company. So, when I talked to her, it probably was not the kind of pitch you’d want to give to Harlequin. I probably sounded like a babbling idiot, but she got it. She was like, “It’s okay, just relax; tell me, what your story is about?” So I got through it. I don’t know if the universe just aligned and everything just fell into place. I just can’t explain it. I felt like I was meant to do this.

CE: When did the first idea of “Dragonstone” come to you? How did it develop for you in your head?

MY: I had little scenes in my head. And have had those little scenes in my head for years. And then it just got to the point of this scene is starting to flow into this scene, and it was kind of just developing. And I was kind of like, “How is this all going to … I don’t know.” It just flowed. I did not have the entire story in my head from beginning to end. I just sat down and started writing it, and I’d get to a point and be like, “I don’t know where it’s going to go next.” And I would just put it aside or I would go to bed, and it would just come to me. You’d be surprised by how many things are in there now that were not in there at the very beginning.

CE: Did you know how it was going to begin and end, and you just needed the middle? Or it all just developed at one time?

MY: I knew the ultimate ending. And I knew, kind of like the basic flow. But a lot of the twists kind of came in later. “Ooo, he’s going to do this and they’re going to be related this way … Ooh, that’s good.” (Laughter)

CE: How long did it take you — from conception through fruition?
MY: “Dragonstone” only took me about six months to write. And a lot of it was the eight to 10 hours a day sitting in there writing. But “The Dragon's Heart” took me almost a year and a half. 

CE: Now when you are developing characters, do you put in the personality of people that you know? Or do you try to keep people out of it?

MY: My sister will tell you that Kat is modeled after her. My husband will tell you that he’s Logan. (Laughter) But no, it’s not. They’re just personalities that just developed in my head. They’re not based on anybody I know.

CE: Is there anything about Kat that you’ve drawn from yourself?

MY: She’s probably completely not me. I am actually more like Serena in “The Dragon's Heart.” I am not athletic, not coordinated, not confident. So no, she’s probably the complete opposite of me. (Laughter)

CE: When you get feedback from fans who have read the books, what are some things they've been telling you?

MY: I think for me the neatest thing is when I get the people who say: “Gee this is not normally the kind of book I read. But, wow! I loved it because it wasn’t what I expected.” Or the people who say, “I’m exhausted today and it’s your fault, because I had to finish reading it. I couldn’t go to bed until 1:30, and I had to get up at 6:00.” Or you get somebody in New Zealand who said, “I went to the bookstore today and ordered your book.” Those things are really cool.

CE: How are you getting the word out about your books, because you are with a small press?
MY: Really, a lot of it is word of mouth. I hope people who read the book like it enough to tell their friends, “Hey, this is a really good book. You should read it.”  I do have a website. I go to the Southern Women’s Show and I do try to go to different conferences. Through my local romance writers group, we do a once-a-year Booksellers Tea that you invite people to who own small bookstores, librarians, that kind of thing, and you try to get them to buy your book. I’ve been to Author's Day at libraries. So different things like that. I try to make as many appearances as possible.

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In My Own Words: Flavor Flav

To all of my fams (I’ve taken the ‘n’ out of fans and replaced it with an ‘m,’ because a fan doesn’t do anything for me but cool me off when I’m hot and a ‘fam’ is one that supports me), I thank you all for making me who I am today. Without y’all, I would just be an ordinary person in the street, no different and no better than anyone else - the only thing that makes me different is my job description.

My life has taught me that nothing is really easy. Everything in life you want can come to you, but you really, really have to earn it and deserve it. You only get to live physically once in this lifetime, so while we are living this one time - we need to make the best of it. When we die, we become nothing but memories to other people and we want to leave them the best memories ever.

If I could influence and mentor today’s youth, based on my past experience, I would tell them that I made some very serious mistakes in my life. I would like for everyone in the world to read my book about the mistakes I’ve made, so hopefully they won’t make the same ones.



I have always been told I have a lot of interesting things to say and stories to tell. I've often thought about doing my own talk show. If I did, I would probably use the style of Arsenio Hall, but a Jerry Springer or Maury Povich style show should be a lot of fun. I have been asked if I would ever do Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice Show and my reply to that is it would be a pleasure to once again see and talk to Donald Trump. If I do come out with my own show some time, all I can say is... 'Once again, Flavor Flav has reinvented himself.'

Anyway, I decided to write a book. My new book is called Flavor Flav: The Icon The Memoir (Farrah Gray Publishing). My book is edgy, compassionate and often hilarious! My book is a thrill ride from the heights of my stardom to the depths of my despair and Yo! I'm still here to tell it. I've been down some pretty dark holes - but somehow I always found the strength to climb back out of them.

I get asked about regrets but I have no regrets in my life and I would change nothing. The reason is because it took the past to bring the future, and if I was to change something in my past then today I might not be able to teach what I’ve learned.

I want to add that I think Ascot/Aston’s In My Own Words (IMOW) is a great idea for celebrities to say in their own words how they feel about their life and what’s going on in it. That’s why we, Public Enemy, made a record called Don’t Believe The Hype, which means…don’t believe everything you read or hear. The best source for the true information is ‘from the horse’s mouth!’

God bless you all with your life, your future, your goals, and your families. And once again, I thank you for making me who I am today - Flavor Flav: The Icon.

God bless and peace to all. See y'all on my book tour!

Flavor Flav
Sunday, May 22, 2011

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Book Reviews: Dragonstone and The Dragon's Heart by Michelle Young

Michelle Young's impressive debut novel, Dragonstone, hits all the notes that a fantasy/romance novel should: strong women, gorgeous men, lovely scenery and life-altering adventure. However, this ain't your mother's romance novel. With Dragonstone, Ms. Young has created her own niche in the fantasy genre, imagining a world where "magic rules the land, dragons roam the skies, and everyone has their secrets."

The reader is transported to the world of Latharia, where Lady Katerina must fulfill the prophecy of defeating the Black magic that is threatening to overtake her land. Because her magic was "awakened" by an act of violence, her Dragonstone, which holds all of her magic power, turns Black. Not wanting to use her magic because of evilness that controls the Black Dragonstone, she rids herself of her Dragonstone, determined to rely on powers that she can control and develop herself.


After a three-year absence from her kingdom (where Katerina trained and honed her own skills), she returns to Latharia to find that forces with not-so-good intentions do not want her to inherit her rightful place in her kingdom. With the help of a mysterious (and of course, breathtakingly attractive) personal guard, Katerina must retrieve her Dragonstone and defeat the evil forces who would prefer to reign with evil Black magic.   

Young’s new novel, The Dragon’s Heart, picks up nearly 25 years later, with Katerina’s daughter, Syrena, fated to continue her mother’s quest to rid Latharia of black magic and defeat the evil Kyron once and for all. In order to fulfill her destiny, she must learn to harness her beast-master magic to help her save her kingdom, all the while trying to gauge if the mysterious Blaze is someone she can trust, or if he has an agenda of his own.

While I normally would not consider myself a fan of the traditional fantasy/romance book, I was pleasantly surprised and captivated by Ms. Young's books. They are fast-paced and intriguing, keeping the reader on the edge of her seat for each book. In fact, this series made me reconsider the entire fantasy/romance genre in general.

Dragonstone and The Dragon's Heart is a compelling epic-fantasy series about lies, love and letting go. It's a must-read series, no matter what genre you prefer. And I guarantee that after you read these books, this will be a genre that you will prefer.

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Q and A: Week of August 9

Q: Can you tell me if Timothy Hutton (pictured left, photo credit Darren Michaels, TNT) is the son of Jim Hutton of the “Ellery Queen” TV mystery series of old? — Rae S., via e-mail

A: Film and television star Jim Hutton is indeed the father of “Leverage” star Timothy Hutton. Jim gained fame on projects such as “The Green Berets,” “Hellfighters,” “Walk, Don’t Run” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” In 1975, Jim landed the role he is perhaps best-known for, that of the titular character in “Ellery Queen.” He passed away of liver cancer in 1979 at the age of 45.

Q: I just finished reading the book “One Day” by David Nicholls and absolutely loved it. Is it being made into a movie? — Darla E., via e-mail

A: I loved the book as well and am happy to report that the movie adaptation is currently filming in England. Anne Hathaway stars as Emma, and Jim Sturgess is Dexter. The film will follow the story of Dex and Em, two university classmates who meet on graduation night in 1988, and fall in and out of each other’s life over the next two decades. In a clever storytelling convention, each chapter lets the reader explore the protagonists’ lives on July 15 of each year, beginning on that fateful day after graduation.

Q: Dustin Hoffman has always been one of my favorite actors. What does he have coming up? — Julie F., Denver

A: HBO landed the award-winning actor for its new series, “Luck,” which is about the horse-racing world: the owners, jockeys and gamblers. Filming begins this fall, and the show co-stars Dennis Farina and Nick Nolte. The pilot episode will be directed by Michael Mann, of “Miami Vice,” “Heat” and “Public Enemies” fame.

Q: I have a question that I have been wondering about for two years. Why was “Boston Legal” canceled? I have heard it was due to low ratings, which I have a hard time believing since so many people watched and enjoyed it. I have to wonder if some of the storylines were too controversial and ruffled some feathers? – Monnie F., via e-mail

A: Writer and creator David E. Kelley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in December 2008: “ABC didn’t want us back. We had to fight to get back on with 13 [episodes]. It’s not a product they care to market. Five years into the show, if anyone has ever seen the show at ABC, they’ve yet to bring it to my attention,” he said.


David speculated the lack of promotion had to do with the fact that 20th Century Fox produced the show, not ABC itself, so ABC didn’t share in the profits. “Even though our numbers are solid, not huge, I think the conventional wisdom at ABC, and I don’t know this, but I’m guessing they continue to believe they can develop their own product and get that [rating] number, and then also share in the profits.”

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Breaking Dawn Has a Release Date

First we have an announcement for the director, now an announcement for the release date. Summit has set Nov. 18, 2011, as the release date for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, though the studio still isn't saying whether the final book adaptation will be one movie or two.

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Stephenie Meyer to Release Eclipse-Related Novella

(From the Associated Press)

Attention Twilight fans: Stephenie Meyer has a new book coming out.

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers will release The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner on June 5.

The novella is told from the viewpoint of Bree, a newborn vampire featured in Eclipse. That's one of the books in Meyer's best-selling teen-vampire saga.

Meyer says in a statement Tuesday the novella had originally been planned for The Twilight Saga: The Official Guide. But she says it became too long to fit into the guide.

The publisher says one dollar for each book sold in the U.S. from the first printing of 1.5 million copies will be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. It supports disaster relief efforts such as those in Haiti and Chile.

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