Chillin' with my man LL Cool J! Fashizzle! He's got a health and fitness book called Platinum Workout. Hangin' with him in NYC was krunk!.
Hollywood screenwriter, Kirsten Smith, came to town and a bunch of us got to meet with her for lunch. Yes, it's true. Hollywood people really do "do lunch!" She wrote Legally Blonde, 10 Things I Hate About You, and She's the Man.
So Candace Bushnell and I were hanging out out at a reader's festival and someone snapped this picture. How fun is that???
Christopher found out I sometimes shop at Burlington Coat Factory, so he threw an autograph party there... not for my book, for his book!
Jack Canfield is a delight; chatting with him is Chicken Soup for the Soul! It's no "Secret" that I got hang with him in NYC!
So I find myself hanging with NYT Best-selling author, Virginia Henley, at the grand opening event of Rhonda Shear's lingerie line. Star-studded, music filled, and fashion-show-fun. Rhonda is truly lovable! Host of USA Network's show USA; Up All Night, Playboy bunny, movie and TV actress, comic, and now lingerie designer, this woman is a bundle of energy and fun. You go, girl!
Andy recently haunted the grounds of the St. Petersburg Times Reading Festival. He and I have a lot in common. He's on VH1 sometimes and I happen to watch VH1 sometimes. Who knew? This famous satirist will the be first to tell you that satirists really aren't making stuff up, they just write about it before it happens. He's hysterical!
Hollywood star, Meg, and I met at a reader's festival in Florida. Instead of making movies, she's now writing some emotionally gripping novels. She leaves the acting and the poker championship to her sister, Jennifer.
Metaphorically speaking, this Floridian is just Five Doors Down (True KCSB fans'll "get" that!). Let's face it, who doesn't like to put on their boogie shoes and get down tonight? His singing buddy, Maria, and dancing pal, Micki, are so cool! I simply must make them all honorary members of my fan club.
Dennis and I have a few things in common. First, there's the Boston accent. Then, we both have English/writing degrees. We both write books. We're both also Irish. Only his books, like Mystic River, get made into movies directed by Clint Eastwood. (I'm working on it! I'm working on it! Gimme a break!)
Her books change you! I accidentally-on-purpose "happened" to see her speak at a university. Her novel, The Handmaid's Tale, is the best; thought provoking and poetic. Although she wrote it years ago, it's as terrifyingly relevant today as it was then (if not more so!). An amazing human being. I never dreamed a day would come that I would be face-to-face with her. (For the record, in the photo, I'm kneeling beside her, I'm not "that" short!)
A member of the National Book Critics Circle Award, past member of the Southern Book Critics Circle, the editor of the Books Section of the St. Petersburg Times, Festival of Reading Founder, and part of the dynamic duo dubbed the "Book Babes," Margot is a force to be reckoned with (trying not to end on a preposition..old habits die hard!) She brings books, culture, and characters to life as she enlightens the world by telling people, "Read this! It's that good!"
I was attending an awards ceremony when Nora Roberts, Queen of the Novel, and I both were there. Either she asked to take a photo with me or I asked her, I really can't remember, but it doesn't matter now does it? Between our entourages and the paparazzo, who can keep track? But you can't look at a book rack without seeing Nora Roberts' name on a spine... not when she's written more than 150 novels. Amazing.
Sweet girl! Lovely! Two redheads who adore books. And apparently we shop at the mall. But the excitement really began once Sarah lifted off in her helicopter. My writing bud, Tara Randal and I soon found ourselves surrounded by all these men who came out of hiding--25 FBI agents, secret-service guys, plain-clothes cops, and military sharp shooters in full gear and camouflage carrying weapons bigger than us. A terrific, testosterone-filled thrill! So what's a girl to do? Easy...we both yelled, "Oh, boys! Can we take our picture with you???" They we very obliging.
Yes, Austin came to town for a shag--er--I mean--a night club gig. I don't know what impressed me more. His clothes or his cool britmobile!
So many came out of the sky it was hard to just settle on one! If you've ever been to Las Vegas or had a "Honeymoon in Vegas" (for you Nicholas Cage fans), you know how wild they are!
Connie May Fowler served as the keynote speaker at the Writers in Residence event I participated in at the Clearwater Public Library. Talk about your author extraordinaire...not to mention a beautiful soul. Following her speech and booksigning, a small gang of us shared a great little dinner and lots of laughs. Let’s just say, this amazing woman recently performed in the hit show Vagina Monologues with Jane Fonda. Need I say more?
Chris Jericho. What can I say? A sweetheart! And we had something in common in addition to writing books; he was a wrestler for WWF and I wrestled for NAWA and NAWF!
Christine Feehan and I had a blast at a booksigning event. If you love vampire stories, you'll love her books!
Here's Norman Mailer when we used to hang out down the Cape in my baby days. We're in the restaurant, the Flagship, which had been the setting in his novel, Tough Guys Don't Dance years before.