Books, and books, and more about books. That is what you see at the Book Expo America that was held at the Los Angeles Convention center. I did three signings for my book and spent the rest of the time perusing the world of books.
Signing Books at Book Expo America
What made my trip was the camaraderie and "getting to know" my publishing team at HCI books. And get to know them I did. But out of professional courtesy, I'll leave the details out of public record. Let's just say book people know how to party. So do beauty people. Combine that and, well, it's a fun time.
Carol Rosenberg and Michelle Mastrisciani, my editors
But not only that, there was the official "celebrity sightings" that were like little sprinkles to the icing on the cake. I'm also not a "celebrity" person. Unless, that is, it is a REAL movie celebrity. And to me, that means you had to have made your movie in somewhere near the Golden Age of Hollywood. You can have all the Brad Pitts, and Jennifer Annistons, the Tom and Katies, the Brittney's and the Tori's of the world. Give me Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day, Esther Williams and Debbie Reynolds. I know, gay, but true. And if you're going to give me an icon, give me Tippi Hedren. You know, "The Birds?" But that's not all she's know for, she is STILL working it at 78 and looking, well, breathtakingly beautiful.
So you can imagine my moment of, "WHAT?" when I found myself looking into the beautiful wide eyes of Tippi. We talked about animals "I live with the animals", books "could you sign one for my daughter," and Minneapolis "I am from Minneapolis, I grew up there."
I could just have stayed right there in the presence of loveliness. On the flip side, I ran into Jamie Lee Curtis. If it were Tony Curtis or Janet Leigh, well, I'd have stopped in my tracks. But it was Jamie, right in front of me, on the phone, and I thought, "We both celebrate mature beauty,I have to give her a book." So I showed her the cover. She was interrupted, trying to be pleasant, but not really.
"I am the antithesis of that book," she said aloofly but with decision, "I believe we are fine exactly how we are and don't need to make a comeback."
Not one to make a snap judgment I see, and maybe, dare I say, slightly bitchy? But, I loved it. Why? I don't know. I think there's a book "Why Men Love Bitches," and, well, you have to like and respect a confident woman -- even if she's totally off about the sum of your life's work and willing to dash it with a passing blow. And I wanted to say, but held back (imagine) "Is that why you have a fabulous haircut great clothes worn to flatter, and a MGM face full of make up?"
I know what she meant, though. She assumes I am one of those. That guy that tries to make women feel insecure by telling them they need botox and have to wear fabulous heels and spend a fortune on their hair and wardrobe. She was wrong. So I made sure she got a book. Besides, she could use a little comeback.
There was William Shatner, Lindsey Wagner, Ernest Borgnine, Leonard Nimoy, and even, Henry Winkler. As Henry signed a book for Robert, I watched women my age giddy to see "The Fonz." But I felt nothing. It wasn't Henry Fonda or Rock Hudson. It wasn't Sean Connery, Gregory Peck or, my favorite, Cary Grant. But then I realized that one sized celebrity does not fit all. When Robert was in the presence of Alison Arngrim (Little House on the Prairie's Nellie Olson) being 100 percent Finnish was so surprised he almost reacted. In fact, he quickly hung up the phone and started to gush.
We ended up spending much of the evening listening to what can only be described as a woman who can't stop, save to sip her chocolate martini. I could do an entire blog about the woman who has a one-woman show called "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" but it wouldn't do her justice. You have to experience her to appreciate her. She's full on entertainment and information that would put a Fox News/E Hollywood Entertainment combo to shame.
Christopher, Alison Arngrim aka. Nellie Oleson, Robert Lindquist
I am officially an author and now, I am officially an author who has "done" the BEA. As "our driver" (see I can't even say it without quotes) drove us from Los Angeles to San Diego, Robert and I floated in our Vicodin haze. Prescribed for my shoulder, but handy for a hangover, as we traveled I thought how fortunate I am to have met such interesting people all working hard to take things to the next level.
I am thrilled to get to THIS level, so anything beyond this will be heaven, well, heavener.
Signing Books at Book Expo America
What made my trip was the camaraderie and "getting to know" my publishing team at HCI books. And get to know them I did. But out of professional courtesy, I'll leave the details out of public record. Let's just say book people know how to party. So do beauty people. Combine that and, well, it's a fun time.
Carol Rosenberg and Michelle Mastrisciani, my editors
But not only that, there was the official "celebrity sightings" that were like little sprinkles to the icing on the cake. I'm also not a "celebrity" person. Unless, that is, it is a REAL movie celebrity. And to me, that means you had to have made your movie in somewhere near the Golden Age of Hollywood. You can have all the Brad Pitts, and Jennifer Annistons, the Tom and Katies, the Brittney's and the Tori's of the world. Give me Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day, Esther Williams and Debbie Reynolds. I know, gay, but true. And if you're going to give me an icon, give me Tippi Hedren. You know, "The Birds?" But that's not all she's know for, she is STILL working it at 78 and looking, well, breathtakingly beautiful.
So you can imagine my moment of, "WHAT?" when I found myself looking into the beautiful wide eyes of Tippi. We talked about animals "I live with the animals", books "could you sign one for my daughter," and Minneapolis "I am from Minneapolis, I grew up there."
I could just have stayed right there in the presence of loveliness. On the flip side, I ran into Jamie Lee Curtis. If it were Tony Curtis or Janet Leigh, well, I'd have stopped in my tracks. But it was Jamie, right in front of me, on the phone, and I thought, "We both celebrate mature beauty,I have to give her a book." So I showed her the cover. She was interrupted, trying to be pleasant, but not really.
"I am the antithesis of that book," she said aloofly but with decision, "I believe we are fine exactly how we are and don't need to make a comeback."
Not one to make a snap judgment I see, and maybe, dare I say, slightly bitchy? But, I loved it. Why? I don't know. I think there's a book "Why Men Love Bitches," and, well, you have to like and respect a confident woman -- even if she's totally off about the sum of your life's work and willing to dash it with a passing blow. And I wanted to say, but held back (imagine) "Is that why you have a fabulous haircut great clothes worn to flatter, and a MGM face full of make up?"
I know what she meant, though. She assumes I am one of those. That guy that tries to make women feel insecure by telling them they need botox and have to wear fabulous heels and spend a fortune on their hair and wardrobe. She was wrong. So I made sure she got a book. Besides, she could use a little comeback.
There was William Shatner, Lindsey Wagner, Ernest Borgnine, Leonard Nimoy, and even, Henry Winkler. As Henry signed a book for Robert, I watched women my age giddy to see "The Fonz." But I felt nothing. It wasn't Henry Fonda or Rock Hudson. It wasn't Sean Connery, Gregory Peck or, my favorite, Cary Grant. But then I realized that one sized celebrity does not fit all. When Robert was in the presence of Alison Arngrim (Little House on the Prairie's Nellie Olson) being 100 percent Finnish was so surprised he almost reacted. In fact, he quickly hung up the phone and started to gush.
We ended up spending much of the evening listening to what can only be described as a woman who can't stop, save to sip her chocolate martini. I could do an entire blog about the woman who has a one-woman show called "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" but it wouldn't do her justice. You have to experience her to appreciate her. She's full on entertainment and information that would put a Fox News/E Hollywood Entertainment combo to shame.
Christopher, Alison Arngrim aka. Nellie Oleson, Robert Lindquist
I am officially an author and now, I am officially an author who has "done" the BEA. As "our driver" (see I can't even say it without quotes) drove us from Los Angeles to San Diego, Robert and I floated in our Vicodin haze. Prescribed for my shoulder, but handy for a hangover, as we traveled I thought how fortunate I am to have met such interesting people all working hard to take things to the next level.
I am thrilled to get to THIS level, so anything beyond this will be heaven, well, heavener.
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