I first heard about author Joe Hill via Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance. He was reading "Heart Shaped Box" and said it was really creepy (in a good way!). As soon as he said the words "It's about a rock star who buys a ghost off the internet", I was on the Powell's website, buying my copy. It was definitely creepy, yet full of dark humor and lots of rock-n-roll references. I loved it! So, you can imagine how excited I was to get Joe's new book, "Horns", about a guy who falls asleep after a drunken night....only to wake up sportin' a new set of horns...yes, on his head! Then people start confessing their deepest, ugliest secrets to him and he decides to use this new power to find a murderer.
Joe Hill is coming to Portland this Wednesday (March 3) for a reading/book signing at Powell's City of Books on Burnside at 7:30pm. I had the chance to talk to Joe about his new book.....rock-n-roll....which of his dad's (Stephen King) books made the best movies....etc! Hope you enjoy the chat below and I hope you can make to Powell's Wednesday night!
Joe Hill talks about "Horns"....his KISS obsession....his dad, Stephen King...and more! Joe Hill edit
Who knew that rock stars had excellent taste in reading material? Well, at least one does (actually, two, if you count Stephen Christian from Anberlin). Singer-songwriter, Jon McLaughlin recommended "The Time Traveler's Wife" to me a couple of years ago. He had just finished it and told me that it was one of the best books he had ever read. Of course, I went straight to Powell's that day and bought it. I read it in one weekend and it is one of those books that stays with you long after you have devoured the final page.
If you, like me, loved "The Time Traveler's Wife", then you'll probably be happy to know that the author, Audrey Niffenegger, is coming to Portland(Beaverton, actually) on Monday, Jan. 25. She released a new book last October, called "Her Fearful Symmetry". It's a ghost story and a love story. It's about obsession and relationships. It's darkly funny in places and is full of delicious little gothic details about the most famous cemetary in London (in which, Audrey has led tours). Audrey told me she didn't plan on making it into a movie, like "The Time Traveler's Wife", but you will see a movie in your head while reading it. Audrey will discuss and read from "Her Fearful Symmetry" Monday night (Jan. 25) at 7pm at Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing.
I talked to Audrey Niffenegger about "Her Fearful Symmetry" last October. Click below to listen.
If you watch "Real Housewives of NYC", then you know who Bethenny is (remember that crazy bar fight of hers?!). Love her or hate her, you have to admit, this girl is HOT....and does not look 39 at all! She gives a lot of credit to the way she eats. She is a trained natural foods chef, who has been sharing her knowledge in 2 books to help us "unleash the skinnygirl inside each of us". Bethenny says we can lose weight with just a few simple tweaks to the way we eat. She called in today and shared a few of those tips. If you want to unleash your inner skinnygirl, listen below!
Bethenny explains how simplifying the way we cook & eat will help us lose weight!
I've been hearing about Don Miller's books for years now....mostly from my buddies in Switchfoot...but then, more and more band guys started mentioning his work. His new book, "A Million Miles In A Thousand Years" is about what he learned about life, while trying to write a screenplay, based on his life. Not only was the book full of scenes from Portland life, it was funny and it really challenged me to live my life as a story worth telling.
Don is reading from his new book tonight at Powell's City Of Books on Burnside....7:30 pm. Maybe I'll see you there....but in the meantime, here's my conversation with Don Miller in which, he talks about his book....the movie based on his life....the time he babysat for the Obama girls....his pop music guilty pleasures (coughcoughmileycyruscoughcough)....and what he loves about Portland. Enjoy!
David Baldacci has been the cause of many hours of lost sleep on the weekends for me! His latest is a thriller (of course!) and if you're looking for something with lots of action + plot twists and turns, you should check it out! david called me to talk about his new book and you can listen below!
I had a chance to chat with Guy Fieri recently about his new book, "More Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives". We talked about what makes the perfect "dive"....What he loves about Portland (including his fave food spot).....his fave music to listen to while he grubs down....and more! He's always looking for suggestions on places to visit with his tv show and I suggested he check out Calamity Jane's hot fudge burger next time he is here. He sounded really into it and said I could go with him! I'll keep you posted on whether or not that happens, but in the meantime, email him your suggested food spots through the Food Network website. He was a really fun interview and I hope to chat again when he is here in December!
Sheryl & Guy Fieri talk about .....food (DUH)! guy fieri edit
Did I ever tell you that our office building is haunted? True story.....not once, but twice (on two different occaisions)....I came in to do some work on the weekend.....and in the middle of it heard this man groaning.....when I finally worked up my courage, I investigated the halls and offices, expecting to find someone in need of a 911 call....instead, I found nothing....but kept hearing the moans.....I left the building ASAP! The next time was about a week later.....my daughter was with me that time and we both heard it! To this day, I won't come in when no one is here.
When I found out I was going to interview Mary Ann Winkowski, who is a consultant to the tv show, "The Ghost Whisperer" (that's her with Jennifer Love Hewitt in the pic above)....I KNEW I had to ask her about the office ghost and what could possibly be going on! She told me....plus told me how to help that ghost "cross over" (get rid of it!).....we talked about Michael Jackson's spirit.....how realistic the tv show is.....and a LOT more. Listen below.....and Happy Halloween!
Whew....what a busy weekend! There is something about the sunshine that makes me try to fit about a week's worth of activities into the weekend!
Friday night....we took advantage of the sunshine and went for a long bike ride! My quads are still feeling it, but it was totally worth it! Afterwards, we relaxed and I read some more of "Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See. It was really hard to put this one down and I can't wait to finish it! This book is set in Shanghai, where these two sisters lead a very priviledged life, until their dad (who has a gambling addiction), sells them as brides....on top of that, the Japanese invade. They barely escape Shanghai with their lives and begin a new live in Los Angeles with their arranged marriage husbands. Live in L.A. kind of sucks for them, as their father-in-law treats them like slaves and second class citizens....but they have each other....and a plan....Love this book!
Saturday- Got up to pull weeds in the garden....once again, my quads are not loving that action, but the garden looks lice and I think we are going to have tomatoes very soon! Yay! After we got cleaned up, we went to the Best Of Oregon Food & Wine Festival....Great food and wine! Plus, we enjoyed a nice, long chat with Rich, the winemaker at Viento. Rich has us convinced that we need to visit Hood River soon. We followed that up with dinner (and crazy old Mexican sci fi movies) @ Trebol. Yummy! I recommend the halibut w/ plantains!
Sunday - I have been wanting to see "Confessions Of A Shopaholic" for a while and it's finally out on DVD, so I popped that in and we all watched while enjoying some low fat ice cream sandwiches. The movie is really cute and the soundtrack is great. Isla Fischer plays Rebecca Bloomwood, who grows up with frugal parents and thinks that she can shop her way into the cool kids crowd. She ends up with 12 credit cards and a nasty shopping addiction. When she gets laid off from her gardening magazine job, she is willing to take whatever job she can get...which happens to be for a money magazine, where she gives money management advice, depsite the mess her finances are in. She spends a lot of the movie ducking debt collectors and responsibility before a crisis she can't avoid (and a very public humiliation) force her to realize that money cannot buy happiness and the best investment a person can make is in relationships with people we care about. It won't win any Oscars, but it is a cute movie with great clothes and an even better message! I had a chance a while ago to interview Joan Cusack (who plays Rebecca Bloomwood's mom) about the movie. You can check that out below!
We have company coming for the 4th of July weekend, so I have MUCHO yard & housework to do, but I'm hoping to steal a few hours to catch a new movie or two. Everyone I know is raving about "The Hangover", but the top of my list is "The Proposal" with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. What can I say....I love the chick flicks and I can't say I'm sorry about that, haha!
I talked to one of the stars of "The Proposal" today....Oscar Nunez. If you watch "The Office", you've seen him many times. He talked about what it's like to be naked on the big screen....his real-life Michael Scott type boss.....and what the "Office" cast is really doing on those computers when it looks like they are working. You can listen in the player on the home page or below. oscar-nunez
I'm also hoping to finish reading "Dune Road", the new book by Jane Green. So far, it is really good! It's about a woman who is starting a new life and new career after a divorce. She soon discovers that her new boss is not what he appears to be when she stumbles onto a big secret! I interviewed Jane Green this week and we talked about the new book (of course), her addiction to gossip blogs, and her passion for cooking (esp. vegan cooking). Check it out below!
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