Rain Day

The rain falls causing a familiar smell from my youth;
Being trapped in a classroom––playing Seven Up––because teachers didn’t want to be outside monitoring the wet, muddy, playground.
Heads down, thumbs up; it was fun for a moment, but the gravity would sink in...
No fresh air today––math class, reading, and an indoor game at your desk?
It’s like telling a child they get to skip school, and then informing them it’s because they have to go to the dentist.
As and adult I LOVE a rain day.
The perfect excuse to stay in my pajamas, curled up on the couch with a book; puppies on either side––sipping hot chocolate.
It’s good to be an adult.
Except for that “work” idea... that part is less fun.

The Rain In LA

The rain in LA falls mainly in the drain.
According to one meteorologist, “We’re receiving reports of up to two inches of rain in Santa Monica! That. Is. Record. Breaking!”
This statement comes in the midst of a drought; I’m not sure that one day of “record breaking” rainfall is going to save LA––but it certainly gave me an excuse to blow off my regularly scheduled day for a book-fest on the sofa with my puppies instead!
I’m currently working on my second book, so I’ve decided that this is the perfect day for some “industry research.”

Grateful

Reading from my book;

In a national bookstore.

Blessed, and so grateful.

Book Signing: Come One, Come Ten...

I’m getting my message out there one book signing at a time!
Now, if I could only figure out a plan of attack to get more than twenty people at a time to show up.
In fact, I was hoping to have about one hundred people per event.
Is that too much to ask?
According to my manager, agent, publisher, publicist and the Barnes & Noble rep... Yes.
You’d think that if they were receiving a FREE dance class, workshop and evaluation dancers would be lined up in scores;
Apparently people don’t read anymore!

Reading At A Cafe

Quietly sitting,

My imagination runs wild;

Escaping through books!

Read A Book!

I'm positive my love for books grew from my Gram Shaffer's passion for reading...

I must have been five or six years old the first time I can remember going to the library with my Gram.

I recall every moment:

Pulling up to the beautiful old municipal building, with the large cement stairway leading up to the main entrance, walking through the front door hand-in-hand with Gram... The smell of the sweet, slightly dusty books that hits you the minute you step through the threshold. The mountainous rows of books that towered over me from every angle. Cherry red industrial carpet lined the path around the maze of history, Fiction and periodicals. The very eccentric and boisterous librarian (who happened to be my Grams best friend) greeted me with a big kiss on the cheek and handed me a stack of books that she preselected special for me!

Each with the delicious aroma of a hardback book, covered with a clear plastic book cover and scotch tape.

I could hardly wait to open the front cover and remove the index card that awaited my name (in pencil) and a stamp of approval with a return date!

...just when I thought it couldn't get more exciting... I remember being lead down a long hall to the basement, where a group of kids were already gathered in a small circle for "The Kids Corner." An hour each week, where local authors would come in and read their favorite children's book!

I could go on for hours about my pure adoration for books, but instead, I think I'll leave you with a list of my favorite books (in random order) and hopefully it will re-inspire you to get swept away in the wonderful world of a brilliant story and your imagination!

My All Time Favorites:

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

ANYTHING that David Sedaris writes! Seriously, I love them all!

...and most recently I'm obsessed with Jonathan Ames (I'm on his third book) Some are essays some are Fiction... all are honest, hilarious and brilliant... Story telling at its finest!

In case you were wondering; The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein was and always will be, my favorite children's book.

Is it to early to start talking Christmas gifts???

I know, I know... I should not be thinking about what I want for Christmas just yet... Seeing as how tonight I will be going to the first of many Halloween parties that are scheduled this spooky holiday week! Nevertheless, I can't help but get excited for Christmas. Though I'm no longer a little boy... from time to time I like to remember what it felt like to start thinking about a Christmas list, and better yet... Begin dropping less than subtle hints to mom, dad, grandparents and generally anyone who would listen!!!
True, I would love peace on earth, an end to this war and for Obama to be our next president. Moreover, I know that in this wretched economy, the best Christmas gift I could give myself would be the gift of SAVING money... and share the gift of Love and Happiness instead of things that can be wrapped up in boxes...
But, gadget man that I am... topped with the fact that I love to read... Of course I fell in love with the new Amazon Kindle™, a wireless portable reading device with instant access to more than 190,000 books, blogs, newspapers and magazines. Whether you're in bed or on the train, Kindle lets you think of a book and get it in less than a minute.
Doesn't that sound amazing?
As much as I LOVE the smell of books, and how wonderful they look on my bookshelves... I think it would be an exceptional way to "go green" and save some trees!
Not to mention how awesome it would be to travel with 20 of my favorite books, magazines and newspapers without having to take more than one carry on!!!
So, okay... I realize that Christmas is so far away, and this handy little "Wonder Book" is NOT a necessity... But just writing this blog reminded me of how fun it is to dream!