First, I am a human being, although I resent that implication. I'm just as ambitious as most of you but I like to think I hava a heart and soul and brain...and other things you might find interesting. During my struggle to grow, to climb, to become the person I'm supposed to be, I've learned a lot, I've become better, I've been hurt. Have I ever hurt anyone? Probably. But it was only when fighting for something I really believed in with my back up against the wall. I want my work to be recognized but I also want you to know me for me.
My latest book is the balleyhooed novel, "The Fame Game" Although I try to be dignified about it, I guess I'm like most people in contemporary society, and I can be a bit of a whore about promotion. Let's face it, we all have a little bit of prostitute in us. It doesn't have to be sexual. But as artists we have to promote what we do! It's part of who we are. It scares the shit out of me--that there's so many talented people with things to promote. And here we are..all waving our arms. So I shall start my waving and then move on.
There's way too much info about me here. But, as usual, I'll spill out pieces of my life, like emptying out an overstuffed handbag onto the table...and let you pick through it and examine what you find interesting.
I call "THE FAME GAME," "Hip Chick Lit with a dick," because it was written by me. It's not really chick lit--but people who like that genre will dig it. It's a steamy story, a contemporary satire on the obsession with celebrities, tabloid culture, and the frantic quest for fame. It follows the careers of 3 very ambitious, lusty, urbane, wannabe's--grasping, climbing, desperate, backstabbing--all on a frantic quest for celebrity. There's a gorgeous female model who wants to act, a sexy male prostitute who wants to write, and a famous director's daughter who will do anything to prover herself.Very fun, very modern "Valley of the Dolls" but with literary bite. Did you read Liz Smith's column about me? She called me the new Jacqueline Susann saying THE FAME GAME is "juicy, nasty, funny, and intense." I can do worse than being compared to Jackie! And it does have the steamy love scenes,intrigue, and the deceptively gorgeous characters. So it made me feel really, really good.
Because I have worked for so many years in New York and Los Angeles as an entertainment journalist I am considered a "fame expert" and a "celebrity observer," which came to good use when satirizing the tabloid culture in "THE FAME GAME."
I'm also here to have you know something about me. And maybe learn about you. So...More about me, by me. I'm the usual unique guy. An average-looking knockout, extremely passionate and intense--in an apathetic, laid back kind of a way. I'm very happy-go-lucky and content, except when I'm being moody, broody & brilliant. I go through periods of extreme ambition and activity which I counteract with longer periods of exhaustion and laziness. I'm very clear-headed about my own confusion.
I'm an Italian-American guy with dark hair and eyes and a fluctuating appearance. Although I'm considered a beaut in my own right, I realize one person's paradise, someone else wouldn't look twice at. Sure, there's plenty of guys who are better looking than me, younger, with a better body. My body fluctuates depending on my mood and love life. But I will compete with any man on a total package level.I'm sure you'd find me uncomplicated and without baggage, as long as you have an extremely complex mind that runs on a very twisted track. Basically, I'm a good guy, though, sort of intriguing, never boring. I'm abnormally talented in about 3 areas--completely hopeless at everything else.I'm a Native New Yorker, lived in LA for awhile, now happily settling in NY again. I like to spend time on both coasts to futher feed my somewhat schizophrenic nature.
I'm very smart about things I know about, and I'm usually interested in things I know nothing about. But there's a fair share of things that I have no interest in at all. I don't waste my time trying to become enthusiastic about people and things that bore me.
I'm not a Republican or a Democrat. I'm a human being who wants what's best for all people. I try to look at issues in a realistic and compassionate way, without the blinders of being fanatically attached to any party. I want to believe in the good of all people, yet I'm canny enough to realize that we will never live in a utopia and we need rules and guidelines to live by. Evil exists and must be kept in check. I'm talking about you. I'm talking about me.
I've always been a conspicuous person. Since my earliest memories. People--on sight--either like me very much or despise me. That's just something in me. I try to be normal...but that "thing" in me is there. It rears it's head. So let me announce hear and now...I'm a pretty nice guy. Let's play nice. Some time it's in our nature to attack. And now isn't the world sometimes ugly enough without that?What I do (for a living, that is): I make my living as a writer, mostly entertainment journalism. As I mentioned, I'm often considered a "Celebrity Consultant" or a "Fame Observer," and my opinion is sought on curren A-List topics...or legendary show business tales.
Like many people, I've had a long time fascination with Marilyn Monroe. My first novel is entitled "THE MARILYN DIARIES" which is a fictional recreation of the infamous lost diary of Marilyn Monroe. So it tells her life story as if written in her own voice--as I imagine it...it is available at amazon.com and barnes&noble.com. It is my dream that David Lynch read it...because I know he has an interest in Marilyn...and I feel a kindred spirit to him in many ways.
Another book of mine, an official, authorized literary biography of the writer, rebel sexual outlaw, provocateur, male hustler, JOHN RECHY. "OUTLAW: THE LIVES AND CAREERS OF JOHN RECHY. His book "City of Night," is a gorgeous classic and paved the way for generations to come.
"A new book "BOYS LOST & FOUND" a collection of short works is also available by Gival Press.
Here's my Marilyn, my muse, my girl, proving why she's "Marilyn" in clips from the movie "Niagara."
