Jeff Rivera - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Music By: Kast N Fame
Web Media Trailer By: SKWGraphics
Once homeless and living in his car, author, Jeff Rivera writes passionate stories of those often forgotten and neglected by society. He believes even in the eyes of a gang member, even beneath the soiled clothes of a bag lady or behind the tears of a lonely kid in the back of the class, there lies a common thread that links us all, the universal human story. His personal mission is to help change the way the world thinks in a positive way through his stories.
He has been featured in national magazines, on national television and radio including: The Boston Globe, Miami Herald, Rotarian Magazine, Right On! Magazine, NPR, American Latino TV, SITV and was awarded Best New Author Award by the Mahogany Media Review. His first novel, Forever My Lady (published by Warner Books/Grand Central Publishing) became a critical media darling having received over 45 reviews on Amazon, over 30 reviews on BarnesandNoble.com and was given 5 stars by Amazon.com's #1 Book Reviewer Ms. Harriet Klausner. He is fast at work on his next novel as well as the sequel to Forever My Lady and anticipates its independent release in 2008.
Rivera has also been invited to speak all over the world as well and has become an advocate for helping young people help themselves.
A former Oregonian and Las Vegan, Mr. Rivera currently lives in Miami, Florida. He was adopted by his Filipino stepfather when he was seven years old (which is why his last name is Rivera) and his ethnic background is Black American and Native American.Forever My Lady can be purchased at bookstores everywhere and Amazon.com. He invites people to visit his website: http://www.JeffRivera.com

My Interests

Writing, his family, metaphysical and spiritual stuff, the beach, and great music from hip hop to classical that is from the heart.

I'd like to meet:

People who are making a difference in other people's lives, those that focus their energy on the positive and not on judging other people and those who are real with themselves and funny to be around. As well as fans of his writing.

Movies:

Emotional roller coasters, The Color Purple is his favorite film, as well as The Green Mile.

Television:

In Living Color, Everybody Loves Raymond, Golden Girls, 20/20, MTV, VH1

Books:

Excuse Me Your Life is Waiting, the 4-Hour Work Week, Conversations with God, Where the Red Fern Grows, Summer of the Monkeys, The Whole Picture by Professor Richard Walter, Story by Robert McKee, and books by Nicholas Sparks & Stephen King

Heroes:

Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates, Martin Luther King, M. Night Shyamalan, Michael Crichton, Nicholas Sparks, Stephen King, his mother, Venise Rivera, his grandmother JoAnne, grandfather Professor Horatio T. Strother, his brother Stephen (DJ Scoub/ManSureal), his stepfather Lee for getting up at dawn every day to put food on the table when they were little.

My Blog

Yeah! I hired my first assistant

I'm so excited I just hired my first assistant, her name is Michelle. So now I have an online/marketing team, a data entry staff, an agent, an attorney, a publicist, a web designer, a photography team...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Sat, 03 May 2008 04:54:00 PST

everything’s coming together

I was just talking with a friend on the phone a few minutes ago and she was asking me what was up. I started rattling off all the good stuff going on and I'm thinking damn, I do have a lot going on. E...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Fri, 02 May 2008 09:07:00 PST

This very cool too, check this out

So you know me, I'm such a technology freak, I wanted everyone to know about this cool thing that's way better than vonage or any voice over IP device. It's called www.magicjack.com and you just pay $...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Thu, 01 May 2008 07:42:00 PST

Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: No Schedules, No Meetings, No Joke--

Tell me this is not going to be a 1 New York Times Bestseller. This is going to be such a huge hit and I want everyone to know about it. It's called Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: No Schedules, No ...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Thu, 01 May 2008 07:39:00 PST

I did it

So I walked out of those doors today and just got home as a free man. Took a shower and everything, now I'm going to take a nap and get to work. God I feel good. I really appreciate all the positive w...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:20:00 PST

today is the day

So today is my last day at a day-job. And tomorrow I begin the life of a full-time author. I'm very excited, but honestly scared too. What if I fail? What if I'm not able to make a living after ...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:40:00 PST

the outline is done

So I finished outlining my next novel after CHAINS, it's called FALLING IN LIGHT and I feel really good about it, it feels very solid. It's very Nicholas Sparks, love story only with a more spiritual ...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:37:00 PST

So heres whats going on

So in a few short weeks, I am making the plunge to be a full-time author, scary as it may be but if there's a time to do it, it's now. I'm getting things prepared, an action plan, etc. I finishe...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 03:43:00 PST

more Good News about Forever My Lady

I just heard from my editor at Warner/Grand Central that Forever My Lady (the first book) is doing so well that they are putting it out in mass paperback in November 2008. That’s very exciting, ...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:23:00 PST

almost done with Forever My Lady Part 2

So in writing there’s the outline, the first draft, the second draft, the third, the polish and then there’s what I like to call "The Crap-Draft" I’m almost done with my crap-draft o...
Posted by Jeff Rivera on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:00:00 PST