Lifelong Learning: Reads on the Road Launch Party at 70 Park Avenue Hotel

By: Wela Quan

In today’s fast paced world, nothing is more comforting than curling up with a good book on a fall evening. But what if you are away from home and don’t have your favourite books on hand or simply forgot to pack on in your rush to the airport? 70 Park Avenue Hotel, a quaint traveler’s hotel in midtown seems to have come up with a solution to this problem: offer your guests book to read as part of their stay!

Reads on the Road Titles

Courtney Thorne-Smith Hosts The New Atkins Made Easy Book Launch

By: Anne M. Raso

I was lucky enough to attend the recent The Atkins Made Easy book launch at the Bouley Test Kitchen in Tribeca hosted by actress Courtney Thorne-Smith of Two And A Half Men who also just happens to be the Atkins Diet celebrity spokesperson. Press got the rundown on the book and new eating plan from Thorne herself (as well as Atkins Vice President of Nutrition & Education Colette Heimowitz and The Skinny Chef, Jennifer Iserloh, who developed the new book's recipe) while sampling low carb appetizers.

Photo: Atkins

Justin Bieber’s Mom To Teen Girls: ”Learn From My Mistakes”! An Exclusive Interview with Pattie Mellette!

By: Anne M. Raso

Justin Bieber’s 38-year-old mom Pattie Mallette—a dead ringer for Sheryl Crow-- was just 17 when she got pregnant with Justin and now wants to share her turbulent journey with teenagers around the world who might find themselves in the same boat via her book Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom (Teen Edition) with co-author A.J. Gregory. The original book for adults came out in September 2012 but this new edition for teens includes “discussion suggestions” and sidebars that are of interest to the younger set. Pattie is often asked advice from Justin’s fans that encounter her, so it’s a natural that she do a book in this format. She is always happy to dole out advice.

Charlotte Kandel: Warner Bros. PR Exec's New Book Based on George Clooney, Nicole Kidman and More!

By: Anne M. Raso

Charlotte Kandel, former head of worldwide publicity for Warner Bros. Films, has gone the Jackie Collins route and published a novel based on her experiences in the weird and wacky world of Hollywood called The Summer Girl, A Movie Star Love Story. The protagonist is a PR intern named Lucy who falls for a movie superstar/director she is working with--and can't tell when he is acting or when he is being "real." We spoke to Charlotte about her foray into the world of novels (her last writing effort was the kids' book The Enchanted Riddle, part of the Silk Stockings series), and how much of her tell-all is really a peek at her former world.

Lips Unsealed: Chatting with Belinda Carlisle

by: Anne M. Raso

Belinda Carlisle recently made a special appearance to promote her autobiography Lips Unsealed: A Memoir (Crown Publishers, $26) at the Barnes & Noble at 150 East 86th Street in Manhattan, and to make things super-special for fans, she let longtime gal-pal Sandra Bernhard grill her with issues covered (and not covered) in her book in front of over 400 fans! We here at financefoodie.com were lucky enough to get a few minutes of alone time with Belinda while she signed about 100 copies of the book to be sold in the store and for promotional purposes. (She is the only author we have ever seen sign ON THE COVER, with the exception of RuPaul, so she's in good company!)