AUTHORS

Who knew that the class of '61 would produce so many authors?  Would Mr. Allnut or Miss Casey be surprised?  Maybe, or maybe not.  But here are some of the authors bred in the classrooms of B-CC.

Vicky Tiel has a memoir just out, It's All About the Dress,  available at Amazon (FIVE STARS)  click here for Vicky's book. She tells us there's even a bit about her time at B-CC and her days as a cheerleader. Like the mini-skirt she is known for inventing, 40-year fashion veteran Tiel bares it all on sex, love and Elizabeth Taylor. “Life itself is the party” in the author’s debut—and what a delicious romp it is. Her memoir reads like all of the juiciest bits of your favorite gossip magazine, pushing back the curtains of an over-the-top life among the who’s who of the ’60s-’80s, including the original Hollywood power couple, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Readers will frolic along with Tiel as a 17-year-old sassy Greenwich Village “it-girl” who called herself “Peaches LaTour.” Later, as a French couture designer, Tiel summoned the gall to tell legendary designer Coco Chanel with a smile, “I am you—when you were young.” Much like the red-leather catsuits and hot-pink caftans for which she is known, Tiel’s tour through the past is fun, flirty, flattering and, above all, revealing without being sleazy. She recalls, with great affection, Taylor and Burton’s “private, intense love and eternal interest in each other,” Miles Davis’ “preference for Jewish girls as lovers” and her father’s sage advice to never “marry for security,” and that “if you make your own money, you never have to eat s ..t from a man.” The author rounds it out with additional tidbits, such as Sophia Loren’s pasta recipe and Edith Head’s life lessons. An enjoyable confection.

Other reviews:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/fashion/vicky-tiels-40-year-career-in-fashion.html?pagewanted=all;
http://www.vanityfair.com/contributors/vicky-tiel; http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903366504576486522597438758.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Vicky is having a book-signing party on the evening of October 11, in D.C.  Anyone interested in going can send Barbara Johnson bj8x@msn.com his or her home address to receive an invitation.

Marvin McIntyre's first novel, Insiders, is, as they say, right out of today's headlines. The story is inspired by the events that rocked the world financial markets in 2008-2009. The book is available at Amazon, click here for Marvin's book   Note the FIVE STARs! .And glowing reviews from the likes of David Baldacci and Kitty Kelley.  Marvin will donate a minimum of 50% of the net proceeds from the sale of his novel to charity.

Check out Barron's Review (page 2)  http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052748704900704576594941136960356.html

Joe Haldeman's The Forever War,  as relevant today as when first released, the award winning military science fiction novel is now available as an ebook.  A THOUSAND YEAR CONFLICT. ONE SOLDIER LIVES THROUGH IT ALL. CAN HE MAINTAIN HIS HUMANITY?  The Forever War chronicles the life of William Mandella, who, due to the time distortion associated with deep space travel, he is present during both the first and the last battle of a thousand year old conflict with the alien Taurans. A masterpiece of not just science fiction, The Forever War illustrates the futility of all wars and their effect on the human soul. The Forever War won all major science fiction awards including the Hugo, Nebula and Locus. Ridley Scott, director of Blade Runner and Alien, is currently adapting this classic for film.  Available from Amazon,  click here for Joe's book.  (FIVE STARS)

Jack Schairer For all you history buffs (perhaps thanks to Mr. Barbash or Mr.Frisbie), and particularly those with an interest in the Civil War and Southern Maryland, Jack Schairer has written a book entitled Lee's Bold Plan for Point Lookout.  Available from Amazon,click here for Jack's book. Another FIVE STAR review! 

For all of you political junkies, Robert V. Friedenbergjust had the fifth edition of his book, Political Campaign Communication: Principles and Practices, which he coauthored with Judith S. Trent, released by Rowman and Littlefield Publishers. The first edition was published in 1983.  Available at Amazon,  Click here for Bob's book. FIVE STARS here, too.

Lenore Cooper Bensinger  produced the first US Fringe Festival in Seattle, creating a live playwrights' radio show (currently in revival by colleagues); has authored and seen produced BEHIND the VEIL, THE PRINCE and the DRAGON, ALCHEMY OF DESIRE, AUNT ALICE'S QUICK CAKE and others.  Her all-time favorite unproduced play which she is currently revising is PIPER's WAKE, a retelling of the ancient Crusades in the light of our present Middle East incursions.

Something here for everyone--get out your reading glasses and enjoy!