After several bad breakups, it can be difficult to stay positive. Long-time television producer, Tamara Duricka Johnson proves this in her new memoir, 31 Dates in 31 Days, a heart-warming tale about Johnson’s own experience with finding love. In celebration of her 31st birthday, the author decides to embark on a dating challenge to find romance by going on 31 dates in 31 days. The last date culminates on Valentine’s Day, and is marked with a second date with one of the 30 men. In this fun-filled memoir, Johnson puts her experience to paper and shares the lesson she learned along the way: if you want love, give it away.
Cupid had a chance to speak to Johnson about her project and book:
Many couples don’t realize the pressure and work it takes to move in with a significant other. Lack of communication, romance, bad habits and finances can all take a toll when two people shack up for the first time. “Will you move in with me?” seems like a benign question for so many couples who’ve been together and are ready for the next step before marriage. However, you may never make it to the alter if you don’t set boundaries and expectations.
You may think that you’ll never find lasting love if you’ve been part of one failed relationship after another but Linda Yellin, author of The Last Blind Date, is here to tell you that there is hope for a happily ever after. In her new book, she chronicles with wit and hilarious detail, the lead-up to her current marriage to Randy Arthur and her subsequent move to New York City. She lets it be known that although there are no steadfast rules to a lasting relationship there are things you can do to keep a healthy and happy outlook on life with your partner.
We had a chance to interview Linda Yellin about her book, and this is what she had to say:
Are you looking for a happier love life? Happiness expert, author, life coach and TV personality Sophie Keller gives us 50 key ideas for improving your relationship in her upcoming book, How Happy Is Your Love Life?: 50 Great Tips to Help You Attract and Keep Your Perfect Partner.
The book is part of a four-book series coming out November 27. Keller notes her goal for the ‘How Happy Is’ brand is that [her] practical, easy to use advice will help you discard outdated attitudes, habits and beliefs in order to make more positive choices in your life.
Ever wonder the secret to staying happily married? Why some people make it look so easy, while you’re feeling like you’re in a struggle for your life? A new book, The Secret Lives of Wives: Women Share What it Really Takes to Stay Married, rounds up a diverse cast of happily married characters who have the tenacity and audacity to make their marriages work.
We interviewed the author, Iris Krasnow, who calls her book “an antidote for divorce”, and asked her to spill her own secrets of wedded bliss.
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After a relationship ends, it’s sometimes difficult to have hope again when it comes to finding love. Insecurity can get the best of you, and you may not know how to heal from your previous experience. In his new book, Beyond Boundaries: Learning to Trust Again in Relationships, clinical psychologist, Dr. John Townsend, helps people to open up. Beyond Boundaries provides steps and skills to assist those who are battling honesty issues and are trying to regain confidence, either in a new union, or an old one.
In Jackie Collins’ world, romance is sexier, Hollywood stars burn brighter and revenge runs deeper. The London born lurid legend looks at American culture through a savvy, satirist’s eye, using iconic pop culture figures as her inspiration. In Goddess of Vengeance (St. Martin’s Press) the author’s famed femme fatale Lucky Santangelo is back, with a cast of sexy, wicked characters all clawing for positions of power. Fierce, funny with a sensual shot of fame, Collins teaches us how to claw to the top and stay there. We spoke with Collins about how far she would go for love, why vengeance is so attractive and the surprises she still has in store. To order a copy of her new book you can go to www.JackieCollins.com and follow her on Twitter at @jackiecollins.
Royal Young writes for Interview Magazine and just completed his debut memoir, FAME SHARK. Follow him at Twitter.com/RoyalYoung
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To outsiders looking in, marriage is a sign that your life is complete, and both people are still “head-over-heels” in love. Privately, however, the husband may be thinking, ‘my has she changed,’ while the wife is often silently wondering, ‘is this really what I signed up for? ’ Andrea Syrtash is a dating and relationship expert, on-air personality and author. With her new book, Cheat on Your Husband (with Your Husband) ready to hit the stands in September, she gives women solutions and advice that will help their marriage prosper for years to come.
Although she is married herself, Syrtash says the book isn’t only from personal experience (although there are some personal lessons shared), but also from interviews she conducted with other women and by citing the latest research on marriage, giving her readers a wide variety of opinions. Syrtash didn’t want the book to come off as a desperate attempt to save your relationship, but rather as a source of tips and advice to rekindle the romance. This book is ideal for anyone who feels they’ve lost track of why they’re married and don’t know where to go from here.
Recently, Cupid had a chance to chat with Ms. Syrtash, and here’s what she had to say:
How did you come up with the title of your new book?
The original title was How to Date Your Husband and that became the subtitle to Cheat On Your Husband (With Your Husband). I chose the word ‘cheat’ because too often we feel guilty when we focus on ourselves and our marriage when we have so many other competing demands; but cheating in this case is a good thing! I wanted a title that was fun, playful, and a little provocative. I didn’t want it to be a relationship rescue book, but rather a relationship renewal book.
In the world of modern motherhood, it’s believed that powerful professional women should be able to “have it all” without a problem. By watching celebrity moms like Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon who are able to maintain loving relationships with their beaus, amazing careers and happy and healthy family lives, it inspires the rest of us to think, ‘Hey, why can’t I have that, too?’. Samantha Walravens, author of the new book TORN:True Stories of Kids, Career and the Conflict of Modern Motherhood, shared with us her wisdom and insight on what it actually means to “have it all” and just how normal a little bit of chaos can be.
Finding love doesn’t come easy, especially when you have unrealistic expectations of your partner. If you don’t believe me, just ask professional matchmaker Marla Martenson, the author of Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker. Martenson gives readers an inside scoop of what really goes on behind the scenes when it comes to matchmaking. Featuring real letters from clients where elite men search for supermodel look-alikes and women are on a quest to find a wealthy soul mate in one of the richest cities in California, the book is sure to shock and entertain readers.
If you’re looking for the perfect date wine or a bottle to celebrate a special occasion, take note that the higher priced ones aren’t always the best. For a long time, it’s been a common misconception that the greatest wines are the most expensive. But, thanks to Elyse Luray, author of Great Wines Under $20, we now know better. After starting to believe that it was normal to drop $100 on a nice vintage, Luray, a licensed auctioneer for high end wine, decided to halt her way of thinking by doing a little experimenting to see if there were any great tasting wines under $20. Thankfully for all of us, there are and now she’s sharing them with the public. You’ll no longer be stumped about the taste that will come out of that $16.00 bottle of Merlot. Luray teaches all of us how to choose an affordable and appealing wine as she introduces us to over 200 great ones in her book and they’re all for less than $20.
Have you ever had that aching suspicion that your partner was cheating on you? You find yourself pacing back and forth worrying where they are, who they’re with and not knowing what to do? Maybe you start beating yourself up even though it’s not your fault. The Cheat Sheet by Rea Frey and Stephany Alexander can help ease your nerves and give you the tools to find out for yourself if your partner really is bunking up with someone else. Stephany Alexander is an infidelity expert and founder of WomanSavers.com, a forum for women to speak to each other about men, abuse and infidelity. The Cheat Sheet will help guide you and give you the advice you need to find out if your man is being unfaithful. We had the opportunity to speak with Stephany to find out more about this common issue. Here’s what she had to say:
What was the inspiration behind WomanSavers.com?
I started WomanSavers.com in 2002, after getting out of a bad relationship. I’ve had a history of abuse throughout my life. I was abused as a child and experienced date rape as a young adult. I even had to file a restraining order against one of my boyfriends who became physically violent with me. I tried online dating and when I signed up for all the matchmaking websites, I experienced a lot of bad dates I thought I knew what I was doing and it was just a numbers game. However, I found that there were a lot of men who were misrepresenting themselves on the Internet. I became very bitter after all of this. Then one day I was walking along the street and an idea just hit me like lightning. The only way women are going to survive in the future is by sharing information with each other. Now, they have an open forum to speak to other women about men.
Every man has a virtual life that he lives in his imagination. Much of it surrounds fantasies about women. However, most keep their deep dark desires in check. The Double Life of Alfred Buberby David Schmahmann tells the story of a man who acts out his repressed urges. It is the story of a successful lawyer who feels deeply dissatisfied with his life. In an effort to find consolation, he secretly ventures to the brothels and bars of Southeast Asia while telling people he is in Paris or London. “Of course it doesn’t end happily,” said Schmahmann. The double-life can’t end happily. But, some people do get away with it.” To write the story, Schmahmann admits he didn’t need to go far into his mind to get into the head of his character. Like Buber and many men, Schmahmann lives in a world of “what if” scenarios.
This scandalous novel was ironically released around the same time as the “sexting” controversy involving U.S. Representative, Anthony Weiner. Other notable scandals that have appeared in recent history include athletic figures such as Brett Farve and Rex Ryan, along with politicians such as former California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and John Edwards. Schmahmann has been asked many times if there is a correlation between powerful figures and sex scandals and he believes there is. It’s been something that has been with us forever. “Jimmy Carter lusted after women and then you see characters like Al Gore who admitted to hanging out with hookers,” Schmahmann said. “I think men, by and large, are a boiling mess of unacquired desires when it comes to women.” Politicians’ desire for power and sense of feeling “bulletproof” carries over into their sex lives.”
Ever had a relationship with a boyfriend that spent more money on himself than he did on you, expected you to pay (in full) while on dates, or constantly spoke about a past romance? You probably assumed you were both meant to be together – until he dumped you a few months later and you finally recalled the red flags in your relationship you shouldn’t have ignored. According to Little Black Book of Big Red Flags: Relationship Warning Signs You Totally Spotted… But Chose to Ignore by Natasha Burton, Meagan McCrary and Julie Fishman, you aren’t the only one. These three have all encountered several flags in their love lives and they’re sharing their stories with you. Alongside their dating disaster tales, the book also offers advice on how to handle similar situations and figure out what kind of relationship will make you happy.
While you might have disregarded that prickling sensation that your relationship is on the rocks, ignore no more. Read on for our author interview:
Protégé to the great executive Aaron Spelling, Jennifer Grisanti learned the ins-and-outs of one of the most competitive businesses in America — entertainment. During her time with Spelling, she worked on shows like 90210 and Melrose Place, moving on years later to become Vice President of Current Programming at CBS Paramount Network Television. In 2007, she left Tinseltown’s lustrious world behind and established her own consultancy for aspiring writers, mentoring them on how to dig deep, find their truth and put it into words. In her new book, Story Line: Finding Gold in Your Life Story, Grisanti offers advice on how to make your story the best it can be, while drawing from her own experiences in life, love and the workplace. As she notes, her book “is a writing book for television and feature writers, but also a business, life and spiritual book for anyone who has a desire to learn how to add fiction to their truth and bring it to the page.”
We had the privilege of interviewing Jennifer last month. Here’s what she had to say:
Ever compared navigating the dating scene to science problem? After all, there must be a secret formula to get boy + girl = love. Well, after dating without solving her equation for years, Rachel Machacek took matters into her own hand and gave herself one year to try different methods of dating, hoping to find the right guy. Lucky for us, she put her findings into a book: The Science of Single: One Woman’s Grand Experiment in Modern Dating, Creating Chemistry and Finding Love. In her debut novel, Machacek shares the triumphs and failures of her various methodological steps, including online sites, matchmakers, singles events, self-help books and the good old-fashioned blind date. While the ultimate goal was to find chemistry with that special someone, this journalist found something much more important – herself.
We spoke with Machecek via email about her book. Here’s what she had to say:
This post is sponsored by Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper.
By Krissy Dolor
If you loved 2008’s Celebutantes, you’re in luck – authors Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper are back with Beneath a Starlet Sky, the follow up to their debut novel. In this fiction book, Lola Santisi, daughter of Hollywood royalty and CEO of a struggling fashion line, is trying to balance the New York fashion scene and her doctor beau in Los Angeles. A stroke of luck lands Lola in Cannes to work during the Film Festival – but this balancing act is harder to manage than she realizes. And let’s not forget about Kate Woods, Lola’s BFF, who just went through a breakup with Lola’s brother (can we say awkward?). How will a newly single Kate navigate her love life…which may conflict with her work life?
Though we can’t tell you the ending, we can bring in Goldberg and Hopper to shed a little insight into their second novel. As these two women themselves are daughters of Hollywood bigwigs (Goldberg’s father is film and TV producer Leonard Goldberg and Hopper is actor Dennis Hopper’s daughter), they have taken their insider knowledge of the workings of Tinseltown and merged it with some fictional drama to create another chick lit book, worthy of your beach tote.
Goldberg and Hopper took time out of their busy LA touring schedule last month to chat with us via email. Take a look at what they had to say:
Could you ever imagine falling in love with someone you’ve never met face to face? For Conor Grennan, the author of Little Princes, that’s exactly what happened. Leaving his job to travel the world, Grennan decided to volunteer at an orphanage in Nepal, figuring it would be a great pickup line with women. During his experience, he discovered that the children of the orphanage weren’t actually orphans; they were abandoned by child traffickers after they had fooled the children’s parents into paying large sums of money for their safety. During Grennan’s adventure, not only does he end up finding the love of his life, but he also falls in love with the children and commits to reuniting them with their families.
This story has been covered internationally and Cupid recently had a chance to interview Grennan about his book. Take a look at what he had to say:
A sports enthusiast and former ESPN anchor, Joe has spent the majority of his career entertaining male audiences. When the work day ends, however, he heads home to a wife and four daughters. Needless to say, he has learned a thing or two about how to make women happy, and is now sharing this precious advice in 150 Secrets to a Happy Wife. Both comedic and touching, this book is a must-read for all couples looking to share a laugh and better understand one another.
We had the privilege of interviewing Joe via about his new book last month. Here’s what he had to say:
When it comes to dating and relationships, do you ever feel confused and unsure how to maneuver around the often bumpy terrain? If so, Donna Estes Antebi is here to help. The entrepreneur, patent holder, business consultant, author, blogger and life coach has made it her mission to help women from all walks of life navigate modern-day relationships. Her latest book, The Real Secrets Women Only Whisper has a warning: “Keep this book away from men!” because of her real insight into the nature of men’s minds. She gives women brutally honest advice about sex, love, dating, money, marriage, divorce, cheating, children and everything in between. According to Antebi, “Every single woman who reads it will absolutely utilize one piece of information in there that will change her life for the better.”
We spoke with Antebi via phone last month. Take a look at what she had to say:
Are you or someone you know in a situation where you’re having difficulty finding love? Or if you’ve found The One, do you feel insecure about the future because you don’t know where the relationship is heading? If so, psychologist Diana Kirschner, Ph.D., author of Sealing the Deal: The Love Mentor’s Guide to Lasting Love can help guide you through your love life. As a relationship expert and best-selling author of Love in 90 Days, Dr. Kirschner has helped thousands of women find true love. In her latest work, which is based on clinical research and experience, she reveals her strategies of building the perfect relationship, creating a deeper bond, getting him to commit and how to deal with infidelity. She also discusses how to avoid mistakes that can ruin a relationship, the importance of getting a love mentor, things to know if you’re considering marriage and even 13 secrets that will make love last – no matter how long the relationship has been.
Cupid interviewed Dr. Kirschner last month via email about her book. Take a look at what she had to say:
What if incorporating fitness into your life actually helped you meet the love of your life? Turns out there’s a correlation between fitness and love, which JJ Flizanes, celebrity fitness trainer and exercise architect explains in her book, Fit 2 Love: How to Get Physically, Emotionally and Spiritually Fit to Attract the Love of Your Life. If you’re single or looking for a better relationship with your partner and you struggle with weight loss or body issues, Flizanes’ book may be just the thing you need to gain love and security through fitness and health. She says it’s possible to attract your life mate by creating the body you desire from a place of self-acceptance, rather than self-loathing. Named by Elite Traveler Magazine as their 2007 Global Black Book pick of Best Personal Trainer in Los Angeles and one of Shape Magazine‘s top six fitness trainers in 2003, JJ Flizanes knows what it takes to get long lasting results in both fitness and relationships.
We had the privilege of speaking with Flizanes via phone last month. Take a look at what she had to say:
Ever heard the expression, “The way to man’s heart is through his stomach”? In Babe Scott’s hilarious and insightful book, Delicious Dating: The Single Girl’s Guide to Decoding Men by Their Wining and Dining Styles, the self-confessed “manthropologist” proves that a man’s eating habits are a good indicator of what kind of boyfriend he’ll be. Babe decided to test her theory by going on countless dates and interviewing more than 200 people about men, food and dating. Her research led her to conclude that there are 10 male dining types, including the Transfat Type, who has the “culinary and romantic skills of Homer Simpson,” and the Culinary Con Man, a guy that will tell you he knows a lot about wine and food but really, doesn’t even know how to operate a hot plate. Babe took some time out and talked to us about her unique, funny and insightful look at the relationship between cuisine and courtship. Take a look at what the Aussie dating expert had to say:
Wouldn’t it be great if someone could shed a little light on why relationships end? Well you’re in luck – New York Times bestselling author Iyanla Vanzant offers some insight in her latest work, Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through. In addition to speaking about the ending of her marriage and what she’s learned from past relationships, Vanzant recounts her past TV experience (including being featured on Oprah and having a self-titled show, which was produced by Barbara Walters) and her daughter’s illness and death. Despite the hardships she has endured, Vanzant has managed to pull through and find success, all while offering advice to those who need a little boost of their own. In addition, Peace from Broken Pieces reveals just how much our past relationships influence our decisions, and why it’s important to recognize patterns in ourselves.
We spoke with Vanzant via phone earlier this year. See what the author had to say:
