Before he created Survivor, Mark Burnett was the creator and Executive Producer of Eco-Challenge. A fascinating show that dared teams to compete in a 300 mile race across seriously rugged terrain in often impossible conditions. For my money, this was the reality race show that started them all. Each team was composed of a mandatory mix of both men and women who were challenged to keep moving 24 hours a day – walking, canoeing, kayaking, scuba diving and the like. They were further challenged to leave each ‘pit stop’ free of any debris, the same as they found it, in an effort to safe guard the environment. No small feat when you’re drop dead exhausted, can’t see straight, been trekking through goodness knows what non…
What’s a brand? Well look around, they’re everywhere. From Nike to Xerox and from Lifetime Television for women to ESPN the total sports network.
If you have any connection to the internet everything you say on the web becomes part of your brand. If you’re on Twitter and you post tweets saying, “Just woke up I think I’ll have some donuts with my coffee” it can and will be Goggled. That tweet will live longer than your children. The writings of your daily blog will be etched in stone. We’ve entered a new age and everything you say and do brands you.
The good news is you have the chance to brand yourself the way agency creatives branded Nike, Wendy’s and Coke.
When you create…
Reviewed by Maria Lokken
3.5 stars
Publisher: Mira
Pub Date Feb 1, 2009
Kimberly Van Dorn is a mess. She’s flying coach, dressed in a sequin evening gown, wearing four inch strapless heels and accompanied by only one piece of ‘luggage’ a Judith Leiber handbag. Where is she going and what is she running from? We know this much, she’s just left the eternal sunshine of LA for the frigid winter of Willow Lake in upstate New York.
A media agent for superstar sports figures, Kimberly has traded in her job for what she believes will be the comfort her mother’s arms and the pace of small town life. But small town doesn’t mean small problems, because this story is filled with…
Reviewed by Maria Lokken
Publisher: Berkley
5 stars
Publication date 4/7/09
I picked up Jodi Thomas’ latest novel not knowing what to expect. The only thing I knew was that I was in for a good read, and once again, Ms. Thomas did not disappoint. She paints beautiful pictures with her words, creates characters that are so real you feel as though they’re standing next to you, and she has a deliciously wry sense of humor. Rewriting Monday is no exception.
Pepper Malone, an ex-reporter from the Windy City, is on the run and traveling light. With just the bare essentials (her car, computer and Manolo Blanicks) she ends up in Bailee, Texas – a town without a traffic light. In…
Straight from HaperStudio press release:
“HarperStudio announced its experiment in e-book pricing and “bundling” of formats. In response to such proponents of “free” as Chris Anderson and Seth Godin, HarperStudio’s e-books will be free to anyone who agrees to review the book on Twitter. These short reviews, which must be 140 characters or less (known as “tweets” in Twitter-lingo), must be sent within two weeks of receiving the free e-book. Furthermore, if a consumer sends more than ten “tweets” about a HarperStudio e-book, that person will receive a free copy of the hardcover, signed by the author. Finally, if the consumer tweets more than fifty times about a HarperStudio book, that person will be taken to…
Books are changing. It’s a fact. And that’s the beauty of the new media. If you can dream it, you can make it happen. The technology exists or can be created so any illusion can be realized That is certainly true for books. There’s the obvious e-book whether you read it on your computer, your e-reader or your phone, you’re never far away from a good read. But books are becoming much more than words on a page sandwiched between a front and back cover. Witness The Amanda Project
When the full website launches in June 2009 it will feature the book, Invisible I, by Melissa Kantor, published by HarperCollins.
According to their website, The Amanda Project is an interactive,…
We’re all learning to be thrifty. And thrifty is a good thing. Maybe it’s something we should have been doing all along. You know, turning off the lights when you leave a room. Not only is it good for your wallet, it’s good for the planet. Maybe you’re combing your local newspaper for coupons. Or maybe you’re just beginning to experience the joys of savings when shopping with coupons.
Personally, I’ve always been into thrift, searching for a bargain or a sale. I do eat leftovers, I don’t let the water run while I’m brushing my teeth, and I will wait for a movie to come to DVD.
However, there are certain indulgences that don’t fall into the category of ‘gotta be thrifty’. When a…
I love time travel, books, television and movies. It’s almost an obsession. When I first began reading romance, I searched out every time travel romance there was. I went deep into author’s back lists, I scoured the bookshelves, I asked for recommendations. I couldn’t get enough. When it comes to time travel television shows, all they have to do is promote a new one and that hour is booked on my schedule. However, based on the number of TV shows canceled and the dearth of books published, it would appear I’m one of the lonely few who enjoy the subject.
When it comes to canceled TV shows there are any number of them. For example:
Journeyman was a series about San Francisco reporter, Dan…
I found myself having to travel to five different cities in 10 days. I’m exhausted just thinking about it again. Packing for four different climates is what I consider a true challenge.
My husband has always called me Zsa Zsa Gabor when it comes to packing. I simply cannot live without anything. What if I arrive and I feel like wearing that cute little red top? Well I’d have to have the pants that match, and of course the shoes, and don’t forget the accessories. While we’re talking shoes, each pair of pants is hemmed a different length, I’d have to have at least several pairs of shoes. Of course, there’s the cosmetics’, toiletries, blow dryer, big roll brush – oh it’s just endless.…
Sometimes when I’m out with Marisa she’ll have to tell me to “stop staring.” Yes, I’m a ’starer’, particularly in restaurants when I’m not engaged in a conversation with the person I’m sitting with. My gaze will just wander and I’ll stare over at the next table, completely engrossed in another person’s conversation. Sometimes I wonder why they just don’t offer me a seat.
My compulsion to stare is the same compulsion I have for reading romance. It’s all about the relationships As a reader, I can be the person at the next table and I’m in on every single detail as the relationship progresses from bad to worse, back to bad and then to total bliss. Damn, I love those stories. That’s exactly why…
