Author Archives: Jennifer Reed/ bookjunkiez

About Jennifer Reed/ bookjunkiez

My Niece and Nephew joke that I could open a used book store with all the books that I own. I love to read, that is my addiction. I can't go a week without going to a book store. I love crocheting. I love to write stories and poetry. I also love my family, even though they make me crazy at times. I am a huge Donald Duck Fan.

Scattershot Virtual Book Tour

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My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive

Memoir

Date to Published: September 10, 2024

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

 

 

Larry Chrysler’s life takes a dramatic turn when a chance encounter
with a mysterious stranger disrupts his day. From that moment, the son of a
bipolar mom and a homophobic dad decides he must follow his heart and forge
his own path to success if he is to achieve his fashion design dreams. Armed
with only a high school diploma and “angels on his shoulders,”
Larry befriends wayward princesses, dresses A-list actors and rock music
royalty, and embarks on jet-setting adventures his younger self hardly could
have imagined.

Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive tells the
unforgettable story of a Jewish gay boy who leaves the oppressiveness of the
Minneapolis projects to pursue a glamorous career in design among elite
fashion circles in America and Europe. At times funny, wise, and heartfelt,
this is a story of coming out during the repressive 1950s and of eventually
finding true love. In this wryly candid and inspirational memoir, Larry
proves that no dream is impossible with a little daring and
panache—and, of course, a fabulous wardrobe.

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EXCERPT

 

Each evening, when Norman and I retired to our bedrooms, Andrew would go down to the pool house, smoke a cigar, and read magazines. One day, there was a conversation about the Marrakesh Hotel Mamounia, where I had stayed a few times. I was describing the decor and beautiful gardens when Andrew blurted out, “Oh, I once loved the hotel but now nobody who is anybody goes there anymore. It just isn’t done.” 

As he spoke, I realized he was quoting an interview with Yves St Laurent’s partner Pierre Berge in a magazine I had left on the dining table the day before. His comment was another one of his supposed experiences — and an obvious lie. I felt certain he’d never been there. Another of his fantasies was when it was his turn to shop for groceries, and I complained that the price he’d paid for certain items was outrageous, he blithely claimed he never looked at the price of anything because in his “very rich” family there was no need. 

One evening, the three of us, along with our two houseguests, drove into nearby Nice to go to L’Ascenceur, a gay bar I frequented when in town. The moment we entered the bar, Andrew, in a booming voice, said, “Well, here we are fellas, the rich American guys from California.” It was mortifying. 

Happily, the rest of the month was uneventful, and Andrew continued his nightly time alone reading and smoking in the pool house. 

Norman and I belonged to a private international gay businessmen’s club called Gamma Mu. Twice each year the members gathered in a US city hosted by resident members where we spent four days going on special tours, participating in meetings, and networking and socializing with each other. At the requisite Friday luncheon, new members were introduced. Before the seated group, each person explained where he was from, who had sponsored his membership, and what their type of career was. This particular Fly-In (as they were called) was in Seattle, and Norman brought Andrew, who had recently become a new member. That Friday, the newbies stood before the crowd and rattled off the usual list: their sponsor, their hometown, and their career. Except for Andrew. When he stood on the stage, he said, “My name is Andrew da Silva. I am from La Jolla, California, and I don’t work. Norman Blachford, my sponsor, keeps me.” 

A collective gasp filled the room. The next morning, I saw Norman with his luggage in the lobby, where he was checking out of the hotel. He said he and Andrew were leaving early because there was an emergency and they had to return to California. I knew, however, that Norman was embarrassed and couldn’t stand the thought of saving face for the rest of the weekend. 

I rarely saw Andrew after that except for a dinner or two with Norman here in Los Angeles. Then, the shocking news came on the television about Andrew, whose real last name was Cunanan: he had been murdering men in Minneapolis and his whereabouts were unknown.

An FBI agent stationed in Minneapolis called me and informed me my name was found on a list of Andrew’s intended victims. He said to contact the authorities immediately if anything came up and promised to reach out to me should it be found that I was in any danger. After that call ended, I put the telephone down, poured myself a stiff drink, and began to shake all over.

Meanwhile, there were television interviews with purported “friends” of Andrew’s relishing their fifteen minutes of fame, telling untrue stories about him and their friendships just as Andrew had spread his false stories over the years. Each time I called Norman, he would repeatedly say, “Oh it couldn’t possibly be our Andrew.” His denial was the same as it had been when I had originally warned him about Andrew in Mexico City.  

In New York on my way to Europe shortly after the news first broke, things continued to remain tense and frightening with Andrew still on the loose, his whereabouts still unknown, and a lot of murmurs “on the street” that he might be in New York City. My greatest fear was he might be out to get me because of that evening at the restaurant in Nice when I called him out on his lies.

Norman phoned and said he would be in New York at the same time as me. When I asked him where he was staying, he named the same hotel he and Andrew usually stayed in, which was on a dark and quiet street near the Plaza Hotel. Incredulous, I asked, “Are you out of your mind staying there? You could be accosted by Andrew on that street. He knows exactly where you stay.” 

Again, Norman poo-pooed the danger he might be in and then invited me to a cocktail party he was throwing at the Regents bar. I couldn’t believe the level of denial, and yet there I was, somehow complicit in his denial as well, putting on my sports coat and hailing a taxi to the Regents bar. 

About thirty of us stood around the bar waiting for the oft-late Norman and all chatting about Andrew. What else was there to discuss, after all? We waited and waited until finally, about 45 minutes later, Norman arrived with a new boyfriend, in tow: Peter. We all immediately eyeballed each other knowingly, because Peter’s coloring and demeanor resembled Andrew’s to a T. 

Shortly after that, Gianni Versace was murdered in Miami,

 

About the Author

Larry Chrysler

Larry Chrysler was raised in the bi-racial projects of 1930s Minneapolis
before pursuing a career as a dress designer in New York and Los Angeles. He
eventually established himself as a distinguished menswear clothier on the
iconic Rodeo Drive. Currently, Larry lives in Beverly Hills with his husband
Matthew. Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive
is his first book.

 

Contact Links

Facebook: Larry Chrysler 

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Big Tex Blitz

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Adult Picture Book

Date Published: July 22, 2024

 

 

This satirical tale disguised as a children’s book follows an aspiring drag
queen with dreams of dazzling stages and glittered wigs eager to shine in a
world determined to hold him back.

Convinced that the tough buckaroos in the neighboring town of Ruff Ridge,
known for their rugged cowboy way of life and home to the clothing brand
Ruff Ryder, will hinder his glamorous ambitions, he devises an ingenious
plan to win their acceptance. With courage, creativity, and a pair of chaps,
he embarks on a journey to turn his dreams into reality.

Inspired by real events, this clever, funny, and heartwarming tale explores
identity, ambition, and community. The story celebrates individuality,
courage, and the transformative power of being true to oneself, all while
providing a thought-provoking reflection on the politics of our times.

About the Author

Roger Rittenhouse

Roger Rittenhouse is a former stand-up comedian originally from Denver,
Colorado who began his career in the 80s, appearing on The Arsenio Hall
Show, The Dennis Miller Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Notable writing credits
include Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect and the Comedy Central Roasts. An
armchair cartoonist turned author and illustrator, (after finding a digital
drawing tablet on Craigslist) Roger brings his comedic antics to picture
books intended for big boys and girls.

 

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YAY… I Love to Learn Virtual Book Tour

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Children’s Book

Date Published: July 23, 2024

 

 

Another wonderful rhyming Childrens story from Mr. B about the value of
learning at school, home or with family and friends…Yay. The thirteen
rhymes and and magical illustrations bring excitement and fun to the
importance of learning, listening, paying full attention and the importance
of asking questions with every learning experience. Like Mr. B’s first first
three books, Yay…It’s My First Day of School, Happy Makes Me Happy and
Twins With Love x2 your hearts will smile.

 

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About the Author

Mr. B

Mr. B

Happy Makes Me Happy

Amazon Best Selling Children’s Book Author

Mike Barnes is a semi-retired new author whose passion for writing came to
fruition upon his retirement from 38 years of authentic servant
leadership.

As a father and grandfather, Mike was reading to his twin granddaughters
and decided to unleash his passion for writing children’s books with
rhyming stories about love, care, and kindness.

In addition to Happy Makes Me Happy, Mike has a second book Twins With Love
x2 and a third book, YAY… It’s My First Day of School coming
this year.

Mike also recently started Barnes Leadership and Strategy Coaching whereby
he has been a keynote speaker on Authentic Servant Leadership Hardwired to
the Heart.

 

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Website

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Blues Jam Blitz

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Fiction / Coming of Age

Date Published: June 10, 2024

 

 

 

 

A young woman battles loss and addiction growing up in Saint Paul and finds
her way to live her dream of becoming a Blues drummer.

 

About the Author

Stephen Rice

Stephen was born and raised in Henderson, NY. He moved to Saint Paul, MN to
attend Hamline University. After working a variety of jobs, he began a
career as a computer programmer. An interest in writing words preceded his
interest in writing code.

 

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The Bookshop Ladies Blitz

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Women’s Fiction

Date Published: 09-10-2024

Publisher: Aria Fiction

 

 

 

Bestselling Irish writer, Faith Hogan, has created another gripping saga of
friendship, betrayal and secrets in this story of a widow in search of
answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband.

 

Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a
valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town
on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out.

She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and
unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for
dashing Kian, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop
successful.

As Joy becomes entangled in the daily dramas of Ballycove, uncovering the
secrets behind her husband’s painting grows increasingly challenging. When
she finally musters the courage to confront the truth, her revelation sends
shockwaves through the tight-knit community she’s grown to love.

 

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About the Author

Faith Hogan

Faith Hogan is an award-winning, million copy best selling author. She is a
USA Today Bestseller, Irish Times Top Ten and an Amazon UK Number 1 Best
Selling writer of ten contemporary fiction novels. Her books have featured
as Book Club Favorites, Net Galley Hot Reads and Summer Must Reads. She
writes grown up women’s fiction which is unashamedly uplifting, feel-good
and inspiring.

Her new summer read The Bookshop Ladies is out in June 2024 and it’s a
great big welcome back to Ballycove for her readers.

She writes twisty contemporary crime fiction as Geraldine Hogan.

She lives in the west of Ireland with her family and their Labrador named
Penny.

 

Contact Links

Website

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Twitter

Blog

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Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/TheBookshopLadies

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