Tuesday, December 31, 2013

DVdL: YEAR IN REVIEW: WOW!!!!


It takes many computers to run a book club these days.
Here Jennifer and Hunter Johnson work tirelessly
to create social media. A few people in a room -- but the
world is watching!
DVdL YEAR IN REVIEW: WOW!!!!!
 
In just a few short months, a lot has happened.  Here are some of the end-of-the-year DVdL highlights and what to expect in the exciting year ahead.

 
August 2013

 
In the beginning...Jennifer Johnson, Nedra Young, and Arelene Dulaney discussed having a monthly book club based on "murder mysteries centering on the culinary arts".  The goal was to present an open-forum gathering of friends who would discuss ideas, socialize, and to enjoy food and wine.  Good food, good conversation, good friends..."Fun" was to be the mantra.
 
September 2013
 
At the first "Unofficial Meeting", the group decided on a name, the meeting schedule and the book selections.  Esteemed Members decided to dress as characters from the books at future meetings, decorations would reflect story-lines, and the pot luck food would be inspired by dishes in the selected books as well.
 
Brother Andy came on board, acting as Creative Director. He immediately produced a series of off-beat commercials for DVdL, featuring himself dressed as various characters who are subsequently murdered.
 
A few days later, the Dolce Vita di Libro blog was created and an instant hit. Ads directing people to the blog were placed on Craig's List in every major city of the world -- Rome, London, Berlin, etc.  The response was overwhelmingly positive.

 
October 2013
 
Our first Official Book Club Meeting was held Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. Effervescent Jennifer Johnson amused everyone, dressed a mustached "Bruno, Chief of Police" -- setting the bar high for anyone else wanting to attend as a costumed character. Talented Dona Nill provided gorgeous hand-painted backdrops and signage.  The food was unbelievably good.  Members out-did themselves!
 
Esteemed Member Peggy Vermeer gave a memorable Halloween party for DVdL members at her home.  The beloved Peggy knows how to throw a party!
The wonderfully gifted local artist, Davidro, designed a logo for the group, donating his time and efforts to the group.
 
November 2013
 
The DVdL Second Meeting was also held at Jennifer and Hunter Johnson's House. Nedra Young acted as Facilitator, holding everyone's attention as best as anyone could.   During the meeting, some members made it known they were not happy with the book selections thus far. The theme was a "catering company".  A hefty platform backdrop was brought in with sewing machines, guns, mannequins and so forth for ambience.
 
DVdL gained a physical mailing address. DVdL also gained a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and Google profile -- done with the tremendous help of Jennifer and Hunter Johnson.  The blog continued to received thousands of hits from viewers all over the world.
 
Esteemed Member Davidro released his 2014 date book.

 
December 2013

 
Our DVdL Third Meeting had Lois Graziano as the Facilitator.  Lois contact the author of the selected book who sent some very special gifts to the group. Lois also rang a cow bell to get everyone to stop talking over each other.  It mostly didn't work.  The theme was "Jersey Shore" and the place pretty much resembled an Italian restaurant.
 
The group also decided to change the book selections to books with subject matters that were a bit more challenging than "cupcake mysteries".  Everyone involved was pleased that the group expressed themselves and that responsive change occurred.
Several members went on a "DVdL Day Trip" to Los Angeles.  Members visited the stimulating Hollywood Toy and Costume and off-the-wall Necromance stores. A restful, inspiring day was had by all.
 
One-of-a-kind DVdL Gift Baskets were purchased as Christmas gifts.
 
Brother Andy created a FREE, downloadable DVdL 2014 monthly calendar.  The calendar features Esteemed Members and Sponsors as characters with a comic brief profile about each one. 

Brother Andy also wrote the first PDF published non-fiction DVdL book, "Murder Most Fun: How To Start A Murder Mystery Book Club And Live To Tell About It".  The insightful book is available for FREE on the blog as well.

 
The DVdL blog gained several business as on-going sponsors.
 
Because the classic films posted on the DVdL blog were so popular, an in-depth "sister" blog was created, devoted entirely to obscure, hard-to-find movies of all kinds: Dolce Vita di Cinema (dolcevitadicinema.blogspot.com).
 
2014!!!

 
With the out-spoken Peggy Vermeer scheduled to act as co-Facilitator with wildly-unpredictable Brother Andy, expect the unexpected at the meeting to be held on Jan 10th.
A second "DVdL Day Trip" to Los Angeles or San Diego is in the works.
 
January will also see DVdL approaching media such as local newspapers, magazines, and other blogs.
 
On the first day of the year, Google's Adsense has already pre-approved the placement of advertising on the DVdL blog.  The goal in having ads is to have income enough to address the on-going needs of the group.
 
Up-coming projects include a series of DVdL products, including a feature film.
 
Brother Andy is in the process of writing a fictional murder mystery book, "The Foreshadowed".  The book is scheduled to be available at the end of February.
 
First on the agenda for the new year is finding a venue that would not only hold DVdL meetings, but also act as a studio for projects of all kinds.  Our current meeting location will not be available after April 2014.


If the coming year is anything like the last few months, hold on and...HAVE SOME FUN!!!!

DVdL: JANUARY 2014 MEETING

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
 
As a reminder, the next Dolce Vita di Libro meeting will take place January 10, 2014 at 6 pm (at the usual location).  The selected book is "Cover Her Face" by P D James. The event will be hosted by Esteemed Members Jennifer and Hunter Johnson.  Brother Andy will act as Facilitator, along with Esteemed Member Peggy Vermeer.
 
Please contact Brother Andy to RSVP (or suggestions, comments or any other needs to be addressed) at narcissusinternational@yahoo.com.


Please also check out the wonderful DVdL sister blog, dedicated to films: www.dolcevitadicinema.blogspot.com.  There are new posting almost every day.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

DVdL: "THE DARK HOUR" 1936 (FEATURE FILM)

A pair of detectives investigate the murder of an elderly millionaire who was the target of blackmail and death threats and find that there is no shortage of suspects, many of them in the victim's own family.  Stars: Ray Walker, Berton Churchill, Irene Ware, Hobart Bosworth, Hedda Hopper, and E. E. Clive (Black and White, Sound, 1:08:37)
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Saturday, December 28, 2013

DVdL: P D JAMES, AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY (INFORMATION)

Early Years
       
P. D. James was born Phyllis Dorothy James on August 3, 1920, in Oxford, England, the oldest of three children. Her parents, Sidney Victor, a tax official, and Dorothy May (Hone) James, moved to Cambridge, England, where Phyllis attended the Cambridge High School for Girls. Phyllis liked Cambridge and even used the city as the location for one of her books, "An Unsuitable Job For A Woman".
       
Phyllis had to leave school at age sixteen to work. The family did not have much money and her father did not believe in higher education for girls. Dorothy worked in a tax office for three years. Later, she found a job as an assistant stage manager for a theater group. In 1941, she married Ernest Connor Bantry White, an army doctor, and had two daughters, Claire and Jane.
       
When White returned from World War II (1939–45; a war fought mostly in Europe that pitted the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the United States against Germany, Italy, and Japan), he suffered from a mental illness and was not able to get a job. James was forced to provide for the whole family until her husband's death in 1964. James studied hospital administration (management), and from 1949 to 1968 she worked for a hospital board in London, England.
 
Early Novels
       
James was in her early forties when her first novel, "Cover Her Face", was published in 1962. Her personal and professional experience helped to develop her powers of observation and thought. These aided her in both her description of police detective work and her portrayal of characters.
       
In 1968, James passed an examination that qualified her for a government job. She eventually worked in the Crime Department (1972–79) in London.
       
James's work served as a basis for her novels, giving them backgrounds for both medical and police procedures (official ways of working). The settings of several of her mysteries, including " A Mind To Murder" (1962), "Shroud For A  Nightingale" (1971), and "Death Of An Expert Witness" (1977), are in medicine-related locations. In all of these novels she is just as interested in examining the relationships among people as she is in telling a mystery story.
       
James wrote some of her works in the tradition of the British crime storyteller as represented by such authors as Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) and Agatha Christie (1891–1976). These are stories that have sometimes been referred to as "polite mysteries." However, James also wrote about motivations, explored relationships between people, examined ideas about guilt and innocence, and questioned both the legal system and religion.
    
Experimentation With The Mystery Form 
      
James's work is distinguished (special) not only for its quality of plot, setting, and character, but also for its experimentation with the mystery form. Her first novel, "Cover Her Face" (1962), is similar to the stories written by Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, but James began to experiment with new plots and new types of characters. She has written about questions of social privilege (special rights), politics, aesthetics (the theory of beauty and art), and theology (the study of religion). In her novel, "The Children of Men" (1993), she experimented with science fiction.
       
Because James brought such new ideas to the mystery story, many people have chosen to classify James not as a crime author, but as a novelist. James herself says that she uses the detective story to comment on men, women, and society. In an interview published in the New York Times in 1986, she said that she would "sacrifice … the detective element" in her work if it would make a better novel.

Some critics are unhappy with James's concern with the psychology (the science of how the mind works) of her characters. These people would rather have a book that simply tells a basic detective story and gives the solution.
       
Even so, the qualities condemned by one group are prized by another. James is well respected and she has received many awards for her literary achievements.
    
Main Characters
       
Most of James's books involve one of two characters: Adam Dalgliesh, a police inspector in Scotland Yard (London's police headquarters) and a published poet; and Cordelia Gray, a young private detective introduced in "An Unsuitable Job For A Woman" (1972). In addition to their own individual mysteries, Dalgliesh and Gray appear together in some of the books.
    
James Today
       
To date P. D. James has published fourteen books and many short stories. She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1983 and was made a baroness in 1991. She also served on the governor's board of the British Broadcasting Company. She also Executive Produced a television series for the BBC. 
 

DVdL: "COVER HER FACE" TV MINISERIES DVD (INFORMATION)

You can purchase a "Cover Her Face" 1985 BBC TV Miniseries DVD through Amazon.com. (Used DVDs start at $2.70)
 
Here is the link:
 

DVdL: "COVER HER FACE" FREE AUDIO BOOK (INFORMATION)

You can get a FREE audio book download of PD James' "Cover Her Face" through Amazon's Audible.com 30 day trail.  The audible book is over 9 hrs long.
 
Click Here For Information:
 

DVdL: "P D JAMES ON HISTORY OF CRIME FICTION" (VIDEO)


DVdL: "INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR P D JAMES ON 90TH" (VIDEO)


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

DVdL: "NANCY DREW -- REPORTER" 1939 (FEATURE FILM)

Nancy Drew, reporter for the school newspaper, attempts to clear a girl of murder charge. (Black and White, Sound, 1:07:46)
. . .

Monday, December 23, 2013

DVdL: "INTERVIEW WITH SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE" 1927 (DOCUMENTARY)

A 1927 Fox newsreel interview with the author and spiritualist, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who speaks about his greatest literary creation, Sherlock Holmes, and his work in spiritualism. (Black and White, Sound Approx.10:08)




DVdL: "THE CREEPER" MOLLE MYSTERY THEATER 1943 (RADIO PROGRAM)


Sunday, December 22, 2013

DVdL: "THE MANDARIN MYSTERY" 1937 (FEATURE FILM)

This adaptation of an Ellery Queen mystery concerns the theft of a rare Chinese stamp (the Mandarin of the title), which takes place in a hotel with several shifty characters and a hysterical manager (the priceless Franklin Pangborn). The mystery, such as it is, concerns both the stamp theft and two murders, and shows Ellery and his father, the Inspector, as a team coming together enough to solve the case.(Black and white, Approx. 52:41)
. . .

Thursday, December 19, 2013

DVdL: NEW MOVIE BLOG!!!!!!


NEW DOLCE VITA di CINEMA BLOG!
 
With the wild popularity of the DVdL blog growing daily, a new multi-media venture has been created especially for those who love movies.
 
Dolce Vita di Libro proudly announces a "sister blog", Dolce Vita di Cinema ("The Sweet Life of Cinema") at www.dolcevitadicinema.blogspot.com. 
 
 
This special FREE blog is dedicated to films of all kinds with a constant stream of unique educational and entertainment postings: documentaries, Westerns, Action, Animated Cartoons, Noir, Dance, Musicals, Comedy, Horror, Exploitation, Experimental, Silent, Classics and recent works, along with editorials, reviews, interviews, images and much more.  Brother Andy's own feature films will be available for viewing, including his latest production, "The Mummy's Desire" (with Esteemed Members Peggy Vermeer and Jennifer Johnson in supporting roles) and "I Am...Dead" (a must-see black-and-white noir).
We hope you enjoy the sweet life of movies as much as you've enjoyed the sweet life of books!

DVdL: "MURDER IS MY BEAT" 1955 (FEATURE FILM)


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

DVdL: BOOK SELECTION SCHEDULE REVISED (INFORMATION)

DOLCE VITA di LIBRO BOOK SELECTION SCHEDULE REVISED
 
JANUARY
The next book selection is "Cover Her Face" by the incredibly brilliant P.D. James, one of England's most beloved and award-winning writers. The discussion will be facilitated by Esteemed Member Brother Andy on behalf of Peggy Vermeer, who will be in attendance. The usual location will serve the meeting (with Esteemed Members Jennifer and Hunter Johnson acting as hosts) on January 10, 2014, 6 p.m. Please be on time and ready to discuss the book.

 
FEBRUARY
Our DVdL book selection for February 14, 2014 is "The Marseilles Caper" by the well-respected Peter Mayle, a Brit who learned to love France. Karen Laird will facilitate that book club meeting.

 
MARCH
The DVdL book club meeting of March 14, 2014 will be facilitated by Jacque Wachs. The selected book is "Death at La Fenice" by Dona Leon.

 
FUTURE BOOK SELECTION SUGGESTIONS
Thank you Esteemed Book Club Members for being open to the suggestion to alter our reading list for the remainder of the year. This decision for change will add so much to our reading enjoyment. We will continue to focus on the murder mystery genre, but not particularly mysteries which involve culinary arts as the centeral plot device. We are such a creative bunch that the pot luck food will be spectacular as usual, no matter what!

 
If further suggestions for a book selection are called for, here are a few titles that are highly-recommended:

"A Dark Adapted Eye" by Barbara Vine
"Fer-de-Lance" by Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe is the main character)
"The Strange Case of Peter the Lett" by Georges Simenon (Maigret is the main character)
"Messenger of Athens" by Anne Zouroudi
"And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie
"Nine Tailors" by Dorothy L. Sayers
"Anything" by Elizabeth George

Also, consider the continuing series by these great authors: Martin Walker (Bruno), Dona Leon (Brunetti), and Andrea Camilleri (Montalbano)

 
To investigage these possible selections, please see "Goodreads" on-line for intelligent book reviews. Amazon also has book reviews.

Monday, December 16, 2013

DVdL: MEETING 3 (VIDEO)


DVdL: AUDREY TOTTER, ACTRESS HAS DIED (INFORMATION)

 
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Audrey Totter, the radio actress who became a silver screen star by playing femme fatales in 1940s film noir including "Lady in the Lake," has died.
 
Totter's daughter, Mea Lane, tells the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/JrDjQZ) her mother died Thursday at a Los Angeles hospital. She was 95 and had recently had a stroke.
 
Totter was under contract with MGM starting in 1944. After landing a small part in "The Postman Always Rings Twice," Totter went on to a series of roles as tough-talking blondes.
 
Her breakthrough came with "Lady in the Lake," the 1947 adaptation of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe detective tale. She also appeared in the thriller "The Unsuspected" and the boxing drama "The Set-Up."
 
After retiring to raise a family, Totter later resurfaced on television.

(Article submitted by Esteemed Member Jennifer Johnson.)

DVdL: A SPECIAL NOTE FROM AUTHOR ROSIE GENOVA

The author of this month's book selection ("Murder And Marinara"), Rosie Genova, was contacted through Facebook by Esteemed Member Lois Graziano (this month's facilitator). After a pleasant exchange, Ms. Genova sent the book club a hand-decorated wooden spoon, book marks and promotional materials, which Lois shared with the group at the last meeting.  Lois has since sent Ms. Genova photo images of the Esteemed Members who dressed as characters from the book.  Ms. Genova wrote the following response:
 
"You are all TOO funny! Please give the group my very best and all my thanks for picking my book and getting so involved in it. I am so honored. The pics are a hoot, and tell the girls I'll be sharing them with my editor, who will get a great big kick out of it.

 
Lois, if you or any of the group buys from Amazon and feels comfortable leaving a short review, that would be great. But no pressure!

 
And be sure to stay in touch. This summer I will have advance copies of The Wedding Soup Murder, so watch for giveaways and other fun stuff.

 
Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year! Hope your sauce came out well!

 
xo, Rosie"

DVdL: SEARCH BOX REMINDER (INFORMATION)

BLOG SEARCH BOX
 
Just a reminder to this blog's viewers, a search box is placed just above the postings list and just below the list of Esteemed Members. 

Each of the post's headings have been titled and tagged with a name, subject and a media genre.  You can type in a heading for a particular post, or a person's name, or you can type in a kind of post such as "movie" or "PDF Book".  Here are the different kinds of postings on the DVdL blog:
 
Movies
Videos
Radio Programs
Audio Books
PDF Books
Music
Calendar
Interviews
Reviews
Editorials
Short Story
Cartoons
Profiles
Games
Jokes
Cartoons
Photography
Information Articles
Fliers
Cards
Animated Gifs
Sponsors
Projects
Community Events
 
Still can't find it or the book won't download? If you have any problem, please contact us (dolcevitadilibroclub@yahoo.com) and we'll try to help you out.
 
Also remember submission are always welcome.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

DVdL: CELEBRATING 5,000 BLOG HITS!

Dolce Vita di Libro has now received over 5,000 blog views. Please feel free to contact us with submission, comments, reviews, editorials, images or suggestions.  Thanks so much from everyone involved with DVdL!

DVdL: EARLY MURDER MYSTERY STORIES (PDF BOOK)

DVDL presents a downloadable PDF book file, featuring the eariliest known murder mystery/crime fiction story, "The Rector of Veilbye" (1824) by Steen Steensen Blicher.  Several other classic tales (written in English) are included as well:
 
Russian:
Pushkin, A.S. "The Queen of Spades" -- Jelihovsky, Vera. "The General's Will" -- Dostoyevsky, F.M. "Crime And Punishment" -- Chekhoff, Anton. "The Safety Match" -- Krestovski, V.V. "Knights of Industry"
 
Scandinavian:
Bergsöe, J.W. "The Amputated Arms" -- Larssen, Otto. "The Manuscript" -- Ingemann, B.S. "The Sealed Room" -- Blicher, S.S. "The Rector of Veilbye" --
 
Hungarian:
Molnar, Ferencz. "The Living Death" -- Jokai, Maurus. "Thirteen At Table" -- Bársony, Etienne. "The Dancing Bear" -- Elck, Arthur. "The Tower Room"
 

DVdL: MEMORIES OF MURDER AND MARINARA MEETING 3 (PHOTOGRAPHY)

And yet another fabulous DVdL Book Club meeting...
 
 
In case you might have missed where we were... (Subtle, huh?)
 
 
 Like Saint Patrick's Day, on this night we were all Italian and a bit Jersey.
 
 
Here's the Jersey Shore (above) in a wonderful graphic of a Ferris wheel, sand and ocean by super-creative Esteemed Member Dona Lee Nill. A wooden board walk, shells, smooth rocks, and a couple of beers and you could practical feel the cool breeze on your face.
 
 
What's Christmas without a DVdL murder mystery tree, trimmed with hand guns, detective badges, pipes, foreign currency and a syringe?
 
 
Here's the dance instructor, "SIL", a character from "Murder And Marinara" by Rosie Genova. Photo submitted by Dona Lee Nill.
 
 
"Nonna" (Esteemed Member Jennifer Johnson), the grandmother character from "Murder And Marinara", DVdL's the third book selection, gives Esteemed Member Vicky a come-uppance.

DVdL: ESTEEMED MEMBERS PORTRAY "MURDER AND MARINARA" CHARACTERS (PHOTOS)

 
At our last meeting of Friday, November 13, 2013, Esteemed Members Lois Graziano (above, as "SIL") and Jennifer Johnson (below, as "Nonna") dressed as characters from the month's book selection, "Murder And Marinara" by Rosie Genova. Makeup and photography by Brother Andy.
 
 
Esteemed Member Dona Lee Nill attended the meeting dressed as a "Jersey Girl", complete with sun tan spray, towel, and, of course, a book to read by the shore.  Photo by Brother Andy.
 

 

Saturday, December 14, 2013

DVdL: ANNOUNCEMENT IN CINEMASCOPE (VIDEO)

Dolce Vita di Libro's Esteemed Member Lois Graziano acts up a storm in this creepy announcement done in the 1960's Cinemascope style.
 
 

Friday, December 13, 2013

DVdL: MORE ABOUT AUTHOR ROSIE GENOVA (INFORMATION ARTICLE)

Submitted by Esteemed Member Nedra Young, here is a link to a web page about our book club selection "Murder And Marinara" author, Rosie Genova:

http://rosiegenova.com/about.php

Also see our earlier blog post about Ms. Goneva as well...

Thursday, December 12, 2013

DVdL: NEW FEATURE, "IT'S A MYSTERY TO ME" (INFORMATION ARTICLE)

Dolce Vita di Libro is proud to announce a new feature on this blog, "It's A Mystery To Me" -- in which viewers can submit questions concerning the DVdL book club, murder mysteries books or films or radio shows or the actors involved, culinary arts, etc.  We will answer them here.  Your name will not appear, so feel free to ask anything you'd like. Confess, if it will make you feel better.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

DVdL: BORIS KARLOFF/TALES OF THE FRIGHTENED (RADIO)

BORIS KARLOFF/TALES OF THE FRIGHTENED/
THE FORTUNE TELLER

Actor Boris Karloff (photo at left) reads "The Fortune Teller" from "Tales of the Frightened" old-time 1950's radio program. Not really a murder mystery, but dramatic and effective.
 
 

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

DVdL FREE DOWNLOADABLE 2014 CALENDAR

Please enjoy this FREE DOWNLOADABLE 2014 Dolce Vita di Libro Murder Mystery Character Calendar, featuring our Esteemed Members and Sponsors as models, dressed in crazy costumes, to represent each of the 12 months of the year.  A "short story vignette" is included with each image. Photography by DVdL Creative Director, Brother Andy.

Simply click the link below, Google Drive will open, download to a file, and either open to read or print a copy for yourself.The end copy will not look like the preview you see in Google Drive.
 

DVdL: BLOG VIEWER PHOTO SUBMISSION

VIEWER MAIL
 
Our blog has viewers from around the world and we're getting plenty of interesting feedback.  Here (at left) is a photograph submitted by Randal Dismark, age 6, of Limp Biscuit, Texas, with his current "girlfriend", Hennie Penny (age unknown).  Randal writes in his email, "I've been reading them murder mysteries my whole life and I turned out okay."  He would come to California to the meetings, but his mother won't let him stay up past 7 pm. We welcome Esteemed Member Randal as an on-line participant.  Thanks, Randal, for sharing!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

DVdL: OMG! BLOG HITS 4,500!

DOLCE VITA di LIBRO:
CELEBTRATES 4,500 HITS!
 
The eclectic multi-media Dolce Vita di Libro blog began on September 25, 2013 -- less than three months ago as of this writing. 
 
The overwhelming positive feedback, encouragement and support since then -- from Esteemed DVdL Book Club Members, On-line Members, Culinary Arts/Murder Mystery businesses, our generous Sponsors and devoted fans from around the world who visit us every day -- has been truly amazing.
 
On December 5, 2013, the blog recieved 1,300 hits on that day alone in response to the popularity of the DVdL produced PDF book, "Murder Most Fun: How To Start A Murder Mystery Book Club (And Live To Tell About It)"!
 
DVdL will continue providing inspiring, intriguing and thought-provoking education and entertainment, as well as community involvement.
 
Thank you to everyone who is contributing to our growing success!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

DVdL: "MURDER MOST FUN" (FREE PDF BOOK)

FREE PDF BOOK
 
Dolce Vita di Libro proudly presents DVdL's first literary offering, a FREE downloadable PDF book, "Murder Most Fun: How To Start A Murder Mystery Book Club (And Live To Tell About It)" by Esteemed Member Brother Andy.  Edited and Forward by Esteemed Member Jennifer Johnson.
 
Anyone who is associated with a book club should read this humorous how-to.
 
To get your own FREE copy, click the link below and follow the instructions.
 

Monday, December 2, 2013

DVdL: MEET THE ESTEEMED MEMBER, LOIS GRAZIANO

DOLCE VITA di LIBRO: MEET THE ESTEEMED MEMBER LOIS GRANZIANO
 
Relatively new to Palm Springs, Lois and her fine artist husband, Ron, relocated from Chicago a year and eight months ago.  She loves the area and has created a "new family" with friends and neighbors.
 
During the 1960's, Lois worked in Isreal and lived in a collective community kabutz. Lois was a Modern Dancer and dance teacher most of her adult life and was an original member of the Chicago Moving Company (which celebrated a 40th Anniversary not long ago).  For twenty years, Lois taught exercise to seniors. She has recently retired.
 
Besides doing pilates at the Spa Health Club, Lois currently reads to kids once a week at a local school. Lois will be the Facilitator at the up-coming December DVdL book club meeting.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

DVdL: DECEMBER MEETING REMINDER


DVdL: MEET THE ESTEEMED MEMBER, BROTHER ANDY

Brother Andy in a contemplative moment.
MEET DVdL CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BROTHER ANDY

Self-described visionary uber-artist (someone proficient in more than five media), Brother Andy, has worked as a producer, writer, director, cameraman, lighting expert, set designer, actor, makeup artist, costumer, editor and created musical scores for over twenty feature films, over three hundred short films, and dozens of music videos, plus educational films and videos.

He formed several production companies: Roadkill Productions in 1979, Full Frontal Productions 1984, and Narcissus International in 1992. His recent multi-media works are now under the Intriguism label. His most recent feature films are: "The Mummy's Desire" and "I Am...Dead" which can be viewed on youtube for free.

 
He performed as comic horror character, “Armando Creeper and Mother”, for fifteen years in films, conventions, film festivals, and merchandising, as well as appearing on TV (“Entertainment Tonight” and “America’s Funniest People”) and was KEZY radio’s “official character” for five years.

 
His works have appeared on stage, including producing audience-participation plays such as “Juan and Kitten’s Wedding” in the San Diego area. Theme parks employment included Knott’s Berry Farm’s Halloween Haunt for seventeen years as a specialist in prosthetic makeup and performing on the main stage dancing and singing.

 
TV commercials included productions for Movieland Wax Museum (which he also managed their haunted house) and several other companies.

 
Andy worked with RIP Productions, creating and managing haunted houses for five years in the Fallbrook and Escondido areas of California.

 
He worked with several nightclubs, including the gothic Vampircus in Long Beach, California, doing promotions, management and entertainment.

 
As a model, Andy was showcased in "Playgirl" Magazine and national calendars. Recently, he worked as a model for life drawing classes at the Palm Springs Art Museum. He worked as a photographer for twenty-eight years, compiling a 10,000-plus image library of over four hundred models. He is an expert in Photoshop.

 
On the Internet, he designed and managed over twenty award-winning mixed-media websites for movie stars and fine art artists for over a decade.  Andy worked with villagetv.com on original content, including photography stills, graphics and video production for over fifteen years for the GLTB community.

 
Early in his career, Andy worked as an award-winning “visual merchandiser” for major department stores throughout Southern California.

 
He has been a published writer in “In Touch”, “TV Guide”, “Back Country Living”, “Monster Maker Journal”, “Absolute Palm Springs” magazines, as well as the acting editor-in-chief of “Intriguism” online e-magazine, in addition to dozens of literary projects, including PDF books, calendars, catalogues, brochures, and e-books for “Lee Alien: Out Of His Mind” and “Shahram Farshadfar: People, Places And Things”.

 
Brother Andy performed live poetry readings at Dezart Gallery, the Palm Springs Art Museum, Wine and Art, and Barnes And Noble, amongst other venues.  He has been a Guest Speaker at high schools and colleges throughout Southern California.

 
As a experimental fine artist, Brother Andy has created countless paintings, drawings, assemblages and digital art.

 
Andy, as an interior/exterior designer, remodeled over twenty homes to date in Palm Springs, Orange County and San Diego areas.

 
Andy is the leader and founder of the Intriguism Art Movement and Retro-Futurism art method, plus creator of the controversial iconic Intriguism image, “Jesus Chimp”.

 
Brother Andy is currently serving as Media Coordinator/Producer for a San Diego non-profit organization, making educational videos for people with cognitive disabilities. He is a Consultant for artists, galleries, models and actors such as an Emmy-winning production designer and Miss Pre-Teen California Shane Murphy who appeared in the Academy Award-winning film "Little Miss Sunshine".

 
Brother Andy is now the Creative Director for DVdL.  His responsibilities are helping with book meetings, graphic designs, videos and the blog.  He has just completed a book, "Murder Most Fun: How To Start A Murder Mystery Book Club (And Live To Tell About It)".

 
"My motto has always been: Educate and entertain," says Brother Andy, "To inspire and encourage!"