Sourcebooks Casablanca Romance Authors

Today, June 20th, is the solstice, and the first day of summer! And while spring is probably my favorite season overall, I have a longstanding affection for the early days of summer and the surge of energy and enthusiasm that often accompanies them. Celebrating the solstice, which can include Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day   ( June 23-24), can take many forms. In Santa Barbara, where I lived for several years, there would be a parade on the Saturday nearest the official date. Spectators would line up for blocks to watch fantastically dressed people and/or elaborate floats travel from lower State Street to Alameda Park. Usually, there would be a theme. Last year, it was “Sci-Fi”—this year it will be “Legends.” (Click on the following link to see the 2015 parade in full swing.) 2015 Santa Barbara Solstice Parade A similarly festive atmosphere can be found in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, where the solstice is celebrated with floral wreaths, dancing around t...

As a longtime LA resident, I can admit that the city has its faults, including crowds, smog, traffic that seems to get worse by the year… but every now and then, something pretty awesome can happen here. Like a bona fide rock star stopping by to give a free lunchtime concert for his fans. Just two weeks ago, Elton John performed for about an hour in the parking lot of Tower Records on the Sunset Strip, to promote his new album and thank West Hollywood for supporting the AIDS Foundation. Not surprisingly, a huge number of people turned out, cramming the parking lot and lining up on the sidewalk outside Tower Records.  Even better, AOL live-streamed the whole event for those who couldn’t be there in person, so guess how I spent my lunch hour? I have a soft spot for Elton John’s music, which got frequent play in our house while I was growing up. “Bennie and the Jets” was one of my father’s favorites, “Tiny Dancer” one of my sister’s, and everyone liked “Croco...

It was bound to happen sooner or later. I'm not stupid enough to believe that my sweet daughter, my first born, would stay a wee lassie forever. But the now fifteen-year-old has discovered the joys of being a teenager. And one of those new found discoveries is concerts. See the problem? No? Let me explain. She's too young to drive and needs chauffeured.  There's no way her parents are going to drop her off and let her attend these events alone. Don't get me wrong. I trust my daughter 100%. It's the other idiots that are a factor. Even though some of her friends like the music she listens to, they are not going to see the artists.  Well, gosh darn it. Who does that leave? You guessed it. Mom and Dad. Dad is everything country, and mom is everything rock 'n' roll. So guess who won that battle? Fortunately, the wee apple doesn't fall far from the tree. She loves music that I listen to and truth be told, I love the music she listens to. This i...

When I think of summer, I think of concerts. It seems like every summer, I’d go to numerous concerts. I lived in Houston as a teenager, so my friends and I would go see all our favorite groups at Southern Star Amphitheater in Astroworld. Sadly, Astroworld in no longer. It’s just a field on the side of the freeway. The first concert I saw was when I was in sixth grade. I went with my dad to see REO Speedwagon and Cheap Trick. Remember “Can’t Fight This Feeling”? I loved that song, and I’m sure all the other sixth graders did. One of the first concerts I saw without parents was Depeche Mode. That was in 1988. Let me tell you, the guys from DM made an impression. I thought they were the coolest thing ever. I went out the next day (or rather had my mom drive me to the mall) and bought their Black Celebration album on cassette. No CDs back then. I started dressing in all black and listening to bands like The Cure, New Order, and The Smiths. I remember one summer I saw Heart, New Order, and ...