Tears instead of laughs, but it's a living.

Well, now it is Laughing and Crying for a Living. Just did an unscheduled interview with Ciaran Sheehan, an Irish tenor and Broadway performer who'll be singing at a fundraising gala for Broadway Grand Rapids on May 17. Nice guy, and not a bad singer either. On his Website he has a video singing "Bring Him Home" from Les Miz and it brought tears to my eyes. So, if you're planning to go to the BGR gala, bring your tissues.

Laughing for a Living week!

Just finished writing a story for Sunday's paper about John O'Hurley. What an amazing range of interests -- and good looks too! Then I'm getting ready to review "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" at Circle Theatre on Thursday. Doesn't that sound like a hard night's work? NOT! I forgot to mention that reviewing Heritage Theatre's "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" last week was a perfect example of Laughing for a Living. What a fun show. Great script, well acted, comfortable, casual surroundings. It was so much fun, that I'm going back Friday night with friends. What a way to work!

Laughing on Amazon

Laughing for a Living is now available on Amazon and Kindle. Take your pick.

Book bribe

Every year I do two fundraiser walkathons in May -- Grand Rapids' Hunger Walk and the national Great Strides campaign for Cystic Fibrosis. It's hard to ask people to support both so I keep coming up with tricks. I used to bring in cookies to work and offer them for a donation to the hunger walk. Now that I'm retired, I no longer go to the office so this year I've been offering my book as a bribe. A free autographed copy of Laughing for a Living to anyone who'll contribute $25 or more for the Hunger Walk. I've brought in seven contributions that way, edging up people who would have contributed much less. Laughing for a giving!

O'Hurley HaHa

Just finished talking with John O'Hurley in advance of his appearance with the tour of "Chicago" coming to Grand Rapids in May. Most folks think of O'Hurley on Seinfeld or Family Feud and don't realize he started out singing opera. He's also written some best selling books and founded a company to make energy out of waste materials. He's been taking his family -- wife and son -- on tour with him but now that the son is school age, he plans to move more into business so he won't have to travel as much. "You can do business meetings by Skype or conference call," he told me, "but you can't Skype a performance. Although I've known a few actors who should have."

Laughing on Kindle

Okay, now all you Kindle fans can download Laughing for a Living for just $2.99 from the Kindle Store. Of course, there are some concessions. If you want to see my baby photo or my picture of Julie Newmar from 36 years ago, or if you want it autographed, you'll still need to get the beautiful print version (lulu.com). But if you're just dying to read my memoir, it has been Kindlized. Come to think of it, if you want the print version I have a few spare copies at the house left over from the ones Civic had for sale.

Back in the saddle

After a 3-month hiatus in Florida, I'm getting back to work. This afternoon I'll do a phone interview with the star of the tour of "All Shook Up" which is coming to Van Singel Fine Arts Center later this month. But I have canceled plans for a book signing tomorrow at Civic Theatre. Through miscommunications there hasn't been enough promotion to make it worth my time. The book is moving into a new stage I believe. Watch for it on Kindle very soon.