Stop Believing in Your Own Weakness--A Special Message
Topic: Miscellaneous
Stop Believing in Your Own Weakness

It is our fear of being alone and in doubt, of wanting to feel certain that
what we are doing is right, that compels us to seek the approval of others. So this tells us that the chief cause of why our lives so often wind up in the hands of others is not that they are superior or that the world is too strong for us, but that we don't want to face the uncertainty and aloneness we think we are too weak to bear. This is the real cause of all of our wrong relationships in life. We have been betrayed by a belief in our own weakness.

The conscious refusal to go along with what our weakness wants us to do to escape its uncertainty is what invokes and finally delivers real inner confidence. This new kind of strength gradually becomes the
cornerstone of a true individual existence -- the life we've always wanted. The stakes are actually eternal -- but self-victory is as
certain as the fact that light always triumphs over darkness.

Use the following ten key lessons to help strengthen your understanding of these vital ideas. Think about them; welcome their healing insights as "lights along the way" to true self-liberation.

Special Study for Lasting Self-Possession

1. When you don't know what to do with yourself, someone will always be happy to tell you.

2. Why seek the approval of someone who doesn't even approve of himself?

3. Fawning before an angry person is like asking a rabid wolf for its
approval.

4. The more approval you get, the more you have to have.

5. Keeping any person or circumstance in your life that demands you
surrender your right to be a whole and happy human being is wrong for everyone involved.

6. When you are out standing in a storm, don't blame the weather.

7. Real strength always follows uncovering one of the roots of weakness.

8. Don't seek yourself. Dare to be yourself.

9. If you were really doing the right thing with your life, you wouldn't
need anyone to tell you that you were.

10. Permitting your life to be taken over by another person is like letting the waiter eat your dinner. (Vernon Howard)

No human being has any authority over you. Your life belongs to you and to you alone. No scowling face or irritated manner, no challenging posture or threatening tone, has any power to make you feel nervous or anxious, frightened or angry. Your true nature answers to no one. This is a fact, and anyone who is tired of letting someone else tell them how to feel can use this self-liberating principle to win true and lasting independence.
                                                                 -- Guy Finley

A Talk With Susan Wingate
Susan Wingate The Person:

1.  What three words do you think describe you as a human being?

Loyal, generous, sincere.

2.   How do you think others would describe you?

In three words? Weird, funny and helpful. Usually, when I say something, people give me that doggy-head-tilt-look, like "what?" Scooby-doo does it best. So, I think they think I'm a bit off-kilter. Oh well.

3.  Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.

My animals. I love my animals. My husband too, Bob, he's a doll. He puts up with all my animals!

4.  Do you have any pets?  If so, introduce us to them.

We have two lovely dogs, Robert and Rocky. Robert is a Westie and Rocky is a Cocker. Robert is white and Rocky is black. They are the outnumbered kids in our household. We have fifteen cats - Winky, Pinky, Twinkle, Serena, Raspberry Jam, PNut Butter, Apricot Jelly, Vincent, Tabatha, Marmalade, Midnight, Audrey, Marilyn, Sinatra and Humphrey. We also have about twenty-five birds. I'm not listing their names. Suffice to say, they are sweet and love it when I sing to them.

5.  What is your most precious memory?

Being with my father when he died.

6.  What is your most embarrassing memory?

Showing up at school naked. Oh wait, that was just a dream. Phew! Good lord, there are so many embarrassing moments - I'll have to just grab one out of the hat. Okay, here it goes... I was dancing in this show, a glitzy nightclub act, and someone spilled a drink on the stage in the exact spot I was supposed to do a full-on leg extension - a high-over-the-head kick. Needless to say, I slipped and fell right on my bum in front of about 200 people. That was pretty embarrassing as I recall.

7.   If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?

Eating. I have no idea. I'm certain that I'm completely unemployable at this stage of my life, what, with the looks I get when I speak and all. I really don't know what I'd be doing. Maybe I'd still be an accountant. I was once an accountant long ago in a land far, far away in another galaxy.
 

8.  In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.

It's funny you should have this in here. My husband thinks I'm crazy because I've been planning my own funeral for about six months now. I want to have the perfect party so that people just kind of forget why they're there. So, it's going to be fabulous. I'll put you on the guest list. Okay, here's my obit:

Susan Wingate, leaves this world for the great beyond at age eighty-eight. She also leaves many cat boxes behind. She is survived by Tweedle and Dee and Tweedle and Dum, her twin cats and twin dogs. And, we mustn't forget Tweedy the cockatiel. Because of her illustrious writing career, her country home (on Peter Pond) is set to be transformed into a writers' colony. Only animal-lovers need apply. They have much work to doo doo.

Susan will be remembered as a writer who wrote, strangely enough, stranger than fiction not to mention one who put words into other people's mouths with her many plays and scripts. Her agent, who will remain nameless, stated, "I have an empty spot in my heart and an empty slot on my client list." Services will be held in Phoenix and Friday Harbor - red wine and ashes will be served.

Susan Wingate The Writer:

9.  Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?

It was the year my father died. He was a writer and part of me feels like his soul passed through my body on his way to Heaven.

10.  What is going on with your writing these days?

Tons. My second novel, "Bobby's Diner," was released on September 1, 2008. I'm very busy with its eTour but also, I've begun my fourth novel and hopefully will sell my third novel within the next couple of months. I'm a feature writer for the AZ Authors Association newsletter and a contributing writer to the emagazine Literary Magic, to mention a couple of sidelines. I'm working on a two screenplays and I hope to write another play for the theatre in the near future. I'm teaching three weekly writing classes this September and four weekly classes starting in April 2009 that will repeat quarterly.

11.  What are your future goals for your writing?

To keep writing novels, primarily. I love to teach so I hope to spend more time at writer's conferences giving presentations.

12.  Can you describe a typical writing day for you?

First, I answer my emails and if I'm into a story, I'll edit in the morning and write new material after that. If I'm in-between books, I usually do a lot of self-promotion and publicity. You hear how agents and publishers want to be able to pick up a writer with a platform, well, that's what I work on. I try to increase my reader base, get speaking and teaching jobs, write magazine articles, and write short stories, poems and plays. But, generally, I spend anywhere from ten to twelve hours a day working.

13.  Why do you write?

There's nothing else I want to do. I used to love to cook and play around with decorating the house - all creative outlets. But, once I landed on the writing, it was all over. I never looked back and don't regret one day of the heartache and frustration that is inherent to this job.

14.  What writer most inspires you?  Why?

Jeez! There are so many great writers out there. But, I'd have to say, right now, at this point in my life, I love W. Somerset Maugham. His writing goes to the core of human emotion. I love his conflict - it's never bombs blazing or cars crashing - that surface stuff. His conflict is universal and gut-wrenching, like leaving your family in search of a dream, like taking your spouse into a plague to stop her from cheating, like a little deformed boy losing his mother at age eight and being placed in the home of a cruel uncle. Maugham uses heart-breaking themes that are very plausible.

15.  How do you define your writing?

My writing seems to bounce back-and-forth between mainstream and women's fiction. "Bobby's Diner" is what I would categorize as women's fiction but my third novel would be better categorized as mainstream. The themes found in each of my three novels describe that special brand of conflict that arises between a woman and her mother. I think this is a very universal theme, one in which half the people of the world - the women - can relate to.

16.  In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?

She was a great storyteller.

Susan Wingate The Details:

17.  Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website?  Blog?

Yes! My website is at http://www.susanwingate.com/ and my blog is http://www.susanwingate.blogspot.com/. I also have information posted on Poets & Writers, Romance Writers of America, Pacific Northwest Writer's Association, Author's Den, Authors & Experts, MySpace and FaceBook, Xing, Ning and a few others that I can't remember now.

18.  Is there a place where readers can reach you?

Yes. They can contact me from any of the above location. It's always nice to hear from people.

19.  Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?

My first book is a compilation entitled, "Ravings of a Mad Gentlewoman" and it's available through Lulu.com. My second book is my first novel, "Of the Law." You can get "Of the Law" at http://www.ofthelaw.com/ or through Amazon.com. My third book and second novel is called "Bobby's Diner." You can get "Bobby's Diner" through the publisher, ebooksonthe.net (http://www.ebooksonthe.net/), or at the following: Mobipocket, Amazon.com or FictionWise. Oh, you can also get "Bobby's Diner" by connecting through my website at www.susanwingate.com/bobbysdiner.htm.

20.  For new readers-what can they expect when they read your book(s)?

Well, I hope I've created believable characters, detailed settings and juicy conflict. Some people have described my work as gritty and honest.

In conclusion:

21.  Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers-what would you like them to know about you and your writing?

Writing is my passion. Reading is my passion. Writers make me smile. I love meeting other writers because we're an odd group and it's nice to sit and talk with others of the same cloth - it kind of feels like experiential therapy!

Thank you, Joyce, for allowing me this time to visit with you. -Sincerely, Susan Wingate.

Susan Wingate's website - http://www.susanwingate.com/

Susan Wingate's blog - http://www.susanwingate.blogspot.com/

For more information about Susan Wingate's virtual book tour and her full schedule at http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/08/bobbys-diner-by-susan-wingate.html

To order your copy - For more information visit - http://www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NewBooks2.html

Introducing Susan Wingate
Topic: Blog Tours

Website Address:             http://www.susanwingate.com

 

Primary Blog Address:             www.susanwingate.blogspot.com

  

Author’s Bio (complete bio):

 

Susan Wingate, novelist, poet and playwright, received a BS in Accounting from AZ State University. Wingate brings a rare and diverse background to her creative writing. Presently, she lives in Washington State and writes full time. Wingate has written three novels. Her second book, BOBBY’S DINER, just received a book contract with eBooksonthe.net and will be released in the fall of 2008. Her short story, “The Lion of Judah” received 1st Place honor (a monetary award and publication) in the August 2008 Fantasy Gazetteer Short Story Contest. One of her most recent accomplishments comes on the heels of completing her third novel, The Last Maharajan, with an excerpt selected for publication in literary journal the Superstition Review, an ASU press publication. She is a contributing writer for several magazines. Since the 2007 publication of her mystery novel, Of the Law, Wingate has kept busy teaching at writing workshops and at her studio. Her short stories and poems consistently receive awards and articles can be found in many magazines, journals and reviews. Wingate publishes an online newsletter called, “Sincerely, Susan” which has a readership of close to one thousand subscribers. She is also a co-founder of the San Juan Island Creative Women's Group. Currently, she organizes a series of reading events for her local library. These events spotlight the community’s writers and provide a wonderful venue in which to hear their work. For hobbies, Wingate likes to read and paint.

Please stop back tomorrow for an interview with Susan!!!

Susan Wingate and Bobby's Diner
Topic: Blog Tours

Over the next couple of days, four to be exact, we will be visiting with author, Susan Wingate and talking about her newest release, Bobby's Diner! 

About Bobby's Diner:

Georgette Carlisle explains a tale of events that lead up to this morning's funeral. Fifteen years earlier, searching for a place to call home, Georgette accepts a ride from a philandering trucker who offers to take her from a bus stop in Kingman, Arizona to Phoenix but she never makes it. After an abrupt stop along the highway, Georgette jumps out of the truck and heads off on foot until she comes to the small town of Sunnydale.

The day Georgette first arrives in Sunnydale her life is empty. When she saunters into town she meets a married man, Bobby, who owns Bobby's Diner. After he leaves his wife, Vanessa, for Georgette, Bobby marries her.

Fifteen years later, after Bobby has died, Georgette's life is about to change. During the reading of the Bobby's will, his last wish is to leave his diner to both women - his widow and his ex-wife. Each refuses to sell to the other or anyone else for that matter. They decide they will try to make the restaurant work with both managing it.

However, Bobby's Diner sits squarely on a corridor property through Sunnydale. Sunnydale has caught the eye of a large developer in Phoenix. Zach Pinzer, an up-and-coming executive at Chariot International Incorporated, envisions Sunnydale as a flourishing boutique tourist location - the next Sedona. With the underhanded help of Sunnydale's mayor, Pinzer can acquire the land he needs for his pet project - to develop the land and incorporate the spot where Bobby's Diner sits. When Zach offers to buy the diner from Georgette and Vanessa, they flatly refuse him.

Infuriated, Pinzer takes matters into his own hands and hires a thug to frighten the owners. It doesn't work. In fact, the damage he inflicts upon their property only fortifies the women's mettle and their relationship.

During Pinzer's second attempt to scare the women, their beloved busboy and gardener, José is murdered. Later that evening, after she's looked all day to find Vanessa, Georgette happens into the diner and finds Roberta (Vanessa's daughter) slipping into unconsciousness from a gunshot wound to her stomach. Roberta has lost a lot of blood and she's rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. Georgette still cannot find Vanessa. Finally, while Roberta is resting quietly in recovery, Vanessa shows up.

After years of living with his dishonesty, the mayor's wife decides to help Georgette and Vanessa successfully bring down Zach Pinzer and foil his attempt to seize the land in and around Sunnydale.

Now, as Georgette reflects on Vanessa's funeral earlier this morning, she understands the true meaning of "home" - home is family. She sees how family can come in all the shapes and colors. She understands family isn't something to contain in a pretty bottle and put away on a shelf. Family is the bottle, one that doesn't always contain rose oil. Sometimes it contains vinegar also. Georgette finds that every once in a while, if we give the bottle a few good firm shakes, the contents will fuse and become a beautiful creamy miscellany of all the parts. Georgette's reflection of her life in Sunnydale makes her realize that she's learned the true meaning of home.

For more information on Susan, or to purchase this book, please visit http://www.susanwingate.com/

 

Getting to Know Jordan Vinyard, Illustrator
Topic: Blog Tours

 ***

Please don't forget to leave a comment for one last chance to win a Trockle totebag here.  I want to thank Holly, Jordan and Vivian for allowing Trockle and Steven to stop by and visit with us.  I wish you ladies's the best of luck!!

Starting tomorrow, we will be visiting with Susan Wingate, author of Bobby's Diner.

A Talk With Holly Jahangiri
Topic: Author Interview

 

Please don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a Trockle totebag--and come back tomorrow when we talk with Jordan, the one who did so wonderfully with the illustrations in this book!

A Chat With Trockle and Steven
Topic: Blog Tours

Just as I promised, folks, Trockle and Stephen dropped by to have a talk with me :-)  Please leave them a comment.  Trockle informs me that one commenter who leaves a comment and their emails will win a totebag with him on it!!! 

This is Trockle:

1. Can you tell us your name and the title of the book you live in?
   
   Trockle. The book was named for me! I don't know why Ms. Jahangiri named it after me, since it's mostly about Stephen.
   
   
2. Describe to our readers what your role in the book is.
   
   Mom said it was to go to bed and get some sleep, so she could finish laying out the dust bunnies.
   
   
3. How did you convince your author to put you in this book?  For example, did you visit a dream or make yourself known some other way?
   
   Ms. Jahangiri was writing a story about a little human boy who was afraid of monsters under his bed. As soon as she thought to wonder what my name was, I yelled out, "Trockle!" and insisted she tell MY side of the story. Little monsters aren't so different from big ol' smelly boys, you know.
   
   
4. Is your author easy to work with or controlling?
   
   Controlling?
   
   Does she tell you what to do?
   
   Oh, no. I just send her the story in thought pictures and she writes it down. She makes me do all the work.
   
   
5. Would you tell us about one of your favorite friends from this book?
   
   Stephen, of course. He's this big, huge human boy – I used to be scared of him, too. Did you know he had TWO eyes? And TEN fingers? And zillions of teeth? I don't know why he was afraid of me. Our moms helped us get to know each other and to realize that we're just as much alike as we are different. We both snore! We both like fart jokes, too.
   
   
6. Do you plan on appearing in another book or are you happy to be where you are?
   
   I want to be in a movie! Or maybe a video game. Ms. Jahangiri's son might put me in a video game, some day. He says he wants to be a video game designer.
   
   
7. What would you like our readers to know about you?
   
   That I like to get fan mail at trockle.pie@gmail.com. I'll answer it, too! My mom monitors what I do on the Internet to keep me safe, so don't write anything you wouldn't want a great big scary mama monster to read.
   
   Oh, and I like chocolate. And monster trucks. I want a toe sock, so I can store chocolates at the foot of my bed. And…um…
   
   
8. Did you learn anything during your adventure in this book?
   
   Yes. I learned that the big scary boy over the bed is…REAL. But he's not really scary, you know? Just big. And funny looking. Like you. What, Mom?
   
   I'm sorry. Mom said that was rude. But why do you have two eyes instead of one great big one?
   
   
9. Can you tell us what you think is the most exciting thing that happened to you in your book?
   
   Exciting? When you live under a bed, you can't even fall out of it! It was kind of scary when Stephen's mom was spraying the Monster Repellent all around Stephen's room. HE knew it wasn't going to work, but I thought I was going to DIE.
   
   
10. Is there anything in your story you wish you had not done? Why?
    
    I wish I hadn't dripped ice cream on my truck. Because the dust bunnies stuck to it, and they don't taste so good.
    
    
11. What was your main motivation?
    
    To go to sleep and not get eaten by the humans.
    
    
12. Introduce us to your main adversary?
    
    I thought it was Stephen. He's the boy over the bed. He's got red hair and he's really, really tall. But the funny thing is, he was just as afraid of me as I was of him. Stephen's mom said something like, "The only thing you have to fear is fear itself." I guess fear is my main adversary, but I'm trying to be braver.
    
    
13. Is there anything you would like to have done but your author stopped you?
    
    I wanted to stay up all night and watch Naruto. My author wouldn't let Stephen do that, either. She's a lot like my mom.
    
    
14. Here's your chance to speak your mind.  What do you want to tell everybody?
    
    Read Trockle!! Tell George Lucas I want him to make me a STAR!!
    
    Um, okay, seriously? Don't let your fear and worry keep you awake at night. But if you can't sleep, read a book. Read Trockle! Use the time to do something other than worry.
    
    
15. Please tell everyone where they can find out more about your story and where they can purchase it.
    
    They can visit Stephen and me at http://trockle.wordpress.com and they can buy Trockle at http://www.4rvpublishingllc.com/Store.

This is Stephen: 

1. Can you tell us your name and the title of the book you live in?
   
   My name is Stephen. The book I "live in" is called Trockle. Trockle is the monster who lives under my bed.
   
   
2. Describe to our readers what your role in the book is.
   
   Mom said it was to go to bed and get some sleep..
   
   
3. How did you convince your author to put you in this book?  For example, did you visit a dream or make yourself known some other way?
   
   Well, she couldn't convince her son William to be a character in the book, so she created me.
   
   
4. Is your author easy to work with or controlling?
   
   Controlling?
   
   Does she tell you what to do?
   
   No! Well, yes – she told me to go to bed and brush my teeth.
   
   
5. Would you tell us about one of your favorite friends from this book?
   
   Trockle, of course. Our moms helped us get to know each other and to realize that we're just as much alike as we are different. I wish he'd quit stealing my chocolate bars, though.
   
   
6. Do you plan on appearing in another book or are you happy to be where you are?
   
   I guess I'm happy. No one asked me if I wanted to be in this book. It's kind of embarrassing – I mean, I don't want the kids at school to think I'm afraid of monsters under the bed. That's silly, right? It's been fun, though! And Mom says everyone's afraid of something, even if they don't admit it. She says that being brave doesn't mean being fearless – it means not letting your fear stop you from doing things you want to do, or have to do.
   
   
7. What would you like our readers to know about you?
   
   You can write to me at trockle.pie@gmail.com. Trockle will make sure I get it. He likes to explore the Internet and email people. I'll answer emails, but I'd rather be playing video games, watching cartoons, or hanging out with my friends! Trockle's mom keeps a close eye on everything either of us does on the Internet, so don't write anything you wouldn't want a great big scary mama monster to read. That'd be MY mother, not Trockle's. Trockle's mom is about the size of a stuffed Pooh bear.
   
   
8. Did you learn anything during your adventure in this book?
   
   I learned that just because someone's different – or even weird, like Trockle – doesn't mean they're scary or mean or not fun to have around. Trockle's cool, even if he does have one big eye in the middle of his forehead, three fingers on each hand, and shiny green claws. That growling sound that used to scare me and keep me from getting to sleep at night? That was just Trockle, making armpit noises. He's such a clown.
   
   
9. Can you tell us what you think is the most exciting thing that happened to you in your book?
   
   Exciting? Isn't this supposed to be a bedtime story? I guess the most exciting thing, to me, was making a new friend.
   
   
10. Is there anything in your story you wish you had not done? Why?
    
    I wish I hadn't forgotten to throw out my Choco-Taco wrapper. When Mom saw Trockle licking it, I got in big trouble for leaving it under the bed!
    
    
11. What was your main motivation?
    
    I was tired and Mom was making me go to bed. I didn't want her to be mad, but I was really scared. I thought at first she didn't believe me, about Trockle. I didn't want her to leave me alone with monsters.
    
    
12. Introduce us to your main adversary?
    
    That would be Trockle. He's about the size of a Beanie Baby. Reeeeal scary. Not. But when it's dark, and you hear "phlibbit" and "glurp" and "snorffelgrup" coming from under your bed, and you feel things that go "bump" in the night, you can't help but think of scary monsters. It doesn't help that Trockle's got little pointy teeth and claws and one big eye blinking away in the middle of his forehead. Turns out he was just as afraid of ME – can you believe it? Am I scary looking to you? We have a lot in common, in spite of all our differences. We like to play with trucks, we both like Choco-Tacos, and we both have moms who care about us. Oh, and according to our parents, we both snore and talk in our sleep.
    
    
13. Is there anything you would like to have done but your author stopped you?
    
    I wanted to stay up all night and watch Naruto or play Kingdom Hearts. My author wouldn't let Trockle stay up to do that, either. She's a lot like my mom.
    
    
14. Here's your chance to speak your mind.  What do you want to tell everybody?
    
    Read Trockle!! But don't show it to the kids at my school. That's just embarrassing.
    
    Oh, and if you can't sleep – take a book and a flashlight and read under the covers. It's really hard for moms to get mad at their kids for reading.
    
    
15. Please tell everyone where they can find out more about your story and where they can purchase it.
    
    They can visit Trockle and me at http://trockle.wordpress.com and they can buy Trockle at http://www.4rvpublishingllc.com/Store.

I want to thank Trockle and Stephen for taking time to talk with me today--weren't they wonderful, folks??  Join metomorrow when Holly Jahangiri, the author of this wonderful book, stops by to chat with me.

Trockle Has Arrived!!!!
Topic: Blog Tours

I am so pleased to tell everyone about the wonderful guests who will be visiting us over the next few days.  I'll introduce you in a moment to Trockle, a wonderful book written by Holly Janhangiri and illustrated by Jordan Vinyard.  I was fortunate that not only did Holly and Jordan stop by to talk with me, but so did Trockle and Stephen, he main characters in this delightful tale.  Please stop by each day over the next three days as I speak with these lovely people (and monster!).

Stephen doesn’t like to go to bed because he knows a monster is underneath. Even when told that Monster Repellent was sprayed under the bed, he knows it didn’t work.

Under the bed, Trockle doesn’t want to go to sleep because he’s afraid of the huge monster above.

Stephen’s parents and Trockle’s mom try to help their children no longer be afraid.

http://www.amazon.com/Trockle-Holly-Jahangiri/dp/0979751322/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221716111&sr=1-1

 

Please come back tomorrow as I talk with Trockle and Stephen!!! They are such delightful little ones!

 In the meantime, when you leave here, I'd love to have you visit The Book Views, http://thebookviews.blogspot.com/ where my good friend Lacresha Hayes interviewed me.  All those who comment have a chance to win copies of both her book, The Rape of Innocence and mine, Storm! 

More on Kenny Kahn
Topic: Blog Tours

  IRWIN Award is Crowning Jewel for Author Kenny Kahn

October 5, 2005
Studio City, California

Prominent Southern California criminal defense attorney Kenny Kahn, author of The Carney Kid: Survival of a Young Thief, was presented an IRWIN Award from the Book Publicists of Southern California for the Most Inspirational Campaign 2005. IRWIN stands for Industry Recognition for Writers In the News and was given at the Eleventh Annual IRWIN Awards banquet on October 5, 2005 at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City (Los Angeles), California.

Kahn’s most entertaining and often humorous book is about his nightmarish childhood growing up in the projects of East Los Angeles with his heroin addicted/carnival con-artist parents. From an early age, being the oldest child, Kenny was responsible for taking care of his younger siblings as his parents partied all night and slept all day. A stint in a foster home and a bout with polio at the age 15 proved additional obstacles for him to overcome, and surmount them he did, in part, by burying himself in a place of refuge that changed his life: Lincoln High School.

Kenny spent as much time at Lincoln High School as possible, joining every club, going out for every sport and spending untold hours at the library reading; anything to keep from going home. His parents ran a drug dealing business and shooting gallery for the local addicts, however, during the summers, starting at the age of 10 in the early 1950s, Kenny started to travel around the United States with his father learning how to be a carnival thief. His father was one of the best, and Kenny grew into an accomplished thief on the circuit, but he knew the life of his parents was a go nowhere proposition.

Kenny was smart and education was the way he escaped from the nightmare of his childhood. He put himself though UCLA as an undergrad and UC Berkeley Law School en route to a highly successful career as a criminal defense attorney. He defended high profile people including Larry Flynt, Ike Turner and Andrew Daulton Lee from the famed "Falcon and the Snowman" movie (The Sean Penn character). In 1987, after being stabbed in court by a deranged client in a Torrance, California courtroom, Kenny took up stand-up comedy. He has played at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas and clubs throughout the country.

Using his book as an inspirational tale, Kenny speaks at high schools around the country and has set up an annual writing contest named after his favorite high school teacher, Mr. Raymond Lopez. You can see media interview and reviews on his website

***

This ends our visit with Kenny Kahn.  Please visit his website and check out all the good works he is involved in.  This man gives all those with less than ideal beginnings hope for a wonderful future!!!

Tomorrow we start our visit with one of the cutest monsters you have ever met, Trockle!!

Experience Kenny Kahn Live
Topic: Blog Tours
Humor and Law Lecture Tour

Laughing Out Loud at the Legalities of Life
with Criminal Defense Attorney Kenny Kahn

Kenny speaks at California law schools, delivering "Humor and the Law." If you would like to make an advance reservation or to find out more information on having Kenny lecture at your school, please use the contact form to get in touch.

The "Humor and the Law" lecture tour is "Something I have wanted to do for a long time, combining my passions and passing on the knowledge I have gained the hard way, through trial and error," said attorney Kenny Kahn about his 2004 tour, a prelude to a nationwide book tour. "Humor can make such a difference in a case if used properly; I wish they had taught this at law school when I was a student."

The topics of Kenny's lecture included:

• What they don't teach you in law school
• Using humor in your law practice
• How to release tension in a trial with humor
• Improve client relations using humor
• Using humor as a tool for negotiating with opposing attorneys

The two hour lecture included an open Q&A session. The aim was to provide students with new skills in interpersonal relations and to pass on survival tactics that can be applied to many legal situations.

The delivery of the lecture is always in Kenny Kahn's trademark irreverent style, and it is truly a fun and informative experience.

The Humor and the Law lecture tour is one chapter in the career of this colorful attorney with a gift for making people laugh out loud at legalities.

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Book Kenny Kahn for Your Meeting or Event

Event planners call on Kenny Kahn when they want to entertain and inspire their audiences

Comedian and practicing attorney Kenny Kahn blends an off-beat kind of humor with incredible stories from his childhood and the halls of justice to create a show that totally engages his audience.

Kenny is pleased to entertain and speak to groups of 100 people or more, with priority given to Southern California venues. Other areas of the United States will be considered on an individual basis.

Kenny's topics include the slapstick "legal comedy" for which he is so well known; and the sharing of his growing up the only son of carnival workers who were drug addicts. He excelled beyond even his public school teachers' wildest dreams, through education, personal commitment and determination.

Kenny's appearances deliver powerful messages, motivation and inspiration to students and adults alike.

To learn more about Kenny's fees and booking policies, please contact:

Bob Mazza
Public Relations
(310) 994-4847
mazzaefx@earthlink.net