Visit my new site Know What the Jeweler Knows! at http://kwtjk.blogspot.com
I was in a family jewelry business for many years and a few years back wrote a book for QVC about gems, diamonds, and precious metals. My new site offers some of this information and answers lots of jewelry questions! Plus, there's a "My Favorite Piece of Jewelry" poll!!
My interests are writing, reading, songwriting and recording music, American history, especially Presidential history, almost all the HBO shows, medieval England, and buying new notebooks which I end up never using. And Sharpies and packages of Post-It Notes (both of which I do use on a regular basis.)
For a complete list of my books and other Stuff about Steve, see my writer's website: StephenSpignesi.com
And by then, if you aren't completely fed up with me ;-) you're welcome to visit my LiveJournal blog: The Gem
I am currently working on a book about George Washington and one about Italian culture. I'm also working on a play and a new novel called Tory.
I am also an editor and book doctor and I am currently accepting clients on a limited basis. E-mail me and let's talk about how I can help you with your book. Click to E-Mail Steve
Music
The Beatles, Tom Petty, Incubus, Renee Cassar, ELO, Elton John, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, Paula Cole, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, the Jayhawks, Sarah McLachlan, the Cars, Shawn Colvin, Barenaked Ladies, Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Matchbox 20, Maroon 5, James Blunt, Keith Jarret, Aimee Mann, Leah Andreone, Enya, the Corrs, Counting Crows, Everclear, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Ani DiFranco, Yes, the Who, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, James Taylor, Nirvana, Coldplay, U2, Radiohead, Tenacious D, Ben Folds Five, R.E.M. Oasis, Green Day, Alanis Morrisette, Shostakovich, Albinoni, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Gregorian chants. Handel's Messiah might be my all-time favorite classical piece. Don't know if I could nail down my single favorite song, though.
Movies
Mob movies, science fiction, some westerns, some horror, some documentaries, Woody Allen movies, certain comedies - movies along the lines of There's Something About Mary and Clerks. I'm slowly trying to upgrade my movie collection to DVD. This is not an easy (or cheap) endeavor when we're talking about dozens of movies on VHS.
Television
The Sopranos, Deadwood, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office (UK and US versions), Huff, The Wire, ER, Letterman, Six Feet Under, The West Wing, Lucky Louie, Entourage.
Network TV annoys me. I've gotten so very used to the 55 uninterrupted minutes of show I get when I watch cable channels. The 8 minute chunks of network shows followed by 6 minutes of commercials just drives me nuts. I should probably get TIVO.
Books
I read lots of nonfiction for research. When I get to read fiction, it's usually science fiction and the classics. I'm trying to re-read the books I was assigned in high school and college and which I "read" oftentimes via Cliff Notes. I also re-read my completed novels and short stories now and then looking for ways to expand them or improve them. I read a lot of stuff online and also subscribe to several magazines. An old writing teacher of mine once told me, "You can't write if you don't read." All righty, then.
Heroes
My father Dominick, my dear friend John White, David Chase, David Milch, David McCullough, George Washington, Isaac Asimov.
A Buddhist Prayer
Evoking the presence of the great compassion, let us fill our hearts with our own compassion - towards ourselves and towards all living beings. Let us pray that all living beings realize that they are all brothers and sisters, all nourished from the same source of life.
I hear from readers by e-mail and letter all the time and it always amazes me how people react to Dialogues. It is, admittedly, an unusual book, but this seems to work in its favor.
The novel is about a 28-year-old woman named Tory who one day murders her six co-workers at the animal shelter where she works. Most of the book is dialogue between her and the court-appointed psychiatrist assigned to determine if she's fit to stand trial. She also talks to her mother, her psychiatric nurse, and there are dialogues between other people as well.
There are several reviews on my website and blog if you'd like to know more before moseying over to Amazon and clicking "Add to Shopping Cart." :-)
If you do read it, I'd love to hear from you.
You can reach me through MySpace, or directly at Steve
Here are a couple of blurbs about Dialogues:
From Bantam Dell: "In this electrifying debut, Stephen Spignesi reinvents the psychological thriller with a chilling tale of mounting intensity. Ingeniously crafted and crackling with suspense, here is a puzzle within a puzzle, at the center of which stands a hauntingly enigmatic young woman whose story will challenge everything you think you know...."
From Publishers Weekly: "... engrossing ... an often fascinating narrative ... Tory's writings and flashbacks heighten the tension ... spellbindingly crafted ..."
Happy Birthday, my friend. I am told that those of us who create characters in tales are re-inventing ourselves; every age, every sex, every disposition, in infinite possibilities. How lucky we are!
A very merry Unbirthday to you, To you! A very merry Unbirthday to you, To you, It's great to Drink to someone , And I guess that You will do, A very merry Unbirthday to you!
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