I’m the author of three books, have contributed to several anthologies, and had the pleasure of being interviewed for a few books by other authors.
Gardens of Stone
From the 17th century when the Dutch created a cemetery near present-day Wall Street, New York City has been home to some of the nation’s most intriguing famous burial grounds, from the pocket-sized Jewish burial ground of Shearith Israel to the hundreds of acres making up the majesty of Green-Wood and Woodlawn cemeteries. Gardens of Stone takes you on a walk through these memorial parks, guiding you through works of art cast in stone, from small solitary monuments to some of the country’s most grand mausoleums.
Green-Wood Cemetery
The monuments read like a who’s who of American greatness: Leonard Bernstein, F.A.O. Schwarz, Charles L. Tiffany, Samuel Morse, and DeWitt Clinton, among others. A national historic landmark since 2006, Green-Wood is considered one of the preeminent cemeteries in the country and is a living display of the evolving funeral traditions of the city and America as a whole. The cemetery remains one of the city’s largest open green spaces and a century ago was a social venue for picnics, outings, and political events. Through vintage photographs, Green-Wood Cemetery chronicles the cemetery’s rich history and documents how its tradition as a park and a popular tourist attraction continues.
When Grave Undertakings was first published, it was groundbreaking. It arrived in a time before social media, when talking about death — or about being a funeral director– was far from accepted. Many in the media embraced the story; many others rejected it outright, unwilling to explore a profession they found too uncomfortable or too unconventional. The book follows me through some of the darkest chapters in New York’s recent history, including the aftermath of September 11th and the crash of Flight 587, as well as the spectacle and media frenzy surrounding the funeral of mob boss John GottiToday, the book remains as relevant as ever for anyone curious about a life in funeral service. It offers a rare, candid look behind the scenes of a profession that is often misunderstood, and it traces my path as a young woman determined to find meaning, purpose, and identity in a world most people prefer not to think about.
Funerals of the Famous (Vol.7)
The lives and deaths of the famous hold a special intrigue for people worldwide. In this latest addition in the Funerals of the Famous series, you’ll find stories of some of the most memorable personalities in history. With photographs and thoroughly researched profiles, Funerals of the Famous Volume 7 showcases the colorful details of each individual’s death, funeral service and burial.
From “the voice of an angel,” Whitney Houston, whose homegoing was televised for all the world to see, to the 10 days of national mourning for anti-apartheid hero and former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, the celebration of their lives – and their legacies – continues on.
My profiles in this volume include:
• Mario Cuomo
Joan Rivers
• Ed Koch
Funerals of the Famous Vol. 6
The lives and deaths of the famous hold a special intrigue for people worldwide. In this latest addition in the Funerals of the Famous series, you’ll find stories of some of the most memorable personalities in history. With photographs and thoroughly researched profiles, Funerals of the Famous Volume 6 showcases the colorful details of each subject’s death, funeral service and burial. From “Gone With The Wind” star Vivien Leigh’s simple funeral and elaborate memorial service to the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, who would be dressed in no less that four colorful outfits during her visitation period, it’s all here – the moving to the macabre.
My profiles in this volume include:
• Vivien Leigh
• Celia Cruz
• JonBenét Ramsey.
MORE Magazine’s 287 Secrets of reinventing Your Life
It was an honor to be one of the 50 women chosen to share their stories in a book by MORE magazine.
The first-ever book from MORE magazine on its core subject—your second act and how to make it happen—packed with real women’s stories and strategies to help you with your own reinvention.
Combining the stories of real women (and a few celebrities) with smart advice from its editors and experts, MORE has create a resource that’s part dream machine, part handbook. Whether you want to switch careers, be your own boss, start doing good in the world, or simply get in better shape, you’ll find the inspiration and practical guidance you need to choose a new path and give yourself a happier, more fulfilling future.
- Shares more than 50 dramatic personal stories of change from women of various ages who’ve successfully reinvented themselves
Read this book and take your first step toward positive change. With MORE Magazine’s 287 Secrets of Reinventing Your Life, you can start building your best tomorrow today.
The Bumper Book of Bravery
Our The Bumper Book of Bravery recounts tales of incredible courage the world over, from the mythical to the modern, and from New York to New Zealand:
Take to the seas and marvel at the first voyage around the world. Dare to go deeper and discover record-setting underwater feats, as well as the French free-diver who refused to learn her limits.
Stay on land with Samurai warriors, Roman emperor gladiators and Genghis Khan’s lethal Mongolian army.
Reach for the skies through balloonists, fantastic flying machines and female fighter pilots.
Go underground with the ultimate masters of espionage, including Russian spies, honey-traps and ruthless CIA-trained Tibetan agents.
From ocean depths to giddy heights and everything in between, The Bumper Book of Bravery will awaken the adventurer and hero inside of us all.
Our Nueva York puede contarse de muchas maneras, pero solo hay una de penetrar hasta el fondo en el alma de la ciudad: a través de las vidas de aquellos que la habitan.Así, gracias a Francesc Peirón, conocemos a Ashrita Furman, el hombre que más récords Guinness acumula de todo el mundo. A sus 64 años, sigue entrenándose cada día en su casa de Queens para conseguir ser quien más botellas de champán abre con un sable o quien más distancia recorre sobre unos zancos. A un salto de metro, en Brooklyn, se encuentra el cementerio de Green-Wood, donde Peirón se cita con la que desde hace más de tres décadas es la enterradora más famosa de Estados Unidos. En su pasado hay varios libros y un posado en Playboy. También están los dos reclusos, mejor dicho, exreclusos. Se pasaron unos cuantos años en la cárcel acusados de un crimen que no habían cometido. Son negros, por supuesto. Nada más salir de prisión abrieron un negocio de hostelería, los dos juntos. Algunos bromearon con que habían cambiado los bars, los barrotes, por el bar. Sus historias, y las de muchos otros, conforman un mosaico de realidades humanas tan increíbles como la ciudad en la que habitan. Porque este es un viaje por las historias reales que mejor explican la ciudad más famosa del mundo.