In this terrifying and hilarious prequel, we witness the genesis of the zombie plague in early-nineteenth-century England. We watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naïve young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. We laugh as she begins her first clumsy training with nunchucks and katana swords and cry when ... Read More »]]> Journey Back to Regency England — Land of the Undead!
With more than one million copies in print, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was the surprise publishing phenomenon of 2009. A best seller on three continents, PPZ has been translated into 17 languages and optioned to become a film starring Natalie Portman.

In this terrifying and hilarious prequel, we witness the genesis of the zombie plague in early-nineteenth-century England. We watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naïve young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. We laugh as she begins her first clumsy training with nunchucks and katana swords and cry when her first blush with romance goes tragically awry. Written by acclaimed novelist (and Edgar Award nominee) Steve Hockensmith, PPZII invites Austen fans to step back into Regency England, Land of the Undead!

Readers will witness the birth of a heroine in Dawn of the Dreadfuls — a thrilling prequel set four years before the horrific events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English countryside. They idle away the days reading, gardening, and daydreaming about future husbands — until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horribly awry.

Suddenly corpses are springing from the soft earth — and only one family can stop them. As the bodies pile up, we watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. Along the way, two men vie for her affections: Master Hawksworth is the powerful warrior who trains her to kill, while thoughtful Dr. Keckilpenny seeks to conquer the walking dead using science instead of strength. Will either man win the prize of Elizabeth’s heart? Complete with romance, action, comedy, and an army of shambling corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls will have Jane Austen rolling in her grave — and just might inspire her to crawl out of it!

Steve Hockensmith is an award-winning novelist and reporter. His debut mystery, Holmes on the Range, was a finalist for the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony awards. Critics have hailed the novel and its sequels as “hilarious” (Entertainment Weekly), “dazzling” (The Boston Globe), “clever” (The New York Times), “uproarious” (Publisher’s Weekly), “wonderfully entertaining” (Booklist), and “quirky and original” (The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). He lives in Alameda, California, with his wife and two children.

For more information, please visit www.QuirkClassics.com.

Chic Galleria is giving away a copy of Dawn of the Dreadfuls to 1 lucky Chic Galleria reader. Just leave a comment on this article. The winner will be chosen at random from those who leave a comment and the winner will be announced March 21, 2010.

Christopher’s Trends for Spring/Summer 2010

Shimmer:  After a long, hard winter, it is time to get whimsical.  Don’t be afraid of more shimmer than you are used to.  The key is to pick an eye shadow that is good quality with finely milled mica.  This means it will not look like glitter, but it will luminize the skin and look sophisticated and beautiful.  Cheap makeup tends to look like big clumps of glitter, instead of fine, powder-like shimmery leaflets.  You can also use a product like Saude Pele Radiance Booster to your existing shadow to add extra glow.

Coral lips:  One of ... Read More »]]>

Christopher’s Trends for Spring/Summer 2010

Shimmer:  After a long, hard winter, it is time to get whimsical.  Don’t be afraid of more shimmer than you are used to.  The key is to pick an eye shadow that is good quality with finely milled mica.  This means it will not look like glitter, but it will luminize the skin and look sophisticated and beautiful.  Cheap makeup tends to look like big clumps of glitter, instead of fine, powder-like shimmery leaflets.  You can also use a product like Saude Pele Radiance Booster to your existing shadow to add extra glow.

Coral lips:  One of my favorites.  The right coral color looks good on everyone, and is complimentary on all skin tones.  Christopher Drummond Beauty is coming out with an all natural, organic based long lasting lip stain called “Coral Reef”.  It’s the perfect blend of pink and peach, to give every woman the coral color that is so trendy this season.

Eyelashes:  Probably the biggest trend for Spring/Summer is long, lush lashes.  Option one:  Extensions.  They last for about a month, but take maintenance.  Option two:  temporary lashes.  I love individual lashes.  They are very natural looking, and you put them where you need them.  They can last a day or two, and look great.  Option three:  Layer mascara.  Get a non-clumping mascara (I have been using Maybelline) and apply it in layers.  Usually three layers is best.  Focus on the outer corners of the eyes.

Bronzer/nude skin:  Beautiful looking skin is always in.  If you are not like Jennifer Lopez, with flawless, gorgeous skin, then fake it.  Take a product like Saude Pele Radiance Booster by CDB, and lightly dust it on your cheeks, nose and forehead.  It will impart a beautiful natural-looking glow, without looking like you have anything on.  “fake it til you make it”!!!!  apply a light-colored bronzer to give a warm glow to the skin.  The key is to lightly dust it all over the face, then use a highlighter on the cheeks.

Liner on tops of eyes only:  For summer, a big trend on the runways that we did for fashion week was heavy lashes and liner on the top, and little if any on the bottom.  This is a pretty, youthful, fresh look that works on anyone.  It also helps to open up the eyes and makes you’ll look more awake.  Liner tends to drag down the eyes if you use too much on the bottom.  This prevents that.

Blush:  The right blush makes a world of difference.  I’m not a fan of pink pink blush.  It’s not natural looking.  If you choose a blush with some orange and or yellow (“Alluring Apricot” for Christopher Drummond Beauty), you have an instant pick me up that livens the skin up.  You can also use it as an eye shadow……..

Holy Cow ... Read More »]]> When I typically think of Los Angeles, California, I think of sunshine, beautiful people and healthy food. All of this seems to be true, but let me tell you, the people of Los Angeles also know a thing or two about fast food/comfort food spots! Whether you are cruising down Santa Monica Boulevard, the Sunset Strip, Robertson, Melrose or Hollywood, you will quickly notice that there is no shortage of burger joints. There’s Jack-in-the-Box, Apple Pan, Umami, Hole-in-the-Wall, Burger Joint, Pinks…you get the idea! But, one of my all time favorite’s is In-N-Out Burger!!!

Holy Cow (no pun intended:-) this place rocks! The first one opened up way back in 1948, so it’s pretty safe to say that they seem to know what they are doing when it comes to burgers. So naturally, I stopped off for one when I was there. (Now I’m kicking myself for not having more!) Their cheeseburger is made from a 100% pure beef patty, and is topped with lettuce, tomato, onion (if desired), one slice of American cheese, and their special sauce (tastes similar to the sauce on a Big Mac).

Yes, they have fries, but I say you can leave them out as the burger is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO good! But don’t go there and not order a milkshaketo wash it all down…(chocolate or vanilla)…both delish!

A bit further away from the downtown area (in Chinatown to be exact) is Philippe’s (pronounced Phil-ee-peez).

This is one of the oldest restaurants (1908) that specializes in the French Dip sandwich!

Legend has it that a man by the name of Philippe Mathieu invented the French Dip when he accidentally dropped the sliced french roll for the sandwich into the roasting pan filled with juice drippings. The customer, a police officer, said he would take it anyway, and the very next day returned (with some of his friends) for another one the exact same way! You can order it with beef, pork, ham, lamb or turkey. Beef is the classic, and what I ordered.

You can also ask for it single-dipped or double-dipped in the gravy (the way to go if you ask me!) I put just a little bit of their Hot Mustard on it…it’s HOT, but homemade and oh so good! I have to say this was by far the BEST french dipped sandwich I have ever had! All sandwiches cost $5.55, except for the lamb which goes for $6.75.

The atmosphere is fun…it’s sort of a blast from the past with cafeteria-style service and sawdust on the floor! Philippe’s is open everyday (except Thanksgiving & Christmas) from 6AM til 10PM…so you have no excuse but to go the next time you are in Los Angeles. Be prepared to wait…the lines can be long…but it’s worth the time!

Well after all of this meat, you need a little something sweet, right? And have I got the place…Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain in South Pasadena, California.

It’s a South Pasadena landmark, opened since 1915, and located on the historic Route 66. This place is so cute inside…it still looks like it did when it opened; old-fashioned!

You can shop in their pharmacy and store if you need some toiletries or little trinkets to bring home with you, but the reason so many people go here is for the real goodies that you can eat at the soda fountain. You must order their All-American Banana Split! For $7.25, you get HUGE scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, topped with hot fudge, strawberry and pineapple sauces, and all nestled inside of a split banana!

It’s enormous…that’s why I personally think they call it a split because you have to split it with someone, it’s too big to eat on your own! It was amazing! I also tried one of their Egg Creams for $3.50, an East Coast favorite, that’s made with soda water, milk, and your choice of vanilla or chocolate. (I ordered the chocolate). I have to honestly say I didn’t love it (too watered down)…that was the one thing I would say the west coast should leave to the east coast. But after the banana split, you don’t really need anything else!

The last place I must talk about when it comes to comfort food in L.A. is a place called Urth Cafe.

There are a few locations throughout the city, but the one on Melrose Avenue is the original one, is often frequented by celebrities, and has been on an episode or two of Entourage & The Hills. They have everything from coffee, pastries, and a full breakfast menu, to lunch and desserts as well. Everything at Urth Cafe is fresh and the coffee is organic.

If you go, you must try one of their Spanish Lattes…basically a latte with a kick! This place is great all around!

Written By: Lori McNally of Chic Galleria

1. Socialites entertain at home, outsourcing the work to caterers and wait staff.

A dinner party doesn’t need to break the bank, if you’re resourceful. Visit Costco for frozen cheese puffs and salted almonds. Serve a simple but refined pasta, such as cappelini with lemon zest and a soupcon of caviar, and your guests will feel they’ve been treated to something special. Hopefully they’ll return the invitation in the future.

2.  Socialites never miss an opening night.

Ballet enthusiast? Opera aficionado? Don’t be shy about calling your local performing arts centers and asking what kind ... Read More »]]> By Bridie Clark,
Author of The Overnight Socialite

1. Socialites entertain at home, outsourcing the work to caterers and wait staff.

A dinner party doesn’t need to break the bank, if you’re resourceful. Visit Costco for frozen cheese puffs and salted almonds. Serve a simple but refined pasta, such as cappelini with lemon zest and a soupcon of caviar, and your guests will feel they’ve been treated to something special. Hopefully they’ll return the invitation in the future.

2.  Socialites never miss an opening night.

Ballet enthusiast? Opera aficionado? Don’t be shy about calling your local performing arts centers and asking what kind of discounts they might offer. Carnegie Hall, for example, sells a limited number of partial view tickets for $10. At the Metropolitan Opera House, standing room tickets for the following week’s performance go on sale Saturday mornings at 10 am. Show up at least an hour in advance, and you can score Orchestra standing room tickets for $20 and Family Circle for $15.

3. Socialites love publicists.

The next time you’re at a fun event, make a special effort to find out who’s throwing it. Since publicists are responsible for organizing guest lists at fabulous, see-and-be-seen parties, they’re the right people to know if you’re looking to be included.

4. Socialites tend to skip dinner.

Meet friends for a drink. A 9pm glass of bubbly somewhere chic can be just as fun as an 8pm dinner — and you’ll save yourself some money and calories.

5.  Socialites love to jet set.

Sunning in St. Tropez, skiing in St. Moritz not in your budget this year?  You can jet set for less by swapping your home for a vacation in a fabulous location. Visit www.homeexchange.com for more details.  Another site to check regularly is the aptly named jetsetter.com (become a member by visiting gilt.com/theovernightsocialite) for discounted rates at the world’s most coveted destinations.

© 2010 Bridie Clark, author of The Overnight Socialite

Bridie Clark graduated from Harvard University, and has written for The New York Times, Vanity Fair, New York, and Quest. Her debut novel, Because She Can, was published in nineteen countries. She lives in New York City.

For more information, please visit www.bridieclark.com.
Photo Credit © Jason Stitt | Dreamstime.com

Miranda Priestly, the imperious and dismissive boss in The Devil Wears Prada, is what some researchers call a “Queen Bee,” a woman who takes pleasure in making other women, particularly younger women, feel inferior, stupid and lacking what it takes to make it to the top. Threatened by her younger, sexier staff, she is the contemporary version of the spiteful, envious queen in Snow White, imploring the mirror to confirm that she’s the fairest of them ... Read More »]]> By Vivian Diller Ph.D. with Jill Muir-Sukenick Ph.D., edited by Michele Willens,
Authors of Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change

Miranda Priestly, the imperious and dismissive boss in The Devil Wears Prada, is what some researchers call a “Queen Bee,” a woman who takes pleasure in making other women, particularly younger women, feel inferior, stupid and lacking what it takes to make it to the top. Threatened by her younger, sexier staff, she is the contemporary version of the spiteful, envious queen in Snow White, imploring the mirror to confirm that she’s the fairest of them all.

If by your own definition you’re an older woman, you have to ask yourself: Am I in any way related to Miranda Priestly? Do I secretly harbor feelings of jealousy and maybe even resentment toward younger colleagues who seem to be trying to advance their careers by being flirtatious and even exhibitionistic? Understandably, this can make you feel unattractive and sexless, irrelevant and unimportant. In a word, old. You may not have been able to confide these sentiments to anyone, but if you did, you’d discover that you’re certainly not alone. What’s wrong with holding onto these feelings is that eventually they may actually “Mirandize” you. Their very acknowledgment is the first step in dealing with them. The next is determining how objective and legitimate they are and how many come from your own misperceptions.

What those of us at midlife and beyond sometimes fail to realize is that there has been a tremendous shift in how young people — and perhaps especially women — see themselves in the world of work. To them, the boundaries between casual and business attire, and behavior, are not as absolute. What may seem provocative and inappropriate to an older generation is inconsequential to the younger one. The latter are not as docile as their predecessors, and their expectations are greater. If your path to success was steeper and longer than the one they have to climb, you may feel resentful and angry at the unfairness of it all.

It would be nice to say “get over it” and move on. Unfortunately, it is a fact that your marketability diminishes as you age because you cost more, you pose a bigger risk in terms of health issues, you have family restrictions, and so on. What’s more, businesses may believe they stay “hip” by replenishing their work force with younger staffers.

To add to this, as we explain in Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change (Hay House), there is a bias toward attractiveness called the “halo” effect, which says that the quality of one trait is automatically applied to every trait: that is, an attractive person is also assumed to be responsible, intelligent, adaptable, and so on. And, superficially, younger equals more attractive.

Clearly, looking good is important in all jobs, even if it’s not overtly stated. (Something we know very well, having been professional models before becoming psychotherapists.) It’s understood that you are expected and even required to project a certain image. If the prevailing standards align with yours, that’s great. As we say in Face It, “Beauty is in the way you feel about yourself. It’s how you walk and talk and connect to others.”

But once you equate beauty with youth, (and both with professional value) you’re fighting a losing battle. At some point, you’ll feel anxious, marginalized, and dispensable. Every new employee can represent a threat, and you may become the obsessed victim of your own thoughts or fears. Trying too hard to look younger, you may feel compelled to have excessive surgeries or dress in a way that invites ridicule. That’s a pity, because you risk losing your credibility at a time in your life when you’ve fully earned it.

Jill Muir-Sukenick, Ph.D.

When you got your job, it was because you were an attractive candidate in all respects. You may be older, but you’re also more valuable because of your work experience and accumulated wisdom. If you’re convinced that each new employee is a potential usurper of your position, it’s unlikely you’ll work well with that person. When you unwittingly regress to such adolescent behavior, you lose perspective on all you are and all that you have achieved.

Recognize that what keeps you vital in any organization is your enthusiasm, flexibility, and receptivity to change. In those ways, you become a role model for the next generation of women, rather than that gal in Prada.

© 2010 Vivian Diller Ph.D. with Jill Muir-Sukenick Ph.D., edited by Michele Willens, authors of Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change

Vivian Diller, Ph.D.

FACE IT: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change by Vivian Diller, Ph.D, with Jill Muir-Sukenick, Ph.D. and edited by Michele Willens is a psychological guide to help women deal with the emotions brought on by their changing appearances. As models turned psychotherapists, Diller and Sukenick have had the opportunity to examine the world of beauty from two very different vantage points. This unique perspective helped them develop a six-step program that begins with recognizing “uh-oh” moments that reveal the reality of changing looks, goes on to identify the masks used to cover deeper issues, defines the role beauty plays in a woman’s life, and ends with bidding adieu to old definitions of beauty so women can enjoy their appearance — at any age!

For more information on the book, authors, and events, please visit http://www.faceitthebook.com or visit their fan page on Facebook.

Author photo credit: Joe Orecchio
Photo Credite © Anatoly Repin | Dreamstime.com