Book Review: The Reminders – Val Emmich

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If the name Val Emmich sounds familiar to you, it’s because you may have recently seen him on HBO’s Mick Jagger’s and Martin Scorsese’s produced TV show Vinyl, about a record executive in the 1970’s. Or you may remember him from other popular TV shows such as Ugly Betty, 30 Rock, and Cashmere Mafia. Or you may have stumbled upon some of his songs whilst watching an episode of Teen Wolf.

More recently, you may find Val Emmich in the bookstore in the form of his debut novel, The Reminders.

The plot is pretty straight forward, it’s told in alternating voices (something that Jennifer Niven loves to do in her novels as well), between Gavin Winters, an actor of a semi-popular TV show that has recently lost the love of his life and Joan Lennon Sully, a precocious ten-year old girl with a fascinating but rare neurological condition that allows her to recall every single detail of her life since the age of four.

Gavin and Joan’s lives meet when Gavin goes to visit his old college friends in New Jersey, as a way to escape a scandal in Los Angeles and in the meantime try to forget his time with his partner Sydney since the memories are too painful for him to move on. Meanwhile, Joan struggles with the notion of being forgotten after her grandmother has difficulty remembering her because of Alzheimer’s disease and yet can still recall all the lyrics of her favourite songs, which prompt her to believe that in order to be remembered she must write an amazing song just like John Lennon (her hero and namesake). Once Joan learns that Gavin used to be a musician, she attempts to persuade her into helping her write a memorable song if she in return shares with him her memories of his late love. Together, they forge a very dynamic and amusing bond.

The novel’s strength is that is has us pondering the importance of memories. Is it a curse to forget or is it an even bigger curse to remember? Ultimately, the reader will come up with their own conclusions on that as the characters each demonstrate the pros and cons of both of those throughout the novel. If you’re a music lover (in particular a Beatles fan) you’re going to love all the tidbits about them strewn throughout the novel. I particularly enjoyed being able to see the world with child-like wonder as Joan and then seeing the world from the eyes of an emotionally broken character such as Gavin. One of the best moments in the novel is when the two of them end up on the Mindy Love Show (that for some reason reminds me very much of The Wendy Williams Show) and how that goes drastically different from how both characters thought it would go, but as a reader it was hilarious although you’re left sort of cringing for the two characters at the same time.

If you’re hoping to get immersed in a music-filled ode to memories and the power they hold, then The Reminders is right up your ally. It’s a fun, light, but also thought-provoking book about love, loss, and what is worth fighting for, that will leave you missing the characters once you’re done.

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Short Q & A with the Author:

Your book focuses on the importance of memory –what is one of your favourite childhood memories?

Joan in the book has an exceptional memory, but unfortunately my memory is terrible. I don’t have a specific favorite memory that sticks out in my mind but I remember moments when I was hanging out with friends and we’d laugh so hard that our stomachs would be in real pain. I haven’t had one of those painful laughs in ages and I miss it.

As an artist –the art of creation means that whatever you create will outlive you. Since you’ve dabbled in various mediums, which one do you think is the most representative of you?

At this point, if I stopped making art tomorrow, my music would be the thing that probably best encapsulates me as a person. Mainly because there’s so much of it and it spans more than half of my life, so you’d have a pretty comprehensive look at what I care about and how I’ve changed over time. But to get the truest sense of me as a person, I think you’d want to look at all my art together, in its various forms. It all tells a different part of my overall story.

The novel seems to be an ode to The Beatles, so it’s obvious to ask what is your favourite Beatles song?

I don’t have one and I’m suspicious of anyone who can choose just one. I can’t even pick my favorite album. What I love about them is their variety, the scope of their achievement. This relates to the previous question. The Beatles are a big, messy, evolving thing that becomes more complex and rewarding when taken as a whole. I’m sorry to dodge the question, but it’s the truth, I can’t choose. Nor can I choose a favorite member of the band. Contrary to what one may think from reading my book, it’s not necessarily John Lennon. I love all four of them and I love how they balanced each other out and formed a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts.

The whole time I was reading, The Reminders, I kept thinking about how Matt Bomer would be perfect for the role of Gavin Winters in a movie adaptation. Who would you think would best portray the character?

I think Matt Bomer would be great. I hadn’t thought of him. Well done. The novel has in fact been optioned for a film and when I flew to Los Angeles to meet the creative team they asked me this same question and I didn’t have an answer. They mentioned Ryan Gosling, probably just to get the conversation started. I thought that would be interesting. My wife would want it to be Gael Garcia Bernal just so she could meet him.

I think that anyone who’s read The Reminders, will agree that the real scene stealer is Joan, the little girl with the incredible memory. I really enjoyed reading her chapters and wonder if there may be a possible future for her in later books or not?

Anything is possible. I don’t have any plans for a followup right now but I’ve been getting this question a lot and I’m flattered that people would be interested in reading more. Maybe down the line. I’ve already started writing a new novel with different characters and so that’s my focus for the time being.

Get your copy of The Reminders today!

By: Azzurra Nox

 

Makeup Muse: Elle Fanning

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To shake things up I decided to do my first collab with the awesome Brooke (brookeclarke.com, go check her blog out, it’s seriously tops!). We both agreed to do our take on Elle Fanning’s effortless Cannes 2017 makeup look!

One thing that Elle always has is beautiful skin, so for this look you’re going to want to prep your skin with some hydrating cream and primer. Some of my favourite light day creams are The Body Shop Seaweed Oil Control Day Cream ($20) or Clinique Superdefense Daily Dense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 ($48), these creams are perfect for acne-prone or oily to combination skin types. If you’re more on the dry side, you’re better off choosing a richer cream.

For this look, the focus was on the lips whilst the eyes were almost left bare (almost meaning that they chose natural looking colours rather than something bold). And while the lips were supposed to be the main attraction, the look was softened by a rose/blush hue.

I attempted to recreate the look whilst putting my own spin on it so this is more of an inspiration than exact photocopy.

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Products* Used:

Clinique Pep-Start Hydroblur Moisturizer

Urban Decay ABC Gum Eyeshadow (on lid)

Urban Decay Anaheim Eyeshadow (as liner)

Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow in Chic (in crease)

Wet N’ Wild Eyeshadow in Creme Brullee (on brow bone)

Medusa’s Makeup Brow! Wow! Wow!

Urban Decay Star Bronzer Natural Glow

Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Blanc (in waterline)

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Translucent Powder

Lancome Long-Lasting Undereye Concealer in Ivoire

Urban Decay Afterglow Powder Blush in Score

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Skin Frost in Peach Goddess

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in Rosematter

It Superhero Mascara

This is a fairly easy makeup look that can be recreated in 20-mins! Perfect for days when you’re running late or don’t feel like having too many products on your face!

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*All products used were purchased by writer.

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Pixi Beauty Sleep Cream

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What It Is: A nourishing night cream to soothe skin

What It Does: Helps hydrate and nourish skin as well as even out skintone while you sleep.

Active Ingredients: 100% Mango Butter, Lavender, Lemon, & Bergamot Oils

Verdict: This cream is cruelty-free so if you’re looking for a night cream that falls in that category, this is a good choice. This cream is semi-thick. I have oily skin and was a little hesitant to use this cream seeing that I’m always afraid that any thick face cream will cause breakouts. If you’re looking for a cream that truly does hydrate and nourish, then this does the job. I can’t really speak about how well it is for anti-aging purposes as I didn’t see any major differences in that regard. Although this cream works best when combined with the Pixi Glow Tonic and the Pixi Glow Overnight Serum. Would I re-purchase this product? Probably yes. I do like the consistency and that it’s made from natural products. Plus, although the cream is extremely hydrating, it hasn’t affected my oily skin any adverse way. And that’s always a bonus.

Price: $24

Where To Buy It: Target or https://www.pixibeauty.com

By: Azzurra Nox

5 Bedtime Rituals For the Best Sleep Ever!

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Are you one of those people that slips out of your clothes to pull on your jammies and crash into bed? Or are you one of those people with meticulous rituals before hitting the sack? Whichever category you fall, these six bedtime rituals will help prepare your body for a more restful and good sleep.

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Remove all your makeup.

I can’t begin to stress how helpful this is. Going to sleep with your makeup on, not only is it a minefield for gaining more acne if your skin is acne-prone or oily, but keeping dirt, grime, and chemicals into your sleep will also cause premature skin aging and dullness. For the best sleep, having clean skin is a must. And since the skin regenerates and heals during the night hours, this is when you want to use any acne topical medication or Vitamin C serum for cell turnover.

Drink Tart Cherry Juice.

I know we’ve always been told to drink Chamomile tea to best relax you and induce you to sleep, or to brew valerian root if you need something stronger. But what most people don’t know is that cherry juice is full of melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep. For best results, drink a glass of this about an hour or two before you’re aiming to go to bed, and allow yourself to be lulled into a restful sleep.

Do 5-8 mins of Mild Stretching.

I usually spend about 10 minutes every morning doing stretches to help kickstart my morning and get my muscles to wake up from the night. Stretching before going to bed can also help by allowing the muscles to not get cramped while you sleep. I usually combine a mixture of yoga and ballet stretches, because they’re the most effective in getting your muscles warmed up without having to necessarily break a crazy sweat before hitting the sack.

Brush & Floss Your Teeth.

This should be a given, but you don’t know how many people skip this essential night time ritual. Not only is this helpful to deter bad breath and cavities, but it also allows you to have that clean feeling in your mouth. And having a clean mouth allows for a better sleep as you won’t have bothersome chunks of food stuck in your teeth or the lingering taste of whatever you ate before going to bed marinate the inside of your mouth. A clean mouth isn’t only good for your oral hygiene, but a must for a goodnight’s sleep.

Listening to Soothing Music Before Bed.

Now I’m not saying you have to listen to nature sounds (but if it works for you, go ahead and do it!), but you can choose from instrumentals, to songs with lyrics. Years ago (back in the day when music compilations were a thing), I had made a mix for myself with songs that would better lull me to sleep. What were some of my picks? Not what many would consider “soothing” but nonetheless did the trick for me. Natalie Imbruglia’s Pigeons & the Crumbs, Silverchair’s Across the Night, and The Smashing Pumpkins’ Appels & Oranges. Kind of like Pavlov’s dogs, my brain began associating the songs on the mix to sleep, so as soon as I’d put it on my brain would get into sleep mode. Don’t believe me? Try it.

What are some of your bedtime rituals?

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Mangiacotti Hand Repair

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What It Is: Intense hand cream

What It Does: Softens even the driest of skins

Active Ingredients: Anti-oxidant Pomegranate and Papaya and shea butter

Verdict: I’ve got a confession to make. I’m handcream addict. I’m always on the lookout for the next best handcream on the market as I love to discover new brands. One thing that I look for in a handcream is that it’s non-greasy, fast-absorbing, and that the cream itself is thick and not thin (meaning that the thin feeling creams tend to be more water-based and don’t truly soften the skin in the same way as the thicker creams tend to). Now, I kind of took a risky bet with this handcream when I saw it in the store as it was a bit on the pricey side, but I took a whiff of the scent (I got the Pomegranate fragrance) and it was simply too decadent not to give it a shot. And I’m so glad that I did because this handcream is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It truly hydrates your skin for hours and even after you wash your hands, the hydrating effects don’t easily wash away. I tend to put this cream on at night and go to sleep with it and wake up to the softest hands e-v-e-r. Honestly, this product is simply tops, and you don’t even have to use a ton of it to get the awesome benefits from it!

Price: 12.50

Where To Buy It: http://www.mangiacotti.com (I actually bought mine at a local Hobby Lobby but I don’t know if they’re actually sold at Hobby Lobby nationwide so your best bet is to order it directly from their website).

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Milk Makeup Cooling Water

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What It Is: A hydrating gel stick

What It Does: Refreshes and soothes skin for a quick boost of moisture on the go!

Active Ingredients: Caffeine and seawater

Verdict: Advertised as “sleep in a stick” I decided to give it a go since I’m always sleep deprived and could benefit from looking more refreshed and ready to conquer the world in the early a.m. Since it’s been on the humid/hot side lately, I decided to pop this beauty in the fridge overnight before using it the following morning. Usually I tend to avoid anything that claims to be uber hydrating because my skin is hydrated and oily enough that extra moisture usually means we’re getting close to acne territory, but the seawater convinced me that it would keep the pimples away since salt tends to absorb oil. I don’t have puffy eyes in the mornings, so I can’t say how well this stick works for that, but I can say that this stick does give you that extra boost that you may need to kickstart your morning. Using this is like drinking a double-shot espresso whilst getting a blast of cold water splashed on your face. If that doesn’t wake you up, I don’t know what will.

Bonus: Vegan and Cruelty-free

Price: $24

Where To Buy It: https://milkmakeup.com/products/cooling-water/

By: Azzurra Nox

 

 

 

Goodbye, Genius – A Farewell to George A. Romero

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Today, the horror genre lost one of the most influential people in its world, director George A. Romero, best known for being the “godfather” of zombies. Unlike any other horror movies in the genre, he often used his zombie movies to confront major political themes such as racism in Night of the Living Dead and capitalism in Dawn of the Dead. In his movies the zombies weren’t always perceived as the villains, while he’d often prefer to depict humans as such instead. You can see his affection towards the zombies in this quote, “My zombies will never take over the world because I need the humans. The humans are the ones I dislike the most, and they’re where the trouble lies.” Or when he stated, “I sympathize with the zombies and I’m not even sure they are villains. To me they are this earth-changing thing. God or the devil changed the rules, and the dead people aren’t staying dead.”

He not only heavily influenced the zombie genre, but even the horror anthology stories in works like Creepshow and Tales from the Darkside, which helped open the doors for shows like Tales from the Crypt and Freddy’s Nightmares.

I remember watching his movies and shows when I was six years old. Even at that young age I knew that there was something different about his movies than the other horror movies that I was watching at the time. His movies had intellect and a message. His movies made us see that the true evil in the world wasn’t coming from elsewhere, but rather from ourselves. We are the monsters. And as Romero himself said, “I always thought of the zombies as being about revolution, one generation consuming the next.” A statement that is very telling for our times, and one that will probably always ring true.

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Goodbye, Mr. Romero, your zombies and your legacy will never die.

By: Azzurra Nox

Coming Soon! My American Nightmare: Women in Horror Anthology

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As a reader, I’ve always been an avid fan of horror anthologies and short story collections, because it has always allowed me to discover new authors without committing to a full-length novel. As a writer, I’ve always wanted to put together an anthology and seeing that I prefer the darker side of life I thought that going with horror short stories would be my best option.

Female representation in the horror genre is still very scarce. The horror literary market is filled with male authors. So with my anthology I decided to showcase the talent of female authors. This is how the concept for MY AMERICAN NIGHTMARE: Women in Horror Anthology was conceived.

The anthology will be available TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017.

Fans of Joe Hill, American Horror Story, and Stephen King will love these dark and twisted stories!

Excerpt from “The Girl & The Yellow Wallpaper”

The faces in the flowers were more pronounced than usual that night. Big eyes, gaping and expectant, seemed to blink back at her. Lizzie dismissed the idea immediately. Paper did not blink. Nothing could move in the room, except her. But the yellow faces had a more human quality the more she looked. They were women’s faces. Lizzie found something feminine in the shape, warped as it may be. The heads in the wallpaper appeared to tilt to the side, violently, like their necks had been snapped.

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Excerpt from “Perle”

A muscle flickered in that clean-shaven jaw. “Step out of the vehicle.”

I hesitated. Another bang.

“I said step out of the vehicle.” Singer popped the snap on his holster. “I’m not gonna ask you again.” Dog whimpers urged me to comply.

My shoulders slumped. I released the latch and fought open the stiff door. It protested with a loud, long squeal.

“Now what is in the back of this truck?”

Still I hesitated, puckering my lips in a coy attempt at innocence.

“My stepdad.”

*

Excerpt from “Whatever Happened to Peyton Rose?”

“Jesus,” she whispered, not sure if anyone could hear her. The dolls made her feel unsettled as they stared back at her with vacant eyes. Peering down, a scream escaped her throat when she realized that their plucked eyes were scattered on the bed. She pushed the comforter off of her. The eyes fell down, making a sound similar to marbles crashing to the floor as she ran for the door.

Frantic, she opened the door and stood upon the landing. She looked to and fro, not knowing what direction to run to next.

Don’t panic! She told herself. And yet, her hands were shaking.

*

My American Nightmare 2

The author lineup is the following:

Angela Sylvaine – “Ballad of Sorrow and Lily”
Amelia Kibbie – “We Kill The Skull Man”
Roberta Goli – “Mr. Buttons’ Tea Party”
Jamie Kahn – “The Poison & The Ivy”
Rachel Bolton – “The Girl & The Yellow Wallpaper”
Hillary Lyon – “Boys’ Night Out”
Nicky Peacock – “She Looked Like Krystal Sparkle”
Spinster Eskie- “Angie’s Change”
Sheri Kreitner – “The Pickman Sisters of Salem”
Sierra Ryan – “Volunteer”
Kara Nelson – “The Eye”
E.F. Schraeder – “Night Moves”
Andrea Teare – “39 Days”
Heather Miller – “The Stars”
Marnie Azzarelli – “When Evacuating Pennsylvania”
Erica Ruhe – “Perle”
Phoebe Jane Johnson – “Ruby”
Azzurra Nox – “Whatever Happened to Peyton Rose?”
Kara Dennison – “Billson”

If anyone would be interested in receiving an ARC of the anthology for review purposes, please get in touch with me at: azzurranox[@]yahoo.com or leave a comment below!

Summer Trend: Glitter Pop!

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With the summer months cranking up the heat factor, sometimes wearing layers of makeup may feel downright gross. Not to mention that it’s best to allow our skin to breathe when the temperature rises (meaning not to clog our pores with too much powder or foundation). So how does a gal still manage to look a little glam even when the day is scorching?

One of my fun go-to makeup to amp the colour without having to worry about caking it up and still looking fresh and fun is glitter liner! The key to keeping this look summery is to choose a liner that’s bright in colour, such as teal, cyan, violet, or even magenta! I chose a cyan hue from Nicka K that not only brightens the eye but also gives it a playful look without looking too Vegas showgirl.

You can either make the line thick or thin, I personally chose to keep the line as thin as possible. Another trick is to keep the rest of the eyemakeup simple. I used a neutral gold based eyeshadow (Urban Decay’s Maui Wowie), but you can use any neutral that best suits your skintone.

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What do you think about glitter liners? Do you have a favourite?

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Invisible Spray

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What It Is: A dry shampoo for all hair colours and types

What It Does: It absorbs scalp oils allowing you to skip washing your hair for a day or two or could be used to add texture to fine hair for updos.

What Sets It Apart From Others: It’s clear, meaning no gunky white powder-like residue when yo spray, it’s got Vitamin E for shine, and a slight scent of verbena making you feel like you’ve got clean, washed hair when you’re just faking it.

Verdict: I’ve had this product for awhile but hadn’t had a chance to use it because I’ve been using Nexxus Dry Shampoo (another favourite of mine). But when going on vacation I had to opt for a smaller bottle so I decided to give this a try seeing that I had a small travel size of it on hand. Sometimes when you’re on vacation (especially if you were like me, visiting five cities in five days with crazy wakeup calls at 4:30a.m. trying to wash your hair isn’t your priority when that means you can snooze for another half hour), so dry shampoos come in handy. I used this on the fourth day of no washing and instantly it dried up any oil-build up and truly gave my thick strands a must-needed lift. My hair didn’t look nor feel dirty after using it and the slight scent could’ve fooled anyone that I had just shampooed it. If you’ve got fine hair, you’ll probably have to use it by your third day and may have to wash it the following day. Thicker hair as myself can manage for a couple more days after using it.

How To Use It: I sprayed this on the roots and lifted my hair and continued to spray till I had covered the majority of my head. I then used my fingertips to massage the dry shampoo in, combed it, and put it up in a bun for the night. The following morning I let my hair down, finger combed it and was good to go!

Price: $25

Where To Buy It: Amazon.com

By: Azzurra Nox