My book, "Craving Normal," available on Amazon.
June 6th, 7pm. Join me, and wildly entertaining writers Pamela Des Barres and Moon Unit Zappa, for a fun night of storytelling & more at Valley Relics Museum.
If you enjoyed “Daisy Jones and The Six,” you must have read Miss Pamela’s “I’m with the Band.” If you didn’t, you should.
Linda Ronstadt’s beautiful comments about Pamela Des Barres, in Linda’s autobiography, “Simple Dreams.”
Erica Maier wrote:
Thoroughly, thoroughly, THOROUGHLY enjoyed Craving Normal! What an entertaining read!
As she recounts colorful stories from child to adulthood, spanning from the Bay Area, to Greece, Morocco, France, L.A., and everywhere in between, I could almost picture author Michele Miles Gardiner extending a hand out to me and saying, “Come with me! You won’t believe this!”
Your dad put a suicidal Santa on your roof?! You stood up a 13-year-old Rob Lowe?! You were scammed by members of a VERY FAMOUS band before they were famous?! It’s just too good!
Each chapter highlights a new adventure, some that might make you cry, some that might make you think, but MOST that will make you laugh. It’s as “comfort food” as a read as they come!
I’m thinking we need a “Craving Normal: Volume 2,” Michele! I’d buy it!
My first event for “Craving Normal,” will be June 6th. I’ll be joined by wildly entertaining writers: Pamela Des Barres and Moon Unit Zappa. It’ll be a rockin’ and raucous evening. Join us at Valley Relics Museum in the San Fernando Valley. 🎸 Ticket info to come.
My first book event (storytelling, book signing, and surprises) for “Craving Normal,”–it’s going to be at this amazing place: Valley Relics Museum. Save the date, June 6th at 7pm. But come a half hour early to enjoy this groovy venue, lots of LA/Valley music history and more. And free pinball! Plus, I’ve got some surprises planned.
I won’t be able to announce my lovely line up of writers until I have all the final details, but I promise you’ll want to be there–a rockin’ & raucous night is in the works.
Thank you Tommy Gelinas and Mary Neubauer. I’m so excited!
Photo 1: Tommy Gelinas, the man who runs this fascinating and fun museum. His energy is as luminescent as his vast neon sign collection.
Photo 2: I’m posing with rock photographer John Shiner, who took these great photos of Bowie and Freddie (on his T-shirt), when he was only thirteen years old.
Photo 3: Did I mention free pinball?
You will now find Craving Normal on the memoir section shelves of Green Apple Books, 506 Clement Street in San Francisco.
Find Craving Normal at Green Apple Books on Clement in San Francisco, and Skylight Books in Los Angeles. Read Michele’s “crazy stories,” as her editor called them. More reader quotes below. More info about Craving Normal.
Elliot said, “Oh man, your book is brilliant, heartfelt and hilarious! I can’t stop reading it. The story about Santa is fantastic, and when I turned over the page to see the picture of you with suicide Santa splayed out on the roof, I was crying with laughter. You’re a true talent.”
Greg: “…the family dishrag passages!! I laughed out loud in my room late into the night over these and thought if anyone passed by my door and heard me laughing uncontrollably, they might have me committed today! Can’t wait for tonight’s reading!”
Michele shares some of the wild stories of her life with us, and I started chuckling, laughing and snarfing right at the beginning, with the “Suicidal Santa”, a truly hysterical tale of Christmas wackiness. Her writing style is easy, inviting and personal, her details are delicious, and if you’re of a certain age, this will all ring bells with the memories of being alive in that liberated era. Strap yourself in for the “bathroom story”, it’s crying out to be a scene in a Kristen Wiig movie. Highly recommended.
Craving Normal is what happens when you combine benign neglect with someone who is willing to find the silver lining and laugh about it. Go on a journey with Michele as she travels back in time and across the Atlantic to find she is still surrounded by cringe worthy adults and their antics. A must read for anyone who can relate to being the odd one out in a world of lunacy. You’ll love it. I promise.
Michele’s story is a fascinating read into one perspective on growing up. The story is interesting only because her writing puts the reader right inside the story. As I have already said the girl can really write and tell a story. You will enjoy this book immensely.
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I cassava your problem (This really bad pun will make sense further into this post):
In the market, I look around as my items are being scanned. The woman behind me is holding a bag of Siete Tortilla Chips. Her eyes are close to the the bag as she reads it. She turns the bag over to read the other side.
Me: Those are really good.
Her: I’m having people over, so…
Me: They’re the best grain-free tortilla chips I’ve had.
She’s looking closer at the chip ingredients.
Her: Really?
I nod. And put my card in the payment slot.
Her: So what’s cassava flour?
Me: Some sort of root vegetable flour.
She gives me an odd look. Is it skepticism? What does she think, I’m some sort of covert cassava operative?
I finish my payment.
Her: See, if they ARE good then I’ll eat them.
Me: Oh? Well…
Her: I don’t want something I’ll want to eat.
I look back at her, as I push my cart away.
Me: Well…
I don’t know whether to say–“Enjoy” or “Good luck” or…? I’m perplexed how to end this odd moment.
Her: If I eat these… I’m blaming (she points at me) YOU.
Man, I didn’t see that situation happening. I thought I was being helpful.
Note: I found this image of Veronica from the Archie Comics. So I think it’s pretty funny that, afterward, when I went to find a link about Siete Tortilla Chips, I noticed this interesting story about the founders is written by Veronica Garza. She’s co-founder & president of Siete.
No, I’m not a Siete covert operative, trying to slickly plug their product. But I do like the chips and now even more after reading the Siete family business story, here.
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