Photo by Alan Light, 1975.

Ray Bradbury, author of The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451 and numerous short stories, is widely regarded as one of the 20th century’s most important writers. As his 90th birthday approaches later this month, Bradbury reflects back on his life, work and the gift that allows him to conjure “the monsters and angels” of creativity, in an interview with CNN.com. Of his talent he says, “It’s a God-given thing, and I’m so grateful, so, so grateful. The best description of my career as a writer is, ‘At play in the fields of the Lord.’ ” Fellow writer and friend Sam Weller has recently published a collection of interviews, Listen to the Echoes: The Ray Bradbury Interviews (Stop Smiling Books, 336pgs), that focuses a whole chapter on the author’s faith. A self described, “delicatessen religionist”, Bradbury doesn’t adhere to one singular religion, but draws inspiration from both Western and Eastern faiths. The foundation of his belief in a higher-power has always been love. “…I love all people. I love the world. I love creating. …Everything in our life should be based on love.”
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By Carl Hiaasen
Knopf | 352 pages
Release Date: July 27, 2010

Summary:
The always entertaining and irreverent Carl Hiaasen offers up a great beach read in the form of his latest novel Star Island. The career of Cheryl Bunterman, known to the world as wayward pop-princes Cherry Pye, has hit a downward spiral owed mostly to her serious shortage of talent and voracious consumption of drugs, alcohol and men. Working furiously to stage the singer’s comeback tour is her oddball entourage, which includes a stage mother from hell, a lecherous music producer and (unknown to Cherry) “undercover stunt double”, Ann DeLusia, who makes public appearances whenever the real pop star is passed out and/or in rehab. When Ann is mistakenly kidnapped by sleazy paparazzo Bang Abbott, Cherry’s career edges ever closer to the brink of disaster, and the singer’s handlers rush furiously to find her double. The plot takes another bizarre twist when former Florida governor (now eco-guerrilla), Clinton “Skink” Tyree, who grew enamored with Ann after one brief meeting, also races to save her. Who will find Ann first? Will the press find out the double’s secret? Even worse, will Cherry herself?
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