The motivation to write an article for "The Laurel of Asheville" magazine came from two fronts: 1) My desire to help my oldest daughter Shelley, an up-and- coming award-winning artist, and her River Art District friends and 2) My admiration for the artistic movements in Asheville -- past and present.
The romantic story of Black Mountain College fascinated me. In 1933, a group of disenchanted faculty members from Rollins College fled Florida to found one of the greatest avant-garde experimental centers for the arts the world has ever known.
The College, nestled in the Asheville hills, attracted an eclectic, international faculty of world-renown artists, composers and poets, among them Josef and Annie Albers, Franz Kline, and the great Walter Gropius.
Black Mountain College lasted only 24 years, but the revolution still burns in Asheville. New generations of artists, like my daughter Shelley, and her friend Wendy Whitson pictured above, replaced the old icons, creating fantastic works of art.
You can read my article, titled "An Artistic Rebirth," online.

The motivation behind writing my new wine column for "Pasajero" magazine also came to me from two fronts: my love of wine and my youngest daughter, Sophia.
I hate the majority of wine columns I read in newspapers and magazines. They are as appealing as the Sahara desert at noon in the middle of summer.
I wanted to write something fresh and engaging addressed to people like you and me who like wine but cannot afford $500 a bottle.
I know there are many excellent wines out there between $10-$25, which I constantly buy from my wine supplier Carlos.
My 3-year-old daughter Sophia likes to sit with us when we do the tasting. She pretends to sip "Sophia's wine," a combination of fruit punch and Perrier.
Here's an excerpt from the first article:
"Unlike some wine columns you may have read, long on pretentiousness and short on friendliness (does that strike a chord with you?) this one is unique because it is a down-to-earth family enterprise – my wife takes the photos, my friend Carlos selects the wines, I write the column and Sophia keeps all of us honest."
Pictured above: My daughter Sophia at my book signing in Port Richey.

Nov. 18, 10 AM - Noon, Miami Book Fair.
I'll be signing copies of my most recent book, Getting Filthy Rich at Booth 216, located between 2nd Ave. and the food court.