From sea to shining sea, July 2014 to January 2016

During my brief trip to California in June 2014, my mother, Claire Yvonne Biberstein Kendall, became ill, and tragically and unexpectedly died exactly one month later. (See below.) In the midst of it all, I was writing Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends due that August.

It has been bittersweet not to be able to enjoy the fruits of success with my mother. But, through it all, she has been with me in spirit, helping me from Heaven, as she promised she would!  

The book tour teed off in Pinehurst, North Carolina, home of American Golf, on April 13, 2015. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of travel, summarized on my website at A Chronicle of Events along the book tour... 

The author signing copies of "Oasis" at the Barnes & Noble in Burbank, CA
on July 15, 2015, the first anniversary of my mother's death.

Collins Funeral Home:  Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

Claire Yvonne Kendall (Age 81)

On Tuesday, July 15, 2014, of Kensington, MD. Beloved wife of Paul A. Kendall; daughter of the late Helena Keane and Frank Biberstein; granddaughter of Lillian Webster Keane, who died 49 years, to the day, before her beloved granddaughter, whom she watched over after her daughter Helena died, while cradling her baby, Claire, in her arms; sister of the late Pauline Krafft (Frank) and the late Beatrice Ward; mother of Paul Kendall (Jeannette), Therese Lipovsky (Robert M.), Mary Claire Kendall; grandmother of 15, in descending order of age: Caitlin Workman, Kathryn Kendall, Joseph Kendall, Elizabeth Lipovsky, Adam Kendall, Marie Kendall, Christina Lipovsky, Sara Kendall, David Lipovsky, Charles Kendall, Gregory Lipovsky, Nina Kendall, Mary Lou Lipovsky, Rose Kendall, and Isabelle Kendall. Aunt of the nine Krafft children: Barbara, Sue, Jeanne, Don, Marie, Marty, Bill, Steve and Nancy; and Judy Ward. Her greatest joy in life was family harmony. Relatives and friends may call at Holy Redeemer Church, 9705 Summit Ave, Kensington, MD 20895, corner of Summit Avenue & Cable Drive, Friday, July 18, from 5-8:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 19, at 10:00 a.m. Private Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross Foundation, 524 North Avenue, Suite 201, New Rochelle, NY 10801. 

Los Angeles, June 10-13, 2014

With impeccable timing, I escaped the Hillary book tour last week... Tuesday, June 10, as "dead broke" tour shifted into high-gear, headed for LA to do interviews for my own book about twelve (now thirteen) legends of Hollywood... That afternoon, drove straight from airport to meet with two producers about a TV show we're working on... 

Wednesday, June 11, had terrific interview for book...  Thursday, June 12, took in Variety's Faith-based summit about which I wrote in Breitbart  ... interviewed T.D. Jakes, John Ratzenberger and Kevin Sorbo (photo above)... Wrapped up on Thursday night with drinks and dinner at Lucques on Melrose Avenue with a friend who's a sitcom showrunner... then headed to the airport hotel for trip back next morning... 

Tuesday and Wednesday nights, stayed in the thick of it in, respectively, Hollywood and Hollywood Hills... in lobby of Hilton Garden Inn was a Madam Tussauds wax image of Whoopi Goldberg... surreal... early March, I saw her big as life on the Oscars Red Carpet... 

All in all a very productive three days...

California, February 27 - March 5, 2014

What a whirlwind... Hollywood for the Oscars, then Beverly Hills, Culver City, Laguna Niguel and back East Tuesday, March 4, finally home sweet home on Wednesday, March 5... wrote two articles for the Oscars: one pre-Oscars, one post-Oscars... had some great TV & film related meetings... visited with friends... did research for my book... and managed to relax just a bit...