What was superstar #MichaelJackson really like when he wasn't performing, particularly when
he was much younger? Darls Centola, who wrote "Finding Truth With Michael: A Memoir of
Friendship, Faith, and First Love" takes us there in a way that's never been done before.
Darls befriended Michael and sister La Toya during their high school years, and she was one
of the only friends outside of the Jackson's performing world to cut through all the noise and
just be a friend.
The memoir chronicles the everyday life of the famous Jacksons, from roller skating in
Sherman Oaks to joyriding in her beat-up yellow Toyota. It also talks about the faith they
shared, and the crush she ultimately developed on the superstar Michael
Finding Truth With Michael offers a personal look at Michael away from peering eyes, and is
certainly well-timed with the release of the film "Michael," sharing his nephew Jaafar Jackson.
Please find my full interview with Darls on all video and audio platforms of
#DeborahKobyltLIVE.
I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

Idanna Pucci's latest book, "Emilio Pucci: The Astonishing Odyssey of a
Fashion Icon," is a biography co-authored by the niece of the famed designer
along with her husband, Terence Ward. The narrative moves beyond Emilio
Pucci's vibrant prints to uncover his harrowing experience during World War II
and his role in postwar Italian reconstruction.
Carefully detailed and researched by Idanna Pucci and her husband, this is an
inside look at an extraordinary story of bravery long before anyone knew
#EmilioPucci as the fashion artist he became. The authors recount Pucci's
capture, imprisonment, and torture by Nazis following a secret mission to
assist the opposition, and they explore his transition from war hero to fashion
icon, with details about his shop on the island of Capri. It's a captivating read,
in part because it comes first-hand from family members, most notably Idanna,
who grew up in the Pucci palace in Florence and later worked for her uncle at
his Saks Fifth Avenue boutique in New York. The biography draws from
intimate family sources, including personal diaries and declassified war
records.
Please join me in welcoming #IdannaPucci on all video and audio platforms of
#DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast and the #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I'm
your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

I started my summer reading a little early this year with "Bel-Air Confidential," a futuristic romance by Jeni Lynn, a journalist who has spent much of her career writing about technology and NASA. This is her first novel and series of "Confidential" books, each set in a different historic hotel. I must say, I'm already hooked. The book takes place in LA in the year 2172, and follows Alex and her boss, Eric, as they navigate a dangerous world where a secret society wants to prevent humanity from leaving earth. In the process, the two develop an epic romance. This is a clever book with lots of intrigue, and while I don't often read or interview authors who write fiction, this one caught my eye, particularly for the summer reading season. I ponder a Los Angeles in the future and what it might be like, and she's got all the elements of possibility here. It kept me turning the pages. Throughout our interview, I'll be asking Jeni about her process from journalist to novelist, which isn't so easy. We'll also talk about character development, where she got some of her character ideas from, in addition to what's next in the series. I hope you'll join me on this futuristic ride with Jeni Lynn, and please tell your friends, too. I'm your host, @DeborahZaraKobylt, and I want to thank you for joining us today on our podcast, #DeborahKobyltLIVE.