Steve McQueen's widow celebrates the life of the 'King of Cool'

Steve McQueen’s widow and his biographer are coming to Palm Springs in February to promote a blockbuster new book about the superstar, and to celebrate the life of the ‘King of Cool’.

Barbara McQueen and author Marshall Terrill will appear 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, at Melvyn’s Restaurant at the Ingleside Inn, 200 W. Ramon Road, Palm Springs. The two will make a presentation, answer questions and sign copies of Terrill’s new biography Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon and McQueen’s 2006 photo book Steve McQueen: The Last Mile.

“For years I’ve been hearing about the magic of Melvyn’s Restaurant and the Ingleside Inn,” said McQueen, who will kick off the inn’s 2011 Speaker Series. “I’m happy to share my stories about Steve while spending quality time in the desert.”
For decades, Steve McQueen has captured our hearts and imaginations. Now, the star’s preeminent biographer reveals the true life of the man in his 624-page epic book. Featuring hundreds of interviews and exhaustive research, Terrill reveals new details about the star’s life from his harrowing and painful childhood, throughout his incredible career, to his courageous final days. Scrupulously researched and beautifully written, Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon is an indispensible resource of a beloved star.

Author Marshall Terrill is a film, sports and music writer and the author of more than a dozen books, including best-selling biographies of Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley and Pete Maravich. He is also the co-author of Palm Springs a la Carte with Mel Haber. Three of his books are in development to be made into movies.

Barbara Minty McQueen is the widow of the famous actor and met McQueen in 1977. They remained married until his Nov. 7, 1980 death. She resides in Ketchum, Idaho.

Tickets are $65, which includes a three-course dinner as well as tax and tip. Reservations are required. To RSVP, call (760) 325-0046 or visit www.inglesideinn.com.

Palm Springs a la Carte served up Feb. 1, 2009

Palm Springs a la Carte gets served up February 1, 2009

Mel Haber still doesn't know how to cook a steak, make a Bloody Mary or open a cash register.

That's not an astounding statement to make unless you have been a very successful restaurateur and have been in business for more than three decades. Haber, who was the operator of six different restaurants, including the legendary Melvyn's Restaurant and the Ingleside Inn in Palm Springs, made every mistake in the book and succeed in spite of himself.

Perhaps even more amazing is the fact how the former automotive novelty manufacturer from Coney Island, Brooklyn, stumbled into the desert in 1975 and made a name for himself in a business he knew nothing about – the hospitality industry.

Palm Springs a la Carte: The Colorful World of the Caviar Crowd at Their Favorite Desert Hideaway (Barricade Books, 2009) is a charming, often hilarious book describing the adventures of novice restaurateur and hotelier, Melvyn Haber, an automotive accessory manufacturer from the bowels of New York City who is a legend in the sugar-frosted society of Palm Springs.

Haber admits he made every mistake in the book, which didn't preclude him from running one of the most successful restaurant's and hotels of all time. His establishments have attracted a guest list that reads like a Who's Who of the world. Visitors have included Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Marlon Brando, Liberace, Liza Minnelli, President Gerald Ford, Steve Allen, Lucille Ball, Dinah Shore, Rita Hayworth, Jerry Lewis and June Allyson.

Haber restored the historic inn and grounds, and built his own restaurant, Melvyn's. He learned the business the hard way and lived through a comedy of errors that would have bankrupted most investors in today's ultra-competitive hotel and restaurant markets. He managed not only to survive, but flourish, and became an example of the American dream in its fullest flower.

The book is filled with entertaining stories that offer a peek into the colorful world of celebrities, Hollywood elite, royalty, diplomats, mafioso and lovable con artists at their favorite desert hideaway. As a raconteur, Haber has few equals. With this book, he finally lifts the velvet rope to give readers the best seat in the house, and enthralls them with witty stories about his black-tie clientèle.

These days you're likely to see Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, Sylvester Stallone, Cher, David Hasselhoff, Barry Manilow, Lance Bass, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, Donald Trump and John Travolta enjoying themselves at the site. It remains one of the world's top dream resorts.

Haber feels his story should be an inspiration to everybody, because in his own words, “If I can make it, anybody can.”

Mel Haber is currently the owner of the Ingleside Inn and Melvyn's restaurant. He is also the president of the Angel View Crippled Children's Foundation and has served on its board for twenty-five years, the last fifteen as president. He resides in Rancho Mirage, California.

Palm Springs a la Carte (ISBN 978-1-56980-353-0) is published by Barricade Books and will be distributed through the National Book Network.

To pre-order Palm Springs a la Carte, visit www.amazon.com or www.inglesideinn.com.

Palm Springs a la Carte served up Feb. 1, 2009

Palm Springs a la Carte gets served up February 1, 2009

Mel Haber still doesn't know how to cook a steak, make a Bloody Mary or open a cash register.

That's not an astounding statement to make unless you have been a very successful restaurateur and have been in business for more than three decades. Haber, who was the operator of six different restaurants, including the legendary Melvyn's Restaurant and the Ingleside Inn in Palm Springs, made every mistake in the book and succeed in spite of himself.

Perhaps even more amazing is the fact how the former automotive novelty manufacturer from Coney Island, Brooklyn, stumbled into the desert in 1975 and made a name for himself in a business he knew nothing about – the hospitality industry.

Palm Springs a la Carte: The Colorful World of the Caviar Crowd at Their Favorite Desert Hideaway (Barricade Books, 2009) is a charming, often hilarious book describing the adventures of novice restaurateur and hotelier, Melvyn Haber, an automotive accessory manufacturer from the bowels of New York City who is a legend in the sugar-frosted society of Palm Springs.

Haber admits he made every mistake in the book, which didn't preclude him from running one of the most successful restaurant's and hotels of all time. His establishments have attracted a guest list that reads like a Who's Who of the world. Visitors have included Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Marlon Brando, Liberace, Liza Minnelli, President Gerald Ford, Steve Allen, Lucille Ball, Dinah Shore, Rita Hayworth, Jerry Lewis and June Allyson.

Haber restored the historic inn and grounds, and built his own restaurant, Melvyn's. He learned the business the hard way and lived through a comedy of errors that would have bankrupted most investors in today's ultra-competitive hotel and restaurant markets. He managed not only to survive, but flourish, and became an example of the American dream in its fullest flower.

The book is filled with entertaining stories that offer a peek into the colorful world of celebrities, Hollywood elite, royalty, diplomats, mafioso and lovable con artists at their favorite desert hideaway. As a raconteur, Haber has few equals. With this book, he finally lifts the velvet rope to give readers the best seat in the house, and enthralls them with witty stories about his black-tie clientèle.

These days you're likely to see Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, Sylvester Stallone, Cher, David Hasselhoff, Barry Manilow, Lance Bass, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, Donald Trump and John Travolta enjoying themselves at the site. It remains one of the world's top dream resorts.

Haber feels his story should be an inspiration to everybody, because in his own words, “If I can make it, anybody can.”

Mel Haber is currently the owner of the Ingleside Inn and Melvyn's restaurant. He is also the president of the Angel View Crippled Children's Foundation and has served on its board for twenty-five years, the last fifteen as president. He resides in Rancho Mirage, California.

Palm Springs a la Carte (ISBN 978-1-56980-353-0) is published by Barricade Books and will be distributed through the National Book Network.

To pre-order Palm Springs a la Carte, visit www.amazon.com or www.inglesideinn.com.

Marshall Terrill launches new Web venture

Best-selling author launches new Web venture

Celebrity biographer and best-selling author Marshall Terrill recently launched a new Web venture, www.marshallterrill.com, offering writing and editing services for full-length book manuscripts, proposals, review and manuscript editing.

Best-selling author Marshall Terrill, along with editor Cheryl Hosmer, offer a one-two literary punch with their combined talents, experience and enthusiasm. Those who have a unique or original concept for a non-fiction book or novel can now take the first step towards getting published. Or if you need help editing or proofreading a manuscript, proposal, synopsis, query letter or how to approach a publisher, they can lend a hand as well.

“For years I've been quite successful helping friends and associates get published either through my editing services and critiques,” Terrill said. “Now I'd like to offer those same services to those who are sincere in becoming published authors.”

Terrill is a veteran reporter, author, editor and public relations consultant. Of his dozen books, three are best-selling biographies on the lives of Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley and “Pistol” Pete Maravich. His books have been reviewed in USA Today, People, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, US Weekly, The London Times, The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle and OK Magazine.

His list of books include Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel (1994); Edd Byrnes: Kookie No More (1996); Flight of the Hawk: The Aaron Pryor Story (1997); Ken Norton: Going the Distance (2000); Earnie Shavers: Welcome to the Big Time (2002); Sergeant Presley (2002); The King, McQueen and the Love Machine (2002); Skywalker: The David Thompson Story (2003); Maravich (2006); Steve McQueen: The Last Mile (2007) and Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business (2007).

Terrill has also edited five books on several subjects: history, baseball and the film and music industry. Terrill also teaches a very successful college course, “How To Get Your Book Published” and has had remarkable success getting his students published.

Hosmer is the editor of the 2005 version of Steve McQueen: Portrait of An American Rebel; Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business; Maravich and Steve McQueen: The Last Mile. Hosmer is a former journalist specializing in community journalism and issues of poverty in the United States. She specializes in developmental editing, research, business consulting, marketing and website usability issues.

“There's nothing like taking an author's raw idea and working through it, watching it come to life," Hosmer said. "It doesn't matter if it's ghosting or editing fiction or nonfiction, creating business plans or a training and development module. Once you get that momentum and creativity up and running, it's exciting.

Marshall Terrill.com will also host monthly seminars, live Internet chats and offer updated tips on writing and editing.

For more information, go to www.marshallterrill.com.