Pete Loeffler

Pete Loeffler is the lead singer and guitarist of rock band Chevelle. Chevelle is comprised of two brothers and one brother-in-law. They hail from northeast Illinois (like me!). Chevelle has released six studio albums and have produced many rock hits including "Send the Pain Below" and most recently "Face to the Floor" and "Hats Off to the Bull." I've seen them live three times, and they put on a great show!

I recently asked Pete if he had any book recommendations.

Pete tweeted, "Yes, "Packing for Mars" by Mary Roach."

Packing For Mars Overview from barnesandnoble.com:
Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh produce, privacy, beer. Space exploration is in some ways an exploration of what it means to be human. How much can a person give up? How much weirdness can they take? What happens to you when you can’t walk for a year? have sex? smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible for the human body to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour? To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations. As Mary Roach discovers, it’s possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA’s new space capsule (cadaver filling in for astronaut), Roach takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.


Thanks, Pete! Sounds like a cool book!

You can follow Pete on Twitter and find out more about the band at www.chevelleinc.com.

Here's "Face to the Floor."

Michael McMillian

Yes, I have back to back True Blood posts. What can I say? I love that show. Michael McMillian is one reason why I am obsessed with this show. He plays the preacher turned vamp Steve Newlin, and I love every scene that he is in. The season finale on Sunday was wicked crazy  as usual.  McMillian also has a recurring guest role on TV Land's Hot In Cleveland. Michael played Henry Gibson on What I Like About You from 2003-2005..

Michael not only acts, but he writes, too. He is the creator/writer of the LUCID comic book. The  movie rights to Lucid were picked up by Warner Brothers this year. He also writes the True Blood comic book series.

What is Michael McMillian reading?

I asked Michael recently, and he tweeted, "Favorite book: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Current read: The Bible: A Biography by Karen Armstrong."

Book desciption of A Prayer for Owen Meany from Amazon.com:
"In the summer of 1953, two eleven-year-old boys—best friends—are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen after that 1953 foul ball is extraordinary."

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Thank you, Michael!

You can like McMillian's Facebook page here, and follow him on Twitter.

Joe Manganiello

We have seen a lot of Joe Manganiello on the big and small screen this year. A lot. Joe is usually shirtless as Alcide on HBO's True Blood. He played a stripper on Magic Mike (see photo below) and was featured in What to Expect When You Are Expecting this year. He also has a recurring role on How I Met Your Mother.

The season finale of True Blood airs this Sunday so this is the perfect time to share some of Joe's reads. Joe participated in a live HBOConnect Q&A session recently and shared some of his faves. Read the full Q&A here.

When asked what book he likes to read and reread, Joe answered, "The Hobbit was my favorite growing up."

True Blood is based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. When asked if he reads the books, Joe answered,  "I read book three before my audition and I usually read the corresponding book before we start shooting the relevant season each year."

Brains and brawn!

You can follow Joe on Twitter.

Kate Walsh

You may have first noticed Kate Walsh on The Drew Carey Show or The Norm Show, but everyone couldn't help but notice her as Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey's Anatomy. She then graduated to her own ABC show, Private Practice. Walsh recently announced that this would be her last season on Private Practice. Kate has appeared in several movies including Kicking and Screaming with Will Ferrell, Under the Tuscan Sun, Legion, and she will appear in the upcoming movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Last year Kate released a new perfume line called Billionaire Boyfriend which you can purchase on HSN.

What is Kate Walsh reading?

When asked what her favorite book was, Kate tweeted, "Impossible to say, but i did just finish reading The Patrick Melrose novels, amazing."

From amazon.com:
"By turns harrowing and hilarious, these beautifully written novels dissect the English upper class as we follow Patrick Melrose’s story from child abuse to heroin addiction and recovery."
Find out more about Kate at her website, www.katewalsh.com and follow her on Twitter.

Miranda Cosgrove

Miranda Cosgrove stars in the hit Nickelodeon show, iCarly. She also played the mischievous Megan in Nickelodeon's Drake and Josh. Cosgrove appeared in the 2003 movie, School of Rock, and voices the role of Margo in Despicable Me and the upcoming Despicable Me 2.

Multitalented Miranda is a professional singer with studio and soundtrack albums including the 2010 release, Sparks Fly.

What book does Miranda recommend?

According to the June 11, 2012 issue of Us Weekly, one of Miranda's favorite books is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

If by chance you are not familiar with this classic, the book description from amazon.com is as follows:

"The hero-narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield.

Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days. The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it."

You can find out more about Cosgrove at www.mirandacosgrove.com. You can follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook.
Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dephisticate/5456292214

Check out Miranda Cosgrove's "About You Now."

Raine Maida

Raine Maida is the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace. Maida is also a music producer who has worked with many bands including Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson. Raine and his wife, Chantal Kreviazuk, co-wrote songs with Kelly Clarkson (including her hit "Walk Away"), David Cook, and The Veronicas, among others.

Our Lady Peace is one of the most successful Canadian bands of the 90's. The band has released eight studio albums, the most recent, Curve , released in April of this year. Their biggest hits include "Superman's Dead," "Clumsy," and "Somewhere Out There." Take a listen to their cool, new single, "As Fast As You Can" here. OLP have also won four Juno Awards and ten MuchMusic video awards. They are currently on tour (and I've seen them live, they are awesome!). Check out tour dates HERE.

Maida released a solo EP this year at his website. Sign up for the Raine Maida newsletter, and get Maida's solo Pachamama EP for free at www.rainemaida.net ! Pachamama II drops Tuesday!

I recently asked Raine what he was reading.

Raine answered, "Books I'm reading at present. Albert Camus: A Life by Olivier Todd.... & "The Plague" by Albert Camus. He's such a cool,inspired French Philosopher. Much more concise and simple in thought. A modern day philosopher even though he died in 1960."

Thank you, Raine! You can find out more about Raine at www.rainemaida.net and www.ourladypeace.com. You can also find him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
Photo from @mrrainemaida.

Here's one of OLP's hits, "Superman's Dead," which has been playing on repeat in our home lately by all five members of the family. It rocks!

Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams is one of the most gorgeous women on this planet. She is a mother of four, singer, actress, and author. And of course she is a former Miss America as well. Williams has been nominated for Grammy, Emmy, and Tony awards. Williams has released eight studio albums. She has appeared on many feature films as well as TV shows like Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives.

This year Vanessa released her first book co-authored with her mom, Helen Williams, titled You Have No Idea.


What is Vanessa Williams reading?

I recently asked her for some book recommendations.

She answered, "Rereading "Keys to the Kingdom."
After I  complimented her she replied, "Beauty may open the door, but knowledge is power. I never want to stop learning. Another great book "What Could He Be Thinking."         

Love her!!!

You can find out more about Vanessa at www.vanessawilliams.com , and you can follow her on Twitter.
Photo from askmen.com.

Enjoy Vanessa singing "The Real Thing" on GMA.