Samuel Bernstein

Walford Press

$22.95, paperback

The familiar phrase “sex sells” provided Confidential Magazine publisher Robert Harrison with plenty of fodder for the celebrity scandal mill. In its heyday during the 1950s, Confidential Magazine changed the very nature of entertainment journalism and easily outsold such publishing stalwarts as Time magazine and The Saturday Evening Post, becoming a spin-zone nightmare.

Headlines screamed: “Joan Crawford’s back street romance with a bartender,” “Why Liberace’s theme song should be, ‘Mad about the boy!’” “Psst! Vic Mature: Remember that cute trick you dated? She was a he!” Confidential Magazine cast a long shadow over Tinsel Town, targeting numerous celebrities.

Author Samuel Bernstein uncovers the rise and fall of Harrison and what was known as the “Trial of 200 Stars,” which forever changed the way the press covered the world of Hollywood: flinging open closet doors, peeking behind drawn bedroom curtains and uncovering the flip side of fame.

Bernstein is a world-wise man, who grew up in such exotic locales as Cairo, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. He is currently documenting his dramatic childhood experiences on his blog, www.killyourinnerchild.com, which he is also turning into a book.

Noel Alumit

Carroll & Graf

$14.95, paperback

A violent act awakens suppressed memories for Filipino postal worker Jory Lalaban, which sends him on a journey into the dark center of self, from his life in the Philippines where he reneged on becoming a member of the clergy to instead find solace as a worshipper of the moon to his formative years spent at an orphanage after World War II and a “curse” of epic proportions that forces him and his bride to scurry for cover in the United States.

Talking to the Moon is peopled with interesting characters. There is Jory’s son, Emerson Lalaban, who converses with his dead brother via Ma Bell, yet cannot communicate to his lover just how deep his feelings run for him; Jory’s spouse, Belen, who hears the voice of the Virgin Mary; and even the racist gunman, William, who gets some page time as the novel delves into such timely topics as sexuality, race and religion.

This is Alumit’s second novel, the first being the Stonewall Book Award and Violet Quill Award winner Letters to Montgomery Clift.

Gina Gatta

Damron Company

$21.95, paperback

Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide for 2007 has everything you need to plan that perfect gay escape. With more than 12,000 listings on where to stay and where to play (there’s even listings for area cruise spots), Damron really does have your vacation needs all mapped out, no matter what your preference.

Damron remains the definitive tour guide of choice for the discerning gay traveler, with suggestions on when to travel to certain locales, an inclusion of three new destinations (Dublin, Tokyo and Bangkok) and an expanded 2007 calendar of events that encompass Pride, circuit events and even film festivals.

Damron has been providing travelers with useful tidbits since 1964.