The Fifty-Sixth One... and Marci Darling (Part 2)

Episode 56 and Wendi and Dfernando's 2nd part interview with Episode 55 guest: author, belly dancer, teacher and mom Marci Darling.

Marci Darling has worked as a professional belly dancer for twenty years, and danced on tourwith The Go-Go’s, Paul McCartney, The B-52sand many others as well as taught children all over the world and volunteered with terminally ill children for more than a decade.

She has written two best-selling mystery novels set in New Orleans: MARTINI MYSTERY: A Love Letter to New Orleans and THE CHAMPAGNE SCANDAL: The Spirits Are Callingwhich are part of her Martini Mystery series starring a burlesque dancer-turned-amateur detective. In true New Orleans Style, each chapter begins with a cocktail recipe.

In 2017, Marci’s world was shattered when she lost her father to cancer, her marriage to infidelity and her best friend to suicide. She turned to writing to cope, turning her personal memoir essays into a best-selling book DIVORCE DIVA: Navigating Grief with Hope, Humor, and Chutzpah.

After selling her family home, she came across a shoebox full of old photos from her backpacking days, and began to tell her travel stories. These became her most recent book, MAGIC CARPETS, FLYING SHIPS, AND MOONLIT KINGDOMS: The True Travel Stories of Marci Darling.

Marci holds a Masters Degree from Harvard, a BA from UCLA, and a Certificate in Novel Writing from Stanford and is a member of the Mystery Writers of America. She has also written for multiple publications, including Oprah, Louisiana Homes and Gardens, Louisiana Health, Vineyard Style, Martha’s Vineyard Times, Marblehead Reporter, etc.

She currently volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Horizons for Homeless Children and is the creator of the Diva Writing Workshop, a series of classes designed to teach women how to take back their power by telling their story through writing and dancing.

Marci currently lives in a cottage by the sea with her two teenagers, two hooligan dogs, two cats, and one Ewok in disguise as a cat.

Part 1 of Marci Darling's interview is available on Episode 55.

Also on Episode 56, Wendi and Dfernando chat about his toasty sun tan, Wendi’s return to the legendary Hollywood Bowl and the new addition to the Covey cat family: Butters.

On the RIPE & ROTTEN REPORT there's the new Disney Pixar animated feature LUCA, sun guilt, Stacey Aaronson’s memoir RAISING, AND LOSING, MY REMARKABLE TEENAGE MOTHER and cheeky bathing suit bottoms.

Watch Wendi and Dfernando and their Team GENERATION RIPE: Greg Covey, Shelley McLendon and Ponciana Badia on Season 7 Episode 2 of CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD - now on ABC OnDemand and Hulu and on the GENERATION RIPE website.