The Inside Look: CoverBoys and Curses

Guest Blog by Lala Corriere

Secondary characters are what water is to flour. Seriously. Remember Paddington the Bear? One day he is making pancakes and he adds too much water. He has to add more flour. Adds too much flour. Has to add more water. Pretty soon he has himself a helluva lot of batter. He finally finds that balance between two equally important ingredients.

That normally may be my take on primary and secondary characters, but today I have no balance. I thought I was here to introduce you to one of my most memorable secondary characters, Geoff Hayes, from my title CoverBoys & Curses.

In his inimitable style, and flair for commanding center stage, Geoff is screaming in to my ear. Or head. Or something like that. I’m used to him. He won’t give up. It’s time I turn this entire post over to him.

Finally! My name is Geoff. Kindly remember it is two syllables. Gee-off. My close friends often give me a title I adore. Queen Geoff. Maybe at the end of this condensed snapshot memoir, you’ll be my close friend. Hell. Just call me Queen Geoff, if you like.

Lauren Visconti gave me my dream job as IT Director for her travel magazine. Imagine my surprise when she told me she had sold it, and wanted me to move to L.A. with her to launch her new rag, CoverBoy. Imagine my bigger surprise when she told me I would continue on as her IT guy, and also model for the cover of her premiere issue.

This is something I could not refuse.

Her formula is an instant success. Something unheard of in magazines these days. Lauren ran photos of almost naked men juxtaposed to in-your-face investigative reporting articles. Toledo’s exploding sex-slave industry. The practice of re-virgination. And of course, the almighty. Evidence of continuing child sexual abuse within the Catholic church. Lauren names names.

I work hard and I party hard. I’m handsome and athletic, smart and well-off financially, and I’m a tad flamboyant-flame and true to my game. Oh, and I’m not modest. WYSIWYG.

I’m the one that has to break the bad news to Lauren. I take her out to the Santa Monica Pier, and the famed carousel. I sit her down on the chariot bench next to me, and we talk as the horses fly through the air in tandem with the tin-sounding music.

An Afghanistan woman, a rebel doctor we published a personality-profile on, had been murdered in our city of angels. The murder is what they call overkill. It means it’s personal.

It’s only the beginning.

While some may not take my persona, inside and out, seriously, I will fight, defend, and protect my loved ones like any other Superwoman.