Is a kiss really a telling precursor of intimate compatibility? Can you do it wrong? Can you learn how to kiss or is it a natural talent you either have—or don’t? William Cane, kissing expert and author of The Art of Kissing (St. Martin’s Griffin, revised edition January 2010) and the follow-up how-to DVD of the same name, has compiled lip-smacking research gleaned from surveying more than 100,000 people in 23 countries. For more than 20 years, Cane, a Jersey City resident who teaches English at John Jay College in Manhattan, has traveled the globe sharing his findings.

So what about that first kiss? “People are looking for instant connectivity,” Cane says. “If you’re on the receiving end of a bad first kiss, it does say something—perhaps the person is too eager or nervous.” The bad first kiss is up for interpretation by the unlucky receiver, he says.

If the first kiss doesn’t exactly cause fireworks, take heart, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to give the relationship the kiss off.

“People can be taught to kiss,” says Cane. “There are two aspects to being a good kisser: passion and technique. Technique,” he says, “can be taught.” For a sneak peek at Cane’s DVD—which spends about 40 minutes on the French-kiss technique, outlining common mistakes and how to remedy them—visit kissing.com. —Deborah Carter

Race to the Rescue by Joe Brown

Though he worked as an attorney for over 50 years, Joe Brown harbored a hidden talent. His daughter, acclaimed makeup artist and Montclair resident Bobbi Brown, says that when she was growing up, her father “had a real gift for telling stories.” With his daughter’s encouragement, in November Joe published the first in what he hopes will be a continuing children’s series.

The Flights of Marceau: Race to the Rescue (Scholastic) tells the story of Marceau, a taxi driver who enlists the aid of a cheetah named Rita to help rescue animals stranded by Hurricane Katrina. “It’s all done in poetry,” Bobbi says.

“He’s a modern-day Dr. Seuss.” The book also includes definitions of difficult words at the bottom of each page to help young readers. “Growing up, he always challenged us with words,” she says. The author, who lives in Chicago, plans to visit schools to share his stories and has just finished work on a screenplay. — Mallory Gelert

Family Movies

Oliver Miede and Barbara Nuddle

How many times have you promised yourself you would sit down with your parents or grandparents and videotape their anecdotes and histories to pass along to your children? What would you give now to have recorded your grandparents’ and great-grandparents’ stories before it was too late? (Apologies for the guilt trip, but heck, isn’t it really the mother of powerful motivators?)

Enter Life Out Loud Productions, a Montclair husband-and-wife team that has parlayed their extensive documentary-producing experience into a top-notch video biography business for families seeking to capture ancestral histories and anecdotes as a tribute to family members and a legacy for their children.

Oliver Miede and Barbara Nuddle, an award-winning filmmaking duo, have produced biographies for celebrities and newsmakers. Their work has aired on major networks, including PBS, Lifetime, Bravo, National Geographic, USA, Discovery Health, and the Disney Channel.

Now, they’ve taken their professional experience, wit, sympathetic ear, and a fully equipped studio to produce the same Sundance-worthy material for just plain folks. Their meticulously produced and edited work is not to be confused with your garden-variety wedding videographer. (They are to videographers what Rolex is to Swatch.)

Imagine your parents’ stories— beautifully woven together with family photographs, home movies, archival footage, and music of the era (“Yes! We Have No Bananas” springs to mind) all on a single DVD and with the richness of a top-rated television documentary. The experience can be quite emotional, and the result an incredible tribute to be shared with other family members.

For more information on Life Out Loud Productions, visit lifeoutloud.tv or call 973-746-4992.
—Rennie Ackerman