In Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Marla takes her readers for a hilarious romp through her days as an L.A. matchmaker and her daily struggles to keep her self-esteem from imploding in a town where looks are everything and money talks. From juggling the demands her out-of-touch clients to trying her best to meet the capricious demands of an insensitive boss to the ups and downs of her own marriage to a Latin husband who doesn't think that she is 'domestic' enough, Marla writes with charm and self-effacement about the universal struggles that all women face in their lives. Readers will laugh, cringe, and cry as they journey with her through outrageous stories about the indignities of dating in Los Angeles, dealing with overblown egos, vicariously hobnobbing with celebrities, and navigating the wannabe-land of Beverly Hills. In a city where perfection is almost a prerequisite, even Marla can't help but run for the Botox every once in a while.
In her latest book, Hearts on the Line, Marla's day might begin with an email like this: Marla, I hope you don't plan on charging me for the last two setups--Penny and Lydia. Let me make it crystal clear for you, even 5 pounds overweight is a deal killer.... I won't waste any more time on another date with a plump gal. Clarence Penny and Lydia are both under 110 pounds--including implants. Marla facetiously refers to the dating service as the Double D--which doesn't stand for dream date--and often finds herself introducing SHBRs (short fat bald rich guys) to GDGDs (gosh darn gold-diggers) and, despite the odds, countless couples find that Marla has linked their hearts. The exasperating clients stand out, but many are terrific people, and you'll follow their dating stories with interest, as Marla struggles to work for a boss who requires her to cross ethical lines, pushing Marla to her limits. A tiny spark is all it takes, and Marla goes from being vice-president of a multi-city enterprise to being unemployed--which takes her career in matchmaking to a whole new level, all while staying true to her most authentic self.
"Marla is a gifted writer who can take everyday situations and those even ridiculously insane and weave humor through them to share with her readers."
~Autumn Blues Reviews
Marla was born in Tacoma, Washington, the "City of Destiny." Growing up she had a natural flair for acting and a deep interest in reading and writing poetry and short stories. At the age of sixteen, Marla was living in Iran with her family, learning to speak French and Persian, when the revolution forced their return to Washington State. At the age of 19 the pursuit of an acting career drew her to Hollywood and a stint in television commercials and print modeling.
Restless and eager for new challenges, in the early nineties it was on to Chicago, where she discovered that she could use her personal dating experiences to help others. She subsequently turned this talent into a career as a matchmaker back in Los Angeles, where, since 2001, her skills have led many couples to matrimony. Marla found an outlet for her love of writing in two relationship advice books Excuse Me, Your Soul Mate Is Waiting and Good date, Bad Date, and in 2010 her memoir, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker was published.
Marla's work inspires people and gives them hope that they can find their soul mates. She found and married her own, musician and composer Adolfo Jon Alexi, in Mexico City in 2002. A world traveler and culture nut, Marla describes herself as having a French flair, a Persian heart, Italian fire, and Mexican taste buds!
