Ben Patrick Johnson's voice is recognized across the nation. He is one of the signature voices of FOX and CBS where you've heard his smoky voice on House, Survivor, Cold Case, and other shows. He's also voiced over the trailers for more movies and commercials than we have room to mention, but there's much more to Ben than just his voice and good looks. Here's an inside look at this successful entrepreneur and heartthrob.

I heard you have a birthday soon. Do you mind sharing how old you are? I'm 37. By the time this hits the stands, I'll be 38. Ironically, I used to be freaked out more by age than I am now. It's really no big deal. I'm in the prime of my life and it's easier to get a date now than when I was 20. I wonder what 40 will look and feel like. Probably about the same as now.

What is the secret to your success? It's no secret, really. Work incredibly hard and never give up. Before I got my first book published, I collected so many rejection letters that the folder where I kept them started to look like a small-town phone book. It took me almost a decade of doing voice-overs before I could support myself at it.

And now you are about to release your newest novel. Can you tell us a little about it? One Size Fits All is the story of an ambitious young L.A. fashion designer who gets in over his head by promising the same outrageous Oscars dress to three best actress nominees. Along the way, he has an affair with one of their heartthrob husbands, and all three women get into a tangle reminiscent of the play/movie "The Women."

It's somewhat light -- hopefully a great summer read -- but like all my books I try to allow it a soul and a message that we can all take to heart. In this case, it's about vanity and ambition, and how often the best things in life aren't those that glitter the most.

You're in great physical shape. I'm actually in awe of you right now. Where did this body come from? I have a little deal with Satan. I try not to get into it too much. Seriously though, I think everything we do in our lives is reflected in our appearance on some level; certainly, in our skin and eyes -- what we put in our bodies, how we exercise them, how much rest and spiritual/emotional space we give ourselves to grow and explore. I am far from perfect at the process, but I think the key is to lead a balanced life.

You are certainly doing something right! Can you tell us about your typical workout? I do an hour of cardio on an empty stomach first thing every morning. Then, in the afternoon, I train with Tom Nelson of Muscle Mechanics L.A. He's been punishing me daily for the past 3 years and his old-school techniques are sometimes brutal, but always work. It's a lot of iron, noise and sweat, and not so much fancy stuff. We take plenty of time between sets so I can explode strength-wise each time.

What inspires you the most to stay fit? I was a fat, out-of-shape kid. I still battle that. Also, with each passing year, I think about where I'm headed. I want to be in good health for many, many years to come. But let's be honest -- the reason I train so hard is the reason most people do: vanity.

What advise would you give a reader that is trying to stay in shape? Remember that it's a 24-hour-a-day job: it's not just about what you do in the gym. Your diet is extremely important, as is rest and keeping your stress levels low.

You're a very busy man, and recently started your own video webcast, Life on the Left Coast. Tell us more... I wanted to grow more articulate as a public speaker -- to harness the power of my position in the community to say the sorts of things that matter to me. I want to affect people's lives in a positive way. Of course, to get people to pay attention to the "important" stuff, you have to catch and hold their attention. So we include plenty of sex, humor, and both male and female eye candy (okay, mostly male). Life on the Left Coast is a grown-up show with grown-up ideas.

The show has generated a lot of buzz. How did you get it to grow so quickly? I'd like to think it's the quality of the show, and the amount of time and energy my whole team puts into assembling it each day. We have a skeleton crew doing the work that a "real" TV show would have a staff of dozens to accomplish.

Check out Ben's webcast online at lifeontheleftcoast.com or on youtube.com/benpatrickjohnson. Pre-order One Size Fits All at amazon.com, available at bookstores nationwide in July.

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