What the New York Post's Page Six Has to Say about TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES: HOMAGE TO US...
Once again, PAGE SIX has been featured in a fine piece of literary work. In "True Hollywood Lies" by relationship expert Josie Brown, the main character, second-generation Hollywood royalty "Hannah," rehashes all the press she receives when her relationship with Hugh Grant-like "Louis Trollope" becomes public. Of all of the publications the character lists, only this esteemed column got it right – and first, of course...
(November 23, 2005 Wednesday, Pg. 14)
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CHECK OUT PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY'S REVIEW OF "TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES"
"... Brown's debut novel confirms just what you suspect about celebrity and unfolds with all the inevitability of a romantic comedy. Hannah Fairchild is the levelheaded daughter of Hollywood glitterati, more interested, we're told, in astronomy than any other kind of stargazing. But her hobby mostly serves as an abundant source of puns, as she's reduced to working as a personal assistant to British heartthrob Louis Trollope when her famous father dies and her stepmother freezes her trust fund. The wildly egotistical star keeps Hannah on her toes ordering Zone-kosher foods and arranging his trysts. Brown captures the humor of working for a megalomaniac: an offhand remark from Hannah, "Don't go believing your own press clippings," sends her boss into a panic. "Why? What have you read? What have you heard?" A love triangle between Hannah, her boss and his best friend Mick Bradshaw gives the book the tension that drives this well-paced, entertaining story forward..." --Publishers Weekly
Read more about this book here...
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Romance Reviews Today
by Patti Fischer
TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES – Josie Brown
Avon Trade
ISBN: 978-0-06-081587-5
October 2005
Chick Lit
Hollywood, California – Present Day
Hannah Fairchild isn't an ordinary woman. Born the love child of a famous movie star and a hippie, Hannah's had an unorthodox life. Now living with her father in Hollywood, she is more content looking at the stars through her beloved telescope than watching the stars parade through her father's house. Her happy life is ripped apart, however, when her father suddenly dies of a heart attack and the shenanigans of her latest stepmother force the estate to freeze Hannah's trust fund. Now Hannah has to do something she's never had to do . . . get a paying job.
Her father's attorney suggests Hannah take a job as a personal assistant to a drop-dead gorgeous actor, Louis Trollope. Louis is the hottest hunk since, well . . .Brad, Tom, Jude, and a whole slew of hunky actors before him. Hannah is not thrilled with the prospect of taking the position, but with a credit card debt the size of Mount Shasta, she figures she'll bit the bullet, knowing that her blase attitude toward Hollywood stars should help her. But Louis proves to be more demanding and charismatic than she thought. Of course, his best friend, Mick Bradshaw, is not bad eye candy, either...
Hannah has led a charmed life despite her unusal upbringing. She has always been the one to sit back and watch others around her. She likes her extravagant lifestyle, but her real true love is looking up at the stars in the sky. Her life is shattered, and altered, when her father dies. She is suddenly thrown to the wolves, not knowing how to survive, but she proves she is resourceful. now she's forced to "take care" of one of Hollywood's golden boys, and it's all she can do to keep her mouth shut around Louis and his entourage. But then she can't keep her mouth shut, and this provides for some hilarious confrontations. Hannah is sharp and resilient, but will she be able to survive the charms of Louis? And there is Mick in the background. It's soon apparent there are sparks between them, but is it enough to sustain a romance?
With tongue-in-cheek dialogue, TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES provides a fascinating look at the jet set lifestyle of the rich and for-the-moment famous. Louis reminds me of Colin Farrell--sexy, brash, and maybe a flash in the pan. Louis wants it all...now, and it's up to Hannah to make sure his life goes smoothly. Hannah and Louis immediately lock horns, but instead of walking out, she digs in her heels to prove she can do it. Well, the credit card debt the size of California's budget helps her stick it out, too.
TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES is Josie Brown's fiction debut, and she provides amusing insight into the celebrity lifestyle that few get a glimpse of outside publicity setups. You will laugh, cry, and wonder if it's worth it to be rich and famous. Kick off your high heels, sit back and enjoy a pleasant, but wacky, look at the celebrity lifestyle.
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Rachael Mason, GWINNETT (GA) DAILY POST:
"Though the main characters in "True Hollywood Lies" are fictional, the book is packed with plenty of real-life celebrity references. I felt like I needed to grab a copy of People or Star to keep up with all of them. But it's the story, not the stars, that kept me reading. Hannah can see herself falling for Louis, but she also likes Mick, who is friends with Louis. A good love triangle always makes for interesting reading."
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ROMANCE READER'S CONNECTION
Review by Elissa Kyle
Rating: 4 plugs 
Everyone
lies in Hollywood. Hannah Fairchild, daughter of renowned actor Leo
Fairchild, has heard the cream of the crop- especially from her
ex-boyfriend and her former stepmother, who have been indulging in a
red-hot affair. When her father dies of a heart attack, Hannah is
devastated to learn the woman who stabbed her in the back, Leo’s
fourth wife, has frozen all his assets, including Hannah’s sizable
trust fund. Accepting that she’ll actually need a job to stay afloat,
she takes on the position of personal assistant to Louis Trollope,
British heartthrob and international playboy. Known for his spoiled,
demanding ways, Hannah is sure he can’t be as bad as his reputation.
He proves differently within her first 24 hours on the job.
Not
only is he impossibly full of himself, he’s positively tempting- but
Hannah is determined to resist. She will not let her heart be played
with anymore, especially by someone like her dear old dad. That means
organizing but staying out of the craziness he calls his life, although
he expects her to be at his beck and call. Hannah feels like she’s
losing her mind, in between Louis’ temper tantrums, his irrational,
snooty girlfriend, his not so subtle advances, and his band of bad
boys, including Mick Bradshaw, best friend, screenwriter and star of
Hannah’s fantasies. However, Louis has decided he wants Hannah for
himself and what Louis wants, Louis gets. Now it’s up to Hannah to
decide if his love for her is true, or really just a true Hollywood
lie.
An indulgent, fantasy-filled romp with Hollywood’s most
elite, TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES is a delightful, entertaining read, sure to
leave you wanting more. In her debut fiction novel, author Josie Brown
does an outstanding job capturing the glitz and glamour of Hollywood
living yet illuminating the stark loneliness present beneath the
façade. Filled with good natured humor and witty repartee, Ms. Brown
brings the multi dimensional characters to life within the pages. You
find yourself rooting for Hannah, although you’re not sure who will end
up with whom (as unsure as Hannah herself!) which is all part of the
fun. While she travels the distance between confidence and savviness
to complacency and naiveté, and back again, you understand the internal
struggle she faces while looking for love, a love that she can count
on. I enjoyed this spirit filled novel and look forward to Ms. Brown’s
next release!
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Read What Rian Montgomery of CHICKLITBOOKS.COM:
"Filled with backstabbing fun, True Hollywood Lies is quite the
glamorous chick lit read. I enjoyed it until the end. Hannah was a
great main character- down to earth, strong and intelligent. Author
Josie Brown keeps the romantic side plots both sizzling and uncertain-
one really never knows who will end up with whom until it happens. The
actual story line is also filled with twists and turns...."
--Rian Montgomery, ChickLitBooks.com
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Harriet Klausner of TheBestReviews.com:
"Amusing chick lit tale"
In Hollywood, Hannah Fairchild was born with a golden spoon as the daughter of a famous and wealthy actor. Her passion is the alignment of the stars as she follows astrology while ignoring the Hollywood stars. When her dad suddenly dies in the bed of his teenage mistress, his fourth wife freezes Hannah's trust fund by gaining control of his entire estate through chicanery. Hannah is left with nothing.
Not one to whine, Hannah obtains a job as personnel assistant to British hunk Louis Trollope, a throwback egomaniac from the glamour days of Hollywood. He demands anything and everything including her scheduling his rendezvous and informing him on media happenings that focus on him. At the same time as she works the lies of and to the press, Hannah, Louis and his best friend Mick Bradshaw forge an odd relational romantic triangle with someone bound to be hurt especially when the tabloids get wind of it.
TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES is an amusing chick lit tale starring a likable protagonist who seems confused by what she wants in life. At times Hannah seeks her fifteen minutes of fame and more while at other moments she shies away from the glare of Hollywood, preferring to work out of the media's view. The ease in which her latest "stepmom" gains control of the estate seems off kilter for an intelligent person like Hannah, but the audience will not care once she begins working for megalomaniac Louis in this fun tale. --Harriet Klausner
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GWINNETT (GA) DAILY POST
Starting yet another chick lit kick with 'True Hollywood Lies'
by Rachael Mason (11/06/2005)
Once
you start reading chick lit, it's hard to stop. When you finish one
book, you'll want to read another. It's impossible for me to say no to
another light-hearted story, just like I can't refuse another piece of
pizza or a little more Chex mix.
In the past few weeks, I have been on a real chick lit kick. It all started when I got an e-mail message from Josie Brown, author of "True Hollywood Lies" (Avon Trade, $12.95). She had read Shelf Life and thought I might like her book. She was right.
When I got a copy of "True Hollywood Lies," I started reading it immediately. At the beginning of the book, Hannah's famous father dies suddenly and leaves her without any money. She has to take a job as an assistant to a rising Hollywood star, the high-maintenance and irresistible Louis Trollope.
Though the main characters in "True Hollywood Lies" are fictional, the book is packed with plenty of real-life celebrity references. I felt like I needed to grab a copy of People or Star to keep up with all of them.
But it's the story, not the stars, that kept me reading. Hannah can see herself falling for Louis, but she also likes Mick, who is friends with Louis. A good love triangle always makes for interesting reading.
Brown, who lives in California, has created a great Hollywood story. The author, though, grew up Georgia. She attended Sprayberry High School in Marietta.
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--Lisa Bradley, RomanceDivas.com (5 kisses out of 5)
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02/26/2006 6:58 AM EST, Lowell (MA) Sun
LOWELL (MA) SUN: TAKE FIVE
Red Carpet Read...
Before you check out the stars walking the red carpet at next Sunday's Oscars, spend time with True Hollywood Lies.
Josie Brown's new satirical novel is about an irritating actor
nominated for an Academy Award, his harried personal assistant and all
the angst endured from the moment the nominations are announced until
the winning name is read out loud. Brown, a journalist with her share
of celeb interviews, drops names a-plenty in the new book, out now from
HarperCollins.
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DALLAS OBSERVER
Published: Thursday, November 10, 2005
Night & Day
Ladies of the Page: Chick Lit and its creators come to local readers
Fashion. Style. Emotion. Female empowerment? That's right. Move
over, Steinem, Sex and the City mastermind Candace Bushnell has
re-charted the women's movement, and we're taking our Manolos and flat
irons along for the ride. And thank goodness for the shift--repressed
femininity is a witch. Bushnell's latest work, Lipstick Jungle, is one
of the latest in the fast-growing genre known as glam lit (a subset of
the very popular chick lit).
Pronounced like the Mexican gum, chick lit is described as appealing to
empowered women. And "empowered" doesn't mean you don't want to get
married, you don't want to have kids and you can't cry. "What it does
mean," says True Hollywood Lies author Josie Brown, "is that what's
important to women are relationships, jobs, life, love." OK, yeah,
that's all well and good, but the truth of the matter is women also
like to gossip. We're obsessed with celebrity and delight in its
scandals. Just admit it, ladies, the entertainment industry has us
snowed big-time. People magazine is thanking us all the way to the
bank. And chick lit and glam lit give us great big doses of the good
stuff we love.
That's why Josie Brown created "Fictionista: The Chick Lit Book Tour,"
bringing together a group of chick lit authors from around the country
to showcase their work. "We write about bitches and divas," Brown says,
"but none of us are. Writing is such a lonely profession; we have to be
there for each other." Chick lit author Julie Kenner says that
"focused, driven" women are at the backbone of this genre. "And you see
their characters in the writers themselves," she says. The heroine in
her book, Carpe Demon, Adventures of a Demon-hunting Soccer Mom, is a
lot like Julie in that after leaving her high-powered career as a
demon-hunter, yes, a demon-hunter (Julie was a lawyer), she becomes a
stay-at-home mom and learns that demons don't only exist on the dark
side.
Brown, Kenner and Shane Bolks (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Men
I've Dated), are touring to celebrate "wine, women and some well-chosen
words." "We're very supportive of each other," Kenner says. When asked
why she decided to tour with other chick lit authors, Brown says it's
simple: A "higher tide raises all ships." Now that's girl power.
Who / What:
Fictionista: The Chick Lit Book Tour comes Thursday at noon to Barnes
& Noble, 616 Preston Royal Shopping Center (214-363-0924), and at 6
p.m. to the Hard Rock Café, 2601 McKinney Ave. Call 214-855-0223.
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Houston Chronicle / Nov. 8, 2005, 7:48PM
'Fictionista' writers take the message to the people
By KRISTIN FINAN
Marketing chick lit with stiletto style
Julie
Kenner, from left, Shane Bolks and Josie Brown discover that book
signings are a lot more fun when done with three writers. (Photo: Bill Olive / For the Chronicle)
It sure sounded like a promising evening, at least if you trusted the press release.
"Kick
off your stilettos and enjoy a rockin' girls' night out," it said. "The
'Fictionista Chicklit' book tour combines a hot locale, fabulous drinks
and a literary (trio), dishing about the things they love: rock, men
and fashion!"
The tour entered its final leg Monday night, kicking off a four-city Texas stint at Houston's Hard Rock Cafe, 502 Texas.
The
lineup was three midlevel authors: Josie Brown, who edits "John Gray's
Mars Venus Advice" column and organized the tour to promote her book
True Hollywood Lies; Shane Bolks, a Houston-based romance and chick lit
writer who recently released The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Men I've
Dated; and Julie Kenner, a USA Today bestselling author who lives near
Austin and penned the chick-lit thriller The Givenchy Code.
Arriving early and wearing not stilettos but heels, anyway, the authors seemed excited about the evening.
"High
tide raises all boats," Brown said. "I have yet to meet a diva. We
might all write about divas, but that doesn't mean we are divas, which
is kind of cool. Everybody has brought something to the table in a
positive way."
Bolks said she was relieved to have some company while promoting her book.
"A
lot of people think book signings are fun," Bolks said "They're not
fun. You sit there for two hours, and nobody buys your book, or they
ask you, 'Where's the bathroom?' It's hard work to smile after you've
worked all day. It's a lot more fun to do this with other people."
Soon,
all three showed just what hard work it can be. At 6 p.m., the time the
signing was scheduled to begin, the dozens of chairs in the
restaurant's Lone Star room were empty, the plate of triangle-shaped
brownies in the back untouched. Chatter was beginning about people
stuck in traffic and a possible hostage situation somewhere that might
be affecting turnout.
"My fiance's here, and my sister's here," Bolks said. "We've got two."
It
was time for what Brown called "stiletto marketing," a down-and-dirty
courtship of those enjoying dinner nearby, using everything from
bookmarks to miniature Givenchy perfumes to Star Wars quizzes to lure
them into the room.
"OK, so now that I've harassed all the
patrons of the restaurant," Bolks joked, taking a break, "they're like,
'Are you with the restaurant? Can you get me more iced tea?' I tried to
plug the free brownies. I'm getting desperate here."
It was working. They found one woman who had read one of Kenner's books.
"Julie," Bolks yelled. "Come sign your book."
Another man dropped in and bought a book from each of the authors.
This
year consumers will spend millions on chick lit, a fiction genre that
features a strong female main character who struggles with issues such
as career, family and relationships.
"(Chick lit is) an industry
term," Brown said. "I don't know of a woman who wouldn't want to be a
chick. When I hear 'chick,' I think of a sexy woman. Would Jane Austen
get offended being called 'chick lit'? She wrote the most successful
chick lit franchise in her time."
Brown said the challenge lies in creating characters who readers can relate to.
"You
want somebody who's sharp and smart and sexy," Brown said. "To give her
that marshmallow middle is the hard thing, because how do you show that
vulnerability?"
Meanwhile, the authors continued to show their
own vulnerability as they visited with people who stopped in, selling
about 25 books total by the end of the night.
"In this day and
age, you can't be shy," Brown said. "You have to get out there and push
your book, because there's only so much shelf space, and there are so
many books."
Near the end of the evening, Bolks approached the
bar, trying to convince a woman holding a copy of Lauren Weisberger's
best-seller The Devil Wears Prada to check out her work.
When the woman promised to stop by in a few minutes, Bolks relented.
"OK," she said. "We'll be here."
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
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7/13/05, Chicago Tribune
CURRENTS/ OFF THE SHELF
What did you dream about last night? Blogging? Kindergarten? Brad Pitt?
Indeed,
real life invades our sleep. So what does it mean? Josie Brown, in "A
Modern Girl's Dream Dictionary: Last Night I Dreamt of Cosmopolitans"
(St. Martin's Griffin), offers her tongue-in-cheek insights. Here are a
few:
Barbie: Barbie reminds you that her measurements are the
equivalent of someone who is 36-18-33: in other words, no one on the
face of this Earth.
High school reunion: Will the sophomoric pop
tunes of yore emanating from your gym's dance floor soothe your savage
cantilevered breast, or will they rub your emotions raw, like salt on a
decade-old wound?
Pilates: This dream wants you to face one
fact: It's better to have a strong transversus abdominus than a drawer
full of bodyshapers, so don't skip class.
Sushi takeout: This fantasy advocates expanding your dating borders.
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Pre-Red Carpet Must-Read: “True Hollywood Lies” Turns Oscar Fact into Titillating Fiction
What
is black and white and red carpet all over? The answer is “True
Hollywood Lies,” a satirical novel about an actor who is nominated for
an Academy Award, and the harried personal assistant who has to endure
his angst—and romantic overtures—from the moment his nomination is
announced, up until the winning name is read out loud...
What is black and white and red carpet all over?
The answer is “True Hollywood Lies,” a satirical novel about an actor
who is nominated for an Academy Award, and the harried personal
assistant who has to endure his angst—and romantic overtures—from the
moment his nomination is announced, up until the winning name is read
out loud.
Is “True Hollywood Lies” ready for its close-up?
Author Josie Brown, a journalist who has done her share of celebrity
interviews, thinks so.
“Be it contemporary fiction or
historical fiction, a lot of research goes into the creation of any
novel,” explains Brown. “‘True Hollywood Lies’ is no exception. Most
certainly the book does its fair share of namedropping: you know, the
hottest designers, the most sought-after stylists. But I also wanted to
give readers a bird’s eye view of the excitement that occurs when a
star reaches the pinnacle of his or her profession.”
Critical
consensus is that Brown has succeeded. According to Publishers Weekly,
the book “…confirms just what you suspect about celebrity, and unfolds
with all the inevitability of a romantic comedy,” while Romance
Readers’ Connections feels that “Brown does an outstanding job
capturing the glitz and glamour of Hollywood living, yet illuminating
the stark loneliness present beneath the façade.” The Wall Street
Journal says, “The tone is confessional, the writing laced with
venomous humor.”
The novel also reflects the elation,
self-doubt, double-dealing and politicking that take place during Oscar
time—none of which you see on television, says Brown.
“Instead, we hear the carefully prepared sound bites and the usual
patter, like: ‘I’m just honored to have been nominated.’ But deep down
inside, the stars are just like us: they are frantic, frenzied, and
freaking out. Heck, who wouldn’t be? What happens that evening can
affect the future success of the actor’s entire career!”
So
where will Brown be, come Oscar night? She laughs heartily. “I wish I
could say that I have my invitation to the Kodak Theatre buried deep
inside some beaded Judith Leiber clutch, but, sadly I don’t.”
Instead the San Francisco-based author will be in Houston for an Oscar
bash sponsored by Crave Party, where two hundred women will be eagerly
eyeing red carpet fashions, dishing on star gossip, and listening to
passages from “True Hollywood Lies” that reflect what they are watching
on the big screen TVs sprinkled throughout the event.
“The
reason why so many of us love watching the Oscars is the glitter
factor. Still, it’s interesting to know that there’s some tarnish
there, too. ‘True Hollywood Lies’ puts all of it into perspective. I
guess that’s why so many Oscar party event planners are putting it into
their swag bags.”
# # # #
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TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES Is excerpted in the December 2006 issue of COMPLETE WOMAN!
Hannah and Louis come alive on page 95 of the December 2005 issue of COMPLETE WOMAN!
(Yep, that's Desperate Housewives' Teri Hatcher on the cover!)
ON NEWSSTANDS NOW!
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GALLEYCAT.COM WRITES UP THE FICTIONISTA CHICKLIT BOOK TOUR EVENT AT SUGARCANE IN NEW YORK:
I Just Wanna Hear Girls Talk
When San Francisco author Josie Brown (left) started promoting her first novel, True Hollywood Lies,
she convinced her publisher, Avon, to round up three more of its chick
lit writers and send them all on a four-city tour at venues she'd
already lined up through her contacts in the Hard Rock Café chain. That
went so well she decided to keep visiting other cities at her own
expense, inviting nearby authors—including several from publishers
other than Avon—to join in. Despite the steady downpour last Friday
afternoon, a crowd steadily gathered at the Park Avenue eatery
Sugarcane to meet Brown and her new friends as they wound up the East
Coast leg of the tour. Chicagoan Jennifer O'Connell spread the word among her alumni network, while Kayla Perrin, who came down from Toronto, and local author Stephanie Lessing
each had a cluster of friends squeeze their way into the back of the
restaurant. Many of those attending were publishing insiders with
various connections to the authors—editors, publicists, agents—making
the evening as much a party as a promotional affair. Nevertheless, a
table tucked into a far corner did draw several visitors who broke away
from the cocktail chatter to examine (and occasionally buy) paperbacks
by each of the four guests of honor. (The authors had also appeared
earlier that day at the Rockefeller Plaza Waldenbooks; the rain may
have kept some people away, they suggested, but it also brought in some
office workers reluctant to leave the building.)
Although Perrin and Lessing were wrapping up their involvement, O'Connell plans to stick with Brown for a hometown gig in Chicago and down to Memphis and Atlanta. After that, Brown hooks up with Texans Julie Kenner and Shane Bolks for a four-day sweep of Hard Rocks in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas.
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Sensual Signings in Tracy
Phil Hayworth, Tracy (CA) Press, Monday 2/13/06
Lust and danger filled the air at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers at West Valley Mall on Saturday night.
It had everything to do with the five women who sat alluringly behind a cloth-draped table covered with books depicting half-naked men and suggestive titles like, “The Hard Stuff,” “True Hollywood Lies” and “Racing Heart.”
They were all California romance authors on a tour to promote their latest fare, timed to take advantage of the flood of pheromones — and dollars — that often accompanies Valentine’s Day.
“There’s something very romantic about the combination of suspense and romance,” author Allison Brennan said.
And there’s something very profitable, too, she admits.
The mother of five recently saw her first book, “The Prey,” hit the New York Times bestseller list. A former legislative researcher in Sacramento, Brennan tired of paying $1,700 a month in child-care fees and decided a few years ago that it was time to put her money — and her pen — where her interests were: suspense and romance.
It was a good career move.
“I just got signed to a three-book contract,” she said.
Brennan and her fellow authors are full-time writers, intimately involved with the super-successful world of romance literature.
“Fifty-five percent of all paperback books sold are romance books,” said Brenda Novak, who sat proudly behind her latest creation, “Dead Silence.”
Novak is a prolific author of romantic suspense, writing about three books each year. She has 19 books to her credit. Her first book, published in 1999, depicts a half-naked pirate on the cover — a cliché that she admits is still a staple image for the romance genre.
But times are changing for romance writers, she said. Subjects and cover art now combine romance with everything from the paranormal to racecar driving.
Take the work of Rae Monet, a Tracy-based author of a series of books that revolve around the NASCAR circuit.
“For racecar driver Cass Jamison,” teases her latest title, “Racing Hearts,” “driving NASCAR was a dream come true.
For NASCAR legend Justin Steed, driving was a nightmare from the past. Watch these two heat up the track.”
Unlike the ultra-glamorous Jackie Collins-type writers, you’d be hard-pressed to associate Monet — or any of the authors at Saturday’s signing, for that matter — with the dangerous and sensual lives of their heroes and heroines.
Then you learn that the diminutive Monet — a pen name — is a former FBI agent who worked in the violent crime unit in the Bay Area. Her background explains the rather gory title of her futuristic series, “Blood Squad,” and another series based on personal experience in the FBI.
Josie Brown traveled from Los Angeles to promote her first book, “True Hollywood Lies.” She parlayed her real-life journalism experience covering the lust-charged ether of Hollywood into a story about the daughter of an actor/playboy father. She’s hoping it will resonate with romance fans everywhere.
“I was thinking of a guy like Jack Nicholson, you know, who has a daughter,” she said. “Can you imagine what it would be like to be his daughter, with his reputation?”
The publishing industry calls Brown's book “Glam Lit.” It’s just one more niche carved out by literary agents in New York City constantly seeking new ways to subdivide a profitable genre that has become much more than half-naked pirates and scantily clad maidens.
And then there’s Karin Tabke and her modern “erotic romance,” “The Hard Stuff.” It’s an unapologetic look at “What women want,” said the Brentwood-based writer.
“Cops,” she said. “It’s about hot cops.”
The formula works, she said. Tabke once sold a book to publisher based on one line: “Jaded cop versus mafia princess.”
While the choice for book art is often the exclusive territory of an author’s publishing house, the muscular, naked cop on the cover of Tabke’s book strongly met with her approval.
“It’s really an eye-catcher, isn’t it?” she smiled while her ex-cop husband sat a few feet behind and sipped a latte.
While the authors inhabit slightly different areas of the genre, all share a common theme: strong women.
Tabke’s know what they want, Brown’s overcome, Monet’s are smart, Novak’s are gutsy and Brennan’s “do not run from their attackers,” she said.
• To reach reporter Phil Hayworth, call 830-4221 or e-mail phayworth@tracypress.com.
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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING...
"Everybody, Karin Tabke has been talking about a book by Josie Brown, True Hollywood Lies. Read it! Go to your nearest book store and grab a copy, it is so witty...It is such an intelligently written book, and really makes fun of Hollywood and the unrealistic life led there.I loved this book..I rolled with laughter at some of the discriptions. I read it two sittings. Can't wait to read the next one..." --Lee Lopez, Chapter President, Black Diamonds Romance Chapter/Romance Writers of America
"I finished your book in the wee hours this morning, and loved it! Well done. Great research, memorable characters--even if I did want to pinch Hannah's head off a few times before she learned her lesson. The ending was perfect. Do I see a movie here?" --J.H., Austin, TX
" I haven't finished reading it yet but I'm definitely hooked. The book is very readable and addicting. I've almost burned the day-after Thanksgiving turkey shepherd pie because I was so engrossed in reading your book. I think that's a good sign." -- L.S., San Antonio, TX
"I loved True Hollywood Lies. What a fun read it was. I hated to put it down to do the normal everyday stuff, like work! It took me into the fantasyland that is "Hollywood". I can't wait to keep reading your books...Will buy "Cosmopolitans" later this week! Keep writing and I'll continue to read!!!" --S.L., Los Angeles, CA
"I just wanted to tell you that I am LOVING your book. I am sitting here, bored to death at work, reading it at my desk! Not that the book is boring...work is!!" -- A.G., Springfield, VA
"I'm enjoying
your book. I love how the astronomy terms tie in with the themes of
each chapter- you are brilliant!" --A.B, Raleigh, NC
"I'm reading True Hollywood Lies
now and enjoying the many digs at the Hollywood "elite." Before I
started getting work in commercials, I had stints as a personal
assistant and/or nanny to the stars. Boy what a job -- I wouldn't wish
it on anybody." -- N.F., Oakland, CA
"You got it, Josie! It's adorable. I was begging for more. And I loved your comment that there are no happy endings in Hollywood." --S.C., Sausalito, CA
Dear Readers,
Nothing means more to an
author than hearing from readers that her book has struck a cord with
them. Please write to me, and tell me what you think of TRUE HOLLYWOOD
LIES. You can email me at: josiebrownauthor@yahoo.com.
With my warmest regards,
Josie Brown
