I've had the idea for Finish What You Started bubbling in the back of my mind for some time. I have enjoyed stories - romance and otherwise - set in Hollywood for years. Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann, Harold Robbins… give me a thick paperback full of fast-talking agents and devious movie stars and I'm hooked. While Finish has some roots here, inspired by the books I devour, it's a story about second chances in career and romance, with a happy ending.
Finish What You Started
It's also a story about a woman taking charge in a predominantly male field. When I began to develop my heroine, Gabby, I wanted to tell a story about somebody who grew up in the industry and made it her life. Gabby, like her hero Dash, started out as an actor on a popular TV series. While the work was good, she wanted more than Hollywood offered her, and searched for opportunities behind the camera. As Finish What You Started begins, she's determined to create her own series - write the scripts and produce the episodes, with Dash as her star - but you know how romance stories work. Stuff happens, people get in the way, and so it's quite a journey Dash and Gabby must take toward reconciliation and success.
In shaping Gabby and her world, I looked for inspiration among women in the industry who have broken the mold. Jodie Foster started out as a child actress and is one of the rare few who made a successful transition to adult film star - she has the trophies to prove it! She's also an accomplished director, with four movies and a few television episodes to her credit. Though her path differs from Gabby's, I drew from Jodie's life a bit while creating the heroine for my story. Other women, showrunners like Diane English and Shonda Rhimes, provided inspiration as I wrote about Gabby creating her own TV series.
Gabby was partly born, also, of real-life experience. Yeah, I wish I could say I'm a big-time screenwriter in Hollywood. I actually gave it a shot once, but that's a story for another day.
My close friend in college aspired to write for film. We took creative writing classes together, and by graduation she had at least two feature-length works completed and the chance to attend school for a Masters in screenwriting. She left Florida for Arizona, and a short time later took the leap and moved to L.A. to break into the business. Though she and I had different goals for our writing, I had always admired her determination. Many people dream of working in entertainment and do nothing further than say "I wish" or "if only." My friend actually moved out to California, not knowing what would happen and excited for the challenge. These days, she writes and works for a local theater in L.A. and continues to pursue her dream. Her journey became part of mine as I wove her drive and love for drama in Gabby.
When Totally Bound offered me a contract for Finish What You Started, I saw a dream realized. I am thrilled to share Gabby and Dash's story with readers, and I hope you enjoy it.
About the Book
In this business, it gets hot under the spotlight…
Once a teen idol, Gabby Randall now spends her time behind the camera. With her show Danse Macabre scripted and a greenlit for a popular streaming site, she has everything she wants…except her star. Deadlines are looming and she's desperate to cast the role of a modern-day, motorcycle-riding Grim Reaper. She never thought she'd end up hiring her former co-star, TV's most beloved geek…and her ex-husband.
Until the day he dies, people will remember Dash Gregory as Freddie 'Grody' Grodin, the token geek friend of the cool kids at Wondermancer High. After years of casting agents overlooking him for plum roles, Dash wants to show Hollywood he's more than a one-note player. He's ready to break the vicious typecasting cycle, and he's set his sights on the lead role in a sexy new series too hot for network TV.
When the director yells "Cut!" the star wants to keep up the action behind the scenes. Are Dash and Gabby willing to make ratings history again?
About the Author
Kathryn Lively is an award-winning writer and editor, avid Whovian, and Rush (the band) fan. She loves chocolate and British crisps and is still searching for a good US dealer of Japanese Kit Kat bars.
Kathryn is a regular contributor to the Sexy To Go authors group and enjoys the outdoors, when she's able to get out.
You can take a look at Kathryn's Blog (http://www.kathrynlively.com) and follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Kathryn-Lively-Author-674430962660461/?fref=ts) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/MsKathrynLively).