Guest post written by author Patricia Leavy
Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She has published more than forty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than forty book honors. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” The Location Shoot releases on October 10th.
I’ve been madly in love with movies for as long as I can remember. The pandemic aside, hardly a week has passed in the last 40 years when I haven’t seen at least one film in a theater. Most weeks, it’s two. Whether it’s a blockbuster, an indie, or avant-garde cinematic art, I’ve seen it all (including a nearly two-and-a-half-hour film with no story and no dialogue, like none—I learned a painful lesson about what “allegory” means that day.) But when it comes to movie magic, I’m all in. When the silver screen is out of reach, I happily make do with the small screen.
As much as I adore films, I have another great love: love itself. Yup, I’m a romance junkie. As you may have guessed, this has all created a rich fantasy life. Lucky for me, my other great love is writing. So, I’ve been able to channel my overactive imagination into a career as a women’s fiction and romance novelist. In recent years, I’ve had great fun combining my fascination with Hollywood and my knack for penning love stories. There’s no shortage of celebrity romances, and I’ve written a few myself. It’s a common trope for a reason; it can be deliciously satisfying and the ultimate form of wish fulfillment. What’s a bit less common are novels that take place on film and television sets.
I finally decided to combine my passions for my latest novel, and personal favorite, The Location Shoot. The novel is set in Sweden. Controversial filmmaker Jean Mercier is shooting a film that explores the meaning of life. While creating his latest work of cinematic art, he lives in a nearby inn with his lead actors, each at a crossroads in their own lives. Mercier invites his friend Ella Sinclair—a beautiful, bohemian-spirited philosopher—to stay with them for the summer. When Ella arrives, Hollywood star Finn Forrester is instantly enchanted by her. A sexy romance follows. In a case of life imitating art, the film they are creating prompts everyone on set to reflect on their own lives. The impact of their unforgettable summer together becomes clear seven months later when they reunite on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival.
I had so much fun writing The Location Shoot, largely because of the film set backdrop, that I wondered what other novels make good use of a soundstage or stack of scripts. Here’s my top 7 list.
Daytime Drama by Sarahlyn Bruck
This lovely novel follows Calliope Hart, an actress who has spent 25 years starring on a daytime soap opera, which is about to be cancelled. Add to this, she’s the single parent of a young son who wants to go into entertainment against her wishes, her ex is blackmailing her, and she lives with her meddlesome mother. Oh, and her secret boyfriend is a writer on the soap so he’s about to be out of work too. This delightful read offers great insight into the lives of those who make their living as the daytime darlings of the small screen.
How to Fake it in Hollywood by Ava Wilder
Actress Grey Brooks is desperate to keep her star shining after her television show is cancelled. Her publicist comes up with a plan to keep her in the limelight: a fake love affair with disgraced Hollywood star, Ethan Atkins. The reclusive star, struggling with public mistakes and personal grief, isn’t exactly Ava’s fantasy, and the disjuncture between their public image and backstage relationship is stark… until they realize their chemistry is real.
Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey
Sloane Ford is an actress that descends from a family of Hollywood royalty. After she loses her television gig, she reluctantly agrees to work as a producer on an epic movie her family is making. The catch, her family is complicated at best, a nightmare at worst, she’s been publicly humiliated by a song her ex wrote about her, the shoot is a mess from day one, and the film stars an actor she can’t stand… well, at least in the beginning. This slow burn romance offers a humorous take on life on a film set and in a Hollywood family. Sloane’s sarcasm and self-deprecating humor is perfect for readers who like a bit of snark.
Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey
Chloe Sanderson doesn’t have time for romance. Ironically, her best friend wrote a rom-com inspired by Chloe and her boss, Nick Velez. Movie buzz grows and Chloe finds herself reading blog after blog about how Nick is the perfect guy. Can you guess what happens next? In a case of life imitating art, this is a total rom-com in all the best ways.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Sally Milz is a writer for a weekly comedy series. Co-writer Danny Horst—an average, dorky guy—starts dating gorgeous actress Annabel after he meets her on set. Sally is convinced the reverse would never happen, until she meets pop star, Noah Brewster. Let’s just say, this book is well titled.
The Cast or Beauchamp Hall by Danielle Steel
Okay, so I know not everyone takes her writing seriously, but come on, we’re talking about novels in the world of film and television. Either Jackie Collins or Danielle Steel had to make the list. My top picks are The Cast which follows a magazine columnist who ends up creating the storyline for a television series based on her grandmother. The novel follows the cast—the usual suspects—a Hollywood bad boy, a starlet, a world famous actress, and an older, reclusive actress. Beauchamp Hall follows a woman who catches her boyfriend cheating and decides to upend her life and move to the UK where her favorite show is filmed. Before long, she ends up working on the show, and a romance is not far behind. This book is total wish fulfillment, and sometimes that’s exactly what we crave.
Night Film by Marisha Pessl
A suspenseful thriller you won’t want to put down. Ashley Cordova’s death in NYC is ruled a suicide, but reporter Scott McGraff isn’t convinced. Ashley was the daughter of iconic film director Staniskas Cordova, known for dark, cult-horror films, and who has not been seen in public for decades. So many novels set in the world of entertainment are rom-coms or celebrity romances, so this creepy page-turner is a great change of pace.
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