novels

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Best-selling author Jackie Collins: 1937 — 2015

Best-selling author, Jackie Collins, has died after a valiant battle with breast cancer. She passed away yesterday at the age of 77. Collins who made a name for herself and sold millions of novels, writing about characters who lived glamorous or adventurous lives.  Many of her  novels were set in the glitzy world of Hollywood, which she knew well. She was also […]
Saturday, June 22, 2013

“Looking for love” contest: Win book contract, $10,000, and maybe get movie deal

  There are tons of talented writers in the Southland, especially here in the Media City, with all kinds of stories to tell. One of them could have just what Quirk Books is searching for through its “Looking for love” contest. Quirk is not on the prowl for the typical love story. This company likes to publish offbeat books like […]
Thursday, September 13, 2012

Kevin Costner snags new adventure series book deal

Actor/director/producer, Kevin Costner, reportedly has a new book series deal with Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books. The first book in the adventure series, “The Explorers Guild, Volume One: Passage to Shambhala,” is set for release in 2014. Costner told Deadline.com’s Mike Fleming he feels “… the book has the sweep of adventure classics he grew up reading, including “Arabian Nights” […]
Friday, August 17, 2012

A Writer’s View: From TV police drama “Hunter” to mystery author

My first paid writing job fell into my lap when working for a TV syndication company.  My boss needed to hire someone to watch seven seasons (23 shows a season) worth of “Hunter,” the police drama starring Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer, and compose a one page, double spaced synopsis of each show to be faxed (our office didn’t have […]
Monday, April 23, 2012

“Think Like a Man” Number 1 at the box office

A surprise at the domestic box office. The big sci-fi hit, “The Hunger Games” got kicked to the curb this weekend by romantic comedy, “Think Like a Man.” After four consecutive weeks in the number one spot, “The Hunger Games” got dethroned by “Think Like a Man, ” which pulled in $33.6 million on its debut weekend, according to the […]
Monday, March 26, 2012

Major Hollywood book to film rights deal for “Fifty Shades of Grey”

Who says romance doesn’t sell in Hollywood? “Fifty Shades of Grey,” a bestselling erotic romance novel trilogy, with BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism) elements, reportedly has sold to Universal Pictures and Focus Features. The X-rated book series was inspired by the hugely popular “Twilight” book saga and is written by British author E. L. James. The romance is about a […]
Wednesday, September 7, 2011

A Writer’s View: Short stories a hot writer’s market

Since I was a kid, I have loved short stories.  Amongst my favorites were “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “The Gift of the Magi,” both by O. Henry, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, and “The Telltale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. They packed fun, poignancy and terror in just a few short pages, providing word for word a powerful […]
Sunday, August 21, 2011

“The Help” gets promoted to top spot at box office

“The Help” got a boost to number one at the domestic box office with a weekend estimate of $20 million. The comedy-drama is about a young southern white woman and her relationship with the black “help” during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Octavia Spencer star. “The Help” is based on the 2009 bestselling novel […]
Thursday, August 11, 2011

Kardashian sisters’ new novel coming out

The Kardashian sisters, Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé are about to become published novelists. That’s right. The reality show divas have written a novel and it’s called “Dollhouse,” according to the publishing industry website, Galleycat. A fan of the sisters came up with the title and reportedly is featured in the book, which hits store shelves this November first. More here.