Today Meet the Author Monday introduces Georgie Lee.
A dedicated history and film buff, Georgie Lee loves combining her
passion for Hollywood, history and storytelling through romantic fiction. She
began writing professionally at a small TV station in San Diego before moving
to Los Angeles to work in the interesting but strange world of the
entertainment industry.
Her traditional Regency, Lady’s
Wager and her contemporary novella Rock
‘n’ Roll Reunion are both available from Ellora’s Cave Blush. Labor Relations, a contemporary romance
of Hollywood is currently available from Montlake Romance. Mask of the Gladiator, a novella of ancient Rome is now available
from Carina Press.
When not writing, Georgie enjoys reading non-fiction history and watching
any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit www.georgie-lee.com for more
information about Georgie and her novels.
BOOK BLURB
Studio Relations
By Georgie Lee
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BLURB
Studio Relations by Georgie Lee
Available from Montlake Romance
Vivien Howard hasn’t
forgiven Weston Holmes for almost derailing her career five years ago. Female
directors in 1930s Hollywood
Weston Holmes doesn’t know
much about making movies, but he knows plenty about money. And thanks to the
Depression, ticket sales are dangerously low. The studio can’t afford a flop—or
bad press, which is exactly what threatens to unfold when an innocent encounter
between Weston and Vivien is misconstrued by the gossip rags. The only
solution? A marriage of convenience that will force the bickering duo into an
unlikely alliance—and guide them to their own happy Hollywood
ending.
EXCERPT
Hollywood 1935
Vivien Howard marched into Earl Holmes’s office and threw
the script on his desk. “Storm of the South. This is it. This is the
picture I want to direct next.”
Earl picked up the script and flipped through it, unfazed. “The
Civil War? It’s been done, and badly.”
“Not the way I’m going to do it.”
“I read the script a couple of months back. It’s a war movie.
A woman can’t direct a war movie.” He tossed the script onto his large mahogany
desk and leaned back in his leather chair, his hands clasped over his round
belly, his graying eyebrows knitted as his eyes bored into her. Earl’s imposing
attitude would have cowed a lesser director, but Vivien had played this game
too many times with the old studio head to be scared off now.
“It’s a love story set during a war.”
“The Civil War.”
“I know exactly how I’m going to shoot it.” She sat down on
Earl’s plush leather sofa, pushing back her shoulder- length curly brown hair.
She crossed her legs, thankful Miss Hepburn’s popularity had made wearing
trousers respectable. Even if the Women’s Decency League proclaimed pants the
ruin of womankind, Vivien preferred them to skirts and always made sure they
were femininely tailored to complement her dark hair and eyes. Being one of
only a few female directors in Hollywood, she played a man’s game, but she was
always careful to remain a lady. Her career depended on this tightrope walk.
Earl leaned back in his chair and studied her. She knew he
was intrigued, but she also knew he hated to let directors think they were
getting their way, even if they were.
“The boys in New York won’t like the idea of a woman directing
a war movie,” he replied, selecting a cigar from the humidor on his desk.
“If you pitch it right, they’ll love this project.”
“But I’ve got to love it first.” He clipped off the end of the
cigar and placed it between his lips. Vivien picked up the large silver lighter
from his desk, popped open the cap, sparked the flame, and held it out to him
across the desk.
“You love the money my films make. You also love how good my
successful films make you look to the boys in New York.”
Earl leaned forward and lit his cigar, then sat back in his
chair, slowly drawing in the smoke. Vivien knew she had him. She smiled,
waiting for him to make the next move.
“Who’d you have in mind for the lead?” he asked.
“Peter Davies. He’s perfect.”
“He’s a supporting actor. You need a leading man with box
office draw, someone like Gary Roth.”
Vivien perched on the edge of his desk. “Peter has leading man
potential. All he needs is the right role, and this is it. ”
“And the fact that you two are dating?”
“Has nothing to do with it.” Vivien was on shaky ground, and
she knew it.
“The boys in New York are going to insist on a big star, especially
when they get wind that I’m letting you direct a war movie,” Earl protested.
Vivien fixed him with a serious look. “It’s a love story, and
you know it. It’s also the best script to come across my desk in years, and I’m
the best director to do it.”
“We still need a star to headline it.”
“And we’ll have one when I cast the female lead.”
Earl chewed on the end of his cigar, eyeing her. “Fine. You
can do it. Start tomorrow.”
“I’ll start today.” Vivien jumped to her feet. She’d been planning
the film on the sly for weeks and relished the chance to finally work on it out
in the open.
Earl shook his head, snatching the black phone off the receiver.
“I don’t let any of my stars push me around half as much as you do.”
Vivien smiled over her shoulder as she made her way to the
door. “That’s because no one makes as much money for you as I do.”
“Don’t make me regret this, Vivien,” Earl called out after
her.
“You won’t, I promise.” She winked, then slipped out the
door.
LINKS:
Twitter: @GeorgieLeeBooks
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