Instead
of discussing a work in progress, however, I chose to write about my latest
book, Bringing Up Oscar because it’s that time of year again when Oscar
nominations will be forthcoming complete with eager speculation and all that
Hollywood buzz. Don’t you ever wonder
how it all got started? Well, let me
tell you, it’s a story worthy of the silver screen!
These
are the questions that Mary asked me to answer about my latest book. After
that, I’ve tagged some other authors so you can learn about their Next Big
Thing!
What is the title of your book?
--Bringing Up Oscar, The Men and
Women Who Founded the Academy
Where did the idea come from for the
book?
--I wanted to write a book about Hollywood history (my favorite topic) that would include some of early filmmaking's most fascinating folks so I developed a book proposal and began sending query letters to agents that I thought might be interested in the subject. My letter conclulded by saying I would like to write a second book about the 33 men and 3 women who founded The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences A few liked my style, but weren't interested in the subject. Several asked for the entire proposal package, but none offered representation. Then I contacted Mr. Peter Riva of International Transactions, Inc.
He liked my idea well enough, but what really intrigued him was my book suggestion about the Academy. Out of all the agents I queried, not one ever mention the Oscar book! I got to work developing a new proposal and once it was finished, I emailed Peter hoping he was still interested and he was.
What genre does your book fall
under?
--Nonfiction/Biography.
Which actors would you choose to
play your characters in a movie rendition?
--I could never begin to cast all 36
characters—that would be a tall order!
No doubt that Oscar would have to play himself. Maybe Helena Bonham Carter as scenarist Jeanie MacPherson or Robert
DeNiro as director Cecil B. DeMille.
Anyone out there have any suggestions for the likes of Louis B. Mayer,
Irving Thalberg or the Warner Brothers? I’m
open!
What is the one-sentence synopsis of
your book?
--My book details how a diverse
group of 33 men and 3 women from all over the world and all walks of life ended
up in the same room together sharing a common goal in 1927 Hollywood—a silent world
just on the cusp of sound.
Is your book self-published or
represented by an agency?
--I am a lucky girl to be represented
by the one and only Mr. Peter Riva of International Transactions, Inc.
How long did it take you to write
the first draft of your manuscript?
--Six months of putting in 10-12
hours just about every day and I loved it!
What other books would you compare
this story to within your genre?
--Many books detail Oscar winners
and losers while others focus on a single biography or entity (i.e., Mary
Pickford, MGM, etc.), but my book is really the only one that addresses all of
the Academy founders and how they got into the motion picture business in the
first place—remember when most of them were born the film industry didn’t exist
and Hollywood was just a dusty little town comprised of cattle and pepper trees.
Who or what inspired you to write
this book?
--Why the 36 founders of The
Academy, of course! Most of them are
long forgotten. While you may be aware
of Douglas Fairbanks or Mary Pickford, I bet you never heard of Technicolor’s Joseph
Arthur Ball or director Fred Niblo—key figures in 1927 Hollywood. They should all be remembered and recognized
for their vital contributions to filmmaking that shaped the movies we see
today.
What else about your book might
pique the reader's interest?
--My book is filled with Hollywood history
and trivia, but there’s so much more. Oscar
discusses American cinema as it took shape on the grounds of Thomas A. Edison’s
laboratory in New Jersey where he built this country’s very first motion
picture studio in 1893. It also depicts
the unique individuals whose colorful lives began long before they entered the
motion picture industry. This motley group
included several cowboys, a few Alaskan gold miners and even one
self-proclaimed anesthesiologist! Oh,
and did I mention the bicycle shop owner or the junk dealer?
Below are other authors I've tagged to tell you about their Next Big Thing. Be sure and check them out. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
Vickey Kall, author of Death Speaker – www.kalambakal.com
Martin Turnbull, author of The Garden of Allah Novels – http://martinturnbull.wordpress.com/
Dan Wheeler, author of Grief and Grieving: Understanding Grief and the Grieving Process – http://danielwheelerauthor.wordpress.com/
A big THANK YOU to Mary Glickman for
tagging me! You are always such an
inspiration!
Louis B. Mayer? Only one actor could do Mr. Mayer justice: Nathan Lane. Sure, he's a comic actor but remember the old bromide: drama is easy, comedy is hard. He's a fabulous stage actor and done lots of drama. I think he'd suit the role to a "T".
ReplyDeleteGreat choice, Ms. Mary! I think he could pull it off with pizzazz!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your book, "Bringing Up Oscar". Some fascinating people and stories.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! It's so nice to hear when someone enjoys your work. I really appreciate it.
DeleteJoseph Arthur Ball is the inventor of the three-strip Technicolor camera. He was the cousin of George Washington, the first President of the United States of America and the General of the Armies! Rest easy, dear soul.
ReplyDeleteBall's contribution to Hollywood are certainly underrated. I tried to do him justice in my book, Bringing Up Oscar. Thanks for stopping by.
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