Pop Culture & Romantic Inspiration
by Kathryn Lively
Being a child of the 70s, I enjoy looking back at shows from
the era with new eyes. I include here older programs that aired first-run a
decade before my time, too, since their syndicated reruns filled my summer
nights. I could watch the antics of the Brady kids, the 4077th
doctors and nurses, and the crew of the Enterprise
over and over. Even now, I’m hooked on these new “antenna” networks popping up
with shows that aired after my bedtime. Right now I’m reliving “One Day at a
Time” and “Mork and Mindy.”
Once in a while I see an actor on these shows and wonder
what happened to them. That leads into time sunk on Wikipedia following any
number of careers. When it comes to former child stars you might feel a bit
apprehensive, given the tragic fates of some (Dana Plato and Gary Coleman come
to mind). However, on Twitter I can follow Alison Arngrim and Wil Wheaton to
see what they’re doing these days. It’s partly what inspired my story about two
former child stars trying to break free of the roles that made them famous to
build a life together. In the beginning it didn’t work, but in my book Finish What You Started they are given a
second chance.
Writing the story of an actor with roots in sci-fi/fantasy
TV allowed me to draw on memories of fan conventions and romantic trivia
involving actors. I’ve always felt romance and fandoms work well together.
Think of your favorite franchise and there’s been at least one relationship
that stood out. Star Trek has Riker
and Troi, Doctor Who has Rory and
Amy, and quite a few Hogwarts students paired off in the end.
In Finish What You
Started, Gabby loved her co-star Dash but forces kept them apart. Now older
and stronger, they have an opportunity to begin again, in love and in their
careers. It doesn’t happen as easily as they’d like, but I hope readers will
cheer them on.
My first book with Totally Bound comes out this summer, at
the height of fan con season. If you attend one, hope it’s with somebody you
love. J
Finish What You
Started by Kathryn Lively
Contemporary Romance
Totally Bound Publishing
https://www.totallybound.com/book/finish-what-you-started
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 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?
Excerpt
When he returned to the main room, he found the trays folded
and back on the rack, and Ace snuggled into Gabby’s side. “Later, buddy.” He
snapped his fingers and the terrier bounced toward the bathroom. “He’s too
suave for his own good,” he told Gabby with a smile, which soon fell on seeing
her suddenly melancholy.
“What’s wrong? Was it dinner? Do you need—?”
“No, everything was great. Perfect.” She moved to sip her
wine, but instead set it on the coffee table. “I was just thinking of what we
had here tonight, and it played out like a typical night at home.” After a beat
she added, “Well, a typical night if we—I—were a couple. Married…whatever.”
“I hear you.” Damn, she looked cute when she rambled. “I
haven’t done typical in a while, and it’s not bad. I still owe you a dinner
out, though. I do want to celebrate with something fancy.”
“I’d rather do this again.” Gabby kicked off her shoes and
tucked one foot under her. Comfy, at home, not bad at all. “I’ve wanted to do
something like this every day for the last ten years.”
With you. She didn’t say the words, but he imagined them on
her lips as she bit down.
He sensed a flood coming as she blinked rapidly, and he
looked around for something to help stem it. He never bought tissues, usually
used TP if he needed to blow his nose, and the idea of handing her a full roll
seemed absurd. He settled in next to Gabby, ready to lend a shoulder.
“We don’t have to talk about it if it hurts too much,” he
said, more for himself. His mother had once offered to pay for therapy to help
him through the worst of the breakup, but he’d refused. Work served him well,
when he got it, and he preferred to keep his feelings about Gabby to himself.
Well, himself and one other person.
“I’ll be fine.” Gabby stuck a pinkie finger in her eye to
rid it of a tear. “You know me, I’ve always been an emotional gal. Remember when
we filmed Doctor Arturo’s death scene?” She sighed and looked at him. “I bawled
for days.”
“So did he. He’d just bought a house when he was written
out.”
“I also don’t
normally wear skirts this short,” she said.
He had no reason to object. “Yeah, I wondered about that.
You were always a conservative dresser.” Product of a Catholic family, he
guessed, but he liked that about her. Gabby wore everything well, but his mind
kept returning to the naughty librarian fantasy. Maybe stick a few pencils in her
hair, done up in a bun with a few tendrils hanging loose…
“What’s that look on your face?”
“Hm?” The bubble popped, and he shrugged. “I just remembered
I need to renew my library card.”
“You are so silly. What does that have to do with what we’re
talking about?”
He chose not to say. “I’m sorry. Just a crazy day. So
there’s a reason for the wardrobe change?”
Gabby smiled, flushed. “It goes back to that ‘special
friend’ misunderstanding.”
“Ah.”
“I hoped to outdo her. Yes, I’m shallow.” She rolled her
eyes.
“No, you’re a human with insecurities. Just like me. It
doesn’t help we both grew up in show business families where that sort of thing
is encouraged.” He could spend the rest of the evening reminding her of all the
crap stage parents foisted on their children. You had to have a cuter face than
the other boys reading for your part. Your dimples had to go deeper, your
freckles had to cross the bridge of your nose just so. How often had Walter and
Marie drilled the importance of looking better than every ingénue in California
into Gabby’s head?
It didn’t go away easily. He could relate. Though his mother
hadn’t been as bad as Marie Randall, she’d put pressure on him more than once
during casting calls.
He stretched out his arm, inviting her close. For a moment
they sat on the sofa and he held her, and it felt nice. It felt like home, like
what the last ten years should have been for them. “You will always have a
special place in my heart,” he said. “Whatever happens between us on this show,
it can only result in good things.”
She pulled back a bit to regard him. “I want to tell you
something.” After a beat she added, “Since our first time in Vegas…there hasn’t
been a second time for me. With anybody.”
Huh? “For real? Why are you telling me—”
“I’m not asking for you to say the same thing, Dash. I never
expected you to go celibate, and I didn’t think it’d be this way for me. I just
got busy with work.” She shook her head. “I wanted you to know because…” she
swallowed hard, “I never wanted another first time with anybody else.”
She gazed into his eyes. Her deep brown gaze, smooth as
chocolate and calling to his soul, drew him closer. He was done for.
Meet the Author:
Kathryn Lively is an award-winning writer and editor,
Slytherin, 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.
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