How to Build a Hero (er, Gyro)
What do you get when you merge a large Greek family, two Hollywood sitcom writers, a pre-teen girl with angst, a dog that's traveled the globe to land in L.A., and a family-run gyro shop? A recipe for great entertainment!
Several months ago I sat down to write Hello Hollywood, book two in the "Backstage Pass" series from Revell Publishing. To be honest, I'd had such a blast writing Stars Collide, the first book in the series, that I wondered if I could top the experience. Boy, did I ever! By cooking up a whole new cast of characters, I managed to give myself the writing adventure of a lifetime! And I learned a little something
about how to build a hero (er, gyro) in the process!
Starting with just the right characters was key. I'd created my heroine, Athena Pappas, in book one. I already knew this feisty Greek sitcom writer had the moxie and the talent to make it in Hollywood. But I needed to give her a problem, one sure to bring her down a notch. Enter Stephen Cosse, a comedian from Las Vegas. When this fun-loving single father is hired to write scripts to boost the sitcom's sagging ratings, Athena is not impressed. Her handsome co-writer sets her nerves on edge. Has he come to steal her job, perhaps?
Chaos ensues when Athena's oversized Greek family gets involved. Her parents fall head-over-heels for Stephen and his pre-teen daughter. And what's not to love? He's a great guy, an awesome father and (much to Athena's chagrin) a talented writer, one who brings a fresh voice to the show. He's also tall, dark and handsome. . .and getting harder to resist as the days go by.
But she must resist. . .right? Any writer worth her scribblings on the page knows you don't fall for the guy who could put an end to your career, even if your parents are convinced he's "the one." No, you look the other way. You turn and run. In Athena's case, the pages of her "life script" fall into place and she ends up running straight into his arms.
Oh, what a blast I had writing this comedic story! I loaded it up with elements from the old Dick Van Dyke show, (even patterning the sitcom office after Rob Petrie's office). One of my favorite scenes takes place in the Pappas family's sandwich shop, where Athena teaches several other characters how to build the perfect hero (er, gyro). By the end of the scene she's convinced them all that building a yummy Greek sandwich and putting together the perfect Greek hero are pretty much one and the same. (A pinch of this, a dash of that, and. . .Opa! Yummy!)
So, what are you waiting for, readers? Ready for a comedic romp through Tinseltown, one sure to leave you smiling? Grab a copy of Hello Hollywood and let's build a few heroes together.
