From Houston to Hollywood…and Back Again!

South Texas author Janice Hanna Thompson never dreamed she would leave the Houston area for the bright lights of Hollywood, but that's exactly what happened. In 1977, at the tender at of eighteen, she grabbed onto her father's coattails and high-tailed it to L.A. so that he could pursue his dream of breaking into the movie business. And that's precisely what he did. . .with her help.

"I still remember the day he asked me to co-author Liar's Moon," Thompson says. "I was scared to death. Still, I think my dad saw something in me that I didn't see in myself, at least not at the time. He knew my writing skills were strong. I wasn't so sure." The screenplay went on to be produced in the Houston area in the early 80s. It starred a young Matt Dillon. The movie garnered acclaim for both Thompson and her father, local businessman, Billy Hanna, who moved back to Texas for the production of the film.

Hanna passed away in 2006, but his memories remain alive. "My dad was always a dreamer," Thompson says. "Unlike most other people, he usually got what he went after. He was passionate about his work, and his interests varied. He owned a computer company, wrote country-western songs, and was thrilled to acquire Sunny's Halo, a Kentucky Derby winner and Texas' all time leading sire by progeny earnings. I'm very proud of my dad and want to keep his legacy alive through my writing."

That's exactly what Thompson set out to do with the release of her latest novel, Hello Hollywood, a comedic romance set in L.A. "I wrote the story to honor my father and to pay tribute to our time together in Los Angeles. The key player in the story is a sitcom writer who's infatuated with The Dick Van Dyke Show. This, too, is a nod to my father, who loved the great television sitcoms of the past."

Thompson, the author of nearly eighty novels and non-fiction books, was thrilled to set this latest story in the heart of Hollywood on a sitcom set. Staying true to her comedic voice was key, since her father had a great sense of humor. And critics are picking up on that light-hearted style. According to Library Journal, "This fun entry in Thompson's comic Hollywood series features humor, romance, and breezy dialog." Other reviewers agree. "Comedic timing is an art form," says Ane Mulligan of Novel Rocket reviews, "and Janice Thompson is a master. Her romantic comedies keep getting better and better. I laughed all the way through Hello, Hollywood! The story is reminiscent of the old Hollywood sitcoms – the days of I Love Lucy and Dick Van Dyke. If you like to laugh-and who doesn't?-treat yourself to a rollicking good read."

Thompson gets a kick out of making people laugh. "It's what I live for. I think my tagline, 'Love, Laughter and Happily Ever Afters' sums up how I feel about the light-hearted approach to life. There's enough tragedy out there. I hope to lift spirits with my stories. I think my father would've been proud. In fact, I can almost see him smiling now."

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HELLO HOLLYWOOD OVERVIEW: When it comes to love, one thing's for sure–it doesn't follow a script! Athena Pappas is the head writer on Stars Collide, one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. But when Vegas comedian Stephen Cosse is brought in to beef up the show's suddenly sagging ratings, she starts to worry about her job. Sparks fly as the competition–and attraction–between the two writers heats up. Athena has never had a problem writing the romances of her characters. So why is her own love life so hard to script? With humor and a Hollywood-insider viewpoint, Hello, Hollywood! delivers lots of laughs as Athena and Stephen discover that not being in control of the plot of their lives might just be the best thing that ever happened to them.

 

To stay in touch with Janice:






Website: www.janicehannathompson.com
Twitter: booksbyjanice
Facebook: Janice Hanna Thompson
Facebook "Dream Team" (Private Readers Group)
Linked In: Janice Hanna Thompson
Writing Courses: www.freelancewritingcourses.com