Chapter 8
Kill it on-screen, reach your dream.
FRESH LEAF BOOK CLUB, NEW YORK CITY, JULY 16
BEVERLY: Good morning, everyone! I’m Beverly Shipley with Fresh Leaf Book Club, New York City’s premier source of publishing news and all the gossip. Today, I’m speaking with Emmy Ellison, author of the cheeky, fun romantic comedy Hashtag Celebrity Crush , which currently sits at number seven on the New York Times bestseller list. It’s got everything you could possibly want in a romance novel—lots of pining, hot people in bathing suits, witty banter, and a heroine you can get behind. And, of course, we all know that the celebrity crush in the novel is based on none other than Lost Star Dance Troupe superstar Jason Connor.
EMMY: Inspired by.
BEVERLY: Oh, excuse me, inspired by . Emmy, how is the book tour going?
EMMY: It’s been great, Beverly. We’ve been heading up the East Coast all summer, hitting the major cities. Most of the time more than one person shows up for the book signings. [ laughs ] Just kidding. I have to admit my hand is getting sore.
BEVERLY: So, the movie is being filmed as we speak. Jason Connor is playing the love interest. Seems appropriate. And the leading lady is his on-again, off-again partner, Margarita Ayala. Are you happy with those picks?
EMMY: Well, of course Jason has to play Gage, that goes without saying. And Margarita is so beautiful. I’m sure they’ll bring the characters to life.
BEVERLY: Did you have any input in adapting the screenplay?
EMMY: Unfortunately, the director, Miles Gauthier, insisted on total creative control, so in a nutshell, no.
BEVERLY: Is that a problem?
EMMY: No, of course not! Did I make it sound like it was a problem? I didn’t mean to make it sound like it was a problem.
BEVERLY: You’re headed back out to LA at the end of this month, right?
EMMY: Yes, Beverly. As filming wraps up, I’ll be combining my West Coast book tour with a big photo shoot playing off the whole celebrity crush thing. Almost like a mini–promo tour.
BEVERLY: How exciting! You’ll get to spend some more time with Jason Connor. That hug on The Terica Show looked very warm. Maybe you’ll get another.
EMMY: It was a great hug, Beverly. And he’s a great guy. A class act.
BEVERLY: I’m sure. Let’s talk about some of your other work. Anything coming down the pike?
EMMY: I’ve got another manuscript on submission, but no bites yet. I’m hoping, if Hashtag Celebrity Crush continues to do well, I might get an offer.
BEVERLY: Is it another rom-com?
EMMY: No, it’s a massive space opera called Prototype Yellow . A ragtag team of space explorers learn the secrets of the universe, including the fact that they’re fated to destroy it. I’d really love to see that in print.
BEVERLY: That’s really different.
EMMY: Part of the problem, I’m sure.
BEVERLY: But a successful movie can be a game changer. You know what they say, Kill it on-screen, reach your dream . What would you say Emmy Ellison’s dream is?
EMMY: [ laughs ] Hmm, Beverly, I don’t know, exactly. Maybe reaching number one on the New York Times bestseller list? Gosh, that makes me sound like an inglorious narcissist, doesn’t it? Maybe getting to do that hugging contest Sean O’Sullivan promised me on The Terica Show .
BEVERLY: Well, Emmy, good luck. We’re all rooting for you. You won’t forget us, will you?
EMMY: Never, Beverly.