I’m so pleased to introduce you to Harlequin Desire Author JULES BENNETT! She’s writing a wonderful series with a Hollywood setting for Harlequin Desire. I’m thrilled that one of my short stories is included with her new release — CAUGHT IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Here she is!
Old Hollywood. Just those two words bring so many images to mind: black and white images, stoles draped over the shoulders of famous icons, diamonds dripping from their ears while the men look on adoringly with that smoldering Clark Gable stare.
*sigh*
Where was I? Oh, yes. Hollywood. I can honestly say I think I was born in the wrong decade. There’s nothing that has fascinated me more than old Hollywood pictures and films. Even as a young girl I would watch movies with my father and he would “educate” me on the actors/actresses. He would fill me in on who they were and other films they were in. I can’t tell you how many times we watched Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor.
But my all-time favorite old movie is An Affair to Remember. Oh, Cary Grant…so lovely…
Oops, sorry. Went daydreaming again.
Moving on. My sister had a favorite old film as well and I’m nearly positive I could quote Gone With the Wind word for word…yes, I know it’s 4 hours long. It’s not a stretch to say I devoted quite a bit of my childhood watching this epic film, but I loved it. Each time I watched it I love it more and more.
On a side note, how funny was the old Carol Burnett Show when she did the spoof on Gone With the Wind and she had the whole curtain rod through the top of the dress? Oh, Lord, that was so funny! Can’t see the movie without seeing Carol coming down the stairs:)
Anyway, circling back around again. What era do you feel you’d like to have lived in and why? If I’d lived in the 30’s and 40’s I don’t care if I would’ve been the water girl on set, I would’ve wanted to be right where the action was.
I’m going to pick one random person who leaves a comment to win a signed copy of CAUGHT IN THE SPOTLIGHT. This is the first in my series of, you guessed it, Hollywood books! But this one is extra special because it has a short story in the back by my very good friend and amazing author, Leanne Banks! http://www.amazon.com/Caught-Spotlight-Harlequin-Desire-Bennett/dp/0373731612/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331597999&sr=1-1
I’ll be popping in today and I can’t wait to see what your favorite era is!
Riding With The Top Down 
I think I did okay by being a teenager in the seventies. I missed the “flower power” days (which is fine with me) … women had more of a say by then … I didn’t have to wear dresses all the time (not my favorite thing in the world) … jeans were becoming popular in school – instead of just on the farm … I looked “cool” in my “hot pants” (which was the closest I got to dresses) … the English language and grammar were more of a focus in school … we respected our elders – especially our parents and teachers … and there was always a library for refuge. Hmmm. The flip side to this is that my parents were from an era where “the strap” was okay and they were always emotionally distant (to say the least), so perhaps I should have been a teen in the eighties instead…. I guess there’s a plus and minus side to everything in life.
Respect for parents and teachers? I wish so many more kids were like that today! Great to see you here, Laney:)
Hi Jules,
Congratulations on the release of Caught In The Spotlight! Sounds wonderful!
Nas, thanks so much! I hope you get a chance to read it;)
Welcome to the convertible Jules! We’re so glad to have you! I have to be honest. I don’t like the idea of going back in time. I don’t want to give up my conveniences. That said, I wouldn’t mind stealing some of the fashions from a different decade. And I’m all about a gallant man!:)
Thanks for having me, Leanne! I would so give up technology and go back to basics. I think in so many ways this world would be a better place:)
I would have loved to be on any set with Katharine Hepburn. She was smart, sexy, and beautiful.
Woiuldn’t that have been amazing?! Thanks for commenting, Donna!
I would have to go with the 40’s. I grew up watching mob movies and such. I think of not only that but swing dancing, the pin stripes and hats, & the Casablanca type air to romance.
Oh, Kristine, you’re speaking my language! I would so love the swing dancing era! I’ve owned a black flapper dress for 5 years and never had a place to wear it! It still has tags!
I wish i had been born in forties, and grew up in fifties. Moms stayed home and being a mom taking care of your children, cleaning and life was simpler back then. Agatha P. Townsend
I so agree with the simplier life, Agatha! I’m on board with you there:)
Congratulations on the book release. Do you put out a newsletter?
Shelley, I do put out a newsletter! You can sign up at my website: http://www.julesbennett.com
I also do random contests and pull all winners from my newletter list so be sure to sign up!
Hi Jules, you sweetie pie you! Congrats on your new Desire and thanks for riding with us in the VERT!
I love to read about all the past decades and and eras and I’ve lived some of them LOL. The 50’s pretty much rocked. Lots of new things going on and still lots of innocence. I can still remember listening to my older sisters Elvis records and swooning. Bobbie sox and blue jeans. those were the days..
Cindy, *squeeeeee*! (Fan girl moment).
The 50’s were really cool because of the music. It really started shaping another generation. Very cool:)
I would say the 50’s. I love the clothing and the music.
My MIL loved the 50’s. She always talks about that time and shows pictures. I can tell she really lived up life then!
Not very imaginative I guess, but I like living now. I love the music, the technology, and the clothes I can wear. Can’t wait to check out your book!!! 🙂
Stacey, I do love the clothes now…mostly because I can rock a vintage outfit and still be in style;)
I hope you like CAUGHT IN THE SPOTLIGHT! It was great fun to write;)
Congrats on the release! I love Gone With The Wind and the Carol Burnett spoof is hilarious!
I loved Carol shows! They were all hilarious! Especially when they would start cracking up at themselves:)
I read her 1st book and enjoyed it greatly.
Add that to her love of pug’s… makes this a must read for me.
Karen, thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy CAUGHT IN THE SPOTLIGHT!
I think I was like to live in Hollywood’s greatest year for movies 1939 to get to go to Hollywood premieres of such movies like “Gone With The Wind””,Wuerthuring Heights’,”Love Affair” or “The Women” I would just love it.
Gail, I’m with you! Let’s get our fur stoles and pretend;)
I love the 1800’s. To be around the same era as the westerns John Wayne portrays. New discoveries, new country. It had to have been an exciting time.
Lucy, that would be exciting! I’ve never thought of that time period. Add another one to my list;)
I love the glamor of the 30-40’s… but would love to have lived in the Edwardian Age… as someone with money… please don’t make be the tweeny….!
Yes, with money! That’s what I think of with the 30’s. I love the era, but want to avoid the Depression.
I have this first book in my tbr pile… I looking forward to this series. Leanne we share the love of the same movie.. I could watch An Affair to Remember over and over again.. As to what era I would have like to have been a part of, i would say the 40’s and 50’s. I was born in the late 50’s, but I think being a teenager would have been so great. Or in the 40’s there was some wonderful times to be had in the 40’s after the war years..The great music of the 40’s and 50’s, well just let’s say the music has lived on.. Thank God…
Oh, An Affair to Remember is a must for me when I start each new book. It’s just so…perfect:) It makes my heart happy.
Love that “Golden Era” of Hollywood. I’m partial to a lot of the oldies but particularly the Nick & Nora movies – those crazy kids just knew how to solve a good mystery, didn’t they? I also like the old Robin Hood with Errol Flynn. Yummy….. I could fall for a guy like that…..
Congrats on Jule’s book and you’re a doll for promoting her!
Good Luck Jules!
Pam, there’s just so much to love about old movies, isn’t there? So glad you could stop by!
Jules– Congrats on the release! Sounds like a fun series! As for eras, I have to confess that I am a child of the modern era. But I do love some of the old films. Hepburn films were always favs. And there is one from the 60’s that I remember “loving” when I was younger. Three Coins In a Fountain ? As an adult I realize that it was the romances that made me love the movie. I’ve *always* loved romantic movies.
Hey, Debra! I find that I’m ALWAYS looking for a romantic thread in any movie. It really does make the world a happier place:)
Love the concept behind your series. I love the Hollywood setting! Plus I’m like you in that I’m sure I should lived back in the 30’as and 40’s. I love the movies from back then!
Good luck with you new series. I’m sure it will fly off the shelves.
Cynthia, from your mouth to God’s (and the reader’s) ears! I want people to read this just because I know they will love it! I’ve never been this passionate about a book and I want to share it with everybody:)
Hey, Jules, and welcome! I’m hiding behind a big green drapery as I admit I’ve never seen Gone With THe Wind. THough I do adore Carol Burnett’s rendition. 😉
My era? Definitely missing the 1750s – 1780s.
Michele, I could act out the movie for you…I’ve seen it THAT many times;) If you ever have a spare 4 hours, you should watch it! (Yes, I know there are never 4 extra hours in our lives). Oh, well, happy reading!
Welcome, Jules! Your Hollywood series sounds yummy. Love the “Spotlight” cover.
I’m a proud Boomer. The music, the clothes, the civil rights and the women’s movements–the granting of the old blessing “May you live in interesting times.” We were the product of parents and grandparents who took courageous steps. So many changes that needed to happen were kick-started in the first part of the 20th century and came to fruition in the 60’s and 70’s. I don’t think I appreciated how far “the greatest generation” came until I got old enough–over the hill?–and had some perspective about parents who grew up in the South and were able to take the step beyond “Gone With the Wind” that enabled me to take another step. It’s amazing to me that my grandfather, who was retired when Daddy was born, served in the Spanish American War as a cavalry officer–rode a horse!–and lived to see his son become an Air Force pilot. Wow. The times, they were ‘a changin’.
I used to dream of living in the Wild West, but realistically I wouldn’t have lived long. I would’ve died in my early 20’s. If my congenital kidney problem didn’t get me, my first childbirth would have.
But I love me some Western Romance. That’s the only way I want to go back in time.
Kathleen, I love Western romances, too! There are just too few of them:(
So glad you could stop by!
I like my technology way to much to live back in the 30’s or 40’s. Although I do like watching the old films. My daughter’s love Gone With The Wind, it’s okay, but I wouldn’t want to watch it all the time. I like Three Coins in a Fountain, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and old ones like that. Although I do love the Carol Burnett spoof where she’s wearing the curtains, rod and all. I laugh every time I watch it.
Linda
LInda, I’ve never seen Three Coins in a Fountain, but it’s been mentioned on here twice now. Going to have to look that one up on my Netflix:)
Thanks for being here with us today, Jules. Congrats on the new release…love the concept. I also grew up watching tons of old movies (it was my mom who was the aficionado. Lots of musicals, from several starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald to Howard Keel and Jane Powell in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Yes, we loved Cary Grant, but also Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.
That said, I’m sticking here in this time period! Like someone else said before me, I like the choices women have now and love technology. Do not want to write my books on a typewriter. 🙂
Christie, I would write my books down by candlelight if I could go back in time:) We had an ice storm a few years back and we had electric for 2 weeks. Hubby said I was the only person who was upset when the electricity came back on! I really did love the simplicity!
My husband always says that he should have been born 100 years ago. I say, thank you electricity for being invented and letting me have a dishwasher, washer and dryer and all the convenient items of life. But I do wish I had a time machine. It would be nice to go back and see things from 100 years ago. But I DON”T want to live there for ever. 24 hours and I’m back. I can visit Chicago during Prohibition and go from there.
Linda, that would be such a cool time period and city to visit in our fictional time machine;)
I don’t know if I could pick just one time. They all seem to have their good and bad points. If I went back in time I would have to have amnesia and not know about the future lol. Good luck with your new release – does sound intriguing.
Catslady, thanks so much for stopping by! Glad to have you here;)
I guess my favorite Hollywood era would be the late 1950s – early 1960s. I really love Doris Day, especially with Rock Hudson but also with Cary Grant. I love the humor as well as the romance. I can watch Pillow Talk over and over.
I’ve only seen Pillow Talk once…that’s another one I’m going to have to watch soon! Thanks for stopping by!
I love all of those old Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Rock Hudson movies. More simple times, glamorous stars–and from a different era, the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice totally entranced me. The lake scene….be still my heart!
Congratulations on your new book release!
Oh, Colin…yes, he is lovely:) Thanks for stopping by and giving that visual reminder;)