My special guest author today is Lindy S. Hudis to chat about her new crime thriller, Hollywood Underworld.
Bio:
Lindy S. Hudis is an award-winning filmmaker, author and actress. Lindy is a graduate of New York University, where she studied drama at Tisch School of the Arts. She also performed in several Off-Off Broadway theater productions while living in New York City.
She is the author of several titles, including her romance suspense novel, Weekends, her “Hollywood” story City of Toys, and her crime novel, Crashers. Her latest release, “Hollywood Underworld – A Hollywood Series” is the first installment of a crime, mystery series.
She is also the author of several erotic short stories, including “The S&M Club”, “The Backstage Pass”, “Guitar God”, “The Guitarist”, and “The Mile High Club”.
Her short film “The Lesson”, which she wrote, produced and directed, has won numerous awards, including ‘Best Short Film’ at the Paris International Film Festival, The Beverly Hills Arthouse Film Festival and the San Fransisco International Film Festival.
She is also a former actress, having appeared in the television daytime drama “Sunset Beach”, also “Married with Children” , “Beverly Hills 90210” and the feature film “Indecent Proposal” . She and her husband, Hollywood stuntman Stephen Hudis, have formed their own production company called Impact Motion Pictures, and have several projects and screenplays in development. She lives in California with her husband and two children.
Welcome, Lindy. Please tell us about your current release.
Hollywood Underworld is the first in a series about Tinseltown and the many lives of the people who live and work there. It’s a crime fiction story. If it were a film, it would be considered Film Noir. It’s about a courageous single mom and personal manager who gets help from a very handsome crime boss to find a missing actor client of hers. The inspiration came from my years as an actress in Hollywood back in the 90’s. It was a different world then, before the internet, so a young actress could easily find herself in many precarious situations, and I did!
What inspired you to write this book?
I started out as an actress, I attended New York University Tisch School of the Arts and studied Drama. I thought of the Method acting approach, and that is how I write. I know it sounds funny, but I let the characters tell me the story. I am “acting” when I bring my characters to life. They tell me what to do. As far as the subject matter goes, Hollywood is a very dramatic town. I moved to Los Angeles in the Spring of 1992 to pursue film and television work. Back in the 90’s there was no social media or internet, so plenty of bizarre things would happen behind the scenes. I took inspiration from real life to create my story. My stories are very character driven, coming from an acting background helps me develop my characters, so I bond with my characters. I let them tell me what they want to do. They tell me the story.
Excerpt from Hollywood Underworld:
Prologue – Los Angeles, California
Spring
“Kill her.” The irate and imposing male voice bellowed into the phone.
“Who?” The nervous – and not too bright – hitman swallowed hard and butted out his cigarette.
“Who do you think, moron?”
“Uhm…. I don’t….”
“Dani Foxx.”
“Oh, of course…Whatever you need, boss, I’m all over…”
“And I want it taken care of today, do you understand me?”
“I understand.”
“Don’t screw it up again, I want this problem solved.”
“Don’t worry, boss. The bitch is as good as dead.”
“She better be!”
“I’m on it, boss.” He reached for his shoulder holster and checked his gun.
“Then get on it. Now!” The angry boss slammed down the phone.
“Yes, boss.” The hitman pulled on his coat and dashed out of his North Hollywood apartment.
What exciting project are you working on next?
I’m writing the sequel, Hollywood Boulevard. I’m working on that right now. Also, my husband and I have several screenplays that we have written. We have several different genres such as action, thriller, horror, drama and even comedy. We were very lucky as we entered our screenplay, Crashers (also my book) into the Sherman Oaks Screenplay Competition. The screenplay was an official selection and, although it didn’t win, we got great literary representation out of the contacts we made. Crashers is currently in development with Face 2 Face Productions, as our manager is also a producer. I am still very ambitious and have never given up on my Hollywood Dream.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I have always loved reading and have always had a huge book collection. I still do! I remember very well back int school h having read all the Judy Blume books (one of my first inspirations to be a writer) then moving on to Stephen King, Jackie Collins and many others. One day, while pregnant with my daughter, I was sitting at home, alone, and bored so I decided to start writing. I just wrote pages and pages to have something to do. The next thing I knew, I have about two hundred pages! My Father-In-law is the Late, Great English writer Norman Hudis. I showed him my pages to get his professional opinion and he told me I “had potential”. That was enough for me to give writing a go! So, I just went for it, and I have never looked back.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write?
I am also a screenwriter and producer. My husband and I are developing several film projects as well.
How do you find time to write?
I make time, that is the only way to do it!
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Write drunk, edit sober! Just kidding. I do like my coffee, 80’s music and my cat jumping on my desk. I have learned how to write with all kind of noise and chaos going on IN the background.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress, of course. A writer as well, but any kind of artist.I love to create the written work and bring my characters to life.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
My story is about Hollywood! There is no place on earth so full of drama, passion, hopes and dreams. The whole town lends itself to stories. It’s almost like another lead character in my book. My story is inspired by my life as an actress in Hollywood so it’s raw and gritty. When people think of Hollywood they think of glamour, beautiful movie stars and that kind of thing. My story takes the reader on a journey to that dark underbelly of that glittering world. It’s not for the faint of heart, but none of my stories are. If it were a film, it would be considered Film Noir. It’s about a courageous single mom and personal manager who gets help from a very handsome crime boss to find a missing actor client of hers. Although it’s a work of fiction, it’s my story inspired by actual people and events and I wanted to share it.
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