Book Spotlight & Guest Post: The Holden Age of Hollywood by Phil Brody

 
Today we have a guest post by Phil Brody, author of The Holden Age of Hollywood. Phil Brody’s The Holden Age of Hollywood is at once a detective novel, an unexpected love story, and a provocative exposé of a broken industry. With dark humor and incisive commentary, the novel immerses readers in a neo-noir quest to attain the Hollywood dream, integrity intact.
Hollywood From A New Angle
by Phil Brody
 
Lately, I’ve been fascinated with photographs of the Hollywood sign. Mind you, not typical photographs of the ever-popular LA attraction. No, months ago, I stumbled upon the photo below and, while it elicited a smile from me, I was also captivated.
 
After all, how often do you see the back of the Hollywood sign?
 
I had recently finished a manuscript, which was acquired by a publisher (Medallion Press) after a few dedicated months of querying. The book is set in and about Hollywood. However, like the photo, it’s not your typical Hollywood novel.
 
The Holden Age of Hollywood is at once a modern detective novel, an unexpected love story, and a provocative exposé of a broken industry. With dark humor and incisive commentary, the novel immerses readers in a neo-noir quest to attain the Hollywood dream, integrity intact.
 
The conceit of the story involves the search for the one writer in Hollywood who does not want to be found.
 
After all, we all want to be discovered. Don’t we?
 
I look at that photo and think, that’s my world. That’s my book. I aimed to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Hollywoodland, while turning that world upside down, shaking it, and analyzing the hell out of it.
 
I believe I succeeded in that goal. So far the reviews for the novel concur.
 
I’d love to know if you agree. At any juncture, you can tell me what you think by emailing me at: emailphilbrody@gmail.com
 
Note: That email address is also found at the back of every copy of the book. I want to know what you all think of Hollywood from a new angle—my angle.
 
 
About the book
“Hollywood died on me as soon as I got here. Welles said that, not me, but damn if he didn’t nail it, you know?”
 
Sam Bateman came to Hollywood to settle a score, but amidst the sunny and 75, his plans went astray. Everything changed the day he drank in the intoxicating legend of Meyer Holden, the greatest screenwriter Hollywood has ever known, the one who pulled a Salinger and walked away. Holden now tacks pseudonyms onto his works and buries them in the bottomless sea of spec that is Hollywood’s development process. They’re out there for anyone to find— but at what cost? In his quest, Bateman severs all ties and sinks into a maddening world of bad writing and flawed screenplays. Paranoid and obsessive, the belligerent savant encounters an eccentric cast of characters—each with an agenda—in his search for the one writer in Hollywood who does not want to be found.
— Get this book on Amazon.
 
Reviews have been rolling in and here’s what the critics have to say:

“The Holden Age of Hollywood by Phil Brody delivers the premise and promise of its title. It is an original, rollicking, picaresque novel that would make J.D. Salinger proud.”  ~ Stan Corwin, former publisher/CEO of Pinnacle Books, author of Betty Page Confidential and Oxy-Morons I Have Known

“Brody’s debut novel has an ambitious agenda. It’s a coming-of-age novel, a mystery, a love story, and a stinging, knowing send-up of the movie biz. Brody melds these disparate elements with energy, wit, snarky insider dialogue, and a clipped, telegraphic narrative style. . . The Holden Age of Hollywood is fine entertainment.”  ~ Thomas Gaughan, Booklist (May 1, 2012)

“As the sun came up today, I turned the last page of Phil Brody’s The Holden Age of Hollywood. That’s because I couldn’t put it down. I can rarely make time for novels, but this one had me rifling through pages with constant anticipation. The back drop of this story is the same backdrop I live and work in. Hollywood. With all its fast-talkers, posers, and users, Brody weaves a tale through all the madness that is Hollywood with a voice of reason, integrity, and hilarious sarcasm. . . I have rarely been this entertained, while being informed, all from reading the same book.”  ~ Doug Jones, Actor, Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy I and II, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer

“If anyone knows Hollywood, author Phil Brody knows Hollywood. The Holden Age of Hollywood is a cynical and witty look at the real town . . . exposing the often underappreciated business of screenwriting, all while unfolding an unexpected love story. . . .”  ~ Jessica Druck, The Five-Stir

“Readers will enjoy watching a fascinating Bateman get sucked into the Hollywood drama machine. Filled with a quirky cast working humorous scenes, this is a fascinating character study as Bateman goes the extraordinary extra kilometer to find a Holden screenplay.”  ~ Harriet Klausner, Genre Go Round Reviews (June 18, 2012)

About the Author

Phil Brody lives in Los Angeles and writes every day. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, he relocated to Chicagoafter college and enjoyed a successful career in Chicago in advertising. After moving to LA, Brody toiled in development, penned a few spec scripts, and has worked as a writer, producer, and director in documentary TV. His short film, A Blue Christmas, was the grand prize winner in The Short Film Group’s First Annual Script Competition and was acknowledged in the WorldFest-Houston and Cleveland International Film Festivals. Brody is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio and an alumnus of Writers Boot Camp in Santa Monica, California. The Holden Age of Hollywood is his first novel.

Connect with Phil on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, or on his blog.

 

Check out the other tour stops!
8/22 All Things Writing  Review and Giveaway
8/24 Just Me,Myself,and I  Spot Light  
8/24 For The Love Of Film And Novels Spot Light and Giveaway 
8/27   My Devotional Thoughts  Spot Light, Review, and Giveaway
8/28  White Sky Project  Spot Light and Guest post  
8/28   Night Owl Reads  Spot Light, guest post  and Giveaway
8/29  Janiera Eldridge  Spot Light, guest post  and Giveaway 
8/29 Books and Beauty Spot Light, guest post  and Giveaway 
8/29  My Chaotic Ramblings Interview and spot light
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9/7 T B R Spot Light, guest post, and Giveaway 

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