Davis

Hollywood dream

Gwen Davis unveils Hollywood in 'Paradise'

Web posted on: Wednesday, May 20, 1998 1:33:16 PM EDT

By CNN Interactive Writer
Jamie Allen

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Gwen Davis says Hollywood is a microcosm of American culture.

"The people there are like everyone else who's got a big hunger and the wish for recognition," the writer says. "Everybody has a dream of scoring big."

Davis is hoping to score big with her 16th novel, "West of Paradise," an insider's look at life in the land of dreams that is promising to attract the attention of the Hollywood crowd.

The book depicts the story of Kate Donnelly, an avid fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald and an aspiring writer in search of elusive Hollywood success. The book opens with Kate crashing the funeral of Hollywood exec Larry Drayco, where she finds herself rubbing elbows with the "in" crowd, posing as the granddaughter of Fitzgerald with rights to the sequel to "The Last Tycoon."

From there, the book takes readers along the spine of Hollywood and reveals the selling-out of values in search for success, and its sister, revenge.

"That's the center of the sadness that is Hollywood because nobody knows what is really authentic," Davis says.

Hollywood waits

Because of the content of the novel, Davis says her lawyer convinced her to take out a $1 million libel insurance policy in case she is sued by some Hollywood bigwig who believes the book cuts too close to home.

Davis says the book is not based on certain celebrities, but admits that when she lived in Los Angeles she was taking mental notes of the people she encountered.

"(The characters) are composites of people I've met over a long period of time," she says. "I've met a lot of the people out there. They're vulnerable and they're fragile, just like everyone else.

"When you write the truth, a lot of people get mad. I don't want anyone to get mad at me but, hey, a good book is a good book," she laughs.

Adding to the Hollywood interest: The book will be launched at Spago's on Wednesday in an event hosted by Davis' long-time friend, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, whom Davis says gave her ideas for her book.

"Everytime I would get stuck for a plot point I would fax Jamie and she would fax me something back that was so funny that the plot point would be solved," Davis laughs. "She has lived there for so long, she understands the town better than anyone."

Back where she started

With "Paradise," Davis has come full-circle. Her first novel, "Naked in Babylon," was also based in Hollywood.

Before "Babylon" Davis was still trying to find her niche, taking turns as a comedy writer and singer. "Babylon" was written after a literary critic for the Los Angeles Times, who came to watch her sing at an L.A. club, suggested that she use her talents to tackle a novel.

"I woke the next morning and became a novelist," said Davis.

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"When you write the truth, a lot of people get mad ... But, hey, a good book is a good book."
-- Gwen Davis, author of "West of Paradise"

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"I've learned a lot in the interim," she says of the time between her first and latest novels. "It's craft. It's very fortunate to have the gift of being able to put things into words. But getting the words just right is like being a sculptor."

And after returning to familiar ground in her fiction, Davis, who is widowed with two grown children, recently moved back to Paris, where she lived after finishing college.

"I'm using a part of my brain that I haven't used since school, learning the French grammar," Davis says.

She's also considering the plot for her next novel. Davis says she would ultimately like to write something that "entertains and uplifts."

"I would like to write a book that everybody could read and understand and enjoy and infuse them with their own uniqueness and authenticity as human beings," she says.

And what does she want readers to gain by reading "West of Paradise"?

"I want readers to come away with having a wonderful time," she says, pausing. "And really be happy that they don't live in Hollywood."

Related story:

• Bestseller lists

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