www.marilynbrant.com

Sunday, May 18, 2008

On Tour with Maggie Marr


I recently joined the wonderful writers of the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit and am looking forward to getting to showcase their novels here and, in turn, "blog touring" my own with them next year. I'm thrilled to be a part of this group and especially pleased to start with Maggie Marr's newly released and delightfully entertaining novel SECRETS OF THE HOLLYWOOD GIRLS CLUB (Crown, April 2008), which is a follow-up to her debut novel HOLLYWOOD GIRLS CLUB.

In reading about Maggie's background, I was fascinated by her experiences. She's currently a writer and producer for Six Mile Ridge Productions and Dahooma Productions, but she began her Hollywood career as a motion picture literary agent in L.A. at ICM Talent Agency. She's been involved with high-profile projects like Austin Powers, Meet the Parents and Wedding Crashers, and she's worked with such celebrities as Owen Wilson, Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon. How cool is that?!

I also had a chance to cyber chat with her this week, and she graciously answered a few of my questions. Take a peek:

1. New readers want to know about your book. Can you tell us the basic premise? Secrets of The Hollywood Girls Club is Entourage meets Sex And The City.

2. Of all the celebrities you met through ICM, who were one or two that you particularly enjoyed working with? I really enjoyed working with Cameron Diaz. She is an amazing person, beautiful inside and out. I also had the opportunity to work with Susan Sarandon and she too, is amazing. Stunningly smart.

3. As a motion picture literary agent did you primarily represent actors or, also, novelists/screenwriters? When I was a motion picture literary agent I primarily worked with film directors and screenplay writers. But since I worked at the second largest agency in the world, I also got to service (help find material for) amazing A-list actors.

4. I've never been able to choose just one favorite food, but do you have a clear preference? If you can't narrow it down, how about your favorite food item per category--i.e., your favorite fruit, veggie, appetizer, main dish, dessert? Oooo….French Fries, and mashed potatoes and sushi…but not together.

5. Who was the first person you told when you got The Call announcing you'd sold your first novel? My husband.

6. What's your Writer Fantasy--i.e., to see your book make into a feature film, to be on the New York Times bestseller list for 40 consecutive weeks, etc.? I’d love to be on The List. That, I think would be the coolest.

7. Would your high school friends be surprised to discover you'd become a novelist? Maybe. I mean, I didn’t write much in high school. I wrote a ton in grade school but I stopped for a while in high school.

8. What's one piece of writing advice you've found valuable on your journey to publication? Never give up!

9. Do your neighbors/hometown acquaintances know you're a published author or did you just choose to tell those closest to you? Yes, they know. I did a signing in my hometown, or where I went to high school. My family moved so much that I consider where I graduated from high school to be my hometown.

10. What's a personality trait you love about one of the characters in your novel and why? Loyalty. The four lead characters are loyal friends. I think loyalty is a great trait and so important.

Many thanks to Maggie for sharing her time with us, and congratulations to her, again, on her new book release! To learn more about Maggie and her projects, visit: http://www.maggiemarr.com/.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a fun book, Maggie! And, Marilyn--congrats on the sale!!!
-Sue

Anonymous said...

Um, WHOA - as we say in Texas, you're choppin' in the TALL cotton! Can't wait to see your virtual tour! :) spj

L.A. Mitchell said...

Love the cover, Maggie. Great interview :) I'd love to learn more about the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit...sounds fun