I am a native Californian, if there is such a thing, with a smattering of years in Chicago and San Francisco. Born in Santa Monica, High School in LaCanada,and graduated from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising; the hallmarks in my life spent here in the City of Angels. My fashion career spanned 30 years, and saw my daughter grow into a beautiful young woman. But as the industry changed, and my personal life took on a new perspective, I retired in order to explore my love of my writing.
Thrillers ranks number one on my list, with psychological and espionage at the core. Grishim,Patterson, Val McDermit, Kellerman(both), Gayle Lynds, and on and on and on. I am a sucker for the unusal, Life of Pi, Secret Life of Bees, The lovely Bones, Five People you meet in Heaven. I am trying on for size Mysteries in which characters drive the plot. There is such an art in developing a serial character and I respect the hard work. And than go figure I read Robert Faulkner's Birdsong ,and was transported to WW! in the Germany trenches. We didn't touch on the classics, but I will save that for another time.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
Legends of the Fall leads the way in the family saga and epic category, with Pearl Harbor and Out of Africa a close second. I like period pieces, like Chinatown, Cinderella Man, Goodfellows, Once upon a time in America, and Sleepers. Psycholthrillers from Patterson and Grishim rank high, but my favorite Denis Lehane's Mystic River can still make my skin crawl. I do like to laugh and cry, as that is the job of the storyteller to evoke emotion. So yes, Seabiscuit made me cry, and American President made me laugh. So where does that leave Pay it Forward, Crash, and American Beauty. I guess a good story, no matter what genera, is all I look for. I am sure I've missed many, but at my age I would need volumes to house my movies, and we haven't touched on T.V. yet.
Welcome! Think you might like my award winning suspens novel Deadly choices www.jenniespallone.com, www.trebleheartbooks.com. It's about a female paramedic who kidnaps the baby she's just delivered, then gives it to her best friend, a Born-Again christian, to raise as her own! Friendship, trust, betrayal. What kind of stuff do you write??
Jennie Spallone
Oct 8, 2009