Backstory

This is my first attempt at writing a literary novel. I'll be the first to admit it has some problems, the largest being a lack of research.

Anyway, the novel is about a trio of men who come together to work on a ground-breaking TV series that brings them fame and fortune, but then destroys their lives. (If you've ever watched E! True Hollywood Story or A&E Biography or VH1 Behind the Music it's like that.) Gus Collins is a veteran TV writer/director/producer who's been in the business since TV began but never had a hit. One day he finds his son reading a comic book called 'The Scarlet Knight' and decides to adapt the comic into a TV series. While in New York to obtain the rights, Gus comes across off-Broadway actor Henry Barton. Henry left his home in Texas with his girlfriend Stephanie at the tender age of 18 to make it big on Broadway. Years later, they're struggling to get by until Gus comes along with his proposal to go to Hollywood. Henry is reluctant, but decides to at least film the pilot for the money he and Stephanie need.

Every good superhero needs a sidekick, so Gus opens auditions to find the Scarlet Knight's young sidekick Scout. Tony McGraw is a naive kid in San Diego living with his single mom when his friends con him into going to the audition. To everyone's surprise--including his--he nails the part.

The rest of the novel follows Gus, Henry, and Tony as the show airs and becomes an instant sensation. Gus struggles against age to deal with the myriad problems of the production. Henry and his wife try to conceive a child that stresses their marriage to the breaking point. And naive Tony falls into the typical Hollywood vices of booze and broads. After success nearly kills them all--and does kill one of them--they're able to find redemption after the curtain drops.

Please enjoy "The Leading Men..."