Blurb: Ever since arriving in Hollywood, Skylar Murphy has been loving life. He’s starring in a hit television show and on the verge of grabbing the lead role in the most anticipated movie of the decade. Poised on the edge of superstardom, he doesn't want or need any complications to distract him from that goal. Whether he’s sleeping with a woman or a man, his noncommittal, no-strings-attached love life suits him perfectly, and despite his rep for playing gay roles, the world still thinks he’s straight.
At the launch party for his new show, Skylar meets Aiden Moore, an openly gay firefighter by day and cater waiter to the stars by night. Skylar is immediately attracted to him, but Aiden rejects him. When an arsonist appears to have targeted Skylar, their paths keep crossing. Always up for a challenge, Skylar works to win Aiden over, and he agrees to a date. Soon enough they can’t stay away from each other. Despite hiding their relationship away from the ever-present paparazzi, they’re happy together until a jilted fan joins forces with the arsonist to sabotage their future.
Renae: I’m known to say to people, “One word that no one has ever used in relation to me is shy.” Yes, I’m often that person who will immediately approach the new person to the party/school/office and start chatting. Probably because I hate feeling unsure and alone, so I go out of my way to make others feel better. So two months back, I noticed Shirley in an online chat room, saying “I have a new release soon” and so I started up a conversation. It turns out Shirley is a lovely person to chat to, so I invited her along to my blog
Therefore welcome to my blog fellow author and new friend : Shirley Ozment! **throws confetti**
Shirley: Thank you Renae! It means a lot to me that you took me under your wing. You’ve been a great positive influence and I’m so grateful that you sought me out.
Renae: Congratulations on your new release. Tell me, is it like a dream come true to see your name up there?
Shirley: It was really exciting to see my name on the front of a book. The day that I opened the box to find my copies of the paperback, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so excited. It was a fantastic feeling.
Renae: I understand that this is your first book? What made you want to write a book in the first place?
Shirley: I love to read and I love to tell stories, so it was always in the back of my mind to write a book. When I was laid off from my job of over twenty years, I found myself at a loss. I decided to use the time to do something that I had always wanted to do so I found my inspiration and started writing.
Shirley: Unfortunately, I don’t know any firemen but I do know a few celebrities. Over the years, I have learned a few things, some good, some not so good, about Hollywood and behind the scenes. It’s very interesting to say the least.
Renae: Reading the blurb, it appears that Skylar is bisexual. Would this be a fair comment, or is he just pretending for the sake of his job?
Shirley: Skylar finds himself attracted to men and women. However, Skylar is used to doing what he wants, when he wants with whomever he wants and doesn’t identify by any label. However in Illusions, he does quite a bit of pretending in order to keep his movie career taking the path he has envisioned.
Renae: Do you think that Hollywood stars would notice the “help” in Real Life? I love the idea of the superstar and the everyday guy, but it only happens in Disney, doesn’t it?
Shirley: I think it depends on the Hollywood Star. Over the years, I’ve known a few celebrities that have dated regular people but I’ve also known one who told me that he wouldn’t date a fan. Skylar explains his reasoning in the book. LOL. It’s not that he feels that he’s better than your everyday person or fan, it’s more that he feels like the fan has preconceived notions before he/she gets to know him as a person. He felt that put the relationship at a disadvantage before it could ever start.
Renae: In the first chapter, Aiden doesn’t even know who Skylar is. Is Aiden put off by the thought of dating a movie star?
Shirley: No, it’s not that Aiden doesn’t want to date a celebrity as much as the fact that Skylar made such an ass of himself the night they met. He felt that Skylar was ridiculous and Aiden, being a regular guy, felt he didn’t have time for such nonsense.
Renae: If your book was turned into a movie, which actors would you love to play the parts of Skylar and Aiden?
Shirley: Since Skylar was based on Sebastian Stan (not his personal life, just the actor), he would absolutely have to be Skylar. Aiden is not so easy for me. I saw an actor named Xavier Samuel that I thought made a perfect Aiden but personally, if it were up to me, I would hire the model who was Aiden on the book cover.
Renae: What are you working on now? Do you have another release?
Shirley: Currently, I’m working on book three that involves the Hollywood group. My second book, Demon’s, is in submission at DSP so I’m waiting to hear back about that. My third book finds Ryan (from Illusions) falling in love.
Renae: Where can people contact you?
Shirley: Anyone can write me at [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/saozment or www.facebook.com/sozment
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sozment
Blog: www.saozment.wordpress.com
Renae: Thanks for chatting with me today Shirley, and I hope your release goes well.
Shirley: Thank you so much for having me. And again, Renae, you have been wonderful to listen to me and help me work through so many things. Thank you.