Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch!

A few years ago a friend of mine, fellow novelist approached me about doing the NaNoWriMo, write a novel in a month. Back then it was 70,000 words requirement. Well the two of us set out and did it. My second novel-Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch! was published just a few months later.

This is a fun, silly, chick-lit about writing the TV show in Hollywood.

I write my chick-lit under the nom de plume, Micheline McAllister.

I would love it if you would pick it up. I also have my first novel about being a personal assistant and then an actress in Hollywood, Welcome to My Life, for sale.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Your-Work-Lets-Lunch/dp/1424172624/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323707843&sr=1-2

 

Have no idea why I can’t get the link to work, so please go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble and type in the title. 🙂

THANKS

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I Quote Not MLK today, but Jim Carrey

Today is the day that everyone Googles and quotes MLK, but I like to be different so I quote Jim Carrey.

“Desperation is a necessary ingredient to learning anything, or creating anything. Period. If you ain’t desperate at some point, you ain’t interesting.”

How true is this? How many of my friends, old and new, have taken a steady payceck over following their dreams? The answer is pretty much all of them and yet I sit here day after day, week after week, month after month struggling to survive because I refuse to give up. I find Jim’s quote to be both true and inspiring.

It is so much easier to take a pacheck and push the create dreams aside because let’s face it, we all ain’t going to be Jim Carrey, and that’s fine. That said, I never want to have regrets about where my life went. Would I like to have steady money? Absolutely.

When I gave up acting for animation and a steady paycheck part of me died and I felt very sad for years, but needed the money, or thought I did. The truth of the matter is that during those flush years in animation I was so low on the totem pole and so buried in debt from college that I was still broke and working 90 hours a week to survive.

When the 2D animation industry crashed I thought about going back into acting, but decided to do the one thing that I was always more passionate about and always afraid to really go after and that was writing.

I quote fictional character George McFly.

“What if they read it and tell me that I am no good? I don’t think I could handle that kind of rejection.”

But at that point, I had lost my first career, I had lost my second career-or thought I was losing it, so I decided fuck it, I’ll do it and I started writing.

It’s been hard lemme tell you about a back breaking thankless from society process that I LOVE! I have never felt better about my choices and love it. Do I get the looks of ‘you must be broke’ or ‘why don’t you get a real job’ when I tell people I am a writer? Of course. Writers are flakey, crazy, unstable, broke, childish, immature, drink too much and loners. I have heard it all.

That said, I am probably some of those things but not all of them and animation is still around-it isn’t like it was, but it is there and I fell in love with it. I love to draw and I love to write, and someday I know things will change. Because animation is so up and down I am constantly worried, or sometimes even desperate and the truth is this. It pushes me to write.

Eddie Murphy said this. “If you have something to fall back on, you will. So that’s why I never had a back up plan.”

I heard that when I was like 13 and it helped shape the choices I made. Do I regret going to school for musical theater and hearing over and over that my degree doesn’t count? Not really. I love being in college and it was a great experience and I know if I had gone to business school, or advertising, journalism I would be comfortable now, but at what cost? Giving up on my dream to work in the entertainment industry? No thank you. I don’t want to wake up like Mr. Holland at 60 having missed my true passion.

So this is why at my age I am constantly looking for that next animation job and have a roommate, and am constantly writing and I know that being scared is what is driving me.

My Novel Available Again!

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Micheline McAllister

Four years ago I wrote a comedy about the industry called: Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch!  (I write my novels under the nom de plume ~ Micheline McAllister)

It is about a TV writer who comes to L.A. from her cushy job in the midwest and when she finds herself hired as a PA at a bug studio, she is determined to change her future. When she tells a lie to go after an opportunity that falls into her lap, everything snowballs.

This is a straight up situational comedy and people have even said to me, “hey why don’t you do that?” LOL

I see Drew Barrymore in the film version!! LOL

I hope you like it. Barnes & Noble.com has it in stock now!

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-You-Love-Your-Work-Lets-Do-Lunch/Micheline-McAllister/e/9781424172627/?itm=1&USRI=micheline+mcallister

Another Review-My First Novel

Welcome To My Life by Micheline McAllister

August 18, 2010 by admin
Filed under Chick Lit Review, Hollywood Lit Review

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Samantha Kelly is a 32 year old personal assistant working in Hollywood, hoping for her big break. While working fourteen hour shifts and doing mundane tasks like calming down her bosses wife and picking up dry cleaning for everyone on set, Samantha wonders if she is stalled out. Long shifts, little pay, and no recognition on top of being single and having an untrustworthy best friend has Samantha ready to call in quits in Los Angeles. But when another friend offers Samantha a part in her movie, her life suddenly starts looking better and better. Offered more acting jobs, Samantha soon can afford the nicer things in life, including bigger homes and designer clothes. But while her bank account and fame keep expanding, Samantha’s love life and friendships seem to be depleting. The life of a working celebrity suddenly doesn’t seem so exciting and fabulous. Can Samantha find a way to balance it all?

Welcome to My Life, the debut novel from Micheline McAllister gives an insider’s look on the Hollywood scene. McAllister has worked in the entertainment industry as a personal assistant, actress, writer and artist, and holds nothing back when recounting this tale. I enjoyed reading both sides of the main character- her bleak life as “just” a personal assistant, to the high life of being an overpaid actress. I like the fact that this novel is written from an “insider” because there are a few eye-openers about the industry that had me shocked! My only downside was that Samantha’s character didn’t stick with me after I closed the book; I almost forgot who she was and what her story was. But the duration of the novel is witty, fast-paced, and filled with juicy tidbits that will satisfy chick lit fans.

Rating: 3.5/5

Review of My 2nd Novel :0)

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Chick lit Plus, Micheline McAllister, Welcome to My Life

http://chicklitplus.com/love-you-love-your-work-lets-do-lunch-by-micheline-mcallister/

Love You Love Your Work Let’s Do Lunch! by Micheline McAllister

August 19, 2010 by admin
Filed under Chick Lit Review, Hollywood Lit Review

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Ashling Donovan decides to move from Des Moines to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming a successful teleplay writer. After moving in with her boyfriend, Ashling sets her sights on securing a job. But when said boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her for a Myspace girl, Ashling is desperate for a job, a home, and money. When she shows up to interview as a PA, Ashling is seized with an opportunity, a lie, that could change her life. Overnight, Ashling becomes a widely known head writer, creator of a new show, and her own personal assistant, all in one. But will the truth about her double life identity be discovered- and ruin her Hollywood reputation?

Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch! is Micheline McAllister’s second novel, and just as filled with juicy Hollywood secrets as the first. It was comical to read how people in LA will fall all over themselves trying to name drop, and what some people will do to get ahead. I highly enjoyed reading Ashling’s tale from an Iowa nobody to a big name in Hollywood, all because of a well crafted lie. I did think a couple times that there was no possible way someone could make up being a well respected writer, but in the land of celebrities, I guess almost anything is possible. I think chick lit readers will find humor in this novel, appreciate good writing, and be able to escape in the heroine’s double life.

Rating: 4/5

An Interview w/ My Alter-Micheline-My novels!

http://chicklitplus.com/interview-with-micheline-mcallister/

Interview with Micheline McAllister

June 19, 2010 by admin
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Q: What is it about writing that you love so much?

There are so many different things that I love about writing, but I guess if I had to narrow it down I would say, for me it is about telling a great story. As well, I really enjoy the process of getting to know my characters and seeing where they take me.

Q: Your first novel, Welcome to My Life, is about a personal assistant working in Hollywood and gives a behind the scenes look at the life of celebrities. Where does your insider knowledge stem from?

I have worked in the “industry” since I was young. I started as an actress, then moved to animation, and when animation crashed, I became a personal assistant between jobs. Of course the book is fictional, but is also pretty real at the same time. I always found myself in situations and thought about people in the real world followed by, “they have no idea.” I love the entertainment industry and can’t imagine my life any other way, but it is so much fun to make fun of at the same time.

Q: How were you able to break into the writing industry?

I just believed I could do it. I sat down, wrote and wrote and wrote and then submitted. I submitted to agents, contests, magazines, whatever I found. I never for one minute thought that I couldn’t do it. I also showed my work to everyone, because when I was a teenager I went to see Back to the Future and George McFly was telling Marty that he never let anyone read his work. At that point we already knew he wasn’t successful and he wasn’t a writer, so I remembered that and even when afraid, I always show my work to others.

Q: When you were growing up, what did you think would be your career?

A writer. I always loved telling stories, so I knew that someday I would write. I had planned on taking over the world of Hollywood as an actress, but honestly, I always wrote and knew that no matter where the acting career took me, writing would be a big part of my life.

Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?

I love so many different genres that this may not make any sense, so I will just start with the ones in the same genre as me: Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, Jane Green, Jennifer Weiner and Cecelia Ahern. I also love Stephan King, Robert Ludlum and John Grisham. That said I am a huge fan of Russian, French and Irish literature. Crime & Punishment, Les Miserables & Dracula being three of my all time favorite books. Oh and Dickens, I love Dickens. As you can see, this list could go on forever.

Q: What would you say is the hardest part about writing a book, start to finish?

Just the time it takes to sit down and write. I am lucky in that I usually don’t get writer’s block, so once I decide on a story, I just write and it comes out. I also still work in animation, so there are times when I am working 7 days a week 14+ hours a day and then it is hard to get writing in, but I always try to do at least an hour a day.

Q: What are three items you can never leave the house without?

My MyTouch phone, a notepad and my Nook.

Q: Are you a fan of reality shows? If so, which one would you most likely be on?

I like the contest ones, but not the scripted fake ones. I would love to be on the Amazing Race!

Q: What is your best advice for aspiring writers?

My advice is if you want to write, then you have to write. I meet so many new people and they say they want to write, but never do. It is really the only way to be a writer. Also, it is very important to not take rejection personally; it is part of the business. In addition to rejection, you need to be able to take critiques and not be offended, but instead make the changes needed for a stronger story. My last piece of advice is to have fun. We are so lucky that we get to write so enjoy it.

Q: Where would be your dream vacation?

Paris. I would like to take one of those Paris Writer Retreats and just be inspired by the city writing by day, going out at night, and of course getting lots of shopping in.

Both my novels:

Welcome to My Life and Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch available online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers!

Slanted Houses Is On It’s Way-I’m So Proud

My newest novel, working title-Slanted Houses-about a girl who goes to SF to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge is making it’s way around town. The town? Publishing.-so more like all over and not so much any towns, but people have been requesting it. Yay! I have sent it to a few agents, at their request-and a few others that either haven’t replied or said it wasn’t for them. I also sent it to a couple connections I have at publishing houses and last week one of my all time fav writers asked me for a copy, so maybe she will write me a forward!! I hope.

It is far from on the shelves at Barnes & Noble, but I am hopeful that will soon no longer be the case!

Wish me luck!

NaNo~NaNo?

Today is the beginning of my new novel. I am doing the NaNoWriMo….which is the National Novel Writing Month. You write a novel in a month. It’s fast, it’s furious, it is fun!

I wrote my second novel during the NaNo in 2006 and had no idea what it was going to be about, but it turned out great and I was published just half a year later! (Traditional too!)

So this month, I am going to put all scripts aside, not because I don’t love them anymore, but just to get back to my roots. I started as a novelist and so I return to novels, my first love!

I have completed the Grey’s spec, the Psych is fully outlined, my second pilot is done and two of my films are outlined, they can all wait while I write this novel. In December when I return to them, who knows how I will feel. I think the time will do me well.

I am so excited about my idea, but I don’t have a title which is bugging me, oh well!

Clock starts now!