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Welcome to Books By My Friends, Randee! So glad you’re here to tell us about your new release TUNE IN TOMORROW.
JH: What’s the blurb for your book?
RD: Starr Weatherby is just a small town girl — with mythic-sized dreams. She came to New York to become, well, a star. Or at least get an acting job. But with nearly ten years of struggle under her belt and no real luck, she’s offered a big role — on a show no one’s ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that: It’s a “reality” TV series made by mythical creatures, for mythical creatures — but starring humans. After passing muster with a security dragon; a well-dressed, enthusiastic executive producer faun; a cranky pombero director and a curious werepanther (who is the entire writers room) Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite. But there’s a dark underbelly to the show called “Tune in Tomorrow”: It’s crumbling from within due to plummeting viewership, there’s a veteran diva who holds its future in her grip — and just what did happen to Starr’s predecessor, who vanished under mysterious circumstances no one will talk about? Quickly, Starr goes from fighting for her job to fighting for her life. But she’ll do whatever it takes to keep that dream job — though she might just bring down the show in the process.
JH: What inspired you to write TUNE IN TOMORROW?
RD: Inspiration comes from a lot of corners; in this case, I ended up weaving several things I knew a lot about alongside a question from my agent, who was as frustrated as I was that the first two novels she shopped for me hadn’t found homes. She said: “How about you try something different?” Not that she didn’t think the other books were worthy, but maybe I should aim in a different direction. The other threads include my many years working behind the scenes as an entertainment journalist (so many great personalities, so many totally off-the-wall celebrities!), an attempt to write funny (something new to me) and the experience I had in college, working on a local public access news show. On that show, the pros were on camera but we amateur students ran cameras, directed and the crew jobs. I wondered what a reality TV show starring humans — but run by and for mythical creatures — might feel like. And it turned out the answer was … wacky as heck!
JH: What one thing do you love most about writing?
RD: Getting totally immersed in the story. When I’m in the zone, my characters and the narrative take me places and do things I either barely considered or didn’t consider at all. It’s a bit like a method actor, who knows her part so well she can anticipate how the character ought to behave in any situation. In a book, I have several “method” characters running around in my head and it’s up to me to corral them and get them to tell the story, but when they’re in charge it’s incredibly immersive and exciting.
JH: What’s next for you in the way of writing/publishing?
RD: I have a regular job as an entertainment journalist, so I’m publishing articles on a more or less daily basis for places like the LA Times and Today.com. Fiction-wise, I’m bouncing between a fresh revision on a novel about superheroes and their romantic sidekicks (a book I wrote a first draft of during the lockdown) and a sequel that will take place in the universe of “Tune In Tomorrow.”
JH: How can readers contact you?
RD: https://randeedawn.com/contact/
BIO:
Randee Dawn is a Brooklyn-based entertainment journalist who scribbles about the glam world of entertainment by day, then spends her nights crafting wild worlds of fiction. Her debut novel, Tune in Tomorrow, about a fantastical TV reality show, will publish on August 16 (Solaris). She writes about the wacky world of show business for Variety, The Los Angeles Times, Emmy Magazine and Today.com and is the co-author of The Law & Order: Unofficial Companion. Find out more at RandeeDawn.com
JH: Thanks for dropping by today, Randee. Please come back soon!
All good things,
Joy
Note from RD: It’s pretty G to PG. A few curse words (mostly in non-English languages) and a pre-and post-coital scene.
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