At first glance, Hollyhood may seem like a book about the glamorous world of a vixen trying to make it in the ‘wood.  However, this is a story about a young African American man (Ty) trying to make it in a world controlled by suits and money, all while trying to balance his married life in a tank full of sharks and chicks.

We are brought into Black Hollywood and the life of working television professionals as they navigate through the machine.  We are introduced to a star, a “wannabee” star, an assistant with big dreams, the big wigs, the backstabbers and what happens when you are no longer number one. 

Author Valerie Joyner takes us to a place which we rarely see [and] this is a laugh out loud page turner!  We thought it was only fitting to speak with her about her life in La-La land and what inspired such a delicious tale!

Dominga Martin: What was your inspiration for writing Hollyhood?

Valerie Joyner: I read "Number One with a Bullet" by Elaine Jesmer.  Jesmer worked for Motown Records and wrote a story about a successful record company.  This book captured my imagination and inspired me to write about working in TV...which is what I was doing at the time.

Dominga Martin: Who was the first character that came to mind when writing Hollyhood and how did that character grow? 

Valerie Joyner: “Ty Hart”, the main character came to me first.  He lived in my heart and mind for years before I started seriously writing.  I always knew his name, he was from the hood (which one I did not know) and his best friend was “Maxwell”.  Then I got to know Ty little by little as I do with people in real life.  Each time I created a situation for him to finagle his way out of, he grew in my mind.  He kind of created himself as I went along and presented him with challenges.

Dominga Martin: Were all the characters in this book a reflection of people you knew in the business? 

Valerie Joyner: No. Not all of them.  Are there a few similarities in some characters?  Yes. But this book is fiction, not a memoir.

Dominga Martin: What do you say if someone asks if a certain character was based on them? 

Valerie Joyner: No one could say that but Devon Shepard, a very talented writer/producer I worked with in LA.  He was my muse for sure...but anyone else is ego tripp-in.  I did not sit down and write any character based solely on any one person.

Dominga Martin: Who do you identify with the most? 

Valerie Joyner: I identify most with “Venus”.  I was an assistant when I started out, working for a big producer, having a crush on the star, trying to find my way in a new world and going to meditations only to be drugged.  :-)  Venus is not tainted by the world around her and adds the perspective of an outsider. 

Dominga Martin: How long did it take you to write this book? 

Valerie Joyner: I wrote the first draft in about 10 months, but I already had the first chapter written when I started. Writing was the first task of the day.  I devoted about 4 or 5 hours a day to writing when I could.  But sometimes writing is simply thinking.  And I had a lot of thinking to do because I made everything up as I went along.  But I trusted myself and the process and it all worked out.  Though I admit there were a few times where I thought it wasn't going to work out.  The second draft evolved over time--a flashback here, a flashback there. That took close to a year as well.

Dominga Martin: What was your process for obtaining a literary agent?

Valerie Joyner: I researched agents who represented contemporary and African-American fiction.  I spent two days writing a query letter, stating what my book was about.  Then I sent out a mass mailing, some I emailed and agents responded.  Some asked for a few chapters, some asked for the entire manuscript.  Many sent me rejection letters after reading it.  Luckily, a couple did not.  :-)

Dominga Martin: With a background in TV writing, was it easier or harder to transition into an author?

Valerie Joyner: My TV writing was limited.  I was writing screenplays, trying to break into film.  But I always knew writing books suited me.  I love books.  Always have.  It just took years to build my confidence to take on such a huge project.

Dominga Martin: How did working on well known shows like “The Jamie Foxx Show” and “In Living Color” enhance your storytelling? 

Valerie Joyner: Working on these shows gave me a lot of story material!  While I was not writing on these shows I read a lot of television scripts as well as movie scripts and I read plenty of books about storytelling.

Dominga Martin: What did your job entail while working on the TV shows, and how did you make the transition from TV to author? 

Valerie Joyner: I worked as a writer’s assistant and producer’s assistant.  But I was born an author.  I say that because I always knew I would write books.  Before I even moved to LA and started working in television, I knew I would one day write books.  Moving from TV to author was a natural progression, rather then a transition.

Dominga Martin: What kind of advice can you give to aspiring authors?

Valerie Joyner: Study the craft of writing and develop your skills.  The more you write the better you get.  Have other writers read your work and be open to constructive criticism.

Dominga Martin: What do you want people to learn from reading Hollyhood?

Valerie Joyner: I want readers get a better understanding of how a show is produced, a sense of how many people it takes to make it happen, that everyone in Hollywood has a boss to answer to, and that people in TV are ordinary people who work in extraordinary circumstances.  A student looking to go into TV could really learn a lot.

Dominga Martin: What's next for you? 

Valerie Joyner: Another book is next.  Not sure what story I am going to go with just yet.  Still haven't decided what character or story I love so much that I am willing to commit myself for two years.  :-)

Check out the EXCLUSIVE HOLLYHOOD VIDEOS HERE