Q&A with Christine Stringer

 

 

 

Christine Stringer is the author of the new novel Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous, and how did you create your character Charity?

 

A: I wrote this book to change a power dynamic in my life.  When I was in my early 20s I was an assistant at MGM and I thought my dreams of becoming a screenwriter were coming true.

 

After only a few short months working at the most iconic film studio in the world, they accused me of stealing a copy of their blockbuster film, starring The Rock. I was investigated by the FBI, interrogated, and told that I would be blacklisted in Hollywood. My dreams were over and, this was a shameful part of my career that I wanted to keep hidden.

 

Years later, with the wisdom of hindsight, I realised that I didn’t have to let this awful event have power over me. So, I took that scenario and wrote a really fun book about it, turning something bad into something pretty darn entertaining. And with that, I took my power back.

 

Q: The novel is set in Los Angeles--how important is setting to you in your writing?

 

A: The setting is EVERYTHING. Hollywood in the 1990s was a time when movie stars were the epitome of celebrity and our infatuation with them was insatiable. This was the peak of movie stars before the rise of YouTube and the online celebrity.

 

Q: The BookLife review of the novel says, “What makes this so engaging is Stringer’s insider knowledge, which drives the book’s plot, grounding the narrative in the messy reality that lurks behind Hollywood’s golden façade.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I am incredibly flattered by this! As an assistant in film, I was lucky enough to see every aspect of how a film is made through the lens of highly talented people. Every boss I had shaped this book because they were all incredible teachers and allowed me to be by their side as they worked.

 

Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: This is a fun question. Charity is the name of my favorite step instructor in the early 2000s. Charity, girl, if you’re out there: Thanks for keeping me tight!

 

And Trickett is a girlfriend of mine that I’ve known since high school. We both love the celebrity culture and have gotten into some trouble together - in a fun way.

 

Not So Glamorous is how I perceive a lot of Hollywood to be. Filmmaking, for the most part, is far from the glam. I went to work in rain gear and hiking boots for the majority of my on-set career. Also, in the book, Charity is very much on the outside of Hollywood success and the glamour that goes along with it.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on the second book in the series: Charity Trickett – The Fame Game. She and her cast of friends from the first book have some success, and are experiencing the highs and lows that come along with it. Set in the year 2000, the paparazzi is ruthless, and rumors are relentless.

 

I’m also working on the screenplay of Charity Trickett is Not So Glamorous, which feels like a full circle moment!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I’m dying for Vanderpump Rules to come back.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb