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Author Archives: Jeff
All Things Gatsby: Great Links to Visit
Amazon’s Z Explores the Passionate Tumultuous Life of the Original Gatsby Girl.
She was beautiful, impulsive, carefree, and determined to make a name for herself. Zelda Fitzgerald, the subject of a new Amazon series, was the iconic woman of the 1920s Jazz Age and the inspiration for many of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald’s female characters. Read More
Scott & Zelda–A Marriage on Fire
F. Scott Fitzgerald met Zelda Sayre while he was stationed in Alabama, serving in the United States Army during the First World War—just as Jay Gatsby first meets Daisy in the backstory to The Great Gatsby. Read More
Fitzgerald: Master of Love, Longing and Popular Girls
In a 1922 letter to his agent, Harold Ober, F. Scott Fitzgerald expressed frustration that one of his most creative stories, “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz,” didn’t fetch as much money in the…Read More
F. Scott Fitzgerald and His Independent, Impetuous, and Amazing American Girl(s)
By the time he published The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald was already one of the best-known authors in America. His fame had begun years earlier with the bestselling novel, This Side of Paradise, which sold out in 24 hours and went through 12 re-printings. Read More
The First Gatsby Girls Have Stories to Tell
The Great Gatsby is often recognized as one of the 20th century’s great love stories. Although Fitzgerald deviates in some crucial ways from the model for the romance as we popularly understand it—the story’s narrated by the best friend, for one thing, and of course we don’t get … Read More
All About F. Scott Fitzgerald
He was the voice of a generation. He expressed the yearnings, exuberance, and impatience of young Americans entering the modern age. Read More
Fitzgerald and His Stories: Hot Topics on Video
She was an impulsive, fashionable and carefree 1920s woman who embodied the essence of the Gatsby Girl — F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda. As Fitzgerald said, “I married the heroine of my stories.” All of the eight short stories contained in this collection were inspired by Zelda. Read More
Love to Talk Books? Check Out Our Gatsby Girls Discussion Guide
This discussion guide has been created for book club groups or others who are interested in exploring the F. Scott Fitzgerald short stories collected in the book, Gatsby Girls. The stories in the collection first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post in the 1920s Read More
The Great Gatsby on the Big Screen
The Great Gatsby follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and across the bay… Read More
50 Fitzgerald Fun Facts
1. While at Princeton, FS was on academic probation.
2. In the spring of 1917, FSF dropped out of school to avoid being expelled.
3. FSF enlisted in the Army in 1917 and was commissioned a second lieutenant.
4. Fearful that he would die in WWI, FSF wrote his first novel in the weeks between his enlistment and the day he… Read More
Listen to Gatsby Girls Audio Book
Fitzgerald’s stories, first published by the Post between 1920 and 1922, brought the Jazz Age and the flapper to life and confirmed that America was changing faster than ever before. Listen to the stories that made F. Scott Fitzgerald one of the…Listen Here
Stop the Presses! Gatsby Girls Is Here
BroadLit, a romance Transmedia company, in partnership with SD Entertainment, an intellectual property studio, is delighted to re-publish works written by one of America’s most legendary fiction writers for the Saturday Evening Post. In story after story, the heroines of Fitzgerald’s stories were reckless and frivolous and happy. Read More
The Reviews Are In!
“Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the “Lost Generation” of the 1920s. He finished four novels. Read More
“I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self respect. And it’s these things I’d believe in, even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn’t all she should be. I love her and it is the beginning of everything.” F. Scott Fitzgerald
Age of Eve
About the Author:
Ms. Pratt is a five-time Emmy nominee, a Golden Globe nominee and was chosen for the Top Ten short list for the Academy Awards for her live action short film Girlfriends. She has received the Lillian Gish Award from Women in Film, The Angel Award, The Golden Block Award, and six B.E.N. Awards. As Co-Executive Producer and Head Writer for the ground-breaking television series Quantum Leap. Ms. Pratt wrote 25 episodes and co-wrote an additional 15 episodes and has produced over 100 hours of network programs. She made her directorial debut on Cora Unashamed for the BBC’s Masterpiece Theatre’s The American Collection, which aired on both PBS and the BBC.
The Tempting: Seducing the Nephilim
By D.M. Pratt
Eve Dowling left Thibodaux Hospital and never looked back. She didn’t want to look back… ever. She and her son Philip moved into the west wing of the Gregiore Estate mansion with husband-to-be, Beau Le Masters and, by all appearances, they were already the perfect, happy family. Was Eve’s life a dream? Some days were harder than others when she could not shake the shadowy fear that seeped into her sleep and turned her dreams into nightmares. Nightmares of being ravaged by an exotic creature that she comes to believe is a Nephilim.
Read the First Chapter of The Tempting Here
Age of Eve
By D.M. Pratt
Eve Dowling, a talented writer for a successful magazine that covers New Orleans society events, is leading an exciting life filled with friends, family and work–until it is turned upside down by a fateful encounter with a stunningly handsome mystery man who ignites her most sensual fantasies.
When Eve awakes naked, sexually ravaged and alone in the garden of one of New Orleans’ most historic homes, she begins her search to uncover who this mystery man really is. She tracks him through the dark side of Old Algiers with the aid of one of its most famous Voodoo priestesses to an abandoned sanitarium in the heart of the swamplands surrounding New Orleans. It is there she first confronts two creatures, first described in ancient Hebrew and Christian texts as the Nephilim or “fallen sons of God,” who vye to posess her body and soul and keep her from true love with her mystery man.
Read the First Two Chapters of Age of Eve Here
We Have A Winner!
Congratulations J.C. Sullivan of New York City! You are the FIRST PLACE WINNER in our Bad Boyfriend Writing Contest. Judith Vance of Olympia, WA is our SECOND PLACE WINNER.
J.C.’s bad boy story, Wife Beater Takes On A Whole New Meaning, scored her some much deserved cash–$350. Close to 1400 people voted for their favorite Bad Boyfriend Story. Your votes help us narrow the finalists down to three. Then our judges selected first and second place winners. Continue reading
Love, Lies & Dating: A Hollywood Romance
Dear Second Acts;
My best friend and roommate (call her Darla) and I were out at a huge party a few months ago. Really huge…it was at Paramount Studios and the party was on the back lot. We’re both actresses and we have this friend who’s an assistant producer on a cop movie being shot there. Anyway, we hung out together for a while and then mingled and lost sight of each other. We had to leave together…we came in my car. But anyway, on the drive back home, we recounted our experiences and it turned out we had both met someone. You’ve probably already guessed that it was the same someone: a handsome casting director. It was right out of a sitcom. We quickly agreed that we would leave it up to fate. He had both of our numbers, so we’d just wait and see what happened. Well, you won’t believe what happened. Just as she was getting out of the car, her phone buzzed and she got a text. While she was reading it I grabbed my phone out of my purse and I had also gotten text from him that had come in moments earlier. She said that since she saw hers first, she should be able to answer it first. But mine came in first, right? Anyway, we both shot daggers at each other while hitting “call back” at basically the same time, but also kind of giggling like schoolgirls. It was competitive, but silly too, you know? My call got through first and he picked up. Hers went to voice mail. I had dinner with him two days later and we hit it off. I’ve had nine acting jobs in two months. I quit my day job. I have three huge auditions coming up…as in good movie roles in good movies. He wants me to move in with him in Brentwood. I think we’re falling in love. He ended up meeting with her too, but nothing’s happened, not a single audition. I’ve tried hard to promote her with him, but she doesn’t believe that. Nobody’s giggling like schoolgirls anymore. Nobody’s even talking. She won’t even look at me. She’s still working at Trader Joe’s and on the verge of losing a roommate. I think I’m losing a best friend. Any Advice?
Guilty in Sherman Oaks
Dear Guilty;
I know you feel guilty, but you’re not. If her call had gone through first, there’s no guarantee anything different would have happened anyway. She probably just didn’t impress him as much when they met. But don’t give up on her just because she’s pushing you away. Insist. Spend some quality time with her and show her how much you care about her and value her friendship. I wouldn’t move out immediately either. But if you do move, at least give her a chance to find a roommate she really likes, not the first one who comes along with a fistful of rent money. Regarding the guy: this is Hollywood we’re talking about, so, I would definitely proceed with caution. There’s no doubt that he sees you as a moneymaker…that’s already happening. And I’m sure he sincerely likes you. What you can’t be sure about in Tinsel Town is how long that sincerity will last. So, be careful. People always say you can never trust anyone 100%, including yourself. Well, with this guy, I’d put that number at approximately 51%. If things go well and in a couple of years you’re still together, I’d inch it up to 52%. After you’re married with three kids…53%. By the way, remind your friend and yourself, that circumstances could reverse in a matter of weeks. You could be down and she could be up. You really never know. In your business it’s really important to hold onto your friends. Hooray for Hollywood.
Cynthia
By Cynthia Amas of Second Acts Dating Service
This “advice” column is the result of art overtaking life. When author Julia Dumont created her leading lady, Cynthia Amas, for her Second Acts novels, she had no idea how domineering her character would become. Cynthia, a man-challenged matchmaker, insisted on writing her own dating advice blog. Julia tried to explain that fictional characters don’t usually write advice blogs for real people, but Cynthia was undaunted. The result is not your average dating blog, but it’s just as funny, irreverent and delightfully crazy as Cynthia. Should you take her advice? Read on and decide for yourself.
Bogart & Bacall: An Everlasting Love
Humphrey Bogart was born on December 25, 1899 in New York City. By passing up a career in medicine, Bogart followed his love for the sea and enlisted in the United States Navy in the spring of 1918. He recalled later, “At eighteen, war was great stuff. Paris! French girls! Hot damn!” Continue reading
Aris Rising: The Court of Vampires
Can true love survive despite the passage of centuries of time? Psychologist Sarah Hagan may have to pay the ultimate price to obtain the answer. Continue reading
Mothers in Love: The Good, the Bad and the Unbelievable
By Anonymous
Edited by Ron Hogan
There’s love, and then there’s mother love — maybe the most powerful love of all. Meet the mothers at the center of each of the 14 love stories included in this TruLOVE Collection. Whether their stories were written in 1938 or within the last few years, and whether they’re about a single mom, a stepmother, or an overbearing mom who can’t let go, each one explores the struggle and challenge of love and motherhood. Several stories focus on women who became single mothers unexpectedly, either through abandonment or widowhood. Another story finds a stepmother trying to deal with her husband’s very unhappy child from a previous marriage. In most of these stories, our inspiring moms overcome their unhappy circumstances to find a sense of great self-respect. They also find new loves with good men who can be good fathers to their children. Even those mothers who try to keep a stranglehold on their children out of fear of eventually being left utterly alone, have their own journey to romance, and it is not an easy one. All of the heroines in these stories learn valuable lessons about coping with adversity and are rewarded by finding true love. We hope you find these stories exciting, heartwarming and, most of all, romantic!
Snakes, Rats, and Little Boys–Oh, My!
“My childhood was awful and so I really have no idea how a good mother is supposed to act. Still, I try as hard as I can to be a good mother to Theo by spending time with him, taking him to museums, helping him with his homework, and even doing things I don’t particularly want to do. I was certain that the mere thought of a snake in my house would probably give me nightmares.”
Read the Full Story Here
I Saw Mommy Kissing the Delivery Boy
“Hunter reminded me of a young Marlon Brando. He wore tight jeans, a leather jacket, and black biker boots. The first day I’d met him, when he’d looked me over in the grocery store, I’d felt like lightening had struck me.”
Slave Mom: My Family Wouldn’t Lend a Hand
“Ralph was right. The house was a pigsty. Every dish we owned was dirty, and our clothes were all piled in the laundry room. The bathrooms needed scrubbing. The trash should have been taken out, and every room needed to be cleaned and straightened. The problem was that I just couldn’t keep up with it.”
Julia Dumont Is Back with Hearts Unleashed
By Jeff Favre, HBL Critic
If you can do it once, that might be luck. Doing it twice surely takes some skill. With Hearts Unleashed, Julia Dumont has proved that her ability to blend romantic comedy and well-crafted trips to the bedroom is no fluke. Continue reading
Love, Lies & Dating: Who Gets Last Laugh?
Dear Second Acts;
Okay, this might sound a bit superficial, and I hesitate to even ask, but here goes. I met this guy recently who really is kind of wonderful on paper. In fact, he’s wonderful in pretty much every way except one: he has a terrible laugh. Don’t get me wrong, he has a great sense of humor and he makes me laugh all the time. But his cackle is so nasal, so grating, so annoying, I find myself trying not to make him laugh, restraining my own laughter and even avoiding saying funny things. I thought everything else was worth it and when we’re alone it sort of is. He’s a wonderful guy and I think he’s falling in love with me. So, I figured maybe I could learn to live with less humor. But then the other night, we went out to dinner with some friends. It was all going great until he started telling a funny story about going to the DMV and everyone at the table was laughing until he came to the big punch line and then he laughed and suddenly everyone got quiet. It was like the room went from a mood of frivolity and hilarity to shock and dismay in two seconds. Wide eyes, gaping mouths…the whole bit. I mean, even people at other tables stopped and stared at him. It was unbearable. He was honking like a goose in heat. Do geese even get in heat? Doesn’t matter. Anyway, I feel terrible breaking it off for something like this. What do you think?
Thanks, Not Funny in Phoenix
Dear Not Funny;
This is an easy one because you answered it yourself. Love can be a lot of things. It can be wonderful, it can be all-consuming, and lord knows it can be it certainly can be challenging. When people come to me and say, “He’s wonderful but he’s __________”, there are a lot of acceptable adjectives for filling in that blank. But in my opinion, “unbearable” is not one of them. You’re not being superficial. I really don’t think you can ask a person to change the way he laughs. It would probably drive him to the brink of some lethal form of neuroticism. And you can’t just live with it. It’s seems like the kind of nagging irritation that might eventually drive you crazy, if not to violence. Seriously. This laughing matter is no laughing matter. I mean, you could get him one of those anti-bark zapping collars for dogs and maybe somehow reprogram it to prevent laughter, but that seems harsher than just breaking it off, don’t you think?
Good luck,
Cynthia
By Cynthia Amas of Second Acts Dating Service
This “advice” column is the result of art overtaking life. When author Julia Dumont created her leading lady, Cynthia Amas, for her Second Acts novels, she had no idea how domineering her character would become. Cynthia, a man-challenged matchmaker, insisted on writing her own dating advice blog. Julia tried to explain that fictional characters don’t usually write advice blogs for real people, but Cynthia was undaunted. The result is not your average dating blog, but it’s just as funny, irreverent and delightfully crazy as Cynthia. Should you take her advice? Read on and decide for yourself.
