Meet the Characters
The Publicist
Kate Mitchell
Kate is a dedicated book publicist and lover of the written word. Though Kate loves her job, she sometimes has to deal with crazy, out-of-control egos and author demands that cause her question her sanity and also makes her wonder why she isn’t doing something more benign – like training sharks or pythons. Her job is even crazier thanks to the changes going on in the publishing business, which adds another layer of frustration and stress to her work. Kate lives in New York and hasn’t really had much success in love until she meets MacDermott Ellis and then, Nick Lavigne. Both men are vying for her heart but, clearly, only one can win.
Grace Adler
Everyone should have a Grace in his or her life. She pulls no punches when it comes to telling it like it is, and she’s Kate’s BFF. Grace is an artist and also lives in New York. She’s an eclectic person who avoids direct sunlight (sun damage!!), television (big brother propaganda!!) and social media (total mind suck). She loves European authors, and is currently immersed in a book from a Russian writer. When she’s not reading or painting, Grace is spending time with Kate and sharing life’s wisdom over her favorite tea (and, yes, she always brings her own tea bags).
MacDermott Ellis
MacDermott, or Mac to those who know him well, is a star editor at Morris & Dean Publishing House (or he was, but that’s another long story). Mac can spot great book a mile away and he’s worked in publishing for as long as anyone can remember. Tall and handsome, he oozes sex and impossible charm. Mac is a tough one to resist. He works with Kate and always has her back. Mac, however, is married, though his marriage fell apart many years back. He is hesitant to divorce because of his wife’s very Catholic family, or at least that’s what he keeps telling himself. So he stays married and has “relationships.” Not his ideal life but it’s never bothered him, at least not until he met Kate.
Allan Lavigne
Once a beloved author, Alan now lives alone in a smallish apartment in New York. Kate met him one day when they were both getting takeout at a local Chinese restaurant and she struck up a conversation. She knew Allan from his one-time mega bestseller: The Fall, and had studied his work in college. Allan had long since been discarded and dismissed by publishing and his publisher: Morris & Dean. Kate was a welcome friend to Allan, who cherished her like a daughter. Allan refuses to write again, though he is probably one of the most talented voices to ever put pen to paper. Allan worries that a new book would never live up to the first, and then he’d always be the author who “thought he could.” Instead, he lives a modest life with some good friends and enjoys the memories of what once was. “Fame,” as he often tells Kate, “is a hungry animal, always demanding to be fed. It’s a beast when you feed it and a beast when you don’t
Nicholas Lavigne
Nick is a good guy, there’s really no other way to describe him: A genuine soul and a genuine heart. He lives in Southern California and owns and runs several health food stores in and around the Los Angeles area. And, clearly, he’s very easy on the eyes. Nick has no shortage of female admirers, but he’s really looking for one, true relationship. He is Allan’s nephew and practically the only family the older Lavigne has left. Nick dotes on his uncle and flies out whenever he can to visit and spend time with him. When Nick meets Kate, however, he knows his world is about to change, and Allan (forever the matchmaker), wants nothing more than to see them together.
Lulu Proctor
This gal is really devoted to Kate. As her assistant at Morris & Dean, Lu really pitches in to help Kate solve some pretty big problems. This includes keeping the wolves at bay when life (or an author) starts to get out of control. Lu wants to do more though; she wants to be a publicist, too. In her free time, Lulu has a great husband and kids and loves all things celebrity. When Morris & Dean gets a big, celeb book, Kate will often sneak Lulu into the green room or some other venue where she can meet the celeb in question. When Kate’s life becomes a train wreck, Lulu steps in to save the day. Everyone should be so lucky to work with a girl like her!
Edward Sherman
What can we say about Edward that’s nice? Well, not much really. Edward is the head of Morris & Dean and he’s a legend in publishing. He’s made many authors into bestsellers and rumor has it that Edward can sniff out a bestselling title out of a stack of 500 crappy books. It’s a gift and one he’s used to his advantage to get what he wants as well as who he wants. Edward is married, too, and his wife (with whom he shares a comfortable Upper East Side condo) is blissfully unaware of his many conquests. Many women throw themselves at Edward because of who he is and the power he wields. Sex with Edward Sherman, however, is not a corporate climb but a descent into professional oblivion.
Andrew Trapp
Once a mega rock star, Andrew no longer cares for the limelight as he once did. Aside from his groundbreaking music, he was known for his affairs with famous women, making which were characterized by grand gestures that included climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower during a concert tour in Paris and insisting the starlet who recently dumped him return, lest he throw himself off of the monument. He made all of the papers, both national and international, though he didn’t end up as a stain on a Parisian sidewalk. Though slightly misguided at times, Andrew has a heart of gold and a secret he’s been waiting years to share. When he meets Kate, the two become good friends and, much like Grace, Andrew is by Kate’s side as she navigates one of the biggest train wrecks of her life.
Vivienne Lavigne
Vivienne, or Viv, is Nick’s younger sister. She was just a teenager when their parents died and she’s had a pretty rough time. She traveled a lot and went to school internationally, which Nick hated because he really didn’t like being so far from his baby sister. But it’s what she needed and wanted, and Nick supported her and worked to fund her schooling. But now things have changed, Viv is back in the US and staying with her brother while she explores her own writing career. Turns out, Viv has as much talent as her uncle but will she use it? Vivienne is young and shy but not stupid, she has seen how the world works and though she loves to write, her number one priority is her brother.
Dr. Ruth Ann Wilson
Dr. Wilson is odd, quirky and (never standing on ceremony) insists on being called Ruth Ann. She’s a therapist extraordinaire, one of the best in her industry and a good friend (and former therapist) to Andrew. But Ruth Ann is also a bit tough to take. She doesn’t stand on bullshit, has no time for traditional therapy methods and isn’t always long on patience. When Kate’s life hits the skids (again!) in Book Three, Andrew recommends to Kate that she schedule some time with the odd but wise doctor. When Kate settled onto Ruth Ann’s couch, she got a reality check she wasn’t expecting.