Books by Linda Alexander

“Happy New Year” to all my friends, family, & internet acquaintances . . . may 2008 be a year blessed with good fortune, health, & happiness for all of us!

I sit here at 9:00 PM EST on New Year’s Eve, already in my jammies, seeped in the continuing “under-the-weather” ‘ness of an early winter that’s so far been fraught with illness all ‘round. Tom & I recently returned from a trip to Louisiana to see his family, & we’re sure that the flying petrie dish that took us there put us both in the middle of a nasty case of flu-bordering-on-bronchitis. Still, we wouldn’t have gone out tonight even if we felt on top of the world, & the fact that we can spend a quiet, relaxing day at home together tomorrow certainly is something to which we look forward. Really a nice way to start a new, exciting year!

Plans for publication of my Robert Taylor biography, “Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism” are moving forward. We expect a May ’08 print publication date, with an e-book due out the month before. I’m the first non-fiction author for a new & exciting publisher – Tease Publishing LLC out of North Carolina. They are innovative, creative, and extraordinarily artistic. I can’t wait to see the cover!

I announced the book sale with a press release in October, on the 60th anniversary of Robert Taylor’s now-infamous appearance in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee, an appearance that sealed his place in forever-after history. Many misconceptions later, it’s now time to tell the real story, to set the record straight – to understand that a life lived in retrospect is rarely reality. As the ol’ saying goes, there’s one side and there’s another side . . . and the truth is somewhere in the middle. Following is the press release, which pretty much tells it all:

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Contact:
William Scherer, Press Agent
MBSTIA, Inc
240-5291-6240
William@mbstia.com

The House Un-American Activities Committee Hollywood Media Circus – 60 Years Later: How Did it Affect Film Industry Conservatives?

Frederick, MD; October 22, 2007 – Golden Era Movie Star, Robert Taylor, will finally have his story told.
Sixty years after Robert Taylor’s infamous House Un-American Activities Committee appearance, Linda Alexander, multi-published author, announces the sale of her latest book, “Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism.” As a recognized Taylor biographer, Alexander has spent years engrossed in his life’s details, particularly the single most remembered period . . . his appearance in front of international cameras for the 1947 House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) meeting.

Robert Taylor was ultra-conservative, active in local and national politics, with a keen eye on the international stage. In 1947, he led the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals (MPA). Like-minded industry professionals, most of whom worked for MGM, were determined to preserve what they believed was the “American Way.” On their watch, Communism—the biggest threat of their time—would not infiltrate their country.

Taylor was subpoenaed in front of the HUAC in Washington, DC, on October 23, 1947, the only movie star whose appearance was pre-announced to the media, and the event was a circus. Alexander’s book reveals that Taylor was originally officially classified as a “Reluctant Witness” but through studio and government coordination, he became the “face to blame” for the “Hollywood Ten’s” imprisonment and blacklisting.

“Reluctant Witness” shows Taylor’s many facets—beginnings as son of a strict Midwestern father and histrionic mother; meteoric rise as a Hollywood heartthrob and longest-running studio contract player in film history; and a tumultuous personal life, including affairs with well-known women. He finally found peace through his second marriage, to German model/actress Ursula Thiess, with whom he had two children, and supported her two children from a previous marriage.

Linda Alexander has written about Taylor since 1993. She was a Featured, and a Keynote, Speaker at Nebraska conferences held in his name, and has written many articles about him. Her book is due in spring of 2008. Her publisher, Tease Publishing LLC, is a small press in North Carolina.

Years of entertainment interviews, with articles in Soap Opera Update, The Washington Times, Spotlight Magazine, regional publications like The Baton Rouge Advocate, and others, gives Alexander a strong background in listening—to the heart of a life story, and the essence of that life. Author of four published books, 2 novels and 2 biographies, she has long-standing experience in bringing character—and characters—to life . . . and back to life.

Linda Alexander is available for interviews. For booking, please contact William Scherer, Press Agent, MBSTIA, Inc., at 240-529-6240, or e-mail: william@mbstia.com . For publisher information, contact Tease Marketing Director, Stacee Sierra, via e-mail at teasepub@teasepublishingllc.com .
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As publication plans progress, I hope you’ll come along with me on the journey from contract to book-in-hand. I’m looking for innovative, unique promotional options and invite everyone to write with any thoughts. One idea of which I’m fond – learned at the hands of masters, Dan Bessie and his wife, Jeanne Johnson – are booksigning house parties. Knowing who might sponsor a house party will help me decide where I’ll go in the States for publicity . . . the more opportunities, the more likely I’ll go there (duh, Linda!). If you might be interested, let me know and I’ll research bookstores, coffee shops, artsy gift shops, etc local to your area. Be assured that you’ll be richly rewarded for your part in the Robert Taylor book road tour!

Okay, enough for this night, this inauspicious end to an amazing year. As I cough my way into 2008, wondering if I’ll stay awake to see the ball drop in Times Square, I look forward to not only sharing with you the life of Robert Taylor, a fascinating man . . . I also look forward to finding out more about each one of you – and your happy moments of 2008! The next newsletter, and each one thereafter, will feature a mini-story of one of my many writer friends. We have SO many books to read.

Blessings -- Linda