As we approach the release of One Angel Less (Hollywood Newshawk Book 2), we have one more preview that we want to share. This is an "Extra" (as in "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!"), a brief one-shot that's closer to a short story. This one tells the story of The City…
We're less than two months from the release of One Angel Less (Hollywood Newshawk Book 2)! We're excited to offer you this brief preview of the first three chapters. The events take place right on the heels of Book 1, The City Burns at Night. This title is currently available for pre-order…
As we prepare for the release of One Angel Less (Hollywood Newshawk Book 2), we'd like to offer a brief preview of the first book in the series, The City Burns at Night, for those of you who have not yet read it. These books are currently exclusive with Amazon.…
Because the Hollywood Newshawk series takes place in an actual city (and in a specific time period), I get to use a lot of real-life locations for settings. The Tick Tock Tea Room and King’s Tropical Inn were real restaurants. I did a lot of research (many thanks to Martin…
For the final entry in our three-part series, we start in France and then jump all the way to Southern California. Amélie Cafe (Paris)Much like Notting Hill, the neighborhood of Montmartre plays a large role in Amélie. And the Café des 2 Moulins (Cafe of the Two Windmills), where she…
This is Part 2 of a three-part series. If you haven't already, be sure to check out Part 1. Inspired by Google’s Find Your Scene commercial, these are movie locations I’ve actually visited. For this entry, I’m sticking with the East Coast. Jaws’ Town (Martha’s Vineyard)If you love Jaws and…
I absolutely love Google’s new Find Your Scene commercial. Especially because my family and I have actually been to some of the ones shown, plus a good handful more. Many of which I have detailed below. For the most part, this list doesn’t count places like Times Square, Columbus Circle, and…
As I mentioned in Part I, this second group of studios isn’t necessarily open to the general public. I’ve listed them in order of difficulty to visit, starting with the easiest. But only relatively speaking. The Walt Disney Companyhttps://d23.com/d23-event/studio-tours-2020/ This is my favorite studio lot, largely for sentimental reasons. It…
The Metropolitan Pictures lot in The City Burns at Night is loosely based on Paramount Studios. Originally, I’d based it on MGM, but when I was working on City Burns one day and plotting out Miller’s path from Schwab’s to the Studio to Beverly Hills, it just made more sense geographically to…
A Tom Miller, Hollywood Newshawk Adventure
I aimed my bucket with all horses blazing towards UBC radio at the corner of Sunset and Vine. Didn’t let off the gas until I slammed to a stop. The skid was heard two blocks away. No worries about the cops, though. Because Lt. Hap Underwood, my portly compadre at the L.A.P.D, burned to a stop right behind me.
“Breck call you, too?†I queried.
“Of course,†Underwood chuckled. He squeezed his extra-wide frame out of his police-issue coupe. “This is a police matter, too, you know.â€
We breezed in through the double glass doors. Tossed a quick wave to the cute little blonde jane behind the desk. Under other circumstances, I wouldn’t have minded waiting. But this wasn’t other circumstances. No need for protocol.
The horn-rimmed station manager, Herman Breck, was already waiting for us. Puzzled expression and all.
“So, what’s this unbelievable scoop?†I asked him.
He sucked in a quick breath. Then exhaled: “I’ve got the ‘monkey wrench’ back in my office. Wants to go on the radio and tell his side of the story.â€
Underwood and I both did a double-take on that one.
“When did he get here?†I asked.
Underwood, being the silent type, was more than willing to let me take the lead. He knew I would anyway.
“’Bout an hour ago. Seems he hitched his way down from Fort Lewis, up in Washington.â€