Pump Up Chats with Pat Silver-Lasky, author of ‘Ride the Tiger’

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ABOUT PAT SILVER-LASKY

Pat Silver-Lasky wrote as a team with her late husband, the well known Hollywood screen writer and author, Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., son of the film pioneer. Jesse Lasky, Sr.’s company, Jesse Lasky Feature Play Company produced the first full length motion picture in Hollywood, The Squaw Man. Jesse, Jr. wrote 40 films, 8 for C.B. DeMille, includingThe Ten Commandments, and Samson And Delilah.

With Jesse, Pat wrote 4 books (including the American best seller historical novel, The Offer), 8 produced films, nearly 100 produced TV scripts, (including the award winning ‘Explorers’ series (’Ten Who Dared’ in U.S.A.). Their verse play, ‘Ghost Town’ won several awards in the States. In 1984/6 their TV series, ‘Philip Marlowe’ won three awards in the USA, and in Holland. Jesse Lasky Jr. died in 1988.

Born in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., Pat attended the University of Washington as a Drama Major, Stanford University and Reed College, where she produced and directed their first play.

She produced, wrote, directed, and acted (as Barbara Hayden) in the first live TV drama series from Hollywood: ‘Mabel’s Fables’, for KTLA (Paramount), appeared in feature roles in films (Sammy Fuller’s The Crimson Kimono) and played leading and co-starring roles on television, and directed for the theatre in Los Angeles and Palm Springs.

As an A.S.C.A.P. writer, she wrote lyrics for 14 published and recorded songs, including “While You’re Young” for Johnny Mathis’s album, “Portrait of Johnny”. She wrote the lyrics for two films at Columbia Studios.

Pat has lived in London since the early 1960’s and has duel citizenship. In 1987 she and Jesse wrote the play, ‘Vivien’, based on their book, “Love Scene”, the story of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. Pat directed its highly acclaimed first production at the Melrose Theatre, Los Angeles, 1987 and directed the London Rehearsed Reading of ‘VIVIEN’ in 1992.

Pat served as a Story Editor on the second MARLOWE series (see credits), has written articles and interviews, contributed to various British antique journals, written short stories for international magazines including a 1999 series of romantic short stories for the magazine, A World of Romance.

She has lectured on script writing at several American Universities, was Script Consultant and guest lecturer at the London (International) Film School for eight years until 1999.

Her book, SCREENWRITING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY was published for B.T. Batsford Books (Chrysalis Publishing) in March, 2004.

To find out more visit her website at : www.Pat Silver-Lasky.com or her blog at: http://pat-silver.blogspot.com

Thank you for this interview, (Pat). Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?

A: When I was 16, I became a college tramp, spending 4 1/2 years at the University of Washington, Stanford University and Reed College, where I directed their first play. Wanting to be an actress I began writing plays and wrote myself good parts. Writing professionally for TV began when I was about 21 and lived next door to Stan Laurel, who became my good friend.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

A: In the old days, getting the right publisher was certainly frustrating, plus you didn’t have much to say about how they presented your book. Today, with self-publishing, a writer has much more freedom. The most rewarding aspect is having your book receive good reviews. Jesse Lasky, Jr. and I wrote a historical novel, The Offer in 1982 that won awards and had terrific reviews – and we appeared on TV and radio interviews on a nation-wide book tour. I’ve seen copies offered on Amazon now for over $30. so I am planning to republish The Offer next year on all the e-book formats – for an entirely new readership.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?

A: My life’s a triptych punctuated by celebrities. I’ve been married three times and it has brought me into three different worlds, but always in some area of the creative arts. It has introduced me to the domain of entertainers, entertainment––and entertaining. There are certain hours of each day set aside to write – and then to exploring the world. I’ve been lucky to have great partners.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing? Where do you like to vacation? Can you tell us briefly about this?

A: My 2nd husband Jesse Lasky, Jr. and I were writing partners and moved to London in the 1960s on a film assignment. We loved it and stayed. Eventually we also had a house in Spain. We traveled constantly, even on the old Orient Express to Istanbul. I collected antiques and often wrote about them for magazines.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?

A: I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be than right where I am, paddling in my solar heated swimming pool. My husband Peter Betts and I live in Orange County, CA – not too far from the sea.

Who is your biggest fan?

A: Maybe my 10 year old grandson, Alex Niles. He’s a talented musician – and I am his fan, too.

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

A: Peter and I have a huge study, and we each have our own side – far enough apart to concentrate on our separate work (he’s a cartoonist and artist) and close enough to share a thought.

Do you have any pets?

A: In the past I’ve had dogs. My fig tree is a pet.

Tell us a secret no one else knows.

A: They may know it, but they don’t admit it: Nobody on this earth knows the secret of God. My 10 year old grandson told me this.

What’s on your to do list today?

A: To finish correcting my next book so I can hopefully bring it out for Christmas. It’s called $cam$ $cheme$ $cumbag$ and it’s a humorous non-fiction compendium of conmen through the ages, illustrated by Peter and researched and written by Peter and me.

Now I’ve got a couple of fun questions for you. If Tom Hanks, in the movie Cast Away, unearthed a copy of your book, how would that help him find a way off the island?

A: The question should be: why would I help Tom find a way off the island? He’s got food and water and he’s quite comfortable there – and he’s got my book to enjoy in idle moments. If he runs out of firewood he could always burn it. Clearly, somebody who left Ride The Tiger there also left his smart phone. If Tom really wants off, he could use the smart phone to send for help.

You just got word that your book has received the 2012 NY Times Bestselling Book Award and you have to attend the ceremony to give an acceptance speech. Anyone who’s anyone will be there and it’s your shot for stardom. What would you say and who would you thank?

A: I’d say it was a long road and many TV scripts, screenplays and books that brought me here. But it’s not a straight road because you’re always riding on a learning curve. And most of all – writers have to thank their readers. Without them, we’d all be writing in an ivory tower. And I’m especially grateful to the readers who’ve taken their time to write to me on Amazon, Facebook and Twitter – to my website: www.Pat Silver-Lasky.com or pat-silver.blogspot.com and especially to the ones who have written reviews of my 4 books so far. There’s more to come.

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in August via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

A: We are living in the age of the computer and ebooks. Virtual tours reach a wide market. Traveling road tours – and I’ve only done 2 – are exhausting.

While I know many people still love the feel of a book in their hands – including me – a large percent of my readers will be reading Ride The Tiger from a screen. I hope they will let me know what they think about it.

Thank you for this interview, Pat. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

A: I’m always grateful to be interviewed and perhaps reach out to new readers. I hope you, too, will read Ride The Tiger. And don’t believe those who said it is too erotic. It will keep you on the edge of your armchair – but it’s a good clean thriller. Thanks for inviting me. When can I come back?

ABOUT RIDE THE TIGER

Fame, money and sex, that’s what tinsletown is all about. Madelaine Brent wanted them all and she always got everything she wanted. But sometimes everything is too much and somebody gets murdered. Maddie remembered an ancient Chinese proverb her agent told her as a warning, so long ago: ‘She who rides the tiger better not dismount.’ Was she about to fall off?

This is the deeply penetrating story of a film star who puts her career and her erotic desires above all else. Madelaine Brent is willing to undergo the tortuous beauty treatments that will keep her on top – a survivor in the film world, the Las Vegas showtime scene and a survivor in the art of love. But Maddie does not foresee the consequences her actions will have on the men in her life: her British film director husband Charles who is devoted to her, the one-night stand she thought she could dismiss, the French film star who fathered her child, the young writer-director she seduced and the actor who holds her spellbound. Her beautiful daughter Cathy, alienated from her mother, has taken a dangerous path that leads to prison. Maddie’s path leads her to a place she didn’t expect – and a trail of murders.

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

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