Hollywood's Unhappiest Endings: Legends Never Die Updated
Legends Never Die was my first book and it showed. The story can be a cautionary tale for new authors as well as a triumphant one relating how a negative can always be turned into a positive. I'll explain the story below and, of course, you can also find a few reviews, a chapter list and a chapter to read.
The Hollywood book was my first effort after writing for a sports magazine. Writing about Hollywood seemed to be a good fit because I have always been a movie fanatic. The writing was fun, however, the aftermath not so much. I wrote the first draft longhand as I still do to this day. Then I type it out on the computer. Now, I am probably one of the world's worst typists. The first drafts and the first time it is typed is almost unreadable. I go in later and correct the errors. Just before leaving to go to Las Vegas one morning, the publisher asked how the book was coming. I said that it was still in draft form but would be ready to go once I return from Vegas. They wanted to see the draft and I sent it to them and then hopped on a plane and didn't give it another thought. When I returned home about three weeks later a copy of the book was waiting for me. FOr the next few weeks I was signing copies and sending them out to friends etc. Guess what? It was riddled with typos just as the first draft had been. I mean, it was horrific. I spent the next few years disowning the book and telling people NOT to buy it. Even though the stories (in my opinion) were good, the text was not edited and it was brutal. To correct the issues with the book would have cost more money than it would ever make so I simply disowned it. Then a light went on.
While cruising through Amazon one night I saw all of the ebooks that were being sold. I decided to edit the Hollywood book, add a few chapters and released it as Hollywood's Unhappiest Endings: Legends Never Die Updated. I really didn't expect too much but felt good that I had done what I could do fix the book. Instead of the over inflated price set by the publisher I was able to sell the new ebook version for $0.99 For the first few months it sold a couple here and there and then it just took off. In November 2013 it sold over 500 copies. A year and a hald later it is still moving well. With the success of the new ebook, I then did the same to The Day the Music Died. While the hardcover sold well, the price was again set by the publisher. I was able to price that ebook for $1.99 and it also did well. So, I had washed the bad taste out of my mouth that the original Hollywood book fiasco had put there. A lesson learned. Always be very, very careful when dealing with publishers, editors etc. It is your name that will be on the book and ultimately it is your responsibility. So, that's my Hollywood story. There is a sequel in the works and I guarantee it will be properly edited before it is released.
Here are a few reviews for the Hollywood book
4 Stars Loved it!
ByMolly Hilburnon March 24, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"This book is one of the more interesting about Hollywood's back stories. Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in the other side" of celebrity life."
Five Stars
ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE IN HOLLYWOOD!
By He reads, he writes, he reviews on October 11, 2013
"I am a Los Angeles native and have been a member of the Screen Actors guild for more than a decade. I joined when I was 19 years old and have booked several jobs in the industry. I know all too well the ups and downs of being in Hollywood. A lot of people make the journey to Hollywood in hopes of MAKING IT BIG, but the truth is, the industry can make you self conscious and the city of Los Angeles is so expensive that some people get caught up in simply making a living to eat and get side-tracked. And those who don't make it because of the aforementioned reason usually get caught up in drugs and alcohol. This book captures the essence of TRUE Hollywood and I would highly recommend this title."
Five Stars
By Paul West, Jr.on February 21, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"Well researched."
Four Stars Hollywood's Unhappiest Endings
By Piney Paulon November 29, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"Good, factual recounting of the sad details of these film legends, hangers-on and we're well dos. Good for those of similar interests."
5 Stars Great Book
ByLiz Martinezon November 25, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"Love This Book!"
5 Stars Good stories. Not bored at all
By CjMac2on November 14, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"Good stories. Not bored at all."
Here is the chapter on Rebecca Schaeffer
Dial DMV for Murder
Rebecca Schaeffer was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She knew from an early age what she wanted to do and when she turned sixteen she left the stability of her home and family life and set out alone for New York City in search of a career in modeling. The success came early and four months later Rebecca found herself on a modeling assignment in Japan. Things would only get better from there. In 1986 Hollywood beckoned and Rebecca appeared in an episode of Steven Spielberg's television series Amazing Stories. Not long after this she got her first big break and landed the role opposite Pam Dawber in the television sitcom My Sister Sam. In Tucson, Arizona a sixteen year old male began to take notice. Robert John Bardo, the child of an air force officer, had already been
sending a plethora of letters to the likes of Dyan Cannon, Tiffany and Madonna. His attempts to get closer to these celebrities always failed. He now began to turn his attention to Rebecca. His bedroom became a shrine for her. He began writing letters to her and, unfortunately, one day Rebecca wrote one back. It was just a generic letter thanking him for his interest. She enclosed a signed publicity photo. This must have spurred Bardo on as twice he attempted to visit Rebecca at the Warner Brothers studio where she was filming My Sister Sam. Both times he was denied access to the set. The world must have seemed pretty good to Rebecca on the morning of July 18, 1989. It couldn't have seemed all that long ago that she had left Portland as a 16 year old to find her way in the world. Now, barely five years later, she had become a successful model, was starring in a new television sitcom, had a nice new apartment in Hollywood and was dating a director, Brad Silberling. Now, on this summer morning in LA, she was excited as she had an important audition for a part in Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather III. The future did indeed look bright for Rebecca but on this day fate would intervene.
Rebecca Schaefer
Back in Tucson Robert John Bardo, who was now nineteen years old had hired a private investigator and given him only one job to do...find Rebecca Schaeffer's home address. He paid the investigator $ 250 and in very short order received the information he was looking for. One call to the California Department of Motor Vehicles was all it took. On the morning of July 18, while Rebecca was at home preparing fo her audition, Bardo calmly walked up to her door and rang the bell. Rebecca answered the door herself, shook Bardo's hand and then closed the door on him. Bardo was stung. He apparently had thought that he had made some kind of connection with Rebecca through his letters. He had brought a brown bag with him. In it were copies of all the letters he had written her, the signed photo that she had sent him, a paperback copy of The Catcher in the Rye and a handgun. Bardo retreated to a nearby restaurant to collect his thoughts. He went to the men's room to load the handgun. He then walked back to Rebecca's and once again rang the bell. When she came down and answered the door again Bardo made a gesture indicating that he wanted to give her something. When she opened the door Bardo pulled out his gun and fired point blank into her heart. Rebecca was able to utter one word, "why?" and then collapsed. She died on the way to hospital. Bardo left the scene and made his way back to Tuscon where he was arrested the next day after a tip from his sister. He was brought back to LA where he waived his right to a jury trial meaning simply that his fate would be determined by a judge once all of the evidence had been presented. Bardo's lawyers hired Park Dietz, a well known psychiatrist, to back their claim of mental deficiency. They hoped to show that Bardo was incapable of premeditation. Dietz interviewed Bardo at length and videotaped the results which included Bardo re-enacting the crime. Bardo and his lawyers had claimed that while he was looking for something in his brown bag Rebecca had seen the gun and tried to grab it at which time the gun accidentally went off killing Rebecca. The prosecuting attorney was Marcia Clark who was still several years away from becoming a household name herself in the State of California vs. Orenthal James Simpson trial. After several viewings of the re-enactment Clark knew she had him. During the re-enactment Bardo is holding his right arm behind his back. He then draws his hand out and points the gun. No struggle for the gun.
The judge promptly sentenced Bardo to life without parole. Bardo has since stated that it was the "immorality" of the sex scene that Rebecca had in the movie Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills that drove him to the murder. Another time he has said that Rebecca was rude to him when she opened the door. The murder was eerily similar to that of John Lennon by Mark David Chapman in 1980. Both had seen their victim earlier in the day and both were carrying copies of J.D. Salinger's book The Catcher in the Rye. As a result of Rebecca's murder the state of California has passed several anti stalking laws including the Driver's Privacy Protection Act which prohibits the DMV from releasing personal information. Brad Silberling went on to make a movie loosely based on the murder and it's effect on him. Originally to be titled Baby's in Black he changed the name when he could not secure the rights to that song by the Beatles. The movie became Moonlight Mile which was named for a lesser known song by the Stones . Brad went on to marry Amy Brenneman of tv's Judging Amy fame. Robert John Bardo continues to serve out his life sentence.
Hollywood's Unhappiest Endings: Legends Never DIe can be seen at...
US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E6YQCNU
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E6YQCNU
Canada - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00E6YQCNU
Australia - https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00E6YQCNU
© Copyright 2009 and 2013 by Les MacDonald
