The Real Hollywood Trivia Interview with Gail Graham, Author of Sea Changes

The Real Hollywood Book Chat welcomes Gail Graham, author of the literary novel, Sea Changes. Find out what Hollywood actor she would pick to play her main character, her favorite author and what books she’s read by this author.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gail Graham’s previous novel, CROSSFIRE, won the Buxtehude Bulle, a prestigious German literary award. CROSSFIRE has been translated into German, French, Danish, Finnish and Swedish. Three of Gail’s other books were NY Times Book of the Year recommendations. Gail lived in Australia for 32 years, where she owned and operated a community newspaper and published several other books, including A COOL WIND BLOWING (a biography of Mao Zedong) STAYING ALIVE and A LONG SEASON IN HELL. She returned to the United States in 2002, and now lives in Tucson, Arizona.

ABOUT THE BOOK
When Sarah’s husband dies suddenly, she is left with no anchor and no focus.

Grief is an ever-present companion and counseling a weekly chore with minimal results, but when Sarah decides to end her life her suicide attempt takes her to an underwater world where she finds comfort and friendship. Afterwards, back on the beach she wonders – Was it a dream? Was I hallucinating? Or am I going mad?

Her efforts to make sense of the experience lead to Sarah’s becoming a suspect in the alleged kidnapping of a young heiress. Now her worlds are colliding – and the people she trusts are backing away, not believing a word she says. She must decide what is real and what is not. Her life depends on it.




INTERVIEW
RH: Hi Gail Graham. Welcome to The Real Hollywood Blog,

GG: Hi Rebecca. It’s great to be here.

RH: If your book were sold for movie rights which actor/actress would you want to play the main character?

GG: The main character in Sea Changes, Sarah Andrews, is an extraordinary widow, simultaneously strong and vulnerable. Lisa Edelstein would be wonderful in the role, as she is great at conveying complex, nuanced emotions with facial expressions and gestures that are totally convincing. This story and the character are both unusual, and Lisa Edelstein has that special talent for the unusual.

RH: Who would you want to play the supporting characters?

GG: Ooh, fun! Eric Banner, an Australian actor, for Kahn, the psychologist. And another Australian, Toni Colette would be good in the role of Sarah’s daughter Felicity. Actually, I think all of the Australian parts in Sea Changes should be played by Australian actors. However, some of the characters are not Australian. Robert Redford would make a marvelous Xaxanader – he’s got those wonderful eyes. And you know what? I’d like to be in it, too. Not in a role, but as an extra, a face in the crowd, a la Alfred Hitchcock.

RH: If your book was already sold for movie rights tell how it felt to be approached by Hollywood and what the journey has been like.

GG: The movie rights to Sea Changes haven’t been snapped up yet but when that happens, you’ll be the first to know.

RH: Who is your favorite actor and/or actress?

GG: Meryl Streep, for sheer virtuosity. That woman can do anything.

RH: Is there a movie you could watch over and over again?

GG: The three films that have a permanent place on the shelf beneath my TV are “Lawrence of Arabia” , “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Best in Show”.

RH: Who is your favorite author? What books have you read by this author?

GG: Doris Lessing. I’ve read all of her books and one of them – Martha Quest – actually changed my life. After I read it, I divorced my first husband, which was the smartest thing I ever did. But this was back at the beginning of the sixties, when “nice” girls didn’t get divorced. It was the novel that gave me the courage. I thought, if she can do it I can do it. And I did.

RH: What is next on the horizon for you?

GG: I’m currently working on two projects, both quite different from Sea Changes. One of them is non-fiction, a book about how wonderful it is to be back in the United States, after having lived in Australia for 32 years. It’s based on the road trip my dog and I made in 2002 from Los Angeles to Miami. (We had to drive, because after having him in the cargo hold for the 18-hour flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, I just couldn’t go through that again) The other is a novel about a woman who goes through life disguised as a man, set in Tang China at the end of the seventh century.

RH: Where can my readers find your website?

GG: My website is at www.gailgraham.net Dog lovers among you might also enjoy my blog, www.drivingchairmanbao.blogspot.com

RH: I thank you being sharing your book with The Real Hollywood Blog and I wish you continued success on your virtual book tour.

GG: It’s been a pleasure talking to you. Thank you so much for your insightful questions and your interest in my novel, Sea Changes


The SEA CHANGES VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '09 officially begins on June 1 and end on June 26 You can visit Gail's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of June to find out more about this great book and talented author!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.