New York Times bestseller Melissa Jo Peltier turns her attention to the brilliant, back-stabbing world of prime-time television in this wickedly funny new novel.
Peltier has worked in entertainment for more than 20 years, making the darkly funny Reality Boulevard a true insider’s view of Hollywood and some of America’s biggest shows.
In it, we see Oscar-winning producer Marty Maltzman and his staff out of a job – and out on the streets – when long-running docu-series Lights and Sirens is unexpectedly axed. But the Hollywood the team now faces is full of Kardashians and Real Housewives, and they need to survive in a world where it’s very hard to tell what’s true and what isn’t – both on and off screen.
Oscar and Emmy winning documentarian and veteran reality producer (Big Brother, Rescue 911) Arnold Shapiro called the novel “the best satirical look behind the scenes of reality television ever written”, adding: “It contains more truth than you would believe.”
Todd Milliner, producer of Grimm and Hot in Cleveland, said: “During her 20-plus years in the business, Melissa Jo Peltier had a front-row seat, watching it all unfold. In this novel, she puts her dry wit and storytelling ability to good use, pulling back the curtain to reveal what really goes on.”
Reality Boulevard was selected by Kirkus ReviewS as one of The Best Books of 2013.
“Jerry sighed. After all, it had been Jerry himself who, twenty-five years earlier, had schooled Marty on the industry distinction between a working actor and a common wannabe actor: genus and species Opus Ludius versus the ubiquitous Vacuus Ludius. According to Jerry and those jaded above-the-liners who subscribed to his philosophy, the second type could be found at any time of day or night: at the gym, sculpting their impossibly flawless physiques; at Starbucks, pecking out star vehicle screenplays on their laptops; at clubs and industry parties, seeking access to the plush lifestyles to which they aspired. Some of the more industrious among them were waiting tables in Santa Monica and West Hollywood, ushering at the Arclight Hollywood or Sherman Oaks, or guiding tour buses though the Universal Studios back lot, hoping to make an impression in a more productive way. There were many, however, who always seemed to be just scraping by; living off the largess of parents, roommates, lovers, sugar daddies or mommies. Most of them were extremely good looking, young, and famously flighty.
“Working actors, Opus Ludii, were a different species altogether. They had real agents and managers who didn’t work out of their apartments. They were known by at least a couple of the major casting agents in town. Working actors had the training to prove that they viewed their careers as art and craft rather than as fame vehicles. They spent more of their free time in classes and workshops than in gyms and plastic surgeon’s offices, haunted the new play section at the Samuel French bookshop, and earned at least enough income from acting in a given year to qualify for the Screen Actor’s Guild health insurance program. Some of them even had homes, families, and relatively normal lives outside of work.”
Interview on Reel Life with Jane:
“When I began reading the novel, I knew it would be good. After all, Melissa is the co-author of seven non-fiction books, five of which made the New York Times Bestseller list … Her characterizations and descriptions, in particular, are original and visceral, and the book is simply a fun and engaging read.”
Interview on The Jordan Rich Show on WBZ / CBS Boston:
“a very funny and intriguing book ... It’ll make you think, it’ll make you laugh.”
Feature in the Lower Hudson Journal
“Notable neighbor: Reality is Nyack author’s expertise … a satire that’s packed with unbelievable, behind-the-scenes industry information“
Interview by celebrity blogger Clara 54:
“Your body of work is so amazing … Let’s talk about this exciting new novel!”
Feature on A Girl and her Kindle:
“Are you looking for a book that has romance, satire, and an interesting behind-the-scenes look at reality TV? Then you’re going to love this book.”
Feature in the Wall Street Journal
Feature on Female First
Feature on Newsworthy Novels
Interview by Dayna Leigh Cheser
Feature on Nyack-Piermont Patch
Author spotlight by Morgen Bailey
“When I began reading the novel, I knew it would be good. After all, Melissa is the co-author of seven non-fiction books, five of which made the New York Times Bestseller list … Her characterizations and descriptions, in particular, are original and visceral, and the book is simply a fun and engaging read.” – Reel Life with Jane
“Once I started reading Reality Boulevard, I could not stop. It is that compelling, that entertaining, and that amazing and amusing — filled with unexpected plot twists and characters more colorful than the clearest rainbow. This is the best satirical look behind-the-scenes of “reality television” ever written. Despite being satiric fiction, it contains more truth than you would believe. You will forever watch your favorite reality shows with new “insider” knowledge and awareness.” – Arnold Shapiro: Academy Award & 16-time Emmy Award-winner / Producer of film, TV documentaries and reality series (Big Brother, Rescue 911, Scared Straight and more)
“Melissa Jo Peltier has spent over 20 years in the trenches of documentary, non-fiction and reality TV and there’s practically nothing she hasn’t seen or done. She lived it so you can laugh about it in this novel.” – Sean Hayes: Actor/ Producer
“Reality TV has cannibalized the airwaves, and during her 20 plus years in the business, Melissa Jo Peltier had a front row seat, watching it all unfold. In this novel, she puts her dry wit and storytelling ability to good use, pulling back the curtain to reveal what really goes on.” – Todd Milliner: Executive Producer, Grimm, Hot in Cleveland
“I’ve worked with Melissa for almost 20 years on many programs on several networks. She’s the real deal. As a network executive, I can safely say that Melissa knows the territory, and most important of all, has captivating insights that are worth sharing with a wide audience.” – Michael Cascio: SVP, National Geographic Channel (Formerly SVP A&E, Animal Planet)
“Emmy award winner, New York Times bestselling author, and executive producer of the long-running phenomenon Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier started out in television at the tender age of 20 and has had an unprecedented insider’s view of reality TV’s strange evolution. If there’s anyone out there qualified to fictionalize what really goes on behind the scenes, it’s Melissa.” – Cori Wellins: Partner, William Morris Endeavor
‘Once I started I could not put this down. Melissa has really caught the feel of the TV world and LA as I remember it. The whole book felt true to life and kept me wondering who I knew! I remained fully interested in the characters and cared what happened to many of them. Clearly an insider’s take of the industry, yet entertaining and made me think about misplaced priorities and how dreams change as one grows older (and wiser? or just tired....)Every sentence was well written and worth paying attention to plus packed with thought provoking information. It did however confirm that leaving LA was probably one of my best decisions! Thank you so much for this outstanding read! I recommend that everyone interested in the world of television should read it - including any wanna be celebrities!’
‘Melissa Jo Peltier has written a classic. First some background: For those of us in the television business, twenty years ago “Reality Television” was a harmless moniker that meant the TV program was non-fiction, based on true stories: crimes, rescues, castaways, documentaries about Hitler’s lingerie collection, etc. Reality was based in - well - the real world! Oh sure, occasionally, out of desperation, we took small liberties and included a story about Teddy Roosevelt chasing Bigfoot a lap or two around Montana -- but we had no idea that Hollywood would take such madness and morph it into the Indy 500 with Honey Boo Boo driving the pace car! Well, that’s where we are and we are lucky enough to have Melissa Jo Peltier as the pole sitter, driving with her foot to the floor in a mesmerizing, two hundred mile-per-hour play by play of the race to the lowest common denominator.
Ms. Peltier has plotted a deliciously clever (and hilarious) chart of television’s bizarre course that is so vivid and spot-on that, while reading, I was either rolling on the floor with laughter or shivering with flop sweat. Through her insights, carefully drawn characters and phenomenal prose, the author draws a picture of Hollywood that is also an allegory for the American middle class and the struggle between what’s right, what sells and how the cynical generations in power are spinning the two. Like all great writing it is both specific and universal. Doctors, managers, contractors -- anyone in any business will relate and enjoy Ms. Peltier’s brilliant page-turner. Hollywood is always making fun of itself, and this book is fun. But this novel rings true, which is both the hardest to write, and the best kind of fiction -- a must read!’