Surviving Fiasco
Showcase Interviews Beverly Gray
Author of Roger Corman: Blood-Sucking Vampires, Flesh-Eating Cockroaches, and Driller Killers; Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon…and Beyond; and Seduced by Mrs. Robinson: How The Graduate Became the Touchstone of a Generation, Beverly Gray has covered the entertainment industry for The Hollywood Reporter and The New York Times, teaches an online screenwriting course through UCLA Extension’s famed Writers Program, and maintains the popular blog “Beverly in Movieland.” We asked her about the trials and tribulations of getting published.
Showcase: You worked as a story editor for Roger Corman, then told his saga in Roger Corman: Blood-Sucking Vampires, Flesh-Eating Cockroaches, and Driller Killers. Then you wrote the Ron Howard book, then had a proposal accepted for a third. What was that about?
Beverly: I was thrilled when a prestigious university press bought my proposal for a study of the Oscar-nominated films of 1967. This was the year of such landmark movies as Bonnie and Clyde, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and In the Heat of the Night. My working title was “When Doctor Dolittle Met Mrs. Robinson.”
Showcase: Then what happened?
Beverly: Just after my contract was finally signed, I discovered — to my horror — that a hot new book was about to debut, from a top commercial publisher, on exactly the same subject. It became a bestseller, and eventually (after I struggled with ways to make my own book unique) my contract with the university press got canceled.
Showcase: How did you rebuild your morale after that?
Beverly: It wasn’t easy, but blogging turned out to be a great help. I launched a twice-weekly blog, “Beverly in Movieland,” to cover movies, moviemaking, and growing up Hollywood-adjacent. It’s been going strong now for eight years.
Showcase: Did that help?
Beverly: Through my blog I met a number of enthusiastic readers, some of whom featured me on their own websites and made me feel like a celebrity. And, of course, blogging kept me thinking and writing, at a time when my brain certainly needed to be exercised.
Showcase: A few years passed, when you had a thought about The Graduate. And then?
Beverly: I had researched The Graduate as part of my advance work on the 1967 book. Belatedly it occurred to me that instead of a wide-ranging study on a year in film history, geared toward a somewhat academic audience, I would be well served by an in-depth investigation of a single film, written with the general public in mind. This approach seemed well suited to my writing style, and promised to be a lot of fun.
Showcase: How many offers in how many days?
Beverly: To my surprise and delight, I got three solid offers in as many days.
Showcase: How did you decide which to choose?
Beverly: Monetarily, the offers were similar. The one from a Big Five publisher was particularly enticing, but there were various clues that I would get little attention from the top editor there, unless my book was seriously gossipy. Finally I chose a smaller but still well-established publishing house at which both editor and publisher seemed delighted to form a close working relationship with me. I certainly don’t regret my choice.
Showcase: We should dub you “honorary role model.” What traits have sustained you, and what tips can you share?
Beverly: It’s easy to get down on yourself when you face an unlucky break. After much agonizing, I discovered that it’s never too late to rethink your approach and try again. So perseverance is key, along with flexibility and a healthy respect for your own talent.
Keep up with Beverly on www.beverlyinmovieland.com.