“Trailer Trashed”: A Conversation with THE BITCH.
Bio from Hollis Gillespie’s WEBSITE
Writer and former flight attendant Hollis Gillespie is a syndicated columnist and top-selling author. Her column “Moodswing” appears in the alternative weekly Creative Loafing ( WEBSITE ). She is the travel columnist at Paste Magazine and writes a humorous financial column for BeE WOMAN magazine.
Hollis has appeared on the cover of numerous publications including Atlanta magazine, Creative Loafing and Tampa’s Weekly Planet. She has been profiled in Marie Claire, Bust, Writer’s Digest and Entertainment Weekly.
Her television appearances include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, TBS Storyline, Monica Kaufman’s Closeups, Good Day Atlanta, and an upcoming appearance on TV Land. Her radio commentaries appear regularly on National Public Radio (NPR) and Georgia Public Broadcasting.
In 2004, Writer’s Digest named Hollis Gillespie a “Breakout Author of the Year.” Other accolades include “Best Columnist” (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007) and “Best Local Author” (2004, 2005, 2006) honors in the Creative Loafing Best of Atlanta Readers Survey. Atlanta magazine awarded her “Best ‘Tell-All’” in 2006.
The film rights to her first book, Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch: Tales from a Bad Neighborhood, are currently under option with a major Hollywood studio.
HERE WE GO…….
Clint: Good Morning Hollis, thanks for doing our little interview how are you today?
Hollis: Today I have a bad case of hammertoe.
Clint: So your third book “Trailer Trashed” is coming out can you give us a little insight on the details? Is it a collection of stories like your last 2 books, do the stories focus around any certain theme?
Hollis: Yes, the theme is my dubious attempts at upward mobility. There are some setabacks, some set-forwards, people fall in and out of love, I think I save the world, and in the end we land a film deal. Plus there is a monkey and a missile scientist. And that’s not even mentioning the ax killer.
Clint: So there is a big book launching shin dig at Paris on Ponce, wanna tell us about that, and also if we can’t make it there where we can find you signing books around town?
Hollis: The launch party, on August 5 at Paris on Ponce from 7–10, is going to be a major throw down. KingSized ( WEBSITE ) is playing, plus Daniel ( WEBSITE ), Grant ( ARTICLE ) ( WEBSITE ) and Lary are threatening to make an appearance, and you know that can only mean trouble, especially if there is free alcohol involved, not to mention pig feet. For more info on the launch party and other signings, you can go to MY CALENDAR
Clint: Deep down in your Heart of Hearts ( def ), does it still sting a little bit when Grant calls you a Bitch? Is that why his artwork is not the cover of your third book like it was on the first two?
Hollis: HELL no. “Bitch” is a compliment. I call him “He-Bitch.” He could have done the artwork on the third book if he wanted, but Sister Louisa is about to launch her own book. We can’t have competing covers.
Clint: You and Grant do a course called Hollis Gillespie’s Shocking Real-Life Writing Academy, will you tell us about that and how to enroll. Honestly in my head its just hours of watching you two bicker with Grant in the background heckling, but there seem to be lots of success stories on your website so what should we expect if we sign up?
Hollis: I host the “Shocking Real-Life Memoir Publishing Seminar,” which is devoted to helping people publish their memoirs. It’s a ton of fun, and I promise there is a lot of inappropriate conversation, but make no mistake that this is a serious course that gets serious results. The point is to land book deals, not to sit around and bloviate about how hard it is to get published. If you’re serious about getting published, go to My WEBSITE
Clint: What’s next for Hollis? Are you already on your forth book? Can you give us an update on the fabulous LA projects that we hear hints about here and there in your writings? Do you believe in the Secret and if so what is up on your dream wall? What are you putting out in the universe and claiming?
Hollis: Now that the writer’s strike is resolved, the TV project is back on track. I can’t wait for the day Grant goes in to audition to play himself and he gets TURNED DOWN FOR THE PART. Hahaha.
Clint: I am sure there is something you would like to say that i didn’t ask, If we had been in a recorded interview you would probably be asking me the questions by now, so shoot!
Hollis: Contrary to popular rumor, I was never a teenage prostitute to the stars.
Hollis on Fox 5 Atlanta: