Bookwild - The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb: Hollywood Glamour, A Toxic Marriage and All the Sexual Tension

Episode Date: July 9, 2024

This week, I talk with May Cobb about her twisty erotic thriller The Hollywood Assistant.The Hollywood Assistant SynopsisCassidy Foster is heartbroken, stuck in life, and getting a little too obsessed with plants. Then when a well-connected friend becomes sick of Cassidy’s moping and gets her a gig with famous Hollywood couple, Marisol and Nate Sterling, Cassidy jumps at the chance to move to sunny LA.The Sterlings are warm and welcoming. A perfect couple. All Cassidy has to do is be available a few hours a week for errands. In return, she has access to luxury: Designer clothes. A sparkling pool. Great pay.When Nate takes interest in her, asking her to read scripts he’s written, Cassidy thinks this could be the key to kickstarting her writing dreams. As their business relationship grows, so does their attraction. Nate is sexy and talented, and Cassidy can’t believe her luck. Clearly, Marisol doesn’t know what she has. Maybe that’s why the two are always fighting when they think Cassidy isn’t around.But Cassidy learns she was hired for a different purpose. The Sterlings aren’t the perfect couple. Marisol isn’t the perfect wife. And when one of them is found dead, Cassidy becomes the perfect suspect. Get Bookwild MerchCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackCheck Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck out the Imposter Hour Podcast with Liz and GregFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrian 

This week, I am with May Cobb for the third year in a row to talk about her extremely steamy thriller of the Hollywood assistant. It is some twisty L.A. fun that I really think a lot of you are going to be totally obsessed with. And it is about Cassidy Foster, who is heartbroken, stuck in life, and getting a little too obsessed with plants. When a well-connected friend becomes sick of Cassidy's moping, and gets her a gig with a famous Hollywood couple. Marisol and Nate Sterling, Cassidy jumps at the chance to move to Sunny L.A. The Sterlings are warm and welcoming, a perfect couple. All Cassidy has to do is be available a few hours a week for errands. In return, she has access to luxury, designer clothes, a sparkling pool, great pay. When Nate takes an interest in her asking her to read a script that he's written, Cassidy thinks this could be the key to kick-starting her writing dreams. As their business relationship grows, so does their attraction. Nate is sexy, talented, and Cassidy can't believe her luck. Clearly, Marisol doesn't know what she has. Maybe that's why the two are always fighting when they think Cassidy isn't around. But Cassidy learns she was hired for a different purpose.

The Sterlings aren't the perfect couple. Marisol isn't the perfect wife. And when one of them is found dead, Cassidy becomes the perfect suspect. Per Yuge with Maycob, we have some morally ambiguous women in this story. We have steamy sexual tension on almost every page and some huge reveals at the end that will make you question everything that you just read. That being said, let's get into my conversation with one of the sweetest women ever to write the craziest thrillers. So there is a lot that has happened since we last spoke. So I am going to steal some time here at the top to talk about not the Hollywood assistant, but, you have a book called The Hunting Wives that is currently being filmed for TV. So what was like what was the moment like when you found out?

Because I know people can like buy the options for your story. What was the moment when you found out that like things were moving forward and like it was going to be a real thing? What was that like? It was absolutely fabulous. I was having one of those like very. soul-crushing days. Yeah.

To be publicly honest. And so I was just really honestly moping at my desk at night. And I looked down in my phones lighting up and it's the producer. And it's two days after the rider strike. And I was sweating that. You know, you never know what's going to make it through that. And then he said, you know, it's happening. And I literally, we got off the phone pretty quickly.

I was pretty overcome. I staggered out into the hall and collapsed in my husband's arms and tears. Oh my gosh. I would too. That is such a huge moment. I know you've been able to be on set a couple times. Do you have any like most memorable moments from set that you can talk about right now? Yeah.

I mean, I think one of the really cool things is that during the pilot, I got to have a cameo. and that was so nice. It was the showrunner, Rebecca Cutter, who's wonderful to include me in that way. And really just to walk around and see the thing brought to life is so surreal. Yeah. That's what I was going to ask about. Like, is it a total mind trip to, like, see your, like, characters walking around as, like, actors and actresses now? Yes.

It's wild. Yeah. And they've done such an incredible job. that I'm just, I'm in awe of, the showrunner, the writers, the producer, the actors, it's, it's just, it's beyond how wildest dreams what they're, what they're creating. Yeah. It's so beyond the book. It's, um, it's unbelievable. Yeah. I am so excited to watch it. It's on stars, right? Is that correct? Yeah. I thought so, but I forgot to double check before I talk to you about it, but that is so exciting. I have loved to get.

to see like what you can share in your stories and just like watching the progression of it. Do you know like a general time frame of when it comes out or is that still just in the works? I think it's in the works. Okay. So I'm hoping, yeah, I'm hoping to know something soon. Nice. So, yeah. Cool.

Well, for everyone who's listening, if you have not read The Hunting Wives, you still have time to read it before the series comes out. So we'll have to do an episode when it comes out, too. That would be fun. It's fun. Yes, absolutely. Yeah. Well, the exciting thing that you have coming out in July or when this is airing today is the Hollywood assistant, which is your next, your newest thriller that was just crazy, as always, crazy, twisty, wild.

was there anything about like approaching this book with your writing process was there anything different about writing this book than your other ones well first of all thank you for the kind words and for your review it's so many i'm so happy you clicked with it um i would say with this one the biggest difference was setting because you know all my others were set in my my hometown in east texas and so this one i sort of challenged myself to do something that and fresh and different and I had lived in LA like over 20 years ago so I thought okay at least I know that environment and it was also like I started it in the summer and it's so hellishly hot in Texas I wanted to kind of escape to a cooler climb and in my imagination um so that was the big

difference was I wasn't just you know describing a pine forest anymore to see if I could talk about other things and um and with this one and it's this is this is sometimes true sometimes i do know like the villain and everything with this i did not i did not and i know i know so it that that discovery process was something because i was you know i was up against a deadline and i'm like is this going to reveal itself yeah you know in time and thank god it did oh my god yeah yeah so you just kind of started writing for the most part. What was like the inspiration idea that hit you that got you started even though you didn't necessarily know how I was going to play out? Yeah, I mean, I was a Hollywood assistant over 20 years ago. So I had, but of course, my bosses were

completely wonderful. We're still friends. I love them dearly. We're like family. So other than the basic setup of the couple, because my boss is really wonderful. are a couple too. That's where all the similarities die. Yeah. So, but I did want to sort of tap into that, almost like Cassidy is the protagonist. She's entering a fairy tale.

She's gone from her, you know, kind of heartbroken, fledgling existence in Texas. And then she gets swept away into this whole other thing. And that's how it felt for me. Like I was like a poor grad student living up in the Bay Area, you know,

eating, you know, frozen dinners and just scrape by and then for my best friend got me this job and then to be in this world where you know it was a complete paradigm shift yeah so i wanted to have that sort of that feeling in there that exciting sort of uh and then yeah and and then also it's kind of like um i wanted to do like a tribute to 90s erotic thriller films like fatal attraction yeah and that might have been 89 i got to get the year on that one but i can't i can't

never remember either because Gare talks about it all the time. I know, I know. He's obsessed with it as I am. Yeah. So I love those films and I wanted to try to do my own version of that. Yes, it very much was in multiple ways. I don't think it's totally a spoiler to say there's even like a script because that's in the synopsis.

There's a script in the book that's definitely like a script for an erotic thriller that is like very fun to discover. Well, thank you. I wanted to try to do that sort of like multiple layers. Yeah. You know, I was even playing around with, it was actually funny. It was my friend Josh Sabara. Yeah. Yeah. And Josh is, he's such a great writer. And then he's also so in Hollywood. And we'd even toy, we were like brainstorming about like, oh, should part of it be in script form? and then I realized, you know, as cool as that is, I don't know if I have the chops to pull it off.

But anyway, we had a lot of fun, kind of go through different scenarios. I bet you could pull it off, but I get it at the same time. Like, it obviously still worked without it too. So that part works. Yeah. Well, one of the things that I noticed so much when I was reading it is, which is similar to all of your books, is it's like so atmospheric. and I think we even talked about this last year, but also like really cinematic. Like the way you like describe the scenes as we enter new scenes, you really feel like you're there.

And kind of the same with just L.A. in general. Like it really felt like I was in L.A. with Cassidy. So I know you said that you lives there previously. Did you go visit again at all to write it? or is that mostly memory? Because you had a lot of details in there. Thank you so much. That's so sweet of you to say that.

I love books where setting is, you know, a real part of it. And so I'm always trying to capture that because I like that like immersive feel. Yeah. And in the writing process, it also helps me unlock more if I feel like I'm immersed in the world too. So I didn't,

I didn't, I haven't visited, I hadn't visited in a while. And so, I had been to northern California and then we swept through LA just driving back home to move back to Texas. But I remembered it so vividly that it was really cool to kind of like go back down memory lane. And then I did use, you know, Google Maps and stuff because there were some details where I was like, I have to make sure that whatever. But then I did get to go back out with my bestie, Amy, who got me the job in the first place is an assistant.

We went back in February of this year. Nice. And so we got to like walk up in the Hollywood Hills because that's where we had, that's where we were living. Like I had an apartment like Cassidy. And yeah. And so it was really cool to go back with her and, um, yeah, experience that again. That's super cool.

Yeah. So I've never been to L.A., but as I've talked about on here, plenty of times, definitely really into reality TV. and a lot of my favorite shows are out there. I definitely watch some that aren't, but a lot of the Bravo shows that I do watch are out there. So there's this kind of weird thing where like just from watching shows or like listening to the podcasts of the castmates on the shows,

there are like little things that like are in my head where I'm like, oh yeah, that happens like that in L.A. or there's this. And so even when you were saying it, it was like I was having little visuals of like the reality shows. I watch and like uh saucy schroeder from vanderpump rules previously she lives in the hills too so it was like i was thinking of like all of her stories that she posts like at her house so it was like it was really cool because i am kind of Hollywood obsessed that is like i love a thriller in Hollywood I love books that like deal with like old Hollywood too those

are kind of the only thrillers i've read outs or non-thrillers i've read are like seven lies of Evelyn Hugo and stuff. So with you living in L.A. for a little bit, too, at some point. And I know you sometimes get inspiration for your books from movies, kind of like you were saying. Have you always been kind of entranced with Hollywood as well? It's funny. I, yes and no.

Like, I grew up watching Turner Classic movies with my mom. And she's very much like Cassidy's mom in the book, but just the good part. It's just the, the, the. the cinema buff parts. And so I did have that exposure. And then my best friends went to film school at UT and Austin. And I was an English major, but I learned a lot from her.

Like she took a glass on Hitchcock. And so by Oslofus, I've always been more of a reader, but I have like, as a personal assistance, my bosses were kind enough to say, hey, here's a script. You want to start reading scripts for us? Oh, nice.

Yeah, and so, and I'm still interested in screenwriting. So some of that, like, it is, it's pretty appealing to me. And I do, there's certain, there's like, you know, there's like that movie, that old movie, Sunset Boulevard. And the, I was kind of hinting at those in the book, but I love some of the older sweeping films where you're just, you're totally lost in this world. Yeah. one. Yeah. Well, that is, that is cool that you were reading scripts too for them. And that that kind of

crosses over into the book as well. Was there, no, go ahead. No, I was just saying, yeah, it does. It's funny. And I, it's funny because I was just with them and I, and I gave them the books. I'm so interested to hear, you know, like what they think. Yeah. And it's, it's, that was such a cool thing for them to let me do. because they totally needed someone to, you know, running by their groceries and do all the errands and they have a lot going on. But then to say, oh, we think you would actually like really be good at this. And so it didn't become a side gig for me where I'd write up, they call it coverage. I'm sure you know what that is. But like, you know, one pager about the reading material and stuff.

And I really, I love that. That was so cool. Yeah. That's a really cool way to kind of like get into the screenwriting or. just like near that. Was there anything else you included in the book that was like inspired from your time as an assistant? I mean, not really.

I would say not in terms of the assistant part because I really did make that so different. Like it's a different neighborhood. It's a, you know, the character is so different. But I would say it's kind of a little bit a love letter to myself in my, 20s, late 20s where I was wondering, am I ever going to meet somebody? Am I going to always feel like Cassidy references like, you know, being single and one can be totally fine with that, but like the way that society, at least back then in the 1800s when I was in my 20s, it was a little more pressure and it wasn't, you know.

So that feeling of being like a third wheel and. You know, I remember all that so freshly that I wanted to really put that in there. Yeah. Yeah. You really do feel that for her. Like, the, she, she kind of needs to be a little bit, not desperate in a bad way, but just like at that point in her life to work so well in the story, basically, without trying to give anything away. I don't know. You're doing.

That's great. Yeah. So we definitely get to know Cassidy really well, but then the marriage at the center of the story with Marisol and, oh my gosh, his name just left me completely. Oh, yeah, right, yeah. I almost said Dan and I like knew that wasn't right. So their marriage is a mess, for sure. How did you approach getting to know, like, them as characters? Yeah, you've just reminded me of another inspiration.

for the book, which was that the play and then the movie, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wool? Oh, yes. And you reference it. Yeah. And I love sort of that toxic marriage and you don't really know what's going on because, you know, and I didn't know as the author what really was going on with them. Yeah.

So it was it was kind of like I got to play voyeur via cast. trying to figure out, you know, what is going on with them? Because like I said, I did not in the outset, you know, who's zoom and who and what's. That is so cool. Like, when you're saying the voyeur part, like, it's a very voyeuristic book in general, too. Like, that's a big part of the feeling of it. So it's really interesting to me that you wrote it that way, too. And I wonder if that, like, added to the suspense and the feeling of the book then.

that like you didn't know too. I hope so. I mean, it, to me, I only really liked to plot so much out. And then I really like to discover it because that's just part of the fun and magic, you know,

creating. But like I said, it was a little bit like, oh yeah, well, there is a deathline to any better. Yeah. I hope all lands.

Yeah. know. Did it come to you mostly at the end? Like you don't have to say like which point, but like was it pretty much coming to you like in real time as you wrote it? I had thankfully not that close to the ends. It was around 20,000 words. So around like a thousandish away through. And then it was like, oh my God, thank God Almighty.

because with this one and not to be spoilery like it could have been anyone you know like yes but what's most satisfying and what's going to you know and so anyway I hope that I picked the right thing but you did and there are multiple reveals so yeah

yeah I loved both big pieces of information I mean it's kind of more than two but I love to the big reveals at the end. I saw on one of your stories recently, I think you're at dinner with your husband maybe, and you're talking about how you're always running ideas by him and working through your stories with him.

So what is that kind of like with him as a co-collaborator? Oh, my God. I would just not be able to do it without him. He is so, yeah. He's so, first of all, he's so supportive with listening to just all the things. Yeah. And then like the best ideas.

And I'm like, wow. You know. And it's cool because it's, I don't ever feel like he thinks, oh, because I had this idea. Like it's like we have a really good, just open communication. Yeah. Yeah. It's really, really cool. So.

Oh, that's fun. Yeah. It's great. It's great. He actually, it's funny. He's the one that came up with the. title, The Hunting Lives. Really?

Yeah, it was called The Hunting Party. And then one day, back when I was on Twitter, you know, it called Lucy Foley post an arc of the hunting party. And I was like, oh, no, like, that's my great title that I have to. So I was in a state of panic. Yeah. Yeah. And I remember we were with our son and we were walking around a park one day and we're

just running through all the different, the hunting, blah, blah. And he said, the hunting wife. And at first I was like, ah, and then like five minutes later, I was like, actually, that's like genius. Yes. Yeah. It's so memorable. And it kind of says more about the book, actually, than just saying the hunting party. Yeah, it does.

It does. It really does. It actually suits the book. Yeah. More. Good for him. I know. I know.

I know a little secret marketing genius kind of. Exactly. Exactly. And he could say that the one he helped type. is going to be a TV show. He's very proud of himself. I'm sure he is. For sure.

Well, my last question about it, you do reference, like, different TV shows or movies. I don't know if TV shows, but like movies as well in it. And did that just kind of like come naturally to you as you were writing it just because it was Hollywood adjacent or kind of like with the Virginia Wolf reference? were you also trying to kind of mirror the story that you were writing? I think a little bit of both, but I think definitely sort of more the latter. Like I was trying to get those vibes.

Yeah. So it was what were kind of conscious references. Yeah. Yeah. And oh my God, I could talk to you all day. Yeah. I love books that include references like that. So like sometimes people really use books.

sometimes we really use music and TV shows. Remember, what was it? It was Andy McHugh or Mandy McHugh with it takes monsters. There were so many TV show and movie references. I was having so much fun, like highlighting all of them. I think it like makes it extra fun for people who like consume other media basically too. Yeah, absolutely. Oh my God.

I just adore her and I have that. And it's on the top of my TV. I cannot. I know I'm going to freak out when I read it. Oh, it's really good. Oh, I can't. I can't wait. I can't cover?

Yes. Everything. I know. She is so cool. I've loved both of her books so much. Yeah, I got to meet her in person at Thriller Fest last summer. Nice. Nice.

That's awesome. Well, I've been asking everyone at the end. Have you read anything recently that you've loved? Or if you've been too busy writing, you might not. You know, I have to take this moment to plug my friend Lori Elizabeth Flynn's latest till death do us part. Yeah. Yeah. This Napa Valley wine soaked thriller.

Yeah. It's out August 13th. And it's just so sumptuous. And, you know, the prose is gorgeous. And then layers of suspense. I mean, I'm like, yeah. I am super excited. That one.

I kind of read, like, most. mostly in order on my net galley shelf. And so I'm almost through my July book. So that one is coming up really fast for me. Oh, you're going to love it. Oh, my God. You're going to love it. And for such a tree. You're already through July. Yeah. You're putting me in the name. I'm so behind. Well, I don't have as many things pulling me in directions as you do. So. Well, but that's amazing. Oh, my God. Thanks for having me on. Yeah. Thank you so much. And we'll definitely have to definitely have to do something when the show comes out too. I would love it.