Most people would think of the best-seller "The First Wives Club"
(or the movie starring Bette Midler, which I have yet to watch) when you mention Olivia Goldsmith.
After all, a group of angry first wives who gang up to get even with their ex-husbands who dumped them for younger, trophy wives makes a juicy story.
(or the movie starring Bette Midler, which I have yet to watch) when you mention Olivia Goldsmith.
A management consultant
After quitting her lucrative New York-based job as a management consultant with an international firm, Goldsmith set a deadline for her dream. In 1989 she decided to give herself two years to write and sell her first novel.But 3 1/2 years and 27 rejection slips later, her savings were depleted and she was $40,000 in debt.
Hollywood, Hollywood
Then the novice author did what few have done: She sold her story to Hollywood before it was published. "I got a call that three studios were in a bidding war over it," she says. Once news of the movie deal became known, selling the novel was a different story.
"A studio spends $35 million to make a movie, word gets around," she says.
Although she did not write the screenplay for First Wives, Goldsmith says being involved with the movie-making process taught her a new appreciation for the genre.
"I'm not a screenwriter, they yell at screenwriters," she says, "but I'm in the movie."
Goldsmith has a cameo at the beginning of the film - she plays a mourner at a funeral. She says doing the shoot proved one thing:
"I'm a writer. I don't like to have 340 people looking at me, waiting to determine if I can flare my nostrils on queue."
Goldsmith's desire to write dates to high school in New Jersey. She didn't have anything published then, but she remembers liking "the writing process."
An avid reader, she enjoys a variety of fiction styles - from Mary Karr to Toni Morrison. But when it comes to themes, she has a favorite:
Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel
While "First Wives Club" is very funny and I think Bette Midler would have been fabulous in the movie (I have not had a chance to watch it yet), I tend to pick up "Switcheroo" by Olivia Goldsmith any time I need a good laugh. :)
P/S I was sad to read that Olivia Goldsmith died at the age of 54 on Jan 15, 2004 as she was being prepped up for plastic surgery.
Seeing her photo, I immediately thought of Brenda Cushman, the funny, straight-talking Jewish woman in First Wives Club.
Despite her success and her wonderful sense of humor (like Brenda), Olivia Goldsmith had her own demons to deal with too.
Born Randy Goldfield in New York City, she changed her legal name to Justine Rendal and wrote under the pen name of Olivia Goldsmith. She grew up in Dumont, N.J. and attended New York University.
Rest in peace, Olivia Goldsmith. Sad to see you go...
"A studio spends $35 million to make a movie, word gets around," she says.
Although she did not write the screenplay for First Wives, Goldsmith says being involved with the movie-making process taught her a new appreciation for the genre.
"I'm not a screenwriter, they yell at screenwriters," she says, "but I'm in the movie."
Goldsmith has a cameo at the beginning of the film - she plays a mourner at a funeral. She says doing the shoot proved one thing:
"I'm a writer. I don't like to have 340 people looking at me, waiting to determine if I can flare my nostrils on queue."
Goldsmith's desire to write dates to high school in New Jersey. She didn't have anything published then, but she remembers liking "the writing process."
An avid reader, she enjoys a variety of fiction styles - from Mary Karr to Toni Morrison. But when it comes to themes, she has a favorite:
anger and frustration as motivation.
"It's always about an outsider vs. an insider. It's always about bullies. We're angry because it's unfair. I hate unfairness; it gives me anger. And anger fuels things."
Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel
While "First Wives Club" is very funny and I think Bette Midler would have been fabulous in the movie (I have not had a chance to watch it yet), I tend to pick up "Switcheroo" by Olivia Goldsmith any time I need a good laugh. :)
P/S I was sad to read that Olivia Goldsmith died at the age of 54 on Jan 15, 2004 as she was being prepped up for plastic surgery.
Seeing her photo, I immediately thought of Brenda Cushman, the funny, straight-talking Jewish woman in First Wives Club.
Despite her success and her wonderful sense of humor (like Brenda), Olivia Goldsmith had her own demons to deal with too.
Born Randy Goldfield in New York City, she changed her legal name to Justine Rendal and wrote under the pen name of Olivia Goldsmith. She grew up in Dumont, N.J. and attended New York University.
Rest in peace, Olivia Goldsmith. Sad to see you go...
