Star Struck: Interviews with Dirty Harry and other Hollywood Icons [Kindle Edition]

Betty Dravis (Author), John Locke (Foreword)

Book Description

Betty Dravis shares behind-the-scenes happenings of some of her favorite celebrity interviews. She tells what led up to the interviews and her feelings and impressions during and after the meetings. Among those interviewed were: Actor/Director Clint Eastwood, Senator Ted Kennedy, 40's Star Jane Russell, Singer/Actress Tanya Tucker, Mayor Joseph Alioto, and Actress Ann Sothern.

"As always, Ms Dravis's interviews have a warmth, charm and delightful quirkiness that draw you in, fill you with enjoyment, and leave you wanting more. Ms. Dravis always adds that special personal touch that leaves the reader with a true sense of who these icons really are as people, not just as idols." - Karen McCord Zabalaoui, Texas, Amazon Top Reviewer

"...Dravis offers us a very human picture of the reporter conducting interviews. At times it is entertaining, as for example when she reflects on her "bad hair day" when meeting Clint Eastwood. At other times, it is poignant, as when she reflects on her meeting with Senator Ted Kennedy years before his prolonged struggle with cancer. But in all her anecdotes, Dravis offers readers a picture of how the interviewer, far from being a neutral questioner, is affected by the meeting with her subjects." - Fritz Ward, Southern California, school teacher and avid day-hiker

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This collection is special for another reason. It offers you a glimpse into the mind and character of the author herself. Make no mistake, Betty's a charmer! High-spirited and full of energy, she's a treasure, far as I'm concerned, and her wit, charm, and self-deprecating humor is evident in these unique and personal stories." - John Locke, author of the best-selling Donovan Creed series, legendary first self-published author to sell a million books on Kindle

"What can I say about Betty? In fact, it might be an easier question to ask what can't I say about Betty? I could list superlatives such as fabulous, amazing, inspiring, but I guess I had better tell you why I think those things about this (here I go again) wonderful lady. To tell you that she has the magic to bring grown men to their knees in obeisance is not an exaggeration. In fact, she has us all trying to please her. Betty is the queen of the social network boards, make no mistake about that!" - Dr. Niamh Clune, author of Orange Petals in a Storm, co-founder of Orangeberry Collective.com (with Brian Bianco, author of Dressed for a Kill)

About the Author

Betty Dravis is a retired newspaper publisher and career journalist who also hosted a Cable TV talk show. She is a celebrity interviewer, author of six books and has been published in several anthologies. Dravis also authored three short stories that were consistent best-sellers in the Amazon Shorts program. A list of her works, complete with books covers, follows this author section.

She is hard at work on her first serial-killer thriller, Dead Women Don't Talk Back, and her first horror novel Evil Voices at Circle Lake.

She is a proud mother and grandmother, a decades-long resident of Silicon Valley and currently resides in the Central Valley of California. Betty is a member of Dames of Dialogue, is a Top Amazon Reviewer and can be reached at her personal website: bettydravis.com. She's also active on Author Central, Orangeberry Books, Facebook, Twitter, Good Reads, The Women's Nest and other social media Internet sites.
 

Product Details

• File Size: 749 KB
• Print Length: 46 pages
• Publisher: Canterbury House Publishing, Ltd.; First edition (November 10, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0066B1T34
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #540,451 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Icon in the Publishing World! April 23, 2012

By John R.

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was a very entertaining read about a true icon in the publishing world and someone all writers should aspire to become. I was particularly amused with Betty's tenacity as a journalist as I too got my start in writing as a reporter for a newspaper and know how hard it is to get the "scoop" as they would say. It's a constant battle to schedule interviews and Betty's escapades in Star Struck tell a humorous story of what she went through during her long career as a reporter despite serious issues surrounding her daughter's health. Betty kept it all together during those tumultuous times balancing a family and a career. She is a true pioneer of her times and has done well for herself first as a top notch journalist interviewing very famous people from Clint Eastwood to the very glamorous Jane Russell and is now famous in her own right as the author of several bestselling books including her newest book, Six-Pack of Blood, and 1106 Grand Boulevard.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind the curtain November 16, 2011

By Linda Bulger VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Americans have a huge appetite for glimpses of the magic behind the curtain of celebrity. Novelist, interviewer and former journalist Betty Dravis delivers her own brand of magic in these vignettes from her days as a young California newspaperwoman. Betty had some fascinating gigs and these stories describe how she handled situations that would have rocked more experienced writers.

Can you imagine this dream assignment: an impromptu interview with a young Clint Eastwood, already iconic early in his film career? You'd want to make a good impression...right? Read about the mishaps that threatened to derail this golden opportunity for Betty.

Find out how Betty "scooped" the big papers with an exclusive interview with the glamorous Jane Russell, and met a very young Tanya Tucker at the beginning of her phenominal singing career. Political figures were included in Betty's beat: read her fascinating encounters with Mayor Joseph Alioto and the young Senator Ted Kennedy.

The story that I find most intensely moving is the encounter between Betty's family and the actress Ann Sothern. This is a story of a very personal kindness, and shows the best that people can be to one another in times of trouble. Indeed, all these stories have a deeply personal element, spotlighting Betty's gift for connecting with people and getting them to show their true colors.

Now, much later in her career, Betty's gift for the personal is still capturing the attention of other high achievers: the foreword is written by e-book megastar John Locke, who once "made the mistake of saying no to her" and now makes up for it by mentioning Betty's "wit, charm and self-deprecating humor." Locke, who has himself sold over 1 million e-books, says that Betty's first exclusively digital book "allow(s) us to participate in a world few ever get to see." Take a look behind the curtain with Star Struck: Interviews with Dirty Harry and other Hollywood Icons.

Linda Bulger, 2011

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining behind the scenes look at interviews with the famous December 17, 2011

By Happy Mom

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a writer already in awe of Betty Dravis, Star Struck just sends home the message of what tremendous greatness lies within this wonderful lady. I had so much fun learning more about Betty's past career in journalism, and the interesting characters she was able to interact with. Though brief, this new book of anecdotes shares with readers just why Betty is the magnificent professional she is. With a modesty that was never driven from her by her illustrious career and a determined competence to achieve her goals, she respectfully tells the behind the scenes trials and dilemmas she faces while she's reaching for success. You have to smile as she outlines getting stuck in traffic while on her way to a once in a lifetime interview and laugh aloud when you envision her jumping on chairs to pursue her lead. Throughout it all, Betty is guiding you closer to famous names you quickly realize are still human after all - and many times gracious to boot! A delightful, quick read that will warm you to your toes and give you a new outlook of some of the fascinating people she has had the pleasure to meet.

More About the Author

WHAT ACCLAIMED MOVIE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR ARMAND MASTROIANNI SAYS ABOUT "SIX-PACK OF BLOOD"; co-author Barbara Watkins:

"This is a feast expertly cooked up by master chefs venturing into the dark side designed to leave us captivated, enthralled and horrified. The perfect dish to accompany your six-pack...or if you prefer, a fine wine." - Armand Mastroianni, Producer/Director, Silver Screen Pictures, Hollywood

*****************************************
Betty Dravis is a retired newspaper publisher and career journalist who also hosted a Cable TV talk show. She is a celebrity interviewer and author of seven books, including her latest two e-books, "Six-Pack of Blood" (with Barbara Watkins) and "Star Struck: Interviews with Dirty Harry and Other Hollywood Icons." Three are novels in print and e-book format: "1106 Grand Boulevard," "The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley" and "Millennium Babe: The Prophecy." Two others are nonfiction in print: "Dream Reachers" and "Dream Reachers II," collections of celebrity interviews (with Chase Von).

Dravis also wrote three short stories that were consistent best-sellers in the Amazon Shorts program and had short stories published in the anthologies "Every Child is Entitled to Innocence," "Sweet Sunshine," "Just Our Best Short Stories 2005." She recently finished her first full-length horror/paranormal book "Evil Voices" (unpublished at present).

She is the devoted mother of six (two are now angels), grandmother of nine, and has five great-grands and one great-great grand. Dravis, a decades-long resident of Silicon Valley, currently resides in the Central Valley of California. She's a Kentucky Colonel, an honorary title bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky, featured in two Who's Who books and former San Jose (CA) Woman of Achievement. She's also a member of American Author Association (AAA) and Dames of Dialogue, a former member of Sigma Delta Chi and San Jose Newspaper Guild and is an Amazon and Midwest Books Reviewer.

Her most recent awards are: "BEST PARANORMAL/HORROR BOOK," presented for "Six-Pack of Blood" by Dimi Nakov, producer/director of ZODIAC ENTERTAINMENT of New Zealand: TOP 20 IN BEST OF WOMEN'S FICTION, presented by Heart Press; and placed 18th in the 4th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL SHORTY AWARDS (author division).

Betty is also working to promote Stem Cell Research, along with her daughter Mindy James whose son Seth suffered a spinal cord injury in a motocross practice race. Read Seth's story on the Internet at Bridges to Hope.

Another of Dravis's favorite things is interviewing; among those she has interviewed are the "living legend" actor/director/producer Clint Eastwood, country singer/actress Tanya Tucker, the late actress Jane Russell, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, Tanya Tucker, the late San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto, actresses/singers Katherin Kovin Pacino and Marissa Autumn, actor/producer/director Tony Tarantino and many more...the list keeps growing. Please see the Celebrity Section of her website.

Of writing, Betty always says, "It's exhilarating--like sliding down a rainbow with a huge smile on my face, filled with love for the whole of God's magnificent creation." She laughs as she adds: "Yeah...and marketing is like trudging through a field of 'chewed' bubblegum on a hot, sticky day." :-)


WHAT THE LEGENDARY JOHN LOCKE SAYS ABOUT "SIX-PACK OF BLOOD":
"I know Betty Dravis as a multi-genre writer, but no matter what genre she writes in, make no mistake, Betty's a treasure, far as I'm concerned. This collection is special because it offers you a glimpse into the 'other' mind and character of this author." - John Locke, famous creator of the fictional character Donovan Creed and the first self-published author to sell a million e-books.

AND AUTHOR MARK LAFLAMME:
"Betty Dravis is a fantastic mix of Shirley Jackson, Edna Buchanan and Janis Joplin. Don't ask me how I came up with that unlikely comparison--I just feel it, and I haven't been drinking much tonight...." - Mark LaFlamme, author of "Dirt: An American Campaign"

FROM REVIEW OF "TOONIES INVADE SILICON VALLEY":
"Betty Dravis's ability to present real people, places, and things in the midst of a fantasy story is very close to what I strive for in my own writings. Characters with last names and problems who live in real places, but still have fantastical things happen to them, make for a wonderful story. "The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley" is truly a modern "James and the Giant Peach" or "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" kind of tale." - J. H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles