People often think that all writing is the same, whether it’s a blog, an article, or a book. And while the elements are certainly similar, the long form of a book is different from anything else. That’s mainly because the writer has to sustain the reader’s attention for a much longer period of time. I learned this and more after co-writing the book Two Versions: The Other Side of Fame and Family with Bill Hudson.

In the past, I’ve written hundreds of magazine articles and plenty of blogs.

Also, thanks to Palari Publishing, I’ve had a hand in crafting, guiding, and providing feedback on most of the books we’ve published. None of that really prepared me for the task of writing a novel from scratch.

Ted Randler, my partner in crime, has written a few novels, his latest is Anyone Whose Heart’s Been Had. So he knew what I was getting into before I did.

I’ve worked with a few actors, advising them on book projects, discussing how I could help them bring their stories to life. They are an interesting breed, actors. I’ve met with an array of them, and they all have stories to tell. Sometimes they just need a little help putting it together. That’s what I come in.

Bill Hudson contacted me after getting my information from his ex-wife Cindy Williams (from the TV show Laverne & Shirley) because Hollywood is a small town and referrals are commonplace. So Bill called and told me his story, how he was married to a famous movie star, has famous offspring, and how he felt his story had never been told.

He had plenty of sound bites and magazine quotes, but he had never had the opportunity to tell his version. He was very genuine, sincere, and passionate during our initial meeting, so I decided to help.

After he told me his story (and after we had a publishing deal), we talked about how best to structure the book. It’s rarely as interesting to chronicle someone’s experiences as they happened. First off, it’s not much of a challenge, and secondly, a book has to be compelling at the beginning to engage the reader.

So we started the book with an emotional time in his life and went from there. I interviewed him for hours and hours, recording his stories and then weaving them together to accurately portray him. Bill is a multi-faceted man. He may not be a household name, but he’s an accomplished musician, ex-teen idol, father, actor, and now author. In the end, I think it works. Let me know what you think.