Rhonda Friedman Archives

My Other Identity Revealed!

November 4, 2014

Why am I posting this cover? Because the author, Hilary Rose, is none other than moi!

The details of Hilary and her novella are right here but the long and short of it is that I was presented with a very cool writing project several months ago by my friend Rhonda Friedman, supervising producer of the Emmy Award-winning CBS daytime drama “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Rhonda was one of the first friends I made when I moved to LA in 2001 and since I wanted to see what my new friend’s career was all about, I started watching her soap – and got hooked. It airs here at 12:30 every afternoon so I watch it while I eat lunch. Very steamy stuff and never lacking for drama. What I especially liked about the show was and still is that the stories move along; they don’t get stalled for weeks on end like other soaps.

Late last year, Rhonda told me that B&B was partnering with Pan Macmillan Australia (the show is spectacularly popular overseas) for a series of novellas that would be inspired by the show and available all over the world. The gist was that she and Brad Bell, B&B’s exec producer and head writer, would give the authors the two characters they wanted to see paired up in a romantic relationship and the authors would create original stories for them. She said, “Would you be interested in writing one of these?” I said, “Sure. Sounds like fun.” And it was – total fun. The characters I got were Caroline Spencer and Ridge Forrester, played by Lindsey Godfrey and Thorsten Kaye, so I’d watch them every day and let my imagination fly. I came up with a story, wrote it in three months (a speed record for me) and everybody loved it.

Now Blindsided by Love is coming out later this month and I’m jazzed. (I’ll provide bookseller links as soon as the publisher sends them.) The how’s and why’s of the Hilary Rose pseudonym are spelled out in the above link. What’s especially great about the book is that the show is actually airing a storyline with Caroline and Ridge right now that’s close to the one I dreamed up for the book. Talk about art imitating art!

Here’s a taste of Caroline and Ridge. They get way, way hotter in my book. (I’m fanning myself just thinking about those scenes.)

http://youtu.be/5IyW-x91N_0

I hope Blindsided by Love will appeal to fans of the show, fans of romance novels and fans of mine, even though the genre is different. A good story is a good story and Hilary Rose enjoyed every minute of it.

Thanksgiving At Rhonda’s: 2012 Edition

November 23, 2012

As always, Michael and I drove down to our friend Rhonda’s in L.A. for her annual gathering. The Emmy-winning producer of the daytime soap, “The Bold and the Beautiful,” Rhonda’s a regular on the red carpets of Hollywood.

And she puts together a table that’s as lavishly beautiful as any of the sets on her show.

The evening started off as lightheartedly as ever. In fact, I grabbed one of her Emmys and started pretending it was mine.

Lots of laughs and catching up while we sipped champagne and waited for the turkey to make its way into the dining room. And oh what a turkey it was.

So delicious. And the mashed potatoes, candied yams, Brussels sprouts, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and gravy were to die for too. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much. Seriously.

After the first food orgy came the second: dessert.

Michael’s apple pie/crumbler was a winner, but the chocolate fudge cake wasn’t too shabby either. I even ate the pumpkin pie brought by the villainous Mary Ann, the Dodgers fan-Yankees hater. And it was during my attempt at a civil conversation with her that the evening descended into its traditional madness. Pardon the loud voices in the background, but it was a boisterous group.

Well, you can imagine how my blood boiled. I tried to restrain myself, really I did, but it was Mary Ann’s line about the Yankees being spoiled brats that really made me lose it. Yes, I took the bowl of whipped cream that was sitting next to Michael’s apple dessert and creamed her.

And, of course, she retaliated by knocking me down and giving me some chocolate cake in the face.

I got up and tried to defend myself, but she kept coming, this time with a turkey leg.

Before I knew it, the entire party had jumped into the fray.

And, sadly, even Rhonda got soaked.

She threatened to call the police, but Mary Ann and I apologized and promised not to talk about the Yankees and Dodgers next year. Being the gracious hostess that she is, Rhonda accepted and not only invited us back for Thanksgiving 2013 but for Easter dinner in only a few months. Now that’s a forgiving friend.

Thanksgiving At Rhonda's: 2012 Edition

November 23, 2012

And she puts together a table that’s as lavishly beautiful as any of the sets on her show.

The evening started off as lightheartedly as ever. In fact, I grabbed one of her Emmys and started pretending it was mine.

Lots of laughs and catching up while we sipped champagne and waited for the turkey to make its way into the dining room. And oh what a turkey it was.

So delicious. And the mashed potatoes, candied yams, Brussels sprouts, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and gravy were to die for too. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much. Seriously.

After the first food orgy came the second: dessert.

And, of course, she retaliated by knocking me down and giving me some chocolate cake in the face.

I got up and tried to defend myself, but she kept coming, this time with a turkey leg.

Before I knew it, the entire party had jumped into the fray.

And, sadly, even Rhonda got soaked.

Happy Thanksgiving, Blog Friends!

November 20, 2012

As we count down to turkey day, I wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday and send my thanks for all the comments and reader interest. (A big thank you to our Yankees too, since despite their early exit from the playoffs they continue to provide us with quality entertainment and better characters than in any book or movie.)

Michael and I will be venturing down to L.A. yet again to our friend Rhonda’s on Thursday. If you’re a long-time reader of this blog, you know that this dinner can be fraught with anti-Yankees fervor.

If you’re new here, this trip down memory lane will bring you up to speed.

I’ll report on this year’s edition and post pics and video from the scene.

Meanwhile, safe travels, eat and drink responsibly and, above all, enjoy.

xxoo

Thanksgiving At Rhonda’s: The 2011 Edition

November 25, 2011

It was an eventful dinner for this Yankee fan. Naturally.

For those who are new to the blog, Michael and I go to LA every year for Thanksgiving. Our hostess is our friend Rhonda, who produces the Emmy winning soap “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Rhonda takes the time and effort to make her table beautiful, and this year’s setting was no exception.

But despite the amazing food (succulent turkey, stuffing to die for, etc.) and warm hospitality, Rhonda had once again chosen to invite her close friend and my baseball nemesis, Mary Ann.

Mary Ann not only roots for the Dodgers but despises the Yankees. She and I were seated at opposite ends of the table (clever move by Rhonda), but between the main course and dessert we both got up to stretch our legs, went into the next room and started talking about our teams. It didn’t go well.

Yes, we exchanged little laughs here and there, but make no mistake. After the She-Fan Cam stopped recording, things got ugly.

Mary Ann followed me back to the table (“stalked” is more like it) and hit me with one of Rhonda’s centerpieces. Needless to say, the fur flied and we engaged in a full-on food fight. Sadly, Rhonda’s beautiful table looked like this when it was all over.

I hope I’m invited back next year, but who knows.

In Yankees news, I can’t say I’m thrilled with the signing of Sweaty Freddy Garcia. Yes, he did well for us last year, but really, Cashman? Don’t we still need to sign somebody good? Or maybe buy somebody, as Mary Ann would say. Come to think of it, maybe stealing Kershaw from her precious Dodgers would be fun.

Thanksgiving At Rhonda's: The 2011 Edition