Authors Interviewing Characters: Patricia Leavy, author of Hollyland

April 4, 2023 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

Authors Interviewing Characters: Patricia Leavy, author of Hollyland

“. . . Leavy weaves a lot of excitement, charm, and romance into this concise and highly engrossing novel . . . I would not hesitate to recommend Hollyland to fans of romance and women’s fiction everywhere; you will not be disappointed.”
—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“… a spellbinding ode to the arts, creativity, and romance.”
—Mary E. Weems, Cleveland Arts Prize Winner and author of Blackeyed

What happens when a seemingly ordinary woman with a passion for the arts falls in love with a Hollywood star known for his bachelor status and quick temper with the paparazzi? Something extraordinary.

Patricia Leavy interviews Dee Schwartz (the protagonist in Hollyland)

You fell in love with mega Hollywood star, Ryder Field. What is it like to partner with someone so famous?

I knew who Rye was when we met, and I’d seen some of his work. Although to be honest, I’d never seen a single episode of his television show The Mission, which catapulted him into superstardom as everyone’s favorite action hero. The truth is, I never thought of him as famous. I’ve always just thought of him as Rye. I respect artists enormously, but I’m not enamored by fame. Celebrity is kind of silly. It seems to me that the most celebrated people should be those curing diseases, healing and comforting the ill, teaching our children, protecting the country, trying to save the environment, not those lucky enough to make art and entertainment. Our value system is a little off. My attraction to Rye had nothing to do with his fame. I’m actually quite shy and see all that attention as the price I have to pay to be with the man I love. There was just a spark between us from the start.

You both lost your mothers at a young age. Sadly, your mother died from illness when you were young, and Ryder’s mother, Hollywood icon Rebecca Field, was kidnapped and murdered by a fan. Did this shared loss bond you?

Yes. That kind of loss changes you forever. People can have sympathy, but unless they’ve been through it, they can’t really understand. I think it’s why we fell in love so quickly. There was just this deep connection. For some of us, experiencing that kind of grief pushes us to search for beauty. Rye and I both turned to the arts, in our own ways. I turned to my inner world—getting lost in books, music, films, plays. As an actor, Rye also got lost in stories, but for him, the whole world was watching.

Tell me more about your love of the arts and why you became an arts researcher.

I love the arts more than anything. There’s something magical about getting lost in a good book you can’t put down, or sitting in a dark theater, laughing or crying. I think we all need more of that magic—or what I call gold dust—in our lives. I decided to study the value of the arts to hopefully bring a little more magic to people’s lives.

Regardless of how you feel about celebrity, there’s no denying that you are half of one of the world’s most famous couples. Now that you’ve seen behind the curtain, what would you say to people who spend their time scrolling on social media comparing themselves to celebrities or imagining that Hollywood stars have better lives than they do?

The real movie stars on the big screens of our life aren’t celebrities, but those we hold most dear. Don’t get distracted. The big screen may be silver, but always be mindful of where to find gold dust. Often, it’s right in our own hands.

HOLLYLAND

Dee Schwartz is a writer and arts researcher. Ryder Field is a famous actor descended from Hollywood royalty. On the night they meet outside a bar, their connection is palpable. Ryder’s mother—legendary actress Rebecca Field, half of Hollywood’s golden couple when she died—was kidnapped and murdered by a crazed fan in a shocking event that forever tarnished Tinseltown. Dee’s mother, too, died when she was young. Bonded by this loss, the two embark on a love story that explores their search for magic—or “gold dust”—in their lives. Everything changes, however, when Dee mysteriously disappears after an awards ceremony. Is history repeating itself? Can there truly be a happily ever after in Hollywood?

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About the Author

Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She has published more than forty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than forty book honors. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” When she’s not writing, she loves reading, watching movies, visiting museums, cooking, and traveling.