Dispatches from Hollywood

Today, my new book ICE COLD goes on sale in the U.S.  And this release, like every release before it, is filling me with a mixture of joy, excitement, apprehension, and yes — even a bit of dread.  Because I’m so good at imagining all the things that can go wrong.

So I’m going to distract myself from the book-release butterflies in my stomach by talking instead about my visit over the weekend to Hollywood.

 

 

I was there for the “Rizzoli & Isles” press junket — which is a term I really didn’t understand until after this weekend.  TNT flew me out to L.A., put me up at the Beverly Wilshire (woohoo!), and treated me to a most amazing experience.  I was there to talk to radio DJ’s from around the country, who were also flown out to L.A. 

The first day started off with an evening cocktail party at Paramount studios, where I mingled with the DJ’s and kept having to pinch myself that I was actually at the Paramount lot.  Here I am with some of TNT’s marketing and publicity team.

 

It was the little touches that I kept oohing and ahhing over — they probably thought I was bonkers, but I got so excited about funny things like … well, just the paper cups and napkins!

After cocktails, we all moved into the Paramount movie theater to watch a screening of Episode 2 of “Rizzoli & Isles.”  The theater is like a real movie theater, complete with popcorn counter and soda pop.  

Sitting in the dark theater, surrounded by the DJ’s, I was happy to hear them laughing at all the right places.  One of them later told me that he was exhausted by his flight to L.A. and was planning to take a nap when the lights went out … but instead sat up riveted to the episode.

After the screening, one of the writers on the show, David Gould, took us on a tour of the “Rizzoli & Isles” set. Here we are at the morgue, which was furnished with real hospital equipment.  It looked like every morgue I’ve ever been in, with the exception of the red sink!

Then it was on to the set for the bar “The Dirty Robber” where Jane and Maura relax after work. 

We also visited the makeup trailer, where Lorraine Bracco was getting ready to shoot her next scene.  Mind you, this was at 10 PM at night, so those actors work long, long hours. 

 

Finally, we got to peek in the production office, where desks and wall boards were covered with all the details involved with making a TV show happen. 

 

I got back to the hotel around 11 PM, crashed, and the next day got ready for round 2 of the fun: the radio interviews.  Angie Harmon, Sasha Alexander, Jordan Bridges, Bruce McGill, and Lee Thompson Young were on hand for the round-robin chats with the DJ’s.  

 

Me and Angie:

Me with Bruce McGill (Korsak) and Janet Tamaro (executive producer):

The 21 DJ’s were set up in booths in the hotel ballroom, and we went from booth to booth to be interviewed.  I was paired with Janet Tamaro, the writer and executive producer of Rizzoli & Isles, and we answered questions about where the characters came from and what it was like to adapt them to TV.  Janet really is like Jane Rizzoli — smart, quick-thinking, and thriving in a tough industry.  Obviously the perfect person to be writing this show! Each interview lasted only 4 minutes, and then we had to jump up and move on to the next DJ.  At the end of it, Lee Thompson Young told me he couldn’t believe how exhausted he was.

Then it was on to the really fun finale: the cast cocktail party! I got the chance to chat with Sasha and Lee. 

The next day, I was up at 4:30 to catch the flight home.  Still can’t believe it all happened — but if it was just a dream, it was a very good dream.

46 thoughts on “Dispatches from Hollywood

  1. PK the Bookeemonster

    You looked fabulous, Tess. Whatever were you worried about? And what an experience! I can’t imagine having something you’ve imagined being put into visual form for everyone to see. Amazing. I’ve got your new release pre-ordered for the Kindle — hey, it must be here already. Woo hoo!

    Reply
  2. Alafair Burke

    How exciting! We’re all so happy for you. Can’t wait to see the show! I hope you took home a suitcase filled with those napkins and cups. If I were you, I’d use them as my party ware for decades to come.

    Reply
  3. Alafair Burke

    Oh, and congratulations on pub day! I plugged ICE COLD on my Facebook page so you should expect to be #1 on the list next week 🙂

    Reply
  4. Raíla

    It all sound so exciting! I’m glad you enjoyed, and I can’t wait to watch Rizzoli & Isles!
    Gosh… Angie and Sasha are truly gorgeous and so are you! Congrats!!! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Stephen Jay Schwartz

    Holy schmoley! What an AWESOME experience that must have been! Tess, this is the coolest thing in the world! I am soooo happy for you. Well-deserved, and a long-time coming. And I totally dig those cups and napkins, too. Paramount is a great, historic lot, and a fun place to be. I’m glad they’re treating you right!

    Reply
  6. Tom

    I am thrilled for you, Tess – Paramount, for ghodsake!! And Bruce McGill has lots of fans who might not otherwise ‘meet’ your characters.

    Did anyone mention that you look great in those pix? Yes? Worth repeating, you wear the stylish things well.

    Reply
  7. toni mcgee causey

    Tess, you look gorgeous and chic, but then, I expected you would. (I always think you do.)

    I would have been gobsmacked over the little things, too, like the napkins and cups. What an amazing experience!

    And congrats on release day for Ice Cold – I’ll go mention on Twitter and Facebook. 😉

    Reply
  8. pari noskin taichert

    Tess,
    This is so wonderful. Enjoy every minute of it! I saw an ad for the series a little more than a week ago and screamed. My husband came running, worried that I’d been hurt. "Nope," I said, "That’s my friend!!"

    Reply
  9. Nancy Laughlin

    Wow, what an experience. The pictures are terrific. What a cast for your series!
    Still, being interviewed by 21 DJs, with a time limit, would scare me to death. My mind would have been a complete blank. Congratulations on surviving it!
    And yes, of course the cups and napkins were cool! I’d have swiped at least one each as keepsakes.

    Reply
  10. Nell

    I love Lee Thompson Young for Frost. I know people are skeptical since he’s different looking than in the books, but tell me he doesn’t have that mediator, all around good guy feel to him? I love it.

    Tess, you look gorgeous, like a movie star in her own element!

    Reply
  11. Barbie

    I’m gonna do the total fangirl thing and "OMG!!!!!!!! That is ALL SO COOL!!!!!" I REALLY can’t wait for Rizzoli & Isles and I’ve been talking about it to like, EVERYONE I know!!! I can’t wait!!!! I’m SO excited!!! And ICE COLD????? Yeaaaaah, school is out tomorrow! I’ve missed them all SO much!! Tess, I REALLY adore your books!!! 🙂

    Now, I’m composing myself and doing this the right way: "Wow, Tess, congratulations on the show and the books. It is very exciting for us readers and fans."

    (personally, I like the top one better!!!) 😀

    Reply
  12. Allison Brennan

    As your number one fan 🙂 . . . I am so excited about this series. I think Angie Harmon is a perfect Rizzoli, I watched some of the YouTube clips and am so thrilled for me as a fan and you as an author! I can even overlook some of the changes Hollywood makes because the basic characters and conflicts are still there. I am taking ICE COLD with me on my flight to NYC next week. A little reading, a little writing on my new iPad, and hopefully the flight will go fast!

    Congratulations . . . and I really hope the series is available on iTunes.

    Reply
  13. Allison

    Tess…A friend of mine won an advance copy of Ice Cold. I’ve already read it! I LOVED it!! Don’t worry about it coming out. We love it already. Was taken by surprise about the series, but I have my calendar fixed to ding me so I can watch. I’m on vacation when it comes out. Thereafter, I will DVR it!! Congratulations on both the book and series. And I would’ve made sure I had a few of those cups and napkins in my suitcase too!!

    Reply
  14. Susan

    What a great experience!

    And by the way (based on what you wrote on your personal blog) I absolutely love your posts about your fears. It makes a mid-list author like me feel better about knowing that even the uber-writers feel like their writing may be crap. (Which, knowing your track record, ICE COLD will not be!)

    -S.

    Reply
  15. Matt

    I Enjoyed your post! I just bought your book earlier today, and I can’t wait to dig in and start reading it. As soon as i’m off work, and find a little time to myself, it is already dedicated to your book. I’ve yet to be dissapointed by your books and I am absolutely certain this will be no different. Don’t worry – I was standing in line at the bookstore and the lady ahead of me had a copy of your book as well!

    Coming all the way from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia! (Canada)

    Cheers!!

    Reply
  16. tess gerritsen

    Thanks for all the wonderful comments! And yes, I would’ve swiped some napkins too, but I didn’t think to do it in time. However, they did have tchotchkes that I absconded with (I probably looked like a shoplifter stuffing things in my purse!).

    Neil, Lee Thompson Young exudes just that right feeling of innocence that perfectly embodies Barry Frost.

    And yes, Dusty, Angie Harmon’s definitely got "it." She really makes you believe that she could tackle a perp if she wanted to.

    Reply
  17. JT Ellison

    So much to comment on here…

    The clothes – Tess, you looked stunning, and comfortable, and those red shoes in the last shot – YUM!
    The show – I really can’t wait, it’s going to be fantastic!
    The book release – You know what I’M doing right now. – Congratulations on your incredible day!

    Reply
  18. Cornelia Read

    Tess, how fun–and you look so GORGEOUS!! Not that this is a surprise, but you are just as glamorous as all the Hollywood types, and it all sounds like a wonderful time. Yea!!!!!

    Reply
  19. Becky Hutchison

    Thanks for giving us a little behind-the-scenes tour of your Hollywood experience. CONGRATS! I’m looking forward to watching Rizzoli & Isles, which I’ll DVR, and reading ICE COLD. Oh, and that picture of you in your hat standing in front of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel plaque? Very, very classy!

    Reply
  20. Susan Shea

    So this is what the big time looks like. Congratulations – you look and sound like you’re up to it, too. So, the next time someone asks me who I’d cast as my protagonist, I will try NOT saying, "Oh, that’ll never happen." I can dream, anyway!

    Reply
  21. Katherine Howell

    Tess, how fantastic! Thanks so much for giving us this behind-the-scenes look. It must be incredible that these characters you made up are now up on the screen like that 🙂

    I got my hands on an ARC of The Killing Place aka Ice Cold and IT ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!! Incredible work. I read it in one sitting and turned those pages like they were on fire. Thanks for another edge-of-the-seat ride.

    cheers,
    Katherine.

    Reply
  22. Flash Bristow

    That looks so exciting! I can understand the nerves but I hope you overcame them to enjoy a party dedicated to characters that you had created – how exciting!

    Reply
  23. Catherine

    I’m impressed that I’ll be able to read another of your books soon. I’ll check today with my local bookstore if it is available.(Tiny town in Australia)..otherwise I know they’ll order it in for me…I can handle a little delayed gratification.

    I’m also impressed with how elegant and confident you look in each shot Tess. You look in your element.Congratulations.

    Reply
  24. louboutin shoes

    we provides you the best and most fashionable products. All the products are 100% high quality, competitive price, free shipping with best and timely service, 100% satisfaction. Big discount for big order. Welcome to make your choose.

    louis vuitton
    replica handbags
    lv
    louis vuitton bags
    louis vuitton handbags
    discount handbags
    lv
    discount handbags
    louis vuitton bags
    louis vuitton blog

    louis vuitton
    replica handbags
    lv
    louis vuitton bags
    louis vuitton handbags
    discount handbags
    lv
    discount handbags
    louis vuitton bags

    christian louboutin
    louboutin
    christian louboutin shoes
    louboutin shoes
    bridal shoes
    sexy shoes
    high heels shoes

    ed hardy
    ed hardy clothing
    ed hardy clothing shirts
    ed hardy clothes
    ed hardy t shirts

    ed hardy
    ed hardy clothing
    ed hardy clothing shirts
    ed hardy clothes
    ed hardy t shirts

    rosetta stone
    rosetta
    rosetta stone software

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *