The Life and Times of Child Stars

The life of a childhood star is filled with fun, excitement, and entertainment.  In fact, many childhood stars have confessed that there’s nothing like being asked for an autograph, participating in photo shoots, and walking the red carpet.  As a fan of pop-culture for many years, I’ve read a plethora of celebrity biographies, and I was always fascinated by their mansions, cars, clothes, and jewelry. However, the thing that intrigued me the most was how little the outside world knew about their private lives. TV shows such as: Behind the Music and Unsung have given fans around the world a glance of Hollywood behind closed doors. Not to mention, the goo-gobs of reality TV shows where viewers get a firsthand look at how their favorite celebrities are handling ordinary life. Although many superstars have the fame and fortune, there are quite a few who will admit that everything that glitters is certainly not gold, especially the children who grew up under the spotlight. At times, many childhood stars have struggled with identity issues, drug and alcohol abuse, and the demands from fans who expect them to measure up to their parent’s popularity.  

In my book, Riding the Waves, the life of a childhood star is told through the eyes of my main character, Tracey G. Michaels. Tracey wants the same notoriety and wealth as her famous mother, Connie Morris (book one- A River Moves Forward). However, she doesn’t realize how hard her mother had to work to become a legendary music mogul. She expects instant recognition and money. But, like David Bowie’s song, Fame, “once you lose it’s hard to swallow.” In this sequel, readers take the journey with this second generation of the Morris family, and how they handle their lives in the limelight. I invite you on this journey with them.