If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

When You Wish Upon A Star... Be Careful What You Wish For!

by Karen Swanson

163 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #05-2668; ISBN 1-4120-7771-0; US$23.95, C$27.54, EUR18.67, £12.38

Candid, riveting, and honest... this enthralling testament to both the pleasure and pain of being seduced by the bright lights of Hollywood.

About the Book

This is the true, strange, and unbelievable life story of a little girl with big wishes. Mentally tortured by her mother, sexually assualted by her first boyfriend, and always told that she was ugly...this ugly duckling turned into a swan and ended up in Hollywood. She was an aspiring model, dancer, extra, stuntgirl, and actress who befriended some of the biggest celebrities of the 60's and 70's, had her 15 minutes of fame, a child from one of Hollywood's hottest hearthrobs... and got kicked to the curb!

A no-holds-barred page turner about life in the fast lane, with a detour through the dream and the nightmare world of Hollywood that would change her life forever!

A story that spans 45 years... from 1961 to the present. Take an insiders peek at your favorite icons from days gone by. Including: James Arness, Peter Lupus, Evel Knievel, Cliff Robertson, Doug McClure, Robert Fuller, William Shatner, James Franciscus, Ceasar Romero, Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Lee Marvin, Michelle Triola, Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr., Tina Sinatra, Jilly Rizzo, Richard Conte, Bob Hope, Jane Fonda, Abby Dalton, Clint Richie, Deborah Walley, Jim Morrison, Johnny Carson, Stuntmen, Musicians, Directors, and many, many more.

Threatened, intimidated, degraded, and warned that if she wrote this book she would have to pay the consequences... it's the story that had to be told!

Take a roller coaster ride of fun, chaos, excitement, love, pain, tears, joy and insanity. Take the ride of your life with her life. And... be careful what YOU wish for!

CAUTION: This book is not a fairy tale. There is adult language scattered throughout this book which is not suitable for children, or the fainthearted.

Reviews

"This book is a real page turner…Hollywood at its 'Truest Grit!'"

Suzanne Mitchell, Actress
Los Angeles, CA

"I started reading this book at 10:00 p.m. and couldn't put it down until early morning. (She ruined my day!) But that's Karen...and boredom was not in her dictionary when she wrote this book!"

Bud Cardos, Director
Hollywood, CA

"Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned! Her life was horrible, but her book is great! Lots of cool pictures, and hot celebrities from the past in this book."

Felicia Banks, Background Actor
San Diego, CA

"A fast moving, interesting, life story of the girl who wanted it all and got more than she bargained for. Overcoming the indignities of Hollywood, she is a survivor who reminds us...all that glitters is not gold. Especially the stars!."

Barbara Carter, Background Actor
San Diego, CA

About the Author

Karen Swanson has had many interesting careers in her 58 years. Her young adult years as an aspiring actress; her naivety and complete seduction by Hollywood, and the repudiation she endured from the "star" who fathered her child were the main motivation to write her story. A healing process that has taken over 37 years to purge from her soul, she hopes her story will help others who have suffered the same indignities... or, save even one young girl who may be walking the same path.

Karen's later adult years were spent as a professional cook, and in the family construction business as site supervisor, designer and property manager. She is also an accomplished stain glass artist, and a teacher who has worked extensively with the elderly.

Retired now and disabled with degenerative disk disease, Karen still enjoys the ocassional "extra" work in television and, teaching classes on that subject or gourmet cooking. A lifelong animal lover, she prefers to spend most of her time with her four cats, in the seclusion of her country home.

Karen has one son, Erik, who she says is the only good thing to come out of her Hollywood experience. A talented computer tech, musician and builder, Erik has recently lost the use of his right arm in a horrible accident. Therefore, after many years of silence and indecision; Karen has finally decided to publish her book, but will take no profits from her writing. Instead, any proceeds from this book will go to her son's latest medical catastrophy, retraining, or continuing education.

Visit the author's website at: www.karenswanson.net

Excerpts