Hollywood and Back:
How Author E. Van Lowe Reinvented
Himself in Hollywood
Sitcom
producer and writer E. Van Lowe, who had major hits with "The Cosby
Show" and "Charles in Charge" among others, found as he hit
middle-age that the phone rang less for jobs. He began writing paranormal
romance novels, which, in turn, is bringing him back to Hollywood.
Los
Angeles, CA
In mid-December,
Ehrich (pronounced Eric) Van Lowe received a flat envelope in the mail from the
Writers Guild of America. In it was a letter of congratulations along with a
certificate. The Cosby Show had been selected as one of the 101 best television
shows in history. Van Lowe and other writers were being honored for their roles
in writing and producing the show.
“Receiving the honor was a mixed
blessing,” says Van Lowe. “Many of my current fans weren’t even born when The
Cosby Show aired in first run. They only know it from late night reruns on TV
Land and Nick at Night. They view The Cosby Show the same way I viewed I Love
Lucy reruns when I was a kid—something that happened a long, long time ago.”
Van Lowe laughs when he says
this, but his laughter is bittersweet. Many of the young Hollywood executives
who Van Lowe must look to to get hired to write TV shows and movies were
children when he was writing and producing such stalwart series as The Cosby
Show, Knight Rider, Charles In Charge and Even Stevens. In a culture that
celebrates youth, they don’t see Van Lowe as a seasoned veteran; they see him
just as they see any writer over forty—old and washed-up.
After a head writer stint on The
Tom Joyner Show in 2006, Van Lowe realized his phone wasn’t ringing as much as
it once was. He decided after the show had wrapped to begin his segue into his
next career, that as an author. Van Lowe had begun his writing career as an
author, writing a few paperback original horror novels when he was a student at
the University of Southern California. In the early 80s, Van Lowe had written
"Child’s Play" and "The Power" under the pseudonym Sal
Conte.
“I loved horror when I was
growing up,” says van Lowe. “I still do. I chose the first and last names of
two guys I played basketball with at the Y as my pseudonym. I figured I’d save
my own name for when I wrote the great American novel.”
The great American novel never
happened because soon after graduating from the Masters in Professional Writing
program at USC, Van Lowe began his more than twenty-year career writing
television and film, and never looked back. “The plan was to return to writing
books when my TV run was over. I had no idea it was going to last as long as it
did, or be so successful.”
Van Lowe’s successes includes:
co-writing the Academy Award nominated short film, Cadillac Dreams. A People’s
Choice Award for The Cosby Show, an Emmy nomination for Even Stevens, and
numerous other nominations including several for the NAACP Image Award, and two
for the Director’s Guild of America Diversity Award.
When the Tom Joyner Show wrapped,
Van Lowe made the difficult decision to not take any studio meetings that year
in search of his next gig. Instead, he decided to take the year off and write
his first young adult novel, “Never Slow Dance with a Zombie.” “It wasn’t a
difficult decision for me. I knew my career was winding down and I wanted to
get my second career started before my first career ended. I wrote the book
before the zombie craze had hit, before YA novels like 'Twilight' and 'The
Hunger Games' were hot movie properties. So to many of my friends, as well as
my agents and manager, it seemed like a bad idea. But I have to hand it to my
team, once they understood what I was doing, they embraced the idea as best
they could and never deserted me.”
In 2007, Van Lowe’s faith in his
team was rewarded when his agent, Jim Kellem (JKA Talent & Literary), did
what Van Lowe thought he couldn’t by inking a book deal at Tor Teen, a division
of publishing powerhouse MacMillan/St. Martin’s. By then, the book was highly
anticipated. "Never Slow Dance with a Zombie" was released in
September 2009 with an initial order of 70,000 copies. While the book never
made it onto the best seller list, "Never Slow Dance with a Zombie"
went on to garner a nomination for an American Library Association Award. The
book became part of the first wave of YA zombie novels and launched the
beginning of the current YA paranormal craze.
Soon after the sale of
"Never Slow Dance with a Zombie," Kellem called again telling Van
Lowe the family of a teen Hollywood star wanted to meet with him. Jim had
slipped the manuscript to the young star’s family. They loved the story and
wanted to option it for their daughter. Van Lowe declined the option because he
realized he could have a resurgence in Hollywood if he were the rights holder
and producer of this and several popular novels. How would he become the rights
holder to more books? He’d write the books himself.
“I wanted to become a beloved
novelist, not a guy who wrote one book that became a movie,” says Van Lowe. “I
love books and the people who read them. As much as I wanted to renew my Hollywood
career, I knew I had to write several books that readers enjoyed. If I did
that, the rest would take care of itself.”
Van Lowe says his greatest reward
has been the fans. Although his protagonists are always teenagers, his books
appeal to young and old alike. Van Lowe particularly loves interacting with his
younger fans. “They’re so enthusiastic,” he says. In 2009 Van Lowe’s young
fan’s enthusiasm was on display when many of them showed up to his Never Slow
Dance with a Zombie Fest hours early to get made into zombies by a professional
Hollywood makeup artist.
Van Lowe was on a roll. His
second and third novels, (the first two books in The Falling Angels Saga)
"Boyfriend from Hell" and "Earth Angel" became eBook Best
Sellers in 2012. The four-book saga is being published by White Whisker Books,
owned and operated by Van Lowe’s college classmate and friend, Christopher
Meeks.
“Working with Meeks has been a
dream. I’m able to have a hand in all aspects of the publishing process,
including design, marketing, and release dates. I’m a hands-on kind of guy. I
try to write page-turners, and with Chris’s help, I believe we deliver the best
visceral experience for my fans that we possibly can.”
Meeks only has admiration for Van
Lowe. "Ehrich saw what I was doing at White Whisker and asked if I'd
considering publishing his Falling Angels Saga. I was only one chapter in and
saw this guy is a magician. He can write. His fourth book comes out in two
months."
Van Lowe takes as much care with
his new career as he did with The Cosby Show. The highly anticipated fourth and
final book in the saga, entitled "Falling," debuts on March 13th
2014. White Whisker is hosting a launch party at Vroman’s Books in Pasadena on
launch day, where Van Lowe will do a reading. The event is free and open to the
public. Van Lowe is hoping his latest book becomes another best seller. “My
fans are going to love the final book. I put everything I had into it,” he says
with pride.
Van Lowe is quite busy in his new
career. He spent much of the summer in meetings at every major studio and many
production companies shopping his projects. He and a partner wrote a sitcom
pilot for a cable network. In December, he teamed with Hollywood heavyweight
Peter Bergmann to produce the Falling Angels Saga as a feature film franchise.
He is currently at work on the screenplay for "Boyfriend from Hell,"
the first book in the franchise. In January, he resumed taking meetings for
more TV projects based on his works. He’s also working on a new novella and his
next novel.
“I can’t believe how busy I am,”
says Van Lowe. “Two years ago I couldn’t get arrested. Some days I feel
overwhelmed, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My new career is every bit
as rewarding as my first, possibly even more rewarding because I’m older and
wiser. Who said youth is wasted on the young? I feel as youthful as ever. I’m
having a ball.”
Van Lowe hopes his story can be
an inspiration for men and women who believe the work world is preparing them
for pasture. “We can all continue to be productive members of society,” he
says, “if instead of lamenting the end of our careers, we take a moment to
rethink our career strategies.”
Contact Information
White Whisker Books
Christopher Meeks
Falling Angels Saga
Book Four
E Van Lowe
Genre: Paranormal YA
Think twice before you agree to marry Satan. There’s no divorcing the devil.
The End is Near
Will Megan Barnett go falling back into the arms of dreamy earth angel, Guy Matson? Or, is she in fact, falling in love with the demon, Orthon? Or, will her out-of-control abilities send her falling into Satan’s open arms?
In the final, heart-stopping chapter of the Falling Angels Saga, Megan Barnett is on a quest to rid her life of Satan forever, but Satan has other plans, including a lavish wedding, and he’s willing to destroy her family and everyone she loves to have his way. To add to the drama, rogue demons have risen from hell with plans of their own.
Will Megan finally have her happily-ever-after, or is she doomed to an eternity in HELL?
As Amanda Ashby, author of Zombie Queen of Newbury High, writes, “E. Van Lowe is a writing force to be reckoned with and you are in masterful hands from the first page to the last.”
Falling Angels Saga
Book Three
E Van Lowe
Genre: Paranormal YA
What Does It All Mean?
Readers who devoured Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel will be captivated by the third book in the Falling Angels Saga.
As summer break for Glendale Union high begins, heartsick Megan awaits Guy's return while struggling to control her emerging abilities. Love is in the air, but can the new loves in Megan, Maudrina, Suze and Aunt' Jaz's life be trusted? Nothing is what it seems. Meanwhile, the Satanists are set to hatch their most diabolical scheme ever, and if it comes to pass, Satan may finally win out.
Megan has precious little time to unravel the cryptic message hidden in the riddle she received at the end of Earth Angel. If she doesn’t, the life of someone most dear to her will be lost forever, and Megan may yet find herself living in HELL.
Falling Angels
Book Two
E Van Lowe
Genre: Paranormal YA
Heaven Can Wait!
Just because Megan Barnett recently defeated Satan, has a fantastic new best friend, and has won the love of deliciously handsome, Guy Matson, doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize it, but in her possession is a powerful weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels and demons and everything in between. They will do ANYTHING to get it.
In E. Van Lowe’s humorous, romantic and thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan winds up in a gripping life or death battle to save herself, the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.
Megan Barnett has recently defeated Satan, found a fantastic new best friend, and has won the heart of deliciously handsome, Guy Matson. But that doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize that she is in possession of a powerful paranormal weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels, demons and everything in between.
In E. Van Lowe’s romantic yet thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan finds herself in a gripping life or death battle to save the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.
Falling Angels Saga
Book One
E Van Lowe
Genre: Paranormal YA
Aww, Hell No!
Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together.
“But come on, guys, she’s my mother… Can I really tell her that while we’re snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I’m secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not…”
The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She hasn’t had a man in her life since Megan’s father left ten years ago.
Enter two mysterious young men, Megan’s new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships. But neither of the handsome guys is quite what he seems. In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn’t, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/39hI9rmwI5A
About The Author
E. Van Lowe is an author, television writer, screen-writer, playwright and producer who has worked on such TV shows as "The Cosby Show," "Even Stevens," and "Homeboys In Outer Space." He has been nominated for both an Emmy and an Academy Award. His first YA Paranormal novel, "Never Slow Dance With A Zombie," was a selection of The Scholastic Book Club, and a nominee for an American Library Association Award.
The first two books in the Falling Angels Saga: “Boyfriend From Hell” and “Earth Angel,” are best sellers. “The Zombie Always Knocks Twice” is the first book in the Hollyweird series.
In December 2014, he received a letter and certificate from the Writers Guild of America for his work on The Cosby Show, which had been selected as one of the 101 best television shows in history.
E lives in Beverly Hills California with his spouse, a werewolf, several zombies and a fairy godmother who grants him wishes from time-to-time.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Feb 11 Spotlight
Simplistic Reviews
adrienne Woods books and reviews
Feb 13 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
Feb 14 Guest blog
Fang-tastic Books
Feb 17 Guest blog
Cherry Mischievous
Feb 18 Spotlight
Paranormal Romance Fans for Life
Feb 19 Guest Post
Mythical Books
Feb 20 Guest blog
Mara Valderran: Madwoman with a Writing Box
http://maravalderran.blogspot.com
Feb 20 Spotlight
Mara Valderran: Madwoman with a Writing Box
http://maravalderran.blogspot.com
Share My Destiny
Feb 21 Interview
Mom With A Kindle
Feb 24 Guest Blog
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
Feb 25 Spotlight
Roxanne’s Realm
Feb 26 guest post
Annette Gisby
Feb 27 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books
March 3 Interview
A Night's Dream of Books
March 3 Spotlight
Starry Night Book Reviews
March 4 review
Forget About TV, Grab a Book
http://www.forgetabouttvgrababook.com
March 5 Guest blog
Forget About TV, Grab a Book
http://www.forgetabouttvgrababook.com
Once Upon a YA Book
March 6 Interview
Diane’s Book Blog
http://dianelynchbookreviews.blogspot.com/
March 6 Spotlight
Laura's Ramblins and reviews
http://fuonlyknew.com/
March 6 Spotlight
Laura's Ramblins and reviews
http://fuonlyknew.com/
March 7 Spotlight
Nocturnal Predators Reviews
March 7 spotlight
Author Karen Swart
March 11 author interview
Eclipse Reviews
March 11 Spotlight
BookwormBridgette's World
March 12 Spotlight
Books Direct
March 13 review book 4
Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books
March 14 Interview
Curse of the Bibliophile
March 17 Spotlight
Kristy Centeno
March 17 Review
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
2 comments:
These looks like really cool books.
This is a really great post! Now I know even more about E., whose Falling Angels books I can't wait to get started on! He's a really great guy, as well as a terrific writer!
Thanks for bringing us more information about him!! : )
Post a Comment