Tag Archive for 'reality TV'

Sink or Swim 6: Signs of Love’s Vaughn Jackson Plus Kindle Giveaway!

Published on November 3, 2011 in General News. 16 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Today’s contestant on the fictional reality show Sink or Swim is Vaughn Jackson, 37 years old from San Antonio, TX. Vaughn is a character from the new book Signs of Love by Chanta Jefferson Rand. Vaughn is no stranger to reality shows, but more on that later. For now, the rules of “this” game show. Here’s a recap: the three literary characters with the highest number of unique commenters to their post will be chosen as winners at the end of the year, so be sure to leave a comment. Chanta is also giving away a gifted Kindle copy of Signs of Love to a commenter. To enter, leave your name and email address in the comments by November 15 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Here are Vaughn’s answers to the Sink or Swim 6.

1. Tell us about the book you’re from.
I’m the hero from the reality TV show romance called Signs of Love by Chanta Jefferson Rand. I get to choose my soul mate from 12 lucky bachelorettes who each have a different zodiac sign – thus the title, Signs of Love. Pretty catchy huh? Yeah, I know. The author is one smart Pisces. You can find Signs of Love on Amazon here.

2. What is something about yourself that no one else knows?
No one except my best friend and manager knows that I’m on a self-imposed hiatus from sex. I’ve got too many damn paternity suits against me, so I’m very distrustful of women. The sad thing is I’ve never even met some of the women accusing me of being their “baby daddy.” But I guess the promise of a huge pay day lures gold-diggers from around the world.

3. Tell us about an unusual job or hobby that you’ve had?
Fifteen years ago, I was the hottest singer on the R&B charts. I was known as the man with the velvet voice. But when I refused to conform to the changing trends in music, my record label turned its back on me. Ever since then, I’ve had a sour taste in my mouth for the entertainment business. But I still got it, baby. I can sing the panties off any woman.

4. What is the strangest or most exciting thing that has ever happened to you?
The most exciting thing was winning four Grammys. The strangest thing would be appearing on Signs of Love. Unfortunately, it’s the only way I can make enough money to pay the IRS the $700,000 in back taxes that I owe them. Correction: I don’t owe them – my sorry ass accountant, Willie Armstrong put all the money I made up his nose and now, the sonofabitch has been missing for six months. So, guess who’s left holding the bag?

5. What would you do if you won a million dollars?
If I won a million dollars, I would try to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. My grandmother, Elsa (who raised me because my parents cared more about drugs than children) is suffering from this devastating disease. Back in the day, she was a gorgeous German burlesque dancer. To me, she’s always been “Grams.” I provide round-the-clock care for her every need. She’s always been there for me and I intend to do the same for her.

6. Please tell us briefly about your author and list web sites.
My author’s site is www.ChantaRand.com. This site showcases all of her and links to other sites and charities she supports. Each month, a percentage of the proceeds from her books goes to charity.

Chanta’s radio show site is www.TheChantaRandShow.com. This site provides information on all the authors she interviews on her bi-monthly internet radio show. The guests are limited to romance authors only, but they have a ball (no pun intended) discussing love, romance, and all things related to the romance industry.

For newcomers, this on-line “game show” is inspired by the reality TV-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim. Mark your calendar for January 17, 2012 when Stacy and Chanta will chat about reality TV show novels on The Chanta Rand Show!

8 Tips On Trying Out For A Reality Television Show

Published on June 22, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

I hope readers have enjoyed my Reality Show Rundown Month, a series of interviews with reality show contestants to celebrate the release of my mystery novel Sink or Swim, a fun summer read with a reality show premise. In conclusion, I am wrapping up the series with tips on trying out for a reality show. If getting picked for a reality show is one of your goals, then don’t miss these valuable tips from former contestants Natalie Getz of Bachelor Pad, Hashim Trends Locario of I Love New York, Leslie Haywood of Shark Tank, David Olsen and Shawn Bakken of Beauty and the Geek, Betty Fraser of Top Chef, and Billy Garcia of Survivor: Cook Islands. Where can you get better advice than from people who have been through it and survived to tell the tale? Here are the tips, straight from the horse’s mouth, and if you’d like to read the full interviews, click on the hyperlinks.

1. Natalie Getz, Bachelor Pad winner: If you are not yourself, a producer will see right through that. When people go over the top trying to get on these shows, it more then likely annoys the producers more then anything. Just be yourself. If you are what they are looking for, they will pick you. If not? Well, don’t quit your day job. They are looking for several different personality types. When you audition, there are probably 100 of you with the same character and it’s only a matter of luck if they pick you.

2. Hashim Trends Locario, I Love New York: I would tell them to not hold back. If you hold back, you don’t make good TV and they will cut out a lot of your screen time. I would say be yourself, but bring out the part of yourself that is the most interesting.

3. Leslie Haywood, Shark Tank: Going into it with the right attitude is KEY! Make your decision based on “what if nothing goes the way I hoped”… would you still do it just for the experience? If the answer is YES, then do it! It truly is a once in a lifetime EXPERIENCE, but there are no guarantees. You could be the “William Hung” (whom we all laughed at and along with) or the “Omarosa” (whom we all loved to hate). If you go into it “expecting” a certain outcome, you run the risk of tremendous disappointment. Instead, go into with the attitude “No matter what happens, this is an amazing OPPORTUNITY and a once in a lifetime EXPERIENCE.” And no matter what, try and HAVE FUN!

4. David Olsen, Beauty and the Geek winner: If I had the silver bullet to get on a reality show, I’d use it myself as I had too much fun and have been trying to get back into that world, so I don’t know any top secret information that will get someone a callback. That said, there are some tricks. As much of a cliche that it is, be yourself. Casting directors are very good at spotting phony people and they’re looking for authenticity above all. Another is try to be unique. If everyone is playing the Jersey Shore angle by appearing like a dirtbag, wear a suit (but only if you feel comfortable in one, as per my first piece of advice). Finally, there’s the old show biz adage of show, don’t tell. Don’t say you’re edgy, be edgy (I leave it as an exercise to the reader of how exactly one becomes edgy).

5. Shawn Bakken, Beauty and the Geek: Aside from “Don’t do it”? Someone asked me about that while the show was on the air (he ended up getting cast for Season 2) and I told him, “Just be yourself.” The problem is that being yourself in front of the cameras isn’t always what ends up on people’s TV screens. If you want to be on a reality show, don’t be surprised if the producers decide to flush your reputation down the toilet.

6. Betty Fraser, Top Chef: First thing I’d suggest is to learn about Pandora’s Box. Because once you reach people in their living rooms, that box is opened and there’s no going back. Reality shows are entertainment so big personalities have become a prerequisite. But what a lot of people don’t think about is the criticism you are opening yourself up for. I think people watch reality TV as much for who they like as who they don’t like. And people aren’t shy about sharing their feelings on chat boards. When the comments are nice, you feel great. But when they lay in to you, especially when they have no idea of the kind of person you really are, it can really hurt. If you don’t have a thick skin, then being on a reality show might not be the best decision.

7. Billy Garcia, Survivor: Cook Islands: Watch Wile E Coyote. That will be how you will look in the edit if you make it on a show and don’t win it. So if you have a problem with being the butt of the joke, then this isn’t for you. Otherwise, good luck.

8. Michelle Costa, Big Brother 10: The best advice I can give is to be yourself never try to be who you think they want. BE YOURSELF.

This concludes Reality Show Rundown Month. To read other interviews and articles in this series, click here. Do you have a few minutes to help me give some buzz to Sink or Swim? Get 8 ideas here that can make a big difference!

Reality Show Rundown Interview with “Bachelor Pad” Winner Natalie Getz

Published on June 20, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

This is the eighth in a series of interviews with former reality show contestants, an idea inspired by my new reality show-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim, Where Reality TV Turns to Murder. For more information on Sink or Swim, and the interview schedule which features contestants from Survivor, Top Chef, Beauty and the Geek, Shark Tank, Bachelor Pad, Big Brother and I Love New York, please visit this link.

Today’s interview is with Natalie Getz, who viewers will know from The Bachelor, Season 13 and Bachelor Pad. Last fall, David Good and Natalie were the winning couple during the finale of Bachelor Pad, an ABC reality competition which featured former The Bachelor bachelorettes and The Bachelorette bachelors competing for a $250,000 cash prize.

1. Natalie, if you could boil down your experience on the Bachelor Pad to one paragraph, what was your overall feeling about being on this show?
By far the most entertaining, craziest, challenging and rewarding four weeks of my life. The entertainment factor came with the territory due to the fact that I got to film a reality TV show with some of my best friends! All of our inside jokes and ridiculous statements that we said on air to make each other laugh will always be with me. It was crazy in a sense that we had no clue what to expect going into it, except that we were competing for money. I had no clue I would fall for Jesse Beck and get dumped in the first week and then go on to explore my romantic feelings for my bestie David Good. The dating/love component was something I didn’t expect nor want. I think the biggest challenge was to orchestrate the game with Dave to ensure we kept our closest pals in the game at whatever cost to keep us safe. They didn’t show a lot of us brainstorming, but BELIEVE me, that was pretty much all we did. It was nerve wracking- I lost 5 lbs during filming! Dave and I were very fortunate to never be in hot water, simply because we were neutral and friends with everyone- the lives of the party so to speak. All of this paid off in the end when David and I were each rewarded with $125k and gained financial freedom from our debt.

2. What was it like to have cameras rolling all the time? How hard was it to get used to being in the public eye?
During my stint on The Bachelor Season 13, I could NOT get used to the cameras. They scared the be-jesus out of me and I got sweaty and nervous whenever they approached causing me to be way too shy and guarded with every word or statement I spoke. It doesn’t matter, however, because through the power of editing, I looked like an idiot. Bachelor Pad was incredible to film, because at that point I had already went on to do so much more with reality television and honestly didn’t even recognize the camera anymore. We even had them on us when we were sleeping (on The Bachelor and Bachelorette they do not) and it didn’t phase me. I maybe got a little too comfortable now looking back at some of my make out scenes…..it was like a less glorified version of Days Of Our Lives- hahaha. As for the public eye, that wasn’t hard at all. I already am a total Midwest chatter box who has long conversations with complete strangers all throughout the day, so for me, I love talking to fans about the show. I’ve actually made a couple friends from girls who have approached and recognized me. So fun! The first couple times I saw myself in a magazine or googled my name, I found it hilarious and embraced it as a once in a lifetime experience;) I’m not one to change my personality or watch what I say for an interview because that’s me and that’s reality TV! I do not have a filter, I’m raw, slightly obnoxious, and I have no intentions of hiding that. Works for me!

3. What was the best part about being on the show?
Hands down being back together, with no distractions from life’s daily interruptions, with some of my best friends and a bunch of other cool people! I can’t tell you how many incredible lifelong friends I’ve made whether they are cast, crew, or friends of cast mates. It’s real life Facebook! The fact that all of us already did Bachelor/ette, some of us got super close before filming. It pretty much felt like they filmed an ultimate dream vacation of me and my friends- AND I got paid! The next best part was living in a mansion, traveling to Vegas in a private jet and staying in a villa, being waited on hand and foot, and crazy expensive experiences I would never had done had it not been for the show. Thanks, Mike Fliess:)

4. What were your favorite challenges on the show? Least favorite?
My favorite challenges were the water balloon toss and the DWTS competition. Reason being they were the only athletic challenges, and being an athlete and ex college soccer player, I love active challenges! David and I would have won the dance competition if we hadn’t completely forgot the routine. Reason we forgot the routine? Well, because I know David as a man’s man and he is ALL dude, and all of the sudden it hit me how feminine he looked and I started laughing so hard and we completely got off track….whoops! Up until the performance that mattered, our dance was flawless. The music ran out before our awesome finish….dang! The Pie Eating Contest and Twister Contests were so lame. Hello- BORING!!! I’d rather watch paint dry. I hate cherry pie and the reason I lost Twister is because there were too many of us on the board and the board ran out of dots! They said right hand red, and there were zero red dot’s left to place my hand on! Gah! I thought the survey challenge was juvenile and ridiculous, but secretly thought it was damn good TV.

5. What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for a reality show?
If you are not yourself, a producer will see right through that. When people go over the top trying to get on these shows, it more then likely annoys the producers more then anything. Just be yourself. If you are what they are looking for, they will pick you. If not? Well, don’t quit your day job. They are looking for several different personality types. When you audition, there are probably 100 of you with the same character and it’s only a matter of luck if they pick you.

6. What else have you been up to lately?
I have been keeping extremely busy focusing on fashion. I attend as many fashion shows as humanly possible, write about fashion, style clients, style cast on commercial and movie sets, and most importantly myself for all of my events! I am involved in hosting events and TV shows, as well as having fun as a commercial actress. I’M DEFINITELY NOT trying to be an actress or in commercials, but people keep asking me so I’m not going to say no! It’s a nice little side job;) Socially, I spend as much time with my family as possible back in Chicago and when I’m home in LA, I frequent comedy clubs and hang out with good friends and drink good wine. Riding my bike to the beach, shopping (of course), and style research is a daily must. I’m currently in the process of developing my website www.GetzStyle.com. The site will be all things fashion with a comedic twist. I will be blogging style about TV shows, movies, etc. I will also write weekly articles based on trend and style and have a Q&A advice section. The site will also feature interviews I will conduct with fashionistas, Bachelor/ette contestents, and others. Stay tuned and keep up with me on Twitter: @nataliegetz and Facebook: Search “Natalie Getz” and like my public page for all updates, interviews, articles, and nonsense!

This series will conclude June 22 with 8 Tips On Trying Out For A Reality Television Show. To read other interviews in this series, click here. Do you have a few minutes to help me give some buzz to Sink or Swim? Get 8 ideas here that can make a big difference!

Losing The Reality Show – Excerpt 2 From Sink or Swim

Published on June 18, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Reality Show Rundown Month will be winding down soon, with just two posts left – good ones that you shouldn’t miss. The remaining posts will be an interview with Bachelor Pad winner Natalie Getz on June 20 and 7 Tips on Trying Out for a Reality Television Show on June 22. In the meantime, here is one more excerpt from my reality show-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim, which I hope you’ll add to your summer beach reads list.

Cassidy sat poised in her chair as former contestants filed onto the soundstage at WBC in New York. Together, the studio audience and television viewers had watched the recorded footage of her walking the plank. Gabriel would now interview the competitors from the inaugural season one final time. More importantly, he would announce her prize. If it erased most of her debts, then it would at least make this whole embarrassing experience worthwhile.

Cassidy’s heart kicked in her chest and sweat moistened her brow.As one of her old teammates entered, her heart rate skyrocketed for a different reason. Josh Sanchioni slid into a bucket seat, carrying himself stiffer than normal in his sharp gray suit. Studio lights caught his sunbleached strawberry blonde waves, brightening the reddish gold tints.

Cassidy slipped her gaze to his leather shoes. If Josh hadn’t been engaged, they could have been an item. Instead, they’d been good friends until that one evening when the cameras were off and they almost kissed. They’d both realized their mistake and backed away. Things were strained until Josh walked the plank a week later. Tonight, not only did Cassidy have to face Josh, she would probably meet his fiancée.

Her cheeks heating, Cassidy focused on the competitor beside Josh as a distraction. Adam Horton sat erect, hands folded in the lap of his olive green khakis. He wasn’t military, but he dressed like an Army wannabe. His reptilian eyes drilled into Cassidy, his angular face revealing the shape of bones underneath. A blond goatee darkened his pointy chin.
Cassidy shuddered involuntarily. Adam never said much, but he made her uncomfortable just the same. She’d sense someone watching her on the ship and Adam would be lurking in the hatches. Luckily, he only lasted on the show two weeks.

“Before we catch up with our former contestants, I’d like to congratulate Cassidy on a job well done,” Gabriel said in the middle of the circle.

Applause thundered from the audience and a wave of excitement crested over her. Cassidy offered a smile for the cameras as Gabriel finished, “I’m proud to present you with your prize – a luxury vacation for two to the Bahamas on a real cruise ship with $3,000 spending money!”

Dumbfounded, Cassidy watched as a video depicted a majestic ocean liner on the large TV screen. “Set sail with us to the Bahamas, where you can swim with dolphins in turquoise waters, relax on sugar white beaches and explore the island’s history as a haven for pirates,” said the female announcer in a voice-over. “On your voyage, you can enjoy our ten lounges, two outdoor pools, luxury spa, casino, cinema, dynamite shows, and glass walls and elevators that get you up close to the ocean views.”

Another boat? More ocean views? Were they friggin’ serious? A frozen smile hovered on Cassidy’s lips. Too bad she’d already seen the counselor that afternoon and he’d attested that all her screws were still in place. This travesty might be enough to unhinge her.

Want to read more excerpts from Sink or Swim? Download the free mystery short story Laundry Day and the Stacy Juba Mystery Sampler. Click on the cover for download information.

As the video montage ended, boos erupted from the crowd and several people jumped to their feet.
“No fair!”
“Give her a real prize!”
“Cheapskates!”

The thrill of the jeers rippled down Cassidy’s spine, their zealousness stunning her. Granted, her little brother had been the heckler to yell “Cheapskates,” but the other supporters weren’t relatives.

“You seem to have some disappointed fans,” Gabriel remarked as a camera panned the crowd. “What do you have to say about the prize, Cassidy?”

She bit down her real opinion and replied, “I’m overwhelmed people care, but this cruise looks a lot more relaxing than my time on Sink or Swim.”

“We knew you’d enjoy it,” Gabriel said. “Who wouldn’t welcome an opportunity to be pampered on a luxury ocean liner?”

Cassidy scoffed inwardly. Perhaps someone who’d been trapped on a schooner for three months.

After the broadcast, Cassidy escaped the sound stage before she blurted out something ungrateful. She glimpsed a production assistant leading her mother, brother, and other special guests off the set, weaning them away from the audience members who’d obtained free tickets for the taping but weren’t invited to the cast party.

When Adam touched her arm in the hallway, the hairs bristled on end.
“I missed you, Cassidy,” he said. “I’ve been counting the days till this reunion.”
“Hi, Adam,” she said with resignation. “Good to see you.”

Reggie lumbered by them in a dark brown suit befitting a Mafia hit man with his broad shoulders and sunken neck. He pivoted and walked backwards. “Hey, Horty, I’m surprised you showed. What’d you last, two episodes? Remember when you spilled paint on the deck and cost our team fifty points? What a klutz.” Laughing, he swaggered down the hallway.

Adam’s mouth pinched into a scowl and red flushed up to his peach fuzz crew cut. “You should have gotten first place. Not him.”

It was nice to be supported, but this guy was too intense. Still, he didn’t deserve to be the butt of Reggie’s ridicule.

“Thanks,” Cassidy said. “Don’t listen to Reggie, he’s a creep. We all thought so. Catch you later, okay? I’ve got to find my family.”

She ducked downstairs to the cafeteria. Balloons and streamers transformed the surroundings into a glittering cascade of blue and gold, the colors in the Sink or Swim logo SOS.

Cassidy accepted a wine glass from a black-coated waiter and glanced around for her mother and fourteen-year-old brother. They’d reunited briefly at the hotel that afternoon, sharing a few hugs and a quick lunch, then Cassidy had to rush off for counseling, hair and makeup. Her family was probably getting a VIP tour of the studio.

Cassidy found herself near a blue and gold decorated table, showcasing an elaborate sheet cake of the Atlantic Devil, her home for the past several weeks. She downed her white wine in one long gulp.

Gabriel slithered up beside her. His dark tailored sports coat hugged his slender build. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, I’m sorry for your loss.” He sounded as if he was extending condolences at a funeral. He hadn’t been that sorry when he’d ordered her to the plank.

Reality Show Rundown Month Media Release – Get the Full Scoop

Published on June 14, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , .

Please share the below press release detailing Reality Show Rundown Month. Here’s the full scoop about what this month is all about – the who, what, why, when and where!

Reality Show Rundown Month: Examining the Relationship Between Reality TV and Us

Published on June 11, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

I was fortunate that talented writer Steve Kamps was willing to create an article for my blog specifically to celebrate Reality Show Rundown Month,
my series of interviews with former reality show contestants. Reality Show Rundown Month was an idea inspired by my new reality show-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim, Where Reality TV Turns to Murder. For more information on Sink or Swim, and the interview schedule which features contestants from Survivor, Top Chef, Beauty and the Geek, Shark Tank, Bachelor Pad and I Love New York, please visit this link.

Steve’s article makes a wonderful addition to this series as it examines the relationship that television viewers have with reality TV and how reality shows have evolved over the years. Here are his words below.

If you ask anyone what they think of reality TV, you will get a lot of different perspectives on the subject. Most common will be “no” because of the image that many people perceive about the subject: it’s stupid. These opinions are not invalid, but sometimes these opinions are only voiced to fit in. Inversely, many people also only watch reality shows in order to fit in. Maybe it’s what everyone talks about at the office. Either way, you can’t downplay reality TV; there is a reason it is still around.

Reality TV sprang up in the late 90’s and early 2000s. One of the first shows was Survivor. I remember that my dad and I would watch it together every night. I can’t say that I agreed with everything that went down on the show. I consider myself a very loyal individual, who could never backstab another individual in order to win a large cash prize, or at least I don’t think I can. One of the reasons why people watch these shows is for just that reason: drama.

This is a real situation. The drama is real. What was being said in front of the camera was so savory, it kept viewers coming back for more every episode. This wasn’t a sitcom or written drama, this was real people. Real people who had regular jobs and had regular lives outside of this documentary. The competition was real. Individualism. It began with a team, but ended with one lone survivor. Who was it going to be? Obviously the one with the least scruples of engaging in dirty strategy. And we bought it. Why not? We also formed relationships with these people. We hated those conniving schemers and encouraged the straight arrows. It was like a real good versus bad. And sometimes we won and sometimes we lost. Incredibly brilliant in keeping viewers to the last episode.

Reality TV also gave us the chance to be stars. As I stated above, these were real, regular people who made it on TV and sometimes they retained their new celebrity. For example American Idol contestant Kelly Clarkson. American Idol is a great example of this. In the beginning of each season, viewers get to see the weeding process. The three judges go through the auditions and choose who is going to perform on the show for the rest of the season. This filled the chasm between A list celebrities and the normal person.

Unfortunately, we as a people have an unstable fascination with celebrities. We all want a chance to be one and live the penthouse life. And after this show, so many other shows sprang up, including America’s Got Talent. This show in particular is even more interesting because viewers get to see any sort of talent. From those who aren’t so talented and those who are ridiculously talented.

The last thing that Reality TV has that keeps us coming back is the dose of real people living real life. I’m not talking The Simple Life! When William Hung gave his performance and Simon Cowell laughed at him, we were surprised how well Hung took it. He was happy that he at least tried and he said he had no regrets. Things like that really hit hard. The underdog at least giving his all and whether he succeeds or not, still seeing the sunny side. It was a very mature reaction considering all the others who stomped off thinking Simon didn’t have a clue.

There are also many shows that show people doing amazing things for people who can’t do things for themselves. Holmes on Homes did an episode where a man was living in an unstable house with his children and he was unable to make the changes that needed to be done. Holmes fixed the entire home and it looked amazing. That story really hit me too. Just another good man doing a good deed for another.

Whether you like reality TV or not, it’s irrelevant. It’s here to stay and there will be plenty of good and bad moments to see. Hopefully if you haven’t seen any, you will give it a try. You might be amazed to see some of the character that real people have.

Thanks, Steve! Check out the full Reality Show Rundown Month interview schedule, with clickable links to the interviews as they become available, here. Do you have a few minutes to help me give some buzz to Sink or Swim? Get 8 ideas here that can make a big difference!

Reality Show Rundown Interview with Season 4 “Beauty and the Geek” Winner David Olsen

Published on June 9, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , .

This is the fifth in a series of interviews with former reality show contestants, an idea inspired by my new reality show-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim, Where Reality TV Turns to Murder. For more information on Sink or Swim, and the interview schedule which features contestants from Survivor, Top Chef, Beauty and the Geek, Shark Tank, Bachelor Pad Big Brother and I Love New York, please visit this link.

For today’s interview, I’d like to welcome David Olsen, who won the fourth season of Beauty and the Geek with his partner Jasmine. What is it like to make it till the end of a reality show and be declared a winner? Read David’s exciting story below!

David Olsen holds fellow contestant Katie Roberson during the Prom Challenge.

1. If you could boil down your experience on Beauty and the Geek to one paragraph, what was your overall feeling about being on this show?
Well, that’s pretty difficult task. The whole process, start to finish, took nearly a year of my life (a fantastic year) and that’s not easy to summarize. I loved the whole experience (even the parts I hated if that’s not too paradoxical) and it was a roller coaster ride of emotion. I’ve often compared it to a semester in college on speed, but I could also say it was a heightened moment of life. Everything felt more intense from joy to sadness. For me, as someone who studies narrative structure, I also was very self-aware that I was in a story. Now I’ve often felt that as I’m a role-player, but this was unusual since it was also real. It’s a difficult sensation to describe, but it was a weird post-modern feeling as I sometimes analyzed my life as a protagonist in a story arc.

2. What was it like to have cameras rolling all the time? How hard was it to get used to being in the public eye?
It’s like ordinary life. People in the 21st century are on camera all the time, especially in urban environments; they just might not realize it. The big difference was that the cameras were a little more obvious. That said, my attitude did change over time. Near the beginning, I was a little more circumspect about what I said, deeply aware how my words could serve as the source of deep embarrassment and was sometimes relieved when the cameras left me alone. Over the course of the show, I felt more pressure to be entertaining and say witty things so I could be seen more. To be clear, this was self-induced pressure and not external from the producers. But if a camera crew was filming a conversation and suddenly walked away, I would be insulted that I wasn’t “interesting” enough for them to pay attention to me.

3. What was the best part about being on the show?
Well, winning a lot of money definitely ranks up there. Though I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that I made many new friends. We may not have known each other long, but when you’re in that pressure cooker of a situation, the friendships formed are true.

4. What were your favorite challenges on the show? Least favorite?
This is an interesting question because it depends. My favorite challenge to watch was my least favorite to do and vice-versa. At the time I absolutely hated making a superhero costume for my partner, but watching my trials and tribulations as a viewer long after the fact was actually humorous. Conversely, massaging all the girls was kind of fun at the time, but boring to watch. Though my favorite moment was winning the wine-making challenge, since no one expected us to win that and we pummeled the competition. I was actually happier in that moment than when I won the show itself. Still, from an actual growth perspective, I have the deepest appreciation for the rap challenge. When we first were given it, I had no idea how I’d write and perform an autobiographical rap in less than 24 hours, and while my performance wasn’t as good as it could have been (since I forgot most of my lyrics), it challenged me in a way that made me grow as a human being and I was pleased with what I ultimately came up with.

5. What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for a reality show?
If I had the silver bullet to get on a reality show, I’d use it myself as I had too much fun and have been trying to get back into that world, so I don’t know any top secret information that will get someone a callback. That said, there are some tricks. As much of a cliche that it is, be yourself. Casting directors are very good at spotting phony people and they’re looking for authenticity above all. Another is try to be unique. If everyone is playing the Jersey Shore angle by appearing like a dirtbag, wear a suit (but only if you feel comfortable in one, as per my first piece of advice). Finally, there’s the old show biz adage of show, don’t tell. Don’t say you’re edgy, be edgy (I leave it as an exercise to the reader of how exactly one becomes edgy).

6. What effect did winning have on you — did you have any special use for the prize money? What was it like going about your normal life after so many people saw you win on TV? Were you surprised to win?
This is going to sound really boring, but I just invested the prize money. It seemed like the wisest course of action. Going back to my normal life was frankly a little too easy. I was hoping it might springboard into something more, but it never really did. Sure, I occasionally got recognized on the street, which is always fun and a boost to the ego, but aside from having a fun story to tell people you just met at cocktail parties, it wasn’t all that impactful. Although I didn’t really tell anyone at the time (for fear of jinxing it and looking arrogant), I could read the tea leaves of the various internet message boards that it was highly likely I’d end up winning, so while pleasant to receive confirmation of that, it wasn’t terribly surprising when I did actually win.

7. What have you been up to lately?
Man, I wish I could tell you something truly awesome. I bought a condo in Cambridge, Massachusetts about a year ago, which has been great. Being on the show awakened in me an interest to work more with media so I’ve done background movie work as an extra, though it’s not quite the same as being the focus of the camera. I did some work on a video game recently so if you have a PlayStation 3, you should buy Slam Bolt Scrappers because it’s a really fun game and I’m not just saying that. I’ve actually done some preliminary work on a new reality show idea, but unfortunately, that’s stalled out for the moment. So, I’m actually sort of looking around for my next project; if anyone has any great ideas, they should let me know!

8. Where can fans find you online?
I think I’m on all the social networking sites, but hardly use any of them. Most fans seem to gravitate to my Facebook page where I’m the
most active (which isn’t saying much), though I also have a blog hidden in plain sight on Livejournal which I post to irregularly. It’s public, though not obvious and I just write about whatever I happen to be thinking about that day.

My next interview is with Leslie Haywood of Shark Tank on June 13. Bookmark the full interview schedule, with clickable links to the interviews as they become available, here. Do you have a few minutes to help me give some buzz to Sink or Swim? Get 8 ideas here that can make a big difference!

Walking The Plank: Excerpt From Reality Show Mystery Sink or Swim

Published on June 8, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: , , , , , , .

Reality Show Rundown Month seems like the perfect time to publish a couple of excerpts from my book Sink or Swim, which is a cross between a cozy mystery and a romantic suspense novel. How do you change the channel when reality TV turns to murder? After starring on a hit game show set aboard a Tall Ship, personal trainer Cassidy Novak discovers that she has attracted a stalker. Soon, she will need to call SOS for real. The below scene is from Chapter 1. For more excerpts, a book trailer, reviews, and retail links, please visit my Sink or Swim page.

Cassidy Novak stared into the seething water. It couldn’t end this way.
Gray waves buffeted against the 179-foot schooner and fog billowed through the spiderweb of rigging that snarled skyward. Heavy white sails furled, the Atlantic Devil’s triple masts lumbered in formation like dead trees.

Gabriel stalked from the bow to mid-ship, his black turtleneck and slacks contrasting with his pale face. Cassidy’s pulse hammered in her throat as she searched his sober expression.


His full lips curled into what would have been a grin for most people. For Gabriel, the Grim Reaper, it mimicked a sneer.

He withdrew a saber from the metal sheath belted at his waist and gripped the hilt beneath the curve of the scoop-shaped hand-guard. Above the main mast, the black and white skull and crossbones flag thrashed in a wind dance.

Cassidy glanced at Reggie, the last surviving competitor besides herself. He rubbed the back of his shaved head and connected his fingers behind his neck. Her own posture locked tight. One of them would go home a millionaire.
The other … she wouldn’t reflect on that.

After three months isolated from society on the new reality show Sink or Swim, Cassidy wanted that prize money and the fame that accompanied it. Hope fortified her very bones. Maybe her days of scrambling to pay off debts and working a lousy job were over.
It’s yours. It has to be.

Just then, Gabriel caught her eye and gestured over his shoulder. Cassidy followed his index finger toward the gangway. To the plank.

Cassidy’s daredevil smile, practiced in the mirror before setting sail, faded like mist.
Her clever comebacks, which she’d imagined quoted at the water coolers of America, were not heard.
Her cascading red hair that she’d tossed like a drama queen – an invention strictly for TV – went taut around her finger.

She’d lost. The overall point tallies had come in, and she’d lost. Her dreams weren’t coming true after all.
“Game over. You lose. Close call though, Reggie beat you by five points.” Gabriel dragged her across the deck by the arm and pushed her up onto the wooden board that projected over the water.

Want to read more excerpts from Sink or Swim? Download the free mystery short story Laundry Day and the Stacy Juba Mystery Sampler. Click on the cover for download information.

Cassidy winced, emptiness invading her body like a physical hurt. Five points. If only she hadn’t screwed up furling and unfurling sails during the first episode, or if she’d done a better job mopping the deck that time she had a cold. After all Cassidy had been through, two simple mistakes cost her the game.

She’d been five points away from a new life.
Under the show’s set-up, twelve contestants had competed in four teams. The crew awarded marks based on skill and neatness, with team members pooling their numbers to win privileges like movie nights or dinners in the officers’ mess. Every Monday, a low-scoring contestant walked the plank and went home on a rendezvous ship. Cassidy had lasted until the final cut.

Gabriel’s sword blade brushed her back. Not only were her dreams drowning, she was about to undergo torture. The humiliating kind.
Her breath rasping, she eyed the twenty-foot drop. The end of the plank seemed miles away, though it was only ten feet. Trying not to look down, Cassidy inched forward. At the verge, she halted and willed her gaze toward the dark cold water below.

Gabriel stepped up behind her and touched the cold sharp steel to the nape of her neck. “Time to sink or swim.”
Don’t show emotion. You’ve got to lose with dignity. Cassidy said a silent prayer, folded her arms across her chest and vaulted off the plank.

Reality Show Rundown Month – Interview With Michelle Costa of Big Brother 10

Published on June 2, 2011 in Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , .

This is the second in a series of interviews with former reality show contestants, an idea inspired by my new reality show-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim, Where Reality TV Turns to Murder. For more information on Sink or Swim, and the interview schedule which features contestants from Survivor, Top Chef, Beauty and the Geek, Shark Tank, Bachelor Pad, Big Brother and I Love New York, please visit this link.

Today I’m thrilled to have Michelle Costa of Big Brother 10 , The Portuguese Princess, joining me. This is a special interview for me as Michelle has been so supportive of Sink or Swim. Her endorsement appears on the back cover of the paperback and inside the e-book editions, and she also invited me to be a guest on her radio show and has been actively promoting the book on her social networks. I’d really love to see Michelle on Big Brother All Stars! But first, let’s hear her thoughts about being on Big Brother 10.

1. What was the most challenging part about being on Big Brother?
There were a few challenges I faced being in the Big Brother house. I had no access to TV, phone, Internet, reading, writing and singing. And of course, being away from your family and friends for over three months.

2. What was it like to have cameras rolling all the time? How hard was it to get used to?
There were cameras everywhere. We never saw a cameraman as they are behind the walls behind a two-way mirror. I was actually told to stop talking to the cameras so I had no troubles there, lol.

3. What was the best part about being on the show?
The entire experience was amazing during and now the aftermath. The only thing I would have changed was to be the winner and take home the $500,000, ughhhh.

4. What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for a reality show?
The best advice I can give is to be yourself. Never try to be who you think they want. BE YOURSELF.

5. Tell us about your radio show.
My radio show is called MANIC MONDAYS with RAD RON. It’s on blogtalkradio.com and stream thru podcast. We discuss reality TV and sports, but mainly reality TV. It’s been over two years and I love it. (Note: Michelle’s co-host, RAD RON, Ronald “Ron” Radkiewicz, passed away May 31, 2011 shortly after this interview was completed.)

6. What else have you been up to lately? Are you interested in appearing on any other reality shows?
I’ve been working on doing marketing and promotions. I travel all over the USA doing charities and reality events. I want to be on Big Brother All Stars. That’s my next goal. Oh yeah, and to win All Stars.

7. Where can fans find you online?
Fans can follow me on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

My next interview is with Betty Fraser from Top Chef on June 3. Bookmark the full interview schedule, with clickable links to the interviews as they become available, here. Do you have a few minutes to help me give some buzz to Sink or Swim? Get 8 ideas here that can make a big difference!

Meet Your Favorite TV Personalities During Reality Show Rundown Month

Published on May 26, 2011 in General News and Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

If you enjoy reality shows, or have ever wondered what it’s like to get famous from one, then you’re in for a special treat. I am hosting Reality Show Rundown Month on my blog in June and will be featuring my interviews with former contestants from the shows Survivor, Top Chef, Beauty and the Geek, Shark Tank, Bachelor Pad, I Love New York and Big Brother. What was the best part about being on the show? The hardest part? Did being in the spotlight help the contestants to advance their career goals? Would they recommend the reality show experience? How do you handle being on TV after tragedy strikes in your real life? They’ll tell you all of that and more, and quite candidly. The schedule is as follows:

1. Call for SOS! 8 Ways to Help Sink or Swim Sail Toward the Bestseller List – May 28
2. Billy Garcia, Survivor: Cook Islands – June 1
3. Michelle Costa, Big Brother 10 – June 2
4. Betty Fraser, Top Chef – June 3
5. Shawn Bakken, Beauty and the Geek – June 7
6. Walking the Plank Excerpt from Sink or Swim – June 8
7. David Olsen, winner of Beauty and the Geek - June 9
8. Guest author Steve Kamps’ article Examining the Relationship Between Reality TV and Us – June 11
9. Leslie Haywood, Shark Tank - June 13
10. Reality Show Rundown Month Media Release - June 14
11. Hashim Trends Locario, I Love New York – June 15
12. Losing the Reality Show – Excerpt 2 from Sink or Swim – June 18
13. Natalie Getz, winner of Bachelor Pad - June 20
14. 8 Tips on Trying Out for a Reality Television Show - June 22

I’m hosting this month because my new mystery suspense novel Sink or Swim has a reality show theme. You don’t need to be a reality show fan to enjoy the book, which is a cross between a cozy mystery and a romantic suspense novel, but if you do like reality shows, then you’ll get a kick out of the premise. How do you change the channel when reality TV turns to murder? After starring on a hit game show set aboard a Tall Ship, personal trainer Cassidy Novak discovers that she has attracted a stalker. Soon, she will need to call SOS for real. The book has been endorsed by Stephenie LaGrossa, fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains; Michelle Costa of Big Brother 10; and Shawne Morgan of The Amazing Race 16 and is available in trade paperback and multiple $2.99 ebook formats. Visit the Store for a list of online retailers.

My heroine Cassidy Novak is fictitious, but the above reality show personalities are flesh and blood. Don’t miss their informative and entertaining interviews about what it’s like to be a reality show star. As a former reporter for magazines and newspapers, I had a great time doing these interviews. If this series was appearing in a newspaper, it would be called a “package” because of all the different parts. As each post is published, I’ll come back here to make a clickable link in case readers would like to bookmark this page for easy reference.

If you have a moment, please check out the Sink or Swim book trailer below, set to the song Every Breath You Take, to kick off the festivities.

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