An avid reader and writer, Tracie Banister has been scribbling stories since she was a child, most of them featuring feisty heroines with complicated love lives like her favorite fictional protagonist Scarlett O'Hara. She is currently the author of two novels (the second being In Need of Therapy) and has a third one on the way. She resides in the South and enjoys watching TV, going to the theatre, finding talented new writers, and spending time with her three adorable rescue dogs. Tracie is also the moderator of ChickLitChat, which takes place every Thursday at 8 pm EST on Twitter.
Visit Tracie at her blog and on Twitter.
Who is your favorite fifteen minutes of fame celebrity?
Her fifteen minutes should have been up a long time ago, but I’m still strangely fascinated by Kim Kardashian. She keeps finding new ways to keep herself relevant and in the spotlight while others of her ilk (see former bestie Paris Hilton) have faded into semi-obscurity. I’ve got to give her credit for that and I want to thank her, and her media-loving family, for keeping me endlessly entertained with all of their shenanigans, which include everything from outrageous fashion faux pas to surprise divorce/pregnancy announcements.
Who is your favorite celebrity couple?
The only couple who currently has my undivided attention is Prince William and his lovely bride, Kate. I’ve been a royal-watcher going way back to the engagement of William’s parents. I adored Princess Diana and followed her all through my teen years. I still have tons of magazine clippings of Diana, the wedding, the births of her sons, all of her fashion triumphs, etc. stored in a box somewhere in my attic. Now that William is all grown up and has a family of his own, it’s fun to keep tabs on what he and the duchess are doing. They seem like such a nice couple, and their love story (friends turned sweethearts) is a plot plucked right from the pages of some of my favorite novels. I can’t wait to see if baby number two is a boy or girl!
Which celebrity did you crush on the most when you were a kid?
My first, and also my longest-lasting, celebrity crush was Harrison Ford. I believe the crush started when I saw The Empire Strikes Back and fell head over heels for Han Solo. Who could resist such a lovable rogue? My crush continued when the first Indiana Jones film came out. No lie - my friends and I watched that movie in the theatre 8 times during the summer of ’81. We didn’t have a lot to do back in those pre-internet days. ;) I remained devoted to Harrison Ford well into adulthood, but the thrill wore off when he turned gray and started wearing an earring. So, I threw him over for a rotating roster of fake boyfriends, most of whom have British accents.
Have you ever met a celebrity? If so, what was the experience like?
I met quite a few through my job, actually. During the ‘90s, I worked for a company that sold a communication product widely used in the entertainment industry, so we had a booth at a big television industry conference that was held in Vegas every year. I roamed the floor a lot at that convention and got to queue up and have my picture taken with many popular television stars of the time – Fran Drescher, Matthew Fox, Jane Seymour, Chuck Norris, Lorenzo Lamas, and William Shatner just to name a few. Everyone I met was really nice; a few of them even confessed to me that they were super nervous and couldn’t stop sweating. Celebrities are people, too! :)
Of course, the most well-known celebrity to hail from the Atlanta area is Julia Roberts. She grew up in Smyrna, which is a suburb about ten minutes from me. Kim Basinger is, also, a Georgia peach, but her family was from Athens, the home of UGA in the eastern part of the state. Ryan Seacrest is another Georgia native. And, of course, there are tons of musicians who started out in Atlanta – Cee LoGreen, Jason Aldean, André 3000, and Chris and Rich Robinson from the Black Crowes (My brother went to high school with them!)
Do you have a celebrity doppelgänger?
I’ve had a few throughout the years, but the one I get the most frequently now is Melissa Joan Hart a.k.a. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, probably because we’re both petite and blonde. I’m actually several years older than Melissa, so it’s her that looks like me, not vice versa!
Thanks to Tracie for visiting and sharing her book with our readers!
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No, I have never. Probably Eddie Vedder or Stevie Nicks or Stephen King.
ReplyDeleteI have never met any celebrities. I don't think I would want to either. I would freeze up and not be able to talk. Or if I did talk, it wouldn't come out right because I would be so nervous. I would end up looking like an idiot.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add how much I love this book.
ReplyDeleteI had so much fun doing this interview! Thanks so much for having me on CLC and good luck to all the entrants in the giveaway. :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like such a fun job, Tracie! I'd love to meet that many celebrities. I ran into Sid Caesar at Disney World years ago when he was making a movie, and Andie McDowell while at a gym in Asheville (when she had a house there). It's always fun to see famous people.
ReplyDeleteBlame it On The Fame is such a great book, very fun! And as if I didn't already love you, Tracie, Sabrina the Teenage Witch?! I can totally see that!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful interview, Tracie. BLAME IT ON THE FAME is one of my favorite chick lit books of all time! I'm looking forward to your upcoming novel.
ReplyDeleteAs for meeting celebrities? The ones I've met are authors, which to me is the most famous group of all. I'm looking forward to meeting one of my favorite authors, Tracie Banister, in person some day!
~ Kathleen
Yes, I've met Regis Philbin when I went to see Regis & Kelly. My parents and I were in the lobby and he came out and my mom starts calling his name and he ignored her at first but then he came over and met us. I got his autograph and a picture but thanks to my mom, the picture didn't turn out because she took a picture of the wall and not Regis and me, lol. I'm still mad at her about that!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great interview, Tracie & Melissa! You have had quite the interesting life, Ms. Banister. :) No wonder your books are so entertaining. Blame It On The Fame is such a great book! It's filled with humor, charm and spunk. Can't wait for your next book!
ReplyDeleteI've met Jennifer Weiner
ReplyDeleteI would love to meet pretty much any of my favorite authors: Mary Higgins Clark, Janet Evanovich, Terri Blackstock, James Patterson, Mary Kay Andrews, Emily Griffin, etc. etc. etc. I haven't read Tracie's book yet, but I wouldn't be surprised to like her book as well, judging from the reviews.
ReplyDeleteGreat article!
ReplyDeleteLove ya, Tracie!
I haven't met any people generally considered celebrities, unless you count David Janzen (ecologist) and E. O. Wilson.
ReplyDeleteI've met many celebrities because I live in Los Angeles, and there are celebrities all over the city all the time. One of my favorites was Dustin Hoffman because we were at a play, and he was hiding out in the lobby during intermission. I noticed him hiding, kind of like a fish ducking in and out of an alcove waiting for the crowd to go back to their seats, so I grabbed a theater donation envelope and pen and ducked in on the other side of the alcove to lay in wait. After everyone else went in, Mr. Hoffman came out and so did I. I told him that I thought he was an amazing and wonderful actor. He smiled and looked flattered. I asked for his autograph, and he signed the envelope for me. I asked him whether he was enjoying the play. He said that he was. I said that I noticed he was yawning a lot so I thought that he wasn't enjoying it. He said that wasn't it. He was just tired because he just flew in that evening. We parted with some pleasantries as we went to our seats. Some of my coworkers were there and practically jumped me with comments and questions: We saw you with Dustin Hoffman. Wow! What were you talking about? I relayed our conversation. I almost felt like I was a celebrity.
ReplyDeleteNo celebrities around. No anybody much.
ReplyDeleteI met two of my favorite authors once at the KY Book Fair. Tonya Kappes & Jane Porter!! both so wonderful & sweet. i was in awe of both of them.
ReplyDeleteyes, it was fun
ReplyDelete