CONTESSA: A Bombshell of an "as told to" book.
The novel CONTESSA is the fictional, as-told-to autobiography of a famous film and theater mega star who recounts for the first time her early years leading up to international stardom.
This popular film star confesses how she started out in life as a man who knew from a very early age that he was really a “she” locked in the body of a “he”. His major problem was his father, an Arkansas bootlegger and local godfather, whose idea of a cure for his son’s affliction would be a lobotomy. The son escapes and his road to womanhood and subsequent fame is a tale of strength, courage, intrigue and adventure. CONTESSA examines the life trials of a young man who realizes that the keys to freedom for him must be fought for one by one.
This highly unusual book spotlights the bigotry, ignorance, self-righteousness and absurdity society forces certain of its members to endure. At the end of the book, Contessa questions what her life would have been like if she had remained a man. “Where would I be today? What kind of life would I have led all these years? How happy would I be today?”
The Rambles Literary Review states: “The basic idea behind this book is fascinating. The exploration of the conflict experienced by young Clyde / Contessa is handled exceptionally well, and this character is an alluring, engaging figure. The experiences of violence, sexual prejudice and lack of reason are shocking, and, I feel, quite realistic in their nature. Underneath it all, CONTESSA conveys a great message of social significance.”
The Lambda Book Report says, “Imagine if one of your favorite female movie stars was revealed to have begun life as a man. That is the premise of Jack Fitzgerald’s novel. And an impressive read it is. Fast paced, his story is filled with some of the most colorful, memorable and unforgettable characters I’ve come across in a long time. CONTESSA is not only a fascinating page-turner but would make a very significant film.”
Jack Fitzgerald is also the author of two other books: PARIS PLAYS and VIVA LA EVOLUCION. He lived for ten years in France where he founded The Paris English Theatre. He is the author of many stage plays and screenplays.
The International Herald Tribune writes, “Fitzgerald has an uncanny knack of capturing American types and speech. It is in their conversations and present-day mores that Fitzgerald’s talent shines.”
A POST FROM JACK, THE AUTHOR OF CONTESSA.
The world of transgender people has changed for the better in the last twenty years. Up until the early 1990s, a transsexual was someone who for the most part had to hid themselves from society. They were thought of as freaks and jokes abounded about them. Moreover, they had little protection and many were murdered. If books appeared about these people, the transsexual subjects were portrayed as pitiful, unhappy and marginal people whom happiness was only a dreamed-about state of being.
Things have changed quite a bit in the last ten years. Transsexuals are now in every facet of society. Many are making their crossovers at an earlier age and therefore are more glamorous than their. predecessors. The present-day transsexual is no longer hiding. They now have clubs, weekly meetings, magazines and a lot of books written about them.
My book CONTESSA was written so as to give the transsexual community a much needed lift in spirit. The main character is not to be pitied but to be enjoyed for actually having succeeded in life. I am convinced my book would make a very worthwhile motion picture. For that to happen though, people have to read CONTESSA and some producer must fall in love with the story. I invite you to get a copy and see for yourself that CONTESSA is a great human-interest story.
Feel free to comment on the blog here. Ask any question and I'll do my best to answer it. In my next blog I will give you background information about how CONTESSA came to be. I'll also start a CONTESSA FAN CLUB where you can find out all sorts of trivia about this great star. (Of course it's all fantasy but that's the fun behind the CONTESSA legend.)
Be sure to visit http://www.jackfitzgerald.com and read about all the plays, screenplays and other books I have written. Here's a blog that deals with my book VIVA LA EVOLUCION. http://vivaevolucion.blogspot.com
Its title is in Spanish but the book is written in hilarious English. If you like political and social satire, you might like to check this blog out.
Until our next CONTESSA get together,
Jack
P.S. I've put below some information on how to have a great time if you are visiting West Hollywood, CA.
Join Gay West Hollywood’s Transgender Community On Facebook:
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