From the palm tree lined Sunset Boulevard to the sprawling Hollywood Hills mansions to the trendy Rodeo Drive boutiques comes a tale as can only be told by an ex-Hollywood insider – and Michael Holloway Perronne is just our man!

We spoke to the author about his new novel Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga – a book that deals with the ups, downs, in betweens, and insanity that is making it in Hollywood - coming out, celebrity crushes and exactly how far he'd go for fame!

Your latest book, Starstruck, has just been published. What can we expect from the book?
It’s a campy thrill ride with twists and turns that includes insights into what it’s like to work in Hollywood and live in Los Angeles. Ultimately though, I think it’s a book about love, redemption, forgiveness - and a lot of trash.

It’s set in the crazy world of Hollywood. As a Southern Belle, what drew you to the location?
I packed up the car right after graduate school and drove out to L.A. to pursue screenwriting. Part of this was to fulfil my dream of working in the entertainment industry, and the other part was just to live somewhere new and see more of the world. I had lived all of my life within an hour’s drive of my hometown in Mississippi, and I yearned to expand my horizons.

What made you write Starstruck?
I had just finished working on a project with a very serious tone, and I wanted to write something fun and light that people could just kick back and enjoy.

The blurb for the book says that Starstruck is as tale that “can only be told by an ex-Hollywood insider!” So who’s your source / inspiration?
I worked for five years in the entertainment industry and started off as a Production Assistant – the lowest ranked person on the staff. I saw everything from an actress having a tantrum because there were no Doritos on the craft service table to an actor threaten to commit suicide so we’d all be out of a job. All of these antics and crazy stories served as my inspiration for the novel. While the entire book is fiction, it’s definitely all things that very well could happen.

The book’s all about fame and secrets. So how far would you go for fame?
Get engaged to Tom Cruise. Oh, wait! Katie already beat me to it. Oh, well. On to the next one.

Go on, tell us a secret?
Sometimes late at night when I’m by myself, I’ll eat peanut butter right out of the jar.

There’s an interesting mix of characters in the book – a closeted gay actor, ex-hooker, a handsome and rugged producer. Which one do you identify with?
I think there’s a little bit of me in all of those characters actually. Just like Derek, the closeted actor, I had to deal with accepting my sexuality at one point. I’m driven like Carrington, the ex-hooker turned actress, and I’d have to say I’m very loyal as Jake, the producer, is. So part of me can identify with all of them.

If you had to name names, who would you want to get Starstruck with?
Definitely Robert Gant from the US version of Queer As Folk. Not only is he well spoken and handsome, but he’s openly gay, too. Yum! Back in the late nineties I wanted to live la vida loca with Ricky Martin, but then he performed at Bush’s first inauguration. I felt betrayed!

Talking of crushes, who was your first famous gay crush on?
Greg Louganis at the 1984 Olympics. Those eyes! That body! The speedo!

Ian McKellen recently said that he thinks Hollywood actors who remain in the closet are harming their careers because they’re lying to themselves and their audience. Would you agree?
I think they’re probably harming themselves the most. The stress it must take to live a double life like that, while being in the public eye, must be tremendous. What that must do to someone emotionally and spiritually, I can’t even imagine. Of course, by staying in the closet they also perpetuate the myth that there is something wrong with being gay - for loving another man or woman.

One of your characters has to survive the aftermath of a full-on public media outing. What do you think about public outings?
I take a mixed stance on this. I believe we have to respect people’s privacy, but on the other hand, the best way we can combat homophobia is for more people to come out of the closet.

If someone is a public figure, closeted, and pursuing an anti-gay rights agenda, I believe they and their hypocrisy should be exposed.

So, why do so many gay men and women remain in the closet?
I think there’s still a lot of fear out there. A lot of it may be cultural, religious, and like in my novel, for career reasons. Unfortunately, as long as we continue to hide we help the conservative right move forward with their agenda. Respect is often not given to people unless it’s demanded.

What can we do to change that attitude?
The more people that come out, the more it will inspire others to do the same. 

Was coming out for you a liberating experience?
Definitely. I came out at 17 in the American Deep South, Mississippi, which is a very conservative part of the country. Fortunately, I was blessed to be born into a very supportive loving family. It was great for me to be so open about who I was at such an early age. 

Who are some of your favourite authors? What books would you recommend to readers who liked your book?
I love a lot of the books by E. Lynn Harris and Jim Grimsley. The last book I just simply couldn’t put down was Almost Like Being In Love by Steve Kluger. It was the sweetest most romantic gay novel I’ve ever read and not to mention hilarious. I would highly recommend it.

David Leavitt recently suggested that gay books and bookshops are a relic of the past and no longer relevant or needed by the gay community. Would you agree?
First, I love many of David Leavitt’s writings, but I completely disagree with him on this topic. Gay books and bookshops are still a very vital important part of our community, and we need them. They serve as community gathering places for us. They’re extremely important for young people and others who want a safe environment to browse through gay literature, and they are staffed by people who know gay literature versus a huge chain store that may only have a few shelves devoted to gay books. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the support of small independent bookstores. They’re more willing to take a chance on new authors.

I disagree with Leavitt, too, concerning gay books. Of course, we still need them, and the reason is simple. Our lives are still, for the most part, ignored by the mainstream media. We need books, movies, and television shows that represent our lives- not just straight society.

And finally, what's next for you?
I’m working on the sequel to my debut novel, A Time Before Me. In it my protagonist, Mason, is dealing with turning thirty and reconnecting with an old love from his past. It should be out next year!

Read our review of Starstruck.

Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga, by Michael Holloway Perronne
Publisher: Lightning Source UK Ltd
Released: 29 June 2005
ISBN: 0977050602

Photos by Geronimo Quitoriano, www.gpolaroid.com

Buy Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga and delve into the closeted world of homo Hollywood. Fabulous. Buy it online and save some money to put towards Perronne's first novel, A Time Before Me.