Maybe I was born with a pen in my hand, writing stories. My parents recall my childish scrawls about adventures of friends and neighbors. My first boss, managing editor of California’s Indio Daily News told me, at 14, “Study journalism because writing is in your blood.” My college degrees were all communication focused—BA from the University of Washington, MA from University of Southern California and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Hollywood’s bright glare also was a draw from my first full newspaper feature about The Big Fisherman movie filming in the desert near my home, to being L.A. bureau manager and field correspondent for the New York Times Special Features Syndicate covering the entertainment field, an editor for Warner Communication movie magazines, and Hollywood Reporter correspondent. But the first dozen professional years were spent in the unique and singularly thrilling journalism job as a “legwoman” or assistant to then the country’s most widely read Hollywood columnist. Those amazing people and experiences inspire my mystery work today.

 

Evolving into a high tech and social marketing consultant across the country, then college professor, I’ve always found interesting anecdotes to be told about a unique product, fascinating person, travel or research. It seemed logical to branch into writing fiction when I retired from teaching at Hawaii Pacific University. And more logical to delve into the fascination of Hollywood and mystery.

 

I live in Honolulu, Hawaii, and am also engaged in other right-brained activities – singing, dancing and painting!

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Interviews & Other Links
 

• Check my Author Page on BookBub for news about future Meredith Ogden Hollywood adventures and other books.

• KITV, November, 2023, "Aging Well: Kailua author says writing is the key to longevity"

• Midweek, August, 2023, "Kailua Author Pens Third Mystery Novel"

• Think Tech Hawaii, September, 2022, "The Pen is Mightier Than the Virus"