Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey

By Kathleen Walker

Jack Hamilton is a musician living in the San Fernando Valley with his girlfriend, Tara, where they both pursue careers in the entertainment world. Approaching 30 and determined to prove to family and friends, and to himself, that he has what it takes to make it in a 'guitarists are a dime a dozen' business, Jack dreams of his bar band opening for a nationally touring big name band. Tara works full time in a local bank while trying to get a break as an actress in film or television. Their dreams collide when Tara's comes to fruition first and she leaves Jack. He must then lick the wounds of his torn, tattered heart and turn things around with determination to prove Tara and everyone else wrong that he'll never be anything more than a neighborhood bar musician for tips.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kathleen Walker
• Release date: Sep 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463746346

Kathleen Walker

"Kathleen Walker is mom of three terrific kids who has spent the better part of her adult life raising the children and writing fiction and poetry in her spare time. The stories from a very overactive albeit twisted imagination have now come to fruition and are ready for the world to read. Poetry has been read by many all over the world in various poetry forums, publications and contests. Most recently seen in the March 1 and December 1, 2007 publications of "The Jimston Journal", placed in the top 20 of "The Secret Attic" poetry competition February 1, 2007, featured in the September 10, 2007 issue of "The Cats Meow For Writers And Readers", featured in the maiden issue of "The Far Side Of Midnight" January, 2008, received the prestigious Editors Choice Award in the May, 2008 issue of “The Enchanting Verses International”, featured in the Summer 2008 issue of literarymagic.net, and poetry featured in the Summer 2009 edition of “The Straightjackets”. “LifeLoveLust” is a poetry compilation published June 2009, http://lifelovelust.webs.com/ and available at Amazon. “The Triumph of Redemption” is a dark fiction short story appearing in the winter 2010 publication of “Strange Circle Magazine”. First novel "Random Encounters" is self published June, 2011; available at Amazon and lulu in both paperback and e-reader forms, and Smashwords for e-readers. "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" is band fiction released August, 2011 available at Amazon and Smashwords. She resides in the pristine beauty of North Idaho with two shamelessly pampered pooches."

Book preview

Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey

by

Kathleen Walker

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Titles by Kathleen Walker:

If I Weren’t So...

Still Wanted (sequel to If I Weren’t So...)

Bright Lights, Money & Showbiz, Honey

LifeLoveLust

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Accolades may be e-mailed to:

[e-mail]

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Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey copyright © 2006 by Kathleen Walker adapted from music by Roger Clyne, is pure fiction. All names are imaginary and any similarity to persons (living or dead), names of businesses or establishments, is coincidental.

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All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be reprinted, reproduced or transmitted in any form without express written consent of the author. If you wish a gift copy, please respect the author’s work and purchase another.

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Dedicated to independent musicians everywhere. Your determination to succeed in a corporate dominated artistic world inspires me. Rock on!

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Cover photo by P.H. Naffah

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A Sugar Momma Production

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Thank you, Gordy

I couldn't have done this without you

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Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey

by Kathleen Walker

CHAPTER 1

Jack woke and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Massive hangover! After too much party last night, he looked around for Tara. She wasn't in bed next to him. When he checked his watch he’d left on the night stand it was after 11:00 AM. Tara was long gone to work. He didn't even hear her leave. Gotta get myself together, he thought sleepily. Definitely will do that today. No more party hearty like last night. Gonna get a day job and get myself out of this night owl lifestyle. His thoughts trailed to how then he and Tara could have the same schedule and he could see more of her. He would be sure to tell her that today when she got home from work. Her job at the bank didn't pay the best, but it did pay the bills and any tips he got from playing with the band nights at local clubs paid for his binge drinking and partying.

Tara's dream job was in modeling or TV, but she hadn’t been able to get a break in the business. That was ok with Jack. He wanted to keep her right here all to himself.

Showered, shaved and dressed, Jack felt like a new man. He tidied up around the apartment and got a load of laundry done. Tara liked to come home to a clean apartment and could relax after putting up with bitchy customers all day. Jack remembered back to when he first met her, at the bank where she worked. When he walked up to her counter to cash his check and looked into her vibrant sparkling blue eyes, he was smitten. Her silky blond hair and innocent smile captivated him. They really weren't anything alike. Completely different backgrounds and lifestyles, but now Jack couldn't imagine life without her. He often thought her attraction was to his bad boy image. Playing in a rock band partying all night and not really having any other direction in his life, except when the next party was. Their chemistry was amazing and although Jack knew they were very different, he always thought that exact chemistry would keep them together.

Jack had started cooking dinner when he heard the key in the door. Tara's workday had ended and Jack met her at the door to make amends for going overboard last night.

Hey, baby! How was your day? Jack asked while planting a kiss on her lips as she came through the door.

Shitty, but thanks for asking. Mondays suck! Her surliness told Jack Tara was clearly not in a good mood. Major ass kissing would be in order.

I got some of your favorite cheesy tuna and noodles cooking. Sit down, baby. I'll get you a glass of wine. Jack knew a relaxing glass of wine would help to overcome this sour mood.

As Tara shuffled to the sofa and kicked off her shoes, the answering machine on the end table caught her eye.

Jack, didn't you check the messages today? The red light is blinking! I might have missed an important call. You know I've been waiting for my agent in LA to call me back. Tara was whining about the phone situation and was very irritated.

Strike two, Jack thought. At this point it was iffy that he would be able to change Tara's sour disposition.

She walked over to the answering machine and pushed the blinking button.

Tara, this is Mel Goldstein. I got you an audition for that new show we talked about. Call me as soon as you get this for details. You gotta be there on Thursday! Click.

Oh, ma' God! I gotta call Mel! Tara's mood suddenly changed and Jack was a little resentful he was not the one who changed it. After hanging up the phone from talking to her agent, Tara's enthusiasm was escalating.

I got an audition! I have so much to do before Thursday. I gotta get a haircut, manicure and pedicure, and buy a new dress! Jack, what do I do? I don't know where to start! Tara was beside herself with excitement. She hadn't been called for an audition for a long time, so she really wanted to make this count. She’d waited so long for a break.

How do I get there? Will you take me? I don't know if I could drive myself. I'll be too nervous! Tara was pacing now as she went through the steps in her head of how she would go about this.

Sure, I'll drive you baby. You know I'll do anything to help. Jack answered, while hoping it would all be for naught. The last thing he wanted was for Tara to land a regular job on a series. Where would that leave him? He didn't think he would really have to worry about it. Even though Tara was quite beautiful, there would be a thousand other young women going up for the same part, and she would be just one of many.

Are you ready for some dinner, babe? Jack hoped that would change the subject from all about Tara to the real world at hand.

I can't think about dinner now, I have too much to do to get ready for this. This could be my big break! Tara's excitement could not be contained.

Jack turned off the oven. He was sorely disappointed their quiet evening together had been spoiled.

Well, I guess I'll get going then. I should get to the club early to get a new playlist down. We're opening for Red Wing. Jack was excited to announce. Do you wanna come down tonight? As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Jack knew it was pointless to ask. The last thing Tara was gonna be interested in tonight was a smoky drunken bar with loud music. She was much too preoccupied with getting ready for Thursday.

No...no, you go ahead. I have to make plans. I'll see ya later, k? Tara wasn't even looking at him when she spoke, but turned and gave him a peck on the lips as she was off to the bedroom to plan for the big day.

Jack put on his beat up cowboy hat, grabbed his guitar case and was out the door. That hat looked like it had been through hell, but Jack was superstitious and thought it a good luck charm for the stage. He never played a night without it. The hardshell guitar case was dwarfed by his six foot two frame giving it an almost toy like appearance. There was a gentle breeze that blew his brown hair that hung just below his shoulders. He brushed a stray hair aside, tucking it up under the beat up hat. Women would pay big bucks at trendy salons for the smooth naturally straight hair he had. They also wanted to run their fingers through it, night after night when he played; they begged him to let them. He always stayed faithful to Tara.

As Jack started his walk up Ventura Boulevard to Mazy's, the local bar where his band Third World played regularly, the southern California sun was setting with a lingering hue of bright pink on the horizon. Jack loved living in this area and didn't mind the hustle and bustle of city life. As the warm evening air was clearing his thoughts, his sixth sense gave him a gnawing feeling in his stomach that life as he knew it was about to change dramatically.

Chapter 2

Jack thought it appropriate to end the night's set with a song he wrote about lost love. The lyrics rolled off his tongue like he was already living the heartache.

"Hollywood ain’t callin’ for me and it don’t look like she’s fallin’ for me...them city girls and me....ain’t meant to beeheee..."

After two hours of blasting music and strumming in the heat of the stage until sweat poured out of him, Jack sat down at a table to get to the bottom of a pitcher of beer with his band buddies. He was stoically quiet, and band bass player Blake noticed.

Man, I've never seen you speechless. We had a great set, but you're really quiet. What's up with that? Blake remarked as he gulped his beer.

I don't know. I think Tara's goin' in a different direction. All of a sudden she got a call for a new audition and it just feels weird. Like...I don't know. Like we're not gonna be the same. Jack was sullen and distant with his thoughts

Well, whatever. We've never been torn apart by a girl, right? We always come out smellin' like a rose, ya' know? Blake was confident as he held his glass of beer up to toast. Drummer Tom joined them and poured himself a glass of beer. His friends' optimism had Jack thinking maybe he was overreacting to the