They say laughter is the best medicine, and when author Elaine Franklin found the news of the day to grim to bear, she found the antidote in writing fiction. The result of her efforts, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," is a frothy balm for readers looking for escapism with a little dose of social commentary.
Barbara and Elaine discuss the inspiration behind the book, the importance of humor in writing, character development, and the editing process. The conversation also touches on the evolving perceptions of aging and the importance of representation in literature.
Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Beverly-Hills/dp/B0BJTJ3654
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Elaine Franklin and Her Book
03:29 The Inspiration Behind 'Once Upon a Time in Beverly Hills'
05:27 Character Development and Real-Life Inspirations
07:59 The Writing Process and Audience Engagement
10:13 Editing Insights and the Role of an Editor
12:44 The Importance of Humor in Writing
15:49 Future Projects and Aging Gracefully
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.