FOB writes Arkansas-based first novel (Linda Bloodworth-Thomason guaranteed barf alert)

Associated Press | September 8, 2004 | MELISSA NELSON

[HAL9000]

LITTLE ROCK — Linda Bloodworth Thomason hasn't been to Paris, Ark., but the town's name had a "poetic appeal" that prompted to her to use it as the setting of her first novel.

"I've made it to Paris, France, but not to Paris, Arkansas," she joked.

Thomason, co-creator of the television series "Designing Women" and "Evening Shade," says her novel about six friends who re-evaluate their lives around the time of their 40th birthdays is "an homage to people who live between New York and Los Angeles."

The book is about Southerners adapting to social change and its intent was to dispel some myths about rural Southerners, the southern Missouri native said.

Thomason and husband, Arkansas-native Harry Thomason, are perhaps best known as longtime friends of Bill and Hillary Clinton. They were part of a tight circle of FOBs — friends of Bill — throughout the Clinton administration.

But it was the current president who was among the first to receive a copy of her book. Leaders in Thomason's hometown of Poplar Bluff, Mo., had asked Thomason if they could use a refurbished historic home she owns as the site of a reception for George W. Bush when he campaigned there Monday. Thomason said she agreed on the condition that he be given a copy of the book.

Thomason said she didn't know if Bush would actually read the book, but that she thought it would be good for him to read about some of the themes it explores.

"It includes some provocative social issues," she said.

Flying to Little Rock from California to promote the book, Thomason found herself stretched between greeting old friends, attending a charity event and a series of hastily arranged media interviews.

"I loved writing the book but I don't like doing the promotion so much," she said.

"Never take a picture of a woman over 50 when she's sitting down," she directed a photographer, putting off answering questions about the book for fear of having a photograph taken with her mouth open.

Photos out of the way — sitting in front of the Old Statehouse in downtown Little Rock, the site of Clinton's 1992 and 1996 presidential victory speeches — she takes questions while traveling in an SUV driven by her husband.

"I've written more than 300 half-hour television scripts and had to feed that monster every day for years. I loved writing the book because it gave me time to explore the characters and who they were, who they might be and where they were going. I didn't know how it would end as I was writing it," she said.

Writing the book differed from writing screenplays in part because actors develop a character beyond what a writer brings to script, she said. Without actors, Thomason said she was left to fully develop the characters on her own.

"But I never had one of my book characters refuse to come out of their dressing room," she said.

Plans for a movie based on the book are already in the works and she is in talks with actors including Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Costner and Malvern-native Billy Bob Thornton for the various roles.

In the meantime, she plans begin directing her first feature film. "Southern Comfort" will be shot in and around Little Rock. It stars Demi Moore, Sissy Spacek, Alan Cumming and Melissa Etheridge and is based on an award-winning documentary about transgender Southerners and their relationships.

Spacek plays a female-to-male transsexual who falls for Cumming's character, a male-to-female transsexual.

And Thomason, who created Clinton campaign documentary "The Man from Hope," continues to work on films for the Clinton Presidential Library, which opens Nov. 18.

"It's just him and the camera, a total reflection of him," she said, dashing from the SUV into a hotel and on to her next appearance.

[backhoe]

Markie Post and Linda Bloodworth- jumping on the bed in the Lincoln Bedroom......

[lilylangtree]

Another clintoonian woman surfacing her ugly head again. Vomit!

[CaptainK]

Class......less.

[Lx]

Thomason, co-creator of the television series "Designing Women" and "Evening Shade," says her novel about six friends who re-evaluate their lives around the time of their 40th birthdays is "an homage to people who live between New York and Los Angeles."

The Big Chill, Southern edition? How original.

[uvular]

Gosh, ap will write about anyone this week that has a connection to Monica's boyfriend. So sorry Linda had to go through this hell-interview...hah!