The Showrunner is a work of suspense fiction that puts a modern spin on the theme of female ambition explored in the classic film All About Eve. Set in contemporary Los Angeles, the novel presents a darkly humourous, Hollywood-noir story about three strong-willed women: the two co-creators of a hit TV show locked in a battle to destroy each other, and the actress who comes between them.
Rising-star showrunner Stacey McCreedy has one goal: to leave behind her nerd-girl origins and become a power player — like Ann Dalloni, her former mentor and current producing partner. Ann, meanwhile, is feeling her age and losing her mind. But she’ll be damned if she cedes control of their hit primetime TV show to Stacey.
After Ann hires Jenna, a young actress hoping to restart her stalled career, the relationship between Ann and Stacey deteriorates into a blood feud. Soon, Jenna must choose whom to support and whom to betray to achieve her own ends. And Stacey will find out if she possesses the killer instinct that’s needed to stay on top.
Praise for The Showrunner:
“The Showrunner has all the drama of All About Eve and the attention to detail of The Devil Wears Prada. Moritsugu nails the California sun-drenched anorexic ethos. She rivals Nathanael West’s fabulous descriptions of Hollywood where the hopefuls become twisted by their own ambitions.”
– Catherine Gildiner, bestselling author of Too Close to the Falls and Coming Ashore
“I am addicted to Kim Moritsugu’s writing. I love her clever wit, her quick, light pacing, her chick lit that’s written with flawless literary skill. The Showrunner is my favourite of her books yet … the plot is so delicious. I read The Showrunner in a few days, catching every spare second I could to get back into the pages that had me hooked from beginning to end.” – Robin Spano, author of the Clare Vengel Undercover novels
“Moritsugu pulls no punches in this delightfully twisty tale …” – Booklist
“Kim Moritsugu’s entertaining crime drama The Showrunner unapologetically explores Hollywood’s superficial show-business lifestyle, showing just how deadly ambition can be …The Showrunner is a sophisticated, compelling, and surprisingly complex drama.” – Foreword Reviews
“A walk on the dark side of television production can actually be quite entertaining and witty in the hands of Canadian author Kim Moritsugu … In The Showrunner, Moritsugu has written a compelling, suspenseful tale that bares the tawdry aspects of showbiz politics.” – Winnipeg Free Press
“Another deftly crafted and riveting novel by an author with a genuine flair for inherently engaging and unfailingly entertaining narrative driven storytelling.” – Midwest Book Review
Utterly engaging, the story gradually shows its teeth as each character’s personality and intentions come clear – from first to last there are clear likes and dislikes – and each character moves into the position of primacy, while not completely engendering empathy because all three are so calculated and calculating. – I am Indeed book blog
Once you start, you won’t be able to stop, as it compulsively drives you forward with its dark humor and jaw dropping moments. It surprises while it entertains, leaving the “viewing audience” with something to ponder after the “series finale”. – Insatiable Readers book blog
Currently available through your favorite bookseller, and at Amazon.ca , Amazon.com , and Kobo.
