Hollywood Hustle, the debut thriller by Jon Lindstrom
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!
Don’t miss any debut author interviews, click the link here for more.
Hollywood Hustle by Jon Lindstrom
From 4-time Emmy-nominated actor Jon Lindstrom of General Hospital, Bosch, and True Detective fame, comes a gripping debut thriller.
Set in the dark underbelly of the LA film industry, Hollywood Hustle is the perfect read for fans of Alex Finlay and Jeffrey Deaver.
Winston Greene, a has-been film star, wakes one morning to find his six-year-old granddaughter at his bedside—traumatized, unattended, and gripping onto a thumb drive. She comes bearing video proof that her mother, Win’s troubled adult daughter, has been kidnapped by a murderous gang demanding all his “movie money” for her safe return. But what they don’t know is…his movie money is long gone.
Unable to go to the police for fear the kidnappers will make good on their promise to kill his daughter, Winston turns to two close friends—a legendary Hollywood stuntman and a disgraced former LAPD detective.
There’s no easy way out for Winston or his daughter—the gang is violent and willing to do anything to get the money they’re after, and Winston begins to realize that to get his daughter back, he’ll have to beat the kidnappers at their own game.
This propulsive and tense thriller will transport readers to the seedier side of LA, depicted in bold prose by a Hollywood insider.
To purchase Hollywood Hustle click either link: Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Interview with the Author of Hollywood Hustle: Jon Lindstrom
Hollywood Hustle is set in “the dark underbelly of the LA film industry” an industry you know intimately. Is your dark version of Hollywood pure fiction? Or are you incorporating the gritty side of Hollywood that people outside the industry never see?
Some fiction, some fact.
I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the artists I’ve known who have blown up their lives and careers because of substance abuse. Many of them you’ve never heard of, but I can say now that one inspiration for Winston Greene is Tom Sizemore. A hugely talented guy who just couldn’t stay clean long enough to keep his career arc on track, and man, he was as gifted as they come.
For my criminals, I suppose they could be seen as a bit extreme, but given the research I did on kidnappings, and what we know people will do for money, I don’t think they’re much of a stretch. I think my point was “Hollywood” represents such a brass ring to so many, it’s no wonder people will try just about anything to get the rewards.
Hollywood Hustle centers on Winston Greene, what would you like readers to know about him?
That Winston has as many failings, frailties, strengths and dreams as anyone. And that even after all his ups and downs, he’d still like to leave a good legacy for himself and his family.
With Hollywood Hustle, you went from Emmy-nominated actor to novelist, how did that transition come about?
Boy, that’s a looooong story, but if I were to really unpack it, I can say that every endeavor I’ve undertaken has been a direct result of, and even been somewhat prepared for, something that came before it.
I loved movies, especially Film Noir, so I learned to act. As I started to work, I’d spend a lot of time in dressing rooms being bored, basically watching myself grow older. So, since I’d always been interested in filmmaking, I started making short films and writing screenplays.
My first script was really just about writing a movie I would want to watch. That one got made (The Hard Easy) which ultimately led me to direct an indie feature (How We Got Away with It).
All of that gave me a deeper understanding of things like motivation and intention, and that led (I hope) to an even deeper understanding of plot, story, and structure.
Finally, I fell into audiobook narration, and it was reading authors that really inspired me (Alex Finlay, Don Winslow, Blake Crouch) that I finally worked up the gumption to try my hand at a novel. In fact, it was Alex who pointed me in the right direction and told me what to do. He’s become a good friend, and I owe him a lot.
You have worked on some terrific shows, including General Hospital, Bosch, and True Detective. Do you have a favorite character, episode, or scene (or backstage moment) that you can share with us?
I will say playing Ryan Chamberlain on GH has always been one of my favorite characters, but there’s so many wonderful memories to list here. I’ve been blessed to work with some amazing talents, Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Wendie Malick, Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane.
I do remember one time shooting True Detective in the Lloyd Wright-designed John Sowden house in Los Feliz. The scene took all day to be shot only to be cut from the series (which isn’t that unusual), but during a break between setups, I was hanging around on set. Colin and I didn’t know each other, at all, but you’re there so you may as well talk. He’s really a lovely, generous guy.
One of the crew mentioned that the house is where The Black Dahlia was presumably murdered in the basement. Colin and I looked at each other and I said, “You want to go?” He said, “Yeah!” in his Irish brogue, and off we went to explore the rumored murder scene.
I’ve always felt that’s indicative of why I write what I write, that interest in the dark side. And I can safely say we both got a chill down there.
What’s something about you that people find surprising to learn?
That I was a drummer for several years in a band made up of unemployed actors called The High Lonesome, and that we had two singles on the Billboard Hot 100, back when that was a thing.
What are you working on now—both in TV/Film and literature?
I still do General Hospital, which I have a ball doing. And I’m always writing (working on my second novel now and planning my third) and I’m attached to act in a couple feature films. (All they need is money. Ha!)
So much of showbiz is waiting, waiting, and waiting some more, then in a flash it’s, “Okay … GO!” I’m very lucky to be in a place now where every day I get to do something that I love.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
Give yourself permission to be the writer you dream to be. You may be the next genius that raises everyone’s bar. Fall in love with that feeling of inspired creativity. It’s there for a reason. And be true to yourself. If you don’t think what you write fits any trend, so what? It’s honest, and someone will get it, eventually.
Great advice!
Author Pet Corner!
I have two pets, and they’re both rescues. Noodle is a Maltese/Poodle mix and totally addicted to people.
Schmidt the cat is a gray Tabby, less snuggly than Noodle, but still gets as
much as he wants, when he wants it. And, amazingly, they get along great.
I think one reason is when Schmidt was rescued (right off the street at only 4 weeks old) he was so tiny that Noodle didn’t know what he was.
Jon Lindstrom — Author of Hollywood Hustle
Jon Lindstrom is a 4-time Emmy-nominated actor, a published author, an award-winning filmmaker, and occasionally a drummer.
By most accounts, he is also a pretty nice guy. He lives mostly in Los Angeles, which is what he mostly writes about: The good people, the bad people, the business of show and the experience of living in sunny, seductive, corrupt LA.
Feel free to investigate his endeavors and/or subscribe to his newsletter at www.jonlindstrom.com.
To learn more about Jon click on any of the following links: website, Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook.
Or you can find all of his links on LinkTree.
Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
