When I wrote Hourglass one of the bits I enjoyed the most was the chapter headings. I used snippets of scripts from the TV show and movie the characters star in and other stuff. Like this:

The set of the new hit show Hourglass is a busy hive of activity, but the two stars of the show, Ash Morden, known to viewers as the idealistic young lawyer on the popular drama Crimes of Passion, and Lee Simons, in his first major role, kindly agreed to be interviewed for Star Chat during a break in filming the season one finale—and no, I'm not giving away any spoilers, folks.

I asked handsome blond Ash how it felt to be the star after so many supporting roles, and he looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes. (And yes, ladies, they're as blue as they look on screen!)

"Patty, every role, every character I play, is a star in their minds, the star of the show that is their life. I try to portray that."

"So what you're saying is that you don't mind how big or small the role is, because you can still make it your own?"

He smiled at me, and I'll admit my heart skipped a beat. His character, Steve York, is a rich businessman with a playboy streak who gets a social conscience—and a new girl every week—and it's no secret that Morden is a ladies' man himself, seen in all the right places with a string of models and movie stars. "That's exactly it, Patty."

I turned to the young man fans are swooning over and asked this rising star how being discovered by Ben Adler has changed his life. Pushing back his riot of curly hair (it's rumored those brown locks have a section in his contract) he looks at me with eyes two shades lighter than the hair and smiles. It's like being hit by a searchlight.

"Ever won the lottery?"

I tell him that if I had, I wouldn't be here talking to them, I'd be on a beach in Hawaii, and they laugh, exchanging warmly friendly glances, an easy camaraderie already evident between them.

[Extract from Star Chat April 1999 issue]