Reviews/Press, pg 5
Author Irene Zutell inspired by celebrity headlines in her new book
by Atina Hartunian
When author Irene Zutell moved from the bustle, hustle and color of New York City to the quiet suburbs of the San Fernando Valley, needless to say, it took some getting used to.
“I find the Valley strange,” admits the author, “there are things I’m not used to. Like the first thing I noticed when I moved out here was you never really see people outside — which is bizarre. People in New York are always outside in front of their yards.”
Zutell, who grew up in New York, moved to the Valley practically the day after she got married. In her 13 years of living in Woodland Hills, she has made some great friends but still comes across some strange and surreal behaviors. Some of these tidbits have made an appearance into her most recent novel, Pieces of Happily Ever After.
A journalist turned novelist, Zutell found the inspiration and subject matter for her recent book when a neighbor at the time was suddenly all over the media news outlets.
“Do you remember that whole thing with Danny and Vera Moder some time ago? Well, Vera’s husband, Danny Moder, left her for Julia Roberts. It was a whole scandal. What I found fascinating was how many people felt that the wife shouldn’t have let her husband work with Julia Roberts. It’s work! Why wouldn’t she? They were married and she wouldn’t have to worry,” states Zutell.
The story in the novel runs along the same lines.
“I thought it was fascinating that this woman was thrust into the spotlight. And now has to start over again.”
In fact, the novel begins with Alice as she tries to barricade herself inside her house with her 5-year-old daughter; trying to maintain a certain sense of privacy while the paparazzi is just outside the door.
We find her already come undone as she recounts the story of how her husband had left her for a high profile celebrity. It seems that everything is crumbling around our heroine all at the same time. The sky has truly fallen.
We follow Alice as she struggles to keep some composure for her daughter who is obsessed with all sorts of fairy tales — a quirk included from the author’s own life. And for some reason, Alice holds on to the notion that her marriage and her husband have just taken a break. That her husband, Alex, will come back and everything will be perfect just like it was: a new Happily Ever After for All —but that’s not the case.
Pieces of Happily Ever After is essentially a story about overcoming betrayal. What is supposed to be a private process is now splashed all over the media.