Review: The Beginning...Not the End The Beginning... Not the End, Volume 1 - these seniors are sexy, strong, and so, so, passionate. I particularly enjoyed Joyce's story in Young at Heart, but all three had me smiling, laughing, and at times, tearing up a bit from the tender emotions rendered by Charmaine Gordon so perfectly. Three generations of my family are now begging for more mature romances from Charmaine Gordon. -- Betty Matheson Three Stories of Mature Love, Romance, and Suspense Instant Grandpa Summer at the Jersey Shore just got hotter... Take one widower grandfather, add two little grandkids, and widowed grandmother with a small granddaughter. Mix well. Stir in sun drenched beach days and moonlit nights. What have you got? A kite flying high with a new tail; an author writing a book to sort out emotions; a talented boy with his mother returned to claim the prize. Young at Heart Seventy year old Joyce Campbell expected her new left hip to heal at Helen Hayes Rehabilitation. What she didn't expect was to fall in love with the distinguished silver haired Collin Brody who wouldn't give her a second glance. Until Kizzy, the therapy dog comes into Collin's life...and into his heart. What happens next? The Beginning, Not the End. Before the Final Curtain Once lovers, aging actors collide on stage as stars in a romantic comedy written and directed by a manipulative director. Add to the mix the talented assistant, a tough stage manager, one prominent costume designer, two young actors, secrets and gossip. Show business. There's no business like it.
About the Author: Years of experience as an actor on daytime drama, stage, spokesperson and commercials plus writing sketches for Air Force shows helped prepare me for the wonders of a writing career. Of course, I didn't realize it at the time when immersed in the written words of others, that I was like a sponge, soaking up how to construct a scene, write dialogue, and paint the setting. My writing effort came later when I wrote a two page story, sent it to son, Paul who commented, "Cool. Can you write ten pages?" Seemed impossible but the story poured from my fingers and seventy thousand words later, I typed The End. I kissed my acting career goodbye, leaving on a high note with the lead in an Off Broadway play, "The Fourth Commandment" author Rich Knipe. It was great fun and time to move on. Movies like "Working Girl", "Road to Wellsville" and having the pleasure of Anthony Hopkins company at lunch, working with Mike Nichols in "Regarding Henry" and singing outside with Harrison Ford, crying with Gene Wilder over loss on another set, When "Harry Met Sally" with the whole gang singing It Had to Be You. Lots of fond memories. My first job as stand-in leg model for Geraldine Ferraro in a Diet Pepsi commercial with Secret Service men guarding her and her daughters. A sweet time. I'm a senior, when did that happen? And decided there are a gazillion stories about slim women and hunks in love but none about Mature Romance. So I wrote one, had a ball while doing it and instead of writing the End, I wrote The Beginning. . .Not The End. A series was born. Instant Grandpa is the first followed by Young at Heart and now Before the Final Curtain.