"Malibu Bluff"

Janna King is a screenwriter, playwright, and director. She has written TV movies and series for Lifetime and The Hallmark Channel, King World and more. Her two short films, “Mourning Glory” and “The Break Up,” which she wrote, directed and produced, were official selections at several film festivals.

King's debut novel is The Seasonaires.

She applied the Page 69 Test to her new novel, Malibu Bluff, and reported the following:

Malibu Bluff is the follow-up to my debut novel, The Seasonaires which centers on six young brand ambassadors for Lyndon Wyld, a fictional clothing line. These twenty-somethings are hired to live the dream life in beautiful spots around the world during vacation seasons. On Page 69, new seasonaires peruse the gorgeous Malibu bluff-top manse that’s been rented for them, divvying up oceanfront bedrooms. Mia is the sole holdover from the previous summer in Nantucket, having won the opportunity to return because she racked up the most social media followers. After the tragedy that occurred last season, Mia, a fledgling clothing designer, was hesitant to join the team in Malibu, so her chic tigress boss sweetened the deal with a contract for her own collection and an extravagant work space in the house.

Mia is simultaneously awed by the space and a bit uncomfortable that her accommodations are better than those of the other seasonaires, save for Brandon who is producing Lyndon Wyld’s digital channel. Brandon also happens to be the son of Lyndon’s media mogul business partner, so he is accustomed to preferential treatment like the studio that’s been set up for him. He teases Mia about her wholesome goal to productively “work.” Though he is ambitious in his own right, with a lot to prove to his famous father, he understands the crux of the seasonaires’ job.

“Work is play and play is work here. You know that,” he reminds Mia. His statement is true because the group is being handsomely paid to wear great clothes, bask in the sun, hang out at L.A.’s hot spots, and party with celebrities - making sure to post for their followers and fans. The digital channel has been added as extra entertainment, capturing all their exploits. However, like much of reality TV and social media, the line is blurred between what is real and what is staged. The novel explores the dangers of that ambiguity and the conundrum of image creation while offering up some juicy beach read drama.

Visit Janna King's website.

Coffee with a Canine: Janna King & Melvin and Olive.

The Page 69 Test: The Seasonaires.

--Marshal Zeringue