Her novels Maneater and The Starter Wife have made the jump from the page to the small screen, and her latest tome, Queen Takes King, is set in New York City and is equally juicy. LA native and the former wife of superstar producer Brian Grazer, Gigi Levangie Grazer has captivated the masses with her wickedly funny yet charming tales of the rich and famous.
LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL: Do you still get excited seeing your books debut and watching your projects translate to television?
GIGI LEVANGIE GRAZER: It’s thrilling. I’m a girl from the other side of Los Angeles–you know, riding the RTD, not in the back of a Bentley. I’m so grateful I’ve had the chance to live my dream of writing books in the first place.
LAC: How do you keep coming up with ideas that resonate with the masses? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?
GLG: If I’ve had writer’s block, I don’t know it because I’ve got kids. If I’m not writing, it’s because I’m at this basketball practice or that Little League game or someone has a cold. I’m so happy to be writing by the time I sit down, I can’t afford to be “blocked.”
LAC: How does LA continue to inspire your work?
GLG: LA is like a beautiful actress who doesn’t work enough. Underneath the pristine surface live all kinds of crazy. I love that things aren’t what they seem.
LAC: Being a LA native, what are your favorite things about the city?
GLG: We have the best yoga classes because they play music—happy music, hip-hop music, angry, fun, loud music! I love Maha Yoga and YogaHop. I love the Riviera for tennis. And am I wrong or does everyone seem happy here? Maybe there’s Xanax in the water.
LAC: What’s up next for you now that Queen Takes King is out?
GLG: I’m writing a children’s series and working on a novel about twentysomethings. My 23-year-old nephew moved in with me a couple of years ago. He’s since moved to Venice, but boy did he leave stories behind.
