Catherine Bator's Debut Novel "A Good, Hard Slap" Released

Set in January 1930, the novel follows seven women connected to the stenography pool at the fictional Kaplan Talking Pictures studio. These women, whose lives are intertwined with the transition from silent films to talkies, are thrust into a dangerous struggle to protect one of their own from a murder that shakes the studio's foundation.

The novel centers on Gracie Perkins, an ambitious stenographer at Kaplan Talking Pictures, and her supervisor, Madeleine Singer. As the women of the steno pool navigate the studio's publicity machine, they find themselves in a race against time to uncover the truth behind Garland Westover's murder. The women's plan initially appears to work, but as the studio's publicity department manufactures its own account, the women's situation becomes increasingly perilous.

"A Good, Hard Slap" explores the experiences of women in the early Hollywood studio system, pre-dating the #MeToo movement. The novel delves into themes of abuse, accountability, and the power dynamics within the industry. Bator, who worked in the film industry, brings her firsthand experience to life through vivid descriptions of stenography offices, costume departments, and publicity schemes.

The novel has received critical acclaim, including the Literary Titan Gold Book Award. The novel is available for purchase through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as other retailers including iBooks, Kobo, Baker and Taylor, Gardiners, eSentral, and Vearsa through Book Baby's distribution network.

In a related development, the 19th Annual Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition, which has recognized numerous writers over the years, is open for submissions. The competition, which offers a first-place prize of $10,000, aims to help many of the writers that place in the competition. The winners are typically announced shortly after the submission deadline.

The competition has a history of success, having previously awarded the 2016 National Indie Excellence Award, the 2016 Beach Book Festival Winner, and the 2016 Amsterdam Book Festival Winner, among others. The 2026 competition is open to all aspiring screenwriters, with the winners set to be announced in the coming months.

In another Hollywood-related news item, Delicia, a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, has turned her attention to a new project. Delicia stars as "Delilah" in Celia Fox's "Days of Wrath," which premiered at the Los Angeles Latino Film Festival. The film features an impressive cast, including Wilder Valderrama, Laurence Fishbourne, Taye Diggs, Amber Valetta, and Melyssa Ford.