Snowed Under Murder (A Sierra Pines B&B Mystery) by Kathryn Long | Character Guest Post

An Interview with the Hollywood Star Gossip

Tiffany Bertram: Good evening, Hollywood fans. This is Tiffany Bertram from the web magazine, Hollywood Star Gossip, delivering another juicy story from someone you might recognize…or if not, I’d bet you know who she’s related to. Ali, why don’t you state your name and give us a little background info.

Alexis Winston: Sure, my name is Alexis Winston. Yes. That Winston, the great granddaughter of the actress Julia Winston. My aunt loved being in show business during the golden Hollywood era. Those years of making movies with legendary directors like, Hitchcock, DeMille, and Capra, parties with stars like Bogart, Flynn, Garbo, Hepburn, and Grant. That is, Cary Grant. He’s the man who broke Julia’s heart, and that torrid affair made her quit Hollywood. She moved to Sierra Pines, turned the house she inherited into a B&B, and that’s her story…or it’s as much as I can share. Her memoir is being published soon. Of course, the ending to her story is really the new beginning of mine. Screen writer turned TV show researcher turned prop designer ends up—you guessed it—B&B owner. And honestly, I’m totally, thoroughly happy.

T.B.: Really, Miss Winston? You don’t miss all the glamor and the excitement?

A.W.: Well, sometimes, maybe. Every job in show business has its ups and downs. In my case, show cancelations in television are a big drawback. Or changes in directors, producers, sponsors. All of that can end a job in a heartbeat. I don’t miss that part.

T.B.: Yes, I did read about that. You lost two, or was it three jobs back in New York, in a matter of months. How tragic.

A.W.: (clears her throat) More like a matter of a few years, and only two jobs. Just to set the record straight.

T.B.: Still, it must have been devastating to be tossed out in the street like a useless piece of—

A.W.: Maybe we should move this interview in a different direction? Like why don’t we get to the reason I’m here?

T.B.: Of course. Fast forward to last fall when your poor aunt passed away, and you inherited the B&B in Sierra Pines. Such a sad event—your aunt passing, I mean. Did she ever talk to you about her affair with Cary Grant?

A.W.: (smacks lips) Not really. But she was a true advocate for charitable functions in Sierra Pines. The tradition continues, like with our upcoming Christmas event. We’ve raised lots of money for charities in the past, but I’m here to spread the word in hopes that people will see this interview and maybe make a donation to help out our holiday event.

T.B.: Absolutely a worthy cause. Now, I hear the deal with sitcom star Reese Blaine has fallen flat, and your director of these functions—my dear friend, Florence Greeley, who’s such a sweetheart—is scrambling for a replacement. (scoots forward in chair) That brings me to the real tragedy. She asked Isadora Lane, famous New York theater actress, to replace Blaine as the M.C. Unfortunately, poor Isadora ended up dead at the bottom of a ski slope. Wasn’t she your cousin’s wife? And didn’t you find him at the tragic scene? At least, that’s what I’ve read.

A.W.: (takes a sip from her water bottle) I can’t speak about the case, which is under investigation, you know.

T.B.: But you can admit Lane is, or was, your cousin’s wife. Nathan Goyer must be devastated. Isn’t he a person of interest in the murder case?

A.W.: (stares in silence)

T.B.: Right. Ongoing investigation. Why don’t you tell our viewers about the B&B? Isn’t it true two of your aunt’s dearest friends and fellow show biz people, Gladys and Ollie Bellwether, work for you?

A.W.: Yes, they are the sweetest, kindest, most loyal people I’ve known. My aunt worked with them back in Hollywood during the thirties and forties. They followed Julia to Sierra Pines, refusing to go on in show business without her. In fact, my aunt stated in her will that the Bellwethers should remain employed at the B&B as long as they liked. I honestly couldn’t run it without them.

T.B.: Sister and brother, right? I’ve talked to some of the older actors and directors around town, and they insist Ollie was the best stuntman in the business.

A.W.: He certainly has lots of stories to tell about those days. And Gladys is a fountain of information about every movie and everyone in the business. Even the juicy details of parties and other stories going on behind the scenes. She had all sorts of jobs—bits in movies, makeup artist, and did you know she became a companion to care for Mary Astor during the filming of The Maltese Falcon? Mary was battling addiction after losing her third husband in a plane crash. The Bellwethers are very special people.

T.B.: (taps her lip then points) Yet, weren’t they suspected in a murder case last fall? I imagine that was hard to handle.

A.W.: (bites down on her tongue) Suspects who didn’t turn out to be guilty. In fact, the killer was someone you knew. Right?

T.B.: Yes, well, it looks like we’re out of time. Thank you for being a guest, Ali. The interview will be posted in my next web edition of Hollywood Star Gossip, and the video will be included in my future docuseries about the stars scheduled to broadcast next year. Until next week, good evening, star readers.