Synopsis "Abandoning the Road to Hollywood: How to Thrive as an Artist in Your Community"
Artists are only those famous creators in glamorous metropolises like New York City and Hollywood. Successful artists are only those on the New York Times’ Bestseller List or Billboard Charts. And everyone else is merely a hobbyist, right? Wrong. In Abandoning the Road to Hollywood, author René C. McMillen leads artists down the path less explored--that of the small town creative. With grace, humor, and verve, McMillen shows how artists can embrace their true selves and be wildly successful in no-name towns and overlooked suburbs. She shares her own story of landing in the windswept plains of Wyoming and--like a hardy English rose--persevering to find artistic efflorescence of productivity and prosperity. Along the way, she weaves in interviews with numerous artists who share their inspiring stories and offer sound advice to creative souls. If you're ready to embrace your true artistic self no matter where you are in life, then this book is for you. Praise for ABANDONING THE ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD: “They say that art is where you find it, and René McMillen finds a lot of it in small town America. She makes the case that the art world extends far beyond the hubs of New York and Los Angeles, and highlights artists who are experts in their craft in the small communities they love. An inspiration for anyone blessed (cursed?) with artistic ability, René shows there are lots of appreciative audiences for an artist’s work.” —Dave Lerner, retired TV anchor and newscaster, and writer “Reading René McMillen’s Abandoning the Road to Hollywood: How to Thrive as an Artist in Your Community, made me realize that although I haven’t written a book that’s landed on the bestseller list, I can still be proud of what I have written, and that my creativity is mine to own and not based on monetary success.” —Merissa Racine, stenographer by day and author of Silent Gavel “Through the seamless retelling of life events, McMillen creates an immensely personal connection for artists of any medium on their path—to publication, recitation, performance, or gallery space. A self-confessed ‘searching artist,’ McMillen’s journey isn’t built on gathering the most likes, followers, or comments. Rather, the Wyoming artist’s vocation began simply with a belief that she was an artist. From that belief, she pioneered a path to bring creativity into her life and her rural West community. There are so many gems in Abandoning the Road to Hollywood: How to Thrive as an Artist in Your Community, you’ll find yourself reaching for a highlighter, dog-earing a page of the book, or texting a quote to a fellow artisan.” —Mary Biliter, Art Education Specialist at Wyoming Arts Council by day and author of seventeen books
