Freddy Perkins comes to California hoping to become a movie star. Changing his name to Les Banister, he surrenders his principles as he gives into the demands of a casting director to secure his first role. He relinquishes control of his personal life so the studio can build an image of him as the next American heartthrob. This means giving up Russ, his loving and supportive boyfriend, to hide the truth from his fans. He’s gay.<br><br>These sacrifices pay off for the young actor and he becomes a star. But as Les continues to pay the price for fame, he realizes at the height of his success that it’s cost him too dearly. Will he have the courage to take the chance of losing it all to be true to himself?

The Price of Fame

Standing in line at the checkout, he glanced at the rack of tabloid magazines. He was on the covers of several. Pictures of him with Tiffany, Tina, or Hillary smiled up at him while the banners proclaimed him the Casanova of the year, breaking the hearts of first one starlet then another. 


Frederickson’s doing his job. That’s for sure, he thought.


The lady in front of him began to unload her cart. Les moved forward and another magazine caught his eye: STARLIGHT: The magazine that sheds light on the private lives of the Stars.The main story involved the revelation that one of the prominent candidates running for state office was actually the love child of Hopalong Cassidy—an old-time cowboy star—and a Martian. 


Where do they get this ridiculous stuff?Les thought, chuckling to himself. 


Chapter 19