'Someday, Someday, Maybe' Lauren Graham: Actress' Debut Novel About Finding Oneself

Culture

Lauren Graham, an actress best known for her turns on television’s Gilmore Girls and Parenthood, has a brand-new role: author. Graham released a novel Tuesday called Someday, Someday, Maybe.

The book, which appears to have a few autobiographical touches, centers around an aspiring young actress named Franny Banks in 1990s New York City. In a recent interview with USA Today, Graham called the novel autobiographical in “only the most general way.” The actress wasn’t interested in writing a tell-all, quipping, “If I wanted to do that, I would have just written a memoir and probably sold more copies.”

Instead, Graham, who appeared on Law & Order and Seinfeld before she played Lorelai Gilmore, enjoyed making up her own story while using elements from her acting experiences.

“Of course, it’s a world I know,” she said of acting. “I was most interested in those tiny beats or steps that get you on your way when you’re unsure about your career.”

Graham played smaller roles on TV in the mid- to late 1990s before hitting it big with Gilmore Girls, which debuted on the CW in 2000 and lasted seven seasons. She spent time onstage as well, playing Adelaide in a 2009 Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls, and returned to TV in 2010 for Parenthood, which was recently renewed.

The hectic filming schedule for Gilmore Girls — which often meant 12 or 14-hour days — didn’t give Graham much time for writing, she told USA Today. The novel happened during the last two years while she was working three days a week on the Parenthood set.

In the book, Franny has only six months left of a three-year deadline she set for herself to make it or break it as an actress. She came to New York to act on Broadway but has had to settle for appearing in a commercial and waiting tables at a comedy club. While distracted by a love triangle, dwindling bank account and lack of support from her father, Franny tries to keep her eyes on the prize.

The novel is self-described as “a story about hopes and dreams, being young in a city, and wanting something deeply, madly, desperately.” Graham called it “girly,” noting that, “It’s about emotions, and there’s no sports, to cite a cliché.”

The Washington Post lauded the novel as “charming” and a “winning, entertaining read.” Graham is as entertaining a novelist as she is an actress, according to the review, which acclaims her “confidence and ceaselessly observant wit” and calls the book “heartfelt and hilarious.”

Besides completing a longtime goal with writing her book, Graham could be following in the footsteps of other actors who have become successful authors. Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has two cookbooks, one of which was released last month. Actor and comedian Steve Martin, who seems to wear more hats than anyone in the business, is a New York Times-bestselling author who has published several novels.

Reality TV star Lauren Conrad, who found success in fashion after rising to fame on Laguna Beach and The Hills, also has several New York Times bestselling novels, including L.A. Candy and sequel Sweet Little Lies.

Graham, who has also played supporting roles in films such as The Pacifier, Because I Said So and Evan Almighty, will next star with Robin Williams in A Friggin’ Christmas Miracle, a comedy set for release in December. She’s also planning a second book featuring some of the characters from Someday, Someday, Maybe.