About the Book:

Julia Duffy has had plenty of good fortune in her long career, most notably the role of snooty Stephanie Vanderkellen on Newhart. But in her book Bad Auditions, the actress focuses on her missteps, from not adjusting quickly enough to a casting director's requests to misprinting dialogue the night before a reading.

Bad Auditions is an irreverent, light-hearted look into the real world of auditions – the good, the awkward, and the hilariously strange. In it, Julia Duffy regales you with side-splitting stories of her own 'bad' auditions, in order to give fellow performers both insight and hopefully a sense they're not alone. "I work with young actors so often, usually playing their mother, and I hear all their insecurities about the business," she explains. "But you can't grouse about it, it's the only way the business has of getting a cast together. I began to write a few of my own stories and was surprised how well, and painfully, I remembered some of them."

The process of telling her own stories wasn't an easy one, and Julia Duffy dropped the project several times. The pull of the narrative brought her back to the manuscript again. "I discovered that thing about writing – which is also true about actor preparation – if you sit down and start doing it and make yourself stay there, you really do have more to say. I felt that, since I had a very good career, young actors might listen to me and be empowered knowing that I made all the mistakes they've made and still managed to get work." Her thoughtful, accessible advice points to a simple solution: preparation. It's the same vein of wisdom she learned while at acting school, no audition will ever be a complete failure if you are prepared. "A strong take on the role and powerful emotional attachment to the scene can compete with the strongest attack of nerves," she says. "Your full investment in the character will not disappear even in the most challenging circumstances." Bad Auditions will not only be an informative read for you, but an enjoyable one.

What people say:

"Bookstores are filled with volumes of insider Hollywood tales and how-to books on the craft of acting, but in Bad Auditions, Julia Duffy has written something truly unique. Whether you're an aspiring actor, and industry veteran, a film buff, or just looking for a good read, the refreshing Bad Auditions won't disappoint." — Danny Strong, actor, writer, director, producer and Emmy and WGA award-winning screenwriter

About the Author:

Julia Duffy is an American film, stage, and television actress. She made her mark in television starring as Stephanie on the classic CBS hit Newhart, starring Bob Newhart. During the many years Newhart aired, her reputation flourished by her earning seven Emmy nominations, five American Comedy Award nominations, three Viewers for Quality Television awards and a Golden Globe nomination.