Almost - by Roselee Blooston (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Almost: My Life in the Theater tells the story of the author's decades-long struggle to fulfill her early promise by becoming a professional actress, taking her to far-flung locales from Europe to Texas to New York City. Along the way, she encounters several Oscar winners and nominees--including Meryl Streep, Greer Garson, and Olympia Dukakis--who each had a profound effect on her self-image and trajectory, though no one had more influence than her mother, a visual artist, whose life served as both cautionary tale and beacon. Blooston can lay claim to trailblazer status as a solo performer, but she asks herself and the reader to deeply consider the true meaning of success and the value of a creative life. Her calling, commitment, and longing for recognition will resonate with anyone who has followed a passion, been thwarted in the attempt, and then successfully and happily reinvented themselves.

Review Quotes

"Join Roselee's mesmerizing and relatable journey as she pursues validation in her life-long ambition to be a successful actress --beyond the attention, accolades, and recognition that her artistic life bestowed upon her during a decades-long effort to attain her life's passion. Fueled by the author's relentless drive and fiercely competitive nature, fame eludes this multi-talented artist until she comes to terms with her trajectory as she mourns her mother, raises her beloved son, and reevaluates the true meaning of a successful creative life. Curtains up on this entertaining, authentic, and riveting memoir. Fasten your seatbelt and take an engaging ride!" --Bara Swain, award-winning playwright and Creative Consultant, Urban Stages

"The reminder that an artist just lives to do their best work, just lives for the sake of a creative life regardless of whether it will bring fame brought tears to my eyes. It had so much truth and a profound understanding of the need to fulfill the insane and blessed calling we have. A beautiful, moving, intelligent, humorous, truthful, and fantastic journey." --Diane Ciesla, actress

"Roselee Blooston tells how she lost her way as an actor and found herself as a writer in this honest, touching, beautifully written memoir of her life in the theater." --Lucile Lichtblau, nationally-produced playwright

'A truthful and poignant look at our former selves. Every artist can relate. Beautifully crafted. Written with skill and emotional intelligence. This memoir affirms our journey. We, like Blooston, put ourselves courageously to the task. Almost is our story." --Susan Borofsky, actress, director, and international recording artist

"Almost: My Life in the Theater is a wonderful, beautifully written anatomy of success and failure, how we think about them and how we define ourselves based on them. It is honest, relatable, and very human-whether you aspire to a career in the theater or not-and the anecdotes related are, by turns, sweet and eye-popping. Ms. Blooston namedrops by sharing her brush with fame and the results are hilarious, surprising, and poignant. A joy to read, who knew a theater memoir could be a page-turner?"-- Suzanne Trauth, author of the novel What Remains of Love, the Dodie O'Dell Mystery Series, award-winning plays, co-author of Sonia More and American Acting Training