Austin Author May Cobb Is Killing it With a Sexy LaLaLand Thriller and a TV Murder Mystery Series

By Joleen Jernigan

Austin Author, May Cobb

Is Texas-based author May Cobb having the best year ever? The stars seem to be aligning in her favor. This week marks the publishing date for her fifth novel, The Hollywood Assistant. Simultaneously, she is balancing book tours and author discussions, while also flying back and forth from Austin to Charlotte, North Carolina, where her second novel, The Hunting Wives, is currently in production for a thrilling drama series on the STARZ network. This rising series boasts a dazzling star-studded ensemble with the likes of Malin Ackerman, Brittany Snow, Chrissy Metz, and Dermot Mulroney, amongst others.

The Hollywood Assistant Released

Known for penning the perfect beachside reads, Cobb’s novels have become a staple in the summer. In this latest book, Cobb employs her mastery in depicting the nefarious antics of affluent, lusty characters, ensnaring Cobb’s gullible heroines in their ominous webs. The Hollywood Assistant certainly does not disappoint her ardent fans, revelling in the degenerate deeds of Cobb’s intriguing characters.

Toxic Hollywood: Money, Sex, and Murder

For The Hollywood Assistant, Cobb deviates from her usual East Texas backdrop to delve into the scandalous world of Hollywood. Drawing from her experience of working as a Hollywood assistant, Cobb creates a world filled with mysteries, secrets, and of course, a gruesome murder. “I wanted to do a book version of my favorite film genres; the erotic thriller. I love films like Body Double, Fatal Attraction, Unfaithful, and wanted to bring those elements into the book,” said Cobb.

This much-awaited thriller, released worldwide on July 9, 2024, promises to be another exciting journey driven by Cobb’s vibrant imagination.

Lights! Camera! Action!

Despite the imminent success of her recent ventures, Cobb remains modest and excited about her work reaching a broader audience via a TV series adaptation. In her words, “I was having one of those soul-crushing days when my faith in everything was rattled. That evening, my phone rang. It was Erwin Stoff, the legendary producer of The Hunting Wives, sharing that the show was indeed going forward. The news brought absolute relief and joy.”

While visiting the North Carolina film set, Cobb shed light on the project. The project is executive-produced by Cobb herself, “Hightown” creator Rebecca Cutter, who penned the adaptation and will serve as the showrunner, and 3 Arts Entertainment’s Stoff. Ackerman and Snow lead the cast, with Mulroney, Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes, Karen Rodriguez, Michael Aaron Milligan, Hunter Emery, and George Ferrier fleshing out the roster. Audiences can look forward to seeing this cast bring alive Cobb’s rambunctious characters of East Texas on STARZ.