Alex saw Jenna in the audience and relaxed seeing the joy on her face. As he stood to greet his father-in-law, Shawn hugged him, saying, “I’m proud of you,” into his shoulder.
He picked up a guitar, raising his hands to the indulgent audience, and sat down in front of the mic. “We’ll play a song we wrote together in just a minute. First, I have a request for my son-in-law.” Shawn leaned in to Alex, setting his guitar to the side. Alex took the mic and said, “This was written for my wife, for our anniversary.”
He played the never-before-heard song—in front of a thousand-person live audience and an international broadcast—as though it were a private concert just for Jenna.
By the end of the song, she was in tears (along with half the audience). Mindy was elated—it was publicity gold. Felicity didn’t bother to wipe the tears as she clasped Jenna’s hand, happy that some semblance of normality had crept back into their lives.
Shawn took up his guitar and played the first few chords of his biggest hit. The crowd erupted in cheers and many musicians he’d played with through the years joined in on the jam. In that moment—if only that one—they were just a bunch of musicians playing for the hell of it. Playing like no one was watching. Free.
By the end of the set, Alex resolved to take Shawn up on his offer to tour together. His definition of selling out had been flipped on its head, and he realized that sticking with his family, despite their fame and his pride, was more fulfilling than anything he could do on his own. Every choice came with a price.
Chapter 67 (Epilogue)
Vanity Fair, October
After a controversial year of press, the Jax family is set to release the biopic about its patriarch, Shawn Jax. For all you readers of the less journalistic fare (Ahem! That’s you, tabloids), you may be familiar with the controversy surrounding Alex Anders and Jenna Jax-Anders’ separation and scandal. But for those who aren’t, all we can say (due to the pending court case involving known porn mogul, Jackson Jones) is that the rumors of an affair between Alex and Jenna’s best friend, Airika, proved false and, more than that, she turned out to be fighting from their corner, when she tipped off Rolling Stone to the egregious misstep they narrowly avoided when they fired the writer, Rose McKenna for trying to print a fabricated story fed to her by the advertiser, Flesh, Inc. (owned by one Jackson Jones).
Airika is also slated to testify against the attorney, Ira Stearn, in the case against he and Mr. Jones on fifty counts of fraud, including one count against Alex Anders. Though none of that is in the upcoming film, it’s clear the Jaxes are no ordinary family.
I’m sitting here on the Vanity Fair cover shoot set with Shawn Jax’s granddaughter, Felicity Jax-Anders, who plays his wife Anya (not opposite her grandpa!) in the film. This is her first feature film and, while many have called it nepotism, she assures me she had to audition like everyone else. The Oscar buzz surrounding not only the film, but her performance, gives credence to that claim. Her unassuming nature and intellectualism (when I arrived she was reading ‘Anna Karenina’), not to mention personal insight into the role, make it easy to see why she was chosen.
VF: “So how was it playing your own grandmother in this film? Did it feel bizarre or did you feel like you got to know her better?”
FJ-A: “It was illuminating, definitely. But honestly, I approached it like I would have any other role. It is based on real events, but the script takes creative liberties where needed. I couldn’t show up on set thinking about myself as Felicity, the granddaughter. I had to think like a young Anya—see the world through her eyes.”
VF: “Does it bother you when people say you only got the part because they knew it would garner more publicity for the film?”
FJ-A: (laughs) “No, not really. If I’ve learned anything this past year, it’s to not take other people’s opinions too seriously. Whether we earn every opportunity we get or are lucky enough to have it handed to us, we still have to know what to do with it. My hope is that when people see the film, they’ll be able to tell I’m serious about the craft of acting. I did the best job I could with the experience and skill I have, and feel honored to have had the opportunity.”
VF: “You seem incredibly mature for someone who just turned eighteen. How do you stay so grounded when so many of your generation fall victim to temptation?”
FJ-A: “Well, I’ve had a lot more life experience in the past year than many of my contemporaries (pauses) and I’m just lucky to have such a loving, supportive family. They made me who I am.”
VF: “Yes, there has been a lot written about your parents in the last year. How are they doing now that the separation rumors have abated?”
FJ-A: “They’re great. I make fun of them, saying they act like a couple of teenagers dating, but it’s cute. My dad is taking some time off touring to help my mom with the launch of her new line of home décor. She designed every piece and even photographed them for the catalogue. Proceeds from every sale will go to a charity that provides no-interest loans to low-income women starting their own businesses.”
VF: “Wow, it seems like you’ve got the perfect Hollywood fairytale.”
FJ-A: (chuckles) “If life were perfect it wouldn’t be half as interesting. Appearances only account for part of the story. But right now I’m in a great place. I feel lucky.”
VF: “Lucky and talented. Thanks for talking to me, Felicity. I wish you the best for the upcoming award season. I have a feeling this is just the beginning for you.”
Acknowledgments
Thank you, first and foremost, to my amazing husband, who not only gave me the time and space to write this novel, but was also my first reader, trusted feedback-giver, and emotional support through the entire process and beyond. To my son, who makes me laugh every day, and without whom I may have never made the time to get this story out. A very special thanks to Donna Watts, my writing buddy and friend, who helped me through the nitty-gritty details of the first draft. I’m certain it’s a better book because of her. I would also like to thank Sierra Spitzer for her friendship, encouragement and help with the legal details. A big huge thank you to Randy and Jody Fraser; the kind of friends everyone wishes they had, always there to help, willing to take a chance on reading an early draft and offer feedback, having no basis to believe in my writing. You guys are awesome. Thank you to Chelsea Starling for your encouragement, and for including me in the most incredible collective of female writers at Indie-Visible.com. Thanks to my fantastic copy editor, Susanna Rosen, for your laser focus and working with my crazy quick timeline. I owe a magnificent debt of gratitude to John and Cindy Lynch for their kindness, generosity, and belief in this crazy life that Lee and I have endeavored on. I’d also like to thank Mike and Michelle McGill, Grant and Shawna Korgan, Elyse Marshall, Amber Anderson-Richter, Jesse Windle, Daryl Vickers, Patsy Trudel and Ashley Trudel. And finally, a very special thanks to the strong independent women in my life, starting with my mom and grandmother who shaped the woman I am today and instilled in me a lifelong love of reading. And thank YOU, for reading my book, and if you’re still reading this I hope that means you’re the kind of fan who can’t wait to read more. And there will be more. I promise.
About The Author
Sharisse Coulter started with a smidge of college in Paris (not Texas), a dash in Australia and, voilà! A master’s degree in Anthropology framed and placed lovingly on a shelf, never to be dusted off again. Instead, she took the clear path to success, marrying a musician, becoming his manager and touring the country playing gigs, taking photos, and making music videos. Finally, she had a son (and subsequent identity crisis), which fueled the completion of her first novel. Now at work on her second and third novels, she’s concurrently embarking on a 5 month 55 city national music/book tour while perfecting the art of Lego and enjoying her addiction to reading novels on her iPhone. It’s a wonderful life for an insatiable wanderluster.
You can follow the adventure at:
anovelmusictour.com and at sharisseco
ulter.com
Rock My World Page 24
