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AUTHOR RELEASES BOOK AND FASHION LINE INSPIRED BY TALITHA GETTY
It all began with a photograph of the famous Talitha Getty.
Talitha, a Dutch born model and actress who was married to John Paul Getty Jr., was no stranger to the camera, but Westport’s Jane Green said it was one photo in particular — an image of Talitha and her husband posing on the roof of their riad in Marrakesh — that entranced Green.
“It was just the incredible beauty and mystery of that photograph plus a look of sadness on her face that I could never quite figure out that I always found enormously compelling,” she said.
When her publisher asked if she’d consider writing historical fiction, Green said she jumped at the chance to write about Talitha. It was this photo that inspired the author to write her debut historical fiction novel “Sister Stardust” as a “love letter to Talitha Getty, to Marrakesh and to the 60s.”
Green describes “Sister Stardust,” releasing on April 5, as a “blend of fact and fiction.” She paints a story about the heady days of the 60s and Talitha through the eyes of someone who is completely new to the rock n’ roll lifestyle and meets a group of people who take her on a trip with them to Marrakesh. Here she meets the Gettys and they quickly bond. In the book, Green captures 60s Marrakesh by populating her story with real and fictional figures as well as evoking the era through her descriptions of the sights, music and even tastes of the city. Green, who attended culinary school even includes a few recipes of some of the dishes featured in her book.
In addition to writing the book, Green collaborated with MaisonMarché to create a fashion line inspired by Talitha and the book. The full collaboration includes silk kaftans featuring designs painted by Green, panchos, cover-ups, bangles and necklaces.
“I think it hasn’t quite hit me yet that other people will be buying that,” Green said when asked about how she feels about others wearing her designs. “It’s a bit like seeing people reading my books; even after 25 years in this business the most exciting thing for me still is seeing someone reading one of my novels.”
“Sister Stardust,” will be Green’s 21st novel and the author admitted that she still gets release day jitters. “If anything the jitters are worse now. It’s a very different industry today and social media has changed everything. It’s much more author driven,” she said. “I’m very nervous with this one. It’s also my first book in three years and it’s a different kind of book for me, it’s the first time I’ve done this sort of biographical fiction.”
Green also said that she’s “cautiously optimistic” about sharing her new book with readers as it was selected as an Indie Next and Library Reads pick, which hasn’t happened with any of her previous books.
The author said she spent a year conducting research into the 60s and the Gettys before settling down to write; she even interviewed a few of Talitha’s friends in an effort to capture the atmosphere of the period. Green said she had become friendly with one of Talitha’s pals and had been nervous to share the final book with her. The author laughed as she said that according to Talitha’s friend, Green had painted her as a far more generous person than she had been in reality, but praised Green for capturing “how it felt” to be part of that crowd in the 60s without sensationalizing it.
“I feel like Talitha wove a spell; many of her friends described her as an enchantress, so
I think of her as somebody who sprinkled magic and stardust everywhere she went,” she said.
Green notes that she romanticizes Talitha in her book, but is quick to add that she wanted to treat her fictional depiction of Talitha with “as much respect and love” as she could as she is aware that many of Talitha’s loved ones are still alive.
The author will be celebrating the release of her book with several events in Connecticut and she said she’ll be traveling with own Moroccan souk (market) with items from her “Sister Stardust” fashion line. To attend her events, visit janegreen.com.