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The former abc13 KTRK anchor (and former KTLA 5 anchor for my LA peeps) is jumping into the literary world with a new autobiography about her television career and how the road to anchoring in top TV markets isn't always paved in gold.
"My book is about my adventures and my journey as a broadcast journalist telling you what it is really like in the trenches," Perez told mikemcguff.com. "On the way to telling you those stories, there are tales about the people who got in my way. Some people were especially abusive and I went around them."
"I Gotta Story" My 30 Years in TV News
recounts the major stories the ground breaking Latina journalist covered throughout her extensive career (which took her to Los Angles, Houston and Phoenix) while weaving the good, the bad and the ugly of what was going on and off camera.Perez tells personal tales of reporting in Cuba and her encounter with Fidel Castro. While at KTLA Los Angeles, being one of the first people to ever see George Holliday's amateur video of the Rodney King beating and how her newsroom got the first copy of this historic clip. Then there was the time she camped out with Wayne Dolcefino and other members of the channel 13 staff while covering the Branch Davidian compound siege near Waco and the harsh conditions of the media's so-called "Satellite City." And then one of my personal favorites from Perez's career - how she was sampled by U2 while anchoring at KTLA.
Oh and I can't forget her Marvin Zindler stories while working during the golden era of KTRK's Eyewitness News. Apparently that chapter opens with the Houston TV legend telling Perez, "You're going to outlive the bastards." That sounds like classic Marvin.
The idea to write a book hit Perez after she would tell tales of her storied career while giving community speeches. She says people would always come up to her afterwards wanting more.
"I have all these stories and I did all these amazing things and I've been going around with barn doors on, not even realizing my accomplishments until I started writing the book," Perez told me.
Through those accomplishments and struggles, Perez hopes to inform the next generation of broadcast journalists about what might await them and how they can learn from her experiences.
Speaking as a media blogger, I think I'll grab some popcorn, sit back, relax and get ready to read this TV biography that sounds like it actually has some reality in it! Too many times media bios are totally glossed up, devoid of truth and quite frankly, boring.
Catch Perez on television's Latina Voices: Smart Talk.
UPDATE
Minerva Perez I GOTTA STORY: My 30 Years in TV News book signings:
Feb. 18th
6:30 P.M.
Talento Bilingüe de Houston Theater
333 S. Jensen Dr.
Houston, TX 77003
www.talentobilingue.org
Feb. 24th
7:00 P.M.
Brazos Bookstore
2421 Bissonnet St.
Houston, TX 77005
www.brazosbookstore.com
