Former broadcast journalist Olga Campos Benz (KVUE) launches her new career as a contemporary novelist with her much-anticipated first book, It's News to Me. The modern fiction novel features a bold and beautiful Latina television news reporter whose life is endangered by criminals, enhanced by sensuous encounters, complicated by loved ones and spiked throughout with shots of tequila and irreverent humor!
Olga Campos Benz is one of the most honored anchor/reporters to grace the Texas airwaves, having spent more than 30 years covering the biggest news stories in Houston, Corpus Christi and Austin. While fictionalized, Campos Benz now brings this experience to the page in It’s News to Me, offering readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Texas newsroom.
"During my thirty years as a reporter/anchor, viewers always asked what it’s like to work at a TV station,” said Campos Benz. “‘It's News to Me’ answers that key question by providing an unfiltered look at the intense relationships that are always simmering in every newsroom in America. Readers will also savor the gritty details of the competitiveness, the sarcastic humor, and the never ending drive to break a big story!"
Life in television news is not as glamorous, exciting or entertaining as viewers might think. At least it’s not for anchor-reporter Marissa Cavelo who is tired of being typecast as a feature reporter.
There are only so many ribbon-cutting ceremonies a reporter can handle without going insane! Marissa is determined to break a
big exclusive story to prove she’s a serious broadcast journalist. She also hopes to grab the attention of a national talent scout who’s searching for the next network news anchor.
While out on yet another “fluff’ story, Marissa stumbles upon breaking news and the “live” coverage unexpectedly propels her career forward, but it also angers a violent criminal who has a longstanding vendetta against Marissa’s family. Her bumbling bosses and competitive colleagues don’t want her to succeed for their own selfish reasons, so in an attempt to stop her quick rise to fame, the
Executive Producer hands Marisa an impossible assignment - one she is guaranteed to fail.
Marissa tackles the tough assignment while maneuvering the crazy, often hilarious world of local television news at K-A-T-X in Austin,
Texas. As she digs up dirt on a bogus money-making operation, Marissa finds herself sexually drawn to her handsome partner/photographer. At the same time she is pulled further away from her twin sister who hates being in the expanding shadow of
her celebrity sibling.
It turns out Marissa’s twin sister is living a secret life that puts both women in danger leaving Marissa forced to choose between using her investigative reporting skills to either save her sister or expose her enemies with cameras rolling. Either way Marissa risks her shot at becoming a network anchor. Fortunately for the fans of this savvy Latina, her sarcastic humor and the perfect margarita are always free flowing in “It’s News to Me”!
In addition to her new career as a novelist, former broadcast journalist Olga Campos Benz also holds the role of Community Relations Director for businessman and honored philanthropist, Milton Verret, and his companies. She continues her connection and commitment to the Austin community by serving on several nonprofit boards including The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), the Austin Film Festival, the Joe R and Teresa Lozano Long Center, and the Advisory Council of the University of Texas Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. In 2013, the Austin Business Journal named Olga one of the “Profiles in Power: Women of Influence”.
She was inducted into the City of Austin Commission for Women Hall of Fame in 2014.
Olga and her husband Kevin live in Austin are proud parents of 26 year old twin daughters, Corazon and Allegra.
HOUSTON BOOK READING
Thursday, June 22 Casa Ramirez FOLKART Imports, 241 W. 19th Houston, TX 77008 6:30 – 8:30 pm
(This post was taken from a release)
