Whether you love it or hate it, there’s something that’s hard to resist about reality television. And as debut novelist Lovell Holder found out, it provides the perfect vehicle for a story that is as outlandish as it is human. Read on to find out more about Holder’s process of writing The Book of Luke—a steamy gay odyssey that blends politics, high-stakes drama, and a DC sex scandal filled with as much humor and chaos as the real-life shows that inspired it.
Michael Collina: There have been so many great audiobooks inspired by reality TV recently. What is it about reality television that makes for such great storytelling? Did you always know you wanted your book to center on the experiences of a reality TV star?
Lovell Holder: Any good reality star knows they must enter a season primed and ready to create a compelling story. That’s the fundamental job description, even more than competing for a cash prize. For a novelist, this is a major gift because it automatically unburdens the characters of certain social graces, allowing the dramatic action and narrative conflicts to instantly careen into high gear. Moreover, reality shows intentionally spotlight big personalities from highly unique and diverse backgrounds, who only cross paths because they’ve been hand-selected by a producer to do so. Consequently, the premise of reality television innately encourages extreme or improbable creative choices, because that’s precisely what the medium was designed to do: showcase a truth stranger than fiction.
Ironically enough, however, reality TV was not top of mind when I began toying with an outline for this novel and ruminating on its themes of guilt and forgiveness. In fact, I grounded the story entirely in the world of politics (rather than just using it as a launchpad, as I currently do). I quickly realized how tricky certain narrative leaps would be but also how humorless the whole endeavor might be if we lived exclusively in that particular arena. I desperately needed more fun in the story and when I thought of what brought me joy, reality competition shows immediately came to mind. Once I reoriented my characters to contestants, every aspect of the story swiftly fell into place and ignited me to no end as I embarked on my first draft.
What were some of the inspirations behind Endeavor, the reality TV show at the center of your story?
At first glance, shows like Survivor and The Challenge (plus its own tributaries, The Real World and Road Rules) are of course embedded in the foundation of my fictional show. They spotlight recurring players who compete in physical games on a global scale, but more than anything they’ve been airing for so many years that they have very clear and definitive eras—and also reflect very different chapters in our larger society as well. It was imperative that Endeavor organically provide multiple backdrops for Luke at different points in his life, so I needed to research shows that had grown with both the times and their audiences. It’s been both exciting and oddly validating to see other “all-star reality alum” franchises spring up since I began writing this book in 2019. With shows like The Traitors and House of Villains taking the medium by storm, there’s clearly a paradigm shift happening within the reality TV industry that I think Endeavor and the book as a whole will only continue to echo.
What was your favorite part of writing such a messy, drama-filled story?
Ironically enough, my favorite lesson the book taught me was how such relentless chaos can make the rare moments of stillness all the more meaningful. Obviously there’s great glee to be had as a writer when there’s no such thing as “too much,” because it affords you endless license. Snakes flying through the air? Sure. A screaming match over misplaced jockstraps? Go for it. A Russian dioramist with a bespoke kaftan business on the side? I’d be a fool to resist. By relying on so many major chords, it allowed the minor chords to affect me even more while writing the book, whether that was two characters who should be irreconcilable silently putting together a jigsaw puzzle late at night or even just Luke privately staring at a photograph of his children and understanding why he must withstand said chaos. The insanity was ultimately what caused the humanity to ring true for me, and hopefully it will do the same for anyone who seeks out this journey.
"Ironically enough, my favorite lesson the book taught me was how such relentless chaos can make the rare moments of stillness all the more meaningful."
Politics also plays a central role in Luke’s life and story—what inspired the choice for Luke to be married to America’s only openly gay senator?
I don’t think it’s a controversial statement to say that reality television and politics have become fairly intertwined over the last decade of American life, and I saw an opportunity to honor that element in the character of Barnes specifically. At first glance, any good book begins with high stakes for all involved, so Luke and his family needed to be sitting comfortably on as prominent and public a pedestal as possible before I knocked them off it about five pages later. I also began my initial outline of the book very interested in exploring the nature of complicity and what it is for a member of one marginalized group to oppress another marginalized community, particularly as a self-serving act. This meant Barnes and (by marital extension) Luke had to be in a position where their actions prior to the story’s beginning resulted in truthful real-world implications. I won’t give too many more spoilers, but I think it’s safe to say that Barnes and Luke both learn that very few choices can be made without consequences. I’d argue that’s a lesson our country is very much reckoning with right now, no matter one’s political affiliation.
How does it feel to have your first novel out in the world? Did your experiences as a filmmaker and producer affect how you approached writing the novel?
My guiding light while crafting this story was to write the book that I would most want to read, so it truly means the world to know that strangers are now meeting the characters who have become so special to me. In fact, I would say those characters are the primary proof of how my film and theater backgrounds influenced my work here.
When writing a screenplay, I try to craft a role that a gifted actor would want to play, and I brought the same spirit to this piece. Because I’m used to working with actors (and even got my MFA in acting prior to stepping behind the camera), I think dialogue and backstory will always be the bedrock of my storytelling. So much of my writing process relies on “casting” specific actors to play the roles in my imagination while I clack away on my laptop, which allows me to make the various voices as distinct and vivid as I can. Ultimately, the books, movies, plays, or television shows that have most impacted me are always grounded in a character with whom I somehow identify (even improbably!). I’m just innately interested in the mission of crafting flawed yet recognizable people who spark some form of connection for an audience member.
Are there any other audiobooks—fiction or nonfiction—that you’d recommend to listeners after they finish The Book of Luke?
I can never sufficiently thank my longtime friend Charlie Thurston for bringing this book to life with his extraordinary talents. Audiobook fans should definitely seek out more of his dulcet tones, and my two favorite books he’s previously narrated are Barbara Kingsolver’s Pulitzer-winning Demon Copperhead and Jeff Zentner’s beautiful novel Colton Gentry’s Third Act. Two memoirs I recently adored are Survivor champion Parvati Shallow’s Nice Girls Don’t Win and Miss Memory Lane by actor Colton Haynes. Both authors perform their audiobooks exquisitely, and these riveting true accounts from queer entertainers might resonate for someone who enjoyed my novel. Now, if you’re craving more reality TV fiction specifically, I’d recommend the delightful gay romance Winging It with You by Chip Pons and of course Survivor alum Stephen Fishbach’s thrilling Escape!, which is out in 2026.
