People: Apr. 14, 2003

THE FIRST NOVELIST

At the age of 79, former President JIMMY CARTER has just finished his first novel (and 17th book), The Hornet’s Nest, set during the Revolutionary War. It will be published this fall.

What’s the book about?

I think the overall theme is the ordeal of the Americans in deciding to abandon their sworn loyalty to the King–why people would actually rise up against the King and risk their lives for freedom.

Is having been President an advantage for a novelist?

Yes, I think so. The interrelationships between the Parliament and London and King George III and the Prime Minister on the one hand and his governors and his generals in America–those are relationships that were much easier for me to understand having been, you might say, at the seat of power in the White House.

You’re Jimmy Carter. How do you find time to write?

Well, it’s a challenge. I like to write. I get up early every morning, about 5 o’clock, and I don’t really need to get on the telephone to the Carter Center and so forth till about 8. So that gives me a couple of hours of clear time to write. I’ve done it ever since I left the White House.

Are you the first President to write a novel?

The publishers don’t know of any others, and I don’t either. Several of the Presidents have written some poetry. Abraham Lincoln has written some poetry.

I didn’t know that. Is it any good?

Well, I think it’s good. He’s only written a few poems, not an entire book. I think in one of my books [Carter’s Always a Reckoning and Other Poems] there were about 45 poems. It’s been a very good seller, as a matter of fact.

She’s Licensed to Dump

She’s the high-flying superspy of Alias. He’s a lawyer on that show … what’s it called? Not J.A.G., the other one. Can this marriage be saved? Apparently not: JENNIFER GARNER and SCOTT FOLEY have split up. Maybe it was envy; his career isn’t exactly thriving post-Felicity. Maybe it was because she has a jaw like a man’s. Or maybe it was the fact that she could kick his ass without fraying a cuticle.

LOOK WHO’S GETTING A REALITY-TV SHOW NOW …

–JASON MEWES

The show An HBO special will record Mewes–a.k.a. Jay of Jay and Silent Bob–as he tries to kick a heroin habit

Will it survive? Does Kevin Smith like comics? Audiences love a good tears-of-a-clown story

–DONALD TRUMP

The show Trump hires 20 employees and then fires one a week. The last flunky standing gets a job and a six-figure salary

Will it survive? Sure. As long as the first pink slip goes to Trump’s hair guy

–JESSICA SIMPSON AND NICK LACHEY

The show Simpson and Lachey, the pop power couple of five minutes ago, explore married life

Will it survive? Ugh. They’re young, hot and rich. Who wants to watch Mr. and Mrs. Perfect?

–STAN LEE

The show Would-be comic-book scribes pitch him ideas for superheroes–in their character’s costume

Will it survive? Future civilizations will judge us harshly if this show actually succeeds

BUT WILL IT LAST?

Rowdy Oscar winner RUSSELL CROWE and actress-singer DANIELLE “Famous in Australia” SPENCER are expected to wed Monday at his estate Down Under.

PROS:

–He has already sown plenty of wild oats –He and Nicole Kidman probably really are just good friends. Probably –He’s not the biggest roue in Hollywood now that Colin Farrell is around –No female co-stars in his next movie, Master and Commander –Their electric chemistry on the set of their 1990 film The Crossing

CONS:

–He hasn’t given up dreams of rock stardom. The road is a crazy place, baby –He’s a tad more famous than she is –Lurking shadow of the green-eyed monster, i.e., Meg Ryan –The Crossing tanked

PREDICTION: Why not? As Crowe said in A Beautiful Mind, “It’s only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be found.” Whatever that means.