BIOGRAPHY

James (Jim) Newport is a writer and Emmy-nominated Production Designer of both film and television. His film credits include Bangkok Dangerous, Brokedown Palace, The Stepfather and Heart Like A Wheel. In television he has set the “look” for many series by designing the pilot episodes of “The Lyon’s Den,” “The Shield,” “The Education Of Max Bickford” and “China Beach.”  His work on “The Piano Lesson” for the Hallmark Hall Of Fame was nominated for an Emmy in Art Direction. In 2007 he took over the design of the award-winning TV series “LOST.”

A graduate of Pratt Institute, Newport initially applied his graphic skills to album cover design and was a free-lance rock ‘n’ roll photographer in the ‘70’s and early ‘80’s. In 1982 he joined the legendary British rock group the Animals for their 20 year reunion world tour. He designed their debut LP, stage act, and merchandising - setting sales records in all the major venues they played.

As “blues shouter” Jimmy Fame (the author’s musical alter-ego) Newport performs every year at the annual Phuket International Blues Festival.

His experiences in the early years of his film career served as the inspiration for TINSEL TOWN – Another Rotten Day In Paradise, his fifth novel.

 
TINSEL TOWN  doesn’t gloss over the cracks in the scenery, the grit, the stench, the plain old fashioned blood and sweat that making movies is really about. It gives the reader a glimpse into what it was like to enter this privileged arena in, arguably, its most exciting time. – the wild & woolly Easy Rider  days of independent filmmaking. A non-stop party.

The author's fourth novel Chasing Jimi mixes fact &fiction in a tale of rock-god Jimi Hendrix. The Vampire Of Siam trilogy includes the first novel of the same name, followed by Ramonne: The Return Of The Vampire  Of Siam and The Reckoning: A Tale Of The Vampire Of Siam.

Newport lives in Phuket, Thailand.