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"Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else." ~ Gloria Steinem

Lisa Burks is a classically trained journalist with 20 years of news writing, media relations and marketing experience.  Her forthcoming book Urbane Rebel: The Franchot Tone Story is the first biography to be written about the versatile stage and screen star of yesteryear.

Born in Detroit and raised in scenic White Lake, Michigan, Lisa spent much of her youth reading Nancy Drew mysteries, writing her own stories and watching old movies on the late show.  At age 12 she paid $1 for a garage sale antique Royal typewriter and quickly turned a profit by using it to bang out a successful neighborhood gossip rag.

The power of the press continued to beckon.  She became an award-winning editor of her high school newsmagazine, an all-around yearbook geek and eventually a Michigan State University J-School graduate, while simultaneously covering goverment, business, sports and lifestyle stories for various local newspapers.

Lisa relocated to Southern California in 1988, a move that rekindled her childhood fascination with Old Hollywood - and its mysteries. She spent most of her free time exploring landmarks, examining archives, wandering cemeteries and studying classic movie star biographies.  In 1996 she learned HTML and created the popular Jean Harlow Platinum Page, dedicated to her favorite actress.

Around the same time she began to champion the little-known yet colorful life and career of the late film star Franchot Tone and decided that his story deserved a full-scale book.  After presenting her ideas to his sons in 1997, they named her Tone’s official biographer and the meticulous research process began.

In the meantime, a 14-year career with NBC gave Lisa the opportunity to work with living actors but her heart has always belonged to the long-since dead variety. Today she continues to visit Hollywood cemeteries, paying respects to the people who have entertained and inspired her.