Collateral Stardust: Chasing Warren Beatty and Other Foolish Things

WARREN BEATTY WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR...

Born in Hollywood and raised by a radical, Black Panther-supporting mother and a charismatic trombone-playing father, Nikki Nash grew up surrounded by musicians, actors, conspiracy theorists, political fundraisers, jazz jams, and lots of alcohol-fueled parties. 

At fourteen, she is lonely, longing for attention, and desperate to find something to fill the void. She decides “that something” is Warren Beatty. She is determined to find him and have him in her life forever. She isn’t naive, and this isn’t a fantasy. She has a solid plan. And the first step in the plan is to grow up. 

Four years later, Nash, now eighteen, is ready for the next step of her plan. When she learns that Warren Beatty—who lives at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel—frequents a nearby restaurant, she gets a hostess job there and waits. In the meantime, she encounters (and/or dates) stalkers, sociopaths, actors, agents, mobsters, and producers. But eventually, on a cold Sunday night, after breaking her finger in a judo class and looking her worst—dirty hair pulled back, no make-up, her broken finger in a glass of ice—Warren Beatty walks through the door.

About Nikki Nash

In her teens, Nikki Nash studied acting, took piano lessons, and wore a nun’s habit to buy alcohol so she wouldn’t get carded. She began working in TV as a gofer on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and ended up an associate director on a variety shows including Soul Train, Love Connection, Jimmy Kimmel, and Conan. In her free time, she tried skydiving, playwriting, screenwriting, stand-up comedy, swing-dancing, poker, and painting. She likes eating toast, and still watches a lot of TV.

Praise for Collateral Stardust: Chasing Warren Beatty and Other Foolish Things

“Nash reflects on wild times in Hollywood and her relationship with Warren Beatty in this rollicking memoir. The author’s skill as a comedian is on full display here—she peppers every page with perfectly timed punchlines that communicate her quirky personality. 

...her consistent, irreverent voice makes the memoir delightful. Just as she describes one of her encounters with Warren, her wonderful stories feel like “remnant[s] of stardust mixed in with a cozy blanket of nostalgia.

A dazzling kiss-and-tell that brings vintage Hollywood to life.”

–Kirkus Reviews *Starred Review

“Nikki Nash’s frank, funny memoir Collateral Stardust is about growing up in an offbeat Los Angeles family.

Nash’s adventures in dating and personal growth are covered in a self-aware manner. While others in her generation just dreamed of Warren Beatty, she concocted a plan that led to a real, lasting relationship with him. He is but one among the book’s frequent celebrity cameos...

A cool and entertaining coming-of-age memoir, Collateral Stardust relays good times and hard ones with insight and style.”

—Foreword Reviews (by Meredith Grahl Counts)