Most Americans who indulge in prime time television know Chris Harrison as the face of reality dating, the one and only host of ABC's The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and the numerous spin-offs they've inspired over the 13 years since hitting the air.
These days, however, the 43-year-old is branching out, both into daytime TV as the new host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and into the world of literature. Harrison's first book, a novel entitled The Perfect Letter, hit bookstore shelves May 19. The Dallas native returns to the area Thursday for a book signing at the Barnes and Noble in Frisco.
A project 10 years in the making, Harrison says it took him that long to figure out exactly what kind of author he'd like to be.
"Everybody brought up the dating book, and I don't want to be that guy. I don't mind being the relationship guy, 'cause I am. But I didn't want to be the 'dating expert,'" he said recently by phone from California. "And then the tell-all, and I'm not about to write about a tell-all yet."
Then about five years ago, Harrison met Nicholas Sparks, the undisputed king of romantic literature. Through discussion with him, Harrison realized the two did much the same thing with different mediums. That's when it hit him -- he would write a romance novel.
The Perfect Letter (HarperCollins, $23.99) chronicles the journey of a book publisher and native Texan, Leigh Merrill, who fled to New York after a family death to create a life of her own. But on a long-overdue trip home, she discovers there's more for her there than she previously realized, namely the potential love of her life.
If it sounds idealistic and whimsical, that's the point. Harrison attests it's not the great American novel; all he wants to do is attract the same hopeless romantics that watch him on prime time with an engaging love story.
"If you love the romance and intrigue and the train wrecks and the drama of The Bachelor, you will love The Perfect Letter," he says.
Plan your life
Chris Harrison will sign The Perfect Letter at 6 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble Stonebriar, 2601 Preston Road, Frisco. Present a B&N receipt Thursday for a ticket to the signing line. Those with a book but no receipt may get their tickets at 5 p.m.
