Jon Lindstrom Talks ‘General Hospital’ Turning 61 and His Crime Novel Becoming a Bestseller
‘GH’ star Jon Lindstrom reflects on Kevin, Ryan, Laura and Heather, and teases ‘Hollywood Hustle’
On General Hospital’s 61st anniversary, legacy player Jon Lindstrom has a lot to celebrate. Sure, he’s mourning nasty Ryan Chamberlain, but he’s still playing Kevin Collins — the better twin who arrived in 1993 and became central to the spin-off Port Charles.
Since returning to General Hospital in 2016 and hooking up with Genie Francis’ Laura, Kevin has been pulled into countless Cassadine adventures, and thanks to Ryan’s past dalliance, they’re now adopting Baby Ace and contending with Alley Mills’ Heather Webber.
Amid all the General Hospital drama, Lindstrom’s debut novel, Hollywood Hustle, is a USA Today Best Seller with a months-long waiting list on the library app, Libby.
FIRST for Women caught up with Lindstrom between book tour stops to hear about his writing journey, as well as how the Bosch and True Detective alum feels about Kevin’s ever-expanding world on General Hospital.
General Hospital star Jon Lindstrom teases bestselling crime novel
With the thriller Hollywood Hustle, Daytime Emmy nominee and award-winning indie filmmaker Jon Lindstrom has added another title to his credits — bestselling author.
Having long been a fan of Los Angeles noir crime stories, Lindstrom’s first novel takes readers into the dark underbelly of the LA film industry. The gritty tale follows washed-up movie star Winston Greene, whose estranged daughter has been kidnapped for ransom by a murderous gang.
“What they don’t know is his big movie money is long gone,” teases Lindstrom. “He’s had a trainwreck of a life and has just barely clawed his way back to a semblance of stability. So he enlists the help of two of his closest friends, a legendary stuntman and a disgraced former LAPD detective, and they try to figure out how to beat the kidnappers at their own game.”
Since Hollywood Hustle debuted in February, the response has exceeded Lindstrom’s expectations.
“Talk about sensations I never expected to have in my life,” he grins. “It’s been a terrific journey. I wanted to write a book I hoped people would like and I just hoped to get it published, frankly. So the fact that everything is falling into place like this…”
Bestselling author Jon Lindstrom is grateful for soap fan’s support
In his new role, Lindstrom has been traveling The US, doing an old-fashioned book tour. After decades of attending fan events, the daytime vet, whose credits also include As the World Turns, Generations, Santa Barbara and Rituals, noticed quite a few familiar faces in in the crowd – and we’re not just talking about his costars Michael Easton and Chloe Lanier, who were there to support him in Los Angeles.
With Hollywood Hustle the first of a series, Lindstrom is already about halfway through writing his follow-up and is starting to map out the third installment.
“I’m getting condolence emails from other authors,” he chuckles. “’Hey, Jon, I hear you’re working on your second book. This is the toughest one of all. My sympathies.’ Thanks a lot! ‘You want to write it for me?’”
While Lindstrom is focused on the page, right now, he reveals there could be a screen adaptation down the line.
“I am starting to get some inquiries,” he says, a twinkle in his eye.
