Local Editor Publishes Housewife Murder Novel

Timothy Hedden, a Manhattan-based editor, has released his first novel, "Dead Housewives of Philadelphia." The book is a murder mystery set against the backdrop of a fictional reality television production. Hedden spent 25 years editing footage for major reality franchises before turning to fiction.

The novel follows Bailey, a producer on a show called "Diva Housewives of Philadelphia." Bailey's role involves exposing secrets and escalating rivalries among six wealthy women to boost ratings. A network-mandated stunt results in one of the participants dying. The producer must then investigate the sudden death amid the feuds she helped orchestrate.

Hedden told Daily Voice that the idea for the book came from watching thousands of hours of reality television footage. He described writing the novel as a more affordable alternative to therapy. The story incorporates elements from the darker aspects of his career in the industry.

The author emphasized that the events in the book are fictional. Nothing resembling the plot occurred on the actual "Real Housewives" franchises he edited. Hedden stated that reality television relies on human manipulation. He noted that he had to witness and perform actions he found unpleasant, but he chose to place these dynamics in a "Housewives" setting because of its dramatic potential.

"I had to do things and witness things that are like, bleh, but I put it all in a 'Housewives' setting because, what's more fun than six rich women screaming and yelling at each other and suddenly dying? It was fun to write," Hedden said.

Hedden worked on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," "Atlanta," and "Potomac." He also edited episodes for "90 Day Fiancé," "Mob Wives," "Black Ink Crew," "Chopped," and "Say Yes to the Dress." He specifically edited the episode featuring Teresa Giudice's return home from prison and the "Gone With the Wind Fabulous" episode of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta."

The author cited Dolores Catania as an inspiration for one of his fictional characters. Catania, a star of the New Jersey franchise, refused to take sides in feuds involving Giudice. Hedden admired her willingness to stand her ground rather than align with the show's most prominent star for attention. He described Catania as one of the nicest people he had met and praised Giudice's dedication to her daughters.

Hedden believes the behavior seen on these shows has influenced how people interact in daily life. He said that screaming matches, thrown drinks, and physical fights have changed social dynamics. "The whole world suffers from housewife syndrome, now," he said. His husband named this phenomenon "Housewife syndrome" after Hedden began acting out similar behaviors at home after long hours of watching the footage.

The author chose Philadelphia as the setting for the novel for two reasons. The city is a nod to his roots in Fallsington, Bucks County. Additionally, Philadelphia does not have a "Real Housewives" franchise. Hedden, 57, lives in Manhattan with his husband, Michael, and their dog, Bruno. He spent much of his life believing dyslexia would prevent him from becoming a writer. His first published essay was picked up by NBC News and won a national journalism award. He is currently working on "Dead Housewives of Boca" and has planned a third book titled "Dead Husbands of Philadelphia."