Bandit Dreams & Beyond: A Memoir

by Victoria Bolt

"In this debut memoir, Bolt offers a poignant, dynamic, and charming tale of love. As it rolls along, she offers anecdotes that may make some readers nostalgic for the Hollywood of decades past."

- KIRKUS REVIEWS

Decatur, Illinois, 1972. Seven-year-old tomboy Victoria Bolt sneaks among the tables at her mother’s Bunco game, where housewives are tittering over a magazine spread. Though Victoria couldn’t have imagined what was on those pages that day, Smokey and the Bandit era Burt Reynolds would soon change the course of her life for good.

In BANDIT DREAMS AND BEYOND, former stuntwoman Bolt shares how she escaped a volatile and violent home life to make movies with her childhood crush, Burt Reynolds, in 1980s and ’90s Hollywood. There are long-haul truckers, narrowly missed punches, family dysfunction and unconditional love, and appearances by BR himself. This is a middle American fairy tale set to John Cougar Mellencamp in a smoke-filled bar. This is a shoutout to readers who grew up on the champagne wishes and caviar dreams of the eighties. This is an action-adventure love story, filled with laughter and heartache—and yes, the memoirist does all her own stunts.

Bolt’s tell-all memoir includes photos from the author’s life amidst the grit of suburban Illinois and the glitterati of Southern California. A story reminiscent of The Glass Castle and The Tender Bar, BANDIT DREAMS AND BEYOND has nerve to spare and a whole lot of heart.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2022

About the author

Victoria Bolt started her career in the entertainment industry as a stuntwoman and assistant to Burt Reynolds. She dove headfirst into the school of hard knocks at an early age, and Bandit Dreams & Beyond shares her experiences to entertain and educate the reader.
Victoria lives in a small Southern California beach community with her bulldog, Tinkerbella. She is currently caring for her elderly mother who has dementia, and is working on future writing projects.

Reviews

[Jill Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I was expecting with this book was a fun Hollywood tell all. A few bits of gossip. Maybe an inside scoop or two. What I got was so much more.
While this book does tell some stories about Hollywood, and Burt Reynolds, it is more the story of Victoria Bolt and the extraordinary life she is living. Just a girl from the mid-west with big dreams that no one expected to come true.
With all the dreams that Ms. Bolt had I am so happy that she decided to be a writer. This book is elegantly written. Touching. Funny. Done in a conversational tone that is easy to read.
We all have a story that deserves to be told. Thank you Ms Bolt for sharing yours.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, humorous and real. A coming of age story, set in the 1970’s, with a work hard - play hard focus and a pick yourself up by your bootstraps attitude. I’m usually not a big fan of memoirs, but I found myself really enjoying Bandit Dreams and Beyond. I laughed, I was shocked, and I cried my eyes out during parts. wanted to know what would happen next and where life would lead our protagonist. But most of all, I loved the attitude of the narration. Life was difficult for Victoria, but every time it knocked her down, she got back up, and she never adopted a self pitying expression.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story!

Bandit Dreams and Beyond is Victoria Bolt's recently released memoir and it is a truly remarkable read! It's the story of a small town Midwest girl following her dreams, improbable as they seemed to everyone but herself! Bandit Dreams tells of Victoria's journey to find, meet, and even work alongside and be mentored by the amazing Burt Reynolds! There are some terrifying and hilarious chapters as Victoria's story unfolds! And Beyond is the story of what comes after... both great love and great loss. I laughed out loud many times while reading this great memoir! It felt like Victoria was in the room with me, sharing her personal story one to one. I also really cried as I felt her pain. And I RARELY cry while reading! This book is raw, powerful and I highly recommend it... especially to anyone who grew up in the sixties and seventies, as Victoria definitely takes you back to those times with her fabulous descriptions! This book left me wanting more! I wish I could watch it as a movie! Definitely five stars for me!

[Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written memoir brimming with humor and love. The author's descriptions of growing up in a blended, dysfunctional family are keenly vivid, crisp and affecting. Her bold, full-hearted choices in adulthood left me cheering at times, and tearful at others. A palpable sense of triumph permeates this remembrance. It's a joy to read. Can't wait to reread it.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

very moving story! I loved that the author was the narrator. I keep thinking about this book.

[Ian Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars| 16+

Bandit Dreams & Beyond: A Memoir by Victoria Bolt is a very eloquently written book, brimming with humour and inspiration!

I cannot recommend this book more! 5/5

[Cherie Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome book great author

This was a phenomenal book! I laughed, I cried and I couldn’t put it down. Was amazing to see dreams come true and life happen.