The story of one ground-breaking woman who opened the door to new roles and portrayals of women in books and television.

This short documentary highlights the life and career of Gloria Fickling, who co-authored 11 novels with her husband Skip Fickling from 1957 to 1971. Written under the pseudonym G.G. Fickling, their books about a female private detective became the basis for the TV series Honey West (1965-1966) starring Anne Francis, who won a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal. Fickling discusses how her personality and fashion sense served as inspiration for the character, and how she pushed to find a publisher for the novels. Interviews with Karen A. Romanko, Sharon Gless, and Errin Auxier emphasize the groundbreaking nature of the TV series which featured television's first female private detective in a lead role. Jessica de Stefano, Toni Iseman, and Sande St. John describe the love and esteem for Gloria within the Laguna Beach community, where she has resided for many years. Archival home movies and television clips from You Bet Your Life, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Honey West, and Cagney and Lacey add historical dimension to Fickling's story.—Karen A. Romanko