Review Bloggers

I am trying to get more involved with the reading community on the web. I reached out to Bunny Cates and while she doesn't read books in my current genre: Hollywood Romantic Suspense (like my novel "Marquel") she did recommend several other book bloggers. Up until now, I have been unsuccessful in finding book bloggers who respond to tweets, so contacting bloggers through their blog sites seems to be more beneficial. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again Bunny! See www.bunnycates.com

New ebook cover - need your votes

Last night and today, I've been testing out a couple of new covers for my ebook, "Marquel." The book trailer will be up soon and my daughters have convinced me to get a better cover. If you would like to vote on your preference go to: www.facebook.com/marquelthemovie The movie is in development, but the photos from the book trailer and the new cover are up. However, I want to add that I went to a local Panera to write today and took print outs of the 4 covers and discovered this is a great marketing tool. Many diners were eager to help with their opinion and it only took a few moments to show all 4 looks.

Book signing observations

So I'm making an effort to attend other authors book signings and events. I really want to observe the best and worst and get some original ideas. The top 2 author events I've attended were a Stephen King appearance in Sarasota about 5 years ago and a Martha Stewart cookbook signing in Tampa. King's event was boring. I think the man is a genius, but his stage presence could use some tips from his inner writer. He chose to read a short story, as I recall and most authors do read from a current work but he could have indulged us in some stories from his tour or the drive to the venue, anything! Stephen King needs a holographic Tupac to engage with, as he doesn't seem to know what to do with a giant room full of people who adore his writing. King doesn't appear shy or annoyed, just there. Take away from Stephen King event: Act interested and share a little about yourself. Also, write tons of bestsellers! As for the Martha Stewart's signing, it was a brillantly organized event that snaked around her brands in the houseware's department of Macy's. Her people managed the crowd, engaged with Martha fans, got books prepped for the next in line and Martha took a moment to speak with most everyone who stepped forward and she signed things her handlers said she would not. Bravo to Martha. Take away from Martha Stewart event: Get help! Have trusted friends engage with your audience and keep them excited about your book. Be friendly and listen to those who waited to see you. Now each of these mega superstars have paid their dues and have my total respect. I went to another signing this week by a Florida author and for some stupid reason, I feel compelled to give my book to other authors? Like I think it's a common courtesy. Does someone what to help me with this? Am I wasting books? Is it like going to a party and bringing a bottle of wine to the host, or is it just my Madmen upbring? Am I just to buy their book and shake hands or just sit and watch? It's not like anyone knows me. Well I got the look from the author like, "I'm going to burn that when I get home," when I placed my book in front of her. Should I have curtsied, too? But she didn't miss a beat swiping my credit card on her SquaredUp iPhone. So, I'm going to keep observing. But I have this need to reinvent the book signing! More to come...

A week in the life of the film mom

It seems like everything converges at once. The youngest is doing the finishes touches on the book trailer for my novel, "Marquel" and the oldest is so busy working that I barely have time to speak with her. Oh, our youngest also had her short film "Relative Eternity" screen in LA SHORTS on Monday! And, our oldest had a great audition, but I can't keep up what project she is auditioning for. When either one of our daughters call, they are using a headset/speaker phone while driving and I get every third word. It's like, "Mom ...don't... for... listen...I..."

I also get cryptic text messages from both of them with no punctuation: dont know how cook steak read 

Translated as a reply from a prior message, a question and demand for attention: I don't know. How do you cook steak? Read!

Now, I'm supposed to understand this while juggling the other tasks in my life. So this week I was getting laptop repair for the oldest daughter, as well as get graphics set and a printing order for her headshots, while the youngest needed props shipped to LA. It all sounds simple, but the laptop repair had several hiccups and problems that made the expense of the virus infected unit more than anticipated. The shipping of the props was a priority mail sock in the wallet that was to arrive on Saturday and didn't. The headshots had a mark in the plate that printed a slash on our daughter's face and that had to go back. All the while, I'm still managing my marketing accounts and attempting to get a roof repair fixed at my mother's and work on the 2nd novel nights and weekends. I really only manage to get weekends for writing. But at least I got a blog post in this week! Finally! Got to rest up for the week ahead and it starts in a few hours...

F. Scott Fitzgerald / Jay Gatsby / Harry Whittington

On a recent road trip we visited the F. Scott Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. The curator explained that it is the only F. Scott Fitzgerald Museum in the world, where Hemingway has about 4 dedicated to his life and work. The museum needs donations as it rents a few rooms to boarders and the remaining part of the house is the museum. Fitzgerald and his eccentric socialite wife, Zelda, lived for a very short time in the house during the latter years of their lives. Since Warner Brothers is releasing a new version of "The Great Gatsby" during the holiday season in 2012, I believe it would be very noble of them to help this legend's only landmark, by sharing a healthy donation to complete the remaining house and show some support to the writer's fan base. F. Scott Fitgerald was my mentor, Harry Whittington's favorite author. Harry passed away in 1989 and approved the outline for my novel, Marquel. My husband and I recently had dinner with Howard Whittington and his wife and he shared that Kathryn Whittington, Howard's mother, had gone to great expense to get Harry a first edition of "The Great Gatsby" in the early years of their marriage. I'm now reading Gatsby and knowing Harry, I can feel his excitement with the Gatsby lifestyle and his insecurity with social wealth. After learning more about Fitzgerald and Zelda, I see Kathryn and Harry as a couple on the extreme lower rung as somewhat of a mirror image. The Fitzgerald's lived the high life, the Whittington's dreamed of it. Harry wrote more and published more than his idol and struggled to meet his bills, but he wrote daily. It was about the time that I met Harry that he was living the good life. He had been honored in Reims, France, he was making good money writing under the name Ashley Carter and Blaine Stevens and was living in a waterfront home on Indian Rocks Beach, Florida with a beautiful 2nd floor intercoastal view from his studio office. If Fitzgerald had had Harry's discipline, he likely would have conquered some of his own demons. Both men longed to make movies and each had moved the Hollywood for a period to make attempts. Zelda was Fitz's larger than life flapper wife, Kathryn was a country girl unknown to the world, but known to the close fans of Harry and maintained close touch after Harry's death. Harry lived twice as long as Fitzgerald, who was in his forties when he passed from complications due to his alcoholic lifestyle. Harry lived life to the fullest well into his eighties. What I find in Jay Gatsby that is common to Harry and Fitzgerald is the class struggle. All 3 men come from common roots, excel at their talents, love a woman who has challenges of her own, but they are restless in their self-confidence. They seem to be always fighting to fit in or get to a place of earned respect that meets a standard that only they can define. It's unattainable really, but it keeps them hungry and it's that restlessness that makes us love them. We know they aren't perfect, but we know there is no one else like them and for that, we cherish them. And isn't it interesting that Fitzgerald's legacy is commemorated by a landmark that isn't complete? Harry at least has his western novels archived in a college library in Wyoming. But both men deserve better.

Collection of thoughts

The first thing I want to discuss is the Google Chrome function. I'm not in favor of blogspot blocking my view of prior settings, pretty much forcing me to use Google Chrome. I want options! I liked Blogspot as it was. _______________ A collection of websites that I made note of from magazine articles were either surprisingly boring or didn't exist. These were from national magazines. What gives? _______________ I went to the Tampa Bay Comic Con awhile ago and have wanted to get more info on www.501st.com or www.fl501st.com, the Florida Garrison of Star Wars re-enacters. I would love to see these guys battle the civil war re-enacters! Talk about Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, this would be epic! ______________ Debating whether to go to another writer's conference before getting a sale? I've got plenty of work to do on the 2nd novel and it seems these conferences fan the flames of hope, but I've got to get a deal! ______________ California food: please open a Trader Joe's, Urth Cafe and Larchmont Cafe in Florida! We need your quality and some better organic options.

Volume control PLEASE!

I don't know about you, but I'm really getting frustrated with the volume of movie previews, trailers and action scenes. It's to the point that I cover my ears!
I have a hearing loss and I am very appreciative for the gift of hearing and my doctors have told me that loud concerts, fireworks and noise that is excessively loud is unhealthy for me and will speed up more loss.
So I'm wondering, what studies are out there to show how society hears today vs. decades or centuries ago?
I'm sure the industrial revolution sped up hearing loss for factory workers and the invention of TV and radio gave people more to listen to, but what of the first transistor radios? And it's already reported that ipods are causing hearing loss, but how about cellphones, the music played loudly in bars, coffeehouses and concerts?
I've not researched the blogs that I'm sure report on these stats, but I want to make a request to all businesses.
Turn down the volume!
Give us a chance to hear each talk and in a film, for Pete's sake, please have some common sense on the sound mixing. I'm going to boycott promotions and commercials that just are extreme in their loudness. I'm going to walkout and get my money back, if theater's insistent on injuring our hearing health and wait the film to hit DVD.
Come on, people. Do you really want to wear hearing aids at younger ages, because you're headed there. Express yourself, ask them to turn down the volume and don't accept the excuse that it's set by the management.
And for those talented actors who like to whispertalk like you, John Malkovich, remind the sound guys to give us some volume on your dialogue but bring it back down when the other actor responds. I'm a big Malkovich fan, but close caption is the only way to watch your films.
So to recap. Volume up for whispertalk. Volume down on just about everything else.