As the world reacts to the devastation in Haiti, here in South Florida we have a slightly closer view of the effect on families who have people there.  Many of us have Haitian  friends, co-workers, and neighbors concerned for their loved ones.  Lynn University is just a few miles down the road, close enough that the anguish felt by the parents of the still missing students makes our local news daily.  

Americans have traditionally opened their wallets and checkbooks whenever catastrophes happen anywhere in the world.  Unfortunately we also have a great deal of scum sucking bottom feeders who react just as quickly finding a new scam to take advantage of the situation.  We all know to be leery of e-mails and text messages asking for donations.  Too bad we can’t find these sub-humans who take advantage of a crisis like this, and show them the door…of a prison cell.

While I’m talking about scam artists, a word of warning to other writers out there; though it’s tempting to lunge at a good offer that comes your way, always take the time to do a quick Google search on any company that wants to represent your work.  I ran across just such an agency link recently on what I always felt was a reputable website.  I dropped them a line and their response was quick, professional, and friendly.  Looked like the perfect agency at first glance.  The e-mail contained a contact name and phone number, and I was tempted to call right away.  Instead I ran the contact number through Google and found that this company had over a half dozen aliases, many of which had fraud cases pending.   I replied that after my Google search of their company, I would decline their offer.  No response after that.

On the work front for 2010, things are moving along on the audio book.  My co-creator, Joseph M. Monks, is currently auditioning local theater people to act as the “voices” of the project. Besides the actual mp3 version of the project we are considering going with an e-book format for the Kindle crowd.  This has been a project for the two of us for some time, but outside ventures keep getting in the way.  Monks is juggling this along with a dozen other projects, most notably his film project VISIONS OF SARA, a kick ass script that has started gaining a lot of positive attention with people in the know.  Followers of Joe know that his original foray into the world of becoming the world’s first blind film director, has been hung up a series of contract hassles, that are hopefully nearing their end.

It looks like GAMEMASTER will be the first of my two novels to reappear on Amazon in hardcopy, and I’m thinking of also offering an e-book format on Kindle as well.  Though the book has received a re-write from its original edition, there hasn’t been enough changes to warrant anyone with the original release to consider buying the updated version, unless of course you are a completist. 

I mentioned last update that I was looking for an artist to set my script NEW HOPE to comic form.  I am still looking, but I received word that a small independent Tampa based production company is reviewing the script with an eye towards producing it as a feature. One can always hope.

Jacki and I recently went to see Blue Oyster Cult at the South Florida Fair.  Though the stage show was a far cry from the laser light phenomenal of their hey-day, Eric, Buck and the boys can still belt out an ass-kicking show.  Highly recommended for any fans of the band to check them out wherever you find them. 

Finally, at long last, it looks as though the all fiction edition of Hacker’s will be ready before long.  To be honest, I didn’t realize how much work would be involved in this thing, but I believe it will be something to be proud of.

That’s it for this time, until next time,

Frank

I don’t know about you, but I am always glad to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new.  It’s the mental equivalent to the first snow of the season covering the dead brown grass of fall overnight and bringing with it a feeling of new beginnings.

A lot of projects are bouncing through the mind of late, the possibilities seem endless with a new year. First up is the fact that “Friend” did not see publication in 09, so getting it out in the marketplace is priority one.  I am also seeking an artist to turn my screenplay, “New Hope” into a three or four part comic anthology, or perhaps a full-blown graphic novel. I had been working with one, but he seems to have fallen by the wayside.

There is still a possibility of an audio book compilation with a brother storyteller (I’m not sure if he wants this mentioned as of yet, so he shall remain nameless).  The work will consist of a collection of our shorter works read by various voices with some added production values to make the project shine.  We began tossing the idea around last year, but individual projects prevented its creation. 

Speaking of audio works my short story “Homecoming” published in the anthology, “Wolves Of War” has been opted for a podcast by Library Of Horror Press.  When that comes to pass I’ll be posting the link here.

With any luck at all, the novel “Eaten” (which “Homecoming” is a prelude to) will be available by year’s end as well.

I spoke with my partner and brother from another mother, Christopher Kahler over the holidays, and it seems his remake of Plan 9 From Outer Space, “Graverobbers from Outer Space” will be wrapping up shooting this spring.  As a consulting producer I have seen a lot of the completed footage, and as a fan of all things Ed Wood, I’m happy to say it looks like it will be a great picture.”

Speaking of Ed Wood, Jacki bought me Muddled Mind: The Complete Works of Ed Wood, Jr.” by David C. Hayes for Christmas. This is the most complete study in Wood’s written work I have seen and it’s obvious from reading, that it was a work of love for Hayes. I would highly recommend this as a companion piece to Rudolph Grey’s “Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr”.

That’s about all I have time for this time.  So what do you say?  Let’s all put our heads down and run “Full Tilt Boogie” into 2010 and make it our year.

Until Next time, I leave you with the words of George Edward Woodberry;

“Old times” never come back and I suppose it’s just as well. What comes back is a new morning every day in the year, and that’s better.”

Talk Soon,

Frank