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