Thrillerfest 2010

Thrillerfest was a blast - literally. Arriving early on Wednesday, my wife and I were greeted with a blast of 102-degree heat, which we promptly decided wasn't bad enough to stop us from descending into the even hotter and stuffier depths of the subway to ride down to Battery Park and then take the ferry to see Lady Liberty, determined to finish my research for the new Morpheus Initiative novel. After braving the 300+ steps (I lost count in the sweltering heat) to the viewing platforms, we finally somehow made it back to the hotel for what I hoped would be a more relaxing Thursday...

But things started up fast, with a great presentation by John Gilstrap, who showed us some rather graphic video proof of what happens when bullets of various calibers interact with flesh and bone, why your characters really can't go on fighting after being shot, and why there just isn't any such thing as a 'flesh wound'.

Then I did some volunteering, directing crowds of writers and agents to their high-tension pitchfest (and every minute I counted my blessings that I didn't need to go through that again). Sat in on more informative panels, went to the cocktail party, and I don't remember the rest... except some people in the hotel bar seemed quite interested in THE PHAROS OBJECTIVE and promised to buy it.

Friday was my panel, talking about the paranormal and why it's here to stay. Great fun with Jonathan Maberry, Christopher Golden, Dakota Banks and Heather Graham. I felt honored to be among such talent!

After that, I could relax. Did the book signing (and those people from the bar actually followed through and bought copies - yay!). I gave out some copies for potential blurbs to William Dietrich and Steve Berry (who was excited about the Remote Viewing aspect). And the rest of the time - just enjoyed hanging with friends and meeting new ones. Looking forward to the next one!

They're still at it...

Ugh... I need a larger soapbox to complain about this...

The season finale of 'Criminal Minds' - while a serial murderer is running about Los Angeles doing unspeakably nasty things, the guest detective cries out, "Why is he doing this?"

I'll tell you why - because, like I argued in my first post, the writers are either too stupid to think up another way to ask about a killer's motive, or... there's a conspiracy afoot (and has been for a long time)... I tell you someone's getting paid royalties every time that phrase is uttered (and it's uttered a freakin' LOT). I lost track of all the times I've groaned hearing that in the past few months... Even brilliantly written shows sneak it in: (LOST - while Richard Alpert is chained in the Black Rock's cargo hold and all his fellow prisoners are being stabbed to death, he has to yell out, 'Why are you doing this?' Again, really? Would you say that at that point, knowing you were next? Maybe one day we'll hear... "Oh, you gave me a good answer. Great then, go ahead and kill me."

Eh. Whatever...

...and your mom said not to waste time with comics

Superman's debut comic book issue sells for $1M - Yahoo! News

A rare copy of the first comic book featuring Superman sold Monday for $1 million, smashing the previous record price for a comic book.

This excited the heck out of me because I had just published a story: 'The Wrong Basement' to Abyss&Apex, concerning a couple that finds a box of mint-condition Superman comics in their basement... If you'd like a read, it's here, free:

http://abyssandapex.com/200910-wrong.html

Finally starting a new project

It's been a month since I wrote "N.D.E" - my first teleplay!

Since then I've:

1) signed with a Hollywood Manager (to shop around my scripts)

2) edited an earlier script

3) proofed The Morpheus Initiative - Book 1 and Book 2 and sent them off to Variance Press

4) got a revised publication date for Morpheus (July, 2010)

5) had to change all my major characters' names after I learned I inadvertently chose the last name of a currently-still-living psychic and remote-viewer named Ingo Swann, one of the early pioneers in the field. Not wanting to be sued (after he remote-views my decision to use his name without permission) I changed my hereos to the swan's erstwhile cousin, 'Crowe'... which works better I think. Thank God for 'find and replace'.

5) Researched the heck out of Morpheus Book 3 and went through a hundred potential archaeological mysteries and ancient enigmas before settling on at least one that, remarkably, I had left myself unresolved clues to address in Books 1 and 2. Get ready for the Spear of Destiny, as well as exploration of more government coverups (UFOs, underground societies, Martian and Lunar bases, and of course... Nazis!)

So I can finally get back to writing, starting book 3...