Exposed in Alaska
I’m overdue to get some information out about the latest happenings with Saylor’s Triangle and The Permanent Plan. Very recent news first. I was just invited to be in the ReadAlaska book event at the Anchorage Museum the weekend after Thanksgiving. This event has been going on for 17 years and is not particularly easy to get into. It will be my first real opportunity for community-wide exposure in Anchorage and it is exciting that it will take place in the recently opened $100 Million expansion to the museum.
Last month, I participated in the yearly conference of the Alaska Writers Guild. It featured 6 agents, publishers, editors, and authors from outside of Alaska, and was an eye-opening experience. I had the opportunity to have a private conference with NY super agent, Janet Reid (affectionately known as The Shark). She represents several authors who have made the NY Times Bestseller list. She reviewed my work with me and told me she liked it. I was a little disappointed with the fact that she cannot represent me for the two books I have already published, but she invited me to send her my next manuscript. Since only about 1 out of 100 manuscripts even get a serious look, I consider my meeting with her a success. She said most fiction writers complete 3-5 novels before they have real success.
Alaska has recently taken an aggressive approach to movie making in the state by incentivizing movie makers. A movie with Drew Barrymore and Ted Danson is currently being filmed in Alaska (my son even secured a part as an extra in it). Another movie is scheduled to begin filming soon. Thanks to my friend, Janet Shafsky, who is doing makeup on the current film, I am pursuing the idea of making a screenplay out of Saylor’s Triangle. Because of her connection to the business, she told me that movie makers are desperate for Alaska scripts. I realize this all probably sounds mighty arrogant on my part, because I know nothing about screenwriting. So, I am doing a little studying and taking the position that I didn’t know anything about writing a novel before I started either. Plus, I’ve always loved a challenge. It’s a bit of a quandary, because I really would like to focus on Moon Over The Midnight Sun (there it is, the title of my next novel).
Thanks to Judy Zundel and Crystal Crozier for their support of a very successful book signing event at the Petroleum Club of Anchorage this summer. Thanks also to the publisher of my hometown newspaper, Anne Cassens, for her help and support of my book signing event in South Dakota in August. And thanks again to Kay Cashman, publisher of the Petroleum News for her continuing support of my work.
Have books will travel…for those of you who have expressed an interest in having me come to your book club meeting, contact me. I have also spoken at things like Rotary Club meetings, and am happy to do that.
A final comment. Both of my novels are adult action, adventure, and mystery. I realized in the writing that they wouldn’t be for everybody. In spite of that, I have been overwhelmed by the feedback on both of them…nearly 100% of the people who have read them love them and anxiously await the next one. Most readers tell me that The Permanent Plan is better than Saylor’s Triangle, and I am very appreciative of that, even though the first one will probably always be my favorite, just because. I an not well known as an author yet, but I am continually surprised when total strangers approach me and tell me how much they love my books. Thanks to all of you. Unless you are Stephen King or John Grisham, this is not a money making business. For me, two things make it worth it and give me joy and satisfaction…the writing, and those positive comments.
