Wow. James Woods sent you flowers? And optioned your book? That’s so wild and awesome and, yes, it must have felt surreal. No way would I have believed it was real if it had happened to me. Also…in the era of phone scams it would be even more bizarre. Just…cool, girl!
Wow! I wish that had gone all the way to screen for you—with Meryl, no less! However, selfishly, it probably would have meant I’d never met you because you would be in a different stratosphere! So, yay for me😂 Always love reading your posts!!
Great post! I'm now going through the process of pitching my novel. We made a short film in Lindon last year as proof of concept and are now submitting it to festivals. There is some interest from a producer with Acorn TV (we're pitching it as a miniseries), but we're casting a wide net. My advice to anyone who wants to go this route: Don't go into debt to pursue this dream. The odds are steep, and the payout is not as lucrative as you'd think.
If nothing else, I made a film I'm proud of and got to hear professional actors voice my lines (I wrote the screenplay with a lot of notes from the director and senior actor). Writing is a solo activity. Movie making is the ultimate in team sports. If you're not willing to let other professionals add their touch, don't play. The film was 25% me, but the other 75% was from the actors, director, and a wonderful composer whose soundtrack lifted the film to a whole different level. The book, by the way, is A Knife in the Fog, a 2019 Edgars Finalist putting Arthur Conan Doyle on the hunt for Jack the Ripper. Now in Japanese and German. Spanish soon.
You're exactly right about the collaborative nature, Brad. Authors are so used to having it their way :) I'll check out the book which sounds fascinating and screen-worthy. Best of luck!!!!
Thank you! Look up the character Margaret Harkness. She and Professor Joseph Bell (the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes) join Doyle. Harkness was a journalist and author and the first woman certified as a lecturer at the British Museum. Way ahead of her time. If more people learn about her, I've done some good.
Hi Karin, things like that can happen; a similar thing happened to me. A friend of a friend who is a screenwriter and actor in LA read my romcom, Just Like A Movie, and loved it. We drew up a contract for him to write the screenplay (it helped that my husband is a lawyer, and knew a law firm in LA who wrote the contract... kaching!). So far, nada. He's written part of the screenplay and I guess we've tacitly renewed the contract, although tbh I've been too ill these past six months to bother dealing with it. But yes, it's an exciting idea. Who knows... I'm not losing sleep over it though!
Wow. James Woods sent you flowers? And optioned your book? That’s so wild and awesome and, yes, it must have felt surreal. No way would I have believed it was real if it had happened to me. Also…in the era of phone scams it would be even more bizarre. Just…cool, girl!
It was so weird! This was back when you could call information for someone’s number and that’s how he found me.
Wow! I wish that had gone all the way to screen for you—with Meryl, no less! However, selfishly, it probably would have meant I’d never met you because you would be in a different stratosphere! So, yay for me😂 Always love reading your posts!!
Thanks, Tracey. You made my day.
Great post! I'm now going through the process of pitching my novel. We made a short film in Lindon last year as proof of concept and are now submitting it to festivals. There is some interest from a producer with Acorn TV (we're pitching it as a miniseries), but we're casting a wide net. My advice to anyone who wants to go this route: Don't go into debt to pursue this dream. The odds are steep, and the payout is not as lucrative as you'd think.
You’re right. The rewards can be skimpy but I greatly admire your go-getting spirit. This is thrilling.
If nothing else, I made a film I'm proud of and got to hear professional actors voice my lines (I wrote the screenplay with a lot of notes from the director and senior actor). Writing is a solo activity. Movie making is the ultimate in team sports. If you're not willing to let other professionals add their touch, don't play. The film was 25% me, but the other 75% was from the actors, director, and a wonderful composer whose soundtrack lifted the film to a whole different level. The book, by the way, is A Knife in the Fog, a 2019 Edgars Finalist putting Arthur Conan Doyle on the hunt for Jack the Ripper. Now in Japanese and German. Spanish soon.
You're exactly right about the collaborative nature, Brad. Authors are so used to having it their way :) I'll check out the book which sounds fascinating and screen-worthy. Best of luck!!!!
Thank you! Look up the character Margaret Harkness. She and Professor Joseph Bell (the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes) join Doyle. Harkness was a journalist and author and the first woman certified as a lecturer at the British Museum. Way ahead of her time. If more people learn about her, I've done some good.
Thanks. I found your report informative, straight-forward and well-written.
Hi Karin, things like that can happen; a similar thing happened to me. A friend of a friend who is a screenwriter and actor in LA read my romcom, Just Like A Movie, and loved it. We drew up a contract for him to write the screenplay (it helped that my husband is a lawyer, and knew a law firm in LA who wrote the contract... kaching!). So far, nada. He's written part of the screenplay and I guess we've tacitly renewed the contract, although tbh I've been too ill these past six months to bother dealing with it. But yes, it's an exciting idea. Who knows... I'm not losing sleep over it though!
I’m sorry that you’re ill. That would be so exciting. I adore rom-coms. Fingers crossed.