So, this week I sold the shopping rights to “The Devil Stood
Up” to an independent film producer. The producer, Lawrence, is the brains behind
“Zombie Etiquette”–the show I was interviewed on last year. In case you don’t
know (which I didn’t) buying the shopping rights means that Lawrence has an
exclusive right to try and get backing to produce a movie based on the book.
That in itself is pretty exciting news, but the more exciting
part to me is how the producer ‘sees’ me: he sees me as a writer. And that’s
because he only knows me in that light. Which is weird and wonderful, since
most people I know probably think of me primarily in my role as an art director
who also just so happens to goof around with writing.
When this producer and I discuss Devil and creative process
and marketing, it makes me feel legitimate. A ‘real’ writer. I know (as the people
who support me have kindly told me and as they might have to keep telling me)
that I am a writer already, because I write. But I still struggle, in large part
because I’ve not yet been ‘real’ published and that definitely lessens what I’m
doing to many (most?) people. Tell people you wrote a book and they are
impressed; tell them you’re self-published and they back away, averting their
eyes, and mumbling, “Oh, um, that’s nice, I guess.”
In other news. The new short story collection is coming
along and I did an early release of a few of the stories. “Stephen King, A
Short Story” is getting a lot of looks and good reviews. Here is a link if you
feel like checking it out. It’s only for Kindle right now.
In other, other news. Monster Mania is almost here! The
husband and I are very excited and I’m looking forward to seeing some of the
people we met back in the winter. It is in Cherry Hill at the Crowne Plaza again
and it will be August 17, 18 and 19. I’m pretty sure we will be in the front celebrity
room again so look for me! http://www.monstermania.net/MMC22_GUESTS.html
