About Russ Colchamiro


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Russ Colchamiro has written 707 articles so far, you can find them below.


Russ’ Newsletter?: Vol. 5, No. 4 – Finders Keepers is Award Nominated!

Hi Gang-
 
It’s looks finally spring is here (or almost here!) and I for one am totally on board! Time for prolonged sunshine!
 
So as we head into warmer weather (and I officially hit 40 in a few weeks – whoa!), I’ve got tons of exciting Finders Keepers news to report:
 
This month I attended I-Con, in Stony Brook, NY, where I sold and signed a ton of copies of Finders Keepers, made new fans and friends and got the word out.
 
Next up I’ll be showcasing Finders Keepers at the 2011 Book Expo America right before Memorial Day at the Javits Center in NYC, and then I’ll be signing copies at the first annual Long Island Toy Show July 17, followed by the East Hanover Comic Book Expo July 23.
 
* The timing on promotion is actually pitch perfect. It’s book awards season, and Finders Keepers has officially been accepted as a nominee for “Best New Fiction” for two different competitions:

* USA Best Books 2011 Awards
* 2011 Independent Publishers Book Awards

So send out them good vibes, baby!
 
* While I’m out there pounding the pavement on Finders Keepers, Crossline is alive and well. I’m nearly done with a critical third draft, and now it’s time to hunker down the little changes and nuance that transforms good to great. So I’ll be spending the next few months tightening up the manuscript to deliver one ass-kicking adventure!
 
* And for this month’s double special shout out, a HUGE smile and hug goes to my girl Liz, who will be celebrating her very first Mother’s Day with our bundles of joy Nate and Abby. With no surprise at all, Liz is a fantastic mother, with the twins sharing her gentle nature and just a joy to be around.
 
Okay … that’s all she wrote for this edition. I’ll be back soon with new updates about Finders Keepers, Crossline and some other goodies I’ve got in store.
 
Thanks!
Russ

Russ Colchamiro
Author of Finders Keepers, published by 3 Finger Prints
www.russcolchamiro.com
www.richkoslowski.com
@findkeepnovel (Twitter)
Follow me on Facebook
 
 
To see my video interview at the NY Comic-Con:   
http://bit.ly/bfA7oL
 
To read my Publishers Weekly Q&A:
http://bit.ly/igtiec
 
To buy Finders Keepers via 3 Finger Prints:
http://www.richkoslowski.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=233
 

Russ’s Reviews – Boardwalk Empire, Moon, The Killing

It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to update on the TV and movie front, so here’s a collection of a few I’ve had the chance to watch of late:
 
Boardwalk Empire: I went in really wanting to love this. Great cast, excellent production values, quality performances across the board and a gangster saga with politics, sex, violence and macabre humor. I’m in.
 
And yet while I enjoyed Boardwalk Empire … I didn’t quite love it. There’s a certain episode-to-episode intensity that wasn’t quite there. Don’t get me wrong. Quality show, and I’ll keep watching. But for all the expense and hoopla surrounding it, I was hoping for a little bit more. Overall, I’d give it a B/B+. Maybe season 2 will bring it up to an A.
 
Moon: There aren’t too many “indie” sci-fi movies, but Moon certainly qualifies. Part 2001, part Solaris, this slow burn of a movie offers a terrific, multi-layered performance from Sam Rockwell. The first half of Moon is really creepy, while the second resolves the conflict.
 
Again, I went in with high expectations and came away a little disappointed. But for a debut movie from director Duncan Jones (who recently directed Source Code), he shows that he definitely knows what he’s doing. Moon is not for everyone, but worth a look.
 
The Killing: Yikes. The title says it all. If you’re looking for fun and laughs, you are so totally in the wrong place. I’ve only seen the 2-hour pilot so far, but if the rest of the series is the same, it’s going to be a long, intense run. Brilliant on almost every level, this series will rip your heart out, especially if you’re a parent. Not easy viewing by any stretch of the imagination, but after 2 hours it has established itself already as one of the best shows on TV.
 
Next up … The Office, Community, Modern Family

Russ’ Newsletter?: Vol. 5, No. 3: Finders Keepers in Barnes & Noble?

Hey Gang-
 
Just battling back from a nasty cold, but as I make my way to recovery I’m happy to report some BIG, BIG NEWS that stands to change things for Finders Keepers in an extremely positive way.
 
Just this week — in conjunction with Finders Keepers publisher/cover artist Rich Koslowski — we signed a NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CONTRACT with Small Press United (SPU)!
 
What does that mean in real terms? I’ll explain:
 
When you head down to your local Barnes & Noble or Borders (oops!) or Target or mom and pop book store and have a grand ol’ time going through the shelves, where do those books actually come from? How do they actually get from the authors hands to the retail shops?
 
Well, in the case of Finders Keepers, SPU is, essentially, our sales rep who deals with the book stores. Their job is to sell Finders Keepers to Barnes & Noble and the rest, so that folks across the country (and maybe even globally) can pop down to the book store and find my novel.
 
So does that change the stakes for Finders Keepers? Uh … you bet yer keister it does!!
 
Given how the process works, it’ll probably take a few months, but Finders Keepers is now officially part of the retailer world! And if you want your local book store to carry Finders Keepers, head down there and ask that they order copies through Small Press United, an extremely reputable distributor.
 
To put this contract into perspective, SPU rarely carries a first time novelist, because it can be tough to sell a new author. But because of my success with Publishers Weekly, the positive reviews I’ve gotten, the author endorsements and my persistent marketing, they selected Finders Keepers as one of those very few first time novels.
 
Don’t know about you, but I’m thinking this is kind of awesome. 🙂
 
But wait … there’s more!
 
SPU will also be handling e-book distribution for Finders Keepers. I don’t have the details quite worked out yet, but I will send those around soon. So for all you Kindle-type readers who have been waiting to get an e-version of Finders Keepers, it’s on the way!
 
And of course for you lovers of books — you know, paper thingamajiggies with words and stuff! — you can always order your signed, personalized copy of Finders Keepers through the 3 Finger Prints Web site at www.richkoslowski.com.
 
* And speaking of Finders Keepers, earlier this month I attended Lunacon, an annual sci-fi/fantasy convention in Rye, NY, where I sold (and signed) many copies, spoke on several panels and made some new fans and friends. Overall Finders Keepers was very well received and continues to build momentum.
 
* I’ll also be attending ICON, in Stonybrook, NY, April 15-17. So anyone in the area who wants to stop by my booth or see me speak on a panel, that’s where you’ll find me.
 
That’s all she wrote for this edition. Finders Keepers is making major headway, with more great news coming your way. Catch up with you next time.
 
Thanks!
Russ
 

Russ Colchamiro
Author of Finders Keepers, published by 3 Finger Prints
www.russcolchamiro.com
www.richkoslowski.com
@findkeepnovel (Twitter)
Follow me on Facebook
 
 
To see my video interview at the NY Comic-Con:   
http://bit.ly/bfA7oL
 
To read my Q&A with Publishers Weekly:
http://bit.ly/igtiec

Russ’s Newsletter Vol. 5, No. 2 – Convention Season Begins!

Hi Gang-
 
I hope everyone is finding ways to stay warm as this winter frost keeps on chugging along. Of course, besides Spring Training, the best way to heat up is with your very own copy of Finders Keepers, so if you haven’t had the chance to buys yours yet, I can’t think of a better time!
 
Now that the shameless plug of this newsletter is over, here’s the latest and greatest with my adventures in publishing:
 
* You know what time of year it is? If you guessed convention season … you were right! If you’d like to come see me in action, I’ll be selling and signing copies of Finders Keepers at the following events:
 
* LunaCon – Rye, NY – March 18 – 20
 
* I-CON – Stonybrook, NY – April 15-17
 
I’m also hoping to be a speaker on a few panels at these conventions, with details being worked out now. I’ll let you know as it comes together.
 
* When last we spoke I mentioned that Finders Keepers was selected for a pilot program for Wattpad, with sponsorship from Publishers Weekly. Well, after about 6 weeks with the content made available for free in an e-reader format, approximately 15,000 members have read at least a portion of Finders Keepers, so I’m taking that as kinda awesome news!
 
* As for my latest project, I’m deep into the editing process of Crossline. The core manuscript is done, and now I’m doing a combination of refining details and moving a few pieces around to tighten the narrative. No official due date yet on a final version, but I’m making major headway.
 
* And for this issue’s shout-out, let’s all send some good vibes to the families who suffered in the New Zealand earthquakes. I have friends in New Zealand — including my buddy Karl (the inspiration for Theo Barnes in Finders Keepers), so the Kiwis are always near and dear to my heart. In fact, Karl’s father passed away recently from a long illness, so there’s extra reason to keep them in your thoughts. And for those of you who don’t know, Karl’s dad was the inspiration for yet another Finders Keepers character, so his memory is immortalized within those pages.
 
OK. That’s all she wrote for this edition. I’ll be back soon with more updates, and hopefully a few new juicy announcements to share.
 
Thanks!
Russ
 

Russ Colchamiro
Author of Finders Keepers, published by 3 Finger Prints
www.russcolchamiro.com
www.richkoslowski.com
@findkeepnovel (Twitter)
Follow me on Facebook
 
 
To see my video interview at the NY Comic-Con:   
http://bit.ly/bfA7oL
 
To read the Finders Keepers prologue, free:
http://bit.ly/9w5moZ
 
To buy Finders Keepers via Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Finders-Keepers-Russ-Colchamiro/dp/0979480140/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1295641844&sr=8-2

To buy Finders Keepers via 3 Finger Prints:
http://www.richkoslowski.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=233
 
To buy the Finders Keepers e-book:
http://bit.ly/fshMh7

Russ’ Guest Blog – Bart Simpson and Finders Keepers

Hey Gang-

Eat my shorts! Below is a link to my latest Wattpad guest blog, where I manage to link Bart Simpson to Finders Keepers.

Cowabunga dudes!

http://blog.wattpad.com/post/3215891894

 

Russ’s Newsletter: Special Edition – Publishers Weekly Q&A

Hi Gang-

Just a quick follow up, but I wanted to call your attention to some new Finders Keepers activity.

The folks at Publishers Weekly have been incredibly supportive of Finders Keepers, and they have continued that support with a special Q&A they did about me and how the novel came together and what I’m working on next.

We did the interview over the Christmas holiday, and now it’s up online at the Publishers Weekly Web site.

http://www.facebook.com/l/4cbc0tVWctNIQQoKEfGIxMS7ZJQ;www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/45963-lost-and-found-pw-talks-with-russ-colchamiro.html

In addition, the gang at Wattpad have been equally supportive, including promoting the Publishers Weekly Q&A on their Web site and on Twitter.

Forget the frost, things are heating up, baby!

Stay tuned for more updates …

Thanks!
Russ

Russ Colchamiro
Author of Finders Keepers, published by 3 Finger Prints
http://www.facebook.com/l/4cbc0H8kK192CcX4Vi9fjI3xTpg;www.russcolchamiro.com
http://www.facebook.com/l/4cbc0B-yaunUgARlDbqY2a-_hLg;www.richkoslowski.com
@findkeepnovel (Twitter)
Follow me on Facebook

To see my video interview at the NY Comic-Con:
http://www.facebook.com/l/4cbc0fVF3rC4jj0ki7QCcmFvH3Q;bit.ly/bfA7oL

To read the Finders Keepers prologue, free:
http://www.facebook.com/l/4cbc0QyB7HkQoeQeK5GJUlsKnyA;bit.ly/9w5moZ

To buy Finders Keepers via http://www.facebook.com/l/4cbc0RGMqQhLjpr50mn_oWNygeQ;Amazon.com:
http://www.facebook.com/l/4cbc0YrnocdBubOl6UqbrO6Qn4A;www.amazon.com/Finders-Keepers-Russ-Colchamiro/dp/0979480140/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1295641844&sr=8-2

To buy Finders Keepers via 3 Finger Prints:
http://www.facebook.com/l/4cbc0VvneJfTAUXg6SoPhIXXIsg;www.richkoslowski.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=233

To buy the Finders Keepers e-book:
http://www.facebook.com/l/4cbc0zHM_H3CYb2jRFMGtCQCTQQ;bit.ly/fshMh7

Russ’s Guest Blog: Simon’s Battle with a 4,000 Pound Car!

Hey Gang-

This week’s guest blog for Wattpad is up, with photos of Alex and Simon.

Enjoy!

http://blog.wattpad.com/post/2958073825

(This blog is updated, from an original post in October 2010).

Russ’s Newsletter: Vol. 5, Issue 1 – Holy Global Wattpad, Batman!

Happy New Year everyone-
 
I trust that you had a festive and joyous holiday season filled with smiles and relaxation.
 
And now that we’re into 2011 and dealing with the winter frost, let me warm you up with the latest and greatest with my adventures in publishing and other goofy stuff.
 
First off, my best dog Simon is finally, finally close to full strength. He had a few minor setbacks during the healing process, but he’s doing really well. He had the last of his sutures removed, and we’re off to see the surgeon this weekend for what he hope will be Simon’s final x-ray. With good fortune we’ll get the OK to let him run, jump and be the all around nutball he loves to be.
 
And, of course, my bundles of joy Abby and Nate are whumpin’ up a storm, gigglin’ and smilin’ and having a grand ole time. Hard to believe, but they’re already almost 6 months old. Yikes!
 
Shifting over to the the movie front, my annual Top 10 List is finally up. To check out my favorites for 2010, click here: http://bit.ly/hqucsI
 
Now, onto Finders Keepers ….
 
* If you remember, the folks over at Publishers Weekly gave Finders Keepers a big thumbs review (http://bit.ly/i0y682). Well, they liked my book so much that they interviewed me a few weeks back for a stand-alone article, due to come out any day now. Once it’s up, I’ll be sharing that sucker for sure!
 
* And as the momentum builds for Finders Keepers, I’ve actually gotten involved in a very cool project that came about quite unexpectedly. For those of you who don’t know, Wattpad (www.wattpad.com) is a Web site that launched about five years ago for the purpose of giving unpublished (or underpublished) authors a venue to promote their work in an e-reader format. The way the site works is that, as an author, you post your work for free, for a designated period, with the goal of building up a following among readers who probably wouldn’t have found your project anyway, and that word spreads like wildfire.
 
Here’s Wattpad by the numbers:

* 5 million Monthly Unique Visitors
* Users spend 300 minutes on Wattpad/month
* Users spend avg. of 30 min/session on Wattpad, twice a day
* 1 million apps downloaded/month
* #1 BlackBerry App
* top 7 eReading app in App World

Well … because of the Publishers Weekly review, Wattpad invited me as only one of five authors — in the world — to join a pilot program (co-sponsored by Publishers Weekly) in which Wattpad is putting a ton of support behind me.
 
I’ve agreed to post Finders Keepers on the Wattpad site for free in an e-reader format through March 31, 2011 to give the momentum a chance to build. The readers are predominantly women, and under the age of 28. 
 
Through this pilot program, Wattpad has agreed to the following:

* Promote my Publishers Weekly Q&A
* Include a link to my Comic-Con video interview
* Has an automatic link to Facebook and Twitter

Plus … remember those character illustrations on my Web site? Well, Wattpad is posting them on their site — with links to Facebook and Twitter — about one per week over the three months, as a way to promote Finders Keepers.
 
In addition, I’m providing one guest blog per week through the run of Finders Keepers.
 
After just three weeks, I’ve already gotten about 6,200 reads of Finders Keepers, which means that’s how many people have at least clicked on the first page. So … it’s tough to say what kind of real world implications this is going to have for Finders Keepers, but at that very least it’s a rockin’ way to start off the year.
 
* My paperwork is submitted and I’m just waiting for confirmation about Lunacon, a small but important sci-fi show in Rye, N.Y., March 18. I’m scheduled to share a table there with fellow writer James Chambers, where I’ll be selling and signing copies of Finders Keepers, and, hopefully be a speaker on at least a panel or two. I’m also hoping to have a booth at ICON, a big sci-fi show in Stonybrook, Long Island, in late April. Details to come ..
 
* And lest you think it’s all Finders Keepers, think again! I’m still plugging away on Crossline, with my goal of having a butt kicking draft by late spring. My process involves many rounds of edits, but slowly but surely I’m chiseling away to get this bad boy in shape.
 
* And for this issue’s shout out, please join me in congratulating Pip Green, from England, who won the Finders Keepers international holiday contest. She now has her very own copy, autographed by yours truly. Congrats Pip!
 
That’s all she wrote for this time around. I’ll be back in a few weeks with more updates, and if the dominoes fall the right way, I’ll be able to reveal a few other items I’ve got brewing …
 
Thanks!
Russ

Russ Colchamiro
Author of Finders Keepers, published by 3 Finger Prints
www.russcolchamiro.com
www.richkoslowski.com
@findkeepnovel (Twitter)
Follow me on Facebook
 
 
To see my video interview at the NY Comic-Con:   
http://bit.ly/bfA7oL
 
To read the Finders Keepers prologue, free:
http://bit.ly/9w5moZ
 
To buy Finders Keepers via Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Finders-Keepers-Russ-Colchamiro/dp/0979480140/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1295641844&sr=8-2

To buy Finders Keepers via 3 Finger Prints:
http://www.richkoslowski.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=233
 
To buy the Finders Keepers e-book:
http://bit.ly/fshMh7

Russ’ Top Ten Movies of 2010

Hey Gang. A little later than usual this year, but at last I’ve compiled my Top 10 Movies List of 2010. As always, please note that this list is a combination of the movies I simply enjoyed the most, and would want to watch again, fused with those that I thought were technically superior. 

 

With that, here’s my list:

 

 

10. Inception: For a movie that has multiple mind- and time-bending layers, the narrative is surprisingly easy to follow. Crazy special effects fused with a journey through mind and spirit, Inception requires multiple viewings to follow all the threads and symbols. Some of the scenes dragged on too long, but it’s a crazy, fascinating ride.

9. Cyrus: A quiet and understated movie in which John. C. Riley and Jonah Hill (who really acts in this one) square off for the affections of Marisa Tomei (Riley’s new girlfriend; Hill’s mother). On the surface it’s pretty simple, but the nuanced performances make this a compelling watch that drew me in from start to finish.

8. Black Swan: Natalie Portman’s Golden Globe was well deserved. This psychosexual thriller takes you through the fragile mind of Portman’s ballerina, who unravels as the pressure of leading Swan Lake comes to a head. Dark, trippy and intense.

7. Kick Ass: For pure adrenalized fun, this is my favorite movie of the year. Geeks trying to be superheroes with an actual story, wicked fight scenes and a breakout star in Hit Girl. Not for everyone, but if you like the genre, this one’s a keeper.

6. The Social Network: Slightly overrated, it’s still an awesome window into the evolution of Facebook and the players that pulled it all together. How much is fact and how much is fiction, I suppose we’ll never really know, but Jesse Eisenberg carries the movie, with a script that unfolds more like a legal thriller than an historical document — in an era that is still defining itself.

5. Ghost Writer: This mystery thriller from sick pup Roman Polanski starts out being one movie — Ewan McGregor is hired to “ghost write” the memoirs of Pierce Brosnan’s questionable former British Prime Minister — and as it unravels, very much becomes another. Stick with it until the very last frame. You won’t be disappointed.

4. The Kids are All Right: A family dramedy for our strange modern times about a middle-aged lesbian couple, whose teenaged kids track down the donor father they never met and disrupts their lives. The performances are pitch perfect about a family that is anything but. Hilarious and poignant, this movie resonates on multiple levels. A winner.


3. How to Train Your Dragon: One of the best animated movies ever. Thrilling and fun, Dragon is a rip-roaring adventure that had me laughing, cheering and calling out for more. A classic.

2. True Grit: The Coen Brothers did it again. They have mastered the art of juxtaposing silent tension with abrupt violence, with just enough pauses in between to let you breathe. There’s nothing complicated about this tale of revenge, but it was amazing to watch the determination of 14 year old girl win over a craggy old gunslinger to bring justice to those who deserve it.

 

1. The King’s Speech: Colin Firth gives an amazing performance as a quiet man thrust into the radio spotlight — while forced to overcome a tormenting stammer — all as the specter of World War II hovers. The characters don’t know just how devastating Hitler will one day become, but as the audience, we do, and that tension puts this otherwise character driven tale over the top.

 

Just missed:

 

The Town – Another good effort from Ben Afleck, who has now proved that he’s a total pro behind the camera. An action packed hiest movie with great performances. Could have easily cracked my top ten. And on a second viewing, it just might.

Green Zone: Matt Damon delivers again with this political action thriller that brings the intensity of the Bourne movies to the international chaos of the Middle East. Heart pounding battles in a dark desert maze that’s continually tied in knots.

The Fighter – Christian Bale gives a great performance, although overall I found this to be Rocky without the theme music. A quality movie for sure, but not as rousing as I had hoped.

Worst of the Year:

 

The Expendables – I truly wanted to like this movie. 80s action stars blowing stuff up real good. What’s not to like? And yet …

I’ve heard all the talk that it’s supposed to be a wink-wink to those cheesy classics we loved with Arnold and Sly and Bruce Willis, but this is just a loud, horribly acted, horribly written dud. One of the worst movies I’ve seen in a long time.

The Love, Sex and Lust of Finders Keepers

Hey Gang-

Here’s my newest guest blog for Wattpad, discussing the love,  sex and lust of Finders Keepers.

Have fun!

http://blog.wattpad.com/post/2844016844

 

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