A totally not-so-funny thing happened about two weeks ago.

I was in agent query mode, and wanted to cut and paste the first 40 pages of Finders Keepers into a new file, because an agent had requested sample pages. Cool. So I clicked through folders and sub-folders, until I found the file that contains the entire, up-to-date Finders Keepers manuscript, in double-space format (I also have it single-spaced format for other uses).

Once at the file, I doubled-clicked it and waited for it tA totally not-so-funny thing happened about two weeks ago.

I was in agent query mode, and wanted to cut and paste the first 40 pages of Finders Keepers into a new file, because an agent had requested sample pages. Cool. So I clicked through folders and sub-folders, until I found the file that contains the entire, up-to-date Finders Keepers manuscript, in double-space format (I also have it single-spaced format for other uses).

Once at the file, I doubled-clicked it and waited for it to open.

And I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

When nothing happened, I looked at the screen oddly, and then doubled-clicked the file again, and waited for it to open.

And I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

When once again the file didn’t open–it wasn’t even processing to open; no hour-glass, no flashing cursor–it started to dawn on me that something was wrong with the file containing MY LIFE’S WORK!

At that point I ran the usual diagnostic checks–I yelled with horror, kicked the chair and pounded my fist on the desk, and then clicked through my computer–only to discover that, indeed, the file was corrupted.

The logical part of my brain realizes that, despite the setback, this isn’t actually the worst thing in the world, as I regularly back up my files and save them to a disc, which is stored in a fire-proof box. But the emotion part of me got all riled up and start spazzing out a bit. It’s not like I have a full-time IT dude on standby who I can summon to fix these things.

But as I do have back-ups, I copy and pasted the single-spaced version of Finders Keepers into a new file, and reformatted it to be double-spaced. Once I confirmed that the file was clean and working, I deleted the corrupted file. (And as I’m typing this, I realize that I need to recopy the new double-space file to the back-up disc!).

In the end, crisis averted.

So this blog is dedicated to good buddy and Finders Keepers Web master Ron Benchetrit, who for the last 20 years has been pounded it into my head to ALWAYS BACK UP MY FILES!

Thank Ron I did.

But there’s a little more to story …

In a perfect moment of irony, just moments ago, as I was typing out the words, [i]So this blog is dedicated to good buddy and Finders Keepers Web master Ron Benchetrit, who for the last 20 years [/i] …

I accidentally hit the wrong key with my right pinky, closing out the tab, and without having saved this entry, lost the entire blog [i]about losing files[/i]!

This blog is actually version No. 2.

Ah, the gods sure do have a sense of humor, don’t they?

I wonder if they back up their files …

Post edited by: rcolchamiro, at: 2007/09/23 09:37

I don’t even care about the reason, but the slimebag himself O.J. Simpson is back in jail, and this one’s a beaut. Apparently he led a bunch of his thugs, armed with guns, into a Las Vegas hotel room, to retrieve some pieces of his memorabilia, which he claims were stolen.

O.J. is being held in prison, with two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon (among other charges) expected to be filed within days. And the robbery charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison! Each!

PleI don’t even care about the reason, but the slimebag himself O.J. Simpson is back in jail, and this one’s a beaut. Apparently he led a bunch of his thugs, armed with guns, into a Las Vegas hotel room, to retrieve some pieces of his memorabilia, which he claims were stolen.

O.J. is being held in prison, with two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon (among other charges) expected to be filed within days. And the robbery charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison! Each!

Please, please, please, please, please if there’s any justice in the universe O.J. is going down for this one and going down for good. How beautiful would it be if O.J. spent the rest of his life in prison–not for cutting his wife’s head off–but for stealing some football jerseys?

Nice!

Ah, one can only hope …

And in a bizarre and most unfortunate twist on his evil, evil book that is now back in print, it’s actually the Goldman family that has not only approved its publication, but renamed it to "If I Did it: Confessions of the Killer." Because of the civil suit they won against O.J. in which he owes them $33.5 million, the rights to his book went to them. I’m sure they are still distraught, and I won’t even pretend understand their grief, but why in the world would they ever let that trash into the world? Do they really need the money so bad as to allow this drivel to be printed? Isn’t the murder of Nicole Simpson sinful enough?

Just bury that book. Hell, burn that thing. It’s evil to the core, and they shouldn’t be profiting financially from it.

This whole mess is disgusting all around …

But if O.J. finally–finally–gets his, at least that’s something.

I read something this morning that once again reminded me of all the goofiness and unpredictability in the wacky world of publishing.

Did you know that the manuscript for J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was originally rejected–by 12 different publishers?!

Twelve!

And I’m not talking agents. This comes after the agents stage, when an agent-backed manuscript is making its way through the industry.

And now the Harry Potter franchise is one of the most valuable in the worI read something this morning that once again reminded me of all the goofiness and unpredictability in the wacky world of publishing.

Did you know that the manuscript for J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was originally rejected–by 12 different publishers?!

Twelve!

And I’m not talking agents. This comes after the agents stage, when an agent-backed manuscript is making its way through the industry.

And now the Harry Potter franchise is one of the most valuable in the world–ever! Just the movies alone surpassed the $4 billion mark, which I believe just passed James Bond as the most successful movie franchise ever. Or something close to it.

And then there’s the publishing end of things!

Publishing is littered with stories like this. One of my favorites is the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. The story I hear is that the original book took 20 years to get published. 20 freakin years! And now it’s a worldwide best seller.

So what does this all mean? It means that just because one person–or even many people–pass on a particular book does not therefore mean that THEY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING!

Publishing is such a subjective market. Who’s to say what’s a good book or not? Who’s to say who’s a good writer or not? And who’s to say if a book will sell?

The agents and publishers, that’s who. And such is the plight of writer dudes like me, who have to work within a world in which the rules are screwy and change all the time.

Which is both frustrating to no end–and also quite thrilling.

Why thrilling?

Just because one person says no to a book doesn’t therefore mean it’s the right decision. For every no, there could just as easily be 10 yeses. It’s just a matter of finding the right place at the right time, and if you have a book of quality–which Finders Keepers most certainly is–then it’s not a matter of if, but when.

Will today be the day? Tomorrow? Next week? Next month?

Wish I knew. But the day is coming, and in my bones I feel that it’s coming sooner rather than later.

If Chicken Soup for the Soul and Harry Potter–one of the most successful books ever–needed to take their lumps before hitting the big time, then getting knocked around a little bit isn’t such a lousy feeling after all (I’m not saying it’s fun, but still …).

With every moment there is opportunity. And as long as I stay plugged in, keeping the momentum going, staying positive and focused, the day will come when I get to say no to them, instead of the other way around.

Good gollly, miss molly the last few weeks have been hectic!

Not only has the Baltimore Comic-Con come and gone, but I spent the better part of the last few weeks hunkered down send out agent query letters galore. I’ve got something like 40 or so letters circulating the industry, pegging every agent I could find who seemed like they might be interested in a project like Finders Keepers.

I checked out agents that represent science fiction. Those who represent fantasy. Urban fantasy. HuGood gollly, miss molly the last few weeks have been hectic!

Not only has the Baltimore Comic-Con come and gone, but I spent the better part of the last few weeks hunkered down send out agent query letters galore. I’ve got something like 40 or so letters circulating the industry, pegging every agent I could find who seemed like they might be interested in a project like Finders Keepers.

I checked out agents that represent science fiction. Those who represent fantasy. Urban fantasy. Humor. As well as the more ambiguous genre known as offbeat/quirky–whatever that means. But hey, Finders Keepers is a little offbeat and quirky, so who knows?

My agent query lists are not quite done yet, but I’ve made a pretty nice dent. I’ve just got a few more leads I’m following up, and then it’s time for me to sit back and do the thing I hate to do most of all–wait. Wait, wait, wait. And ooh, how I hate the waiting, hate leaving the outcome up to someone else. But once I’ve done all I can do, the letters will find their way to the agents, and those folks will be as swift or as drawn out as they will be.

Don’t get me wrong–I’m excited as all get out. I’ve never felt better about Finders Keepers, and I’m on the cusp of seeing my book getting better than ever (more will come on that very soon–very exciting!). The buzz from the comic-book conventions is great, the overall response from agents has been steady and getting better and better, and a few people who have read advanced copies–or are still reading–have had super encouraging things to say about Finders Keepers.

So why wouldn’t I be excited?

And yet I have to just wait a bit–patience is a tricky bugger. I’m not naturally patient. I’ve had to work at it. Overall I’d say I’m far more patient than ever, and probably getting more patient as time goes by. But that doesn’t mean I [i]like[/i] being patient. Like most people, I want what I want and I want it now. If only!

But Finders Keepers is circulating. It’s circulating with passion and it’s circulating with energy and increased frequency. The more I keep talking about it, the more I promote it–and the more other people get excited about it–the more likely that Finders Keepers will break sooner rather than later. For Finders Keepers, it isn’t a matter of[i] if [/i]it’s going to explode onto the scene, but [i]when[/i].

Now that my summer agents query bonanza is nearly wrapped up, now that many, many seeds have been planted, it’s time for me to sit back and watch them grow. Watch as the winds carry them from place to place, pollinating, if you will.

Finders Keepers is making the rounds. It’s making the rounds in a big way.

Finders Keepers is coming. Finders Keepers is coming …

When it first came to cable in the 1990s–and after hearing much hype about the movie–I watched American Psycho with fairly decent expectations. Indeed, Christian Bale–in a pre-Batman role that got him onto the road to stardom–was excellent, but the movie didn’t really work for me. It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

Fast forward to about a month ago, and it was on again. So I gave it another shot, thinking that maybe this time I’d like it better.

Nope. When it first came to cable in the 1990s–and after hearing much hype about the movie–I watched American Psycho with fairly decent expectations. Indeed, Christian Bale–in a pre-Batman role that got him onto the road to stardom–was excellent, but the movie didn’t really work for me. It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

Fast forward to about a month ago, and it was on again. So I gave it another shot, thinking that maybe this time I’d like it better.

Nope. I had pretty much the same reaction.

But then I decided to read the book, figuring it would probably be better than the movie. Well, now that I’ve finished with it I can say this:

In the novel, Patrick Bateman is such a grotesque maniac that he makes Hannibal Lecter seem like Mr. Rogers. And that’s no joke. The absolute horror and despicable violence he perpetrates is almost beyond belief. Of course, it’s so over the top that you’re not supposed to take it too seriously–and I kind of didn’t. [i]kind of[/i]; but when he’s disemboweling women while he sprays mace their eyes and cuts out their tongues–it’s hard to find the comedy there.

The thrust of the story is that 1980s Wall Street superficial super ego surface features of a coked-out, soulless generation is to be despised, and the author, Bret Easton Ellis, make it pretty clear how he feels about those people, and how utterly useless he deems them as human beings. And maybe he makes a fair point. American Psycho is written with absolute command of the language, and Ellis seems to really know what he wants to say. I’m just not so sure that you want to read how he makes them.

I read recently that Shia LaBoufe, who’s also playing Harrison Ford’s son in the new Indiana Jones movie, has signed on to play Yorick in the movie version of Y: The Last Man.I read recently that Shia LaBoufe, who’s also playing Harrison Ford’s son in the new Indiana Jones movie, has signed on to play Yorick in the movie version of Y: The Last Man.

I just heard that The Police have added two more shows at MSG for early November, so maybe if the stars align just right I’ll be able to grab a pair!I just heard that The Police have added two more shows at MSG for early November, so maybe if the stars align just right I’ll be able to grab a pair!

If you are a fan of political thrillers and historical-based espionage movies, then I highly recommend catching The Company, the 6-hour mini-series that just wrapped on TNT.

I’m not such a history buff to know just how much of this storyline was fact-based or fictionalized, but it gives an amazing perspective on the cold war between the U.S. and Russia, starting from about 1950 all the way up until the early 1990s. It’s texture and layered, with tons of double and triple agents, as well as If you are a fan of political thrillers and historical-based espionage movies, then I highly recommend catching The Company, the 6-hour mini-series that just wrapped on TNT.

I’m not such a history buff to know just how much of this storyline was fact-based or fictionalized, but it gives an amazing perspective on the cold war between the U.S. and Russia, starting from about 1950 all the way up until the early 1990s. It’s texture and layered, with tons of double and triple agents, as well as pretty intense and gripping battle scenes.

You can really see just how much the two sides viewed the world as a chess board and how they were trying to outmaneuver each other on a grand scale, with seemingly minor moves actually being keys to long-term plans.

And for you Michael Keaton fans out there, he gives a subtle, creepy performance as a CIA researcher that’s probably the best of his career. I’ve never seen him better or more interesting.

I’m not sure when TNT is planning on re-running The Company, but if you like these kinds of stories, then this is for you.

When I rolled into Baltimore last Friday night, two things were made abundantly clear to me. The weekend would be about two things: comic books and beer.

And not necessarily in that order.

When attending a comic book convention as a creator, the goal is to make sales and promote your books. But it’s also fun. Way fun.

It’s a chance to hang out with the guys all weekend, talk about comics and music and movies and women, and, of course, consume mass quantities of alcohol. And I’m nWhen I rolled into Baltimore last Friday night, two things were made abundantly clear to me. The weekend would be about two things: comic books and beer.

And not necessarily in that order.

When attending a comic book convention as a creator, the goal is to make sales and promote your books. But it’s also fun. Way fun.

It’s a chance to hang out with the guys all weekend, talk about comics and music and movies and women, and, of course, consume mass quantities of alcohol. And I’m not a big drinker per se, but when the comic book dudes get together, the beer goes down fast and often.

So me Rich Henn and Rich Koslowski crashed at the Henn house on Friday and Saturday night (in the suburbs about 40 minutes west of Baltimore), and started off the weekend at Henn’s basement bar slugging down beers and all sorts of martini-type concoctions. And I don’t know about you, but I usually don’t sleep well if I’ve been drinking. Going to bed at 2 am doesn’t help, especially when we needed to be up 7 am to get showered and ready and then drive into Baltimore just to set up for the show, and then work the show until 5 pm.

Then we went back to Henn’s place Saturday night to set up for a party he was hosting for a bunch of other comic dudes who know each other through the CGC–Certified Grading Company–which is a company that grades comic books to establish their quality–and thus their value. And the comic book guys at this party mostly know each other from buying and selling older, more valuable comic books on line and through Ebay.

That night we put down a nice slab of catered Italian food–ziti, chicken marsala and crab cakes–and another two quarter kegs. I can’t remember if we broke into the martini concoctions that night, but I do remember getting a better–although not good–night’s sleep, getting up around 8 a.m., and then driving back to New York reasonably hung over.

A weekend with the comic book dudes isn’t just a weekend. It’s a 36-hour party that kicks my butt up and down the street. And while I’d certainly be up for it again, I can use the rest!

The 2007 Baltimore Comic-Con marks my 10th year attending comic-book conventions, both as a creator and a fan. My first show was the SPX (Small Press Expo) back in 1998 in Bethesda, Maryland, if memory serves, when Rich Henn and I were first pumping our comic book, Timespell. But at our first show we didn?t even have the first issue yet. We were selling mini-comics, these little teaser comics to drum up interest for when the issue finally came out.

Many years?and miles?have passed since thoThe 2007 Baltimore Comic-Con marks my 10th year attending comic-book conventions, both as a creator and a fan. My first show was the SPX (Small Press Expo) back in 1998 in Bethesda, Maryland, if memory serves, when Rich Henn and I were first pumping our comic book, Timespell. But at our first show we didn?t even have the first issue yet. We were selling mini-comics, these little teaser comics to drum up interest for when the issue finally came out.

Many years?and miles?have passed since those early days. I attended the SPX almost every year for the first few years with Rich, but he was the real road warrior, also going to shows in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio, as well as a host of other local shows. And I?m sure I?m missing quite a few others. And then, of course, he started heading out the San Diego Comic-Con with his new book, Zoomies.

And through all those shows, packing up the car with boxes of books and fliers and posters, Rich has really become quite the wizard at creating a snazzy booth experience that you just don?t see all that often. God bless Henn, that little maniac, because through his time and effort and experimentation, I?ve started to pick up on a bunch of booth marketing that I?m sure I wouldn?t have come up with on my own.

When you go to these shows, and you see what other creators do at their booths, some are impressive, some less so, but rarely are they as well put together and impressive?without publisher backing?than what Rich does. Because of his 15 years in the printing business, he knows how to create a slick, eye-grabbing 6-foot poster promoting his books. And besides the poster, you have to hang it up somehow. These mini-walls don?t come with your booth. If you want to hang a poster, you have to supply the stand. And you need the proper hooks and attachments and baseboards and collapsible stands and display cases to do so. There’s so much it can drive you nuts!

And while I used to help Rich with all this back in the Timespell days, it?s been a few years since I was in the throes of it, and even then, Rich was doing all the planning. He already had all the equipment, which just doesn?t appear out of thin air. That means that for every one the items I just mentioned?plus a mini DVD player to play trailers from the videos he directed, power strips and battery back-ups and the remote control?he had to realize that he didn?t already have them, but needed them. Which often comes from being at one show, thinking?damn, if only I had this or that?and then running out and getting them for the [i]next [/i]show.

Being back behind the booth at Baltimore, and San Diego before this?this time not just to help Rich with Timespell but to promote Finders Keepers, my book?it’s amazing to see that Rich had already taken care of this amazing supply of materials that I just didn?t have to think about, deal with or pay for. So I get to learn off the pain and suffering of others! Sweet!

And being there during these shows with Rich Koslowski has also been a good learning experience for me, as he has his own style of manning the booth, with his own little kit of supplies?like a Swiss army knife (which comes in quite handy for box cutting and the like), as well as a supply of Sharpie markers, double-sided tape and Velcro matting. Again, all things I wouldn?t have thought to bring. And he’s a bit of a ball busting sonuvagun, so that keeps things fun!

Being at the show is great. But putting the booths together, getting yourself ready to greet the fans, is one big pain in the you know what. It takes planning and coordination. It is its own brand of madness, and one of the best parts for me is being able to share the madness with great guys like Rich Henn and Rich Koslowski, who not only have their own process down to a science (albeit sometimes a weird science), but are fun and trustworthy (except when we’re torturing each other with practical jokes and a constant barrage of ball-busting). We don?t have to worry about getting screwed over because as much as we?re individually responsible for our own contributions, we?re in it together. We share booths because it?s a team that works. And from my experience, that?s rare. They tell me the same thing.

It’s grate for me to be learning from these guys. Without them, my road with Finders Keepers would be much more difficult and a lot less fun. And as I define my own style along the way, when the day comes when I?ll have my own supply of books ready for the fans–bring it … bring it … in many ways I?ll have Rich and Rich to thank for it. Ball busting and all.

Post edited by: rcolchamiro, at: 2007/09/12 12:03

Post edited by: rcolchamiro, at: 2007/09/13 07:17