AUGUST 2005
A little movie news. The producer and acquaintance mentioned in the July update have reviewed the Stopgap tear sheets and film treatment as well as discussed the production aspects of a potential film. I have since forwarded requested copies of the novel and am now working on the screenplay.
And yes, that’s means the sequel is on the backburner again. But considering the possibilities, even my publisher is okay with that.
JULY 2005
RSS news feed now available from this site, as well as The Lighthouse Press site. What is RSS, you ask? Well, the best explanation I’ve read is the one appearing at the Lighthouse Press page addressing this new service. Basically, it’s a way to deliver news updates directly to your desktop. It sounds complicated, but from the web surfer’s perspective it’s easy and free. To read a better explanation at the Lighthouse Press site Publisher.
If you want to subscribe to the DL Tolleson news blog feed, you’ll need an RSS reader (also available at the above mentioned Lighthouse Press page) and the RSS subscription link: (Update 2019: the RSS feed for DLTolleson.com has been removed.)
I won’t bother going into all the aspects of RSS, since everything you need to know is at that page twice mentioned above.
Not a lot to report. In May I received e-mail from an acquaintance through whom I previously expected to make contact with a movie producer out of California. I had not heard back after our original discussions of about a year ago (and which I did not mention in this site’s updates). Anyway, my acquaintance mentioned that his producer friend had actually come through town. To make a long story short, my acquaintance has now forwarded Stopgap info to the Producer. I’m not holding my breath this time. The silence has already been longer than would be anticipated if good news were coming. I’ve followed-up with an e-mail inquiry, but since we’re in the middle of the July 4
Since I’m not independently wealthy, I’m casting around for additional income and only now—after several months—stating to again think about The Canard Solution. It’s a difficult plot to get back into (from a writing perspective, that is). Having a few other non-Karns Gray ideas swirling around in my head hasn’t help matters, either.
Stay tuned. I’m sure the roller coaster hasn’t come to a complete stop!
APRIL 2005
First the obvious thing: Yes, the website has underwent yet another change—the last I hope. Hope you like it. Drop a line to the Mirabella e-mail address and let us know what you think.
In loosely associated news, the Publisher’s website now offers a Conference Room Chat service that is freely open to the public. It doesn’t require you to divulge information, and is also a promotional tool for Lighthouse authors meeting the Publisher’s web site image policy. At any rate, yours truly is one of only two or three authors that are thus far being marketed by the Conference Room Chat service. To check out this cool service, CLICK HERE. (Update 2008: TheLighthousePress.com website no longer offers the Conference Room Chat service.)
I’ve nothing really to report. My publisher has been soliciting investors for the film adaptation of another Lighthouse Press title called, The Wayfarers and out of those efforts I’ve heard of tentative discussions regarding the optioning of The Gray Stopgap film rights to Lighthouse Entertainment, L.L.C. It’s all very speculative. The publisher has also just mentioned having received a request for a Gray Stopgap film treatment.
The sequel… Don’t ask. It’s been tough trying to get back into it after the rewrite fiasco (see the January 2005 entry below).
JANUARY 2005
I know I’m going to catch questions about the most recent update to the site and the related disappearance of an expected “co-authored” novel. So I’ll avoid the questions with a preemptory strike of an explanation.
If you’re unfamiliar with the work I am discussing, don’t look for it by name on the site. It’s not here.
I spent considerable time and resources “co-authoring” a novel that will now not be published. It was to be the first in a series. The manuscript’s creator anticipated not having time to actually write the sequels, had wanted a “co-author” for subsequent novels and pitched the idea to my publisher, The Lighthouse Press, Inc. Lighthouse, in turn, contacted me. I was interested but first had to read the initial novel.
After a review I thought that only the concept and basic plot outline were good. The plot, ideology and the suspension of disbelief were so critically handicapped that I suspected reviewers and espionage readers would maul the book like savage wolves. I should point out that the original writer steadfastly felt that these were non-issues.
At any rate, I offered the publisher a counter proposal: I would address the issues by re-writing the manuscript and thus co-authoring a new novel. I also suggested that the publisher should regularly update the original writer so that he could see the work as it was being done and review my on-going analyses as I rewrote the plot. I also mentioned we would need a contract before I was finished.
This went on for a few weeks. I finally heard back from the Publisher that I was to “go ahead.” But somewhere between that point and the end, details became lost, miss-communicated or ignored. By the time I was more than halfway through I had neither a contract nor input from the original writer. In spite of this, the re-write went amazingly smooth. I was very pleased with the work.
By the time work was nearly completed the response from the original writer had passed through at least two phases: One of rejection—because his understanding of my efforts wasn’t the understanding I had communicated (I kept the e-mail just case), and; One of tentative acceptance.
A contract was finally drawn-up and along with the final revision, given to the original writer.
He turned it down.
So, that’s why, after more than four months and 2000 hours of effort, the co-authored novel will not be published by The Lighthouse Press. Yes, the novel is still allegedly going to be available directly from the original writer and his website, but it will be his original version.
The rewrite was actually amazing to write. It was so elegant in some of its details that I literally found myself—at times—out on the porch…singing. And considering my lack of singing talent that’s a pretty frightful experience for listeners.
But alas, I suppose the novel wasn’t meant to be. I wish I could report that everything had worked out. Along with everything else, the entire ordeal has been physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting. To any of those out there awaiting the next Karns Gray novel, I again apologize and hope that this more thoroughly explains the delay—and the complete disappearance of an expected novel.
In other news… Except for the big gaping hole in my expenses as caused by the cost of my time as referenced above, there’s nothing new to report. You might say that disappointment runs rampant.
