The Worlds of Michael D'Ambrosio

Hello, everyone and welcome to my new site. I’m finally catching up to the 21st century and I have to thank Jason Curran, my webmaster for a great job. I just returned from AstronomiCon (Rochester) and WindyCon in Chicago and still have PhilCon (Cherry Hill, NJ) and LosCon (Los Angeles, CA) to go. I had an excellent time with some very good people at the Westin Lombard in Chicago. Andi and Deborah, it was good seeing you again and I hope you enjoy the books. Darlene and Walter are two of the kindest and entertaining people I know. I can’t wait to come back and see you all again. I’m hoping it will be CapriCon in February.

Well, now for some really interesting news. Night Creeps should be appearing soon on Amazon and I’ll attach a link on its page under “novels”. In addition, I am no longer under contract with iUniverse for the Fractured Time Trilogy. Az Publishing is picking up the trilogy and it will be expanded with new material as well. As soon as I have the information for the availability of the books, I will post it.

I’ll have more to say on things in a few weeks when I return from the left coast after December 2nd. In the meantime, check out chapter one of Night Creeps and get ready for a warped story that is different than anything I’ve written thus far. I am nervous about it since writing this type of horror is a little new to me.

Thanks again for your support,

Mike D.

Welcome back to another edition of Author’s Corner. I recently attended Fright Night Film Festival in Louisville Kentucky, my first horror convention, and Archon near St. Louis.  There were a number of very talented people at Fright Night that I had the opportunity to meet and talk with.  Among them were famous celebrities like Linda Blair and Michael Madsen. From the lesser know but very talented ranks were Alex Del Monacco, Tucky Williams, Steve Zimmer, Fred Olen Ray and George Wilbur. Two artists that deserve mentioning are Scott Blair and Jeff Gaithner. Scott creates impressive pinups of models from sketches he draws while Jeff creates just about every kind of horror creature you could imagine using the same process.  It was also a good opportunity to start a new fan base as I had never been to Kentucky before. I’m looking forward to returning next year.

Archon is a great convention and I’m developing a growing fan base there. Over the last two years, I’ve gotten to know quite a few fans and earned a few new ones as well.

Recently, I contracted with Film Literary Group to help with the marketing and promotion of the screenplay for The Eye of Icarus. Their experience has helped to create a better script and I’m hoping their track record will open the door to a deal soon. I haven’t heard any new news from Du Jour Entertainment in a while on the script for Fractured Time.  Everything seems to have slowed up with the economy as it is so no bites on Night Creeps or The Christmas Solution either. I’m working on developing a different plotline for The Queen of Spades since Sarah Palin and John McCain came too close to making my script the real thing. There’s nothing worse than stealing a writer’s thunder with reality. I have been so involved with the conventions, marketing and promotion, that I haven’t had much of a chance to write.

Listed under reviews, I’ve added a podcast that was listed by Gail Martin of Ghost in the Machine podcasts. Check out her website at www.GhostInTheMachinePodcast.com .

October and November will be busy months as I hit the road again for Tampa, Rochester, Chicago and Los Angeles along with a local convention in Cherry Hill NJ. Also added is DarkCon (Phoenix) and Frolicon in Atlanta for Easter weekend. This is an adult science fiction convention which should be interesting.

Thanks again for joining me and please come back again.

All the best,

Michael D’Ambrosio

Welcome back to another edition of Author’s Corner. I see that the Screen Actors’ Guild in Los Angeles has settled on a new contract with the motion picture producers. I expect that the number of leads coming out for screenplays should significantly increase finally. During the drought, I entered my screenplays into contests with Story Pros and Wild Sound.

I also subscribed for feedback on each project which was my main goal anyway and was very pleased with the responses from both. While I think that each script was very good, I found that I could take it to another level of detail thanks to the contest committees. It wasn’t hard to edit based on their recommendations, it was just a matter of realizing what could be added to enhance the story to a viewer.

Such things as implementing flashbacks, bits of characters’ pasts, and a broader description in the world that they play instead of just the scene itself can be used to make a script much more attractive. There are some things that you can only learn from experience.

My horror story, Night Creeps, was submitted and accepted by Helm Publishing, my current publisher for Space Frontiers. I’ve given up on responses from big publishers and continue my run with Helm with whom I’ve been very pleased.

The Devil’s Playground, book three of the Space Frontiers Series, will likely be released by Helm in the second half of 2010. Thus far, the series has done very well with The Eye of Icarus and Dangerous Liaisons. The series has really caught on with the younger readers (ages 12-18).

I’m still constructing the story lines for Galaxy of the Damned and book 5, untitled as of yet. I do expect this series to extend to at least ten books.

Coming up for me is WesterCon in Phoenix and Context in Columbus. If you are in either of those areas and would like to talk about writing with books or screenplays, you are welcome to join me for a discussion on most any topics. Join me again in August for an update on my worlds of science fiction and fantasy.

Thanks again,

- Michael D’Ambrosio

Welcome back to another edition of The Author’s Corner. I recently attended the L.A. Times Book Festival at U.C.L.A. for the first time and found it to be a remarkable experience. There were so many literary booths with an amazing variety of genre. The event was well supported by several local radio stations, library groups, and newspapers as well.

My publisher, Dianne Helm, had a booth where myself and four other authors promoted our books. I had the opportunity to meet some very interesting people in the movie and literary business which I hope will pay dividends some day. In addition to the booths and vendors, there was an outstanding lineup of comedians, celebrities and authors who took to the stage at the center of the campus to entertain the crowd. I was thrilled to see Ray Bradbury, the noted science fiction author in person at one of the booths.

I’ve given a lot of thought to creating a third edition of Fractured Time which will be expanded to about 80,000 words. I’ve talked with my current publisher, Dianne Helm, who is interested in picking up the new version when I’m ready. When I do, Twisted Fate and Dark Horizon will be following shortly behind it.

Currently I’m working on a revision to the screenplay for The Eye of Icarus. I received some very encouraging feedback from Wildsound Productions recommending a few creative additions. One thing I’ve come to realize is that no matter how good a screenplay you have, it can always be better. As it gets better, you learn to see things in a different light.

I had hoped to have a final decision on Night Creeps, my new horror story, but the publisher who expressed interest isn’t quite what they presented themselves to be. As a result, I passed on them.

Next February appears to be the release date for the third book in the Space Frontiers series, The Devil’s Playground. This novel will provide some real eye opening events in addition to the twisting plots and conspiracies. There will be defining moments for a number of characters as Will’s list of enemies continues to grow. The universe is a dangerous place and he is once again drawn into the middle of something bigger than imagined.

I had hoped to have information on the science fiction cruise for next March but unfortunately I don’t have it yet. My publisher is moving to Tampa from Rockford, Il and will meet with other professionals, participating in putting this together. As I mentioned before, we’ll have a number of celebrities on board as well. We’ve discussed a variety of events to entertain during the four night cruise in the Caribbean.

I’ve accepted invitations to a number of conventions for the remainder of the year and will be adding several book signings as well. See the schedule below for the upcoming appearances. I would like to encourage any aspiring writer with questions, whether it be for books or screenplays, to see me when you have the opportunity. There is so much to be said about both industries that can’t be covered in an article or email.

Thanks again for joining me.

Best Wishes,

- Michael D’Ambrosio

Welcome back to another Author’s Corner. I hope everyone has thawed from our winter of global warming. Is it me or is it getting cooler each year? Oh, well. Not much we can do about Mother Nature. I recently returned from ConNooga in chilly Chattanooga (TN) and MegaCon in a very cool Orlando (FL). Despite the temperatures, a good time was had by all. I want to thank all the new fans I met at both conventions.

I appreciate the great book sales particularly in a time when the economy isn’t so peppy. I look forward to hearing from all those who bought copies of my books as well. It means a lot to me that my readers enjoy my stories. For those who are already anxious for more, Book three, The Devil’s Playground, should be out early next spring. Book four, Galaxy of the Damned, is already outlined and ready for me to write into a manuscript.

I expect to have details on the science fiction cruise that Helm Publishing is putting together with Carnival Cruises for next March (2010). I don’t want to say too much on it yet except that there will be ample entertainment and some very interesting guests (celebrities). I should have more information in May before I leave for MarCon in Columbus, Ohio for Memorial Day weekend.

For those on the west coast, I will be at the LA Times Book Festival at UCLA on April 25 & 26. I’m working on a special appearance at one of the nearby bookstores with my publisher and another author for an event focusing on new writers. Hopefully, it’s not too late.

Later in the year, October 2-4, I’ll be in the St. Louis area (Collinsville) at Archon. I’m also considering attending the Fright Night Film Fest (Louisville, KY) in August; MileHiCon (Denver) in October; WindyCon (Chicago) in November; and PhilCon (Cherry Hill, NJ) in November. There are a few other possibilities as well. Keep an eye for commitments and new additions in the list of conventions below.

My screenplay projects have been in limbo, thanks in part to the economy. I’m still garnering coverage reports from noted producers and modifying each screenplay as necessary. I’m also contemplating when to commit Night Creeps to my publisher. I’m wary of the timing of a Night Creeps release in relation to the Space Frontiers series and I’ve been hesitant to make a move as of yet. Night Creeps is an adult sci-fi/horror story (sorry kids) that’s nothing like my previous books so get ready for an eye opener.

Keep checking the site for new information. I have a feeling it’s going to be an interesting year for you, me and the world of science fiction. Thanks again and I’ll see you next time.

- Michael D’Ambrosio