We finished the final weekend of the Georgia Renaissance Festival, and we now stand at the brink of a great chasm. We have just over two months of time where we have no signed contract for any renaissance festivals. What was once filled with the Great Lakes Medieval Faire andRenaissance Faire of the Midlands is now dead air. We are concerned. We have doubts. We stand at the crossroads of possibility and are unsure of what to do. It is an uncertain time in our lives... and the days have never tasted so sweet nor held the possibility of such promise.
Though I do not have much in the way of contracted Tortuga work coming up, I still have a lot of business and travel on my plate. I am moving forward in the writing arena - by hops and skips if not leaps and bounds. I have taken trips that have led me from the East Coast to the West Coast to the Mid West to... well, the list goes on. And, that's just for the month of June. In July, I may even attend a panel discussion or two on writing, where I might even be a speaker - we'll see. When I know, you'll know.
As you can see, I've got a lot scheduled on my plate. I've begun in earnest what my editor calls "building my empire," and I'm very much enjoying myself. So, sit tight, and I will attempt to regale you with all the bits-n-pieces of what is going on in my life, while at the same time, keep you entertained long enough to reach the end.
First off, the writing career... .
Sarina and I have finished our book, The Tao of Intimacy - Why Real Women Drink Straight Tequila. Geared more for women, it is a self-help book on seizing control of your dating life. "... A joyful blend of Taoism, quantum physics, and psychology... " combined with a "... splash of humor and a dash of sarcasm... " Check out my October 2006 journal for more on how I came to be involved with this project.
T.O.I. Website Screenshot
The screenplay version that Sarina and I had been working on over the winter is now in rewrites. We are restructuring the entire script, molding it into something much more palatable for the silver screen. It's slow going, but going nonetheless. One-step at a time - two if you can manage it, and three if you like the music.
I've finally contracted an editor for my fantasy thriller series, Cloaks & Daggers. I've got about three months before I get my edits back and have to go into rewrites. Fun-fun (that's sarcasm, kids). Glad I don't ever have too much on my plate. Yeah, right! Eventually, I'll have a website and a link for this, too. Empire building is so much fun.
These books are the reason that I am looking at doing a panel discussion. Part of what my editor wants me to do is begin marketing my book(s), even before they are complete and published. So, since I have nothing to take with me on a book signing (i.e., no books to sign yet), I can only attend things that allow me to speak on writing, performing, and the like - thus drumming up interest before I have the finished product in hand. Ooh-aah, what fun!
As far as my travels go... .
My first main jaunt is from Charlotte, North Carolina to Los Angeles, California. I am staying six nights in the city of angels, and attending the Landmark Forum for most of that time. I'd like to go more into this, but I'll save it for another time. Suffice to say that it is one among many along the self-help road that I am driving full-tilt boogie on.
 Me and Landmark Forum Speaker Richard Condon |
 Wild & Crazy at the Landmark Forum |
 Michael Wrange |
I had a day and a half to myself, free of the Landmark seminar. During that time, I visited with Mike Wrage at The Grove shopping plaza, "... a shopping and entertainment complex built adjacent to the historic Farmers Market." The last time I made it to the L.A. area, I stayed with him and his wife, Jamie - Florida buds from way back (the 80's). Mike and I had a nice lunch in the California sunshine, and talked acting for most of the afternoon. Loved it! It is always great to catch up with... ahem... old friends.
Next on my list were Ali Rae and boyfriend Jamie - two good friends from the Scottsdale, Arizona area. Ali is the daughter of the couple who head up the Phoenix Film Institute - where I was taking film acting classes back in February and March - and Jamie one of the regular attendees. Jamie hadn't yet made it out to L.A., so Ali and I had sushi in downtown Burbank, California. Good atmosphere, good sushi, and great company. Ali is there to attend a professional film makeup school - she told me the name a few times, but I still don't recall it - and Jamie, when he finally gets out there, will be pursuing his acting career. Next time I hope to hang out with him as well.
 Jamie and Ali Rae |
 Did I mention Ali Rae does makeup |
 Corner of San Fernando & Olive - Downtown Burbank, California |
 Chuck Harris |
 Room at the Top |
Also while in L.A. I scheduled Tortuga meetings with manager Chuck Harris and comic book artist Howard Simpson.
We met Chuck at the NATPE07 convention in Las Vegas this past February. When he asked what we were, we threw him a couple Tortuga DVDs and Ronn said, "We're damn funny." To which Chuck quickly replied, "I'll be the judge of that." Needless to say, he called us back as soon as he finished watching the DVDs - four months later! The meeting with Chuck went very well, and we conference called with my boyz the very next day. The Adam Ant song claims that there is "room at the top," and we Tortuga Twins mean to claim it - even if we have to move all the way to Los Angeles, California to do it.
Howard is the artist for our Tortuga Twins comic book project, and he has recently moved to L.A. We had coffee in a downtown Starbucks, and hashed over what needed to happen to really get this project moving. He is very excited about working with us, and had great insight as to how we might best show ourselves off on the printed page.
That's all, folks! These are my plans -Â my hopes, my dreams. In the next few months, we will see how they come to fruition. No matter how you look at it, my "time off" has involved a lot of travel and business-y work. I'm looking forward to the prospect of getting at least a few of my wayward projects finally off my plate. Yay! So there you have it, Tortugaholics. May you be constantly moving closer to fulfilling your dreams - no matter how simplistic or far-fetched they might be. Until the next time... ciao for now!
