Kevin Spacey's production company, Trigger Street, has partnered with Jameson (Irish Whiskey distiller) to host a contest for 5-minute short film scripts - Jameson First Shot - Short Film Competition.  The extra spiffy thing is Willam Dafoe will be one of the judges and will star in the short film, and the writer of the winning script gets to direct it.  How cool would that be?  Saying 'Action!' and witnessing Willam Dafoe bring my character to life.  Oh joy, oh rapture!

They have three categories: Legendary, Humorous, and Tall Tale.   I opted for the middle option - Humorous.  Then I realized my script for GREETINGS FROM HELL! previously adapted from my novella was too long and I doubted I could condense it to 5-7 pages.  My brilliant daughter Kate suggested PINKIE a humorous 4-page short story I'd written a number of years back and was published in the now defunct Improper Hamptonian. 

I always find it a challenge to adapt a work of fiction of mine to script format.  All those lovely thoughts, musings, ponderings have to take a hike if they can't be reformatted to an action or dialogue.  It turned out well and after a few more tweakings, edits, and beta readings, I'll submit it.  *fingers crossed*

At the suggestion of a literary agent to increase the word count of my contemporary, multicultural suspense novel, The Story of Laurel Blue Stone, I revisited the story and did just that.  But this was no Little Britain sketch spoofing Barbara Cartland dictating her novels to a secretary and including lots of sound effects [Wheeeeeeee!] to fill space.

Previously, I had had my main character Laurel being deposited at her new dorm room by her parents and beau Cal  to begin her freshman semester .  A sentence of 'pleasantries were exchanged with her new [nameless] roommate morphed into a new character presenting herself in a rather flashy yet lovable way.  She makes the book even more multicultural by being a Chinese National who has been educated up till this point in Paris, France.  She is wonderful. and takes to Laurel's naivety and agrees to teach her new roomie from the rez how to walk in 5" Christian Louboutin heels and brings some chic elegance to the Native American who is more comfortable in cutoff jeans and T-shirts and has never felt a cashmere sweater. 

New chapters were created and others were added to.  Existing characters were fleshed out.  The request to add 12K words wound up adding 19K.  I am delighted with the finished product and hope the agent does too.

Update

Have been very busy writing my WIP – Nooks & Grannies – the story of two young misfits (Amelia & Keegan), best friends since kindergarten, who shed the late-bloomer-coming-of-age cloak when they move into Keegan’s late grandmother’s house together and begin to grow up. Despite their separate emotional baggage (Amelia doesn’t know who her father is and her mother’s been in jail since Amelia was 14, and Keegan’s father deserted the family when he discovered his son was gay.  Keegan’s mother summarily took off, leaving him to be raised by his grandparents.)  These two have always been there for each other, protecting and defending one another against taunts and ridicule from classmates and even some teachers.  Using humor to deflect their hurt, they scrape together what wisdom they can muster to make their way in this often harsh world for the non-pretty outsiders.  Amelia’s personal quirkiness falls over into her professional life and she opens her own small shop catering to the film students at the local university.  Keegan, while entertaining the fantasy of being the next Leonard Bernstein, discovers he has another hidden talent.

P.S. Nana’s house is haunted.

Got some interest from an agent who likes the concept and voice of The Story of Laurel Blue Stone – which I think should be retitled to: This Ain’t The OK Corral - a contemporary, multicultural, dark, edgy, suspense YA of a young Zuni girl in love with a white park ranger but who is forced to date a crazy Navajo through deceit.  She’s asked for an additional 12K words and I’ve been happily revising.  I love spending time with these characters that are so real and true to life to me.  Despite its dark edginess, there’s also humor.