Norman Picklestripes Announced!

They just announced a fun new show I wrote for last year, Norman Picklestripes! It's a combination of "traditional stop motion with digital animation" and I predict the pre-school crowd is going to love it. Premieres on NBC Universal Kids on Saturday, July 27th at 11 am. Watch it! 😊 #animation #fun #nbcuniversal

Check out the press release HERE!

Mini Review: They Took My Prostate: Cancer Loss Hope by JP Mac

They Took My Prostate: Cancer Loss Hope is a funny and informative read that details a procedure I wouldn't wish on anyone--except, maybe, a really evil guy.

Highly recommended.

Detention: The Complete Animated Series

I just learned that all episodes of "Detention," an animated show I worked on, are available on DVD. Yay! I voiced the kid in the green shirt and yellow hat and wrote one of the episodes. Fun series! 


Here's the blurb:

"Eight oddball friends at Benedict Arnold Middle School can't avoid getting into trouble as they navigate through the uncertainty and angst of adolescence, always ending up in after-school detention. Join the gang - Shareena (voiced by Tara Strong, Teen Titans GO!), conspiracy nut Emmitt (voiced by Billy West, Futurama), pugnacious Gug (voiced by Carlos Alazraqui, Happy Feet), twin geniuses Orangejella and Lemonjella (voiced by Tamera Mowry and Tia Mowry, Sister, Sister), comic-book fanatic Jim Kim (voiced by Roger Eschbacher, Histeria), Duncan the yo-yo champ (voiced by Bob Doucette) and annoyingly perky Shelley Kelley (voiced by Pamelyn Ferdin, Sealab 2020) - as they try to stay out of the clutches of the ominous Miss Kisskillya (voiced by Kathleen Freeman, DuckTales), who runs detention like a drill sergeant. Needless to say, it ain't easy!" 

CLICK HERE if you're interested in owning your own copy.

#detention #dvd #animation #fun

Elvenking: Am Editing!

 

I did it! Hallelujah, I did it! Two years and five months after starting it, and a week behind on my goal of getting it done last weekend, the FIRST DRAFT of "Elvenking: Leonard the Great, Book 3" is finally complete. 

 

I've got a big edit ahead of me since my first drafts always meander (meaning they're sloppy), but I kind of do this on purpose to avoid sticking on something until I get it right. I write my sloppy first drafts with the happy knowledge that I'll be fixing them later. It's a method that frees me up to soldier on. In this case, due to LOTS of animation writing (yay!) and some personal stuff, the soldiering on was more like a never ending march with full gear. But now it's complete, and I am happy. Onward!

 

First Draft Ending Stats: 186 pages (MS Word, standard page layout) and 71.5k words. #wip #elvenking #AMEDITING!

 

Image:  "Fishing" by Vukasin Bagic / Novi Sad, Serbia

Avengers: Endgame - Official Trailer - Animated Version

Cool animated version of the Avengers: Endgame trailer!

Animation Writer Q&A: Commercials?

Q: (With regard to a writing sample) I noticed that the Fairly Odd Parents cartoon is 11 mins per episode. How many commercials are there during those 11 min episodes? 

A: It's more instructive to look at it as a full half hour with 2 - eleven minute episodes. The rest of the time is split between commercials and credits. When writing an eleven minute sample episode, you don't need to worry about the commercials, just write the episode (18-20 pages, screenplay format).

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Thoughts about the above question? Got a question about animation writing in general? Leave it in the comments.

Mini Review: PANDORA GETS JEALOUS by Carolyn Hennesy

Pandora brings a box (THE box) to school for her project and when it accidentally gets opened, has to round up all of the bad stuff that escaped within a year . . . or else! Filled with tons of heart and humor, Pandora Gets Jealous is a fun, well-written story where the beguiling main characters face genuine peril. Author Hennesy knows what she's doing and keeps things moving along at just the right pace. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Recommended.

Purchase Pandora Gets Jealous HERE!

Longbow vs. Horsebow - Archery Comparison

Nice demonstration of what it's like to shoot each bow.

Mini Review: PALM TREES AND SNOW FLAKES by Scott Bury

A fun and fast-paced read, "Palm Trees and Snowflakes" is a welcome continuation of the "Hawaiian Storm" mystery series. This time, FBI Special Agent Vanessa Storm does battle with a shady operation that's trying to saturate Honolulu (and beyond) with a lethal designer drug called "Snowflake." Author Bury spins a good yarn, deftly combining a strong mystery with romance and elements of a police procedural. Recommended.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters Trailer #2 (2019)

YES!!! (Written in all caps because Godzilla is an all caps kind of guy!)

Mini Review: BRING ON THE MAGIC by Brian Clopper

A young wizard, Randall Flood, and a talking spell book, Chuck, team up to protect the mythical creatures and raw magic that have begun to seep back into our modern world. All seems to be going well until Randall develops a nagging suspicion that his noble mission may not be all that noble.  With its sharp writing, light-hearted humor, exciting action, and impressive world-building, "Bring On the Magic" has quickly become my favorite Brian Clopper book. Recommended.

Hellboy (2019 Movie) New Trailer “Red Band”

Ok, yeah. Didn't think I would, but I'm liking the look and feel of this. (Caution: Contains potty mouth characters)

GHOST STAR, Kindle Press One Week Promotion

ON SALE for $0.99 from Friday, 2/8 to Friday, 2/15. 

 

How far would you go to save your family? Light years? 

Read GHOST STAR a #YA #scifi adventure!

#spaceopera #spacemarines #military #kindlepress

ORDER HERE!

 

Animation Writer Q&A: Should I Try to Trick Disney?

 

Q: I'm  trying  to  send  my  animation  proposal  to  Disney.  Since  I  don't  have  an  agent,  I  was  thinking  about  having  my  friend's  name  on  the  outside  of  the  package  as  my  manager  just  to  get  my  material  in  the  door.  If  Disney  is  interested,  then  I'll  get  an  agent  to  take  it  from  there.  Does this sound like a reasonable idea?

A: No, it doesn't. The people at the studios who take pitches know all of the animation agencies, so they'll spot this one right away. The only real way to get your idea in front of decision makers at a studio or production company is to submit your material through an agent who specializes in writing for animation.

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Thoughts about the above question? Got a question about animation writing in general? Leave it in the comments.

GHOST STAR Discount December!

GHOST STAR Kindle Edition is ON SALE (12/1/18 - 12/31/18) for $0.99! 

 #YA #scifi #spaceopera #spacemarines #military #kindlepress Please share! 😊

 

CLICK HERE to order.

 

 When his father and crewmates are attacked and killed by a ruthless alien commander, young Galen Bray becomes the new captain of the GHOST STAR, a notorious smuggling vessel. Barely escaping capture, Galen sets out to rescue the only other survivor of the vicious attack, his sister Trem. Along the way, he discovers a mysterious people thought wiped out long ago, his family's surprising origins, and a destiny he never imagined . . .