#1 New York Times Bestselling Author & TV Producer
For the last five years, Rebecca Van Cuyk has taught a high school English course in Kaukauna Wisconsin called "History of the Mystery." Now’s she under fire in the local media for corrupting young minds… all because one parent has objected to the curriculum…a parent who believes the course will turn her child into a … Read more
I received this email: I’m looking for someone to work with to spice-up and sell shows with. If you are in the area I’d love to get together and see if we could make something happen with a few ideas I have. I replied: Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve got plenty of ideas… and I’m … Read more
I’m starting to get more mail, and more questions, than the Playboy Advisor. I received this email yesterday: Dear Mr. Goldberg, I’m a young, unpublished writer who’s been fortunate enough to get the attention of a couple of agents. Since I might one day find myself published (it does seem so far off, though), … Read more
I got this email today: Hello Lee, I am a writer wondering if I should go with Publish America. Take a look at my website and let me know what you think. I don’t know why he wanted me to look at his website, or what difference it would make. Anyway, here’s how I responded … Read more
Bestselling mystery writer Diane Mott Davidson told the Richmond Times Dispatch that she has an unusual method of staying in touch with her characters. She writes letters to them… and they write back to her. "The way that I get into the voice of Goldy is to write, ‘Tell me what happened when you went … Read more
The book industry trade publication Publishers Weekly is outing Publish America as the scam we all know that it is… it seemed only the desperate, aspiring authors who "sold" their books to the publisher couldn’t see it. Until now. A group of authors wronged by the vanity press have mounted a grassroots campaign to garner … Read more
I received this email today: I am trying to pitch a movie. My question: Is there a specific format for an outline or treatment? Is there someplace I could get a sample of either or both? Unless you are an established screenwriter, or are teamed up with a well-connected movie producer, there is no point … Read more
I got an email today from an agent who is having trouble selling his client’s crime thriller screenplay. Every development exec he submits the script to says they aren’t interested in the project unless there is “some talent attached.” The agent wanted to know “if you have any suggestions how to get around this” and … Read more
…otherwise it’s just too pathetic. Jan alerted me to this. Someone is selling his novel on ebay to any author, that’s right author, who wants a story to tell…starting bid, $100,000. (Click on the photographs at the left to see a sample of his writing and the cover of his manuscript). My name is Daniel … Read more
Back when I was president of the SoCal chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, some aspiring writers got upset with me for refusing to refer to them as “pre-published” instead. I think it’s a ridiculous term, a lame attempt at empowerment that makes me want to “pre-vomit.” Should we also calling aspiring screenwriters “pre-produced?” … Read more