Taking Alabama Gumbo to the screen

Good morning!
 I've decided to write my third short screenplay. It took me 10 days to write 43 pages from my adaptation at Splice Publishing, Alabama Gumbo (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/486565). At that pace, I could probably write a full-length movie in a month at 100 pages.
For those who read the E-book, I only made a few changes. It was scary how easy and quickly everything came together. (The company where I'll be sending to, however, may have other ideas).
Originally, I thought writing screenplays would be difficult. It's not as bad as I envisioned. It'd be scary if I actually either had guidance or studied screenwriting in college (I still may pursue a Master's Degree in the screenwriting someday or get a certificate).
I'll submit this one next year, with fingers crossed on two fall entries.
Have a great weekend!

Pacific Blues

Good morning!
           I'm pleased to announce my latest release at Smashwords.com, Pacific Blues.
           The book's timing couldn't be more perfect, because the NFL Draft starts tomorrow and ends on Saturday.
           Pacific Blues was originally a three-book short stories in a series called Road to Hawaii: Over the Rainbow, California Dreams and Hawaiian Hangover. I decided to combine all 8,500 word stories into one big E-book and it worked.
           Blurb:
           Sebastian Gates and Lauralyn Doss, who relocate from Honolulu to Hollywood, California after Sebastian gets drafted by the NFL's Los Angeles Stars. While Sebastian travels around the country, Lauralyn grows restless.Will their marriage end before it begins?
           Excerpt:
           A wave of nervousness washed over Sebastian. He watched the NFL Draft at his childhood
home in Bessemer, Alabama. A.C. now resided in the charcoal brick house and Cheryl lived
down the street.
          Sebastian was surrounded by Lauralyn, A.C., Cheryl and their children in the living room. His heart raced out of control because he took a huge risk. The reason he left Hawaii after two
seasons came down to the first weekend of May. He was unconcerned about neither the round
nor the team.
          He attended UCLA's pro day in Los Angeles and had a solid workout. Despite a strong
performance, none of the NFL teams interviewed him. He appeared to be a blip on the league's radar screen.
       “Everything will work out,” Lauralyn said positively.
        “I'm sorry I put you through this,” Sebastian apologized. He closed his eyes and inhaled
sharply.
        Lauralyn's hands kneaded into his shoulders. “We'll be okay. I'll get a job to support us until
you find something.”
       “If I've got to work at Wal-Mart or take some odd job, I'll do it,” Sebastian vowed “You're not
carrying me.”
       The fourth round began and Sebastian's eyes were glued to the wide screen TV. “Quiet
everyone, the draft's back on,” he said.
       ESPN just announced the Los Angeles Stars were on the clock and speculated they'd take
TCU quarterback Luke Sweeney. “They need a player to develop down the road.”
        The NFL Deputy Commissioner announced the Stars' selection. “With the pick, the Los
Angeles Stars select Sebastian Gates, quarterback, the University of Hawaii.”
        Loud screams fell upon the household and everyone shook Sebastian, who stared in shock at the TV.
       “You did it,” Lauralyn said. They shared a passionate kiss.
        Here's the buy link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/539074.
       
        Thanks for reading, have a great week!

Screening for Success

Good Morning!
The arrival of spring is now considered screenwriting season in my world.
Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Memorial Day are the major holidays that fall in the three-month period when April Showers bring May Flowers.
During this time of year, aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters are polishing up their scripts for various contests around the world.
With that in mind, I've decided to enter two contests this year.
The first one is the Sidewrite Short Screenplay Competition in Birmingham, Ala.. The Aug. 28- 30 competition has entries for a 15-page, original screenplay.
I took one of my unpublished E-books, Winning the Lottery and made it into a screenplay called Game Changer. It's about  Dana Rossi who unexpectedly retires from singing to pursue a dream to own an NBA team in her hometown of Birmingham.
The second contest I'm targeting is the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Huntsville, Ala. They've got writing entries in the fall. (Yes, the late Goober Pyle from the Andy Griffith Show has a contest for directors and writers).
I made my first E-book, Picking Cotton, into a 60-page screenplay called Nobody's All-American. It's probably my most successful book.
For those who haven't read Picking Cotton, it's about African-American M.L. Cotton chasing a dream to play quarterback at a major college in 1986. Blacks weren't given many chances in those days to play quarterback. Cotton, from the tiny Alabama town of Spanish Fort, is determined to make it happen.
I'm a huge underdog as I compete against experienced screenwriters, but I'll borrow a page from Benjamin Franklin's playbook: "paint a negative outlook and when the results come in your favor, you're pleasantly surprised."
Thanks for listening.  If you want to purchase any of my E-books at Smashwords, http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=ktbishop, or click to the covers on the right.

Making Cajun Sugar

I've always admired Madonna for finding ways to re-invent herself over the past 30 years. In 1984, I was about to enter high school when Madonna told Dick Clark on American Bandstand she wanted "to rule the world." 
Since "Borderline," her string of Top 10 hits include "Material Girl," "Like A Virgin," "Express Yourself," "Like a Prayer," and "Papa Don't Preach." Madonna made headlines showing her assets last month on the Oscars' Red Carpet.
With that in mind, I've taken the liberty to re-package some of my earlier E-books.
My first published E-book, How to Cure A Cajun Cold, had a few holes after its 2008 release. I fixed the mistakes, combined its two successful sequels, Catching A Cuban Curveball and Back in Love Again, into one book.
The repackaged E-book is now called Cajun Sugar. For those who purchased the original books, I made a few adjustments to the content, not the characters. Arnaz Booker and Isis Rogers are characters with a wide arrange of emotions.
When Cajun Sugar gets accepted and has a release date, I will let everyone know.
Happy St. Patrick's Day.

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER!

Rebel Ink Press Author Joanne Berroa stops by promote her latest release, The Diamond Legacy, the sequel to her popular: The Diamond Cross, but can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone romance.

Here's what she had to say:

BLURB:

The year 1907 finds Heather and Brenton Emery celebrating seven years of blissful marriage. They are anything but the average couple. The son of Hungarian immigrants, Brenton owns and manages a thriving, top-notch Saratoga Springs hotel and vaudeville pavilion with his partner-wife Heather. She’s an entrepreneur in her own right. Blessed with a keen business sense, she’s made millions of dollars in her undertakings.

But they soon learn even the best marriages have problems, and their commitment to each other is sorely tested. A charismatic billionaire makes Heather an offer she simply can’t refuse. Given the opportunity to spread her wings thousands of miles away from home, she must choose between marriage and her career. Her choice stuns Brenton. Will the handsome and brilliant San Francisco architect Heather joins forces with succeed in rendering the coup de grace on Heather’s now tenuous marriage? 

To further complicate matters, Brenton’s secretary is astute and alluring. Heather’s plans fit her agenda nicely. Brenton is faced with the question: How far can a business friendship stretch before it is no longer just friendship?

The Diamond Legacy is a romance saga packed with bold, colorful characters and surprising twists that will tear at your heartstrings. Can Brenton’s and Heather’s love for each other rise above all odds and endure, or is love sometimes not enough?

EXCERPT:

“Care to comment on this.” He held the papers up for her to see.

“Can’t you read? I’m suing you for divorce.”

“You couldn’t tell me yourself. You had to get your lawyer to do it. You’re a cheat and a coward. I thought I knew you, but I was wrong. You’re an evil woman. You’re so devious, you probably even caused John’s heart attack. Did you slip a packet of strychnine into his coffee, little black widow spider!”

She slapped him hard. “I hate you! You’re pathetic. Your dick is smaller than my little finger.”

“Is it? How would you know, my pretty? You haven’t seen it in a damned year!”

“I’m sure you’ve been showing it off to lots of other women.”

“You should talk. You’ve been sleeping around with that architect and who knows whom else? Which of your lovers lives here with you, bitch?”

Her eyes shown puzzlement. “What are you talking about?” she snarled.

“The men’s clothing in your bedroom! Are you going to deny it?”

Her eyes widened and she relaxed a bit. “No, I’m not. I happen to love that man.”

“So you admit it! You’re having an affair!” Brenton clenched his teeth together. “So he’s the real reason you’re divorcing me. If not him, then it’s the architect. I swear, bitch, I can’t keep your lovers straight.”

“You’re a pigheaded ass, Brenton Emery. For your information, the man who’s staying with me is my father.”

You can purchase The Diamond Legacy (and her other romances) from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and All Romance ebooks.

www.joannecberroa.wordpress.com

www.joannecberroa.blogspot.com

Amazon

Day after Mardi Gras

Good morning:
Mardi Gras season, which takes place in the Gulf Coast regions of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, is officially over. I worked a Pass Christian parade on Mardi Gras Sunday and celebrated Fat Tuesday indoors with great news!
I've finally made some headway with my first four E-Books at Splice Publishing. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ktbishop.
Strangers in Love and Royal Icing- are ranked 18th and 19th among best-sellers in Men's Adventures. Strangers also reached No. 21 for Short Stories under 20,000 words.
Diamonds and Pearls reached 14th on Cultural and Ethnic groups and reached number one among Hispanics and Latinos. Alabama Gumbo reached No. 21 among Short Stories under 20,000 words.
This isn't the Top 10 where my E-books usually place at other organizations, but I'll take it. I've got to start someplace......

Royal Icing

Good evening:
Here's my fourth release from Splice Publishing, Royal Icing.
Last year, I took the liberty of challenging myself to write a sports romance that wasn't football, basketball or baseball.
The people closest to me know that football is my favorite sport (Yes, I'm going through withdrawal now that the Super Bowl has come and gone). Being raised in the South, I had no choice in the matter.
I thought to myself, ''Why not write a hockey book?" The two closest NHL teams are in Atlanta and Nashville. We had minor league hockey in Biloxi, but those teams knew about the sport as much as I'm a brain surgeon.
Writing about hockey wasn't as challenging as I envisioned. I allowed my characters, Adam Sanchez and Asha Sarin, to dominate the pages with their romance of successful business people.
Here's an excerpt:
 Adam and Asha toured NYC on their first evening in town. She happily served as his tour guide, mostly through the back seat of a cab in bumper-to-bumper traffic down Main Street. 
 “The city looks smaller on TV,” he said.
 “You should never base your perception off TV,” Asha said. “Newspapers may be declining, but at least they give you much a better glimpse of reality than the TV.”
  “I love the TV, but it has too much influence over people,” Asha said.
He shrugged his shoulders and stared out the window at the countless gigantic buildings, including Madison Square Garden.
Asha ordered the driver to pull over. “Let’s stop here for a minute.”
“No problem,” the driver said.
The exhausted tone in Adam's voice strongly hinted of tiredness. “Why are we stopping?”
“That’s where some of the Knights’ hockey games are played against the Rangers,” Asha said.
 “Thought only the Knicks played there,” Adam retorted.
 Asha’s eyes blinked and appeared to be astounded at his lack of sports history in NYC. “You’re going to buy a team and don’t know where they play.”
She cringed at his lack of knowledge in NYC sports
 “I’ll figure that out later,” Adam said coldly. He rolled his eyes.
 “New York City is an American icon,” Asha said proudly. “Since 9/11, I've kept a thoughtful eye on them.”
 He gritted his teeth and seemed pissed. “Touring isn't at the top of my priorities right now.”
 “I'm going to get you out of the stuffy office, even if it kills me,” Asha said.
Adam rolled his eyes again and grumbled under his cold breath.

 

  Here's the buy link: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ktbishop