Meet Davah Avena

Last Monday I went to the offices of JKE/ATA, the company that optioned my novels  Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel to turn them into a TV series.  My visit was to meet one of the prospective writers chosen to write the Boyfriend From Hell TV pilot.  Meetings like this can be tough on the writer.  There were five of us there to hear her tell us how she envisioned the show.  That can be nerve wracking for anyone.

Our writer, however, was really vivacious and full of smiles.  I liked her immediately.  We went to a conference room, all of us on one side of the long table across from the poor writer.  She was unfazed and proceeded to tell us how she would present the series, and also gave us a primer on the different ways to pitch it to different networks.  She knew her stuff.

By the end of the meeting we were all in love with her.  We knew we'd found our writer.   And so, without further ado,  I am happy to introduce you to the writer of the Boyfriend From Hell TV pilot, Davah Avena.

This photo was taken last Friday when me, Davah and JKE/ATA manager-creative development, Heidi Mueller, met in JKE's beautiful break room to further discuss the show. Davah was a writer and story editor on NBC's Medium for two seasons.  I loved that show.   I also loved Davah's pilot Armed & Psychic, about two sisters, one cop, one psychic.  The script had a sense of humor that reminded me of my own.  And look at that smile.  You guys are falling in love with her already, just like I did, aren't you?

The journey to getting on TV is a tricky one, and I'd like to take you along with me.  To get on TV, the first thing you must do is find a writer who is on THE LIST.  Networks have secret lists that aren't all the same. It's like an exclusive night club.  If you're not on the list, they won't take your pitch.  We know that Davah is on the CW, ABC Family and NBC lists, and these are key places we'd like to take the show.  So we're in good shape there.

That's Heidi above.  Her passion about seeing my books become a TV show is one of the reasons I'm with JKE.  She's a great development exec with an excellent feel for what a youthful audience wants to see on TV.  She's convinced my books will make a terrific TV show.  I hope she's right.  Thanks for your support, Heidi.

The three of us met and discussed what would be different about the series from the books.  I liked the new stuff, and if the show gets on, you'll be in for some neat surprises.  One thing I'm sure everyone will like is Davah's desire to give both Guy and Matt a larger role.  I can't tell you how many people have written me saying they needed to see more Guy.  Now you will.

Me and Davah.  I know, I am wearing the hell  out of that hat.  What can I say, I like it.

The three of us had a great meeting of the minds on Friday, combining elements from the books with some new stuff.  By the way, Davah loved Ibwa from Earth Angel, so expect to see more of the little red demon as well. 

Next step is for Davah to work up the pitch.  She says it will take a week.  In the mean time, Sheree (my manager and producing partner) and Steve (president JKE/ATA) will be setting our first pitch meeting.  I'll keep you posted. 

I hope you enjoy my peeling back the curtain of the inner workings of Hollywood.  I know most people outside of the community have no idea how a show gets on TV. So come with me on this journey, and hopefully next spring, we'll have something to celebrate.  I also hope to do an interview with Davah down the road so you can get to know her better. 

If you enjoy stories that take place behind the scenes in Hollywood, you will love my up-coming novel The Zombie Always Knocks Twice.  It's the first book in my Hollyweird series.  The book is due out on August 30th.  That's all  for now.  Man, I am having one exciting August.

Peace.

My Final Boyfriend From Hell Giveaway

When I was a boy growing up in New York City, there were these electronics stores on 42nd Street that were going out of business.  They had big signs saying things like PRICES SLASHED and EVERYTHING MUST GO!  Thing is, these stores were going out of business for 10 years, until the city demanded they stop announcing that they were going out of business.

That's not the case with Boyfriend From Hell.  This is the end of my Amazon KDP trial period.  If you read my post about my KDP experiment, Put Up Or Shut Up!, you will know that I was doing this experiment for the summer, and at the end of the month summer will be over.

Friday and Saturday I will be giving Boyfriend From Hell away for FREE for the last time.  If you've heard anything about this Best Selling, highly regarded paranormal novel, you know that this giveaway is a real deal.  Lots of people give books away on KDP, but not too many give away novels that have reached #7 on the Amazon's children's ebook list.  Not the free list... the PAID list. 

I'm telling you now, I am not crying wolf like those stores on 42nd Street.  You won't see me back here next month singing the same song. Friday and Saturday, August 10th and 11th, is the very last Boyfriend From Hell KDP giveaway.  On Sunday it goes back to its regular price where it will remain.  My publisher has even suggested raising the price when the TV show comes out.  That's right, if you don't already know, Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel have been optioned for a network TV series.  We just chose the writer.  I'll blog about that next week.  Today I am here to say get the book now.  If you have friends who've mentioned it but don't have it yet, tell them about this last chance opportunity to get an awesome novel for FREE.

Peace.

Heaven Sent

Heaven Sent is the title of the next book (Book Three) in the Falling Angels Saga. It's also how I feel about many of you book bloggers out there.  You know who you are.  And I am not just talking about the bloggers who have supported my work.  I am talking about the bloggers who support all of us authors.

Over the past few weeks, I have written about authors using Goodreads and Twitter as their most effective marketing tools.  But book bloggers are really our most effective tool.  You guys review our books and then post your reviews where readers can find them.  You guys praise us and our books to your followers on your blogs and Twitter and Facebook.  You guys send kind messages to us when we're having bad days and need a psychological boost. And I'm not just referring to the big bloggers with thousands of followers.  A blogger with 100 followers can beat the drum for you just as effectively as a big blogger can.  Authors, DO NOT take book blogggers lightly.  They are the backbone of the industry.  It's great to be listed in the New York Times, but in this digital age, book bloggers are your key to greater sales--and they make excellent friends.

Okay, I think I've heaped enough much needed praise, now I want to catch you up on what's happening with me.  My novel, Heaven Sent (the sequel to Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel) is underway.  SPOILER ALERT.  If you haven't yet read Earth Angel, skip the rest of this paragraph... The next book in the series picks up eight weeks after Earth Angel, and it starts off with a bang as Megan has a huge awakening about the abilities she may possess.  Love is in the air, but not for who you might think.  And as promised in the riddle at the end of Earth Angel, someone returns, but that's all I am going to say.  I need to keep your appetites whet until December. So I will tease you with tempting little tid bits over the coming months. Buaaahahaaaaa!

I am also happy to announce that I have finally gotten the editor's notes for the first book in my Hollyweird series.  The publisher who originally bought the book last year went out of business.  The head of that house took my book with her and is now at a new publishing house Waterstreet Press, that will be opening their doors any day now.  I am so excited about this book.  I wrote it three years ago, so it's about time you guys got to see it.  I can't wait. It's the story of a fifteen and a half year-old necromancer living in Hollywood California.  The title of each book in the series is a play on an old Hollywood movie title.  The title of the first book is: The Zombie Always Knocks Twice.  I will keep you posted as the new book moves closer to publication.  It should be out some time this summer.

Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel continue to do well in sales.  Both books have been blessed with excellent reviews.  Boyfriend From Hell now has 50 four and five star ratings on Goodreads.  Earth Angel  has 20 four and five star ratings on Goodreads, with more coming everyday. 

I have received quite a few compliments about my The Way I See It posts.  I am so glad some of you are finding them helpful.  I will be posting another one some time next week.  If you subscribe to my newsletter you will get an email alerting you to the posting.  If you don't already subscribe, why not do it now.  http://evanlowe.com/

And finally, my cover artist Adara Rosalie, has created an exclusive Earth Angel iphone 4s cover case for my iphone.  If you think you'd like to win one of these as a prize in a contest, go over to my Facebook Fan Page  and like the Earth Angel iphone comment before April 3rd.

Peace.

My New Year's Revolution

I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions.  I used to make resolutions back when I was in high school and I didn’t understand what it takes to reach your goals.  Back then, every January I’d say something like “I’m gonna lose some weight.”  And “I’m gonna pay more attention in school.”  Then midway through March when I was barreling toward an “F” in French and my love handles were spilling over the sides of my pants, I’d realize I hadn’t stuck to my resolutions. Okay, maybe I didn’t have love handles, but you know what I mean.  Most people don’t stick to their resolutions, and so me not sticking to mine made me normal.  I liked being normal.

At some point in my life I went from resolutions to plans.  My plans don’t begin in January and end in December.  Some plans take years to accomplish. I had a great year last year.  It didn’t go entirely as planned, but it was fun and I learned a lot.  So today I thought I’d look back with you a bit, but more importantly, I wanted to share my plans for what’s ahead.

In September my first independent novel, Boyfriend From Hell was published by White Whisker Books.  I am so fortunate to have my friend Chris Meeks and his new book venture in my life.  Self-publishing isn’t for everyone.  I am certain I am one of those people it is not for.  With an indie publisher I get most of the benefits of self-publishing and NONE of the headache.  If you are an author who is like me, there are lots of new indie publishers springing up all over the place.  Find one run by people like Chris with a background in publishing, and leave the headaches to them.

Boyfriend From Hell got off to a great start in September, but after the Kindle Nation Daily feature on October 8^th sales slowed.  Rather than cry in our beer, Chris and I decided to change the book cover for BFFH and its sequel, Earth Angel (that was due out in December), to a more adult cover with a romantic theme.  The new covers were created by AdaraRosalie.  I then went to my pal Roxanne Rhoads and her Bewitching Books Tours and asked her to host a blog tour for me that featured both books.  She came up with an awesome theme that started my tour on Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving).  By December 31^st both Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel were soaring in sales.

As some of you know (I’ve tweeted about it ad infinitum), after my January 6^th feature on Pixel Of Ink, Boyfriend From Hell spent nine consecutive days on the Amazon Kindle top 100 Best Sellers list (for Girls & Women).  Earth Angel made the list as well, but only for a very short period of time. 

Before I tell you what’s ahead, I want to begin by thanking my friends and fans—frans—for their support the past year.  I couldn’t have done it without you.  I’m not just thanking you for your sales.  I know all of you aren’t buying my books.  That’s all right.  If you’ve left a comment on my blog or Goodreads page, or if you participated in the Hollyweird Tuesday Trivia Challenge or some other contest, I thank you. 

A few of you have lamented that Heaven Sent, the third book in the Falling Angels Saga, won’t be out until December.  Sorry.  I want you to know I have begun working on it, and it is going to be the best Falling Angels Saga book so far.  Seriously.  That’s why I am taking my time.  I want it to be awesome.

As I was outlining Heaven Sent, I realized I needed one more book to conclude the series.  That book (currently entitled Falling) will tentatively be out late spring 2013.  See, you won’t have to wait an entire year for that one. If you don’t see me on the blog or Twitter or holding fewer contests in 2012, please know I will be hunkered down writing.  I’ve got a lot of writing to do.

Something else I am excited about this year is the first book in my Hollyweird series.  I sold this project to a publisher last year and it stalled.  That’s because it was sold to a new Indie publisher who wound up going out of business.  The principal, however (a woman with tons of big time publishing experience), asked several of the authors to hang in there with her as she searched for new financing.  Her deal is done; the new pub house is open.  I will tell you more about it when I can, but editing on Hollyweird should begin in the next few weeks.  That book will be out this year as well. I will post about my journey to publication right here on a regular basis. 

I am also keeping my hand in television and film.  I just completed the first draft of a romantic comedy that I was hired by a foreign production company to write. Both my first YA novel, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie and the Sal Conte (my alter ego)  horror short story, The Toothache Man are currently in development for feature films.  I may also announce a TV project some-time this year.

My larger plan is to create entertainment (Books and short stories) that can become movies, TV shows, graphic novels and/or video games.  That’s a big plan.  I’m not Disney or Dreamworks.  I’m just a guy with a dream, but I do have over 20 years’ experience in Hollywood.  That should help. But I know it will take more than a New Year’s Resolution to carry out a plan like mine.  It will take a revolution.

So that’s my year ahead—busy, busy, busy.  I welcome you all along for the ride.  You can always leave words of encouragement on my blog, or if you have a question about me, or writing, or anything at all please write to me at info@evanlowe.com.  I am still available for book club dates and school visits.   And I travel on my own dime, so getting me there cost you nothing. I do this because the best way to make you my fan for life is for you to meet me personally.  I’m really quite lovable.  Invite me out.  You’ll see.  If you are interested in having me attend your book club or event send me an email.

When I was a kid I wanted to be a writer because writing looked like fun.  I didn’t realize how much hard work was involved, but I’ve got to tell you, I was right about the fun part. Have a great year.

Peace.

Twitter Party Yo!

Hey everyone, I’m having a Twitter Party.  It’s the perfect time for me to celebrate.  Boyfriend From Hell dipped its toe into the Kindle top sellers last Friday, peaking at #533 in overall sales, and was in the top 100 sellers in three categories.  That’s an amazing accomplishment for me... So it’s time to party.

If you’ve ever had a question you’d like to ask me about writing, about my career in TV, about the Falling Angels Saga , or if you’ve ever wanted to sit and chat with your old pal E, please join me on Friday January 13^th at 7pm EST (that’s 4pm in the west) for a tweet up.  It’s on Friday evening so pour yourself a glass of wine or a shot of tequila (my favorite libations) stop by and let’s have some fun.  I will definitely be sipping on something, so when my writing becomes more and more like gobbledygook you’ll know why  ;-) The party will last about an hour, if you guys can hang with me that long.

This is my first Twitter party ever, so please help me make it a success.  Here’s how it will work and what you need to know to participate.  The party is being hosted by my pal, @RoxanneRhoads  at Bewitching Book Tours.  My Twitter handle is @evanlowe.  Here’s the easiest way to follow along:  Log onto your Twitter account some time before the 13th, then type #evanlowe into the search column at the top of the page.  When my results come up you will see a button just above my handle that says “save this search.” Click that button and #evanlowe will be saved in your searches.  When the party begins on Friday the 13^th, click on the saved #evanlowe search and you will be able to follow along. When you want to say something to me, add #evanlowe (or @evanlowe) to your tweet, and I will see it and reply.  It’s that simple… or that hard.  If this isn’t clear enough, leave a message in the comments and I will walk you through it.  If you plan to attend I’d also like to know, so please leave a comment.  I need to know how much wine and tequila to buy. Don’t want to run out  ;-)

Help me celebrate my recent success. Stop by and chat Friday January 13^th at 7pm EST (4pm PST). 

PEACE.

Happy Thanksgiving & Cyber Monday Giveaway

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  I am thankful for my family, friends, and all the wonderful frans I email and tweet with nearly every day.  You guys are sooo awesome!  I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Tomorrow is Black Friday the beginning of the holiday shopping season--a day where millions of you (not me, nuh-uh!) will venture out to stores and malls looking for super bargains.  Well, it just so happens I know of a super bargain, and it's free.  That's right FREE.  The only catch is you'll have to wait until Cyber Monday (November 28th) to get in on it.  Without further ado (what the hell does "ado" mean?) I bring you....

Bewitching Book Tours is hosting the Boyfriend From Hell/Earth Angel Cyber Monday Giveaway Blitz.  This awesome swag bag features lots of goodies, like the Bath and Body Works Candy Apple Gift Set.

In a addition to the gift set there's a fuzzy black winter hat, perfect for keeping your head stylish and warm throughout the winter; there's also fuzzy black and purple striped winter gloves.  There's too much great swag to mention.  Roxanne over at Bewitching Books Tours put together an incredible giveaway.  Topping off this great giveaway will be autographed copies of both Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel.

To find out how you can qualify for the Cyber Monday Giveaway Blitz just click on the link. If you miss out on the giveaway there will be more chances to win both books in the Falling Angels Saga when I start my new blog tour.  I will post it here some time next week.  In the mean time, enjoy your turkey, don't eat too much pumpkin pie, remember to give thanks, and have a happy and safe day.  I love you all. Peace.

Boyfriend From Hell-Earth Angel Trailer

Here it is, people.  I finally had a trailer made for Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel.  I am so excited for you to see it. I hope you enjoy it.

Earth Angel Unveiled

Here it is, folks, the cover to my newest novel-- Earth Angel. Isn't it GORGEOUS? 

I decided to do a redesign of the Falling Angels Saga covers.  I wanted the series covers to better reflect the attitude of my series and my readers--more adult and more romantic. The redesigned Boyfriend From Hell cover is just as beautiful as this one. Can't wait to show it to you.  That will happen next week.

I am very proud of this new cover.  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Earth Angel comes out mid-December, about a month from now.  I'm bubbling over with excitement to share my new book with you.  Those of you who emailed me that you couldn't wait for Earth Angel to come out won't be disappointed. 

There's a new hot series in town.  The Falling Angels Saga.  Peace.