About Randall Dark - Success in Many Arenas - Feature Story

Randall P. Dark was chosen as FILMMAKER in the category of THE INDEPENDENTS. Here is his interview:

Randall Dark is a long-standing innovator in digital video, having founded HD Vision in New York City in 1992, becoming one of the first specialists in the technology behind HDTV. More recently, he has been executive producer on films including Angels Sing, featuring Harry Connick Jr., Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, and the documentaries Makarios: A Rising Tide and Seadrift vs. the Big Guy. He also produced the trailer for the Howard Lukk-directed SMPTE documentary Moving Images. He runs Randall Dark Productions out of Austin, TX. 

What will be the biggest challenge of 2017 for the media industry?

The biggest challenge is finding funding for projects. Ideas are a dime a dozen. 

What do you like to do when you’re not working? 

I have said during my entire career that I have never worked a day in life. I love what I do therefore it doesn’t feel like work to me. That being said, I do like to play a round of golf once in awhile.

What movie, TV show, book, music, or other media would you most recommend to your colleagues? 

I recommend seeing or reading or listening to whatever is hot. Keeping your finger on the pulse is important. 

What’s your best advice for others in this business? 

Go big or go home.

See the entire list of StudioDaily's 2017 honorees here.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Video Didn’t Kill the Radio Star, It Just Gave It a New Platform

Recently, Randall Dark participated on a panel of video production professionals to discuss video and how it relates to start ups.

Held at Impact Hub Austin, the panel talked about how startups can use video – where it can bring them the most value to finding the resources to produce it.

With that shift to smartphones and VR, audiences have become increasingly harder to attract and keep interested in companies and products.

When creating video, Dark noted, “Our attention span has shrunk dramatically. I need to be compelling in the first 15 seconds."

Along with Dark on the panel were Lyn Graft, Carlana Stone and Pat 'Shaggy' Welsh.

Read an article on the event on mediatech VENTURES.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Dark selected as Honoree

Randall P. Dark has been named a 2017 StudioDaily 50 Awards Honoree!

The StudioDaily 50 recognizes influential creatives and technologists whose leadership breaks new ground in media and entertainment.

The List is populated by executives and producers who make great work happen; directors, cinematographers and editors who push the creative envelope; and scientists, engineers, inventors and other innovators who keep pushing the state of the creative arts.

StudioDaily announces the 50 honorees on its inaugural list of the StudioDaily 50 — key creatives and technologists whose leadership and influence in all parts of the industry who are breaking new ground in media and entertainment.

The list honors executives from major corporations, visionary creative thinkers, technology mavens who make awe-inspiring images possible and specialists in advertising, B2B communications and more who do great work on a national, regional, or local scale. Through their leadership, expertise and execution, these are the people who make media and entertainment such a vibrant industry.

The complete list of StudioDaily 50 honorees and profiles will be announced on Tuesday, April 25. In recognition of his accomplishment, Dark will be honored during the StudioDaily 2017 Prime Awards presentation on the NAB show floor.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Dark to discuss new project on inspiration through music

Randall P. Dark will join Jeanette Arsenault for a live interview with Marsha Casper Cook on The World of Ink Radio Network, Wednesday January 4 at 4:30 EST/3:30 CST/2:30 MT/1:30 PST.

The discussion centers on the collaborative project about Arsenault’s brother Ron, who has cerebral palsy. He lives in Canada at St. Joseph Hospital Complex Care due to his particular needs.

Dark brings his skills as writer, producer/director to tell the heartfelt story of how Arsenault's music, inspired by her brother, motivates her to help others by touching their hearts through song.

Together they plan to explore the emotional subject many people face each day when a crisis strikes their family.

Listen to the interview here: http://bit.ly/2hOzgEn

Monday, December 19, 2016

High Definition Visionary

The University of Ottawa's monthly publication TABARET highlights the stories that have shaped and continue to shape the university's history. Along with discoveries by professors, they highlight outstanding alumni.

Recently, Mike Foster profiled high definition visionary and alumnus, Randall P. Dark. The following is an excerpt from the story:

Randall P. Dark (BA ʼ79, Honours), one of the pioneers of high definition television, says he embraced the technology because he believed sharper images had the power to change the world. But it wasn't easy convincing film industry bigwigs of the merits of HD.

"I was laughed at many, many times," says Dark. "After one demonstration of HD to some of the top cinematographers, directors and producers in New York City, I was viciously attacked. They were saying it looked like video, it was horrible, it was never going to happen. I remember one of my staff asking me, 'Randall, how do you feel? They tore you apart.' But I was elated. I said, 'Did you see how passionately vicious they were, how much they hated it? If it touched them that much, we're on to something.'"

Today, Dark is a producer, director, cinematographer, writer and media consultant who has shot some of the most famous personalities in high definition, including Julie Andrews, Willie Nelson, Harry Connick Jr., Lyle Lovett, Sting, Bill Clinton, Leonard Nimoy and Stephen Hawking. He is considered by the television industry to be a visionary guru who has played a key role in advancing the HD medium.

Dark compares the moment he first saw HD in Toronto in 1986 to someone seeing a Model T Ford during the days of horses and carriages.

"My brain fired and I thought this was going to be the future of so many things. I wanted to help bring it to the world and I was blessed enough to be involved in so much of the roll-out," says Dark.

"Because high definition was so real and so vivid — the colours were perfect, you could see the tiniest detail — I believed that if you had a 65-inch TV in your home and you watched a documentary about starving children, it would touch your heart in a way that you would have to react," says Dark. "I believed it was a technology that would have an impact on people and change their hearts. I honestly believed it would change humanity."

In the mid-1980s, he worked on the CBC's Chasing Rainbows, the first television mini-series to be recorded in HD. From there, he moved to New York City, working out of the Ed Sullivan Theatre, which was sometimes used in those days as a high definition sound stage for MTV's Unplugged series. He got to work with bands like Aerosmith and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

In 1992, he founded HD Vision Inc., an HD production and post-production company in New York and Dallas, Texas.

"I was one of the first in the world to build multi-camera, high-definition production trucks. I got to shoot Victor-Victoria on Broadway with Julie Andrews. I got to shoot Super Bowl XXX. We got to shoot the NBA All-Star game. I was the first to broadcast in high definition a live sporting event to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. where members of the (U.S.) Congress and the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) analyzed the images to determine if high definition was a viable new TV standard for the United States. I ended up doing a lot of the very first events because I was one of the only people in the world to own HD trucks," says Dark.

He later co-founded HD Vision Studios in 2002 in Los Angeles and, in 2007, Randall Dark Productions LP. Over the years, he has been involved in around 2,000 feature films, documentaries, music videos, commercials and corporate presentations.

"My life is so amazing"

One of his latest projects is the film Angels Sing. Released in 2013, it features Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Harry Connick Jr., Connie Britten and Lyle Lovett. As one of the executive producers, he got to watch Nelson and Connick Jr. create a new song, which plays during the film's credits.

"I got to watch these two geniuses at work. My life is so amazing," says Dark. "I have never been star-struck working with celebrities because people are just people. I think what happens is so many big name stars get worshipped and people go 'I'm a big fan' and it gets tiring after a while. I think, because I am an expert in my field I can sit down and say, 'Hey, I know nothing about what you do but do you want to know about high definition?'"

Dark is also known for taking an experimental approach and mixing a variety of digital technologies. In his documentary Seadrift vs The Big Guy (2012), which follows contestants in the 260-mile Texas Water Safari canoe race, he used everything from an Apple iPhone to a 4K camera, which yields a resolution four times higher than standard HD.

"I used 20 different types of camera technology to do that documentary, everything from cutting-edge 4K to high-definition sunglasses to shoot it. I think I used a total of 40 cameras," says Dark.

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The full article may be read in its entirety in both English and French by clicking the proper link below:

High Definition Visionary        Visionnaire Haute Définition

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Fast from the Past: An Interview with Randall P. Dark

Randall Dark. Photos by Sharon Rankin

Speed Junkies: Randall Dark and Sharon Rankin on Fast from the Past Shooting a Vintage Race Car 

Docu-Series Mixing Gorgeous 4K and Scrappy Little HD POV Cameras 

By Bryant Frazer 

Filmmaker Randall Dark brought a lot of cameras to his latest shoot. Fast from the Past, the pilot-in-progress for a proposed reality-based television series following everyday characters as they rebuild classic muscle cars into racing vehicles to take out on the track. The project originated with Mark Mcilyar, a self-taught mechanic, body shop owner and vintage race-car driver who acts as producer, host and storyliner for the program. Dark describes Mcilyar and his friends as "interesting people with an outrageous hobby" worthy of a series dedicated to their exploits. We talked to Dark, director and cinematographer on the pilot, and his colleague Sharon Rankin, who helped wrangle cameras and shot behind-the-scenes stills for the project.

StudioDaily: So how did you connect with the wild world of vintage race car drivers?

Randall Dark: I love all sports. If it's 'the best in the world,' I'm there — whether it's tiddlywinks, the Olympics, or these crazy people putting together these cars. We follow a dentist and a fireman in their adventures racing on the Indianapolis Speedway. So when the show's host, Mark Mcilyar, brought the project to me, he had me at 'hello.'

What kind of cameras were in your kit?

RD: I brought a 4K JVC camera and a Canon camera, but I also had 10 GoPros and 10 JVC ADIXXION cameras with me. Part of telling the story is that you don't want to be up in the stands. You need the wide shot, but also the medium shot and the tight shot to tell a story. And it's innovative companies like JVC and GoPro and Canon, et cetera, who've developed the technology that gets people like me and Sharon inside events instead of outside of them.

Sharon Rankin: I'm a Nikon shooter. I brought Nikon D3s with four different lenses, and I had just tried the Sony a7R II.

Sharon Rankin. Photo by Scott Rankin

Randall, all of those action cameras helped you get inside some tight spaces with the drivers, right?

RD: I've shot NASCAR and other speed events, and it's really tricky to get cameras in certain places on these cars. The cars are unbelievably expensive, for one thing, and normally the professional drivers don't want you filming where you can see them doing their secret things. But what's different about a fireman and a dentist is that they are so generous and nice. We were allowed complete access.

What was different about the JVC cameras compared to the ubiquitous GoPro?

RD: The JVC action camera has a side LCD viewfinder and a zoom lens, so I can put it on the outside of cars, inside them, on the top of them. But when I was framing, with a GoPro you're running and gunning so you set it there and hope the angle is right and off it goes. But with a viewfinder and a zoom lens, I was able to get cool shots, zooming in or out a little bit for more flexibility. The JVC 4K camera was a very portable run-and-gun camera with an attached mic. I also brought a Canon HDV camera, and we brought in the 5D Mark II. I try to keep my camera technology as light as possible. I would use a more elaborate rig with a matte box and filters on a feature film like Angels Sing, but for this project I couldn't tell the story I wanted to tell with big technology.

But could you project it on a big screen if you needed to?

RD: Yes, and here's why. When you shoot an interview, you can shoot it at 4K and light it beautifully and it looks great. When you've got a GoPro or a JVC portable camera on the outside of a car racing by and you intercut that footage, your brain forgives the difference in image quality. You accept the difference in resolution because of the type of shot you're seeing.

What shots did you get that you're especially proud of?

Photo: Sharon Rankin

SR: There was a shot that I took in the aisleway next to the racetrack where you see the car coming toward the camera. That was one of my favorite shots, partly because I was leaning out into the track and the car, in order to pass, came probably within a foot of me at 200 mph. I was pelted with stones and debris. For me, getting that shot was exhilarating and as scary as anything.

Photo: Sharon Rankin

RD: I really loved some of the POV shots I was able to get with the portable technology that I never could have gotten if I had to crawl in with the driver. I do love one shot that Sharon took. I was using one of the JVC cameras to shoot a car going by, and it looks like I've got a gun and I'm shooting at them. If you're a spectator, and you don't know that it's a tiny camera, you're wondering why that guy's following the car like he's got a lightsaber or something.

How long was the shoot?

RD: It was a three-day shoot for us. There are different events on different days, and we wanted to represent all of the different classes of cars. And it helps in telling the story to get things that happen on day one and then follow up on day two. And you have to do fun interviews. One of the race-car drivers went into the gravel pit and got rocks under the car that they have to get out before the next race. So I did one of the interviews under the car with the driver as he was cleaning out the rocks. I think other documentary approaches are valid, but I wanted people to feel the dirt and the grit [of the track] so that was a natural choice.

So how carefully did you plan the shoot? Did you plan out the shots and sequences you needed to get in order to tell the story you wanted to tell?

RD: I didn't want to know too much about the event before I threw myself into it. With a lot of my work, I get so excited about doing things that the work becomes — not childlike, but it has that enthusiasm. I don't recommend it for everybody, but I don't overplan or overthink my projects. I work them out in the moment, and I think that makes my work more organic.

But does it make it harder to stay focused?

RD: Kristen Cox produces for me a lot of the time, and she always says, "Randall, you've got to slow down." I need someone to keep me on one shot before I run across the racetrack to get that other shot over there. It's a combination of not being naive in the moment, but also not being a hardened expert in racing. I see it through rose-colored glasses, and I think the storytelling reflects that. I'm not heavily involved, but I'm a fan of what these guys are doing. I'm just experiencing it for the first time, and I can't wait to share it with the world.

Do you feel like you've developed your own documentary shooting style?

RD: When I did Makarios: A Rising Tide, I was in the Dominican Republic, shooting in a village that had no running water or electricity. In that environment, I moved slowly, quietly and respectfully. I'm going into their impoverished environment to tell their story as best I can, with as much respect as possible. My style in that world was calm, quiet. I became a different type of director because the environment required me to be a different type of person. On the Indy 500 racetrack I can get away with running around screaming and yelling because the track is so loud, but it's a type of energy I'm bringing to the type of cinematography I'm trying to create. You can't go around screaming in someone's house. If you look at the documentaries I've done, you'll see a different type of feeling and camerawork because the story I'm trying to tell demands it. Not because "Randall Dark's style is to use a shaky-cam."

What did you learn from this project?

RD: One thing Sharon has taught me is to believe in vertical marketing. A lot of the time, I'm so busy directing or shooting that I forget about getting the shots that I need for marketing. Sharon, how many shots did you take?

SR: I took at least 7,000 images for this project.

RD: It's a lot of work for her to find those shots. But all of a sudden, I'm talking to broadcast and distribution and they ask, 'What do you have [to promote this]?' To say we have an edited program and behind-the-scenes photography, it just makes it a better package for presentation.

It sounds like you've developed a good working relationship. 

SR: I love working with Randall, and I love racing and cars, so it was a great opportunity to put my passion for photography forward with this project. We did a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun.

Article courtesy Studio Daily

Monday, February 22, 2016

Spend the Evening with Producer, Director, and Cinematographer Randall P Dark

On Thursday, March 10 at 11 pm ET / 10 pm CT,  join the conversation with Randall P. Dark on Deadly Reads Radio.

Randall will be talking about HDTV, of course, and loads of other fascinating topics... like his play and children's app Tale of Sasquatch, and his brand new play and children's app Easter Frog: The Brains Behind the Bunny.

Click here to listen to the interview. Call in live to talk with Randall at 646-668-2716.

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Contributors

• RPD
• Randall Dark Productions
• Randall Dark Productions

BIO

• IMDb Listing

Children's Funny Books

Check out these funny books for your kids - they'll love them.

Love Changes In Many Ways

Audible Link

Amazon Link

Second chances are possible but only if the lies and compromises are gone.

Martin had lost his first wife and daughter in a horrible car accident and it took him years to fight the sadness he woke up with every day. When he met Elaine everything changed. He married her and their new life made Martin forget all the pain. Once again life was good.

After feeling such happiness the second time around Martin never expected tragedy to once again be knocking at his door, but it had. If Martin had known the truth about Elaine's past he would have been able to help her but her fear of the truth became her reality and the fact that they loved each other didn't seem to be enough. Elaine came up with a solution she thought would be for the best. Martin went along with her plan but it put him in a compromised position and very unhappy, but he loved his wife so much he agreed to live her lie.

The stakes were very high but Martin thought in time he could change her mind but as the years passed the only thing that changed was Elaine. She became withdrawn and uneasy and finally when things got out of hand and Martin couldn't control anything that happened it was a downward spiral and everything they had worked to achieve began to crumble.

Could Martin save his wife from herself? Would Elaine let that happen?

For love, Martin would do anything and Elaine loved him for that, but would that be enough?

©2014 Marsha Casper Cook (P)2017 Marsha Casper Cook

WOI Special - Host Marsha Casper Cook - Writing A Good Story

Monday, June 12, 2017

WOI Special - Host Marsha Casper Cook - Writing A Good Story

 

 

 

Please join Marsha Casper Cook on Tuesday June 13 at 8:30 PM EST 7:30 CST 6:30 MT 5:30 PST when Marsha's guests will be Jim Nesbitt, Owen Parr and Mike Pettit. They had so much fun on April 25th they're all coming back to once again open the discussion about writing and everything it takes to make a good story work! Listen live or on demand.

 

Call in to the show - 714-242-5259 For more info about Marsha's shows 

 

http://www.marshacaspercook.com http://www.worldofinknetwork.com

WOI Book Review: Trace of Echoes by Paul Steinberg

Sometimes love comes to us in unusual or unexpected ways as Dalton Hunter learned in Hurry Moon. Imagine falling in love with someone in your dreams and not really knowing if this person is an illusion or real. What would you do if you found or met your true love each time you went to bed,

had talks, went places and woke up remembering what happened but the person was gone? Sienna and Dalton had this make believe storybook or fairytale romance in his dreams from the time he turned seven. Their love and their adventures progressed over time until he became an adult. She was

there to guide him through many adolescent experiences, dating, friendships and even his first job. Becoming a famous photographer and working in the fashion industry was his entry into the world of film. Working for a man named Marcel for a while gave him hefty start and a huge salary thanks to

one of his professors. But, uneasy and wanting more he meets Samantha Choice and develops what he thinks could be a permanent relationship except Sienna is watching from the sidelines and realizes disaster when she sees it. So, when Dalton overhears her talking to her father and realizes her motive for wanting to marry him or have him in his life he takes action. But, Tony Choice is not someone you trifle with and revenge is on the menu in this second of the series Trace of Echoes by Paul Steinberg. The story starts where it ended off in the last book with Sienna recounting the past, telling

what happens with her mother who is not sure it is time for her to become Dalton’s reality and finding her way to a train station and that’s where we shall begin. 

 

When Sienna finally finds Dalton what happens next is right out of a romance novel with an unusual plot as Dalton introduces her to his father and his wife Sherry and then he meets with Francesca and Garrett her father.

 

The interaction is unique as his father is not completed convinced or overjoyed on the phone as yet. Hoping to buy a home in New York and both starting their own businesses there are two people that will do anything to foil their ambitions. Why Dalton decided to use Lindsey a friend of

Samantha Choice to help with these prospects is quite startling as Tony Choice and his daughter Samantha will do anything for revenge. Dalton is about to open Dream Brink photography studio and Sienna an office in her parent’s company. As their lives intertwine and the wedding plans are going

forward will Tony Choice with the help of Jasmine, Samantha’s assistant take Dalton down?

 

When both sets of parents finally meet and the reveals come out Sienna has to decide whether she can forgive her mother for not telling her about her connection with her father. Not the same as hers with Dalton yet powerful too. Things take a different turn as Dalton leaves for Paris, Sherry and Don

go home and their new offices built as Sienna and her mother come into a working relationship and hopefully can repair the rift that almost tore them apart. As Tony Choice and his new interest in Jasmine, Samantha’s assistant is trying to undo the business contracts set up by Marcel for Dalton. Lies, betrayals, deceits, backstabbing and revenge come into play in this second book in the series.

The relationship between Sienna and her mother deepens as her mother explains the meaning of A Trace of Echoes as the sounds she heard when connecting with Garrett at the start of their relationship. As Dalton learns that someone is out to sabotage his new venture hoping Marcel can find the answers. 

 

Throughout the novel the author allows readers to hear many different viewpoints and voices in each chapter as Don relates his feelings and his experiences with Dalton and Sienna and Jasmine and Terry reveal how they are both working to destroy him and why. Each voice is distinct and each one expresses his/her emotional strains and reasons for their actions whether positive or negative. Jasmine is enjoying the increase in her funds in the bank so why not allow Tony to pay for her time and pleasure. Added in Samantha stole the designs from someone named Ivan from a designer

named Anna who she is using as the main logo or take AN NA for her new company. 

 

An event for Samantha’s new company brings all the parties in contact and the icy frost cannot be denied. Yet, Samantha seems to have an unusual relationship with Terrence/Terry and their work and outside relationship is quite unique. Added in Jasmine and Tony seem closer but the dialogue in

some places seems uneven and not like normal conversation. Although Samantha seems to want to move ahead her father is bent on destroying Dalton could his ace in the hole be Francesca? The hard feelings run far and wide and before the ending or solution comes will Dalton’s company open

with any clients and success? Just whose side is Jasmine on and what about Jennifer? Each side having someone to do the dirty work and yet reporting to both sides what they find? Who can be trusted? 

 

Things backfire as you hear several new voices as Tony Choice never sees it coming and Jasmine will learn the real meaning of deception and being used. As the sides take on each other wait until you see which one wins. Revenge, backstabbing, distrust and loyalties are all broken and severed as someone is bound to come out on top but who? 

 

The office climate changes as Francesca teaches Tony a lesson that he will never forget as the CEO of the company changes hands and Samantha learns more about humility than she ever expected. With Jonny(Skip) now at her side and Terrence taking on a new role and Lindsey finding Jennifer an asset

to her company things take many different turns as Dalton and Sienna prepare for a wedding with vows that are totally unconventional. Where will they all wind up? Will everyone finally learn to trust the other? What happens when Tony’s wife lays it on the line and Jasmine finds out what that

line is? The ending is just the beginning for Sienna and Dalton as the sounds that she hears, the vibrations and noises are the beautiful Trace of Echoes created by the author for this novel. What’s next for everyone? The answer is in the final volume of this trilogy. 

 

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ Magazine

Please join Marsha Casper Cook on March28 at 8:30 PM EST 730 PM CST 630 MT PM 530 PST when she welcome two very interesting and entertaining authors Kelly Abell and Marianne Morea.

Marianne was born and raised in New York, and her stories embody the grit and complexity of the city. She's an avid traveler and uses experiences from around the world in all her books. Dark Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy Suspense and Horror are the hallmarks of her writing style.

Kelly is an international best selling author with novels that are traditionally and Indie published. She writes romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. Her aim is to write about gripping characters in tense situations that keep a reader turning the pages.

Marsha is an author of both children and adult fiction. She is a screenwriter and marketing consultant and the co owner of World Of Ink Network with Virginia Grenier. They have been doing shows for over seven years and are planning some new exciting projects.

Fascination With Real-Life Murder Stories

What Drives Our Never-Ending Fascination
With Real-Life Murder Stories?
Death Of Media Icon Dorothy Kilgallen
Latest Case Drawing Renewed Interest

America loves a good murder mystery, as evidenced by endless TV dramas, movies such as The Girl on the Train, and novels by writers such as Patricia Cornwell and Michael Connelly.

But the infatuation isn’t limited to fiction. The public is also riveted by every detail of real-life homicides, whether it’s the O.J. Simpson trial, the murder of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, or the extraordinary phenomenon of the TV documentary Making a Murderer.

“People can’t help but be captivated with the human drama when another person’s life ends in violence,” says attorney and investigative reporter Mark Shaw, author of The Reporter Who Knew Too Much (www.thereporterwhoknewtoomuch.com).

Shaw’s own fascination these days is focused on the mysterious death of Dorothy Kilgallen, the Pulitzer-Prize nominated newspaper columnist and panelist on the popular TV show What’s My Line. She was a household name in 1965 when she was discovered dead in her home at age 52.

“With Dorothy, I think you have all the compelling elements,” says Shaw, who served as a legal analyst for USA Today and CNN during the O.J. Simpson trial. “We have a famous journalist killed in the line of duty for writing a ‘tell-all’ book and there are celebrity suspects galore who were never investigated.”

Officially, Kilgallen’s death was ruled accidental, caused by a fatal mixture of sleeping pills and alcohol. Shaw says his research uncovered new evidence that points to murder (posted at www.thedorothykilgallenstory.org.) The motive: Her book that would have exposed a mobster’s involvement in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Shaw has called on the NYC District Attorney to investigate since “murder is the worst form of censorship” and a main suspect remains at large.

Kilgallen’s own journalistic career serves as evidence that fascination with true-crime stories is nothing new. She wrote about seemingly every “trial of the century” of her era, including the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, the Dr. Sam Sheppard case that gripped Americans and inspired the TV series The Fugitive, and the trial of Jack Ruby, who killed Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of assassinating Kennedy.

Why are we so enthralled by these cases? Shaw says there are several reasons:

• A belief in justice. Most people want to see justice served, whether they suspect a guilty culprit got away with murder or worry that an innocent person was wrongly accused. “In fiction, everything usually gets wrapped up very tidily,” Shaw says. “In real life, justice can be a whole lot messier.”
• A natural attraction to mystery. People are captivated by the unknown, whether it’s the “whodunit” at the end of an Agatha Christie novel, the contents of the large package under the Christmas tree, or the very meaning of human existence. “This is probably one reason there’s still so much interest in the JFK assassination,” Shaw says. “There are elements of mystery all around it and we can’t help but want to get at the truth.”
• A preoccupation with death. As gruesome as it seems, people have been drawn to stories about violent death for thousands of years. Even the Bible wastes little time working in a murder, with Cain offing his brother Abel in a fit of jealousy in one of the earliest chapters.
“One other reason may be that we have empathy for the victim and feel they deserve their ‘day in court,’ so to speak,” Shaw says. “And that’s true whether the murder happened five days ago or 50 years ago as it did with Kilgallen. She deserves justice today and I’m determined to get that for her at all costs.”

About Mark Shaw

Mark Shaw, author of The Reporter Who Knew Too Much (www.markshawbooks.com), is a former criminal defense attorney and legal analyst for CNN, ESPN and USA Today.  He is an investigative reporter and the author of 25 books including The Poison Patriarch, Miscarriage of Justice, and Beneath the Mask of Holiness. Shaw, a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, has written for USA Today, Huffington Post, and the Aspen Daily News.

WOI Book Review: Blossom Dawn by Paul Steinberg

Dalton and Sienna are back in the final installment of this trilogy as we learn more about their connection, the deceit that someone close to them creates and what happens when Francesca goes after Tony Choice and a strange end result. Within this novel we get to understand their connection and how it will spill over to their children when we learn that Sienna is about to have a child and it’s a boy named Joshua. Joshua seems to run her pregnancy in the later stages and demands in his own way to see the bright or light wanting to be born even before is physically ready to greet the world and his family. But, the scene is quite unique and what Sienna does to convince the doctor definitely not orthodox when dealing with the birth of a child and yet Joshua has his wish. It seems that he has an inborn connection to Sienna and can telepathically communicate his wishes and words with her even before being born. He does not have this with Dalton at present. But, giving birth early seems to be how the book begins and the family on both sides is delighted to have Joshua to nurture, spoil and teach the ropes of being a part of two amazing and powerful families. Yet, there is much more that is presented as we learn about Jasmine and Tony Choice’s relationship and how that leads to marriage. At first it seems like the right path for her but later on you will learn that not every choice made is the right one and things between Jasmine and Tony after having his child change and not for the better. Samantha is about to marry Jonny who Dalton has given much control of his company Dream Brink why he explores other avenues to widen his network and his business connections. Things seem to go along okay as we meet Joshua at age three and find out that he too has the same connections as Sienna and Dalton but not with one dream friend two. Marie and Maria are the two girls and while young they seem to not be concerned about the other until things change when Joshua becomes a teen.

 

Bailey and Joshua are close siblings and their connection to Dalton and Sienna are quite unique. With Bailey connecting more with her mother and Joshua at times with both as something changes within him meeting Marie and Maria in his dreams and forming a relationship with both. Things do not always stay the same as Tony Choice learns what happens when he double-crosses Francesca and Garrett with the help of Skip/Jonny, Samantha’s husband. Jasmine learns more about Tony and realizes that it’s time to call it quits as young Tony Junior rebels and his friendship with Bailey and Jonny change. While Skip does his recon on Tony and lands him in jail, things change for his son and although divorced Jasmine needs him as a link to straightening him out. 

Dalton becomes restless and Marie becomes a movie star and model thanks to him and Marcel as her mother worries about her success moving too fast as her choice in Diego as a new boyfriend shows. With Joshua and Bailey pursuing their dreams him as a guitarist and singer along with getting closer to Maria his other dream time friend, Bailey has to decide which one Tony or Jonny might be right for her. Teen romance, adults that have the itch to change what they are doing and Sienna taking over for her mother as head of Risingtide, what will the final outcome be for all of them? 

Relationships change and friendships are tested when Bailey and Tony go their separate ways and he forms another with Malinda. But, when Dalton decides to change gears and move on to another area and type of photography something changes when Sienna returns home. The author adds a touch of suspense and mystery as Dalton disappears off the radar when his plane goes down and Sienna loses the connection. But, will bringing everyone that loves him together help find him or is the connection gone? What happens when the connection is broken and will anyone find where he is? A story of hope, trust and the ending will make you wonder if there are new beginnings and perhaps stories for Tony, Johnny, Joshua and Bailey as they all go off in their own directions. 

Blossom Dawn as relationships turn from small seeds, to flowers and blossom or bloom into something that is a powerful as a bouquet of red roses. The cover of the book was created and painted by the author that shows each of the members of Dalton’s family and the shadowed figures you can tell who they are.

Interesting book. Unique concept to have people connects in their dreams but even more as the young people take on lessons from the adults and hopefully they will blossom too. 

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ Magazine

Start the Habit of Daily Journaling to Spark Your Writing Ideas

Writing in a journal every day takes discipline. There is no better way to learn the nuts and bolts of good writing, however. Daily journal writing not only helps you unwind and figure out your feelings, it also gives you that practice time needed to become a skilled writer. So how do you start this habit of daily journaling?

First, consider whether you are a morning person or a night owl. The morning person wakes with a clear, lively mind that is just bursting to get on paper. Taking a half hour or so in the morning to clarify thoughts and express yourself can be very rewarding. For the night owl, though, things unfold more slowly. If this is you, you'll probably want to schedule your daily journaling time right before you go to bed, as a way to unwind.

The time of day that you are at your creative best is important if you want your ideas to flow freely. If morning hours are at a premium, with getting ready for work and exercising, maybe you can journal on breaks or at lunch. Keep trying, and you will be able to find a time of day that works for you. It will soon become a treasured break from the routine of your real life.

How do you arrive at topics to write about in your journal? First, what is happening in your life that brings out an emotional response in you? Did you deal with road rage today? An unreasonable coworker? Are you in love? Explore the areas in your day, either looking back or looking forward, which stir up your feelings.

While pouring out your frustrations can be a release valve for daily stress, it is important to make a positive statement from it all. When you look at the proverbial bright side of an experience, you are on the way to a happier life. If you can only see the dark, depressing side, take a few moments to consider what you have in your life that makes you feel thankful. In fact, an entire journal devoted to gratitude is not a bad idea at all for your emotional health.

If you are devoid of ideas, write down what you did in the past 24 hours, diary-style. Look for chances to express yourself creatively. Do you have a baby or small child? Take a minute to describe her little cherub cheeks and silky curls. Did you have a flat tire? Write about the smell of the rubber, or the discomfort you felt as you waited to get it fixed. Everyday life is rich with opportunities for creative expression.

Another way to write daily is to carry a small notebook or bound journal with you in your pocket, purse, or briefcase. Get it out any time you wish to capture one of those fleeting creative thoughts that drift across your mind. Remember that every thought may not be worth examining and turning into a poem or paragraph. Some probably will be, though. If you fail to take the time to write them down when they come your way, even the best ideas may disappear from your grasp.

Finally, don't let your inner critic silence your efforts. Send that dude packing! Don't worry about misspelled words or unfinished sentences. If you have an idea that you later want to flesh out for some important writing, you have plenty of time for rewriting and fixing mistakes in the future.

It also isn't important if some days you feel less creative than on other days. You can still make the most of your journaling by writing some every day.

Copyright © Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

About Shery: Shery is the creator of WriteSparks!™- a software that generates over 10 *million* Story Sparkers for Writers. Download WriteSparks!™ Lite for free at http://writesparks.com

WOI Book Review: Hurry Moon by Paul Steinberg

Dalton Hunter is smart, astute and is living a life that most children would never expect. A father who is tough on him and refuses to understand that a boy can have a sensitive side and has difficulty making friends when his life is comprised of one big moving van to just about anywhere his father lands a job. At seven years old Dalton finds it hard to adjust at times but something miraculous is about the change all that. What would you do if someone appeared out of nowhere in your dreams and became your new best friend? Of course you can’t tell anyone about this person it’s your secret pal who from now on will help you through the rough patches in life? But, what if this person is only in your dreams and although you have some amazing and magical times together you soon realize that this might just be pure fantasy and it’s time to cultivate romances and relationships in the real world. Sienna Snow is her name and although she is there to guide Dalton, help him experience his first relationships with girls, the challenges faced in school and dealing with his father who often seems distant and not connected to his son, things take on many different turns as Dalton becomes conflicted with his feelings for the girls in his present world like Caitlin and Laurie as opposed to his deeper ones for Sienna. How can he struggle with these emotions? When he becomes aware of his talent in photography his father encourages him and buys him the equipment needed. Laurie focuses on that and uses it to gain favor with him and much more she hopes. Dalton is rare and too bad more guys today do not have the same moral compass and fiber like Dalton and treats a girl like a lady. But, Laurie wants to be treated as anything but as if she has to prove something not only to her friends who goad her on but herself. It’s like if she does not get what she wants or give too much of herself to a boy she feels rejected when her advances are declined. 

Things change and relationships come and go as Caitlin moves on and Laurie realizes her mistakes but Dalton is about to move ahead to college and live in a separate apartment as his father breaks the news about something else. No matter how close he gets to these other girls the draw and pull to Sienna is undeniable. What does he do? He even goes to visit his mother’s grave to ask her advice while Sienna explains she can see her too. A touch of paranormal within this novel and even more as a young boy develops to a find young adult and has to decide whether to focus on what is reality or not. Wanting to go into the fashion photography is his goal but will Sienna be apart of his new life? It’s a story about evolution and change within the heart, mind and soul of Dalton Hunter.

Within this novel we hear the father’s voice, Sienna’s voice and that of a third person narrator who relates the other events that happen. When his father gets married and then he goes off to college things change. Many women vie for his attention but Dalton is conflicted with his emotions and relationship with Sienna and a professor who has her sites set on him too. But, where will this go and what happens when the real world and fantasy come together in the present? Time intervals pass quickly and we don’t often get to see how Dalton deals with this father’s relationship in total or do we learn about his years in college as they pass rather quickly in the story winding up with Amanda his professor wanting to get him a job in fashion photography even though he wants some type of art. Her motives might appear to be good but her intentions might surprise the reader.

The time frames move quite quickly at points and readers have to remember that Dalton is moving on with his life quite rapidly as he is now in Paris and Sienna although still in his dreams might turn out to be more than just his midnight fantasy as we hear the voice of her mother and her concerns hoping that she would move on with someone other than Dalton. But, she stands her ground and her mother finally stands down. Everywhere he goes including his big moment when his photographs are on display and he meets one of may favorite people in the fashion industry Tim Gunn, Dalton remains humble, above reproach but someone is watching him carefully and things just might be about to change as Samantha Choice comes into his life. There are many women who find him attractive and although he seems enthralled with Samantha from the start and she with him appearances can be deceiving and sometimes the best-laid plans are anything but.

Samantha Choice had her eye on Dalton when she saw his photographs and decided to make sure that her father, Tony Choice would give her free reign, benefits and salary too in order to make sure she snagged him for Choice Enterprises. Editor of Fashion Expose Magazine she manages to ambush him in his favorite deli pretending that she just works in an office. She is smart, cunning and manipulative and her father allows her to handle him on her own as long as she and he reap the benefits later on. Although they are having an innocent lunch, Sienna spies it all. Things take on a different turn when Dalton works for Samantha’s father and decides to take a risk and leave his other job. Things seem to be going their way but Samantha has her eyes on a new designer named Anna and the way she gets hold of her and the designs is not exactly what she wants Dalton to overhear. A confrontation and an accusation and things take a downward spiral as Dalton finds himself back to almost square one without Sienna in his life, without a job and deciding where to go. Will he take the train ride and find himself somewhere else? What happens when he realizes that the truth is right in front of him he just had to see it more clearly? This is a story about connection, creating your own way in life and finding the ability to trust your instinct when deciding where your life should go? When he learns the truth behind Samantha/s interest in him and just who her partner in crime really is what will he do? Turn a blind ear or eye? Take a hike and go back to Marcel? Escape all together and find a new niche? The ending lets you know that it’s another beginning for Dalton? Where? With Who? Why? Hurry Moon is what is says every night when he wants Sienna to appear and the moon is coming out? Hurry Moon or goodbye moon? Find out when you read the second in the trilogy: Traces of Echoes by author Paul Steinberg.

Do you believe in telepathy? Do you think two minds can connect and eventually become one? Hear the voices of Dalton, his father, Samantha, Sienna and the narrator as they guide you along with Dalton from age seven until adulthood and learn: the definition of a perfect match.

Fran Lewis; Just reviews/MJ Magazine

Three Faces Of Writing

Three Faces of Writing - Fran - Robin - Marsha World Of Ink Special

 LINK TO THE SHOW

 
Please join Marsha Casper Cook on Wednesday March 15 at 11AM EST 10AM CST 9AM MT 8 AMPST when Marsha welcomes two very important guests in the Independent Marketing world. Fran Lewis and Robin Surface.

Fran is not only an Author she is a prominent Book Reviewer, Marketing Consultant, Radio Show Host and she is the editor and chief of MJ Magazine. She worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing Staff Developer for over 36 years and she has three master’s degrees and a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently, she is a member of Who's Who of America's Teachers and Who's Who of America's Executives from Cambridge.

Robin is an Author, Graphic Arts Specialist, Reviewer,Book Consultant, Editor,Marketing Consultant and she is the owner of Fideli Publishing. Her experience with hundreds of authors has given her a high profile in the Independent Publishing World.

They will be discussing all aspects of publishing and reviewing each giving expert advice.This is a show you won’t want to miss.

The World of Ink Network brings you shows on families, self-help, movies, books, marketing, paranormal, relationships, publishing, screenwriting and much more. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to be a guest on our show.

http://marshacaspercook.com

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Posted by marsha casper cook at 12:27 AM

  INTERVIEW WITH MARSHA

 

 

 

The Writing Life Blog

Eleanor Parker Sapia, author of A DECENT WOMAN: A Novel. http://amzn.to/1X0qFvK

 

 

Author Interview: Marsha Casper Cook

Welcome to the Tuesday Author Interview series at The Writing Life. Each Tuesday, I have the great pleasure of chatting with authors across genres about books and writing, and marketing and publishing. 
Today I am very pleased to welcome Marsha Casper Cook, a talented screenwriter, novelist, editor, and writer of children’s books. Marsha, who hails from Chicago, is a radio show personality on Blog Talk Radio, which is how we met a few years back. Her World of Ink Network partner for the last five years is V.S.Grenier, an author, editor, and radio show host, who lives in Utah. Marsha’s group discussions always feature interesting and talented writers and center around writing, publishing, screenplays, and books. I love her show, and always come away with pages of writing tips.
In this interview, Marsha graciously offers readers a glimpse into the business of turning books into audio books, and I’m excited to begin.


Welcome, Marsha!


What is your newest book’s genre?
Romantic comedy.


Please describe what Grand Central Station: Some Relationships Are Just Meant to Be is about.
A famous child psychologist, who has authored several bestselling books on raising children, discovers he doesn’t know as much as he thought he did when he meets a pediatrician and mother of three. Neither of them imagined how their lives would change when they shared a flight headed for Las Vegas for a medical convention.For Jack Winston and Victoria Feingold, whatever happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas. It follows them back to Chicago.Jack doesn’t want to fail, but he’s not sure he’s emotionally prepared to live with Victoria’s three children. Not to mention her mother, sister, dog, and needy ex-husband.
Grand Central Station is a fast-paced ride and a lot of fun! 



Congratulations on Grand Central Station, Marsha! How did you come up with the title?  
There was so much going on in the story, and it seemed as if Grand Central Station would be the perfect fit. A busy house with so many characters coming and going. 

What inspired you to write this romantic comedy?
It’s taken from one of the screenplays that I had written several years ago and loved. It had been optioned, but never produced.


How exciting that the screenplay was optioned, Marsha. In my mind’s eye, I can see this romantic comedy on the silver screen. Best of luck!


Does your main character resemble you? If so, in what ways?
Actually, there really were no similarities to any of the characters in my book, but I felt the family quarrels were most likely a part of any family, including my own.


What do you find is the most challenging aspect of writing?
Not coming up with another story while I’m working on one. I usually think any idea that pops in my head might be better than what I’m writing, but usually the feeling passes.


That’s a familiar scenario when I’m writing, as well. What is your favorite part of writing?
I enjoy the fun of not knowing exactly how my story will end. I always feel if I don’t know the ending, the reader will be just as surprised as I was when I wrote it.


What authors or person(s) have influenced you as a writer and why?
I have been lucky to meet wonderful people all through my life that have guided me in my writing by telling me their stories, and in turn, I listened with open ears and learned how to write good characters with real problems.


Marsha, many of your books are now audio books. Could you tell us about that process? I know I’m more than interested.
One of my favorite passed times is listening to audio books. When I hear an audio book, it’s becomes a special event and very entertaining. The story comes to life, and it’s so enjoyable I sometimes wish the story could go on forever; however I do agree with the common complaint about the narration. If you like the voice behind the words, it’s such fun to imagine the setting and the story, but if you don’t, the feeling is not the same, and sometimes it’s enough to make you go on to something else. It doesn’t hold your interest.

I never thought my books would become audio books, but because of Audibles and the sharing method between the producer of the audio and the author of the book, it became possible.
The children’s books that I have on audio were a great learning experience for me. I got to hear every word and realized that after reading a book and listening to the audio, the experience is far greater than just the read, especially for children.


I urge authors and readers to give audio books a chance.


For authors go to www.acx.com

Marsha's Audio books Marsha's Audio Books

http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_search_tseft?advsearchKeywords=lady+jane+sinclair&filterby=field-keywords&x=0&y=0

Thanks so much for sharing, Marsha. I love audio books, and would love to go down that path with my first book. 

Do you have a favorite place to write? To read?
I love writing in coffee shops or restaurants when I’m by myself. That’s when I truly feel I’m completely in my characters world. 


Tell us something personal about you people may be surprised to know?
I’m very organized, however as a teenager I wasn’t and didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I usually try to tell parents not to judge their children so harshly because life has a way of working itself out and growing up isn’t easy. Every child needs their space as do adults.


True words and great advice for parents. As a kid, my interests were varied and appeared to have no rhyme or reason to many adults. Looking back, the common denominator was creativity and a healthy imagination.

Did the writing process uncover surprises or learning experiences for you? What about the publishing process?
Over the years, I have learned so much from writing and doing my radio shows, which in turn gave me the best education ever on how to independently publish, and not worry that a publisher may have rejected my work. If the story is good, readers will enjoy your work regardless of who published the book. Enjoy writing and try to remember that if your book makes you laugh or cry, that is always a good thing because your readers will probably do the same.

I also feel that because things have changed over the years in publishing, authors have an open field for fulfilling their dreams. They just have to be persistent.




What do you hope readers will gain from your book?
It’s always good to hear your reader understood what you were trying to convey in your story, and as authors that is the best feeling imaginable.


Looking back, what did you do right that helped you write and market this book?
I used my own judgement. Listening to too many people can end up causing a writer to feel insecure and not finish their story. Finishing the story works!


I agree wholeheartedly–finish writing the book! What didn’t work as well as you’d hoped?
Usually by the time my story is written, I’m hopeful that everything worked during the journey because if I felt uncomfortable on any level, I would try to re- work my story until I got it right.


Any advice or tips for writers looking to get published?
My suggestion would be if you are having trouble getting an agent or publisher, find an Independent service and publish your own book, but don’t skimp on three very important aspects of successful publishing: editing, formatting, and getting the best artwork you can for your cover.   


Website and social media links?
Radio Show Blog – http://worldofinknetwork.blogspot.com/
Author Blog – http://whatsnewwithmarsha.blogspot.com/
Marsha’s Website-   http://marshacaspercook.com
Radio Show Website – http://worldofinknetwork.com
https://www.facebook.com/marshacaspercook


Where can we find your books?
https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Central-Station-Relationships-Meant-ebook/dp/B01B8CBDMC
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/michiganavenue
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?Query=marsha+casper+cook  


A list of Marsha’s books:
Novels: Grand Central Station – romantic comedy & audio book; Guilty Pleasures series – erotica
Children’s books: The Busy Bus; No Clues No Shoes – also audio; The Magical Leaping Lizard – also audio; Snack Attack -also audio; I Wish I Was A Brownie- also audio
Screenplay (book): It’s Never Too Late
Non-Fiction:
To Life 


What’s next for you?
I have several projects in my head. One is to write another romantic comedy, and the other is to add to my Guilty Pleasures series.


Thanks so much for joining us today, Marsha. It’s been a real pleasure getting to know more about you and your books. I wish you the very best with your many books and audio books!
About Eleanor:

Puerto Rican-born Eleanor Parker Sapia is the author of the award-winning historical novel, A Decent Woman, published by Scarlet River Press. Her debut novel, set in turn of the century Ponce, Puerto Rico, garnered an Honorable Mention for Best Historical Fiction, English at the 2016 International Latino Book Awards with Latino Literacy Now, and was selected as a Book of the Month by Las Comadres and Friends National Latino Book Club in 2015. A writer, artist, and photographer, Eleanor currently lives in Berkeley County, West Virginia, where she is working on her second novel, The Laments of Forgotten Souls, set in 1920 Puerto Rico.
Eleanor’s book: http://amzn.to/1X0qFvK
Please visit Eleanor at her website:
www.eleanorparkersapia.com

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