February 2020 Dispatch: Everything old is new again!
How is it already the end of February? Since 2020 began, it’s been nearly two months full of new starts and big releases.
THE EMPTY BED got off to an amazing start with launch events in both Los Angeles and New York. In New York, I was hosted by the NYU Bookstore, where my amazing bosses Linda Mills and Nancy Morrison made me blush with their words of introduction and a number of former students joined to show their support, along with other colleagues, family and friends from many stages of my life. At home in LA, it was my third time launching at the Barnes & Noble at the Grove, and I can’t wait to return for a fourth launch in August with CONVINCE ME. (On that note, CM is already available for pre-order!)
If you already dived into THE EMPTY BED, I hope you love reading it as much as I loved writing it. For authors, it’s more important than you might know to receive reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, so please share your thoughts and spread the word.
More new things for 2020: I have a slick website re-design and more new content to share, including a series of mini-masterclass videos, Writing Tips From Inside Hollywood. Check out the first one here. Going forward, I plan to produce and share even more content, including interviews with some of my incredible screenwriter friends and other Hollywood insiders. Follow me on instagram and twitter to stay updated.
In other news, we’re off to a great start at NYU Los Angeles with a brand new cohort of students for Spring 2020. This semester, I also created a mentorship program with the help of truly impressive support from local alumni, and a new slate of event programming, including the first ever Hollywood Sustainability Summit in partnership with Young Entertainment Activists and other Hollywood institutions, a celebration of women in comedy, and a night celebrating the history of hip-hop with DJs and break dancers. Was school ever this fun for you?
Hollywood Decoded
This month, I’m spilling my writing secrets. Here are my Top Three Writing Tips for novels and screenplays.
Ripped From The Headlines: What Happened To Jennifer Dulos?
This tragic story is the definition of a dark truth beneath picture-perfect suburbia: the kind of true tale that inspired me to create Catherine and her work with the Burial Society in the first place.
Recommended Viewing
I should suggest a love story for the month that includes Valentine’s Day, but in my cheerfully dark opinion, the more twisted the better. I recommend a viewing of Fatal Attraction to celebrate. A metaphor for adultery, it’s an oldie but a goodie and especially interesting to watch through a modern lens.
