Frank Nappi's Blog - Posts Tagged "autism-awareness"
NFL or MLB?
Check out my latest bleacherreport.com article and vote! Let me know what you think...
http://bleacherreport.com/users/86479...
http://bleacherreport.com/users/86479...
Autism Speaks
Both of my books - The Legend of Mickey Tussler and Sophomore Campaign were just added to the Autism Speaks Resource Library Books page. Check it out!
http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-se...
http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-se...
Publish and Perish
“Writing a book is like sliding down a rainbow! Marketing it is like trudging
through a field of chewed bubblegum on a hot, sticky day.”
--Betty Dravis
Author and good friend Betty Dravis could not have been more accurate with this
statement. I can still recall the elation I felt after my first novel (ECHOES
FROM THE INFANTRY) was released by St. Martin’s Press in 2005. The sense of
unbridled accomplishment buoyed me for days -- even weeks -- like nothing else
has ever done. And I remained in this suspended state of euphoria for a while -
until I realized that my publisher had only done what every publisher does for
most authors in the way of publicity and marketing -- the bare minimum.
Consequently, my naivete, idealism and and erroneous philosophy of “now I can
just sit back and wait for readers to purchase, read and comment” was rendered
painfully laughable. Then my euphoria abated, replaced by nausea,
disillusionment and pure unadulterated panic. Although my novel received some
very favorable professional reviews, nobody really knew it existed and thus, my
sales numbers suffered. This, in turn, led to a most difficult time getting a
serious look by publishers the second time around.
I was fortunate enough to procure a contract for my second novel, THE LEGEND OF
MICKEY TUSSLER, and was now armed with the knowledge that I would need to be my
own publicist in order to attain some level of success. I didn’t mind - I am no
stranger to some good old fashioned hard work. What I discovered, and what
remains true today as I am trying desperately to bask in the glow of the release
of my third novel, SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN, is that hard work is often not enough.
This sobering reality comes at the hands of hundreds of unreturned phone calls,
emails, and mass mailings. Hey - is anybody out there listening? There is
nothing more debilitating than being ignored and in some instances just simply
rejected when all you are asking for is a fair chance at having your work
presented to the public for their reading pleasure and ultimately their
approval/disapproval.
This process is so loathsome, so time exhaustive that it almost takes all the
joy out of the accomplishment. Writers should write, correct? If I wanted to be
a publicist I would have majored in marketing at some fancy business school and
devoted my life to this elusive art.
So while I want nothing more than to continue work on my next novel, the third
installment of my Mickey Tussler series, I have no time to do so -- I am too
tied up in trying to wean my newest endeavor off life support.
Anyone else have a similar experience???
through a field of chewed bubblegum on a hot, sticky day.”
--Betty Dravis
Author and good friend Betty Dravis could not have been more accurate with this
statement. I can still recall the elation I felt after my first novel (ECHOES
FROM THE INFANTRY) was released by St. Martin’s Press in 2005. The sense of
unbridled accomplishment buoyed me for days -- even weeks -- like nothing else
has ever done. And I remained in this suspended state of euphoria for a while -
until I realized that my publisher had only done what every publisher does for
most authors in the way of publicity and marketing -- the bare minimum.
Consequently, my naivete, idealism and and erroneous philosophy of “now I can
just sit back and wait for readers to purchase, read and comment” was rendered
painfully laughable. Then my euphoria abated, replaced by nausea,
disillusionment and pure unadulterated panic. Although my novel received some
very favorable professional reviews, nobody really knew it existed and thus, my
sales numbers suffered. This, in turn, led to a most difficult time getting a
serious look by publishers the second time around.
I was fortunate enough to procure a contract for my second novel, THE LEGEND OF
MICKEY TUSSLER, and was now armed with the knowledge that I would need to be my
own publicist in order to attain some level of success. I didn’t mind - I am no
stranger to some good old fashioned hard work. What I discovered, and what
remains true today as I am trying desperately to bask in the glow of the release
of my third novel, SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN, is that hard work is often not enough.
This sobering reality comes at the hands of hundreds of unreturned phone calls,
emails, and mass mailings. Hey - is anybody out there listening? There is
nothing more debilitating than being ignored and in some instances just simply
rejected when all you are asking for is a fair chance at having your work
presented to the public for their reading pleasure and ultimately their
approval/disapproval.
This process is so loathsome, so time exhaustive that it almost takes all the
joy out of the accomplishment. Writers should write, correct? If I wanted to be
a publicist I would have majored in marketing at some fancy business school and
devoted my life to this elusive art.
So while I want nothing more than to continue work on my next novel, the third
installment of my Mickey Tussler series, I have no time to do so -- I am too
tied up in trying to wean my newest endeavor off life support.
Anyone else have a similar experience???
When a Novel Becomes a Film - an Author's Perspective
Many books are optioned each year for development by the film industry, setting off a conflagration of thoughts and emotions within those most closely tied to those books. When my novel "The Legend of Mickey Tussler" was optioned by Eye in The Sky Entertainment back in 2008, I was thrilled beyond words. Soon, however, I found myself languishing in the uncertainty that attenuates every step of the process. The potential pitfalls are many...who will be hired to do the screenwriting? Will there be enough financial backing to bring the project to fruition? Are there any industry experts out there who want to take a chance on directing? And what about casting? And do I really have to change the name of the story???
All of these issues, and an array of others germane to film production, took about three years to rectify.
Then the fun really started......
Every author realizes the "price" he/she pays for selling rights to a story -- while it is certainly flattering to have someone compensate you for the opportunity to bring your story to life on the screen, in doing so, you abdicate your ability to guide the production and preserve the integrity of "your" story as you saw it from the beginning. As I was told on numerous occasions, "Uh Frank, this is no longer your story." That was a tough one to swallow. Consequently, characters are altered or in some cases deleted, scenes are shortened or cut, and setting falls victim to the pragmatic reality that there is a very real budget which must be honored.
So you have these conversations, and most often you cringe, knowing full well that "your story" works best as is. Still, you are appreciative that this amazing opportunity has happened for you, and you certainly do not want to appear ungrateful. So many options never make it into production.
Time unfolds, and the film is shot. Eventually, you get to see what these folks have done with your story. You hold your breath as you view the "new version" of your creation, praying that they have maintained most of what you had intended in writing it.....
And if you are lucky, as I have been, you smile at the portrayal of your central characters and breathe a little easier as the music and cinematography add a whole new dimension to your tale. Yes, you still harbor disappointment somewhere deep within that your story has been altered in some ways that you know have a deleterious effect on the product (in my case, The Legend of Mickey Tussler was set in the 1940's but "A Mile in His Shoes"was filmed as a present day story) but you cannot help but watch with surreal detachment as your words come to life for all to see.
So my overall experience with watching The Legend of Mickey Tussler become "A Mile in His Shoes" was favorable. If I can offer any advice to authors who have just had a novel optioned, it would be to pace yourself...and realize that while you are in for some rather taxing moments replete with all sorts of anxiety, in the end, the film credit is something that you will never forget.
All of these issues, and an array of others germane to film production, took about three years to rectify.
Then the fun really started......
Every author realizes the "price" he/she pays for selling rights to a story -- while it is certainly flattering to have someone compensate you for the opportunity to bring your story to life on the screen, in doing so, you abdicate your ability to guide the production and preserve the integrity of "your" story as you saw it from the beginning. As I was told on numerous occasions, "Uh Frank, this is no longer your story." That was a tough one to swallow. Consequently, characters are altered or in some cases deleted, scenes are shortened or cut, and setting falls victim to the pragmatic reality that there is a very real budget which must be honored.
So you have these conversations, and most often you cringe, knowing full well that "your story" works best as is. Still, you are appreciative that this amazing opportunity has happened for you, and you certainly do not want to appear ungrateful. So many options never make it into production.
Time unfolds, and the film is shot. Eventually, you get to see what these folks have done with your story. You hold your breath as you view the "new version" of your creation, praying that they have maintained most of what you had intended in writing it.....
And if you are lucky, as I have been, you smile at the portrayal of your central characters and breathe a little easier as the music and cinematography add a whole new dimension to your tale. Yes, you still harbor disappointment somewhere deep within that your story has been altered in some ways that you know have a deleterious effect on the product (in my case, The Legend of Mickey Tussler was set in the 1940's but "A Mile in His Shoes"was filmed as a present day story) but you cannot help but watch with surreal detachment as your words come to life for all to see.
So my overall experience with watching The Legend of Mickey Tussler become "A Mile in His Shoes" was favorable. If I can offer any advice to authors who have just had a novel optioned, it would be to pace yourself...and realize that while you are in for some rather taxing moments replete with all sorts of anxiety, in the end, the film credit is something that you will never forget.
Giveaway - The Legend of Mickey Tussler
Thank you to the 587 Goodreads users who entered to win a copy of my book, The Legend of Mickey Tussler. I want to thank all of you for entering and hope that you will still read Mickey Tussler and let me know your thoughts. Check out Sophomore Campaign - the sequel - as well! I think you will really enjoy the story.
I am looking forward to hearing from you!
And congratulations to the 10 winners - your books are on the way!
Thanks again,
Frank
I am looking forward to hearing from you!
And congratulations to the 10 winners - your books are on the way!
Thanks again,
Frank
Best Buddies...fundraiser.....
Read my guest blog for Best Buddies International - which includes a fundraising effort for greater autism awareness with my Mickey Tussler series:
http://bestbuddiesblog.wordpress.com/...
http://bestbuddiesblog.wordpress.com/...
Diamond of Hope
R.A. Dickey’s stirring memoir “Wherever I Wind Up” is an intriguing reminder that baseball is, to many folks, so much more than just a whimsical game that
possesses only recreational appeal. For many of us, baseball is therapeutic or
at times even a haven in which we remain, protected from all that threatens to harm us, until the tumultuous tide of our lives has finally ceased to batter us and toss us about.
Mr. Dickey is not just another athlete; he is a wonderful amalgamation of
athletic prowess and soul and engaging intellect. More noteworthy is his tale,
one that is inspirational on many levels. He teaches us that even in our
darkest hours, there is hope. And that hope can be found many times on a
baseball diamond, where there is order and structure that is lacking elsewhere.
From the horrors of abuse as a child, to the crushing disappointment of an
injury that all but eradicated his dream forever, R.A. Dickey persevered. This
wonderful story of resiliency and redemption is one to which all folks can
relate, not just baseball junkies.
I suppose that I have such an affinity for this story because of the series I
have written. The Legend of Mickey Tussler, although fiction, tells a similar tale. For those of you not familiar with my Mickey Tussler series (The Legend of Mickey Tussler and the sequel Sophomore Campaign), the novels chronicle the coming of age of young Mickey Tussler – a pitching phenom with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism.
Mickey’s struggle for acceptance on a minor league baseball team during the 1940s helps to shape a story about overcoming obstacles, self-discovery, and the human condition.
As we begin the second half of the baseball season, perhaps we should remain mindful that so many of our baseball idols are not impervious to the awful vicissitudes of life that plague the rest of us. In fact, many of these “chosen ones” who are not nearly as articulate as R.A. Dickey suffer in silence, with the ballpark serving as their only refuge.
I’m quite certain that R.A. Dickey’s telling of his story was cathartic for him, as is all good writing. However, let us not diminish for a second the value it continues to have for the general public -- “regular folks” who are looking for guidance and inspiration wherever they can find it -- yes, even on the baseball field.
possesses only recreational appeal. For many of us, baseball is therapeutic or
at times even a haven in which we remain, protected from all that threatens to harm us, until the tumultuous tide of our lives has finally ceased to batter us and toss us about.
Mr. Dickey is not just another athlete; he is a wonderful amalgamation of
athletic prowess and soul and engaging intellect. More noteworthy is his tale,
one that is inspirational on many levels. He teaches us that even in our
darkest hours, there is hope. And that hope can be found many times on a
baseball diamond, where there is order and structure that is lacking elsewhere.
From the horrors of abuse as a child, to the crushing disappointment of an
injury that all but eradicated his dream forever, R.A. Dickey persevered. This
wonderful story of resiliency and redemption is one to which all folks can
relate, not just baseball junkies.
I suppose that I have such an affinity for this story because of the series I
have written. The Legend of Mickey Tussler, although fiction, tells a similar tale. For those of you not familiar with my Mickey Tussler series (The Legend of Mickey Tussler and the sequel Sophomore Campaign), the novels chronicle the coming of age of young Mickey Tussler – a pitching phenom with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism.
Mickey’s struggle for acceptance on a minor league baseball team during the 1940s helps to shape a story about overcoming obstacles, self-discovery, and the human condition.
As we begin the second half of the baseball season, perhaps we should remain mindful that so many of our baseball idols are not impervious to the awful vicissitudes of life that plague the rest of us. In fact, many of these “chosen ones” who are not nearly as articulate as R.A. Dickey suffer in silence, with the ballpark serving as their only refuge.
I’m quite certain that R.A. Dickey’s telling of his story was cathartic for him, as is all good writing. However, let us not diminish for a second the value it continues to have for the general public -- “regular folks” who are looking for guidance and inspiration wherever they can find it -- yes, even on the baseball field.
Baseball and Fundraising
If you love a good baseball story & supporting good causes - do both with the purchase of my Mickey Tussler series. To learn more: http://shar.es/t91Qk
