Hello, everyone!

I wrote a short blog post on the topic of immigration. You can find it here:

http://thebestparts.net/immigration-the-entire-journey/

Peace!

Earlier this year, despite some solid success, I let the Inkshares funding campaign for Mission 51 end without asking for an extension for two reasons: I wanted to focus on the writing and not on the campaigning, and I wanted to submit Mission 51 to Hollywood’s Launch Pad Competition 2016. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed it didn’t make it to the finalist group, but today I received some very strong encouragement!

I received the formal Feedback Notes from Launch Pad, essentially an opinion about my submitted sample from an industry judge. Let me give you a few excerpts from the report:

"This is a knockout premise, and those are very rare."

"The fact that Mat’s story... is an immigrant story, takes this premise from being a great high concept to being a great high concept with real emotional subtext, and one that has resonance with our modern world today."

"The pages here consistently communicate the story clearly, with great momentum, and a very palpable sense of empathy for ALL the characters... This is a great read, and a very capable execution of a highly evocative premise. This project has tremendous potential."

"The quality of the writing here, not just on the conceptual level, but also in terms of the story in these pages and the writing of that story, is uniformly strong. The dialogue’s good too, voice specific and smart in its use of subtext."

"This project feels like it has strong potential for either a TV or feature adaptation, and stands on its own as a great read as a manuscript."

Well isn’t that just awesome!!! I am greatly encouraged that I am on the right track!

Looking forward to the next suitable Inkshares contest so I can jump in and try again. I really want you to read the story!

Peace, and Happy Thanksgiving!

👽

Finally, the Launchpad contest is taking off on Inkshares. The 75 finalists will be added to the currently growing list. I am writing to STRONGLY encourage your support of one of our own Inkshares authors, Robbie Batten. His project, Human Resources, has made it to the 75 finalists of this prestigious competition!  I would love to see our Inkshares community rally around him and get him off to a flying start!

I have purchased my pre-order. Please, drop everything and go get yours!

Good luck, Rob!!! :D

Idan Carré just finished a super-cool watercolor illustration of several key moments in the Mission 51 chapter called Full Moon. It is the chapter that documents Mat’s escape from his 15-year captivity in Area 51, according to the details I was given by Dr. Linda Deltare herself, who is also pictured in these images.

As usual, Idan has captured the heart and soul of these moments in her playful, colorful style, in contrast to the monumental significance of these serious, historical events. I hope you get to read this pivotal chapter someday soon.

Thank you, Idan!