​A new record! 433 visits to jplinde.com in the past 7 days. Still, I can’t really tell how many of those visits were by Russian bots…so there’s that. But to the rest of you who took the time to visit, thanks!
 
We’re officially TWO WEEKS away from the SON OF RAVAGE reading and book signing at Outer Planes Comics & Games. The good news, I picked the 2ndsection to read aloud! The bad news? It will most likely be the acknowledgments.  Am I kidding?  You’ll just have to show up and find out. Anyway, I hope to see all of you Bay Area fans from 6 to 7:30 pm at 519 Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa. I’ll be selling and signing books and will also have some nifty Tanktop t-shirts for sale. 

​These little beauties were designed by the remarkable Aaron Montes and put together by the phenomenal Justin Billy.  There is a rumor they may even be at the reading, so make sure to say hi.

sfriedricearoni.podbean.com

Recorded my episode of STOP ME IF I’VE HEARD THIS with the uber talented Susan Rice and the always bubbly and effervescent Art Krug. So much fun and so many laughs. I got my start in stand-up comedy with these two wonderful performers and it is always great to catch up and share a few laughs. We talked about all things SON OF RAVAGE and the two were even able to squeeze out a couple tantalizing nuggets regarding Barry’s follow-up adventure. The podcast will drop tomorrow, May 27th.
 
We have a very special guest blogger dropping by in a couple weeks. Don’t want to give the writer or the subject matter away, but it promises to be a lot of fun. I wish I could provide you with a hint, but I am contractually unable to do so. It’s in the fine print, buried inside a 2008 iTunes agreement. It’s all rather complicated.
 
We have another review on Amazon. Five stars.
 
“Really loved this book! great characters and dialogue - fun adventures and great pop culture references. I'm looking forward to the hinted at sequel!”  
 
Thanks!  Keep those reviews on Amazon and Good Reads coming. 
We’ve gone international! 

A shout-out to the following is in order:
Angus & Robertson Bookworld in Australia
Blackwell in United Kingdom

One more little friendly reminder. If you want a copy of SON OF RAVAGE and have managed to get yourself from Amazon for violating the user agreement, you can always jog on down to your local independent bookstore. They will be glad to order it for you. Who knows, after you read it, and following your sterling recommendation, they may even decide to stock it on their shelves. The same goes for your local library. Just request a copy and they will get a copy, or two, for their more discerning patrons.
 
Okay, that’s about it for now. See you next week!

Phew, we are back to posting Sunday like civilized bloggers. I can’t tell you what a burden it was to post Saturday, Friday or whenever day that happened to be convenient. I just hope you appreciate the effort it takes to provide you with your weekly fix. And now that I have successfully reminded you of your mother, we can move on.
​
Hopefully, Scott in Houston, has his winner’s copy of “Son of Ravage” and already deep inside the tale. Can’t wait to hear what he thinks. Speaking of reviews, please remember to post your own reviews on Amazon, Good Reads and wherever book reviews are accepted. Reviews are never expected but always appreciated. So keep spreading the good word about our fanciful little tale!

​Table Reads
 
 
Found some old writer blog posts from almost a decade ago. I thought this particular post was worth revisiting. I liked it because it was almost 100 percent wrong. The entry is from, Thursday, March 11th2010, and concerns the first table read of the musical comedy “Wild Space A Go Go.”
 
I must say that I went in to this first rehearsal with a bit of anxiety.  Not so much for the cast - as they are all fantastic!  I knew going in that they would be both professional, prepared and up to the task.  The anxiety was all mine.  I mean, why not?  I was the one who wrote the libretto for Christ’s sake.  I am not sure if I am the typical insecure writer or not, but I really went in expecting hundreds of winces as actors got to particular jokes/lines or maybe, even worse, a throw-down of their scripts in total disgust and a collective walkout.
 
Luckily that was not the case!  If there were winces, they were well masked by their professional faces.  What’s more, their timing was impeccable, and the reading astounded, not only me, but the director and composer as well.  Here were actors who instinctively got all character beats in the script and got my timing for the way a broad comedy script like this has to go.  I believe that each writer delivers a script but a timing of how that script will play.  It’s all part of that inner voice that manifests itself when we are writing.  It is just a matter of trusting that voice and believing that it will carry over.
 
I mentioned in an earlier blog that I was forced to trim in order to meet time restraints of the venue but also jokes that somehow repeated too many times.  What ended up happening, in one case, was putting a joke back in – just based on how the actor delivered the line.  With his unique reading, it was not overkill at all but a wonderful set-up for the next gag.  Bravo, actor.  Well done!
 
Insecurity comes with the creative territory. But all of the pundits agree in terms of comedy.  If it makes you laugh, it will cross over from the page to the performance.  I guess the real test comes with the actor that breathes life into the lines and their experience.  If they have the chops, the laugh will come. 
 
We are blessed with an immensely talented cast. Whatever happens, I will be grateful to work with all of them.  In all future projects, I hope that I work with actors of this caliber.
 
So optimistic, right? Well, on the third day of rehearsals, the actors turned on each other and cannibalism ensued. Just kidding. They never went fully Whaling Ship Essex on me. Maybe they should have. You see, we rushed to production and there were some, eh…problems. The show needed more work. We needed (drum roll please) more table reads, preferably some in front of a live audience. 

​A year before, we workshopped the project, other actors reading the libretto and performing the songs before an invited crowd.  No laughter. Zip. Zero.  For a tragedy, this might be okay. For a musical comedy, this is a ground zero disaster. I was talked into believing that we only needed one workshop.  That these events were always this quiet and the book, music and lyrics only needed a new opening. 
 
This, my friends, was not my first trip to the table read rodeo. Tom McComb (Doc to you Son of Ravage fans) and I had a sitcom pilot that was cowritten and starred the legendary Jerry Lambert and featured the awesome Debra Jo Rupp from “That 70’s Show.”  This reading was far more successful as the material had been properly tested.
 
You know when you are ready and so does your audience. Cast reads are only part of the equation. Workshop as often as you can before a live audience. Never blame them for not laughing. Look at the material first.

​There was a horror script at Paramount and the first read was a disaster, Everyone, including the actors, knew it. I was hired and did a complete overhaul. I met the actors for the 2nd reading and taped the performance. Much better, but not quite there. After repeated listening, it was decided that more tweaking was needed and there was a third reading. This time, we hit it out of the park. Keep writing. Despite what you think, or what people tell you, you’re work can always be better.

​Class dismissed.

​Another week come and gone. Can you believe it? It seems just like yesterday when I promised to announce the winner of a free, autographed copy of SON RAVAGE. I am pleased to announce that Mr. Scott Ranalli is our winner. Scott, if you are reading this, you won!  Try to contain your excitement. For the rest of you, you’re all winners in my book. Anyway, new contest coming soon. And, to all of you, thanks for playing our little game.

​I am currently in Los Angeles, soaking up the cool and clouds of an uncharacteristically late spring. Oh, yes, and for those who are keeping track. I am writing this from Starbucks. Santa Monica and, I haven’t caught sight of a single, fellow writer. What is happening?  The first thing you must know about writers in Southern California is that, we are everywhere. Apparently, just not in this particular Starbucks. 
 
When I lived in Hermosa Beach, CA in the nineties, I walked out of my back door only to see a page from a screenplay laying in a mud puddle. Of course, I did what any self-respecting producer would do, I picked it up and threw it in the trash. Nothing worse than a littering writer.
 
Did I mention that we have some very nice “Son of Ravage” tee shirts coming your way? Of course, I did! I predict that someday these articles of collector clothing are going to be as popular as Trump Steaks. And, I’m betting, just as edible. They should be arriving just in time for my reading at Outer Planes Comics & Games in Santa Rosa on Sunday, June 9 at 6 pm. What I don’t sell there will be up for grabs. 100 percent certified sweatshop free.  I will keep you posted! Rumor has it, that they might be the prize in our next contest.  Available in medium, large and X large.
 
Have you checked out my J.P. Linde Author Page on Facebook? Good information and you can sign up for my reading at Outer Planes Comics &Games. And, I have it on good authority that 1980 J.P. Linde drops by with a very important announcement. Check it out.

​Well, I better get going. I have a Starbucks cup I need to deliver to the set of Game of Thrones. Boy, are they in for a surprise.
 

The big winner in our contest will be announced Mother’s Day, May 11. The rest of you still have a chance. Click contact form, fill it out and you could be the proud owner of an autographed copy of “Son of Ravage.” Speaking of contact forms, we had another guest who entered our little contest. Below are his comments:
 
Hereby bring to your esteemed company 
attention allocation which is currently on board in Rotterdam port / Huston port. 
Kindly notify us your willingness to allocation this available products. 

Yours sincerely 
ALEXANDER 
 
See how easy it is? Even people from the dark web can enter. I only hope they are not planning to undermine our American Way of life and our beloved “Son of Ravage” autographed book contest. If so, it will not go unpunished, Alexander, or whatever your filthy Russian bot name is.  

The big day at Outer Planes Comics & Games is just weeks away. I am feverishly looking through “Son of Ravage” for one additional passage to read and share. I’ve chosen the first one and that was a no-brainer but am looking for one more that showcases the work in general. If you have any ideas, let me know. In the meantime, I will practice my diction. 
 
And speaking of Outer Planes Comics & Gifts at 519 Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, they are the only store authorized to sell copies of “Son of Ravage in the United States.” If you are in the Bay area and want to see the comic store that the “The Bohemian” named the best comic bookstore in Sonoma County. Check it out. More bookstores from around the country will be selling it soon.

​NEWS FLASH: “Son of Ravage” has gone International!  The novel is now available in the Great White North. King's Bookstore, 6350 Coburg Road in Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada now carries the literary adventures of one Barry Ravage, proving once and for all that this favorite Maritime Province is more than just Puffins and Seals. It also happens to be the birthplace of Ellen Page! Keep it classy, Canada.

I will be the guest of Susan Rice and Art Krug on their fantastic podcast, “Stop Me If I’ve Heard This.” We will be recording May 19thjust in time for Memorial Day. Here is a link to their fantastic show.
​
https://sfriedricearoni.podbean.com
 
Susan and Art are old friends, gracious hosts, and fantastic comedians. I’m sure we’ll share a gaggle of laughs while talking about my little book. Do yourself a favor and subscribe to this podcast.
 
Okay, I can see that I overstayed my welcome. Don’t forget to tip your waitresses and, in the immortal words of dark web Alexander, “Proshchay.”