Indiegogo Campain for BIGFOOT, a Christopher Paul Garetano Creation

                                                           

                                                                

I receive many requests by the very talented people who follow me on Social Media to check out their work or to promote their latest creation. I do this often wondering if I’m going to be disappointed in accepting their request. I’m happy to say that I’ve never been disappointed. In fact, I am really excited to tell you about this new Indiegogo film that needs your help.

                                            Introducing Paul Garetano

                                                         

In October of 2015, movie-maker Christopher Paul Garetano set out to create the definitive motion picture regarding what is perhaps the greatest unsolved mystery of our time: the legend of BIGFOOT

I’ve watched the trailer and loved what I saw. You will too!

                                                      

Check out the site here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bigfoot--3#/

Plantings of Spirit

                                                           

                               

There are two ways to go through this life. You can be a planter, or you can be a tramper. Children are like young plants. They need the necessities of healthy foods and clean water to physically grow and, they need mental stimulation which they get in school and at home, but what about their spiritual growth.

Are we inspiring our young to reach past their limits or family traditions? I watch and listen to how adults deal with the young. We should be mindful of our words. I’ve mentioned this in an earlier post. Our thoughts and intentions can take on conscious form and, our words can be as sharp as a sword to an insecure child. Do we really want this to be our legacy?

                                                                 

When I meet adults who seem insecure, self-doubting, or afraid to speak their voice, I think to myself, “There was very little planting in her or his garden.” Did this person, as a child, constantly here remarks like this: “You can’t do this, because: you’re not smart enough, big enough, rich enough, white enough, male enough, female enough, etc. etc.” You get the idea. Trampers point out the negative aspects while planters point out the positive with words like these: “You can do this, if you study harder, if you’re persistent, if you believe in yourself.”

Planters will not use religion, gender, race or finances to discourage a child. A planter will say, “It might be hard, but you can do it.” It takes one seed to start that garden in a child. One encouraging word will inspire a child to reach above their capabilities. When that seed takes root, the spark of imagination that shows in a child’s eyes is breathless to behold.                                                           

The other day, I was selling my books at the Camden Comic Con. A group of children between the ages of eleven to thirteen stopped at my table to chat with me and a fellow writer. One of the girls asked me if I wrote the books that I was selling. I said yes. She wanted to know how I wrote the book. My reply, “I have all these stories inside me. I just write them down.” She nodded, but there were questions. I could see them in her eyes. I added, “You have a story inside you. Everyone does. Start writing your story.”

Her eyes lit up. I had planted the seed. She could write, too. This little girl’s eyes shone with excitement and she couldn’t wait to get home and try her hand at writing. I hope I encouraged all the children in that group to spread their wings and not take “NO” for an answer.

                                                             

 

I hope I also encouraged the little girl with the sad eyes. When I told her to write down her story, her eyes lit up, but then the frown returned. Was she a victim of trampling? I hope not. I hope the seed took hold in her heart. I hope to see her selling her own books one day. Are you a planter or a tramper?

 

Great Times at the 2016 Camden Comic Con

                                                          

I’ve been to several Comic Cons on the east coast, but my all-time favorite is the one hosted by Rutgers in Camden New Jersey. Bill Haas and his team do an outstanding job of making sure the event runs in a smooth and organized way at the Camden Comic Con.  

                                                                

I was so fortunate to have my favorite sidekick at my side for this event. Dawn Byrnes and I have been doing book signings together for several years, starting with selling our writing group’s first anthology, Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey. Dawn has several stories published and she’s hoping to have her novel finished by the summer of 2017. Check out her blog and check out the South Jersey Writers’ Group site.

                                                                      

I don’t know if you’ve ever been to a Comic Con, but they are so much fun. People wear costumes of their favorite video, comic book or television characters and these fans put a lot of effort and time into making their costumes. We also some really cool vendors at the event.
                                                            

 
The young lady sitting at the table next to us was an Anime Artist named Kathy. Her work was fabulous and she had a steady stream of customers the whole day. Here is her site. Check it out.

                                                             

I sold a lot of books and made new friends. Thank you Beatriz for buying my books.  Dawn and I also met some cool visitors, Jeff Cleve, actor and puppeteer and, Tania Ann Monica, a model and actress.
                                                                                                    

                                                           

The busiest table at the Comic Con was manned by the pop culture duo, Glenn Walker and Ray Cornwall of The Gar Podcast. Glenn Walker is also the Editor-in-Chief of the pop culture site Biff Bam Pop! Glenn is also on the board of directors for the South Jersey Writers’ Group. Glenn, Ray and Jeff did ten hours of interviews including one with me and Director Christopher Eilenstine.
                                                            

As the senior writer for Biff Bam Pop, I’ve interviewed Chris on The Soulless Film here and the upcoming Shadows of the Forest and, I am one of the screenwriters for Shadows of the Forest. Thanks to Glenn, Ray and Christopher, I now have a movie deal for Roof Oasis. Like I said, great things happen at the Camden Comic Con and I’ll be looking for your visit next year.
                                                           

                                                       
So, yeah it was a great day, but the moment that touched me the most was when two girls from Pennsauken High School stopped in to say hello to me. For the last two years, I've been invited to the high school to talk to the students about writing. I usually spend the whole morning speaking to the junior classes.

Anyone who puts down the kids today should head over to the Pennsauken High School. These young men and  young ladies were well behaved, intelligent, curious and interested in what is happening in the world. They're much smarter than I ever was in junior year. Check out The Gar Podcast later in the week to listen to the interviews from the Comic Con.