ARCHIVE 2005-2006

November 17, 2006
"HOW TO SUCCEED"...as a musical???

I'm happy to finally announce that I have optioned the rights to my book, HOW TO SUCCEED IN HEAVEN WITHOUT REALLY DYING.

By a major publishing house, you ask...? A movie studio...? A TV network...? No! The answer -- while not as financially lucrative as those other options -- nevertheless strikes me as far more creatively challenging and geniunely exciting.

My book is to be developed as none other than...a stage musical!

This news has been a long time coming; I wish I could say more, but things are still in very early development. I just hope to God we're going to have fun with it...at least as much fun as humanly possible.

October 7, 2006
Indiana Jones meets Alexander DeLarge meets The King of the World meets the Master of the Force...

It's not everyday that Adam gets to go out and actually do something interesting, but last night was a big exception. Somehow I managed to get a free RSVP for pretty great seats at the Jules Verne Adventure Film Fest, held at the Shrine Auditorium....It's quite surreal to see Harrison Ford, George Lucas, James Cameron, Malcolm McDowell, and a slew of other celebrities all onstage at the same time. Most moving of all was a special honorary award for Jane Goodall, who gave a heartfelt speech about the plight of the chimpanzees and other endangered animals around the world.

Another highlight of the evening was when one of the presenters quoted some text from the late Jules Verne. I can't remember it word for word, but to paraphrase, it was about Verne's love of freedom -- that freedom was a right, and that the very first of the natural rights of man was to be free and to belong only to himself. McDowell inspired universal applause from the audience when he told the presenter, "You should write that on a postcard and mail it to Washington."

September 16, 2006
New review of HOW TO SUCCEED IN HEAVEN...

Blogcritics.org has posted this brief review of my first book -- the kind of review that feels more like a mention, where one is left to question whether the critic liked or hated it. I'm not complaining, mind you; I think any press is better than none. (But did they like it?)

5/30/06:

The Spring of 2006 has marked the darkest period of my life, and right now I can not begin to put my grief into words. Within less than one months' time, I have lost the two people I've loved most in this world -- my mother, Eileen, and my aunt Suzanne.

To those of you who offered your sympathies and support, I am deeply grateful.

Many of the people who attended either of the funeral services have asked me for copies of the tributes I gave. You can now find them on the DEDICATIONS page.

February 13, 2006
Meeting a master

Yesterday I had the good fortune of having one of my small childhood dreams come true: a face-to-face meeting with Drew Struzan, the celebrated illustrator behind such movie poster art as the Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Back to the Future series. Sponsored by the Entertainment Art Academy in Pasadena, it was an informal three-hour-plus discussion and Q&A with only a small handful of art students. Struzan struck me as a very confident yet sincere, passionate if introverted man, filled with some extraordinary stories about his career, life, and work. (I'm tempted to share some of them here, but feel that it would cheapen or betray them somehow...) Best of all, it was an opportunity to see some of his original illustrations firsthand (his BLADE RUNNER poster was a particular knockout) while also finally -- FINALLY! -- getting a chance to see his particular drawing and painting technique.

February 12, 2006
"CHASING ECHOES" book website active

The website for my book with D.J. Wessler, CHASING ECHOES THROUGH THE DARK, is now active. It's a bit early, as the manuscript is still in progress, but we're hoping to gain as much interest in the project as possible over the next few months.

D.J. was recently interviewed for an upcoming article in THE ADVOCATE. As to how much he'll be featured in the final article, we're not sure...but we're keeping out fingers crossed, and hope that *maybe* they'll plug our book. Check out the book's site for more updates.

October 23, 2005
DIGITIAL CONSCIOUSNESS ARTIST OF THE MONTH

I'm very honored to learn that I have been selected the "Digital Color Artist of the Month" by the Digital Consciousness website. Digital Consciousness is a public database of contemporary art, containing biographies and artwork of emerging and established artists working in diverse media and styles. It administers a monthly on-line art contest, an art directory and an arts bulletin board. Finalists are nominated by the public, while a jury chooses the final award winner.

I always feared that because my work had more in common with illustration than bona fide "art," people did not take it as seriously. This recognition, then, has very special meaning to me.

September 29, 2005
Book signing event at the West Hollywood Book Fair!

It was a super-duper last minute arrangement made just last night, and it surprized even me: I'll be participating in the 4th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair this Sunday, October 2nd! The festival is scheduled from 10am-6pm at West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. (by the library and across the screet from the Pacific Design Center). I'll probably be signing books for an hour or so, so hopefully I'll see a few of you there. It's a really great festival, filled with celebrities, food, and fun. Unfortunately, due to the late notice I will only have paperback copies of my book available. The time of my signing is between 11:30am-12:30pm.