|
February, 2000. Dear
Readers, A
lot has happened in the last year. I took back The Murder of Biggie Smalls
manuscript from my Las Vegas publisher. My agent
was able to place it with St. Martin's Press in New York City. The same
agent is now shopping Murder in the Desert--The Ted Binion Homicide Case.
He's confident he can land a contract with a large publishing house.
In the middle of
all this, I was writing The True Story and Private Letters of Father
Seraphim Rose, my uncle the Russian Orthodox monk. It's my first biography
and entailed tons of research, contacting family members I hadn't been in
touch with for years and hearing their stories. I also met many of my
uncle's college friends. They were generous in giving me letters Eugene had
written to them. My grandmother for some unknown reason also kept letters
from the last year of Eugene's life. All of the letters are included. The
book, mostly in his words, is his lifelong philosophical and spiritual
journey and tells the story of how Eugene Rose came to be Father Seraphim.
In August I gave
myself a break from deadlines and met a group of gals -- twelve in all --
from high school for a reunion. We met in Victoria, B.C., and stayed seven
days in a three-story Victorian house on Willows Beach. The entire week was
a blast, reminiscent of slumber parties when we were in our teens. Every
morning we walked or jogged on the beach. At night we sat around telling
stories and getting to know each other all over again. Still, I took my
laptop with me and ended up filing a couple of stories while I was there. I
can't seem to get away from my computer for too long!
This year, three
books of mine should be coming out. The Biggie Smalls book is a continuing
story since it hasn't been solved yet and police keep turning up more clues.
Just when I think it's finished, another twist occurs in the investigation.
The case took me several times to Los Angeles and to Brooklyn where Biggie
grew up. His mother was extremely generous with information about her son,
and NYPD and LAPD police were also forthcoming, which helped flesh out the
story. I'll have the manuscript finished by the end of February and off to
the publisher by the 1st of March. It's set to be released sometime this
fall. It should spur on even more sales of The Killing of Tupac Shakur,
which was released Sept., 1997. It continues to sell steadily. We sold the
rights to the U.K. and it was released in England in September, 1999. It's
also expected to be translated and printed in Poland.
The Ted Binion
murder trial begins March 13 in district court here. I'm clearing my
schedule so I can attend the trial. It should last four to six weeks, maybe
longer. Media from all over the world are covering it.
As my titles are
released, I'll know my book-tour schedule and will post the dates on my web
site. I hope to have a book signing in Redding, CA, for the Father Seraphim
biography (Redding is about an hour from his Platina, CA, monastery), and to
L.A. and New York City for the Biggie Smalls murder story. Hopefully, I'll
come to a city near you! Also, once the Biggie Smalls book is released, we
expect a lot of requests for TV and radio interviews. I'll let you know when
they air.
I'm still able to
fit in going to the gym or bicycling to Red Rock Canyon. It helps clear the
cob webs! I don't know what I would do without Red Rock. It's so beautiful
throughout the year. Spring is already evident in the Mojave Desert and my
fruit trees are starting to bloom. On sunny days, I open my French doors to
my back yard and work in my dining room. It's like working outdoors! We
should have nice weather for about four months, before the heat hits.
In between
deadlines I get down to San Diego as often as I can to visit my grandkids,
Claire (4 in April) and Jake (1 in March). I spoil them rotten and can't get
enough of them!
So, that's it for
this, the first edition of my newsletter. I'll keep you posted. Stay tuned! All
the Best,
|
