Treatments and manuscripts

Posted on August 18, 2009 (Subscribe to Blog)

In between doing book talks at libraries and getting on with my day job, I'm still managing to find some time to write.

I finished a treatment for Island of Fog this morning and sent it to Whitt Brantley, my film agent (Heh! It never gets old saying that!). I'm sure he'll do what is necessary to make it "producer-readable." A treatment, in case you don't know -- and I didn't until recently -- is a full summary of the story, often told in a "film" style. "We open on..." and "Cut to..." and so on. Mine turned out to be eleven pages, which I thought was amazingly concise but probably could have been about four pages if written by a professional!

I also got on with Labyrinth of Fire, Book 2 of my trilogy. This picks up directly where Book 1, Island of Fog, left off. I'm about to start on chapter nine, and things are hotting up. Also, I made a decision today to include a scene that, in a movie, might take it from a General Audience rating to Parental Guidance. But I think it's necessary. Sorry, but I can't give anything away!

Thinking ahead, I plan to finish the first draft of the book by mid-September. Then I'll spend the next month editing, editing, and editing some more. All being well, I'll meet my target release date of "sometime in the fall" -- around November. Then it'll be on to Book 3 (as yet untitled) which will be completed sometime in 2010.

I wish I could tell you all about Labyrinth of Fire. But to do so would spoil things a little for those who haven't yet read the first book. But sometime in the next month I'll add a section to this website for those who HAVE read Island of Fog -- you'll be able to log in using a certain keyword contained within a certain page. Ooh, I'm crafty!

Comment by PHILIP MANNERING on Wednesday, August 19, 2009...

Am I the only one who thinks the method you will be using (the password) is rather similar to the Enid Blyton Society's members section method of password?! Good job anyway, on continuing with Labyrinth of Fire. Looking forward to reading the second book?

Comment by KEITH ROBINSON on Wednesday, August 19, 2009...

Heh. It's EXACTLY like the Enid Blyton Society's method, which is where I got the idea!

Comment by DIANNE on Friday, August 21, 2009...

This is Wendy's mom (from LaFayette Library) letting you know how I enjoyed your talk at the Library last night. So nice to meet your family. Although an adult, I enjoy reading these types of books. I will continue to follow your writings. Looking at your blog I see many more are in process.

Comment by KEITH ROBINSON on Friday, August 21, 2009...

Thank you, Wendy's mom! I meant to say to you that I thoroughly enjoyed your apple dumplings last week, and the scones last night. My wife, Vanessa, now has the recipe for the apple dumplings and will be making some in the near future. :-)

Glad you enjoyed my ramblings!

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