Self-Publishing Author Spotlight: Danny Lopriore’s ‘Seasons of Sanctuary’ Catches Hollywood Interest

Outskirts Press author Danny Lopriore may well have a hit book and a hit show under his belt if his novel Seasons in Sanctuary gets picked up.

WhSeasons in Sanctuaryile doing a career day at Eastchester High School in New York, Lopriore met a television producer/writer for “Crossing Jordan,” “Third Watch,” and now “NCIS-LA,” and gave him a copy of of the novel. By the spring of 2008 the writer and a friend had written a screenplay, called “Coach Vig” based on the book.

With Seasons in Sanctuary Lopriore tells a story of a mobster’s struggle to choose between walking the straight and narrow or accepting the spiritual consequences of evil. Set in a gritty, working-class New York in the 1970s, it’s a vivid book about strife, struggle and hope for redemption.

“The screenplay has been pitched to several studios and networks, most recently USA Network,” Lopriore said.

No stranger to writing, Lopriore is a veteran newspaper reporter, editor and columnist who has covered high school sports and news for several daily and weekly newspapers in New York and New Jersey since 1989. He lives in Westchester County, New York, with his wife Dianne and three of their five children. Seasons in Sanctuary, published by Outskirts Press in 2007, is his first book.

Although Lopriore’s ongoing inroads to Hollywood are due in part to chance — with a bit of gumption mixed in — Hollywood Screenplayauthors with an eye on the Big Screen can improve their odds of getting their books notices by the right people. Outskirts Press offers three packages geared toward turning your book into a TV or movie screenplay and getting that script into the right hands. Visit the Outskirts Press Marketing Solutions page to learn more about the Hollywood Action Plan, Hollywood Book-to-Movie Treatment or the Complete Hollywood Screenplay packages.

Do you have a book you think has the makings of the next Hollywood blockbuster? Learn more about adapting your book the the Silver Screen!

Self-Publishing Author Spotlight: Darlene Cozart Inks Movie Deal

Many Outskirts Press self-published authors dream about moving from published author to the Silver Screen. For author Darlene Cozart, that dream is coming to fruition.

Cozart, author of five self-published books with Outskirts Press, including Miracle Angle Stories, In the Realm of Angels and An Angel’s Love, is working with filmmakers to bring her life story to live action in 2013. While there are more direct ways to make inroads to Hollywood through Outskirts Press, for Cozart the big break came somewhat by chance.

“I started taking my Angel Treasure Stories to the children who are fighting cancer. I knew that those precious babies need a good laugh and that my Mafia cookbook, Yo you Capeesh It’s a Cookbook would bring loads of laughs,” Cozart recalls. “So when I started doing this, a producer sent me a message asking me if I would be interested in doing my biography and what charity would I like to help. I told her that I wanted to help give a portion of the money raised with this movie to the Ronald McDonald House. They help so many families with their children, and when I called them they were so exited.”

Cozart was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and grew up for a time in Tieton, Wash. She’s known for her work in music, live television and voice over work, and was up for a BCMA Music Award for Entertainer of the Year in 1991.

Cozart met with the filmmakers in late October for initial filming and is set to begin more intensive filming in January. There’s no solid release date for the movie, but when we get details about the release, we’ll keep you posted.

Do you have a book you think has the makings of the next Hollywood blockbuster? Learn more about adapting your book the the Silver Screen!

It’s a Match Made In Heaven! An Angel’s Love could be going to Hollywood!

In last week’s posting we asked you which Outskirts Press romance novel most deserved to be made into a Hollywood movie. The results are in, and the winner is… An Angel’s Love!

An Angel’s Love by Darlene Cozart was chosen based on responses to last week’s post.  Now it’s up to her. With our Hollywood Treatment option, she can receive a 7-10 page creative adaptation by a screenwriter that focuses on story and characters.

A well-composed Treatment can sometimes even turn an average property into a “Green Light” at a studio or production company.
Included with the Hollywood Treatment option:
  • Up to 3 different industry loglines: short catchy phrases that describe your story and quickly capture the attention of potential buyers
  • Producer assessment
  • Rationale (why choices/decisions were made so they can be addressed by the author)
  • Creative treatment of your book, focusing on story/plot lines, main characterizations, etc.
  • Recommendations of what you can do now to make your story more attractive to Hollywood
  • You keep all your rights to your book and the Treatment.

Plus, as a bonus, an exclusive 3-year effort will automatically be set into motion by a Hollywood production company to option the completed treatment with Hollywood studios, producers, and/or stars.  Just imagine! Your own treatment for your book making the rounds in Hollywood as a hot property.

As our Hollywood Romance winner, Darlene will receive an instant 10% discount on the Hollywood Treatment option if she wishes to pursue his Hollywood dreams. Congratulations and good luck to her!

Is Your Book Ready for Its Hollywood Closeup?

HollywoodOver the past month, we’ve run polls to pick the Action and Mystery books that would make great films. The winners of each poll received a 10% discount on the Hollywood Treatment option. This time, we’re leaving the choice up to you! The next category is: Romance!

In the comment section below, tell us what published Outskirts Press Romance novel (it can even be your own!) should be given an opportunity to win 10% off a Hollywood Treatment.

Nominations must be received by Monday, August 13, 2012. Nominations will be reviewed and we will choose the books to be posted here for a public vote from August 16-20, 2012.

If you believe your book would make a great movie or television series, the most aggressive, economic step is a Hollywood Treatment of your book. And when you book your trip to Hollywood with the Outskirts Press Treatment option, a true Hollywood producer at a real Hollywood production company will be involved in contributing to and reviewing your treatment.

Each title entered below has chance to win a “trip” to Hollywood! Don’t wait – make your nomination now!

Not yet published with us? Let’s talk…

Elementary, Watson! Votes are in and The Master Plan could be going to Hollywood!

In last week’s posting we asked you which Outskirts Press mystery novel most deserved to be made into a Hollywood movie. You voted, the results are in, and the winner is… The Master Plan!

The Master Play by Peter Giannotti received 33.33% of the vote.  Now it’s up to him. With our Hollywood Treatment option, he of them can receive a 7-10 page creative adaptation by a screenwriter that focuses on story and characters.

A well-composed Treatment can sometimes even turn an average property into a “Green Light” at a studio or production company.
Included with the Hollywood Treatment option:
  • Up to 3 different industry loglines: short catchy phrases that describe your story and quickly capture the attention of potential buyers
  • Producer assessment
  • Rationale (why choices/decisions were made so they can be addressed by the author)
  • Creative treatment of your book, focusing on story/plot lines, main characterizations, etc.
  • Recommendations of what you can do now to make your story more attractive to Hollywood
  • You keep all your rights to your book and the Treatment.

Plus, as a bonus, an exclusive 3-year effort will automatically be set into motion by a Hollywood production company to option the completed treatment with Hollywood studios, producers, and/or stars.  Just imagine! Your own treatment for your book making the rounds in Hollywood as a hot property.

As winner in our Hollywood Mystery poll, Peter will receive an instant 10% discount on the Hollywood Treatment option if he wishes to pursue his Hollywood dreams. Congratulations and good luck to him!

It’s a Mystery! Which of these novels deserves to be a Hollywood movie?

Last month, we launched our Book Your Trip to Hollywood Treatment option, providing the fastest, most effective way for self publishing authors to get their book(s) into the hands of a credited producer, launch an exclusive Hollywood optioning shopping window, and receive a professional Hollywood Treatment.

In celebration, we have hand-picked 10 mystery novels from among our Outskirts Press published titles. Which one of these books deserves to be made into a Hollywood movie or television series?  Click on the book covers to learn more about each book, and then cast your vote in the public poll below.  Your vote could help an author get his or her book made into a movie or TV show! The winning author will receive a 10% discount on our Hollywood Treatment option.

A Hollywood Treatment is a thorough outline or creative roadmap for a literary property’s adaptation to screenplay and is a crucial component if you want your book to be taken seriously by Hollywood.  A Treatment enables an author to demonstrate to entertainment decision-makers how his/her story might unfold on screen and helps Hollywood truly envision the material as they consider a purchase/option of the property (book).

If you have a book that Hollywood should consider, the Hollywood Treatment option just may be your (movie) ticket, but in the meantime, here are the 10 MYSTERY contenders, in alphabetical order:











Which book has the “star power” to make the cut in Hollywood? Tell us and then we can help the author tell Hollywood!

We hand picked these 10 contenders and they all deserve to be considered by Hollywood in our opinion. To help the winner take that potentially career-defining step, the winner will receive 10% off our Hollywood Treatment option.

If your book appears above, contact your friends and family to get as many votes as you can between now and when voting ends on August 3rd. Send out tweets on Twitter, call upon your friends and fans on your Facebook page, post to your blogs — in short, flex your book marketing muscle.

Which of these action-packed novels deserves to be a Hollywood movie?

Last month, we launched our Book Your Trip to Hollywood Treatment option, providing the fastest, most effective way for self publishing authors to get their book(s) into the hands of a credited producer, launch an exclusive Hollywood optioning shopping window, and receive a professional Hollywood Treatment.

In celebration, we have hand-picked 10 action-packed thrillers from among our Outskirts Press published titles.   Which one of these books deserves to be made into a Hollywood movie or television series?  Click on the book covers to learn more about each book, and then cast your vote in the public poll below.  Your vote could help an author get his or her book made into a movie or TV show! The winning author will receive a 10% discount on our Hollywood Treatment option.

A Hollywood Treatment is a thorough outline or creative roadmap for a literary property’s adaptation to screenplay and is a crucial component if you want your book to be taken seriously by Hollywood.  A Treatment enables an author to demonstrate to entertainment decision-makers how his/her story might unfold on screen and helps Hollywood truly envision the material as they consider a purchase/option of the property (book).

If you have a book that Hollywood should consider, the Hollywood Treatment option just may be your (movie) ticket, but in the meantime, here are the 10 ACTION contenders, in alphabetical order:

Aji by Richard Block

Angelic Warfare: The Stones of Fire by Bolko Zimmer

Creating Madness: by Andrew J Rafkin

The Daughter of Ernesta by Teeka Murphy

The Farm: by Charles C. Anderson

The Good Foreigner: by Cleo Fellers Kocol

The Last Jump A Novel of World War II by John E. Nevola

Out of Time A story of archaeology... sort of by David LaVigne

The Persian Project A Novel by Mark Irving

Phantom Four Children Of The Grave by Roger Wilson

Who’s got the “star power” to make the cut in Hollywood? Tell us and then we can help the author tell Hollywood!

We hand picked these 10 contenders and they all deserve to be considered by Hollywood in our opinion. To help the winner take that potentially career-defining step, the winner will receive 10% off our Hollywood Treatment option.

If your book appears above, contact your friends and family to get as many votes as you can between now and when voting ends on July 20th. Send out tweets on Twitter, call upon your friends and fans on your Facebook page, post to your blogs — in short, flex your marketing muscle.

Self-Publishing Authors Can Now Capture Hollywood’s Attention

Outskirts Press offers all authors (self-published and otherwise) two unique opportunities to garner the attention they deserve from Hollywood producers with a brand new suite of services named Book Your Trip to Hollywood.  The first two services within the suite include:

  • Book-to-Hollywood TreatmentA Hollywood standard 7-10 page treatment is often a prerequisite to optioning a book or even having a screenplay written. Most producers or studios base their opinions of a work on the treatment.
  • Hollywood Screenplay: Ultimately, in order for a book to become a movie or television series, a screenplay must be written.  These scripts conform to Hollywood formatting standards based upon type/genre and the copyright remains with the author (not the screenplay ghostwriter).

“Many authors dream of seeing their books on the big screen or as the basis for a long-running television series,” states Outskirts Press Manager of Author Support Elise Connors. “The ‘Book Your Trip to Hollywood’ options can help make that dream a reality. You don’t even need to have published your book with Outskirts Press, although we’ll give you a discount if you did.”

These services solve a real problem for many authors who dream of making it big in Hollywood. In fact, just getting Hollywood’s attention is nearly impossible, but with the Book Your Trip to Hollywood suite of services from Outskirts Press, authors receive turn-key, full-service assistance with the push of a button. And with each option, authors receive the feedback and/or participation of a real Hollywood producer and production company; the final results are added to a Hollywood database that is perused by industry professionals for new projects; and exclusive efforts to option the author’s book are immediately set into motion. The author doesn’t have to lift a finger!

Traditionally published and self-published authors interested in “making it big” in Hollywood can learn more about the Hollywood Treatment and Hollywood Screenplay options here, respectively:

http://outskirtspress.com/p/hollywoodtreatment

http://www.outskirtspress.com/p/hollywoodscreenplay