In the meantime, I'm going to start working on the book query. I had abandoned this idea, but since the other day's second suggestion of "always being nervous," I've come to the conclusion that I have no other recourse. For a while there I was getting hounded about "looking for a job." Well, since I've got nothing to keep me busy, my new job is securing a publishing deal. How about that? Do you think it's a good way to spend my time? Go ahead--make me nervous some more. Irritate me and aggravate me. Tease me and taunt me.
Since everyone loves being so, so deep in my business, I guess I'll stop fighting it and invite your input. I've got some good ideas for the first line of the query which will likely be the first line of the book as well. I'm going to list them here and input is welcome in the form of replies. If I get enough, I'll count them up and the line that gets the most votes will win. Here's what I've got so far:
I knew Kathleen had obtained access to my e-mail account.
"I'm not the doctor; the doctor will be in later."
Father Dave wore an angelic smile as he handed me Carrie's Prom picture.
The third time Christine bragged about the sharpness of her knives I started to get concerned.
When I met my sister's best friend's army roommate while walking my dog in Central Park, I figured it was just another New York coincidence.
Marc just wouldn't stop asking me about guns.
It was some time around 2001 when Darby warned me I'd been declared "fair game."
I hardly knew Marty, but he was quite concerned with finding me a girlfriend.
Laura's husband was strangely effeminate.
I know damn well that FBI agents know how to identify a doctored photo.
They were literally playing a game with me, and as far as I can tell, still are.
I met Ed Torpedo at a coffee shop while he played Chess with a friend.
Candy told me they were trying to fix us up.I'm going to add to the list in this post as new possibilities come to me. There are just so many ways to do it. Please check back at your leisure. It will be a great foil for me while the case is brewing. I put the one about Kathleen first because I think it's the best. It uses very few words to suggest a world of things without giving anything away. Instant drama; instantly intriguing; makes you want to read the next sentence and foreshadows one of the most important aspects of the story: invasion of privacy. I also like the last one for similar reasons. As I said, though, I'm open to input. I don't need any help with the title. I've got the absolutely ass-kickin'ist perfect title and have for some time. It's unbelievable how good it is.
There's something else I must add here. I've noticed over the past year or so that there have been a select few people who enter my vicinity who apparently have good intentions, and there was one who mentioned a connection to a publisher. But see, it's that "always nervous" thing that's a problem. As I mention, they isolate the subject with defamation so they're starved for human contact. You'll talk to almost anyone. So they send covert operatives to fill it. But there's one key aspect of it I haven't mention that really adds to it. A major part of what they'll do is send someone who they know you might have a convo with. Of course, they know you'll talk to them, but in these particular instances, they carry on a full convo about something they know interests you, sometimes for a long time, making you think they're not actually part of it as you so badly hope for. Then, at the last minute, before you part, they'll drop a hint alluding to something in your private life that you never mentioned, the main method of letting you know they're part of it and fucking with your head. It's a main tool in adding to the isolation by making the subject afraid to talk to anyone. It's difficult for me to explain just how much of a low-life scum-bag one must be to take part. I am quite proud of the fact that I've never taken part in such a thing and never will. But I mention this just to emphasize the fact that if you want to talk to me about a book deal or anything else, you need to directly and openly tell me your name, how you know about me, and why you're approaching me right off the bat; you know--a normal human introduction.
That's the effect of what they do. It destroys your ability to trust anyone--except your old television news buddies, of course.
;-))
I can't emphasize this enough: it is neither a game nor a joke to me.
Joseph
C. Zoccali, Clearwater, Florida; Rick Wilson,
Niles, Ohio; Christine
Faranda, Cleveland, Ohio; Len Spector; Marc Greece, A&E
Networks; Reverend David Plank, Palatine Bridge, NY; Carrie (Plank) Bruno,
Queens, NY; Cynthia Green,
Tech Recruiter; Sioux
Logan, Red Stream Technologies; Mike Tricario, MTV; Sean Newman, Columbus, Ohio; Jim
Reed, Columbus, Ohio; Zynga; Marty Eggert, Cleveland, Ohio; Kathy Haxton,
Cleveland, Ohio, St. Joe’s Medical Center, Warren, Ohio; Coleman Professional Services,
Warren, Ohio; Laura
McCormick
An
Pham, anpham1111@gmail.com; Anna Stepnova, stepnova@aol.com; Barbara Anne Wolf, wolf.barbara.anne@gmail.com, (415) 812-4926; Brian Montague, jetbpm@aol.com; Charles
Crites, critesfam@sbcglobal.net; EHSOH, lovycera@gmail.com; Elizabeth
Nicolosi, elizabethnicolosi@hotmail.com; Kristy
Guertin, guertk@spu.edu; Meagan Franz, meaganfranz@hotmail.com; Miyako
Abe, mtea2006@yahoo.com; Nora Salah, nsalah01@yahoo.com; Teresa Keller, teresa@rtwwithus.org; Natasha
Warder;
.
.