Oh yeah, I have a whole book finished, don't I?

[thehefner]

Hey, it just occurred to me. I actually have a newly-edited and revised (thanks to Mom and little_dinosaur) entire book of THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES pretty much ready to go. What the hell am I waiting for, Chinese New Year? I should start sending this in to literary agents and publishers!

I wrote to Jill, the agent who read my novel a couple years back, and she's asking for a description and a cover letter. Well, I need to think up a description anyway, since the marketing form for the show will be due within a couple weeks. But still, I utterly blow at such things. Like, how the hell do I try to sell this?

"How do you make a name for yourself when someone else already has? That's the question that I, John Hefner (writer, actor, hopeless romantic, and estranged second cousin of a certain worldwide icon) ponder throughout the autobiographical stories in THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES. This painfully funny collection of tragicomic stories of my college years recounts my love affair with a uniquely dangerous girl, my misadventures in traffic court, how I summoned up the courage to go full-frontal naked in a play, and my desperate search for closure, all while struggling to find my identity in a world where "Hef" is a household name. Born out of my experience as an oral storyteller, my writing style has been likened to a frenetic David Sedaris with a shot of Denis Leary." Ugh. Something like that.

Anyone have any ideas as to how to best sell THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES book/show?

What should my cover letter include?

The sooner I do this, the better. It usually takes at *least* six months for them to read it and respond, so better to get the wheels turning there while I have tons of other stuff to work on in the meantime. Also, having the published book could seriously help get attention to my shows, so there's that.

Comments

[lonebear.livejournal.com]

here as i do not have your email address.

(delete after reading maybe)

ping about discussion of show if you still want me to work for/with you,
and to get buffy comics in the queue. :)

[adaptor.livejournal.com]

I like the description of the stories, but the one that sort of rubbed me the wrong way is the 'summoned up the courage to...' bit. It sounds like you face the idea about the same way anyone would, when I'd bet dollars to donuts you did it with Henerian relish (or at least mustard). So I think there's probably a funnier to describe the experience - one that let's us know we'll be getting both The Full Hefner and the Hefnerian take on the whole thing.

As for how best to sell it, maybe you were on to something with that punch and pie... ;-)

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

So do you or do you not know the story behind the naked play, then? Because short version, yes, yes, I did rather do it in a Hefnerian way. Let's just say that anyone who saw it can never, ever, ever listen to Harry Nilsson's "You Put De Lime In De Coconut" without shuddering.

[adaptor.livejournal.com]

I have heard tell of the story, I just think 'summoning my courage' sounds like the real point of the story was deciding to do it, when the payoff sounds like the best part to me.

/'course I'm pretty drunk right now
//it's the only way I can get through final eps of The Amazing Race when I don't like any of the teams left

[pondering-duck.livejournal.com]

I also enjoyed the description although some of the wording you might want to change around a little. When I read the first sentence I didn't catch on that you were talking about someone with your own name already made a name for themselves. Also I agree on the wording of "summon".

Congrats on having the manuscript ready, though. You really are a talented guy and you seem to be going places.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Thankee, pally. And so, so sorry I didn't get you the pictures of my childhood! I've just been so swamped, as you well know.

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

i think what you said sounds really good. i love "How do you make a name for yourself when someone else already has? That's the question that I, John Hefner (writer, actor, hopeless romantic, and estranged second cousin of a certain worldwide icon) ponder throughout the autobiographical stories in THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES".. its really good.

i would say tragically comic instead of "tragicomic".. i would change "of my college years" to "from my college years".. i am unsure about the term "uniquely dangerous", you may want to find another way to say it... instead of "in a play", i would go with simply "onstage".

i also would hesitate to make any comparisons to Denis Leary, as then people expect a really caustic sarcasm, and thats not really you.

so yeah, there are a few cosmetic changes i'd make to the wording, but for the most part i wouldnt change much of anything. the approach is solid.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Hey, thankee! But I already revised it and sent it in, and it was accepted! So I've sent my book into them, and now we play the waiting game.

But your suggestions may still hugely come in handy, as I shall likely be using this description as a template for the Fringe show. Not to mention future cover letters, should this agency turn down the book.

Also, HAPPY ROY SCHEIDER DAY!!!

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

hey, i hope they are helpful.. use the changes if you like them.

good luck, bro!

oh, btw.. i'm off the next 2 days.. so if you want to catch up, i'll be rocking the alexandria.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I'd love to, but while I'm free tonight, I'm working tomorrow and doing FAUSTUS, then Wednesday I'm free during the day but have class in the evenin'. So that's my deal.

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

well.. i'll be off and loafing about. so call Holly's cell to get the number for the apartment.