As an author of historical fiction, sometimes you just get lucky. In my research for 'The Great Experiment', I happened upon an article about the journalist Lois Long (1901 – 1974), a writer for The New Yorker magazine. She wrote under the pseudonym 'Lipstick'. On the strength of a Ying/Yang relationship with her editor boss and a generous expense account, she would visit the myriad of speakeasies and clubs that were ubiquitous in the late 1920's in New York City. She'd write about each one in her 'Tables for Two' column. And her words carried weight.

Lois was the personification of a 'flapper'; she would drink, smoke, dance and carouse her way through the night and part of the morning all in the name of penning a column for the next edition of the magazine.

Her column was very popular with everyone, but specifically young women who could not afford to go out often, so they would live vicariously through 'Lipstick'. The popularity of her column helped to propel the fledgling mag to its place among the finest publications of the day.

My luck with Lipstick continued when I found that her room mate was actress Kay Francis (1905 –1968). Like me, you may not recognize Kay's name, but you might be interested to know that  after a brief time on Broadway in the late 1920s (when we meet her), Miss Francis moved to film. There, she achieved her greatest success between 1930 and 1936, when she was the number one female star and highest-paid actress at Warner Bros. studios. By 1935, Francis was earning a annual salary of $115,000 ($2,700,000 today), dwarfing the $18,000 Bette Davis made.

​Braden Harding is the winner of a signed copy of my second book "Ticking: The Hawking Sequence". Braden, his dad Ryan and I participate in the annual hockey pool at Translink/Coast Mountain Bus Company, a fun and competitive pool that's been active since 1983 (same year I started in the pool). Enjoy the read, Braden!

Below is my intrepid assistant, checking grammar for the upcoming fifth book in the "Ticking" series. I'm sure his first comment will be, "Can you cut it down a bit?"

Book Five will have the chrononauts travel back to a time of turmoil in America. Beatrice simply wants to visit with Cecilia Payne, a female scientist of the day, and with Albert Einstein, but things go from bad to worse, quicker than a teetotaler can jake walk out of a speakeasy.

Enough clues, you'll have to read the Real McCoy when it is released this Fall.

Your chrononauts are well-acquainted with the Georgian era of British history. And they dabbled with the Victorian era when they travelled to Southumbria. In this dimension, the Victorian era is during the reign of Queen Victoria, from 1837 until her death in 1901.

The Victorians had a secret. They conveyed their feelings by the way they attached a stamp to a letter or postcard (as shown above). This "Language of Stamps" would communicate a message without writing a single word.

​For example, if the letter-sender wanted to tell the receiver that he loved her, he would angle the stamp crookedly while pasting it in a certain spot on the envelope. A kiss was thrown by angling the stamp in the opposite direction.
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​Keys to crack these codes were numerous and with potentially different meanings to each angle, so using the same code key was vital to understanding. I didn't use the Language of Stamps in Ticking, but thought you might be interested in this little bit of love history.

This came to me recently:

​Dear CRAIG,
Congratulations!
British Film Festival has updated the Judging Status of your submission Ticking: A Tale of Two Time Travellers (Part One) to Award Winner.

Ticking: A Tale of Two Time Travellers (Part One)
​
Project has been selected as an award winner in festival.

My thanks to the BFF. I'm sure we'll be BFF's... ya know... forever!

​Film festivals. You’ve heard of them, but you might not know much about them.
I’ve learned about them recently, as I’m in the process of submitting screenplays to various festivals for consideration in their screenwriting competitions.
The festivals are an important way for screenwriters, filmmakers and illustrators to get their projects in front of a global audience, to network with industry professionals and secure distribution deals.
And win awards. Awards are typically decided by a jury of industry professionals. Winning an award can significantly boost a filmmaker’s career, leading to wider distribution and critical recognition.
Before reading further, guess the “Big Five” film festivals. Close your eyes.
Now, open them (oh, you already did that).
Did you guess:
1) the Cannes Film Festival in France, 2) the Berlin International Film Festival, 3) the Venice Film Festival, 4) the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and 5) the Sundance in Utah?
These are globally recognized as the most prestigious and influential in the industry, shaping Oscar nominations and boosting a film’s profile.
TIFF 2023 has ended after attracting filmmakers and movie buffs from all over the globe. The festival welcomed celebs like Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig, Jessica Chastain, Kate Hudson, Eddie Redmayne and Canadian Seth Rogen.
Some festivals consider only films. But most, especially the well-established ones, accept screenplays. In my case, the genre is “feature film screenplay”, although I plan to modify the format to also fit the “TV series” category.
In addition to screenings, most festivals offer workshops, seminars and networking events that provide attendees with resources and opportunities to connect with other filmmakers.
The oldest is the Venice Film Festival, founded in 1932. Founded in 1950, the Yorkton Film Festival in Yorkton, Saskatchewan is the longest running festival on the continent! Yes, Yorkton, which as everyone knows is northeast of Regina, northwest of Esterhazy!
With so many incredible film festivals worldwide, it’s easy to see why so many filmmakers choose to showcase their work in this way.
I’ve made seventeen submissions to date. Each has a notification date advising of the status of each submission. Some provide helpful feedback.
The notification date has been reached for five of mine. My screenplay was not selected for three, but I am a finalist in one and have been selected for another.
Approaching each film festival with an open mind will help broaden my horizons and pave the way for creative experiences I couldn’t have had any other way!

My screenplay, "Ticking: A Tale of Two Time Travellers", has been selected to be included in the Bridge Fest film festival scheduled for December. Bridge Fest is based in Vancouver, Canada, which Ticking readers will know as Fraserdale. The festival has been going strong for 18 years and is known for showcasing the best of world cinema in a wide range of genres.
I am honoured to be selected!

FILMFREEWAY.COM
Bridge Fest has selected and screened over 12 Oscar winners and multiple Academy nominees as well as the number of Cannes, Venice and the Berlin winners and ...
​   Bridge Fest - FilmFreeway

The winner of the prize draw from our April 15th book launch is Carolyn C.! Carolyn was out of town for a while, but we caught up with her to present the prize package (a signed copy of "Southumb Pride", a bottle of Storyteller wine, two highly-coveted "Ticking" T-shirts and two attractive, yet functional coffee mugs). Congrats Carolyn!

Can't wait to hear "Ticking: A Tale of Two Time Travellers"? You're in luck! Just click the link below for the full book (works on a PC or Mac). Great for your commute or road trip.

Matthew M. and his dad, Kevin, dropped in. Matthew has read Book #1, so he picked-up #2, "The Hawking Sequence". Happy reading!

Gail C. with her copy of "The Hawking Sequence". Enjoy!