Tallfellow Press Blog

Mystery is in the air

Just a quick reminder that our author Dennis Palumbo is not just signing books at Vromans this Sunday in Pasadena at 4:00, but he's also teaching a workshop on Writing Mysteries. Here's the description:
For those interested in writing whodunits, plotting is often the most daunting aspect of the narrative. Fear no more. This workshop will take the mystery out of writing mysteries. Moreover, you'll learn that the key to writing a good mystery or crime story is an understanding of how each of the characters' distinct wants and needs collide with those of the other characters. When done right, a good plot reveals character, and good characters make the plot compelling. Whether you're writing the coziest of British-style mystery or the edgiest of hard-boiled thriller, this informative, entertaining workshop is for you.
Dennis is the screenwriter of the film My Favorite Year and our new book, From Crime to Crime, which is getting great reviews. Dennis is a wonderful, funny guy. He's also a full-time psychotherapist, now, so you might get some free shrink-age. So, come out and meet him, learn some cool stuff and enjoy an afternoon in Pasadena.
See you there!

TF News, Droodles Winner and new contest

So, BEA (Book Expo America) is over and, all in all, it was a really good show. Nice weather (when we could get outside!), nice people and great books... not just ours.

We had several of our authors autograph their books and there were lines for all of them. Nice!

Saw lots of old friends from publishing days gone by and met new friends, too.

And, luckily, we skirted disaster (literally) when on, set-up day, an entire wall of the very large booth (about 30 feet) fell over. Our founders, Leonard Stern and Larry Sloan, were standing right there and managed to get out of the way just in time. Could've been really ugly. The chair Leonard had been sitting in moments before was rather mangled. Thank you to the book gods for intervening.

Now, what you've all been waiting for...

Droodles Caption Contest # 10 Winner and New Contest #11

Yes, it's true. We are actually annoucing the winner for Contest #10. And the winner is Mitch Rice! Congratulations! Look for your copy of Droodles - The Classic Collection in your mailbox soon.

And here is the winning caption: Van Gogh's ear: A self-portrait

And now, time for the Droodle Caption Contest # 11.

Give you best captions for this spring/summer outdoor camping fun Droodle:

(Click on the Droodle thumbnail to see a larger view.)

Real Caption: A Bear Climbing Up the Other Side of a Tree

As always, please leave your original captions in the Comment section below (just under the date).** The winner, judged by our staff of in-house Droodlites, will receive a FREE copy of Droodles: The Classic Collection by Roger Price.

Happy captioning!

**NOTE: Inappropriate submissions will be deleted... this is an All Ages competition!**

Spring Titles

So, Spring is officially here, although in L.A. it's more like the dead of Summer. Over 100 degrees this weekend. Hot.
But, Spring means Spring books titles and we've got several. Our book Where Did All the Fat Go? by the doctor behind The Biggest Loser TV show, Dr. Rob Huizenga, is selling well. It should, it reveals the program he developed for the contestants on the show that has resulted in thousands of pounds of weight loss, actually FAT loss, which is what the book is all about. Fat not weight loss. It's even available at GNC store nationwide. They thought it was worthy of being in their stores.

We just released a book by the screenwriter of My Favorite Year, Dennis Palumbo, who left Hollywood behind to become a psychotherapist to the Hollywood community. Interesting! The book is a collection of short mysteries called From Crime to Crime and it features several stories with The Smart Guys Marching Society, a group of guys that get together to talk politics, compare lives and eat deli... they end up solving crimes. It's pretty fun and you can try to solve each mystery before the solution is revealed. Can you?

And our newest books is Ten Minutes to the Job Interview by Rachel Ingegneri. It's the latest in our 10 Minutes 2 Success series and it really tells you everything you need to know to land that job, whether you're a first time job-seeker or a seasoned pro.

Anyway, happy Spring and more info to come soon.

Droodles Caption Contest # 9 Winner and New Contest #10

Well, finally! The winner for Contest #9 is William D Hicks. Congratulations! Look for your copy of Droodles - The Classic Collection in your mailbox soon.

And here is the winning caption: Last Minute Christmas Gift with Last Minute Bow (tie).

 

And now, time for the Droodle Caption Contest # 10.

Give you best captions for this hot weather gem:

(Click on the Droodle thumbnail to see a larger view.)

Real Caption: Coat Hanger for a Nudist

 

As always, please leave your original captions in the Comment section below (just under the date).** The winner, judged by our staff of in-house Droodlites, will receive a FREE copy of Droodles: The Classic Collection by Roger Price.

Happy captioning!

**NOTE: Inappropriate submissions will be deleted... this is an All Ages competition!**

Winter Blues

So, Winter is here and it's understandable to be a bit down, right? (Or downright depressed.) But, with Valentine's Day only a kiss away, how can anyone be sad? Even if you don't have a special someone to share it with (like some people I know), you can still celebrate the joy of having people in your life who love you...ok, how about your pet...your car? OK, be glad you love yourself!

And, in case you're looking for the perfect gift for that special someone, check out our incredible discount on our book That's How Much I Love You. It makes a great, romantic offering of love.

And (again), in case you haven't entered the current Droodles Caption Contest (see below), you still have a little time. Hurry up and get your entries in.
Stay warm, stay happy, staypuff marshmellows.

Droodles Caption Contest #9

Welcome Clever Droodlers,

It's that time of year again. No, not Hanukah or Christmas or Kwanza or even winter...it's time for our December Droodles Caption Contest!!! So, put on those thinking caps (wool  would probably be best right now!) and send us your smartest caption for this New Year's Droodle:

Real Caption: Man in Tuxedo who stood too close to the front of an elevator.

As always, please leave your original captions in the Comment section below (just under the date).** The winner, judged by our staff of in-house Droodlites, will receive a FREE copy of Droodles: The Classic Collection by Roger Price.

Happy Captioning!  Happy  Holidays!  Happy New Year  and  Happy Everything  Else!!!

**NOTE: Inappropriate submissions will be deleted... this is an All Ages competition!**

Droodles Caption Contest #8 Winner

Well, better late than never! We are finally annoucining the winner for Contest #8. And the winner is D. Kendrick. Congratulations! Look for your copy of Droodles - The Classic Collection in your mailbox soon.

And here is the winning caption:

Bees leaving on vacation (from their honey-making jobs at the beehive box).

Thanks to everyone who entered. Try again with Contest #9 above. Happy Captioning!

Sad news

I just heard the sad news that Joseph Stefano passed away recenlty. He was the screenwriter of the famous Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho, among many other credits. He was also a contributor to our book Doing It For Money - The Agony and Ecstasy of Writing and Surviving in Hollywood.

At the end of his essay, he says that he thought about retiring after a difficult episode in the business but he chose not to and added "So, I'm still in the business I love more than I hate and in which I've had more joy than heartbreak."

He will be missed.

Droodles Caption Contest #8

Hello Captioners,
Put your clever thinking caps on and see if you can do as well as the entrants in contest #7 (a great group of captions (see below)). Now that summer is officially gone, we can say goodbye to all those do-it-yourself fix-it projects. So, here's an appropriate Droodle:

(Click on the Droodle for a larger view)

Real Caption: Unassembled Sandpaper

As always, please leave your original captions in the Comment section below (just under the date).** The winner, judged by our staff of in-house Droodlites, will receive a FREE copy of Droodles: The Classic Collection by Roger Price.

Happy captioning!

**NOTE: Inappropriate submissions will be deleted... this is an All Ages competition!**

Droodles #7 Winner Announced

Greetings Droodalians,

Well, we had a hard time picking a winner for Droodles Caption Contest #7...so we narrowed it down to two...yes, that's right, two winners..and they are Jean C. Fisher for the caption:

"What the entrance to my dining room looks like when I'm doing my yoga exercises..."

And P. Fahrney (a second-time winner!) with "Levitating paperclip."

Congrats you two. A copy of Droodles - The Classic Collection will be on its way to you very soon!

Be sure to enter the new contest (#8) above and good luck!