So the time had finally come. Being my first attempt at trying to sell my book to Hollywood, I was more calm that maybe I should have been. I just don’t know how to explain the feeling. When I walked in the room, there were 7 tables in a horseshoe type layout in a room that looked identical to the photograph of the room, from yesterday’s blog. Table #1, a female with red curly hair and a green and gold strip scarf. She greeted me like we were long lost college roommates. I immediately felt comfortable, read my pitch and she went on to ask me the ever warned about, never answer no matter what question. If you had to pick someone to play you, who would it be? Now I had only spoken two three people about who I thought (PERSONALITY WISE) would be an excellent actress to play my part – Charlize Theron, but the last thing I was going to do was say a name. So what does one do when the person you are speaking too, insists on a name – YOU STILL DON’T PROVIDE ONE! That is a big red “NO-NO” in the business. So now, the executive decided to give her opinion and what does she say – Charlize Theron. “SAY WHAT!?”
OK, so now I am in total belief that I am being scammed 100%, or on some kind of “Punked” show. No way would she know what I was thinking. All I could do was laugh and at the same time went on full guard mode, but I had to remember, there was a great probability that none of these people have ever heard about my book, let alone picked it up and read it. I smiled and simply answered as many of the executives questions as I could and when the time was up I moved on to the next executive. To describe this process in two words, just think of - Speed Dating. Another gentleman asked what genre is was. This was though, as it could be listed on many types such as; romance, mystery, religion, medical, cancer survival. I kept saying it was multi-genre, but he wanted one answer and I think I blurted our Medical thriller. I should have said “Multiple. You know, as in orgasm.” Yep he would have really remember me then. Wink, you know what they say…sex sells.
I sensed that all of them understood what I was trying to portray. I guess I’d know in a few days if any of them liked it. With all of the executives in the room, overall, it was like they had all been old friends and that is just how I acted with them. I was myself. I didn’t get into the theatrics of crying or into the drama overload. I was just me. If they liked me and what my story was about, they’ll ask for my manuscript when the time comes, if not, then it’s just the No’s I need to get to the most important part of my journey – when someone finally takes a chance on my writing and my story and says – Yes.
I had a total of fourteen minutes, two minutes for each table, to wow them. What I had come to do, was now done. All that was left was the crying or the cheering that maybe I could move to the next step. I walked out of the room with no regrets. No need fretting over something that was in their hands now, and I told myself before I ever walked in the door, “Hollywood is filled with produces, who’s to say these executives will be the ones, maybe they are not even connected with any productions company, maybe they were paid actors to play the part to make me believe my dreams could come true. As you can see, my duel personality is still in a fight with itself. Half of me say’s to believe that this is all really happening and the other half says, question, question, question. When I left the room, I was overjoyed to see my husband and Mr. Ogorek enjoying a nice leisurely chat about Nebraska football and what happens when you wear the wrong color to a red game. The three of us chatted briefly and then my husband and I decided to go back to our room to get changed for the closing remarks that would bring “Pitch Fest Las Vegas 2012” to a close later that evening. I had decided that since I had been in dresses and wearing very uncomfortable shoes, because they matched, I wanted something still casually dressy with a comfortable heel. Wow that's an oxy-moron - comfortable heels. Ha-ha to funny. If I only knew what was in store for my husband and I after the event, I would have opted to bring my exercise shoes.
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| I call this outfit - my closing ceremony clothes |
My husband and I sat at one of the table and as things wrapped up, our eyes started to twinkle - PARTY TIME! Now the event ended sharply at 6:30 that Saturday night and we were on the monorail by 6:45 heading to the Bellaigo to watch their Dancing water show. We were so disappointed to find out that the 7:00 show that was just a small sampling of what the real show had in store. You see, we were unaware that the big show was scheduled for 8:00 that night, not 7:00. Well guess it's just another thing to add our to-do list when we go back out that way this summer with family.
We decided to take in the Vegas strip on foot and boy did we see some sights. Many were stunning in the dusky of a soon to be evening sky. Other sights, well folks, all I can ask is that you trust me when I say we saw a lot of things, good and bad. The good were the lights of each hotel so uniquely different from others, with each having their own way of enticing you to come through their doors and enjoy a night on the town.
There was one area where tall slender women stood with their high feathered headdresses on with tight sheer body suits covering their toned bodies and high heels that made them look like heeled ballerina slippers. My husband nearly fell into a patron walking in front of him when one of these beauties caught his eye. For myself I found it humorous to see him fall over himself like a teen age boy looking at a Playboy magazine for the first time. See him loose control of his thoughts - funny. Seeing his face when I noticed and informed him that those very tall women were in fact, I'm trying to contain my laughter, hard to type, belly hurting, OK I'll type it, men in drag - PRICELESS. His excitement of being eyed by a beautiful "WOMAN," was quickly lost. Like how I emphasized the word man in the word woman. He he he. Feeling guilty that I had spoiled his fun, I knew exactly how to cheer him up and gets his pride back with four magic words – “Let’s go to - Hooters?" He turned and gave me a sheepish grin as the twinkle quickly returned in his eyes. Our walk immediately felt more like a sprint in my heels. As we moved together, hand in hand, we quickly made our way up the strip to "Hooters" casino and resort, with only one pit stop along the way because I was in dire need of BLISTER first-aid. He sat on a flowerbed wall and I went into one of the gift shops to find Band-Aids. I had assumed he was going to just sit outside and wait, so understand my extreme surprise when I turned around and he was standing face to face with me. He had informed me that once again, someone had come up to him, sat down and began to share their life troubles with him. I think he must have been a confessional priest in another life.
I got my blisters fixed and off we went. It was like being in a Cavalry, a bugle had sounded and then the words – CHARGE! I can’t believe I am about to say this, but I was so happy when I saw the word “HOOTERS” across the street in front of us. You could see his sheer excitement. Now it is no secret that my husband is a boob man, but seriously this casino was nothing like the commercials or how the movies make it appear. This place felt rather dumpy. The actual “Hooters” restaurant was way too confined and too much lighting. Oh fella’s I’m hearing you chomping at the bit, you want to know about the boobs and babes in the place. Hold your horses I’m getting to that. Ladies, your probably wondering why I am so casual in talking about my husband being a boob man. So let me say this for the record. He can look at all the boobs he wants, but the minute another woman makes her boobs available to him for some personal time, I'll have something to say about it. OK, moving on. Where was I, oh, yeah...Let’s just say my “hooters” were bigger than the girls walking around getting drinks for the patrons of their casino. I should have applied – NOT! Ha-ha. My husband just sat at a penny slot machine looking as if he has just lost every bit of money he had. When the women came up to get us drinks…they were flirting with me more than him. What’s up with that? We sat and had a couple drinks as we played about $20.00 in slots – and lost it all. On the flip – it was in this casino that we ate at the Mad Onion. One word to describe it – Delicious! I had the prime rib and it was out of this world. My hubby decided that something from the breakfast menu would be what tickled his fancy.
We were very somber when the Sunday morning sunlight began to filter into our room. This would be the last day to see the things we wanted to see and do the things we wanted to do before returning our car at 4:00 that afternoon. I had gotten to see an old friend that I knew in my middle school days. It was great to spend time with her and her family. Thirty years and many states had come between us, but the moment I saw her, that gap was instantly gone. We enjoyed a great brunch and believe it or not, we spent another four hours just standing in the parking lot talking about her upcoming wedding and the quirks of men and raising boys into young men. It was great to get caught up and I was sad to say good-bye, but with the help of Facebook we remain connected.
The time had come and we headed off to return our beautiful Mustang on wheels. But you know me, how could I let this moment go without getting some great shots of our final drive.
It was hard to see the mountain to the west and not want to just forget about things and drive to the California coast to watch the sunset. California was the place where I found my life, or should I say, when it really began. It was my platform that put me where I am right now. I was feeling proud that I had followed through with publishing my book and the ultimate reason why I had a story to tell in the first place was doing his best "Tom Cruise - Days of Thunder" impression as we zipped down the highway to the rental car facility. I couldn't help but smile as I pondered that all of these precious memories became a reality because of a dream about my sexy military cowboy man twenty years ago.
So, I hear you all wondering what happened with my book pitch. Well as Mr. Chait, Mr. Kosberg and Mr. Ogorek stressed over and over again, this process takes time and patience. It was about a week ago that I finally received my reviews back. This is what I had been waiting for. I was disappointed as I read each review one by one, saying it was not what they were looking for at this time. I became more and more upset until I came up a review by executive #6. In the comments it read: I want to read this book because it's a great story that is true. It's inspirational and romantic. At the bottom the most important box had been checked: Please have Author Solutions, send a copy of your book for further consideration. WAAA WHOOO!!! One out of nine, not bad, I'll take that and pray that it will be a working partnership one day soon.
To all of you out there, always know that if you Dream it, Believe in it, you can Achieve it. Have a great weekend and blog you Monday.
