The Real Life Channel - YCDTOTV the book???

[BBOvenGuy]

I'm less than a month away from getting the proofs for my new book, The Real Life Channel, which means I should be getting my promotional materials written. With Ric's permission, I'm setting up this thread to test out some of my material and get some input from you fine folks.

Why am I doing that? Well, The Real Life Channel is an adventure fantasy about a group of kids who make a TV comedy series. I like to say that it's not about YCDTOTV in the same way that the movie Galaxy Quest is not about Star Trek. Technically (and more important, legally), they're not the same, but a fan of the latter will find the former somewhat familiar.

In some ways, this is the story I should have written twenty years ago, when I was asked to do a treatment for YCDTOTV the Movie. On the other hand, the movie never went anywhere and this book's only a few months away from being published, so in the grand scheme of things it's for the best.

I'll start by showing you the "back cover blurb" I've written:

http://home.mindspring.com/~libertyg...lLifePromo.pdf

I still have to do some pieces for the official press release, an "Author Q&A" and a Study Guide. What the heck I'm going to write for a study guide is beyond me, but there you go.

If you have questions for me - and I realize that might be difficult since you don't have much to go on - feel free to ask them. Maybe you'll make it into the Q&A!

Okay? Let's see where things go from here...

[Bob Morris]

That's great to hear you'll have another book soon to be published.

I guess I'll start off with the questions:

1. Was there anything drawn from your treatment for the YCDTOTV movie to help you develop the book, and if so, how much?

2. Did you draw any inspiration from YCDTOTV cast members for any of the characters in the book?

Looking forward to the final product. And this is one I'll definitely have to put on my "to buy" list.

[BBOvenGuy]

1. Was there anything drawn from your treatment for the YCDTOTV movie to help you develop the book, and if so, how much?

Only a little. We had a running gag in YCDTOTV the Movie that involved Alasdair constantly getting mobbed by girls, and one of the characters in Real Life Channel goes through the same thing.

However, there was an earlier version of The Real Life Channel that I wrote as a script in 1987, and at that time, I had most of the YCDTOTV cast in my head as I was writing the parts. The new book is almost completely different - in fact, there's only one character who shows up in both versions - but the basic premise is still there.

2. Did you draw any inspiration from YCDTOTV cast members for any of the characters in the book?

Absolutely. With only one exception, all of the main characters in my fictional TV show's cast are drawn from YCDTOTV cast members to one degree or another. Some of them will be easy for you to spot. Others might be a bit trickier.

(Oh, and the one character I carried over from the 1987 script was originally written to be played by Alanis, who if you'll recall was 13 at that time.)

I should mention that this book is going to get a lot better promotion and distribution than my first book did. This one, for example, should be available through Barnes & Noble.

[Carstairs38]

Any official release date?

[BBOvenGuy]

Any official release date?

It hasn't been pinned down yet, but probably September or October.

[BBOvenGuy]

I finished my "Author Q&A" for the book. You can check out the draft here:

http://www.eriscorp.com/canterbury/bob/RealLifeQ&A.pdf

I decided to leave out any direct mention of YCDTOTV, just in case there would be any legal complications. But you'll see that I did refer to it indirectly.

[BBOvenGuy]

And now, for the first time anywhere, here's the cover for The Real Life Channel. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image.

[Chris]

Congrats, Bob!

It's great to see your idea finally making it's way to fruition.

[BBOvenGuy]

Here's the latest:

The book supposedly went to the printer last week. I'm hoping I'll at least have a couple of preview copies by the time I go visit my family for the July 4 weekend. Advance copies should go out to reviewers (including Rob right here at YCDTOTV.com) within a few weeks, too.

Meanwhile, I'm putting together my package of "bonus features," including a newly expanded version of my Author Q&A. One of the things I added to this version was a section where I specifically talk about working for YCDTOTV. Take a look:

Q&A Version 2

[TheLockerMonster]

Ahh... as soon as he sees my reviewing skills he'll soon regret giving me an advance copy

Can I just say "it tastes like chicken" now and be done with it? heheh

Seriously, though, looking forward to it...
Rob