Maria Alexander News and Updates from TheHandlessPoet.com

Monday, I get to hop down to Anaheim to watch a shoot based on The Little Script I wrote for one of my favorite characters. People in charge of that character and its attraction had to take a pass at The Little Script, so it's not totally me anymore. But I'm stoked nonetheless because The Little Script made it to this point with virtually no changes and lots of praise. The world will be able to see The Little Video in a few months. I'll post a link when it launches. It will be, I dare say, anerable.

I also got word about some special work coming soon. Due to NDA, can't say a peep about it other than that, true to my transits, March is going to be very interesting indeed...

On Sunday, Lord Arux and I played Accomplice, the live action mystery game complete with on-the-spot puzzle solving, interaction with professional actors posing as characters in the story, and surprises that only the streets of Hollywood can give with its touristy, kitschy shenanigans.

Unfortunately, I can't say very much at all about what exactly happened, as that would spoil it for anyone who wanted to play. So I won't.

However, I can say that, while the puzzles and clues were a bit on the easy side for Lord Arux and myself, the acting was top notch and really entertaining every moment of the way, plus we got free beer. (Okay, I got free beer. I drank Lord Arux's beer, even the awful Coors Light.) Afterward I got to chat for a few seconds with Tom Salamon, who is one of the writers. Really nice, very interesting fellow. He originally created the show in New York with his sister, who's a psychotherapist. I find it interesting that their approach is damned similar to Dead Earth's games: not geared toward gamers but more of a theatrical experience. To that end, this is a great quote:

As far as we’re concerned, an interesting and involving experience can be designed in an apartment complex with a certain amount of creativity. It’s not about seeing the sites for us, it’s about creating an escapist experience that can immerse people in our world for a few hours and get involved in a story outside of their own.

Which is precisely what Dead Earth did.

I'm dying to talk about a major synchronicity that happened at the end, but that's just not going to happen with anyone who hasn't played already. Los Angelenos, consider your bottoms booted to the ticket box. I don't know if it's still on, but I hear that, if you enter "shutter" in the discount code, you get 50% off.

Now go help Nikki Desmond!

At 8:00pm, I'll be on The Rev Mel Show at Talking Sex Radio with the fabulous Christa Faust discussing writing, sex and other hot topics.

To watch the live stream, register with the site and navigate to the Chat menu. Locate someone in the chat room with a video cam icon and right-click for the menu to access the show. If you have any trouble, just ask the people in the chat room. They're very nice folk! You can ask questions directly in the chat room or call into the show. Number will be provided during the live stream.

Keep in mind this is an adult site focused on kink and alternative lifestyles -- hence all the hoops to jump getting in. Have fun!

Am barely conscious today, which is a step up from yesterday. If I don't count France, where I contracted every possible germ known to Gaul, I haven't had the flu or even a cold since 2004. And now that I have the flu, I must say that, even as I'm flattened on the bed and hacking up my innards, it's easier to deal with than any female ailment I've suffered in the interim.

Just saying.

Wish I could work. Wish I could write. All I can do is sleep, lazily toss the jingly ball for Robie (who brings it right back), and wish I was well enough to get anything done. Haven't heard a peep from the insurance people about my claim. Meanwhile, I'm reading Last Chance to See, which is wonderful. Cursing the Academy for neglecting Mary and Max. Lord Arux says Fantastic Mr. Fox was dreadful. I believe him.

Nose has just started running. Awesome.