Lucky Jocco

By Frank Anthony Polito

Two blog posts in two days! What's up with that?

I read an interesting article this morning from Where Writers Win, a blog/website that provides information/advice for writers. Most of the things they post I've already heard of -- or I disagree with. But today's tidbit, entitled "5 Ways to Promote Your Words" touched on an issue I've been dealing with as of late: having no idea what to write about here on this blog.

You can read the full article HERE (a subscription may be required), but the basic jist is: if you're a writer looking to promote your work, don't just talk about YOURSELF. Instead, find other interesting items to post about -- that are connected to what you've written or are working on.

I just opened up Yahoo to do some online research for my current novel, The Spirit of Detroit, only to find the most interesting headline: "Man's Estate Left to Actors He Never Met." I immediately recognized both good-looking men: Peter Barton and Kevin Brophy.

 Brophy & Barton

While I didn't know either of their names off the top of my head, Barton I remembered from his stint on Young & the Restless during the '80s, and Brophy is none other than the jerk named "Jocco" from my all-time favorite episode of The Hardy Boys  -- which I wrote about in my second novel Drama Queers! See below for an excerpt...

 

I particularly loved the part when Joe befriended Jocco and they 
threw that party out at their fancy beach house. I immediately
recognized the Muzak version of “How Deep is Your Love?” from 
the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack playing in the background . . . 
God, I wanted to see that movie sooo bad!

I remember being confused when Frank arrived and Joe acted
like he didn’t recognize his brother. Really, it was all just part
of the plan to set Jocco up and bust him for selling stolen goods.
 
Until Jocco got wise to Frank posing as a big-time surfer, and
sent him out on his board in shark-infested waters . . . I’ll never
forget the sight of Parker Stevenson in that wetsuit, even though
my heart would always belong to Shaun Cassidy.
 

By the way... I just discovered that Drama Queers! is available on Amazon.com right now for just $6 :-)

  

 

Facebook No' Mo'

By Frank Anthony Polito

No, don't freak out... I'm not signing off of Facebook -- yet.

It's been a good two and a half weeks since my last blog post. I knew it was going to be tough to post on any sort of regular basis. I wish I could say it's because I've been super-busy -- but it's not the case. Truthfully, I just haven't been feeling it.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a superstitious person. I read my horoscope on a daily basis, and I've learned to heed the advice of fellow ex-Detroiter, Dr. Wayne Dyer who believes that when "manifesting" one's destiny, it's best not to talk about things -- until after they've come to fruition. Dyer's theory stems from the fact that the more you talk about something, the more it weakens the universe's ability to make it happen. (Don't quote me on this, you'll have to read his book.) Also the fact that those who talk about what they're hoping to achieve only do so to make themselves look/feel better.

This is why I don't do much personal posting on Facebook. As much as I like to complain about things (ask Craig!), I really don't want to do so in a public forum. I know that a lot of folks find relief in getting out their feelings/frustrations by posting online. I just find that it tends to open up a dialogue, and I'd rather not wast anyone's time in discussing my so-called problems.

Maybe it's because I never learned to type properly -- "Why would I ever need to take typing?" I asked my 12-year-old self... Duh! -- and it's a chore for me to reply whenever someone comments. Not because I don't WANT to reply, don't get me wrong. I'm just lazy. But being the kind, considerate person that I am, I don't like to ignore anyone who takes the time to comment -- unlike others who are constantly giving me what I like to call "the ignore-away" whenever I send them an email.

See! There I go... Starting to complain, and this post is becoming WAY too long to hold anyone's interest. But seriously... I hate being ignored! More than anything in life. If I can take the time out of my day to send someone an email, the least they can do is treat me like a fucking human being and reply.

I started this post with the intention of saying that I just this afternoon spent time going through my Facebook Friends list and have deleted almost 60 of my "friends" who have, for whatever reason, inactivated their accounts. Many, I will say, were not true "friends." Most of the names I didn't even recognize, which made me sad because I pride myself in thinking of others as human beings -- and not just something I've collected.

There were a few folks whose defecting from Facebook took me by surprise. Actors, and other writers who, I would think, have been schooled in the belief that one MUST have a Facebook account if they're going to be in the public eye. I'm guessing that a few have switched their personal profile pages to "fan" pages.

I had contemplated doing this myself. I have close to 1800 Facebook "friends" but less than 300 "fans" for my author page... But in doing so, I would force most of my high school classmates to become my "fan" -- and how silly is that? We are friends.

Just curious... If anyone reading this (via Facebook or otherwise) has contemplated dropping off the Facebook planet, please sound off in the comments section below. I'd enjoy hearing from you :-)

Have a great weekend -- and if it's snowing where you are, stay warm!