And away we go

I just launched the Indiegogo campaign for the world premiere of Kill the Critic! I've never done a crowdfunding campaign like this before, so I hope things go well.

I estimate the total production costs to be $3500. Over the 45 days off the campaign, I'm hoping to raise $1000, which will just cover the week's rent at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts.

We've got some really great premiums. For $50, you get an autographed copy of the as-yet-unpublished script. For $100, you get a one-of-the-kind Kill the Critic! coffee cup (see above).

We'll even be thrilled to take the spare ten-spot off your hands. So please help any way you can. After all, no one wants a live critic.

The campaign is at: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/306923/x/2037382.

The best way to learn

They say the best way to learn something is to teach it. If that's the case, then I'm about to learn a whole lot about playwriting because I'll be leading a workshop on it at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference.

I attended the conference a couple times back in the early aughts when I was trying to break into middle-grade novels (Edison Young and the Ravenous Robosaur is still looking for a publisher, by the way). I thought it was a wonderful conference, filled with knowledgeable instructors and friendly, enthusiastic writers, so I'm honored to be a part of it this year.

I also appreciate the fact that they're in inviting me to speak about playwriting, they're willing to step outside their traditional focus on novels.

The conference runs from Thursday, April 18 to Sunday, April 21, with my hour-long workshop being held on Sunday morning. If you're going to be there, please stop by and say hi.

Better yet, sit in on the workshop. I guarantee we'll have a great ime.

A critical development

My backstage farce Kill the Critic! just took 2nd place in the Robert J. Pickering Award for Playwriting Excellence. This comes fast on the heels of the news that Pioneer Drama Service will be publishing my comedy/mystery The Butler Did It!

I've got to wonder. How much more successful would Tennessee Williams have been if he'd put exclamation points in all his titles?