Overview

If a story is going to fail, it will first do so at the premise level. I specialize in helping authors and screenwriters fix manuscripts in trouble. When you get lost in the story woods, I can show you how to find your way back to your story's real premise idea, and teach you how to not get lost in the future. I will teach you a story development methodology ("Anatomy of a Premise Line") that you can use for your entire writing career that will cut your story development time in half, and help you figure out if any story idea will have legs as a book or screenplay—BEFORE—you start writing.

Services

Fiction

Non-Fiction

Started Storygeeks Press as a vehicle to publish my own fiction, but now offer hybrid publisher services to other indie authors looking to self-publish their work. Storygeeks Press specializes in genre fiction (science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, and horror).

Regular instructor through Stanford University's School of Continuing Education. I teach premise development and story structure classes and guest lecture on story development for other Stanford writing program instructors.

Ongoing contributor to leading writing industry trade magazines, including: Writer's Digest Magazine, The Writer Magazine, Writing Magazine (UK), and Script Magazine.

Worked with two of the largest subsidy publishing companies as an editorial consultant and developmental editor. Worked with fiction, nonfiction, and creative nonfiction authors to improve their book's structure, story, narrative design, and assure book elements conformed to publishing industry best practices. Consulted with thousands of authors across all major genres.

Founded Storygeeks, a professional services company offering story consulting, editing, and story development services to the entertainment (film/TV), publishing, and subsidy publishing industries.

Freelance screenwriter providing script doctoring, freelance writing, and spec script submissions to independent production companies in the film and television industry. Currently have multiple feature film projects in various stages of development with active production companies in Hollywood, CA.

13 Minutes

Jeff Lyons

One room. Six People. No way out. And every 13 minutes one of them dies—horribly—unless they can figure out what their nameless, faceless, and creepily mysterious captor wants from them. One woman holds the key to their survival or deaths. But, only if she faces her own bloody past and the earth-shattering truth of why they are all trapped together. Her final choice to own the truth can bring ... read more

One room. Six People. No way out. And every 13 minutes one of them dies—horribly—unless they can figure out what their nameless, faceless, and creepily mysterious captor wants from them. One woman holds the key to their survival or deaths. But, only if she faces her own bloody past and the earth-shattering truth of why they are all trapped together. Her final choice to own the truth can bring ... read more

Anatomy of a Premise Line: How to Master Premise and Story Development for Writing Success

Jeff Lyons

If a story is going to fail, it will do so first at the premise level. Anatomy of a Premise Line: How to Master Premise and Story Development for Writing Success is the only book of its kind to identify a seven-step development process that can be repeated and applied to any story idea. This process will save you time, money, and potentially months of wasted writing. So whether you are trying ... read more

If a story is going to fail, it will do so first at the premise level. Anatomy of a Premise Line: How to Master Premise and Story Development for Writing Success is the only book of its kind to identify a seven-step development process that can be repeated and applied to any story idea. This process will save you time, money, and potentially months of wasted writing. So whether you are trying ... read more

Coal Dust Is White

Irwin Sagenkahn

It is 1890 when two boys stand on a steamship deck and stare in awe at the New York City skyline. Simon Walsh is traveling with his parents, Josiah and Sarah, to Chicago, where his father plans to help operate a family grocery store. Steven Richards is journeying with his sister, Martha, and his parents, John and Elizabeth, to Coal City, Pennsylvania, where his father plans to work in the coal... read more

It is 1890 when two boys stand on a steamship deck and stare in awe at the New York City skyline. Simon Walsh is traveling with his parents, Josiah and Sarah, to Chicago, where his father plans to help operate a family grocery store. Steven Richards is journeying with his sister, Martha, and his parents, John and Elizabeth, to Coal City, Pennsylvania, where his father plans to work in the coal... read more

Heaven's Warriors: The Defense of God

Daniel L. Cramer

Naked and alone, Horus is reborn to a realm he does not remember. As he searches to reclaim his past and pursue his destiny, a group of evil Archangels are driven to find him at any cost. While attempting to find someone he can trust, a chance encounter brings him into contact with a family of Cherubs. These slave like creations have no soul and thus lack place on the Wheel of Life which is th... read more

Naked and alone, Horus is reborn to a realm he does not remember. As he searches to reclaim his past and pursue his destiny, a group of evil Archangels are driven to find him at any cost. While attempting to find someone he can trust, a chance encounter brings him into contact with a family of Cherubs. These slave like creations have no soul and thus lack place on the Wheel of Life which is th... read more

All Saints Play

R. J. Antanaitis

About two thousand years ago, J. C. De Lord came to Earth to perform a miracle so the “saints” would continue to believe in him. But too much time has passed since his last visit. Saddened by the thought that his disciples have forgotten him, J. C. decides to make a guest appearance as a player at Super Bowl XLIV. With kickoff only an hour away, J. C. enters the New Orleans Saints’ locker room... read more

About two thousand years ago, J. C. De Lord came to Earth to perform a miracle so the “saints” would continue to believe in him. But too much time has passed since his last visit. Saddened by the thought that his disciples have forgotten him, J. C. decides to make a guest appearance as a player at Super Bowl XLIV. With kickoff only an hour away, J. C. enters the New Orleans Saints’ locker room... read more

I Don't Care What Mom Says, "Life Sucks"

Craig A. Brand

If you bought this book thinking you would read a series of humorous vignettes, guess again. This book is about Life, real life, not those fairy tales our mothers share with us as we grow up. Mommy wants her children happy and visited by Mickey Mouse, not those caped in evil. However, boys and girls, Mickey Mouse only lives in Disney, and we must be prepared for the Big Bad Wolf, who lives in ... read more

If you bought this book thinking you would read a series of humorous vignettes, guess again. This book is about Life, real life, not those fairy tales our mothers share with us as we grow up. Mommy wants her children happy and visited by Mickey Mouse, not those caped in evil. However, boys and girls, Mickey Mouse only lives in Disney, and we must be prepared for the Big Bad Wolf, who lives in ... read more

Ron's Sourdough Shop

Dean R. Blanchard

Ron's Sourdough Shop is an anthology of short stories chronicling the path one-man takes searching for his identity. From the death of his parents at an early age: adoption, homosexuality, to dealing with a criminal label that would shadow him for the rest of his life. In the end, the love and affection of family and friends would help him rise out of the ashes of his sordid, dysfunctional lif... read more

Ron's Sourdough Shop is an anthology of short stories chronicling the path one-man takes searching for his identity. From the death of his parents at an early age: adoption, homosexuality, to dealing with a criminal label that would shadow him for the rest of his life. In the end, the love and affection of family and friends would help him rise out of the ashes of his sordid, dysfunctional lif... read more

Weightlessness: Integrated Exercise: Yoga, Pilates, and Chi Kung

Ray Rizzo

As a child, author Ray Rizzo suffered a head injury that left him with severe headaches and occasional visionary states. At seventeen, he began to study yoga and to practice fasting, meditation, and shamanism, which alleviated his chronic symptoms. In his own recovery, he discovered an ability to assist others in their healing processes-a quest that would culminate in a traditional shamanic ap... read more

As a child, author Ray Rizzo suffered a head injury that left him with severe headaches and occasional visionary states. At seventeen, he began to study yoga and to practice fasting, meditation, and shamanism, which alleviated his chronic symptoms. In his own recovery, he discovered an ability to assist others in their healing processes-a quest that would culminate in a traditional shamanic ap... read more

LymeLight

Linda Wortell

Following a normal day in the life of our fourteen-year-old daughter-school, extracurricular activities, and homework-came a quiet night's sleep. However, Grace's world was profoundly changed, as she awoke with a severe, debilitating headache and total memory loss. We promptly sought medical attention, ruling out a stroke, drugs, seizures, encephalitis, meningitis, and tumors. Immediately, fam... read more

Following a normal day in the life of our fourteen-year-old daughter-school, extracurricular activities, and homework-came a quiet night's sleep. However, Grace's world was profoundly changed, as she awoke with a severe, debilitating headache and total memory loss. We promptly sought medical attention, ruling out a stroke, drugs, seizures, encephalitis, meningitis, and tumors. Immediately, fam... read more

All Ya Gotta Do is Aim

Bob Putt

For any golfer, 'All ya gotta do is aim' seems simple enough. But PGA Master Professional Bob Putt's great new book, All You Gotta Do Is Aim, unlocks this simple concept and breaks it down into easy-to-understand lessons for golfing success. From hotel ballrooms to interaction with stars and amateur golfers, Bob has compiled the lessons that All You Gotta Do is Aim offers to help improve your ... read more

For any golfer, 'All ya gotta do is aim' seems simple enough. But PGA Master Professional Bob Putt's great new book, All You Gotta Do Is Aim, unlocks this simple concept and breaks it down into easy-to-understand lessons for golfing success. From hotel ballrooms to interaction with stars and amateur golfers, Bob has compiled the lessons that All You Gotta Do is Aim offers to help improve your ... read more

Is Your Fork In Tune?: The Search For Resonance?

Hayley Weatherburn

Ever wondered how twins can sense each other, even when they are on the other side of the world? Or thought about why you suddenly think of someone you haven’t seen for ages and then they call you on the phone – how does that happen? Have you ever experienced or heard of animals predicting earthquakes or even “sniffing” out cancers – what makes them do this? Religion and prayer seem to produce... read more

Ever wondered how twins can sense each other, even when they are on the other side of the world? Or thought about why you suddenly think of someone you haven’t seen for ages and then they call you on the phone – how does that happen? Have you ever experienced or heard of animals predicting earthquakes or even “sniffing” out cancers – what makes them do this? Religion and prayer seem to produce... read more

The I Do's & I Don'ts of a Successful Marriage

Rick L. Cox

I realize there are many self-help books covering a variety of issues. My desire, however, was to write a book about the marital relationship that is easy to read yet has enough substance to positively impact readers on a level that would motivate an inward desire to change for the better. This is a book that will open the eyes of readers to the fact that they are as normal as anyone else. It ... read more

I realize there are many self-help books covering a variety of issues. My desire, however, was to write a book about the marital relationship that is easy to read yet has enough substance to positively impact readers on a level that would motivate an inward desire to change for the better. This is a book that will open the eyes of readers to the fact that they are as normal as anyone else. It ... read more

Olyanna's Dream - 12 Short Stories of Speculative Fiction

Timothy Hall

All of Olyanna’s dreams are about to come true. Everything she’s worked for is about to pay off. And all she has to do is turn her back on an entire world struggling to survive against a government pretending to be its savior. Olyanna’s Rain is the first of twelve stories spanning ten years of creativity and imagination. From down trodden would-be heroes to what really happened in the legend o... read more

All of Olyanna’s dreams are about to come true. Everything she’s worked for is about to pay off. And all she has to do is turn her back on an entire world struggling to survive against a government pretending to be its savior. Olyanna’s Rain is the first of twelve stories spanning ten years of creativity and imagination. From down trodden would-be heroes to what really happened in the legend o... read more

Yesterday's Enemy

Barbara Erlichman

After being fired from the Academie des Artes in Paris, art historian Katrina McLeod's job options are extremely limited. Although over-qualified, she agrees to inventory the Baron de Gervay's art collection at his remote chateau in Provence. Her mundane job soon turns into a nightmare as she finds herself enmeshed in Gervay's plot to smuggle terrorists out of France. During the day, Nick Sant... read more

After being fired from the Academie des Artes in Paris, art historian Katrina McLeod's job options are extremely limited. Although over-qualified, she agrees to inventory the Baron de Gervay's art collection at his remote chateau in Provence. Her mundane job soon turns into a nightmare as she finds herself enmeshed in Gervay's plot to smuggle terrorists out of France. During the day, Nick Sant... read more

Sandaman's Riposte

Tom Trabulsi

ri•poste \ri-'pōst\: 1. a fencer's quick return thrust following a parry. 2. a retaliatory maneuver or measure. Zeke Sandaman is a twenty-something Boston bicycle messenger living as far off the radar as he can. With no bank account, no phone, no insurance, and no plans for change, Zeke is quietly paying the price for a short lifetime of bad choices. But everything grows even more uncertain in... read more

ri•poste \ri-'pōst\: 1. a fencer's quick return thrust following a parry. 2. a retaliatory maneuver or measure. Zeke Sandaman is a twenty-something Boston bicycle messenger living as far off the radar as he can. With no bank account, no phone, no insurance, and no plans for change, Zeke is quietly paying the price for a short lifetime of bad choices. But everything grows even more uncertain in... read more