Bücher von John Gaspard

Mystery and Magic at the Old Folks' Home!When the residents of Lakeview Haven retirement community start experiencing vivid nightmares and hallucinations, amateur sleuth Eli grows suspicious. Could someone be causing these disturbing visions on purpose?Teaming up with his magician uncle Harry, Eli begins investigating the residents and staff at the senior facility. Using a clever trap involving illusions, they attempt to catch the perpetrator red-handed. But will their scheme backfire on them and help the criminal disappear into thin air?This volume also includes the novellas "Lost In the Shuffle" and "The Square Circle."Lost in the ShuffleWhen Eli takes a pitstop for a cinnamon bun en route to Magic Camp, he bites into more than he bargained for, finding himself swirled into a zany whirlwind of unexpected danger. With his magician's skill and a sprinkling of humor, Eli turns a dreaded trip into an exhilarating, high-stakes escapade.The Square CircleEli finds himself entangled in a kidnapping case while planning a surprise party for his astute Uncle Harry. As the mystery deepens, Eli applies his unique knowledge of magic to decipher a bizarre web of clues. But when he finally unravels the riddle, Eli finds himself face-to-face with the ruthless mastermind behind the scheme.

Unlock Your Novel's Full Potential with More Popcorn Principles: The Sequel!John Gaspard's "More Popcorn Principles: The Sequel! (Further Cinematic Storytelling Strategies for Novelists)" is an illuminating guide that takes you on a cinematic journey, revealing the secrets to crafting compelling narratives and characters that resonate. This book is an invaluable tool for any aspiring or seasoned novelist, blending Gaspard's deep understanding of the art of storytelling with inspiration from the world of film.Gaspard presents 23 power-packed principles that will revolutionize your approach to writing. Just as a film director uses a camera to capture the most captivating scenes, Gaspard teaches you to wield your pen to craft striking narratives and unforgettable characters.This accessible guide allows you to jump to topics that spark your interest, with each chapter concluding with thought-provoking questions and a curated viewing list, engaging your mind and stoking your creative fires. Gaspard's approach is grounded in his comprehensive understanding of storytelling and is shaped by his vast experience in both novel-writing and filmmaking."More Popcorn Principles: The Sequel!" is not just a book- it's an immersive masterclass, a transformative journey that will empower and enlighten you, helping you shape your experiences, ideas, and passion into a captivating narrative. As you turn its pages, you'll discover how to harness your narrative voice, master the craft of dialogue, and weave plots that will leave your readers wanting more. Get ready to take your novel-writing journey to the next level!You'll learn key concepts, such as:The challenge of beginning a novelHarnessing your unconscious mind during draftingManaging self-doubt and negative internal voicesIgnoring external voices that hinder creativityThe role of theme in guiding the writing processRaising the stakes to create tension and engagementTaking big creative risks for original storytellingUsing repetition intentionally for dramatic effectGetting straight to the point to engage readersCrafting effective cliffhanger endingsAvoiding frustrating cliffhangers that lack closureThe importance of taking breaks from writingThe art of movie dialogueBlending fact and fiction in historical storytellingPlaying with story structure for innovative storytellingThe role of personal cost in story stakesImplementing a ticking clock for increased tensionMaking the antagonist formidableTesting the main character's values

Unleash Your Inner Detective With Teenage Magician Eli Marks!Join thirteen-year-old Eli as he moves in with his magician uncle and uncovers the secrets of the magic world in "The Curious Mysteries of Eli Marks." With brain-teasing puzzles in each chapter, Eli uses his smarts to solve mysteries while learning about the fascinating world of magic. Readers can join in the fun and try to solve the puzzles alongside Eli ... PLUS learn ten amazing magic tricks with step-by-step instructions and illustrations in the second half of the book. "The Curious Mysteries of Eli Marks" is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end. Don't miss out on this spellbinding adventure!"The Curious Mysteries of Eli Marks is the perfect way to get young people interested in reading and get them interested in the world's greatest art form...MAGIC! Highly recommended!" - Lance Burton, Master Magician

Unleash your inner detective with teenage magician Eli Marks! Join thirteen-year-old Eli as he moves in with his magician uncle and uncovers the secrets of the magic world in "The Curious Mysteries of Eli Marks." With brain-teasing puzzles in each chapter, Eli uses his smarts to solve mysteries while learning about the fascinating world of magic. Readers can join in the fun and try to solve the puzzles alongside Eli … PLUS learn ten amazing magic tricks with step-by-step instructions and illustrations in the second half of the book. "'The Curious Mysteries of Eli Marks' is the perfect way to get young people interested in reading and get them interested in the world's greatest art form…MAGIC! Highly recommended!" - Lance Burton, Master Magician

Take your novel to the next level. Unlock the power of the silver screen with The Popcorn Principles, a guide to fiction and novel writing.It will help you:• Craft unforgettable characters• Write compelling scenes• Hide exposition• Structure powerful endingsWith this book (and the movies it draws on), you'll learn the tools and techniques used by screenwriters, which you can apply to your own writing. Craft your next novel and become a better writer with The Popcorn Principles. (Popcorn not included.) Includes interviews and tips from Roger Corman, Jon Favreau, Steven Soderbergh, George Romero, Bob Odenkirk, Stuart Gordon, Miranda July, Academy-Award winner Kenneth Lonergan, editor Carol Littleton ("The Big Chill"), Dan O'Bannon ("Alien"), Tom DiCillo ("Living in Oblivion), Academy-Award nominees Whit Stillman ("Metropolitan") and Dan Futterman ("Capote"), and Alex Cox ("Repo Man").

Take your novel to the next level. Unlock the power of the silver screen with The Popcorn Principles, a guide to fiction and novel writing.It will help you:¿ Craft unforgettable characters¿ Write compelling scenes¿ Hide exposition¿ Structure powerful endingsWith this book (and the movies it draws on), you'll learn the tools and techniques used by screenwriters, which you can apply to your own writing. Craft your next novel and become a better writer with The Popcorn Principles. (Popcorn not included.)Includes interviews and tips from Roger Corman, Jon Favreau, Steven Soderbergh, George Romero, Bob Odenkirk, Stuart Gordon, Miranda July, Academy-Award winner Kenneth Lonergan, editor Carol Littleton ("The Big Chill"), Dan O'Bannon ("Alien"), Tom DiCillo ("Living in Oblivion), Academy-Award nominees Whit Stillman ("Metropolitan") and Dan Futterman ("Capote"), and Alex Cox ("Repo Man").

A Puzzling Clue to an Unconventional Murder..."You will just LOVE these books!"-VANISH Magazine When an old family friend is arrested for murder at a magic convention, Uncle Harry urges Eli to step in and solve the bizarre homicide. Eli's attempt to sort through all the suspects is stymied after a second murder and then a third murder attempt-or was it merely an accident? Is someone trying to knock off the top mentalists in the country? And if they are, why do the clues keep pointing to Eli's friend?As the body count rises, Eli must race against the clock to trap this clever killer before becoming the final victim.Grab this fun and funny mystery today!¿¿¿¿¿Praise for Eli Marks Mystery Series:"If David Copperfield and Sherlock Holmes had a child, it would be Eli Marks."-The Magic Word Podcast"This is an instant classic, in a league with Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Arthur Conan Doyle."-Rosebud Book Reviews"It's full of magic, mystery, danger and misdirection, as a good magic trick should be. I love this cozy mystery series, a thoroughly delightful read."-Sweet Mystery Books"Before I had even finished the first chapter I had fallen in love with Eli. He is intelligent, sensitive, witty and, suddenly, the main suspect in a series of murders...well written, fast-paced and exciting."-The Frugal Mennonite"This story is very well written and fun to read. I would definitely read another Eli Marks Mystery!"_A Simple Taste for Reading"Hands-down the funniest thing I have read in a long time, expertly paced and hilariously detailed."-Seattle Book Mama¿¿¿¿¿Books in the Eli Marks Mystery Series:THE AMBITIOUS CARD (#1)THE BULLET CATCH (#2)THE MISER'S DREAM (#3)THE LINKING RINGS (#4)THE FLOATING LIGHT BULB (#5)THE ZOMBIE BALL (#6)THE MAGIC SQUARE (#7)THE SELF-WORKING TRICK (#8)

Write Your Screenplay with the Help of Top Screenwriters! It's like taking a Master Class in screenwriting … all in one book! Discover the pitfalls of writing to fit a budget from screenwriters who have successfully navigated these waters already. Learn from their mistakes and improve your script with their expert advice. "I wish I'd read this book before I made Re-Animator."-Stuart Gordon, Director, Re-Animator, Castle Freak, From Beyond The book covers (among other topics):Academy-Award Winner Dan Futterman ("Capote") on writing real storiesTom DiCillio ("Living In Oblivion") on turning a short into a featureKasi Lemmons ("Eve's Bayou") on writing for a different time periodGeorge Romero ("Martin") on writing horror on a budgetRebecca Miller ("Personal Velocity") on adapting short storiesStuart Gordon ("Re-Animator") on adaptationsAcademy-Award Nominee Whit Stillman ("Metropolitan") on cheap ways to make it look expensiveMiranda July ("Me and You and Everyone We Know") on making your writing spontaneousAlex Cox ("Repo Man") on scaling the script to meet a budgetJoan Micklin Silver ("Hester Street") on writing history on a budgetBob Clark ("Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things") on mixing humor and horrorAmy Holden Jones ("Love Letters") on writing romance on a budget Henry Jaglom ("Venice/Venice") on mixing improvisation with scriptingL.M. Kit Carson ("Paris, Texas") on re-writing while shootingAcademy-Award Winner Kenneth Lonergan ("You Can Count on Me") on script editingRoger Nygard ("Suckers") on mixing genresThis is the book for anyone who's serious about writing a screenplay that can get produced! Grab it today! ¿¿¿¿¿ "A perfect read for anyone who wants to write a film script or for anyone who just enjoys watching movies."-Fred Willard, Actor, A Mighty Wind, Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman"This volume is packed full of useful little nuggets of information."-Jonathan Lynn, Director, My Cousin Vinny, Clue, Nuns on the Run, The Whole Nine Yards "Packed with war stories and savvy advice for beginning screenwriters."-Larry Gross, Screenwriter, 48 hrs., Streets of Fire, True Crime