Steve Alten February Newsletter |
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TO: My Readers, Friends… but especially to my MEGheads:
FIRST… in case you missed the last newsletter – big news!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT (Updated February 21, 2023)
For years MEGheads have been asking for a complete set of all seven MEG novels in hardback. Simply put, with three different publishers that was never going to happen. But A & M Publishing could do it – as long as this special Collector’s editions are never sold in stores or on amazon, and are limited to only 5,000 books.
I started planning this months ago – my goal – to create a real keepsake fans of the series could enjoy and pass onto the next generations of Giant Shark and sea monster lovers in their own family. As you'll see, I have taken it much farther – adding new content and rewriting old to match bonus materials and novellas. My original plan was to make the announcement closer to May 2023 when the movie trailers to the upcoming MEG-2: The TRENCH motion picture should be coming out, but when an unexpected opportunity with my long-time printer at A & M Publishing presented itself, I decided to bring it out early so that you can devour Volumes I & II before the movie arrives in theaters in August of this year.
And so it is with heartfelt thanks that I present to MEGheads past, present & future:
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A seven-volume Collector’s boxed set of Steve Alten’s MEG SERIES, featuring each of the seven full-length MEG novels and three novellas -- presented in chronological order. Each hardback will be bound in faux leather, the three sides of every page edged in a gold finish, with every shipped book packed inside its own travel box. Volume VII will be sold with a commemorative book case, each boxed set numbered.
For sale now as you read this is Volume I, which will feature an entirely new version of MEG, with the prequel (MEG: Origins) woven into the updated MEG 2015 Anniversary Edition. It will have never-before-read passages with author comments and special features… and conclude with MEG comic #1 of six that make up the graphic novel, the incredible artwork bringing the characters and Meg to life.
Volume II will go on sale after Volume I goes to the printer. It will open with the never-before-published Angel of Death-I novella and a newly-edited version of MEG-2; The TRENCH. Extras include 25 years of scientific discoveries that turned MEG from fiction to FACTion. and will conclude with Comic #2.
Volume-III will open with a brand-new still-to-be-written novella; Angel of Death-II, followed by MEG: Primal Waters. Other extras include graphic images created by then unknown graphic artist Erik Hollander. Comic #3 concludes this amazing book.
Volumes IV thru VI extras will be announced when these books go on pre-sale, leading up to…
Volume VII – MEG: Purgatory. If you ordered a special commemorative hardback – no worries, it is still coming out. Volume-VII will … well, it’s a big surprise… enuff said.
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HOW TO PURCHASE:
The original plan was to only print 5,000 of each, a volume to be offered and pre-sold every 3-4 months. Two colors were created by our talented LEGACY artist (J.S. Earls): red on BLACK (BLACK) & white on RED (RED) with a vote among MEGheads to select a winner. But both were so different and so well done… and you wanted both (a set to read and a set to display). This was exactly what happened years ago when Erik designed two different covers for MEG: Hell’s Aquarium and the vote was a dead-heat. So we decided to offer both RED & BLACK and I had to renegotiate a slightly higher print price of two runs of 2,500 books per volume.
That was the new plan… which changed again after many of you emailed me, preferring to buy the entire set of seven at once rather than worry about missing a newsletter announcement. My printer advised me to make a third color to distinguish between these purchases or there would be fulfillment order headaches. So J.S. designed a third book in Ocean-Blue… and blew us all away.
PURCHASE OPTIONS:
Select a color: RED, BLACK or BLUE.
Select a payment method; Pay only for Volume: I or prepay for the entire set.
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QUESTION: What if I forget to order one of the books and they sell out?
ANSWER: If you order Volume I we’ll have you in the system for email reminders.
QUESTION: What if my dog chews up one of my books, ruining the entire set?
ANSWER: If you are in the system, then you can purchase any volume that has been released… not from one of the 5,000 printed but from an “extra.” Extras always happen as these massive print presses cannot stop precisely on 5,000. The publisher agrees to pay for these extras, which we’ll maintain as replacements. After they are gone… that’s it.
QUESTION: Will my Volume-I be signed?
ANSWER: If you order before March 1, 2023… YES.
QUESTION: I ordered in RED – is it to late to switch to Blue?
ANSWER: Email me before March 1 at Meg82159@aol.com and I will switch it for you. But I’d rather you order a second set for a friend. The minimum run per color is 1,000… however, no worries. If we have to wait to place one of the three color orders it is okay. And in May, there will be a huge happening that should sell out every volume in ever color… the MEG-2: The TRENCH trailers! The MEG trailers had 100 million views, and I will be doing interviews, so don’t wait too long.
(NOTE: Part of the proceeds from MEG: LEGACY are being used to supply the GC-6000 natural extract I have been using to treat the malignant tumor discovered on my right kidney prior to emergency surgery back on Sept. 4, 2022. On February 28, I will have my 90-day follow up CT scan, the results known on March 3rd – to be reported at www.GoneCancer.com
Enjoy the rest of the newsletter,
Steve Alten
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WANTED: Individuals interested in bringing their talents to MAC: |
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Years ago, I invited about thirty of the most active and enthusiastic fans to be a part of a MEGhead Council who could provide feedback and suggestions on everything from new promotional items to situations where they could look at things with untainted views. For their assistance, I offered a variety of perks – from signed books and posters to tickets to The MEG premiere.
At an age where most people are looking to retire, I find myself busier than ever. With a second MEG movie only six months away, with an original script (Mr. Irrelevant) moving closer to production and inquiries coming in regarding several of my novels that would just make amazing TV series – with Paul Knott’s video game finally counting down to launch at SeaMonsterCove.com AND a sister site just for high school teachers and students… and those are only the things I can mention, the ones I can’t are even bigger. At a time when all I want to do is finish writing LOCH-3: Heaven Lake (which I know can and WILL BE one of my top 3 novels ever), then write the second Angel of Death novelle so that LEGACY has clear editorial sailing to MEG-7: Purgatory… (plus a few health challenges) simply put - I need help.
If you or your team fit any of these – consider sending me an email at Meg82159@aol.com with your resume and/or sample of your talents, Subject: I CAN HELP:
- Social network in the 6-7 figures of followers
- 3D special effects artist
- Production company
- Director/officer in a Health organization
- Political connections
- Ambitious go-getter willing to prove themself
- Returning War Veteran
Or… if you would like to be added to our MEG Council… email me as well,( Meg82159@aol.com) SUBJECT: COUNCIL APPLICANT. |
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SEA MONSTER COVE
February-March Happenings:
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VIDEO GAME UPDATE from Paul Knott;
Steve, I am very close. As you saw in the video the other day I have the creature stuff working properly, I have a 'scan' system in place which is quite nice I think.
The only things I need to do are to tweak the scoring values/system, the sub speed/turning speed system, the timer and the high score/leaderboard system. I'm doing this one a little differently than I did with Run Layla Run so that it only shows the highest score of a player, and not have the leaderboard dominated by one person (if that makes sense).
I'm going to try and get everything done for Friday to show you on a call, failing that I will do a full gameplay video or two for you. From booting the game up to the end of a round.
Paul
Here is the short video Paul sent last week – this is going to be amazing!
NOTE: I will send out a special Sea Monster Cove Chronicle when the game goes live.
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FEBRUARY ZOOM call with Steve Alten: |
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Zoom call with Steve Alten
Sunday March 5, 2023 at 3 p.m. EST.
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Music Video of the Month:
B*tch by the Rolling Stones
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This live version from the Marquee Club in 1971 is just another justification for naming the Stones “world’s greatest Rock-n-Roll band of all time.”
Sometimes, I'm sexy, move like a stud
Like kicking the stall all night
Sometimes, I'm so shy, got to be worked on
Don't have no bark or bite, alright
[Chorus]
Yeah, when you call my name
I salivate like a Pavlov dog
Yeah, when you lay me out
My heart is bumping louder than a big bass drum, alright
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Recipe Of The Month:
Spaghetti with Garlic, Olive Oil,
and Red Pepper Flakes
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Ingredients:
1 pound dried spaghetti
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic cloves
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves.
Instructions;
Bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain the pasta in a colander, reserving 2 tablespoons of the pasta water. The reserved pasta water will help create the sauce. Do not rinse pasta with water -- you want to retain the pasta's natural starches so that the sauce will stick.
Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until light brown and fragrant. It's important not to burn the garlic or else it will become bitter. Remove and discard the browned garlic. Add the red pepper flakes and sauté for 1 minute. Carefully add the pasta and toss to coat in the flavored oil. Add the reserved pasta water and cook, stirring, to create a sauce, 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and top with the fresh herbs.
*IF YOU HAVE A RECIPE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, please e-mail to me at MEG82159@aol.com Put RECIPE in the subject line. |
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High school teachers needed to beta test
Sea Monster Cove High school
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Combines the 20 years of success of the Adopt-An-Author program with an all-new visual-learning/entertainment prototype GUARANTEED to get even your most reluctant student readers to read – AND improve on their state exams. Email me at Meg8219@aol.com if you teach grades 9 thru 12 English, reading, or marine science and would like to beta test the program for free. |
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Funny video of the month: Super Dave |
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*IF YOU HAVE A JOKE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, please e-mail to me at MEG82159@aol.com Put JOKE in the subject line. |
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Finally…
Your monthly dosage of my Father’s three favorite wise men… We lost Dad to cancer twelve years ago this month. This is the last short we watched together. The premise: Curly goes crazy whenever he hears the Weasel song (Moe and Larry must tickle his feet to get him to stop him).”
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Hopefully the GC-6000 unleashes my p53 Curly gene on cancer and kicks its ass.
I Appreciate you,
Steve Alten
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