Steve Alten's February Newsletter

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To my fans, readers, & friends:


Thank you for all of the kind thoughts and prayers. My surgery to remove a cancerous tumor on my right kidney went very well and—after a month of healing I am returning to my strength training so I can finally lose the wheelchair. I can stand and walk with a walker (and very short distances without it), but on January 11, I could not walk my daughter, Kelsey, down the very long aisle at her wedding ceremony.


I want to use this newsletter in hopes of clearing up some “misgivings” regarding pre-ordering two unfinished novels (LOCH-3: Heaven Lake and MEG-7: Purgatory) and the MEG: Legacy special collectors set which we hope to send to the printer on March 11, 2024 to print volumes I and II.


The idea to create a seven-volume set of everything MEG came from the numerous email requests I have received over the years from readers who desired to purchase a complete hardback set of MEG books. With three different publishers, this was the only way we could do it … a faux leather-bound Collector’s Edition limited to only 5,000 sets. If we had sold half that amount the first 90 days (January 31, 2023 through May 1, 2023), you’d have signed Volumes I through IV on your book shelf with Volumes V & VI on the way. That alone would have sold the remaining 2,500—even just Volume I. Unfortunately, after the initial RUSH of 500 by some of my oldest and most loyal MEGheads, we barely pre-sold another two-hundred books over these last twelve months, raising the cost per book significantly.


I was hoping MEG-2: The TRENCH would help sales last summer, or at least get me on major radio stations speaking with millions of listeners—but that had no effect. MEG-6: GENERATIONS had pre-sold nearly 4,700 copies—why weren’t we selling LEGACY?


No doubt, the long wait for LOCH-3: Heaven Lake and MEG-7: PURGATORY play a major role. It’s for that reason that I decided to cover the loss by shipping two volumes in one box—the arrival of two finished books reassuring buyers.


But before I can send out the two manuscripts (Volumes I & II), I had to deal with an ordering situation we created when we went from one faux-leather design (classic RED with white ink), and added BLACK with crimson, blood-red ink. Then we added the dazzling OCEAN BLUE option. Since we only had one option on January 31 through February 6, 2023, there was no color selection to choose your favorite color. That affected our first 500+ orders. To obtain their color selection meant me sending out—one by one—an individual and personal email to roughly 500 fans … then processing your response and sending out a receipt in the email. Know what? It took my wife and I about 100 hours but I loved it! Many of you bought the original hardback MEG: Novel of Deep Terror and shared a personal story. Fan memories will also be featured in LEGACY so feel free to send them to me at Meg82159@aol.com.


I posted this reminder to fans on 2-24-2024 and a few readers (one in particular) got very upset.

MEG-Legacy-1 image

From my Facebook:


I will never preorder from Steve Alten ever again. Literally people have died waiting for Loch 3 to come out. My mother being one of them. This was a series we shared along with Meg as I grew up. I was so excited to be able to buy her a special edition of something we had shared over many years.


First—my condolences for your loss—but what response would have changed things? My father and I used to watch Philadelphia Eagles games every week before he passed away from cancer. It took them sixty years to win their first Super Bowl—six years after Dad died. Should I write a nasty note to their owner …


Dear Mr. Lurie: When you bought the team in 1998 you promised championships. Philly fans have died waiting—I will never buy another Eagles jersey again.


Yes, LOCH-3 has taken longer—thus delaying MEG-7: Purgatory, but as I have explained on my website and in numerous newsletters, I spent all of 2019 writing the first 100 pages and didn’t “feel it.” Having written three novels in a row, I knew I needed a break. Weeks before Christmas I got an early present when the idea for an episodic TV series called Where Sea Monsters Roam came to me … and took on a life of its own. After a needed 15-month break, I returned to LOCH-3 recharged. After re-reading The LOCH & Vostok (sequel), I found the story and characters I was missing.


Some novels go that way; when dealing with creativity, FORCING the story never works. I have a test I use on each novel: Pick any Alten book, randomly open to any page and read. Can you jump into the story right there? I can now with the new 440+ page manuscript for LOCH-3.


Back to the fan:


Fan: Most of us are upset about feeling like we’ve been strung along for years, not only with Loch 3 but also Meg Generations.


I assume she meant PURGATORY, though GENERATIONS took me 3 years to write.


Fan: It is a consistent behavior with Steve. He does big promos to get people to “preorder” and then continues to “update” as projects get closer to completion, but no real date is ever promised.


I’m not an assembly line with junior authors co-writing my novels. When I say it’s done, I will happily announce a date.


Fan: He just keeps saying he is always working on something big, but apparently not the projects he has already been paid for. By self-publishing, Steve isn’t set to any specific dates.


Most of my novels are published by TOR/Forge books/St. Martin’s Press. LOCH-3 will be published by A & M Publishing which I now own. This is NOT self-publishing, we have published other authors. 


See https://ampublishers.com/. A & M used to distribute retail but we were burned severely with the hardback release of UNDISCLOSED after a certain multi-billion-dollar company pirated my novel and sold it via their print on demand press as a horrible trade paperback for half the price. Book sellers loved UNDISCLOSED and doubled their initial orders. By the time I discovered what had happened, our summer P.R. campaign was over and booksellers began RETURNING over 8,000 books, with Ingram charging us for each novel AND postage & handling. Yes, we sued over copyright infringement, but were forced to settle for pennies on the dollar (the pirates’ fifty lawyers would have dragged it out for years).


If you purchased a copy of LOCH-3: Heaven Lake, then you want A & M handling production as we can include bonuses the big houses can’t. For instance, in our MEG: GENERATIONS hardback, we included 30+ pages of art, maps, and photos—way too expensive for other publishers (none of these images are in the GENERATIONS trade or mass market paperback published by TOR). Just look at the chapter dividers that my senior editor, Barbara Becker created. I also commissioned talented artists like Tan Ngo, whose artwork places you right inside the story. My readers deserve the best, and being a VISUAL WRITER, I want my readers to experience my work like it was intended. LEGACY, LOCH-3, and MEG: PURGATORY will have all of these extras … and lots more!


Fan: He gets to choose when a project is released and has continually said he’d rather wait to publish something closer to movie release to make more money rather than delivering to his fans work that they’ve already paid him for.


I have the right to promote a new novel to aid book sales, and it is far easier to book a big radio show with a movie coming out. But that is only for books being sold RETAIL, not presold orders. Both LOCH-3 and MEG-7 will be published by A & M Publishing.


Fan: It’s not about wanting a refund. It’s us who’ve been following Steve and have supported him that are truly just disappointed. If you can’t trust the man’s word, what’s the point in continually supporting someone who has taken jobs and not completed them in a timely manner. Most preorders usually happen under a 2 year time frame.


Believe me, I WISH I had completed both novels in your “most pre-orders under two-year time frame” scenario. Unfortunately, to quote my fellow Philly son, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows; it’s a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you down if you let it.” In the last five years, COVID put Europe in lockdown while I had a film crew and actors in France to film my pilot of Where Sea Monsters Roam, basically ending production. COVID also delayed production (payday) on MEG-2 by three years and The LOCH by three years. Compared to the loss of life suffered, my family got out lucky. But I’ve also fought to survive emergency surgery, seventeen days of suffering in a hospital which I am still dealing with … then cancer surgery—and, oh yeah, seventeen years with Parkinson’s. Do you really think giving you my word would have quickened LOCH-3’s completion?

But here’s where you do have my word: That LOCH-3: Heaven Lake will be amazing (whenever it arrives), as will MEG-7: PURGATORY. And MEG: Legacy will grace your home and family over generations, and you can tell your kids and grandkids that the author PERSONALLY signed the books and personally answered every email and did that to his dying day …


Enjoy the rest of the newsletter … and thank you for your continued support.


Steve

In The News:

Shark-found-in-cave image

New Shark species discovered in ancient caves


The discovery highlights Kentucky's prehistoric landscape, once submerged under a vast seaway.


Read More Here.


Thanks Larry P.

Behemoth image

Skull of marine 'behemoth' washes ashore on California coast


The base of a skull belonging to a marine “behemoth” washed ashore along Pajaro Dunes State Beach in Watsonville, prompting curious locals to take photos and share them with experts for identification, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History representatives told SFGATE over the phone.


Read Full Story Here.


Thanks, John W

Ancient-Megalodon-Shark image

Megalodon not quite as big as filmmakers thought


An international review of the megalodon, a giant shark that went extinct 3.6 million years ago, has suggested that it was much slimmer than researchers previously thought.


Read Full Story Here.


Thank you, Phil

Living Tips: For Parkinson's & MS Patients

Gold-Dust image

A Sprinkle of Gold Dust Could Help Reverse Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease


Scientists are investigating whether an oral drug sprinkled with gold nanoparticles could one day treat neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.


The experimental medicine, called CNM-Au8, has now shown success in boosting the brain's metabolism in phase II clinical trials.


Read Full Story Here.


Is Angiogenesis a Treatment and Potential Cure?


Zhittya Genesis Medicine is developing a drug, fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1), to possibly treat Parkinson's disease by growing new blood vessels in the brains of individuals suffering from Parkinson's. FGF-1 is a potent stimulator of angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels) and is capable of growing these new blood vessels in ischemic areas of the body, including the brain. 


Read Full Story Here.

Song of the Month: Bite My Head Off by the Rolling Stones

Fifteen years after recording their last album, the Greatest Rock-n-Roll Band in history puts out Hackney Diamonds and it’s one of their BEST EVER – ever measured over 60 years of countless hits. There is a definite theme (relationships) in the first four tracks, opening with ANGRY (don’t be angry with me). Mick sounds ageless, Keith weaves Ronnie’s lead, and drummer Stevie Jordan (who played with Keith’s Expensive Winos), replaces the late Charlie Watts, even playing Watt’s awkward style of emphasizing his left-hand down beats on the snare (2 & 4 and) pulling the sixteenth notes on his rod cymbal so it doesn’t compete. Bite My Head Off is just fun, with great back-to-back solos. Paul McCartney stepped in to play the bass at the studio, but Darryl Jones handles it on the tour – setting up Ronnie Wood on a lead guitar solo that is as effortless as it is brilliant.

Recipe of the month: Cranberry Chicken Salad on Apple Slices

Cranberry-Chicken-Salad image

Ingredients:

8 ounces cooked chicken breast, from a rotisserie chicken, shredded or diced.

1/4 cup celery, sliced.

3 tablespoons Hellman’s mayonnaise.

1/4 cup chicken broth.

1 tablespoon dried cranberries.

1 tablespoon red onion, chopped.

2 medium sweet red apples, sliced into rounds, then cored.


Instructions: Prepare the Chicken Salad: In a medium bowl combine the chicken with celery, mayonnaise, chicken broth, cranberries and red onion, and stir until combined. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.


Slice the Apples: When ready to eat, slice the apples into 1/4 inch thick slices, then remove the seeds. (I used a piping tip). It’s best to eat right away so they don’t turn brown, but if you are planning to eat later, you can toss the apple slices in a little lemon juice.


Assemble: Spoon a generous amount of chicken salad onto each apple slice and enjoy!

Laugh of the Month

steves-joke-of-the-month image

A newlywed couple moves into their new house. One day the husband comes home from work and his wife says, "Honey, you know, in the upstairs bathroom one of the pipes is leaking, could you fix it?" The husband says, "Who do I look like, Mr. Plumber?" A few days go by, and he comes home from work and his wife says, "Honey, the car won't start. I think it needs a new battery. Could you change it for me?" He says: "Who do I look like, Mr. Goodwrench?" Another few days go by, and it's raining pretty hard. The wife finds a leak in the roof. She says, "Honey, there's a leak on the roof! Can you please fix it?" He says, "Who do I look like, Bob Vila?" The next day the husband comes home, and the roof is fixed. So is the plumbing. So is the car. He asks his wife what happened. "Oh, I had a handyman come in and fix them," she says. "Great! How much is that going to cost me?" he snarls. Wife says: "Nothing. He said he'd do it for free if I either baked him a cake or slept with him." "Uh, well, what kind of cake did you make?" asks the husband. "Who do I look like," she says, "Betty Crocker?"


IF YOU HAVE A JOKE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, please email it to me at MEG82159@aol.com Put JOKE in the subject line.

Finally, your moment of Curly Howard to bring a smile to your day.

Stay well, stay in touch, and know I appreciate you.


MEG LEGACY owners: 


CHECK THE LIST BELOW. If your name is there please email me your color choice for MEG: Legacy Volume 1 at Meg82159@aol.com . Be sure to purchase either Vol. 2 or the LIZZY package (Vol 2 to 7) in the same color. Lizzy gets you a personalized signature in Vol. 1.


Steve Alten, Ed.D.

MEG LEGACY orders placed January 31, 2023 thru February 6, 2023 had no color selection box (at that time we only had RED). PLEASE CHECK the list even if you recently emailed me your color selection (RED, BLACK or BLUE).  

 

It is very possible you emailed me with it recently but a hiccup in my WORD erased it. Please email (at Meg82159@aol.com) with your name and # and color selection (RED, BLUE or BLACK).


If you have not purchased Vol. 2 or a LIZZY (Vol 2 – 7 which earns a personalized signature for Vol.1) please let me know that as well. Remember, the last chance to order VOLUME 2 or a LIZZY is March 10, 2024.

 

Thank you.


Steve Alten

 

Name and Order Number:

 

Anna Higgins-Davis - 11266

Gaia Exarchos - 11267

Shelby Meyers - 11269

Maureen Collard - 11270

Joshua Beckman - 11271

Kent Bivens - 11273

Anita Buckmaster - 11275

Ricky G Pavuk - 11277

Matthew J Cooper - 11278

Gabriel Goicouria - 11279

Deborah S Calvert - 11280

Sara Jernigan - 11285

Russell William Hale - 11286

Enrique Bello - 11287

Robert Lang - 11290

Helmi Jokinen - 11293

Philip Kass - 11296

Chris Barn - 11297

Seth Kane - 11309

Katrina Millado - 11310

Guy Montgomery - 11314

Mark Morton - 11315

Jason Janes - 11318

Cesareo G Chavez - 11319

Kelly Rollyson - 11320

Michael Badger - 11324

Joe Thornon - 11326

Arielle Weiss - 11327

Christopher Otero - 11328

Phil Hazell - 11330

Gene Clayton - 11334

Martin Mccandless - 11335

Ryan Carney - 11336

Brendon King - 11338

Andrew Mussler - 11339

Melissa Giordano - 11344

Jeffrey Emmette - 33347

Frank J Stubblefield - 11350

Doug Dvorak - 11351

Annie Lilley - 11354

Victoria Buckman - 11355

Anthony Prudenti - 11357

Andy Traeger - 11358

Chris Cavaliere - 11365

Chris Hansford - 11368

Mark Decker - 11369

Marilyn Mason - 11370

Kaitlyn Pardes - 11371

Paige Howard - 11372

Michael Murphy - 11373

Barbara Baughman - 11374

John Butcher - 11375

Gary Kajutis - 11376

Jonathan Cook - 11379

David Lohrmeyer - 11384

Alexandra Lett - 11385

Michael Feng - 11386

ROB GALARDI - 11390

Carrie Craig - 11392

Jamie Bourdeaux - 11395

Emily Eisenberg - 11397

Ashley Kuehnel - 11399

Robyn Marentette - 11405

Mital Bulsara - 11413

Heather York - 11413

Christopher Mellott - 11415

James Ramer Jr - 11417

Michael Ricard - 11418

Britney Phillips - 11431

Brenndan Blough - 11434

Lynn McDonald - 11437

Guy Christman - 11440

Denise Hoisington - 14448

John Garrett - 11449

Katie Sanford - 11450

Justin - 11452

Nicole Mallia - 11453

Frank Graziosi - 11456

Christopher Wootton - 11457

Frank Graziosi - 11456

Christopher Wootton - 11457

Tim Shearer - 11459

Jaime Watkins - 11460

Angela Walters - 11463

Andrew Walkinshaw - 11464

Wade Snuggerud - 11468

Lucan Carnes - 11472

Christin Hulse - 11473

Cindi Stark - 11474

Marie Mangrum - 11476

Michael G Ross - 11480

Mohammad Mallouh - 11485

Brandon M Brewis - 11487

Courtney Savage - 11496

William Smylie - 11500

James R Cox - 11502

Gerald Winters - 11505

Nick DiBonaventura - 11506

Jeff Anderson - 11509

Joseph DalBon - 11512

Michael Repass - 11516

Shane Wakerling - 11518

Teresa Richards - 11520

Josh Westbrook - 11522

Matthew G Millar - 11524

Rebecca Joy Waters - 11525

Rebecca Joy Waters - 11525

Stephen Zamarripa - 11527

Jeremy Gonzales - 11530

John Hale III - 11531

Tyler Caudle - 11532

Jeff Harmon - 11533

Jeremiah Baker - 11534

Michael Snader - 11535

Jason Hinck - 11536

Kimberly Bull - 11538

Cliff Selbe - 11541

Sharon E Blankenship - 11543

Michael Baker - 111547

Jim Ticknor - 11548

Brian C Coker - 11549

Jordan Triplett - 11550

Michael Johnson - 11552

Zyanya Martinez - 11553

Richard Gatenby - 11554

William W Waltz 11557

Jessica Foreman - 11567

Katrina Hall - 11581

Kole Wheat - 11588

Michael Alishan - 11589

Zachary Stilson - 11592

Britanee Montano - 11593

John B. Daggett - 11594

Courtney M Wallace - 11596

Marla Corniels - 11597

Derrick Jarred - 11598

Susan McWhite - 11600

Khristy Turnage - 11601

Erik Wagoner - 11602

Domenik X B Davis - 11604

Rachel Barry - 116t06

Bobbi Soper - 11607

Jerry Sperry - 11610

Armando Fernandez - 11611

Rosemarie Leipply - 11613

Daniel Roesler - 11614

Colton Mathews - 11617

Craig Myrick - 11619

Jean Toniolli - 11629

Jennifer Peterson - 11622

Marloes Bouwman - 11623

Dulce Lunardon - 11625

Jacquel L Bowman - 11624

Shawna Neuman - 11629

Griff Fairley 11634

Michael Clark - 11635

Christopher Dymond - 11636

Stephanie Hoye - 11638

Scott Patten - 11640

Tammy Ricketts - 11645

Chaz Drain - 11647

David Bibby - 11649

Mrs. Jessica Dawne Roe - 11650

Douglas Carson - 11651

Simon Berggren - 11662

Dale R Dupuis - 11664

Larry Paschelke - 11667

Atticus Morton - 11668

Earl Harrison Jr - 11675

Greg Fox - 11678

Nick Zwald - 11680

Jason Alexander - 11681

John Shepherd - 11690

Ryan Blount - 11692

Scott Simon - 11693

Petter Nordmark - 11694

Samuel Gardner - 11698

Kimberly Stewart - 11701

Max Ervin - 11705

Danielle DePagter - 11714

Mike Patterson - 11715

Belinda Rowland - 11717

Marizelle Burger - 11725

Ted Austin - 11726

Janice Mekovsky - 11727

Bruce Huber - 11731

Ryan Mason - 11738

Thomas Griffin - 11741

Pamela Wood - 11747

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