Steve Alten Newsletter
February 2007
In This Issue
MEG Movie Update
Another Alten novel of “faction” comes true:
The SHELL GAME Update :
The GRIM REAPER – Sneak Preview Coming Soon
The LOCH video footage now posted on website
Steve Alten on myspace.com
Living Tip of the Month
Hurry up and wait. It’s frustrating but that’s the way it goes with books and movies. Something will definitely break in February regarding news about the MEG movie, the SHELL GAME and my nervous breakdown.
With that, here’s your February update:
MEG Movie Update
The new draft of MEG is being budgeted as we speak. Hopefully the budget will
be acceptable and the Execs at New Line Cinema will concur with what everyone
else agrees is a movie that must be made. When I know you will know.
Another Alten novel of “faction” comes true:
Last month a Giant Squid, this month yet another prehistoric creature. Many
of you were kind enough to send me this story:
TOKYO - A species of shark rarely seen alive because its natural habitat is 2,000 feet or more under the sea was captured on film by staff at a Japanese marine park this week. The Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, south of Tokyo, was alerted by a fisherman at a nearby port on Sunday that he had spotted an odd- looking eel-like creature with a mouthful of needle- sharp teeth. Marine park staff caught the 5-foot long creature, which they identified as a female frilled shark, sometimes referred to as a “living fossil” because it is a primitive species that has changed little since prehistoric times. To see the video go to Click Here
All of which begs the question WHAT ELSE ID DOWN THERE?
The SHELL GAME Update :
I am still waiting to hear back several publishers about my eight novel, I hope
to have news in February.
The GRIM REAPER – Sneak Preview Coming Soon
Nick Nunziata and I co-wrote the script and Nick is commissioning pages from
a comic book artist which we’ll show you soon. The story is eye-candy horror.
Here’s the storyline:
An emergency session at the United Nations is interrupted by the spread of a lethal plague that quarantines Manhattan forcing one man to embark on his own psychotic journey through the nine circles of Hell.
I’m so excited by the story, which parallels the hero’s journey in
DANTE’S INFERNO that I may write the book AFTER Hell’s Aquarium. As
for that 4th installment of the MEG series, I want it to be the best of the
series. I have already begun the storyline and research, but again, I need to
know the status of the MEG movie before I determine when I will write the novel.
Hang in there.
The LOCH video footage now posted on website
Two years ago two amazing stories came out regarding the Loch Ness Monster (besides
my novel). The first concerned forensic investigator William McDonald’s
discovery of massive slide tracks frozen along the Loch Ness shoreline. The
second happened four months later when two American college students located
a half-eaten deer carcass and a tooth of the predator that devoured poor Bambi!
BOTH OF THESE STORIES CONFIRMED MY THEORIES IN THE NOVEL! Through a lot of time,
effort, and money we have been able to secure the rights to the video footage,
which is now posted at www.SteveAlten.com (click on The LOCH book cover link.)
Check out The LOCH footage...
Steve Alten on myspace.com
Yes, a few months ago I officially drank the kool-aid and joined myspace. If
you want to visit or be added as a friend go to the link below.
Go to Steve's MySpace Page...
Living Tip of the Month
Advice we can all us to protect ourselves from identity fraud:
1. Do NOT sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put
the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the
last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and
anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing
channels won't have access to it.
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone. If you have
a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box,
use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks.
4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of
each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and
all of the account numbers and phone numbers to Call and cancel. Keep the photocopy
in a safe place. I also carry a Photocopy of my passport when I travel either
here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed
on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards. Unfortunately,
I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my Wallet was stolen last month.
Within a week, the thieve(S) ordered an Expensive monthly cell phone package,
applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway
computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information
online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in
case this happens to you or someone you know.
5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the
key is having the toll free numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know
whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards,
etc., were stolen. This proves to credit Providers you were diligent, and this
is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations Immediately to place a
fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number.
I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell
me an application for credit was made over The Internet in my name. The alert
means any company that checks your Credit knows your information was stolen,
and they have to contact you by Phone to authorize new credit. By the time I
was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had
been done. There are records of all the Credit checks initiated by the thieves'
purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then,
no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this
weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their
tracks.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:
1) Equifax: 800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 800- 269-0271
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If you have a Living Tip you’d like to share with others, e-mail it to
me at Meg82159@aol.com
That’s all for now. Stay well, stay safe, please help me spread the word
about my work, but most of all know this author appreciates you.
Sincerely,
Steve Alten
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Email: meg82159@aol.com
Web: http://www.stevealten.com