Steve Alten Newsletter
Dear Readers:
It's been a busy month. You've been e-mailing me questions about the MEG movie, The LOCH, and the recent discovery of a Loch Ness tooth (see below) as well as wanting to know when I will continue the series to MEG, DOMAIN and GOLIATH. So I though I'd take a moment and answer the most frequently asked questions in this month's update:

MEG MOVIE

Any updates? Casting?
Screenwriter Shane Salerno (Armageddon, Alien vs Predator) is hard at work on the final script, so casting hasn't quite begun. Shane's been great to work with, loves MEG, and he's very talented, so I am confident MEG is in good hands.
The LOCH

Is it out? And what's all this about the discovery of a tooth?
The LOCH is out in stores in the U.S. The foreign rights are being held back for now, so if you live outside the U.S.A. you must order the book via the Internet. As far as the tooth is concerned, there is a breaking story that appears to be factual about two American students visiting the United Kingdom in March. Upon arriving at Loch Ness they rented a boat from a local, who took them around Loch Ness's shoreline. Along one stretch, known to locals as a "kill zone" they discovered a half-eaten dead deer. Upon landing for a closer look they discovered the animal's hindquarters were totally missing. In one bite mark along a ribcage they found a bony protrusion. One student thought it was a shed tooth, so they pried it loose with a screwdriver, and low and behold, it WAS A TOOTH!
They were so excited they flagged over a passing boat, which turned out to be the water bailiff. The bailiff confiscated their evidence, but (fortunately) took the wrong videotape. Now they are working with the same investigator who helped me with The LOCH to try to get the tooth back. Over $100,000 has been raised in the effort, and the story is playing out on many networks.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE LOCH (NOVEL)?

The species described in THE LOCH fits the description of the owner of this 4-inch barbed tooth! To see the students' video and photos, go to LochNessTooth.com

To date I have not spoken with these students, only through the investigator, but after two months of negotiating they have finally given us permission to use their photos. Thanks, guys!

Check Out Lochness Tooth Website
MEG Novel Re-release

When is it coming out? You had said July!
My sincerest apologies. The edit took much longer than I anticipated, and there was some cool new info I wanted to add. The expanded and edited edition of the MEG novel should hit stores in early to mid- August.
The re-release will begin with a LIMITED MASS MARKET PAPERBACK EDITION. To make the first printing a collector's item, we will only release 10,000 first edition copies. (There were over a half-million printed for the first release of MEG in paperback when Bantam owned the rights). If you never read MEG, now is your chance. If you have read MEG, these first edition paperback copies make great collectors items.

MEG (Tsunami Books) ISBN 0-9761659-1-0

WHEN WILL YOU RELEASE PHOBOS (Domain part 3 and SORCERESS (Goliath part 2)?

I fully intend on writing and releasing these sequels, the plots of which are already outlined, and in each case are more exciting as the originals. The problem is that DOMAIN and GOLIATH received great reviews but almost no publicity, which is one of the reasons I recently switched publishers. Publicity is very hard to come by as an author (unless your last name is King or Rowling). However, both DOMAIN and GOLIATH will make incredible movies, and they are both being actively marketed to producers. As such I felt whichever project strikes a deal first will be the sequel I will work on next.

WHAT ABOUT MEG-4: Hell's Aquarium?

When I was preparing THE LOCH for publication and was asked to include a sneak peek at my next (8th) novel (summer 2006 release) I had a choice between Meg-4 and The SHELL GAME (an original novel). I actually completed the first chapter of MEG: Hell's Aquarium, but between having recently finished MEG; Primal Waters and all the edits on the Meg screenplay, I was too burned out with monster sharks to do the novel justice. If I am to do a sequel, in my mind, the sequel must be BETTER than the last book or it's not worth doing. I truly believe MEG; Hell's Aquarium will be the BEST of the four MEG novels, I simply wasn't ready to write it. And you deserve better than a less than 100% effort. So I decided to wait.

Over the next 8 months I must finish The SHELL GAME, then I will evaluate how things look movie- wise for MEG, DOMAIN and GOLIATH and get your input again. It is possible MEG; Hell's Aquarium could debut in hardback in Summer 2007.

WHAT is the SHELL GAME about?

The Shell Game is part political thriller, part action thriller. It deals with a very real and frightening issue that will absolutely affect every one of us, and could lead to World War III:

The end of oil.

While giant sharks and doomsday prophecies may frighten you, the story in The SHELL GAME may be far scarier because its key elements are already in play. I have stacks and stacks of research, studies, books, and papers on my desk and just felt this was a novel I had to write.

I promise it will be as much a page-turner as my other seven novels. The SHELL GAME is previewed in the back of THE LOCH.

Character Contest:

As many of you know, all of the characters in my novels (except a few leads) are actual readers who have e-mailed me their names and descriptions over the years. Those chosen to be in The LOCH won a contest helping me promote MEG; Primal Waters over a year ago.

The new contest is to be a character in my 8th novel (see below). Sixty winners will be chosen, based on implementing their ideas for spreading the word about THE LOCH. So far, I have only chosen 23 winners. Tell me what you will do, along with your full name and description, e-mailed to me at MEG82159@aol.com In the subject of the e-mail put CHARACTER CONTEST. Remember, you actually have to implement your ideas, and I check!

Is this really Steve Alten reading and replying to my e-mail?

Yes it's really me. It takes me 2 hours a day, and perhaps one day I won't be able to keep up with the increasing volume, but it's me. Even if I could afford an assistant I'd still answer e-mail myself because of my commitment to my readers to remain accessible. When I make a promise, I keep it. Besides representing my only source of income, you guys are also my greatest source of information. You provide me with terrific facts, input, and direction, and I've hired at least 40 readers over the last eight years to do freelance work on my projects. Add to that fact that it was contact from my readers (and not my manager) that led to the MEG and LOCH movie happenings and I'd be a fool NOT to answer you personally! I'm truly blessed to have such loyal fans. The way I see it - if you've taken a moment out of your hectic day to drop me a note, then by God you deserve a personal response!

But please don't get mad if I don't reply to an INSTANT MESSAGE. Those things drive me crazy, and I often get hit with a dozen at once. Heck, sometimes you guys are carrying on a conversation and I'M NOT EVEN IN THE ROOM! So e-mail me as often as you'd like, but no Iming. (Unless you've got a lead on some great publicity!)

That's all for now. I should have some new MEG MOVIE news in August. Stay well, stay safe, please continue to spread the word about my novels, but most of all, know this humble author APPRECIATES YOU! (Who else would dress up at Book Expo America in a kilt?) SEE BELOW.

Steve Alten, Ed.D.