Just after midnight on March 13, 1928 the St. Francis Dam gave way, releasing a 160-foot-high wall of water. It was the worst American civil engineering disaster of the twentieth century. Everything In Its Path tells the story of Kate, an archaeologist's daughter, who is helping excavate a Chumash Indian site below the dam when she makes an alarming discovery: the dam is leaking Intertwined with Kate's story is that of the prehistoric Chumash settlement. Tribe member Singing Bird is tormented by dreams of water, and her village being swept away. But leader Lone Wolf belittles her premonitions, and threatens her if she speaks out. As storm clouds gather, Singing Bird must decide whether to submit to Lone Wolf or try to save the tribe from the awful event she foresees. Across the centuries the two girls' fates are drawn together, culminating in a remarkable discovery as they struggle to save their loved ones from a force that will sweep away Everything In Its Path.

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When Steve Alcorn, the author of the novel Everything In Its Path, decided to adapt his story for the big screen, he turned to screenwriter Dani Alcorn for guidance. Nineteen drafts later, what emerged was a screenplay with depth, conflict and historical significance, but one very different from the novel. Characters had aged, a love story had been added, and the fates of the players had changed. This reference incorporates the original text of the novel, plus two versions of the script, along with notes on the development process and reasoning behind the changes. Also included are the marketing tools used for the screenplay, including synopsis, loglines and query letters. It's a complete reference for authors who want to adapt their novel to a screenplay and pitch it to an agent.

Valentine's day is the story of Amelia, a young girl living in Sydney, Australia in the years following World War II. In her flight from her father, Valentine, and his compulsive gambling, Amelia finds employment in the oddest places, working for a cough syrup magnate who wants to be a magician, an airline that selects stewardesses for their legs, and an executive whose company has forgotten his existence. Her misadventures lead her to a remote island where a normal day includes mice in the rice and lizards in her cleavage. There she finds what she takes for true love. But as the story unfolds, Amelia begins to realize she may not have achieved the perfect escape from Valentine she had planned.

Dani is spending the summer in Three Rivers, California when she meets hobo Mott Simon. At first Dani is afraid of Mott, but when he is accused of murder Dani sets out to prove otherwise. She confronts a skeptical sheriff, a dispassionate prosecutor, and a patronizing defense attorney. The clues point toward Ardy, an autistic boy who may have witnessed the murder, and has disappeared. Dani notices parallels between her mystery and To Kill A Mockingbird, a book the town's librarian pressed upon her. She begins to realize you can't judge a book by its cover.

Have you started a novel, only to get part way into the manuscript and find yourself stuck? Or do you have an idea for a novel, but aren't sure where to begin? Have you completed a first draft, but feel it doesn't quite have the luster of professional writing? In this lively and fun-to-read guide, Steve Alcorn shows you the remedies you need to achieve success. Step by step, you'll breathe life into old manuscripts, create new novels that read like bestsellers, and put the spark back into your writing life. Topics include: Story Structure Character Building Viewpoint Tense Voice Setting Conflict Suspense Mystery Dialogue Writing Big Beginnings and Endings Getting Published Whether you're a first time novelist still planning your story, or an experienced author looking for ways to bring your fiction to life, How to Fix Your Novel is the ideal prescription.

On October 1, 1982, The Walt Disney Company opened its EPCOT Center to the world, heralding changes that would take the Disney property in Florida from a mere theme park to a world-class resort destination. Authors Steve Alcorn and David Green were there, as employees of Disney's WED Imagineering. "Building a Better Mouse" tells the tale of the "hundreds of mostly young, mostly bright and all embarrassingly idealistic people" who worked on Epcot, and gives a unique insider's perspective on what it was like to be in the trenches as a Disney Imagineer in the early 1980s, from pixie dusting - when new employees are indoctrinated into all things Disney - through the craziness of the engineering design process, right up until the last frantic dash to opening day. It is a breathtaking, breezy, E-ticket ride of a book, required reading for both hard-core Disneyphiles and people interested in the business side of themed entertainment.