Bud in Flight: Fair Use or Bad Karma?

I happened upon an article on yesterday’s AP wire by Anthony McCartney. It seems that Anheuser-Busch is upset because in the new blockbuster film “Flight,” pilot Denzel Washington is shown drinking their beer. A lot of it. And then behaving irresponsibly. Hmm. A-B wants the filmmakers to “obscure” or otherwise remove the obvious “Budweiser” label as shown. There is a lot of talk about whether or not Paramount Pictures should comply and the possibly hypocritical position of the brewer when they defend their image.

None of this matters much to me. We all know that product placement is rampant in the movie & TV industry. In fact, the competing action-packed Bond flick “Skyfall” is touting the fact that 007 is now seen drinking Heineken instead of his signature martini—a fact that Heineken paid dearly for.

But here’s my deal:  AP asked a legal expert, Daniel Nazer, a resident fellow at Stanford Law School’s Fair Use Project, for an opinion on the subject. His response? “Trademark laws ‘don’t exist to give companies the right to control and censor movies and TV shows that might happen to include real-world items’,” Nazer told the Associated Press.

If you’re an author and reading this, you might have the same question I had:  if Nazer is correct, then why is it okay to display a can of Bud in “Flight” but I can’t have my hero drinking it—by name—in my next book? Clearly, for Matt Farralone in Cape Seduction, Budweiser is a real-world item.

Thoughts?

National Lighthouse Day!

Serendipity…a happy coincidence! That’s what I thought when I sat down to write this blog and realized that today, August, 7^th, is National Lighthouse Day! Can you imagine my delight? 7

What is it about lighthouses that inspire me so? A single page cannot possibly describe it all, but here goes.

Protection. Guardianship. Strength. Getting right down to the heart of their purpose, lighthouses warn mariners of danger. They are a welcome sight day or night as they stand guard on the coastline.

Mystery. Loneliness. Whether perched on a cliff, planted in the sand or surrounded by surf, these lonely beacons stand for isolation. It takes a special personality to live apart and separated from the masses. Mysterious because isolation brings out the  w e i r d  in people.

Romance. Intrigue.  There’s just something about climbing those stairs, anticipatory, anxious, finally reaching the lantern room and looking out upon the entire world. Walking around the gallery and feeling the brisk, salt air against your face. What better place to share with a paramour?

2012 Special Offer – Circle of Hope

Some of you know that besides my passion for serving education through the SCV Education Foundation and supporting the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life, I also serve of the board of Circle of Hope, Inc., a tireless group of warriors who support local breast cancer patients. One tiny way I can help is by donating a portion of my book proceeds to this worthwhile non-profit organization. So from every copy of CAPE SEDUCTION purchased through this website, I’m passing along $3.00 to Circle of Hope.  Just click HERE to take advantage of this special offer. More about…

Circle of Hope, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit breast cancer organization located in Santa Clarita Valley, California.  We are dedicated to making a difference today, for a brighter future tomorrow. Circle of Hope is the only breast cancer organization in the Santa Clarita Valley that provides financial, emotional, and educational support services for uninsured and underinsured individuals with breast cancer, their families, and the local community. We have helped over 130 clients to date, issuing over $100,000 in financial support.

I’m happy to be a part of the Circle of Hope family. I hope you will take advantage of this offer–and don’t worry, CAPE SEDUCTION is worth a read even without the donation!

Thank you for your support.

A Year in the Garden of Hope

All silliness aside, I am thrilled to be a part of this 8th annual event benefiting breast cancer patients of the Santa Clarita Valley. The weather has been ordered up special, too.

Besides sponsoring a table (mine this year is “Snowy Night”), I am donating copies of my first lighthouse mystery, POINT SURRENDER, to all attendees. I’m happy to do it. And should any of my new 300+ fans wish to buy CAPE SEDUCTION, I’m passing along $3.00 from their purchase to Circle of Hope. In fact, I’ll make that deal to anyone who happens along here between now and year end. Just click HERE to take advantage of this special offer. (Sounding a little like a TV commercial!)

9th Annual Duarte Festival of Authors!

Some of MURDER WE WROTE, 2010

I really love this event. Very casual, laid-back, beautiful park grounds setting. It was here, a couple of years back, where my author pals and I met the venerable Ray Bradbury! This year, we will be rubbing shoulders with the very popular, best-selling author of SHANGHAI GIRLS, Lisa See. I can’t wait.

Just as important, I’ll be meeting up with a fine group of mystery authors. Yes, MURDER WE WROTE is getting the band back together! Joel Fox, Jenny Hilborne, Gayle Carline, Jeff Sherratt and Teresa Burrell will be joining Alyssa Montgomery and I for some dark, devious planning that just might involve criminal intent. We might even sell a few books at the same time.

If you’re local (or loco) and looking for a really fun afternoon with some really fun people (REALLY fun, I mean it!!) then head on out to Westminster Gardens in Duarte on Saturday, October 8th, from 10 am to 5 pm. It’s free to get in, free to park, free to enjoy the fresh air. Yeah, the books cost money, but they are still one of the best entertainment values around (you can buy two of mine for the price of one night at the movies!)

More info can be found here. Come on down!

Fall for a Good Mystery Author Panel

Barnes & Noble Valencia