Well, Kazmir didn’t make it on the Grammy ballot. I was looking forward to writing my acceptance speech, but guess it will have to wait for the Oscar’s.

In the meantime, my good friend, Jay Vigon, has been working on the character drawings to be added to the book. Everything he touches is amazing and I’m truly grateful that he’s taken on this endeavor. Here’s just a sneak peak at the evil Farouk in the making.

Wondering who to vote for in the 52nd Grammy Awards? Kazmir and Bryan Cranston are on the ballot. If you’re a member, please consider Adventures with Kazmir. If you’re not a member, please spread the word to anyone who can vote.

Kazmir is one of 39 on the ballot in Children’s Spoken Word. Only 5 will be selected as Nominees. How great would that be? Kazmir nominated for a Grammy, maybe even winning his very own Grammy. Then maybe a star on the Walk of Fame, and his hoof prints in front of the Chinese Theatre. His name in lights on the marquee at the opening of his movie. Hey, a girl can dream can’t she?

I’m so excited about being on the ballot that I’d like to share the download with you. Please use and share the code “NARAS” at checkout to get your free download. Then share the love and tell everyone you know to vote for Kazmir. With full score, theme song, and complete voice characterizations, the production is truly spectacular.

Bryan Cranston did it again at last night’s 61st Annual Emmy Awards. This is his 2nd consecutive win for Best Drama Actor. Bryan is an extraordinary talent in any role he plays. He has starred in the TV shows Malcolm in The Middle, Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother, and Breaking Bad. On the big screen he has starred in Saving Private Ryan, Little Miss Sunshine, Seeing Other People, That Thing You Do, and most recently in Love Ranch. He has done voiceover work for the Family Guy, American Dad and loved my story enough to add my audiobook to his credits.

I’m honored that this busy man thought it worth his time to be a part of the Adventures with Kazmir the Flying Camel. Congratulations Valley Boy!

It’s true, by day I fly as an award-winning graphic designer. But designing Kazmir’s site is a huge challenge. I feel too close to it. I’ve put it off far too long and realize that the people I need to reach, the educators, publishers, filmmakers, agents, and other’s in a position to help me get this movie made, could be on my site at any hour of the day. It has to be informative. It has to be easy to use. It has to be interesting to all ages. It has to be created by someone other than me.

I recently worked with another web design team for a rather large project. They were so easy to work with, if only I could wrangle them in on Kazmir’s site. And then they call me. They’re in the same position with their company identity. We both understand that fresh eyes are important in our business, so we swap projects. Together we designed Kazmir’s new site. Now I’m ready and open for business.

In my spare time, I’m the President of the Board for the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles. My Executive Director, Gail Williamson, invites me to attend a seminar for writers with disabilities at the Writer’s Guild. This intrigues me and I go with her, you know, to represent. It’s all very interesting and the people are amazing. Then the speaker acknowledges a few noteworthy people in attendance, one who is a producer on Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston’s show. Hey! I know Bryan. So I use this as my introduction to meet her and invite her to coffee. She’s really nice and I soak up all her advice on getting a movie made.

“I don’t know,” I tell her, “I could see Kazmir directed by Rob Reiner in a Princess Bride style. I could see Kazmir done by Tim Burton in his darker style. The story has elements for both. I also don’t want to rule out Pixar.” She suggests that I write a letter and just ask if there’s interest to direct my movie. That sounds simple enough. Sure, Rob Reiner and TIm Burton are just people like us, right?

I contact all the people I know, trying to find at least 6 degrees of separation to Mr. Tim Burton. Sure, I’ll write a letter, but it always seems better to say that so-and-so suggested I contact you. I just can’t believe that no one knows the man. I mean, he works. He’s gotta eat.

Well, maybe our paths will cross, but in the meantime, I might as well try just sending a letter and audiobook to his company. It’s a long-shot, but so was writing this book, and getting Bryan Cranston to narrate it, and getting it talked about on national TV on the Bonnie Hunt Show. Let’s face it, long-shots aren’t what they once were.

I get a call from Bryan Cranston and he tells me he’s going to be on the Bonnie Hunt Show and that he’d like to give away free copies to the audience. Awesome! So I print a couple hundred copies to give away and go to the taping. Bryan is an amazing guest. Always funny and interesting. Then comes the moment I’ve been waiting for; “I did a narration for a really wonderful adventure book on tape called the Adventures with Kazmir the Flying Camel and everyone in the audience is going to get one. It’s a wonderful story!” Seventeen seconds of pure national glory.

Click here to view Bryan and Kazmir on Bonnie Hunt

Now for the narration.

Two years earlier, I’m at a luncheon for the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles and the emcee happens to be Bryan Cranston – you know, the dad from Malcolm in the Middle? Anyway, I was luckily seated next to him for lunch. We had great conversation and I thought we got along rather nicely.

So now I’m thinking, do I really have the guts to contact Bryan Cranston? He would be a great narrator. Fatherly voice, with just a bit of sarcasm. I decide, yeah, I’ve got the guts. The worse that could happen is he says, “no.”

I find Bryan’s assistant and get directed to his agent. I explain that I don’t have a lot of funds, but maybe this would be interesting enough that Bryan would want to do it anyway. They give me the green light to send the manuscript to Bryan’s assistant and gate keeper. This is really the person that needs to like it or it will never even get to Bryan. Luckily for me, she does like it and hands it off to Bryan.

My husband and I are in the hospital while our son is having a tonsilectomy. I know it’s not a big deal, but to me, anytime you have to go “under” is a big deal. Of course, Leo comes out of surgery just fine and I can breathe again. Then I get a text message that Bryan read the script and is excited to narrate.

Bryan & Gina @ DSALA luncheon

The story is finished. I’ve researched on the subject of publisher vs. self-publish and decide that the way has been paved by many before me, so I’ll try the self-publishing road. My day-job is grahic design and advertising, so I should be able to handle the marketing part. Now, if I can only get my hands on 20k for printing and distributing.

My genius music producer husband, Michael Woodrum, suggests we turn the book into an audiobook. That’s just brilliant. With MP3 downloads and electronic data, I won’t have any out of pocket expenses. By this time in his career, he’s worked with several amazing voice over artists, so we ask 2 of them to get involved. After reading the manuscript, they’re hooked and can already hear the voices in their heads.

Colleen O’Shaughnessy and Steve Blum come into the studio and give my characters life. Their voices are amazing. I am so giddy I can’t stay in my chair. I don’t know how they do what they do. The two of them create all 13 voices. At times, they have conversations with themselves. I’m truly a part of art in the making.

OK, it’s time. Kazmir’s been in my head way too long. Time to get him out and in the public. I know, I’ll write script for a movie. Perfect. How hard can that be?

A producer-friend laughs at me and suggests writing the book first. That way, the audience will fall in love with my characters and it will be harder to deviate from them. OK. I’ll write a book. How hard can that be? I mean, not to belittle authors who write for a living, but I’ve got a great idea here.

My writer-friend laughs at me and gives me a few pointers in getting started. I’m all excited and have my favorite pen ready to go. My outline is shaping up. Then life hits me big time. I move to Venezia, Italy. If you’ve ever been there, you’ll understand why my favorite pen wasn’t enough to inspire me to write. I mean, the food, the water, the stars…

After 5 years of food, water and stars, I move back to California. I marry the man of my dreams. Now I’m ready to focus again. If only I can remember where I packed my pen.

Now with a few more life lessons learned, the writing is flowing out of me. Each passage is practically writing itself and the connections between chapters are happening effortlessly. Wow, I’ve heard about this happening to others. It’s way cooler happening to me.

A good friend offers to edit and we craft a few wonderful scenarios together. And to think, I drew this little camel when I was only 12 and I finally started seriously writing in 2002. In answer to my own question, “How hard can that be?” well, 26 years later…

A few more edits, a few proof reads, and Kazmir finally has his wings. Fly, baby, fly!