Randall Platt

THE ROYALSCOPE FE-AS-KO

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In The Royalscope Fe-As-Ko, Northwest cattle rancher Royal Leckner finds himself in the middle of another fe-as-ko, this time in 1915 Hollywood.

Dreams of stardom for her daughter, Elsie, and for herself entice Royal's wife, E.M., to buy a silent film company. She quickly renames it Royalscope Productions in order to convince her fuming husband it's a gift (see excerpt below).

When Royal arrives in Hollywood with his two young sons, Chick'n'Tad, everyone gets into the act. There's a nefarious-looking director who might be a crook -- or just a failure. A handsome but shady leading man who might be after Royal's daughter -- or more of his money. A young English professor cum scriptwriter who might have dreams -- or designs -- of his own. And then there's Western film star William S. Hart, who happens to look very much like Royal. Or is it the other way around? And whose side is he on? It's hard to tell with all the acting that's going on.

Through the homespun storytelling of Royal Leckner, the silent film era of Hollywood takes on a whole new life. Vanity hasn't been this much fun since Thackeray wrote Vanity Fair . Randall Beth Platt has once again taken a fresh, warm, and funny approach to the Old West. And Hollywood to boot.

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Reviews

"From one rapid-fire gag to the next,the plot hit targets left and right... Royal sums up this hilarious tast best: “Who needed moving pictures when real life was as farcical as this?”
---Publishers Weekly

"Randall Platt has captured the spirit of the 1910’s Hollywood and has put it like a glowbug in a Mason jar for her to show-off and for the reader to admire. BE prepared for tongue-in-check humor, wry cowboy philosophy and a heroic lump in your throat
...a highly recommended read."
---Diane MacIntyre,
The Silents Majority

"Now is the time to concede to your yearning for sheer reading entertainment...this good-hearted sendup of the silent film era is nothing short of a hoot."
---Barbara McMichael,
Tacoma News Tribune

"Outrageously funny!"
---Bill Gulick,
The Hallelujah Trail

TEN CHANGES I'VE MADE TO BOOST MY CREATIVITY

STOPPED LISTENING TO AUDIO BOOKS - I love being read to, but I can't think about MY stories while listening to someone else's story. So, unless it's a long, boring drive or flight, I no longer listen to audio books. Instead, I think about my current project.
CREATE MY OWN SOUNDTRACK - I create IPod "soundtracks" for my own work in progress. I create a playlist of the tunes which inspire my story and characters.
CUT BACK ON THE FREE ADVICE - I am the sort who will stop and talk to anyone, anywhere about anything. So I don't answer letters or phone calls, but will zap a quick email instead.
SET REALISTIC GOALS - Just because I CAN write fast, does not mean I should, so I no longer try to get it written in two months.
FEWER GROUPS AND FORUMS - I used to belong to several writers forums, clubs and newsgroups, but now only belong to a few and I open my yap only when I have something important to add.
PICK MY BATTLES - Too many things far outside of my control were taking control of my time and mental energies. So, I write fewer letters, join fewer campaigns and stick to the business at hand - being a writer.
TOOK COMPUTER GAMES OFF MY COMPUTER - A minute here and a minute there adds up to vanished hours. I now play only ONE game a day - and that is a crossword puzzle the first thing in the morning to make my head come to life.
CUT BACK ON INTERNETING - Well, if you have read this far, maybe you need to do the same thing. Nah, just joking. Keep Reading. Number 10 scores!
TAKE WORK AND MUSIC EVERYWHERE - I am never without my work-bag. The time we spend waiting adds up. So, even if there is a ghost of a chance that I will be kept waiting wherever I go, I know I will fill that time with work.
TAKE SUNDAYS OFF - Okay, as you can see from the above nine items, I am a workaholic and it's taken me many, many years to realize I need one day to recharge, rethink and reset. Sunday is for family, food, reflection, and many times, sipping champagne. So when 4 am Monday rolls in, I am set for another week.... providing there hasn't been too much of that champagne thing.