Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc

By Jackie Coupe

Long name - long list of credentials!

Say the name with reverent pride.
Do you know why?
She started her writing career with a 'POD', some of us are familiar with the acronym, 'Print On Demand'. Self-published in other words. Where writers go when their beliefs are stronger than anyone else's. Where writers go when they believe they're getting the shaft from pre-programmed publishers who seem to have little time or patience for un-established writers.

But this is where dreams can come true! And this horror harlot is proof positive.
Within two months of the title hitting the listings it was best seller.
(Some of us are drooling at this point.)
But it doesn't end there...

'According to most "experts" it is impossible to be a best seller on any major level and be a POD author', says Van Scoyoc.

(Who are these experts and are they sitting on their thumbs at this point?)
It caused such stir that the sequel novel was brought forward by 12 months and released that same year.

'Due to the extreme success and clamour caused by 'The Two', I had to publish my novel, 'A Man of Two Worlds' an entire year early... in October of 2005.'

The 'Predators and Editors' website (most writers have cruised through it) is a very prestigious and respected site for writers and fans. A fountain of knowledge and a darn good place to get the skinny on who to deal with, and who not to. Van Scoyoc went there one day to vote for a friend's book that had been nominated for an award, and found that someone had nominated her novel for 'Horror Novel of The Year' - no mean feat and a welcome surprise to be in the running.

After seeing it on such a mainstream list alongside well rooted authors she finished in a respectable position. People were taking note in the wings.

www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/vote0510a.htm - look at the authors left in the dust, that's Dean Koontz you see in the rear view mirror.
Huzzah for horror lady writers everywhere! (In the most gracious and ladylike of fashions I'm sure).

But magnamity came with the part and the gracious losers are queued up to get a good eye full of the new lady on the block.
On the cusp of stardom, projected from POD to a position akin to some of the longest established writers in the field the next big push came from Hollywood. A contact from a studio has shown fevered interest in making A Man of Two Worlds into a major motion picture. Veteran actor Robert Trebor has been attached to the movie.

Just when you think so much good luck should surely run out, this happens: 'Just recently I was contacted by a producer who worked on the set of the movie 'The Punisher' (Thomas Jane, John Travolta), to take my short story collection, 'Darkness Descends' from page to screen adaptation and we are currently working on this. This promises to be quite a large project and I am very excited.'

And she has every right to be.
Needless to say she has been very busy networking, radio, net, telly, she's doing the whole bit. And found time to get two more novels into publishers who had approached her to submit based on her form.

She even found time to replace Brinke Stevens at the 'Halloween Horror Picture Show' when she couldn't make it.
And showing her grass roots a little she makes mention of her fans, 'I treasure any opportunity to reach my fans and pass up absolutely no chance to tell them how much they mean to me. It is because of them that I have reached such heights as I have in such a short amount of time.'

We like that. It keeps us humble.
It also shows us that there's hope for us all and, the struggles are worth it!
Not all of us can ever imagine to get so far so fast. If ever. But don't stop believing!
We look forward too seeing more from Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc.
She's a classy lady going places.
We hope she keeps in touch and she's been a pleasure to chatter with.
(Did I mention she's HOT?)

Visit her at www.thelosttheforgottenthedamned.com