Gary M.'s Comments

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 15, 2008, 5:27pm EST

Terri M. - the next time you are in the mood to 'bleed buckets', do us all a favor and keep bleeding. Just what is that you write that generates 'blood, sweat and tears' - your grocery list? I am waiting, still waiting, we all are - to bask in the genius of your work. Until then, do us all another favor and be quiet.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 10, 2008, 7:16am EST

Packing up the car in the pre-dawn darkness, and I can't resist one last look at Da Dread Thread. And what do I find? There is a God and His/Her Name is the same as Jeff's new publisher. If anyone deserves such good fortune, and recognition, and huge sales - it is this talented fellow, even if he used to be a lawyer. I spent my17th and 18th years and 19th years wandering the islands, and have never read a more evocative narrative on the place than Jeff's (yes, i include that old son of b----- John Fowles).

So hale fellow well met. Talent is recognized...no, outstanding talent is recognized. i could not be more pleased. Good on you, Jeff. Please reserve a personally and embarrassingly intimately signed copy for me.

As for me, 'Ah the wheel of karma'. A film company offered a decent option price for The Angels- with a few small conditions. Could I move the story to southern California, make everyone Mexican-American and re-write the lead character so he sort of looks like Tom Cruise and was 20 years younger?

I am thinking it over. Hola...."

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 9, 2008, 9:16pm EST

If the geni-i at TruTV and Gather are so astute, does anybody know how copies the last FFC 'winner' sold? How many of you bought it? Read it? come on...the truth...

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 9, 2008, 8:17pm EST

Lori - the only ones ruining anything are the idiot television people who designed this whole thing and run it like a crap game for a bunch of idiot savants.

What should we do - bow down and lick their boots in gratitude for the chance to offer our humble stories before their brilliant minds, should they dain to lower their eyes to look at out foul words?

What is the f-------g alternative.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 9, 2008, 10:43am EST

Oh....good. Thanks Jason. That settles everything. Where did all those darn writers get the idea it was any other way? Hey, I know. They can read...and until Dec 17th, that is not what your posted rules said. Talk about amateurs.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 9, 2008, 10:01am EST

Well Dale (and Judi)...now we know what this unhappy state of affairs is not i.e. the folks at Gather, TruTV and Borders are not morons - then what the hell are they? Illiterates? Too busy to notice what is going on.? As the Gather capital built up over the last two years is frittered away, are Tom and Jason fiddling while the whole thing burns down around their blocked eyes and ears? I don't get it. This is not going away without some answers being offered...and good ones. It occurs to me that if we can't trust their judgment in this matter, why should we trust in their ability in adding up votes? Anyone?

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 9:29pm EST

Lazarus - I did not mean to accuse you of not standing up and kicking ass. The Gang of Four has to take the point here. Aside from that, what a beautiful and well thought-out letter. Impressive. You did your job as a contestant and more.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 9:10pm EST

Now, now Thomas...you don't want to end up in a mental ward charged with the serial murder of a bunch of media jerkoffs. do you? Now wait...is that actually a crime? I'll get back to you. I'll ask this Greek detective who just got thrown off Mykonos for french kissing a dog shark. Stand by.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 7:41pm EST

Good for you Big Frank. (Strange bedfellows, eh?) You make an excellent point.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 7:26pm EST

But you are so very lovely when you are red, all over (whoops!)...I mean read all over.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 7:03pm EST

Good that you all are standing up and being counted. In case I am being misunderstood, I only suggested that the Gang of Four could consider stepping down until the matter is addressed and settled. I agree that they earned where they are....come on, Top Four, what do you have to offer at this time of blood, sweat and tears.....? Show some damn spine.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 5:45pm EST

I nominate Lin for Chief Justice of the Gather.com Court of Appeal. A smart person...and fair. You are absolutely right about Genie - she should withdraw....but I think an alternate could replace her - next book down the list perhaps.

And still - where are our authors and their comments on all this? The men and women who posted every day about relatively unimportant stuff. What's the matter? Too real?

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 2:55pm EST

And Lou...can you stop apologizing for Gather.com long enough to think about the position of the writers in this mess. Look at the legal disclaimer.....every line of this document was vetted by counsel. Stop apologizing for them - it is demeaning.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 2:44pm EST

Hey all you authors - I am absolutely underwhelmed by the lack of response from you guys to this incredibly outrageous chain of events - rules being removed in the middle of competition, bios being fudged, back scene agendas being met so the 'right' book goes forward, organizers totally mum! In a better world, the other four authors would offer to remove their books unless a public apology and adjustment was made? I mean...who can they trust of the people running this thing? If this result is suspect, what of the others? Am i right....or am I right? This is dispicable. Come on - Jill, Ann, Mark, Thomas, Terri, Dale, Jeff...speak out.

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 8:33am EST

And any of the other friends of Gather, who were so quick to attack anyone who criticized this operation - love to hear from yawl - jump right in. In case you missed it, this is where your elastic morality of 'win at any price' leads.....

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 8:27am EST

Thank you Betsy...

Announcing the 5 Finalists in the truTV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest by Jason V, Court TV

Jan 7, 2008 | comments: 256

Gary M. Jan 8, 2008, 8:24am EST

Good for you Lin.

Now I would like to hear publicly from the experienced Gather authors who privately maintained to myself and others off and on since November that the fix was in. Too bad it was not 'in' for a better book - Marathon is garbage. Mykonos, Fuge, Two Birds, Moose, hell, my book - were all objectively better. Dale? Judi? Terri? All you captains of Gather morality - weigh in on this...anytime. This is what we might call a 'possible conflict of interest' - can you buy into the system and criticize it at the same time? We shall see.

Oh well, that's all blood under the bridge - say Jason, is there a place on the site where we can register to buy ourselves a better finish next year with our Gather points? Perhaps get slipped into a special Selection category. Maybe buy blocks of positive ratings? And perhaps for a little extra, get our bios edited so they meet the rules? Can we spell 'fraud', class?

Gather.com becomes what? Pathetic.com? TruTV becomes UntrueTV? My, my, my.

Can you spell 'hypocrites', class?

Announcing the 25 Semifinalists in the Court TV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest - Read, Vote and Comment on Their 2nd Chapters! by Jason V, Court TV

Dec 13, 2007 | comments: 74

Gary M. Jan 4, 2008, 7:06pm EST

Sorry, January 7th is when the names of the 5 finalists go to the Jury......

Announcing the 25 Semifinalists in the Court TV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest - Read, Vote and Comment on Their 2nd Chapters! by Jason V, Court TV

Dec 13, 2007 | comments: 74

Gary M. Jan 4, 2008, 7:04pm EST

I believe the answer is in the Rule s of the Contest and I think is jan 10th.....something like that.....

Announcing the 25 Semifinalists in the Court TV Search for the Next Great Crime Writer Contest - Read, Vote and Comment on Their 2nd Chapters! by Jason V, Court TV

Dec 13, 2007 | comments: 74

Gary M. Jan 3, 2008, 9:32pm EST

Then you believe in karma. I don't. Or fate. Or lucky rabbit's feet.

Ms. T wrote me a cheap snarky letter which i did not quote in whole. I probably should have. You might be surprised what nasty piece of goods she can be, but only in private. I am the same in private or public. Ask Dale or Jeff or Thomas or Michael or Anne. T.M. only wants to lecture - never be lectured to. Can you spell m-a-n-i-p-u-l-a-t-i-i-o-n? Terri with an 'i' may not be the Queen of M but she is certainly one of the Princesses. One of the Holders of Arcane Knowledge that can only be shared with the worthy - her friends which is another way of saying people who agree with her. If I read someone's work and see intelligence, style and soul at work - I react to them. All I get from T.M. is that she likes to hang around talent.

Finally, I don't use the internet to hide behind. Anyone wants a piece of what I think - go to it - gary.mckeehan@gmail.com. Normally, I would give you my home address in America and China, but on the advice of my lawyer, I have to regretfully decline. I have already had one threat from some biker idiot to take my novel (which is among other things a pointed attack on the ethos of the Hells Angels) and place it where I would not be able to read it. After several years of threats, legal and otherwise, by the Angels and their lawyers, the Pacific coast of China with my family seems a safe and restful bet. I'll be able to see the Angels coming from a distance as I lecture and teach students who really value learning - that is the secret weapon of China - they respect knowledge. Oh, to be far away from the yuppie scum who are gradually destroying the popular culture of America, something I used to value. This whole 'contest' is a simple symptom of the disease that may lay waste to it for good. The triumph of Actuality Television and Gather.com - the channel and the website where you can do anything but tell the truth about what you have read - what a concept for creating art. I hope for the best but fear the worst. Take care. Gary.