Internship at Zest Books!

Disclaimer: I do not own this image!!

Only January, and I can already check #10 off my New Year’s resolutions list (New Year’s Resolutions, Anyone?). I have finally gotten an official internship in a field of my interest.

At the end of the month, I will start working at Zest Books, a publishing company focused on readers in their teens and early twenties!

Last week, I had an interview with Ann (Marketing and Editorial Associate) and was hired for the internship on the spot. It’s a small office in a really cool building/neighborhood and, on first impression, extremely friendly staff.

For this internship, I really feel like I’ll be able to utilize a number of my skills (writing, editing, social media, Japanese language & culture, etc.). I might also have an opportunity to do some freelance illustration work for them as well, which would be absolutely amazing! Plus, the internship is only a couple days a week, so I’ll still have ample time to continue my independent projects like The Poet and the Flea. Most of all, I’m excited to learn everything I possibly can about the business side of publishing!!

One really cool aspect of Zest Books is their Teen Advisory Board. They have a number of teen readers who work as interns and help the publishers figure out what kind of books teens would like to read/see published. According to Ann, the current Teen Advisory Board is really into anime/manga and Doctor Who — so I think I’ll get along with these kids just fine!

Zest focuses on non-fiction titles, from memoirs to how-to books. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been really looking into their titles and have found a number of books that pique my interest. I’ve complied a list of my favorites below, so check them out!

1. Super Pop
2. Dear Teen Me
3. Dead Strange
4. The End
5. The Look Book
6. Reel Culture
7. The Dictionary of High School B.S.
8. Uncool
9. Indie Girl
10. Crap

Anyway, I’m really looking forward to starting this internship and will share my learning experience with all of you. Wish me luck!!

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For more Zest Books…

• Homepage: zestbooks.net
• Facebook: facebook.com/BooksWithATwist?ref=ts
• Twitter: twitter.com/zestbooks
• Pinterest: pinterest.com/zestbooks
• YouTube: youtube.com/zestbooks

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

Don’t forget to check out my most recent posts!:

• Work in Progress: Elias & The City of Cats
• Much Ado About Bubbie: Bubbie’s Mad About Hamm
• October 2010: VAMPS at Roseland Ballroom, NYC

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Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!

★ “The Poet and the Flea 100 Day Countdown to the Premiere” is underway!! Join us on Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook!

Tuesday, November 6th

1. Continued to work on application for Chronicle Books Children’s Design Fellowship.
2. Added information to my Coroflot.com profile.
3. Worked on The Flea script and the script for a comedic zine idea.
4. Applied to a publishing job.
5. Worked on my long abused Pinterest.

Wednesday, November 7th

1. Finished work on application for Chronicle Books Children’s Design Fellowship
2. Dropped off fellowship application at Chronicle Books!
3. Attended Scary Cow information session.

Thursday, November 8th

1. Took care of some errands.
2. Worked on The First Reich.
3. Worked on the second rough draft for Elias & The City of Cats.

Friday, November 9th

1. Worked on application to the Cannes Film Program.
2. Attended Cinema by the Bay with Wes.

Saturday, November 10th

1. Decided to apply to a fellowship at Wired Magazine.
2. Thoroughly enjoyed Skyfall. (´∀｀)♡
3. Did some more research on fellowships and jobs.

Sunday, November 11th

• Took care of some e-mails and applied to a few more jobs.

Monday, November 12th

• Took care of some e-mails, etc.

Tuesday, November 13th

1. Worked on The First Reich.
2. Worked on the second rough draft for Elias & The City of Cats.
3. Worked on some color samples for Elias & The City of Cats.

Wednesday, November 14th

1. Coming soon! — Meeting with the Bay Area Film and TV Connection (Connect with Others in the Film and TV Industry).

Etcetera

• The Poet and the Flea: 49 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-24, 27-30 completed, and 25-26, 31-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
• The First Reich: about 1-6 pages of illustrated work in progress.

To Do:

• Apply to fellowship at Wired Magazine.
• Add more information to my Coroflot.com profile.
• Continue adding blog content to The First Reich.
• Continue to work on The First Reich.
• Continue to work on Elias & The City of Cats.
• Schedule next meeting with Gabe.
• Sign up with Top Web Comics: Comic Rankings.
• Sign up with OnlineComics.net.

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!

Tuesday, August 7th

1. Today, had lunch with the lovely Tina C.  She’s a really smart and wonderful lady. She gave me some helpful advice about The JET Programme (something I may do in the future) and the JLPT Japanese Language Proficiency Test (something I’ve been considering). We ended up speaking English with a bunch of random Japanese words thrown in (●´∀｀●). I’m not sure if she’ll be staying in SF, but I hope we can become friends!
2. Lately, been trying to practice my Japanese language skills thanks to my new iPad!  Downloaded the app “iBunkoHD” to read literature in the original Japanese (Akutagawa Ryūnosuke, Natsume Sōseki, Dazai Osamu, etc.). Downloaded another app “Japanese Advanced Phrases” to practice newspaper terms, 四字熟語 (yojijukugo: a word consisting of four kanji), idioms, etc.

Wednesday, August 8th

• Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…

Thursday, August 9th

1. Posted a new topic at a forum called Making Graphic Novels to promote The Poet and the Flea. Check out post here.
2. With a discount from Stage32.com, applied to the Emerging Screenwriters 2012 Screenplay Competition. Information updated on “Applications” post, here.

Friday, August 10th

1. Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
2. Thinking of signing up with Top Web Comics: Comic Rankings. Any advice?
3. Finally connected with potential director/producer. He seems experienced, interested, and enthusiastic. Going to send him a few short scripts.

Saturday, August 11th – Sunday, August 12th

• Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…

Monday, August 13th

1. E-mails, e-mails, e-mails…!
2. Trying to figure out the best way to scan The Poet and the Flea. Options, options, options…

Tuesday, August 14th

1. Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
2. As recommended by a fellow artist, signed up with mlkshk.com. It’s a bit like Tumblr and Pinterest. Not quite sure how it works yet though… Forgot to mention, a few days ago, signed up with stumbleupon.com. Not quite sure how this one works either… I’ll figure it out eventually.
3. Spoke again with potential director/producer. He has lots of interesting ideas for Robots Are a Girl’s Best Friend. Will speak again soon.

Etcetera

1. The Poet and the Flea: 37 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-18, 21-23, 27, 29-30 completed, and 19-20, 24-26, 28, 31-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
2. Continuing to help fellow screenwriter/filmmaker Jay Dial.

To Do:

• Work on research, character sketches, etc. for Shannon.
• Schedule second meeting with Shannon for August.
• Attend The Pixel-Flick TV Actor/Filmmaker Alliance Second Meeting (August 18th).
• Finish The Man Who Never Smiled by end of August.
• Sign up with IMDbPro.
• Apply to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition (before October 15th).
• Sign up with Top Web Comics: Comic Rankings.

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!

In the midst of a horrible cold…  (✖╭╮✖)

Friday, July 13th

• In the mail, finally received “Documentation of Registration” for Who is Laurence Harvey? and The Golden Curator from The Writers Guild of America, West.

Saturday, July 14th

• On Craigslist, have responded to a few posts about writing and creative projects. We’ll see how it goes…

Sunday, July 15th

1.  After a nerve-wracking wait, Who is Laurence Harvey? did not make it into the quarter finals of The 2012 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards. But I’m still happy that the screenplay made it into the second round (the top 25%). Now I have 6-8 more contests/competitions to hear back from in the coming months. Next up, The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Competition Quarterfinal Round and the Film Independent Screenwriters Lab…
2. Looking into The Alternative Press Expo (APE) in San Francisco, October 13-14. I think it’s too late to get a table, but I’d like to attend, schmooze, get some more information about the publishers I’m interested in, and possibly promote The Poet and the Flea a bit.

Tuesday, July 17th

• Responded to a Craigslist post about someone writing a graphic novel who’s looking for an artist/illustrator. Had some e-mail correspondence with her. Planning to meet on Tuesday (24th). Looking forward to it!

Wednesday, July 18th

1. Craigslist, craigslist, craigslist…
2. Applied to The American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest! Information updated on “Applications” post, here.

Thursday, July 19th

1. Added behind-the-scenes images to my (almost-but-not-quite-forgotten) Pinterest: pinterest.com/gegallas.
2. Slowly but surely working on the-poet-and-the-flea.tumblr.com.

Friday, July 20th

• Craigslist, craigslist, craigslist…

Saturday, July 21th

• Attended The Pixel-Flick TV Actor/Filmmaker Alliance’s first meeting. Thought it went very well! The producer/director/CEO of Pixel Flick Entertainment, Brian Stephens, sounds like he has a lot of experience and knows what he’s talking about. He’s organizing this alliance to facilitate filmmakers in the Bay Area and showcase their work. Seems like a wonderful opportunity!

Monday, July 23rd

• Took care of some important e-mails today.

Tuesday, July 24th

• My meeting with the graphic novel author Shannon Brady went really well. I think her concept is really intriguing and she’s very passionate about the topic. I think this is going to be a successful collaboration!

Etcetera

1. The Poet and the Flea: 37 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-12, 14, 16, 21 completed, and 13, 15, 17-20, 22-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
2. Considering developing my short story entitled “Inside the Display Case” (about a Siberian pit viper named Peter) into a graphic novel.
3. Developing a new short film script called Death of the Poet.
4. Stumbled upon an idea for a children’s book…
5. My third full-length screenplay called The Modern Prometheus is currently resting on the back burner temporarily.

To Do:

• Sign up with IMDbPro.
• Apply to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition (before October 15th).
• Begin work on character sketches for Shannon!

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas