WORLDS APART by Mai Le
This 'personal life journey through transcultural poverty, privilege and passion' is the real-life memoir upon which the WORLDS APART limited series proposal and scripts are based. The author of the memoir, Mai Le, has also co-authored the series pilot scripts.
Although the film version of Mai's story has evolved considerably beyond the factual account in her memoir, all the deeper themes and characters of the memoir have been incorporated in the film version of the story. The essence of Mai's life odyssey is conveyed through her character's bravery, honesty, brilliance – and willingness to grow beyond her early assumptions about life in her adopted country, as she discovers her true potential and fulfillment.
HOW TO INTERN SUCCESSFULLY by Robert Khoury
This recently-published volume is the first in a series of books on interning and mentoring. Written by Robert Khoury, an inspirational CEO who has mentored quite a number of interns in his own corporation, How To Intern Successfully offers deep guidance and practical insights to help college students turn their intern experience into a fulfilling and even quite-exciting adventure.
In the INTERNVENTURES Cable Series, we’ve taken Rob’s book's core insights and recommendations several steps into unique dramatic expression, but we've also steadfastly adhered to his driving vision of how interning can be an optimum opportunity for self-discovery, emotional healing, career exploration, cultural adventure and romantic fulfillment. Rob's seminal text on interning provides the philosophical and pragmatic foundation for the Cable Series.
Note: The following novels are in limited publication awaiting formal publisher launch and publicity push.
Currently available on Amazon:
TEN % MAX by John Selby
TEN % MAX is the novel version of the proposed miniseries by the same name. The original novel, currently in revision to bring it up to date with the screenplays, has provided a tight plotline and drama template for the 4-episode film adaptation. The novel runs quite parallel to the film version – but the scripted episodes have naturally advanced and expanded numerous scenes and dialog exchanges.
Although TEN % MAX begins as a fairly-standard 'save the world' thriller, it quickly deepens into a very intelligent exploration of the very real dangers we face as psych-tech research develops resonance-based broadcast techniques for altering people's moods en masse. The scary part of all this, as Selby's novel reveals, centers around the decisions that scientists and politicians might make, that could forever alter the course of human history – really!
HIGHER FORCES by John Selby & B Budd Smith
This book is one of two novels from which the Limited Edition Series titled HEART FORCE has been drawn. This is a complex tale merging several genres into a new expansive sense of drama – and the novel version offers the most in-depth overview of the whole story.
At heart, this story is a modern-day Odyssey where a young man gets totally caught up in a remarkable life flow beyond his personal scope. The story is right on the edge of being a lucid dream – with a touch of mystic vision and Mayan shamanic potential pushing the psych-tech science dimensions to their breaking point. The novel version is in slight rewrite to bring it up to date with the screenplay version – but the hard-punch of the 'disturbingly uplifting' ending remains the same.
HIGH HEART by B Budd Smith & John Selby
This parallel text to the novel Higher Forces tells the same basic story as Higher Forces – but it’s an intimate first-person interior narration rather than a third-person account. The authors wrote this deeper version in order to bring to light the inner experiences of the main male character in the story.
This first-person version will be the bible for actors seeking a deeper insight into the emotional and spiritual subterfuge underlying the action plot.
Audiobook Note: John has now completed his intense dramatic reading of the High Heart novel, fully capturing all the humor and lightness the lead characters express, even when caught up in seriously-scary situations. The audiobook is now available on Audible and Spotify.
MURRIETA'S LEAP by John Selby & B Budd Smith
MURRIETA'S LEAP, conceived by B Budd Smith and completed by John Selby, is perhaps their most powerful and mystic fiction to date. Based on their own shared childhood experiences on an Ojai cattle ranch, in Murrieta’s Leap they have integrated California history, regional Indigenous myths and a recent real-life robbery/police shooting into an intense coming-of-age romance and family drama. This is a 'realistic mythic tale' where the interior experiences of the main characters mix with external reality to create a 'lucid dream' world where mystic undertones help heighten the unfolding of the plot.
In this novel version of the story, the wise and accepting voice of the dead grandfather narrates the present-moment action. And the ending truly deserves the label of 'disturbingly uplifting' – as the vision comes fully to life.