Stuart Land

About

About Stuart Land

I began writing while working as a sculptor in Los Angeles on many well-known films such as Aliens, Predator, The Abyss, Poltergeist 2, Beetlejuice, Independence Day, and many others. I was mentored in film directing by Jim Pasternak, Dov S-S Simens, and others, and mentored in film producing by Fred Caruso, all well-known industry professionals. I also pick the minds of the various actors, directors, and writers from the movies I worked on for creative insight.

I wrote/produced/directed/edited four short student films, and a spec TV series. I’ve written 19 screenplays to date.

As well, I write narrative fiction where I've published 8 novels in various genres. A short story is included in the anthology, Lost in Thailand. The book, How to Write Dialogue, includes dialogue samples from several of my novels.

At the end of 2015, I finished a teaser trailer for my own supernatural thriller that was shot in Thailand. www.nightkillmovie.com.

I’m now writing an historical fiction novel based on real events. CURRENTS OF WAR is a story about a German Jew growing up in the Weimer Republic and pre-war Nazi Germany, and his eventual incredible journey of escape. This isn’t a story about soldiers at war, but of normal people caught up in the throes of war, of fear, courage, and survival.

*****

Awards for Screenplays:

TODD MCCOY'S ADVENTURE WEST (family adventure) – won the Grand Prize in two contests in 2014: action adventure category for Table Read My Screenplay, and family category for Screenplay Festival.

THE MACHINE (YA sci-fi) – sold script to Chinese production company 2012

CLAIMING LIVES (crime thriller) – won 2nd place, One In Ten 2012.

DHARMA (spiritual animation) – won 5th place, Writesafe 2005

MICHAEL’S GARDEN (psychological surreal thriller) – finalist, Writesafe 2005; semi-finalist, Filmmakers International Screenwriting Awards 2005

Awards for Novels:

BACK FROM THE DEAD: the true sequel to Frankenstein - Finalist WriteMovies 2005.
(2013 approached for option by Lawrence Konner, writer/producer - Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire)

SHADOW HOUSE – quarterfinalist, Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Awards 2009

ORIGINAL BLOOD: Gailene’s Vow (book 1, vampires series) - quarter-finalist, Writer’s Network; semi-finalist WriteMovies 2009.

EPIPHANY & ORIGINAL BLOOD – both nominated Reviewers Choice Award: best read of 2011, Paranormal Romance Guild – EPIPHANY won, and went on to be a best seller on Amazon at #9.

CLAIMING LIVES & CROSSING THE DOUBLE YELLOW – nominated best in thriller & action adventure, respectively, Paranormal Romance Guild – 2012

ENDLESS SKY - placed 3rd in Reviewer's Choice, science fiction book of the year, Paranormal Romance Guild – 2013

Learning to Breathe Fire: The Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness

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Description

The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon. One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, Learning to Breathe Fire combines vivid sports writing with a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. In the book, veteran journalist J.C. Herz explains the science of maximum effort, why the modern gym fails an obese society, and the psychic rewards of ending up on the floor feeling as though you're about to die. The story traces CrossFit’s rise, from a single underground gym in Santa Cruz to its adoption as the workout of choice for elite special forces, firefighters and cops, to its popularity as the go-to fitness routine for regular Joes and Janes. Especially riveting is Herz’s description of The CrossFit Games, which begin as an informal throw-down on a California ranch and evolve into a televised global proving ground for the fittest men and women on Earth, as well as hundreds of thousands of lesser mortals. In her portrayal of the sport's star athletes, its passionate coaches and its “chief armorer,” Rogue Fitness, Herz powerfully evokes the uniqueness of a fitness culture that cultivates primal fierceness in average people. And in the shared ordeal of an all-consuming workout, she unearths the ritual intensity that's been with us since humans invented sports, showing us how, on a deep level, we're all tribal hunters and first responders, waiting for the signal to go all-out.

Story Behind The Book

The story came to me in a dream. I wrote it down then, but as great as the concept was, it was a story with no characters, only plot. It took ten years for the characters to show up with the need to tell their stories. I hope you enjoy my effort to bring their stories to you.

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Reviews

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3GX2E6QKGMOQO/ref=cm_cd_et_pdp">Jamaica Me Crazy</a> says: I just finished the most wonderful, uplifting book I've read in years. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005D3Z3ZG/ref=cm_cd_asin_lnk">Epiphany</a> started out as a mystery, about virgin births around the world. I thought, aliens, government plot gone haywire, but the story itself was with the girls and the babies, and the future of our planet and species. Wonderfully written, I don't think anyone who reads it will come away disappointed. If there were more than five stars this would definitely earn more. Brilliant plot, beautiful ending. Karen Fisher Wow. I just started to read the first two chapters and could not put it down. I even missed my yoga Class. It is awesome.

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