Stuart Land

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

Commitment

Commitment

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Description

<p>It’s hard to be committed to anyone when you don’t know whom to trust.</p><p>Alexis Toles, a former FBI agent turned undercover CIA agent, is quickly finding that out in Nancy Ann Healy’s newest political thriller, <i>Commitment</i>.</p><p>Alex embeds in a secret organization of intelligence operatives known as The Collaborative. Its partners include operatives from the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI, US Department of Defense, and an entanglement of foreign intelligence agencies.</p><p>It’s about half a year after the death of President John Merrow, a friend and someone she respected. But she remains committed to overthrowing The Collaborative as she works with a onetime adversary who believes the organization’s involved in the president’s death.</p><p>Meanwhile Alex; her wife, Cassidy O’Brien; and Cassidy’s son try hard to live as a family but must first overcome personal struggles, including a nasty custody battle with Cassidy’s ex-husband, Congressman Christopher O’Brien. The family has their own share of secrets that, if unleashed, could affect their hopes for the future.</p><p>There’s no place to turn without discovering people who are not who they claim to be. That can’t stop Alex. She must remain committed to the cause, both at home and as she works against The Collaborative.</p>

Story Behind The Book

Reviews

<div>This gripping novel transports a classic fictitious character into the modern world, culture and conscience. Within it's captivating pages, the author exposes the modern man for his monstrously hideous nature in contrast to his natural and timeless capacity for pure compassion. Our flaws, triumphs, aspirations, dignity and motivations are laid on the table before us and brilliantly dissected with a clear eye and a steady pen. It becomes easy to forget we are reading fiction as this tale comes to life in our hands. </div> <p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">Benjamin Underwood Halstead</span></p> <p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">I must admit, it took a few weeks to get to it, but once I did, I was hooked. A continuation of Shelley's original, and yet considerably more. Fascinating for what does happen, what does not happen, and the play of good and evil in life. Well-drawn characters, great scenes, and mounting suspense ... what readers ought to be looking for.</span></p> <p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">M. Rothfeld</span></p> <p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">Stuart Land's book, Back from the Dead, is a book that I would recommend to other readers who are looking for a novel that is compelling, intriguing, and filled with adventure from the beginning to the end. The character’s personalities unfold in a way that I felt as if I was in a relationship with them. When the book began they were like new neighbors living next door. As I continued to get deeper into the story I got deeper into their hearts and souls. He brought the story together in a fashion that was unpredictable, keeping me awake at night.</span></p> <p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">K. K. Fisher</span></p> <p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">Grab this book before taking off for your summer vacation, and take along Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's book, &quot;Frankenstein&quot;, too. </span></p> <p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">I just finished the book so the ending is fresh in my mind, and I'll share it with you. No, I'll not ruin the ending, but will say that little has separated us from the time of Shelley's writing 200 hundred years ago and what we must conclude today. As a society, we are still not ready to be creators, parents, yes, but creators of life, no. And in the world of cloning (sheep, why sheep when you can have so many so easily....) </span></p> <p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">Now how the conclusion comes at you is why you should read this book. You will be hooked in the first chapter, which sets the stage of why you should believe what comes in the following chapters, and believe, you will. As chapters develop the plot, you will recognize the American society of today and why the conclusion is both surprising and not surprising. From the perspective of America today and the society we have built, this picture of life after resurrection is a tale to be understood. </span></p> <p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">Krista Rector</span></p> <p> </p>