The Audacity to Dream

Some of my early childhood years were spent without a television in the house because our father was a very religious man, and he would say that the devil speaks through the TV. However, when I did get a chance to sneak to a cousin’s or a neighbor’s house to watch a TV show or movie I thought that it was the most fascinating thing, especially when I actually identified with some of the characters in the movie or in the TV series. Needless to say, I was hooked ever since. My love of creating colorful characters and original stories had its birth in rural Spotsylvania County, Virginia in the mid sixties and early 70’s.
As I grew older I got this crazy notion and would have these wild dreams that I was going to write a book one day, and sometimes my thoughts and daydreams would really get away from me and I would have the audacity to think that I would actually write a movie screenplay one day and see it come to life on the big silver screen or on the small box in your living room. What a dreamer I am, huh?
Regardless of my income level or my past or present day jobs, I was always thinking about or actually working on a writing project. When I was employed as a security guard at a TV station and Studio Lot in Los Angeles, I used that opportunity to learn every aspect of the TV and movie production industry as various TV shows and movies were being taped on our sound stages. My five years as a security guard at this TV station certainly became my own ‘poor man’s film school’.
Today, I’ve been very fortunate to have accomplished many of my literary dreams, but seeing one of my stories (especially ‘Wet Matches’) come to life on the big silver screen is one dream that I’m still working on and truly hope to see realized in the near future.
As we venture forward in 2016 I hope that this year has gotten off to a great start for all of you and whatever your aspirations and goals are in life, don’t let anyone or anything dampen your spirit and your audacity to dream. – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Unexpected Gifts

Before a lively roundtable book talk with New York high school students, I was honored and presented with a nice ‘Thank You’ plaque and an elegant dime-bracelet, which was a replica of the bracelet that’s a crucial part of the plot in my novel ’29 Dimes: A Love Story’, in which the students read as a class assignment and superbly acted out key scenes (from the novel) on stage in the auditorium.
I don’t normally blog about the casual ‘thank you’ gifts that I get from doing book talks but these recent gifts were just too remarkable for me not to share them with you. Yes indeed, needless to say, I was just blown away when I saw the beautiful plaque and the shiny bracelet. – Randolph Randy Camp
More at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

No Higher Compliment

Author Tops Off Black History Month at East

The students from Mr. Wagner's Certified Nursing Assistant class paid homage to Buffalo's author, Randy Camp on Thursday, February 26, 2015. Mr. Camp was treated to two skits by the students that represented scenes from the two novels that the students recently read in class. The students also awarded Mr. Camp their Annual Distinguish Helper Award for his direct influence on their lives.

The first book the students read was "Wet Matches", a novel that metaphorically deals with the emotional impact that segregation of schools had on Mr. Camp growing up in the South. This novel is packed with empathy as race is superimposed on the journey of five lost teens who are coping with self-identity confusion, and their medical diagnoses of HIV. The second novel the students read, Mr. Camp's most recent work;"29 Dimes: A Love Story", is a very engaging story of a group of close teens, and their last summer before high school graduation. The story deeply explores teenage relationship issues with excellent characters development.

The C.N.A students easily related to the multiple issues that were addressed in this swiftly moving love story where the hero is a special needs high school boy who overcomes multiple obstacles to become the star of the story by giving his life for another. The students spent 20 minutes of each class period reading out loud and then were engaged in  daily writing assignments that dealt with the topic that was addressed in the book for that day. Mr. Camp's response to the event was "...there's no higher compliment for a writer than to see his characters come to life."

After the skits, Mr. Camp led the students in a round table discussion about not only the story, but the process, frustration, and challenges involved in publishing his books.

More at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp  

'Vehicles': A Song About Being Used

'VEHICLES'
You pick me up…take me around
You use me up when you’re feelin’ down
Just like vehicles goin’ around and around
Just like vehicles in my town
You only need me when you’re down
Next time when you’re passin’ by
I’ll remember you…and the smile and the lie
‘Cause you’re just another vehicle goin’ by and by
Yeah, just another vehicle goin’ by and by
You hold me… You kiss me
You give me a ride
Maybe some day…maybe some way
We may collide.
"Vehicles" was written specifically for the character ‘Teki’ in his novel ‘29 Dimes: A Love Story’

'Vehicles' is about people who pretend to love and care about you only to get to where they're going. In '29 Dimes', the character Teki is confronting this issue with her brother Vince and somewhat with her classmate Kalib. - R. Camp  

Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp    

Creating Teki

I love it when people have the courage to just be themselves, regardless of outside pressure from others or society in general. When I created the character of 'Teki' in my novel '29 Dimes', I wanted her to represent everyone who strives to be themselves no matter what.
Teki is a free-spirited, young Chinese girl from a very wealthy family, who is sent to a prestigious music academy for gifted musical prodigies and is later kicked out for playing a cool reggae rhythm during her first classical Beethoven piano recital. A few years later, as a teenager, Teki has dyed her hair and fronts an all-girl progressive reggae band in Silver Lake, California. - Randy Camp

Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

More Book Talk Tips on 29 Dimes

Here's a list of additional questions for teachers to initiate discussion among their students after reading the coming-of-age novel '29 Dimes: A Love Story' (You should also reference the previous article on '29 Dimes' discussion topics dated October 23, 2013):

 

1. Do you think that Kalib would've done what he did at the end of the story if his father was still present in his life?

2. In Pepe's 'in your face' anthem 'Hear My Echo!' what do you think he meant by "...courthouse gun..."?

 

3. Do you think that Pepe was in love with Miss Kelley, or was he simply infatuated with her?

4. Why was it important for the author to let the reader "hear" the characters' own voices in the story?

5. What did the programming staff at the TV station learn from Brittany during her summer internship?

Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Book Talk - Classroom Discussion: 29 Dimes

As requested from several teachers, here's a partial list of suggested reading comprehension discussion topics for those of you who've received early advanced educational copies of '29 Dimes: A Love Story' for your classroom. After your class have read the entire novel, ask the students the following questions:

 

1. How did the author use the city of Los Angeles and the communities of Silver Lake and Echo Park as characters in the story?

2. Regarding the novel's descriptive blurb on the back cover, what do you think is meant by the phrase "...love can happen to the most unlikely people..."? Did the author want the reader to consider the characters Tip or Ronnie as "unlikely" to find love, or someone else perhaps?

3. Regarding the novel's brief descriptive blurb on the back cover, what do you think is meant by the phrase "... love can be found in the most unusual place..."? (Hint: Have your students take a closer look at Tip's childhood and his early attachment to shapes and colors, in which he'd observed in the carpet's unique pattern.) Remind your students not to go for the easiest or more obvious answers, and to dig a little deeper when trying to find the meaning of symbols and metaphors within the story.

 

 

4. When the character Teki wrote the lyrics to the song 'Vehicles', who do you think she was thinking about when she wrote it? (Hint: Was she thinking about her brother Vince, her classmate Kalib, or someone else?)

5. Why do you think the author gave Ronnie's parents the last name 'Abelson'?

6. What are other symbols and metaphors the author used in the story?

Note: '29 Dimes: A Love Story' will be released and available to the general public in early November 2013. Look for it online on Amazon.

 

More Details about the Author is available at  http://www.shelfari.com/randycamp 

Miss Kelley: Language Arts Teacher from '29 Dimes'

From the provocative, coming-of-age novel '29 Dimes: A Love Story'...
Another school year begins...

                         Two thousand miles away in Mayville, Kansas, thirty high school students are sluggishly entering a classroom. The teacher writes in the upper left corner of the blackboard the class subject and her name underneath…

                                                              Language Arts
                                                              Miss Kelley

As the students drag their feet and continue to shuffle in, Miss Kelley writes a message in the center of the blackboard in bold, chalky letters…

                                                           JUST LET IT OUT!

Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Silver Lake and other Chapters of '29 Dimes'

'29 Dimes: A Love Story' a provocative, coming-of-age novel set in Silver Lake, a community of Los Angeles. This contemporary tale follows Teki, Ronnie, Kalib, Brittany, Pepe, Valerie, and Tip through their summer break, where each of them will have an experience that will shape and change their young lives forever. One hot, crazy summer. Seven hungry hearts. 29 Dimes.

                                                          TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Silver Lake
Chapter 2. Sunshine
Chapter 3. The Lesson
Chapter 4. Teki
Chapter 5. Los Feliz
Chapter 6. Yvette and Mona
Chapter 7. Griffith Park
Chapter 8. The Stairs
Chapter 9. On Air
Chapter 10. Rowena Avenue
Chapter 11. The Street Fair
Chapter 12. Hear My Echo!

https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Kalib: The Young Armenian from '29 Dimes'

Kalib is a character in the novel '29 Dimes'. Kalib is a young Armenian computer whiz with a lot on his shoulders. He has a hard time dealing with the tragedy of his family's past due to the Turks' Armenian Genocide. Here's bits n' pieces of an excerpt from '29 Dimes' as Kalib unleashes his anger, "How can they expect us just to forget it like it never happened? Dad used to tell me about how my great grandfather was killed for no reason by the Turks. For no f*#king reason! ...I don't care anymore! I tried so hard! It's like the more I keep tryin' to be here the more people keep treating me like I don't belong here!"
'29 Dimes' is set in the Los Angeles community of Silver Lake. This provocative coming-of-age novel follows seven eclectic characters during their summer break, with each one having an experience that will shape and change their young lives forever. One hot crazy summer. Seven hungry hearts. 29 Dimes.
https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

NEW K.A.N.S.A.S. Dissatisfied with the way the adults are running the nation, a well-organized, underground society of intelligent kids demand the right to vote and to be given their own statehood or else. (The kids believe that voting should be based upon a person’s IQ, not their age.
Synopsis: ‘NEW K.A.N.S.A.S.’ (Kids’ Alliance National Society And Sanctuary): Discouraged with his lack of ability to control his own destiny fueled by his parents’ divorce and already fed up with the way the adults are running the country, a twelve year old boy forms a society to give children the Right to Vote and attempts to establish their own State in which to do it. All hell breaks when the U.S. Government starts to hunt down the leader and his underground network. In the meantime, the secretive children’s society is growing to an unbelievable size and there’s no stopping them now! TAGLINE: “Don’t underestimate the power of kids”
Although I’d originally wrote ‘NEW K.A.N.S.A.S.’ as a live action feature, it could also work as an ANIMATED feature-length movie as well. (The ‘Kansas’ in NEW K.A.N.S.A.S. stands for Kids’ Alliance National Society And Sanctuary)
U.S. Copyright: PAu002651984 (Original Screenplay Draft/ Author: Randolph Camp)
Learn more at AUTHORS DEN http://www.authorsden.com/randolphrcamp and WRITERS NET http://www.writers.net/writers/81919

 ‘NEW K.A.N.S.A.S.’ (Kids’ Alliance National Society And Sanctuary)

Characters of Randolph Randy Camp's 29 Dimes

'29 Dimes: A Love Story' takes place in the community of Silver Lake, California. It's a love story amid a wild, crazy explosive summer which follows seven eclectic characters. Kalib is a young Armenian computer geek who is totally head-over-heels in love with Valerie, a beautiful angel who has all of the guys in Silver Lake fighting for her attention. Teki is a Chinese music prodigy who now fronts an all-girl reggae band in Silver Lake. Pepe's mouth has always gotten him into trouble. Will Pepe's anthem "HEAR MY ECHO!" get him into trouble this summer at Silver Lake's spoken word competition? Other colorful characters include Ronnie, Tip, Brittany, and Miss Kelley.

                                       A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

                            I am aware that the Silver Lake Sunset Junction Street Fair has been discontinued due to permit fee issues, but I hope that readers of this book will rejuvenate and spark a renewed interest and make concrete efforts to bring back the street fair not only in Silver Lake, but in other communities as well.
                           Also, my heart goes out to the Armenian people, especially to those Armenian families who have suffered and sacrificed gravely at the cruel hands of the Turks during the 1915 – 1923 Armenian Genocide period.
                        Lastly, when I ran in the Los Angeles Marathons (two years in a row) and noticed the eclectic, diverse neighborhoods along the 26-mile marathon route, I knew then that one day I would have to write a story with the city itself as a central character. So, finally, here it is…’29 Dimes : A Love Story’.     – Randolph Randy Camp

One hot, crazy summer. Seven hungry hearts. 29 Dimes. If you still believe that love can happen to the most unlikely people and that love can be found in the most unusual place then '29 Dimes' is a story for you.


RANDY'S TV SCRIPTS - CHILDREN'S SERIES
1. Harry's Field (May 2014, Registered with Writers Guild of America, East, Reg#R30871)
2. Time Out Time In (May 2014, Registered with WGA, East)


More info at https://www.createspace.com/4467977

Randy Camp's Latest Novel: '29 Dimes A Love Story'

One summer. Seven hearts. 29 Dimes. It wasn’t your typical LA summer. No one could’ve predicted what happened that day in Silver Lake. It was a summer of passion, confusion, and growth.
                                                     One hot, crazy summer.
                                                      Seven hungry hearts.
                                                     29 Dimes.
Award-winning, prolific writer Randolph Randy Camp creates a moving, tender love story amid a wild, crazy summer as Teki, Ronnie, Pepe, Brittany, Kalib, Tip, and Valerie each will have an experience that will forever shape and change their young lives.
Valerie has the kind of natural beauty that belongs on magazine covers. All the guys in Silver Lake dream about her. One guy will get lucky this summer and win her heart.
A gifted storyteller, Randolph Randy Camp offers the reader a realistic glimpse of the Los Angeles community of Silver Lake. If you still believe that love can happen to the most unlikely people and love still can be found in the most unusual place, then Randolph Randy Camp’s ’29 Dimes: A Love Story’ is certainly a must-read for you. 
                                       One Summer. Seven Hearts. 29 Dimes.

                                       A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

                            I am aware that the Silver Lake Sunset Junction Street Fair has been discontinued due to permit fee issues, but I hope that readers of this book will rejuvenate and spark a renewed interest and make concrete efforts to bring back the street fair not only in Silver Lake, but in other communities as well.
                           Also, my heart goes out to the Armenian people, especially to those Armenian families who have suffered and sacrificed gravely at the cruel hands of the Turks during the 1915 – 1923 Armenian Genocide period.
                        Lastly, when I ran in the Los Angeles Marathons (two years in a row) and noticed the eclectic, diverse neighborhoods along the 26-mile marathon route, I knew then that one day I would have to write a story with the city itself as a central character. So, finally, here it is…’29 Dimes : A Love Story’.     – Randolph Randy Camp

PROFILE of AUTHOR RANDOLPH RANDY CAMP

Randolph Randy Camp’s ‘TONY’S BIKE’ Logline:

During his summer break, a kid detective helps the local cops solve a murder in rural Virginia.

‘TONY’S BIKE’ Plot/Summary:

Ever since Ricky Curtis was six years old he wanted to be an investigator. Now, at twelve years old, Ricky runs his own Private Investigator Agency out of his bedroom. Thus far, most of Ricky’s cases have centered around missing bikes. Ricky and his new sidekick, twelve year old Sheila, are caught off-guard when they discover a murder while investigating a stolen bike case. Realizing that young Ricky Curtis knows the backwoods better than they do, the local cops gladly accept his assistance in solving this heinous crime.

TONY’S BIKE, Original Screenplay Draft, U.S. Copyright Office Reg# PAu 002013080, Author: Randolph Randy Camp

NEW K.A.N.S.A.S.Dissatisfied with the way the adults are running the nation, a well-organized, underground society of intelligent kids demand the right to vote and to be given their own statehood or else. (The kids believe that voting should be based upon a person’s IQ, not their age.

Synopsis: ‘NEW K.A.N.S.A.S.’ (Kids’ Alliance National Society And Sanctuary): Discouraged with his lack of ability to control his own destiny fueled by his parents’ divorce and already fed up with the way the adults are running the country, a twelve year old boy forms a society to give children the Right to Vote and attempts to establish their own State in which to do it. All hell breaks when the U.S. Government starts to hunt down the leader and his underground network. In the meantime, the secretive children’s society is growing to an unbelievable size and there’s no stopping them now! TAGLINE: “Don’t underestimate the power of kids”
Although I’d originally wrote ‘NEW K.A.N.S.A.S.’ as a live action feature, it could also work as an ANIMATED feature-length movie as well. (The ‘Kansas’ in NEW K.A.N.S.A.S. stands for Kids’ Alliance National Society And Sanctuary)
U.S. Copyright: PAu002651984 (Original Screenplay Draft/ Author: Randolph Camp)
Learn more at AUTHORS DEN http://www.authorsden.com/randolphrcamp and WRITERS NET http://www.writers.net/writers/81919

‘NEW K.A.N.S.A.S.’ (Kids’ Alliance National Society And Sanctuary)

If you wish to know more about 'False Dandelions', 'Wet Matches: A Novel', '...Then The Rain', '29 Dimes: A Love Story', or would like to get a few details about contemporary writer Randolph Randy Camp go to the following links http://pinterest.com/rcstories and  https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp
           


Randy's TV SCRIPTS - CHILDREN'S SERIESRCstories' Children's TV Series

HARRY'S FIELD is an animated, children's fantasy TV series. The series centers around a magical flying school bus named Eagle Wing, which transports kids from urban areas to an enchanted, colorful place called Harry's Field, where they learn about nature and our environment from a variety of jovial, talking animals and plants. TIME OUT TIME IN is another very lively and engaging animated, children's fantasy TV series created by Randolph Randy Camp. In a very entertaining and colorful manner (without being preachy), the series encourages young kids to use their imagination while simultaneously teaching them about life's virtues, such as the importance of being polite and kind to others. All works registered with the Writers Guild of America, East. Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

1. Harry's Field (May 2014, Writer's Guild of America, East Reg# R30871)
2. Time Out Time In (May 2014, Registered with WGA, East)

One summer. Seven hearts. 29 Dimes. It wasn’t your typical LA summer. No one could’ve predicted what happened that day in Silver Lake. It was a summer of passion, confusion, and growth.
                                                     One hot, crazy summer.
                                                      Seven hungry hearts.
                                                     29 Dimes.
Award-winning, prolific writer Randolph Randy Camp creates a moving, tender love story amid a wild, crazy summer as Teki, Ronnie, Pepe, Brittany, Kalib, Tip, and Valerie each will have an experience that will forever shape and change their young lives.
Valerie has the kind of natural beauty that belongs on magazine covers. All the guys in Silver Lake dream about her. One guy will get lucky this summer and win her heart.
A gifted storyteller, Randolph Randy Camp offers the reader a realistic glimpse of the Los Angeles community of Silver Lake. If you still believe that love can happen to the most unlikely people and love still can be found in the most unusual place, then Randolph Randy Camp’s ’29 Dimes: A Love Story’ is certainly a must-read for you. 
                                       One Summer. Seven Hearts. 29 Dimes.


                                       A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

                            I am aware that the Silver Lake Sunset Junction Street Fair has been discontinued due to permit fee issues, but I hope that readers of this book will rejuvenate and spark a renewed interest and make concrete efforts to bring back the street fair not only in Silver Lake, but in other communities as well.
                           Also, my heart goes out to the Armenian people, especially to those Armenian families who have suffered and sacrificed gravely at the cruel hands of the Turks during the 1915 – 1923 Armenian Genocide period.
                        Lastly, when I ran in the Los Angeles Marathons (two years in a row) and noticed the eclectic, diverse neighborhoods along the 26-mile marathon route, I knew then that one day I would have to write a story with the city itself as a central character. So, finally, here it is…’29 Dimes : A Love Story’.     – Randolph Randy Camp