Alane Ferguson's Blog

I am SO SORRY for the delay in writing/publishing comments, but my computer was shut down by a virus. After much back-and-forthing, my wonderful son came to my home and helped me with said nasty computer virus, but when he worked on it he changed the settings so I COULD NOT get onto my blog!!! Foiled again! AACK! FINALLY got it fixed, and will write more tomorrow, but this has been unbelievably frustrating! (It's really not my son's fault - it all started with me getting hacked! Boo to people who create these viruses - come on!) Anyway, thanks for all your wonderful, uplifting comments - I could read them even though I could not respond. Be sure to write me at aferguson@alaneferguson.com if you'd like to be a Beta reader, and happy holidays! I'm back!!!

I'm sure you've been wondering why I've been so quiet for so long, and there has, in fact, been a reason. (Actually, many reasons, but more on that later.) It's just I didn't want to say it out loud and make it real, so I...didn't. Many, many of you have written and asked about the status of THE DEAD GIVEAWAY, a question I have dodged, but now it's time to just tell you what has happened and be done with it. So here goes: Due to the merger of Penguin with Random House, the new corporation decided to put my forensic books in publisher's limbo. In other words, they have no plans to release either one of the new titles. Which is why I've been so absent. It's heartbreaking news, especially since there is nothing I can do about it. So there you have it, the end of the forensic series. After I appeared on The Paula Zahn show (which was incredibly hard) I came home to a cancer scare concerning my daughter, which turned out well but took up all of my mental energy. (Terror, pure and simple.) Then my granddaughter had to have surgery due to yet another cancer scare (again, it turned out well) and worst of all, my son's baby died when his wife was at the six-month pregnancy mark. (They live just ten minutes away.) As this was to be their first child, it was a particularly hard loss, since there was nothing physically wrong with their little baby girl. Why she died is a mystery - her heart just stopped beating. In the midst of that emotional storm, I found out about the fate of the series, and I just sort of...bailed. Sorry sorry sorry. I'm back now, finishing up DRAGONFLY EYES. I think it will be my best book ever, so there's that to look forward to! I want to share what happened when I asked my sister why all these bad things had been raining down on me, because, in truth, I was feeling very low. She reminded me of something that is so important I feel embarrassed that I let this truth slip away from me, even for a little while. When I was on the show with Paula Zahn (bloated from those horrible drugs because of the terrible case of pneumonia I'd endured, which in turn had forced me to take high high high levels of prednisone and swell up like a pumpkin) I was still sick. I'd really wanted to represent Savannah and felt like I had failed, in part because of those nasty prednisone side-effects. Joni, my sister, gently told me that instead of my appearance on the show being a failure, it had been a triumph, because, as bloated as I was, I had been alive to tell her story, thanks to the very drug I so despised. Prednisone had saved me and I should be grateful. My daughter's biopsy turned out to be benign and it could have been so much worse. So was my granddaughter's biopsy - another benign, huzzah! The loss of the baby was a true heart-breaker, but I've never been promised an easy path and my son and wife may still try for another. Joni encouraged me to count my blessings, which I have started to do all over again. It's not been a bad six months, it's been a challenging six months. When you're dealing with the loss of life, the loss of a book(s) isn't so bad. It's all about perspective. On a final note, Robert Lloyd Sellers son wrote to me, and if he reads this message, I would very much like him to email me at aferguson@alaneferguson.com. (As may any of you. I'm much better at answering emails, so if you have a question, always feel free to write to me directly!) There have been many, many connections that were made from ON THE CASE WITH PAULA ZAHN, and it has been healing to have been able to talk with those who remembered my friend. It's almost as if Savannah's here with me again; I have missed her so very, very much... Just so you know, DRAGONFLY EYES is written from the perspective of a character named Savannah Anderson, a beautiful girl who, like my friend Savannah, was murdered in her prime. It is my tribute to 'my Savannah'. This new book series shines a light on my belief that we must be kind to each other, always always always. You never know what twist or turn may surprise you up ahead, but you can make a choice to be grateful for the sweetness, the nectar that comes from living each and every day we are given with joy. Books may come and go, but the love we share though the lives we touch is forever. That is something to remember...

Sorry again for the terrible silence, but things over here have been CRAZY!!! As many of you know, my best friend, Savannah Anderson, was murdered in 1979. ON THE CASE with Paula Zahn found out about Savannah from my blog and contacted me to be on their show, which airs tonight at 10:00 Eastern Time. Two months before we filmed I was truly at death's door with the worst case of pneumonia EVER, which meant I was pumped FULL of nasty drugs (Prednisone among others) that made me swell up like a balloon. Stay-Puffed Marshmallow face or no, I decided I needed to go on and be the voice of Savannah, even though I was still quite ill when we filmed. Having said that, the point of filming the show was to ensure Savannah not be forgotten. I really, truly hope I made my friend proud. So if any of you want to tune in, tonight's the night! Kisses to all, Alane Ferguson

First, I am SO sorry for the radio silence - once again, I got very sick, this time with a double smack-down: pneumonia combined strep throat. I think I've been put on every medication known to mankind, and I'm back on my feet, but things like communicating sort of slid off my radar. Plus, the drug Prednisone (saved my life!) made it impossible to see (everything was so incredibly blurry and wiggly) that work on a screen was out. But, as I said, I'm better and I want to wish each and every one of you a wonderful holiday season! I've been asked what happen as far as the television deal. MTV passed, but I just spoke with the producers last week and they are still shopping it to places like NetFlix Original programming, Hulu etc. Also, ABC Family may be back on board. This is an extremely competitive field, so I content myself with being thrilled that they are doing anything at all. Hope springs eternal - huzzah! Peace on earth is my wish for Christmas and 2014. May you all have the best holiday EVER! Love, Alane

Hi to all my wonderful friends!!! Yes, it was a waiting game, and although MTV passed (boo!) my producers are very optimistic they will find a home for the series, so keep lighting those candles! When I actually looked at MTV's lineup I wondered if it would be a good fit, since 99% of their programming is reality television and this would be a scripted show. On a brighter note, the National Geographic series is moving forward, so huzzah on that front! Concerning Body Language, the best I have is we shall see... One thing that has happened that is very unnerving is that I got a call from a prime time television crime series last Thursday. They would like to feature the murder of my friend, Savannah Leigh Anderson, on their one-hour program. That call really came out of nowhere and I must admit, I was reeling when we ended that call, although the producer could not have been more kind! I've been pulling together pictures/letters/memories of when I lost Savannah, which has been emotionally difficult, but healing, too. One of the things the producer is looking for is Savannah's fiance, who I knew as Bill Mills. His given name is Gene William Mills Junior. When I knew him he lived in Irvine, California and worked at Seth Thomas Company. I have a vague memory of him moving to Tennessee, but I'm not sure if that's right. If anyone knows where he is, please give me a shout out so I can pass his information along. I would very much like Savannah to be remembered in this way and Bill, who was as devastated as I at Savannah's loss, would be able to add so much to her story. Savannah's killer, Robert Lloyd Sellers, died in prison, so at least we know he can't hurt anyone else. As I tell my writing students - everything that is difficult, like Savannah's loss, always ends up in some form on the page. The act of writing is cathartic. Back to working on THE ENEMY IN THE WALLS. I'M ALMOST done, and then I'll finish DRAGONFLY EYES (it's a tribute to Savannah - I even use her name as my protagonist - which in light of recent events is sort of eerie). Oh, and I'll try to see about posting a couple of chapters. So far my editor has said 'no' but it might change as we get closer to the release date. So I'll keep my fingers on the keyboard and write Cameryn's story, which has turned out to be so cool! This one is the scariest of all, hands down! XO's, Alane

Today, August 19th, happens to be the day for the MTV pitch (fingers crossed) as well as my personal phone meeting with Benj Thall, who is writing the script for the National Geographic Mysteries! I'm SOOOOOOOOOO nervous. Please send good thoughts/pray/dance a little dance, and we'll see what the day brings. I'm holding my breath in Colorado! Thanks so much for your amazing support. I can feel it across the miles!, and it means the world to me...

Today, August 19th, happens to be the day for the MTV pitch (fingers crossed) as well as my personal phone meeting with Benj Thall, who is writing the script for the National Geographic Mysteries! I'm SOOOOOOOOOO nervous. Please send good thoughts/pray/dance a little dance, and we'll see what the day brings. I'm holding my breath in Colorado! Thanks so much for your amazing support. I can feel it across the miles!, and it means the world to me...

Thanks for everyone's prayers/good-thoughts/positive-energy, because I DID speak with The Great David Ehrman and his brilliant co-writer, who happens to be his daughter Alexis! I had been mulling over another angle for the series, shared it with them on the phone call, and I'm happy to say they LOVED it!!! Whoot whoot! The pitch is set for August 18th and I am soooooooooo nervous, but MTV has already expressed a strong interest, so there is a possibility it might actually happen. So candles lit, fingers crossed - I'm really hoping the next step goes well. Hollywood is a very tough game, though, so I'm trying to keep me feet on the ground. I'll let you know! On a separate note, I want to shout out a great big THANKS to all of you who called in to the radio interview. For those of you who missed it, here are the links Royce (the man who interviewed me) sent via email request: From: "Royce Holleman" Date: July 28, 2013 8:15:07 AM MDT To: "Alane Ferguson" Subject: Re: I'd love to join you!!! Thanks for your participation - it was fantastic! I’m doing better than sending you a single link, here are 3 links to the show!http://www.talknowradio.com/modules.p... http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12b... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRqRDo... The link to the one on my site is the full show on Youtube. Daily Motion only plays half-shows. Speaking of how well your interview went, how does Saturday, October 5th at 1:00 pm central sound to you as far as coming on again? I'd like to hear more on the ghost and ghoul stories! So - I'll be back once more, with more crazy (but true) stories to share. Hope you can join me! XO's, Alane

Royce Holleman is host of Talknow Radio found at http://www.talknowradio.com/ Good grief, I'm glad I've got intelligent readers watching my back!!! This is what comes from running from one thing to another - thanks for the save! I owe you one... <3 Hope to hear from you-all tonight!

Hi all my patient friends! Things out here have been CRAZY (as usual) but I WILL be taking time out tonight to speak with Royce Holleman on his internet radio show, which begins at 7:00 p.m. central. Call in and ask away!!! LOVE to all of you, Alane Ferguson Here's the information: Welcome to Talknow Radio Host Royce Holleman Show airs live every Wednesday at 7:00 pm central time and Saturday at 1:00 pm central time Call in number (832) 632-7904