Diary of a Layman #5 (Winter 2007): Mystery Project Revealed!
ANNCR: Previously on Layman Update.
Marc’s Friend: Is your book out yet?
Marc: No, I haven’t even started the publishing process.
Marc’s Friend: (now with cockney accent and perhaps a crutch under one arm) But please, sir, the WORLD needs the wisdom contained in your book. For we are all doomed without it—DOOOMED I SAY!
Marc: I just had an epiphany. An idea that’s separate from the Layman* book, yet, would enable it to come to fruition a whole lot faster.
Marc’s Friend: My God, man—how?!
Marc: I can’t tell you that. But I will now scramble to make it a reality before something happens that would cause it to have considerably less of an impact. And I can’t tell you what that would be either.
#
Well, I am now prepared to let you in on the secret project.
It all started after watching the third season premiere of ABC’s LOST back in October. I felt something swimming around my brain that I didn’t know quite what to make of. As a writer who’s—how should I put this—a tad insane, I experience this rather frequently so didn’t give it much mind.
Later that night, however, I had a revelation. An epiphany. I was eating a midnight snack of Frosted Flakes when it suddenly dawned on me! Yes! Everything made complete sense—the monster, the numbers, the hatches, the Others, even the freaking polar bears—it all fit together! I’d solved it—the mystery of LOST that millions of fans are dying to know! And it was great! I loved it! But, what if it wasn’t what the writers had had in mind? I’d come up with interesting ideas involving the Star Wars prequels and Matrix sequels and in those cases I was severely let down by what ended up on the screen. No! I would not let it happen again! This time I would share the correct ending with the world. The ending that the universe had intended us to hear! Whether the creators knew it or not!
And so, I began to write what became The Myth of LOST: Solving the mysteries of the hit TV show and understanding why we’re so obsessed with them. The manuscript is now done and I’m rushing to write up a query letter and book proposal so that I might find an agent before *GASP* the show sinks so low in the ratings it gets cancelled, or even worse, they decide to reveal the solution ahead of schedule.
I know what you’re thinking: “Um, don’t you already have three books you’re trying to get published?” Yes, but that’s just it. Right before coming up with the LOST idea, I was wishing that since this was my first foray into the publishing world, I had a shorter book to get my feet wet with. Well, ask and ye shall receive! The wisdom in the Layman book works! Now all I gotta do is convince an agent why this LOST book will sell better than all those others written by people actually connected with the TV show or with like PhD’s in media and theology and stuff. Obviously, I could use all the positive mental vibes I can.
And that’s where you come in. You see, if this book gets published and can get some decent publicity, it’ll be that much easier to get Layman published. And if Layman gets published, why, it could change the world. All it takes is one person to be inspired enough by it to make a huge difference, causing a snowball effect. (Look at The Da Vinci Code, The Secret, and for that matter, LOST.) So am I saying that our lives can all be better and more fulfilling if this LOST book gets published? Yes, I really do believe that. And believing is halfway to reality.
So will you help me? Can you envision The Myth of LOST getting agents excited, resulting in it getting published? Do it while you have nothing else to do—waiting on line at the supermarket, the bank, or for a train or bus. Just picture the book in the window at Barnes & Noble or me talking about it on some radio or TV talk show. If you help make it happen, that’s a lot of spiritual bonus points coming your way! And I think we could all use some spiritual bonus points. Thanks for your help!
May your inner spark grow to light your way,
Marc
PS: Please enjoy the enclosed MP3 which is part 2 of the Polyphonic Spree song titled “Have A Day/It’s the Sun” which I often listen to for inspiration. (I sent out part 1 with the summer update.) Hopefully, it’ll inspire you too. And put you in a happy mood. Spring is coming!!
2-03 It’s the Sun (KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic Version)
*New People:
If you aren’t familiar with the story, here’s a brief synopsis:
The Layman’s Answers To Everything is a spiritual comedy (or spiromedy) about an unlucky guy who believes he’s meant to do something amazing, but has no idea what it is. After experiencing many challenges and meeting a bizarre cast of characters, he stumbles upon secret messages hidden in TV, movies, and music that are aimed at guiding humanity. Using these messages, he starts a new religion which changes his life, and ultimately, the world. This is so much more than just a story though, because throughout the journey, we learn how to discover and fulfill our own destiny using the clues of the universe that are all around us.
I truly feel this book is going to make a real impact on the world, and set into motion a spiritual domino effect that’ll help change it for the better. And judging from the way the world is heading, I’m thinking that changing the way we’re heading would be a good thing, no? If you don’t agree, or would just prefer not to get any further emails from me, just let me know, and I’ll take you off the list—no hard feelings. Of course, I can’t promise that my book won’t track you down and find you anyway, but you have a while yet to worry about that.
