Surreal Success

[AnntheAuthor]

I just joined christianwriters.com, so feel a little wierd posting a success story. But here it is: I've recently signed a contract to cowrite a devotional for teen girls with Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack two years ago. It'll be released by W & WorldVision in July 2006. This gig is just underway, but it netted me an agent. I signed that contract last week. God leads us down some pretty surreal paths, doesn't he?

[DrRita]

CONGRATS! AnntheAuthor. That is awesome. I'm so glad to hear of your wonderful opportunity.

[KO'Leary]

Congratulations!!! What an awesome opportunity!

Karen

[Gumpngreen]

Ann, I take it you'll be communicating directly with Miss Hamilton? I'm not sure if you've noticed by reading posts in this forum but I work for the Christian game developer XrucifiX. While reading your post it suddenly occurred to me: "I wonder if she'd like to have a video game made?" I ran a google search and as far as I know no one is working on or has made such a game.

During today's teleconference I brought the idea up and we (XrucifiX) started throwing some ideas around for a game concept. The idea would not to simply make "yet-another-surfing-Kelly Slater/Tony Hawk-ripoff" but to be certain to include a Christian moral/gospel message. The obvious idea is to simply stick to the facts and have a series of surf competitions interspersed with personal events (perhaps video recordings of Miss Hamilton talking about these times in her life and spiritual challenges?) that culminates in the shark attack and the "boss" is working her way back onto her board.

Other game concepts went off into fantasy-land and turned her into a sort of Nancy Drew-like action/adventure figure. The player would assume Bethany as they prepare for a surf compition. When an event occurs (a judge goes missing?) it's up to Beth to explore the rich jungle island and discover the mystery. During the course of game the player has to qualifiy in the surf competition and the story would convey a Christian message. Then the ideas started to get kind of silly from there on...

After a while I posed the obvious answer: "I suppose we could ask Hamilton, 'What do you think would make a good video game based upon your story?'" Besides gameplay concepts we'd need to know whether combining fact with fiction would be acceptable (you know, artistic license so various gameplay concepts can be worked in).

So, anyway, obviously we're now considering the idea seriously . We don't have any way of contacting her so I thought I'd ask you if you could ask her whether she'd be interested in doing a video game. If so, contact me at pfrye@xrucifix.com

[Tim Lamb]

Ann, that is wonderful. One of my dreams is to get involved with the Our Daily Bread devotional, or the like. I have trouble delving into one subject; my writing comes in short bursts of inspiration. Maybe in ten years or so I will have enough to do a devotional. Congratulations!
Tim Lamb