Dear Daniel

Dear Daniel,

I just want to take a moment and thank everyone who has helped me reach this stage of my career. I do this from time to time but this year has been especially huge. There are the usual suspects Missy and Pam. And while I mention them often it bears repeating that it wasn’t just a miracle that I got here. It is due in no small part to Missy’s never-ending source of compassion, steadying hand when I might fly off into the ether and creative collaboration that I survived the past, stayed with treatment and sat my butt down in the chair to write every day. Some it crap, some of it promising. All the while developing my voice away from the prying and unforgiving eyes of the world. To Pam who opened my eyes to the world of ebook publishing and introducing me into the world fandom and conventions. Plus always being there for me when I either needed this or that for my films. She’s filled in the blanks when Missy was unable to. Both of them taking me to doctor appointments and paying for medication whenever I couldn’t. Missy is the sister I never had and always wanted. And Pam the kind of friend I never expected and perhaps didn’t deserve. But these equally talented writers and filmmakers have been the source of healing and though not every day with them is perfect it is that imperfection that I find the strength to sit down and write.

Then there are my publishers who have supported me and had my back from the beginning. Starting with Lea Schizas who gave me my big break with Another Way to Die and accepted my second and third stories in 2011. All of which went on to be award winners. And GLADIATOR going on to be my first Amazon Bestseller. Then Frank Hall, formerly of Hydra Publications ed who gave my first break in print, Bounty Hunter. It became my second bestseller and screenplay Missy and I have adapted on it has gone on to win two different awards so far. Dave Mattingly for publishing Gemini’s War, my first 60K book. Which went on to become my third betseller. And back to Hydra and it’s new publisher, Tony Acree, a brilliant writer and marketer, whose business acumen rewarded my faith in him when Bounty Hunter returned to print, and my three shorts two of which were co-written with Missy went on to become my 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th bestsellers.

And finally to my long time editors and cover artist, Greta, Tanja, Ana and Delilah, you all made me look very good and helped my books become what they have while building me a small, but very loyal readership.

Stephen Zimmer, who made my dreams come true by making Letters to Daniel the documentary its premiere event at Imaginarium. Who allowed me a place at the Con Community table in 2011 at Sweatfest. A person who still amazes me with his energy and ability to write, promote, run a publishing house, help with literary tracks at other Cons to creating Imaginarium, a literary con with a film festival that honors its screenwriters. I thank you as a lot of these things come to me as a result from attending that first Con in 2011.

And finally to Ray and Kristina at Indie Gathering where biggest breakthrough in my film career yet has come. 4 screenwriting awards. 1 film award. A connection to Brian Boyd a talented actor producer who I hope to be able to afford one day which led me to John Iwasz and a paid screenwriting gig. Chance encounters with Nicholas Mackey the actor wearing the dude abides t-shirt and JoAnna Lloyd and Tim Hale actors that came by my convention table. All of whom are going to be in my short film Rain Down On Me. One of which has provided the budget for the film to get made.

I’ve got a TV Pilot and Web Series pilot written. I’m working on the Gladiator Chronicles adaptation feature screenplay. Plan to write a TV Pilot based on Gunpowder and Lead and a feature adaptation of Gemini’s War.

My current novel is The Power of Goodbye. All good things come from a lot of hard work, helping hands and a pinch of luck, or as Missy puts it, the golden horseshoe shoved up my ass.

And of course your work inspires me to do my best work. I don’t know if our paths will ever cross, but as you know I will be here at this blog telling my story in hopes that it will inspire others out of their darkness and yours did me. Oh and special s/o to Maurice Benard you inspired me to walk through that mental health care clinic and get evaluated. A move that in no small part saved my life and made this life possible.

Sincerely,

Amy McCorkle

Dear Daniel Craig,

Dear Daniel Craig,

Holy. Fucking. Shit. Letters to Daniel the documentary is going to premiere at Imaginarium a Film Festival and writers con. Un-freaking-believable.

How does that happen? I mean I work to make something like this happen. I dream to make something like this happen. With Missy busting her ass alongside me the entire time.

I wanted something like this to happen. They’re going to highlight Letters… and I’m going to get to see my film on a movie screen. I’m going to get the word out about mental illness, getting help, and stamping out stigma to even more people than originally thought.

For the asshat I dealt with the other day, I had an angel open a door and make a dream come true for me last night.

I was so excited last night I could barely sleep. Here I was touching the fringes of something I had always dreamed of doing.

So how did I get from there to here?

How did I go from broken down and barely hanging on to my dreams and my sanity by my fingernails  to this? A thriving author, blogger, and screenwriter. A skilled marketing director. I still live with the diagnosis but I have it these days it doesn’t have me.

How I wish I could tell you just how much your work and how you handle yourself professionally has inspired me to do my best and how to carry myself in the hardest of situations.

The lesson I carry closest to me is it about the work. It is always about bringing my best, most authentic self to what I do. To be open, honest, and direct.

There may be setbacks. There may be people who rub you the wrong way. There may be obstacles that seem too big to climb.

But that is all bullshit in the end. Look inside yourself and hack your way to where it is to where you want to be.

When I was 21 I wanted to be a published author. I had no idea what a blog was. And I dreamed of making movies that would be seen by many. I also dreamed of seeing a film of mine on the silver screen. Of doing a Q&A. Of writing award winning screenplays.

When I was 23 I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and all of that seemed a million miles away. I’m 38 now. And to everyone whoever said I wasn’t legit. Or couldn’t do it. Or perhaps was reaching beyond my grasp. I have a big, resounding F*** Y**.

And to those who stood by side in the hardest of times and believed in me when it was not easy to do so. I want to thank you. Because there is nothing sweeter than premiering your film at a festival and showing the naysayers than nothing and no one can stand in your way.

And if you have a dream. An impossibly large dream. There are the three words I say hang onto because you never know what can happen.

Never. Say. Die.

Sincerely,

Amy McCorkle