How fares your pitches and such? When will we see hard evidence of your claims!?

Forgive me, I haven't answered this thread in some time. It's been busy at work (I work as a technical writer for Microsoft).

As for hard evidence - hmm - you, me, my agent, we're all waiting on word for a book deal. As soon as I get a contract, I'll move into getting an advance (hopefully good $$$).

After that, publishing times (that is, when a book is produced) takes about a year to actually see the novel in print. So, no, no hard evidence as of yet.

Most of my discourse with my agent is via email or cell phone (yes, I went ahead and got modern and bought a RAZR). And although I cannot disclose emails, I'll excerpt some blurbs from my agent:

"We’re getting many responses from editors about Mike D’Angelo’s urban fantasy. Why…? I think I can tell you: Artemus Dark is a great deal of fun. He’s a jivin’ bad boy. He teaches magic and the dark arts at Duke, but he’s a media freak, and he’s always conscious of what his PR person has on his calendar. He’s utterly hilarious, and there’s such a Johnny Depp feel to him that the #2 question (how is Dark Running timely?) really hits home. Nobody captures the “now” time as much as Mike does, while throwing us into a time that isn’t really now. Editors write us that “I’m swamped, but what the heck.” He’s got a handle."

and

"May I humbly present, Michael Cid D’Angelo, our agency bad boy, who delights us in every way. Somewhat reminiscent of the work of Jim Butcher, his writing takes urban fantasy to a new level. He has created a protagonist, Artemus Dark, who is Rhett Butler tossed into a slightly futuristic media society, but with a twist: Magic is a part of everyday life, and he’s a master magician with rock-star status. In a world where black magic is real, Artemus is a paranormal investigator without a gun, confronting demons, sorcerers and ghosts in a barrage of cases that often–literally are to die for. In Dark Running, he searches for the murderer of his sorcerer-brother, Philip, in a darkly-atmospheric New Orleans. Meeting a host of surreal characters-almost everyone a suspect – and exotic, beautiful women with powers beyond imagining, Artemus soon discovers that Philip was killed in his connection in the recovery of an ancient grimoire in Malta: the fabled Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus. Anyone possessing the artifact can control great powers; Artemus takes on the case and then discovers he’s been hexed to die-ripped to shreds by a faceless demon, summoned by the forces of the Tablet itself. At the end, confronted with death and dismemberment by his horrific nether-demon, Artemus discovers something startling about his own identity and his connection with the Tablet…a revelation that will change his life forever."

So, other than that, you are just gonna have to take my word for it!

You know, guys, I look over this thread and my announcements, and I want you people to know that I don't mean to come off egotistical, conceited, and self-absorbed.

Actually, even though I'm excited abut a dream coming true, I have a tendency to drone on about myself and what's happening. I think this stems from some complex within my psyche to always search for approval.

Anyhow, understand that I am not out to make myself greater than what I am. So - if I do appear shallow - forgive my announcements and read them for what they are. I appreciate you guys for listening to me and taking me more seriously than you should!

nah...just excited and wanting to share the good news

I've been sneaking a peek and truly, this is something I would read. Good luck Grey, fingers and toes are crossed for ya

btw..."Artemus" is one of my all time favorite names and it's absolutely perfect for a wizard/magician