Matthew Reilly is a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis based in Chicago, Illinois. +1 202 389 5041. the lack of support for mental health patients, beyondblue: the national depression initiative. Matthew Reilly Steps out of the Box - 3.5 Stars I am generally quite confident in my rating of book. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Visitwww.sane.org or call 1800 18 SANE (7263). This is not you talking. [6] Reilly subsequently cancelled his remaining book tours and announced on Facebook his intention to take a break from online communications. Reilly collaborated with screenwriter Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean, Collateral) whose efforts included partially rewriting but also introducing Reillys work to several producers and other film people in Los Angeles. . They had nieces and nephews they adored, and a lovely black labradoodle called Dido that they doted on. Natalie, his partner of 15 years and a psychologist by training, took her own life at the age of 36 after battling depression and an eating disorder for years. Torsion-Induced Traumatic Optic Neuropathy (TITON): Animal Model for Diagnostics, Drug Delivery, and Therapeutics for Injuries to the Central Nervous System Among many other awards received during his tenure at the FTC, Matt was awarded the FTCs highest honor, the Chairmans Award, as recognition for numerous successes in high-profile litigations. The script was picked up by Darren Star (Sex and the City) and bought by Sony Pictures for the ABC Network. Matthew Reilly Reading Order and Checklist: The guide to the Shane 'Scarecrow' Schofield series, Jack West Junior thrillers, and all standalone novels. So in 2017 Reilly sat down to write a screenplay that he could direct. Speaker, Private Equity and Antitrust: New Risks from Merger Watchdogs, Global Competition Review Webinar, February 27, 2019, Recognized for Antitrust Law by The Best Lawyers in America, 20212023, Recognized as Outstanding in Washington, D.C., Global Competition Review 100, 2022, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, Kirkland Represents Resonetics on $900 Million Acquisition of SAES Medical Nitinol Business. "I asked him once, 'Are you sure you have to direct it?' "I had been with Natalie in Sydney for 18 years, so there were just memories in every corner of the city.". Wycombe Wanderers 1 Exeter City 1 - Grecians battle hard for deserved point, Kevin McDonald's equaliser ensured Gary Caldwell's men came away with a point against play-off chasing Wycombe, JK Rowling's life in Devon as 'day-dreaming' Uni student, From 'average' student to billionaire author, JK Rowling graduated from the University of Exeter in 1987, Drink and drug drivers, domestic offenders and shoplifters in court, Magistrates - trained volunteer members of the community - have a range of sentencing powers, Devon's new Alice in Wonderland-themed caf, The Mad Hatters Caf opened recently in Dulverton after The Anchor Inns publicans John Daillibar and Karen Braggins turned their hands to a new venture. In 2004 Reilly married Natalie Freer. Jerry Buckley Partner. Also known as Matt Reilly, Matth Reilly, Reilly Matthew. The artist also missed his sister's wedding and the birth of her first child in 2008. ", "He never gave up on that, which is pretty awesome," Freeman says. I just wanted to say though how much you inspire me and how much I look up to you. Reilly was keen but insisted that he direct the movie, despite his lack of experience. The pilot episode was at the casting stage when the 20072008 Writers Guild of America strike began, paralyzing Hollywood. "It would be the best thing I can imagine if I was woken up one night by that bell and Matthew was standing there on the doorstep ", he said. Asked where his confidence comes from, Reilly is briefly and uncharacteristically lost for words. Very early, we learn that Elizabeth's young friend and travel partner has "loose morals". "The Australian film industry, because of its size, makes a certain kind of movie. Ive got to find it. Previously, Matt served as deputy assistant director for the FTCs Mergers I division, overseeing investigations and litigation involving mergers in industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology, over-the-counter products, defense, aerospace, industrial goods, energy, consumer goods and food products. . Reilly graduated from Sydney's St Aloysius' College in Milsons Point, in 1992. If you need immediate help, you can contact: Lifeline 13 11 14 Matthew Reilly who was last seen in Barnstaple back in January 1999, Matthew Reilly has been missing for two decades, Matthew's father Tim looks through old family photo albums in an old appeal from 1999. This was the first adaptation of his works outside of a literary format. If I do feel anger its at, you know, God or the universe for afflicting someone who was the most gentle soul Ive ever met with such a hideous and awful disease which ultimately made her hate herself. Los Angeles County, California, United States2K followers 500+ connections. [7] He then studied Law[4] at the University of New South Wales[8] between 1993 and 1997, graduating 31st out of 250 students. This is how we got here and what needs to change, 'Please confirm what Muslim refers to': Why Ali's birthday payment for his nephew was flagged by his bank, These engineers break their silenceafterdecade of criticism overBrisbane2011 flood handling, Tens of thousands of pigs and buffalo pegged for mass culls in Kakadu, in bid to curb feral animals, Kade was a fit 31-year-old when he died from a heart attack, Sherpa are world famous for their work, which is synonymous with their name. ", "They said, 'Will he be good?'" Previously, Matthew was a Member of Phi Beta Kappa at Colby College an d also held positions at Roger Wells. Available instantly. Author Matthew Reilly makes his debut behind the camera, directing his own action movie for Netflix. Glenn DeVelis Partner. Freer attended a nearby high school, Loreto Kirribilli, and also went to the University of New South Wales, where she studied Psychology. While at university he was also a contributor to the student law society publication "Poetic Justice". It's now even worse after Reilly's wife died at 37, resulting in him becoming a depressed shut-in for several months. Her psychiatrist had adjusted her medication and she attended an eating disorder clinic. He had never taken a step in his adult life without her by his side, and then she was gone and in the immediate aftermath of her death he didnt know what or who he was without her. About a year after Natalie took her own life, Mamamia published an excerpt from a Weekend Australian article by journalist Caroline Overington about the shock Matthew had experienced when he become a widower at the age of 37. Despite impressively high production values, the pilot is no Citizen Kane. Technical skills . "Sometimes it feels like I'm in a dream. I knew that publishers checked out bookshops so thats where I needed my book to be.. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. We will update Matthew Reilly's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. I knew Contest had the goods, Matthew said, and I just wanted to get it noticed. As the planning partner of the Epsilon Group I commit to help clients define and achieve their goals, assess and respond to the inevitable changes and keep them on track toward the retirement a . In The Secret Runners of New York, Earth is enveloped by a gamma radiation cloud that threatens all forms of life. "It has been so long since Matthew went missing and we miss him terribly," Timtold the BBC in 2006. When Netflix eventually picked up the project, everything finally fell into place, Spanish actor Elsa Pataky signed on as the lead, with Australian Luke Bracey playing the villain. Can I re-write it?' I used to work in the bookshop of a major writers festival. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. This became the screenplay for Interceptor, whereby a female US Army captain at a US missile interceptor facility has to stop sixteen nuclear missiles aimed at sixteen American cities. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! Many of his books have been optioned for the screen, but none has so . Matthew Reillys income source is mostly from being a successful Novelist. Reilly was born on 2 July 1974 in Sydney, Australia the second son of Ray (an employee at the Department of Corrective Services) and Denise, a mathematics teacher. And I would say, No. Cate was thrilled to find Matthew working on his next novel, Ice Station. A national missing persons campaign in 2006 saw the artist's photograph displayed at various sites including 600 underground and railway stations around the UK - but this ultimately proved fruitless. Share by Email. Matthew Reilly, Matthew Reilly PaperBack $21.99 The Great Zoo of China Matthew Reilly PaperBack $21.99 Troll Mountain Matthew Reilly PaperBack $21.99 The Four Legendary Kingdoms Matthew Reilly PaperBack $25.99 . If I could say anything to a depressed person right now, it would be: You are loved. Natalie decided to take up yoga and then marathon running, which might be considered a positive thing for somebody in the process of taking stock of their life but, as Reilly explains, the problem was that she became obsessed with it. Matt is frequently relied upon to obtain regulatory clearance for many of the toughest, high profile deals. [35], Contest Reilly, Matthew 2000 paper back edition An interview with Matthew Reilly pg 349 Retrieved 10 January 2009, Scarecrow Reilly, Matthew 2004 paper back edition Biography first page Retrieved 10 January 2009, The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 January 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 December 2005 and 2 January 2010, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, Acknowledgements, p 420, Last edited on 17 November 2022, at 17:58, 20072008 Writers Guild of America strike, "It's a door that she's gone through, and I can't follow", "Guest Speaker, UNSW Law Awards Evening 5 May 2011", "Crowdfunding makes a writer's life easier than ever", "Matthew Reilly's Ice Station Live - Announcement", "Author Matthew Reilly goes from books to big screen in Interceptor directing debut", "Terrance Mulloy to Adapt Matthew Reilly's 'Contest', "The Secret Runners of New York - Pan Macmillan AU", "THE SEVEN ANCIENT WONDERS: A JACK WEST JR NOVEL 1", "Jack West Jr and the Chinese Splashdown", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matthew_Reilly&oldid=1122458875. Matts practice focuses on a wide range of antitrust matters, including antitrust litigation, complex transactions and antitrust counseling and government investigations. INTERCEPTOR went ballistic. Australian author Matthew Reilly dreamed of making movies as a kid, but started writing novels as a more achievable substitute. Wendell Reilly - Partner. Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, were passengers on a Lufthansa flight that experienced severe turbulence. 2022. Matthew John Reilly (born 2 July 1974) is an Australian action thriller writer. I'd love to make a movie, write a book, make a movie, write a book. [10], Reilly wrote his first book, Contest, at the age of 19, and self-published it in 1996. [9] While at university, he was also a contributor to the student law society publication Poetic Justice. Described as 5 feet 11 inches tall with short, dark brown hair and brown eyes, Matthew - who liked to be known as 'O'Reilly' - made a living as an abstract artist. Reilly wrote his first novel, Contest (1996) at the age of 19, after being rejected by the major publishers in Australia, he eventually decided to self . John Flanagan was another popular Australian author. It is almost that perfect match, in that I would lean forward and she would lean back She was gentle, and kind, and generous to a fault., The couple wed in 2004 and they settled into married life. Hover Car Racer Book by Matthew Reilly 4.7/5. We have estimated Financial . Reilly considers Back to the Future among his favourite films of all time. Matthew Reilly Book Releases 2023/2024. by Curtis Frank. I wanted to bring that kind of rocket-fast, relentless, high-stakes storytelling to film, and so Interceptor was born. If they think they know everything, then you're in real trouble.". Partner and Wealth Advisor . "That is the distressing part about it - we have had no correspondence since then.". You can also visit beyondblue: the national depression initiative (1300 22 4636) or the Black Dog Institute, or talk to your local GP or health professional. Join to view profile. Gradually, however, he began to pick up the pieces. Your soul may be writhing in pain and sadness but never forget to look up at the sky above 'cause there would still be a light that may cheer you up, such as the sun during day and the twinkling stars at night. Kevin prides himself in taking a client-first approach. I howled in my car. The couple needed to create new memories and Reilly was impatient to pursue his lifelong dream of directing movies. John McCarty. Matthew Reilly. The FTC cleared the transaction, subject to a firewall consent, following issuance of a Second Request. After every major publisher in Australia rejected his first novel, Contest, he took matters into his own hands. Matthew Reilly's net worth "I loved movies like Die Hard, Predator, Aliens, Raiders of the Lost Ark. The pilot episode was at the casting stage when the 20072008 Writers Guild of America strike began, paralyzing Hollywood. "He went for a walk every day and we assumed thats where hed gone. If you write a manuscript for a book, no-one is going to say, 'Oh, Matt, this is the best thing I've ever read we're going to put this out and make you an international best-selling author.' After the sudden death of first wife Natalie Freer Matthew Reilly was crushed and inconsolable. 3. Beattie also offered to show the script to some producers that he knew. 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (13) Kindle Edition. Natalie had checked into a hotel and taken an overdose. It was only after he read To Kill A Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies in Year 10 that he realised reading could transport you to another world. Reilly was born on 2 July 1974 in Sydney, the second son of Ray (an employee at the Department of Corrective Services) and Denise, a mathematics teacher. Joseph C. Baum Partner. Then later, in high school, he was given a difficulttime by other students for studying so hard. Share on Twitter I start formulating a rating halfway through. To look into his eyes is to see a man who has suffered, and is suffering still. So at the start of 2015, Reilly and Freeman moved to Los Angeles. We did everything together; wed done everything together for the previous 18 years. This was the first adaptation of his works outside of a literary format. Expecting him to be gone for an hour or so, Matthews parents began to worry as time progressed. Matthew Reilly: Ice Station was a direct response to Hollywood action movies. He is the author of over a dozen novels and novellas. He had also received 400 in the post from a relative before Christmas, which Tim thinks he may have used to get away and have a temporary break from the stress. And he will listen'. Caroline Overington is an Australian author and journalist. "If you want to be a dictator and control everything in the story, write a novel," he says. This led, eventually, to Netflix funding the series with Reilly as first-time director, with filming being done in Sydney in early 2021 featuring Elsa Pataky in the lead role, with Australian Luke Bracey playing the villain; Patakys husband, actor Chris Hemsworth, is one of the movie's executive producers. Welcome to our annual New Partners Yearbook, devoted to partners made or laterally hired at New Jersey firms and offices from February 2022 through January 2023. Biografi. Mr. Fennebresque also worked for Greenhill & Co as an M&A and restructuring analyst. And I work my arse off.". MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. . He left without explanation and was never seen again, Get the pick of the week's best stories and fascinating features direct to your inbox every Saturday and Sunday morning in our exclusive Weekender newsletter. "Matthew Reillys Ice Station Live" was performed in the Adelaide Fringe 2016 and piloted the first three episodes of a proposed full audio drama. The running, and then the fitness it was as if she could not stop. Actor Jenna Elfman was attached to the project and other casting was well under way when the American Writers Guild went on strike. He is a member of famous Novelist with the age 48 years old group. by Matthew Reilly. "Why hold yourself back to make somebody else feel good?". "People hear about the successes, they never hear about the galactic failures," he said. As of February 25th, 2023, Matthew Reilly has 0 new or upcoming book releases. Mamamia published an excerpt from a Weekend Australian article. Following this revelation, Matthew soon began creating stories of his own and set about writing his first novel, Contest, at the age of 19 while still at university studying . Media. When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course. I'm not going to preach to people and say, 'Guantanamo Bay, bad', but I will have my hero go and break somebody out of it, and maybe people will think about it that way. Matthew Reilly is an Australian international bestselling author of several novels, namely Contest, Ice Station, Temple, Area 7, Scarecrow, Hover Car Racer, Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors and Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves, and one novella, Hell Island.. Reilly graduated from St Aloysius' College in Milsons Point, Sydney before pursuing a Law degree . Matthew Reilly was just 22 when he wrote and self-published his first book Contest.He was young and confident and his books were the same, full of action and implausible chapter endings, his . And so here he stands in the kitchen of the lovely old home they shared together, a gentle, ghost-like soul moving quietly around the kitchen, preparing a cup of coffee and then softly crying for a loss that is immense and raw. 2021. Sean O'Reilly Partner. Drivers and ecological impacts of a wildfire outbreak in the southern Appalachian Mountains after decades of fire exclusion; James Johnston, Skye Greenler, Matthew Reilly, Mark Webb, Andrew Merschel, K Norman Johnson, Jerry F. Franklin. That is why, having control on how you would like the time to pass by is important. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time. Matt Sullivan - Partner. Australian - Writer Born: July 2, 1974. When a satellite hunter intercepts a top-secret transmission from the Moon, his old friend Jack West Jr is his only hope. Reilly and Natalie had been together since they were 18. The Reilly who opens the door of his home in Sydneys Willoughby a few weeks ago is in almost every sense different. 14.7K Followers. Torquay had the majority of the chances at the Recreation Ground but couldn't get another goal after Brett McGavin's 10th minute equaliser cancelled out Aldershot's early opener. Now it may take time, but it can be done. Series Navigation - The Two Lost Mountains is Matthew Reilly's sixteenth novel, and the sixth . , money, salary, income, and assets. Updated: October 2, 2011 . "The wealth inequality was something that I noticed and, bringing that to COVID-19, I had people say to me: 'Your book is coming true'. Matthew was one of the few authors who came and thanked the staff in the bookshop. Book 1 - Scarecrow. Resides in Waukesha, WI. As a very young child, he would join his parents in amateur musical productions. Hell Island Book by Matthew Reilly 4.2/5. Nicholas C. Reilly Constellation Wealth Advisors 255 East Fifth Street, Suite 3000 Cincinnati, OH 45202 reilly@constellation-wealth.com 513 . "I realised I could have all the special effects and all the big blockbuster action I could dream of, and it didn't cost me a cent," Reilly tells Australian Story. He was like, 'Yeah, sure, go for it'.". Partner. off. "And I was like, 'Yes, he'll be good. And given the success of his books and their cinematic nature, adapting one of them for the screen would have seemed the obvious path to directing. Exhausted but exhilarated, he can barely contain his excitement, bouncing around the set and acting out scenes. The only limit is the limit of your imagination!. In an episode called The Other Side, Matthew spoke candidly about his life with Natalie, what is was like when she developed depression and how his life has changed since that fateful day in 2011. By: Matthew Reilly. "Nobody would ever let me direct an adaptation of one of my books because the books are designed to be bigger than the biggest Hollywood blockbusters. Even as his book sales grew, Reilly didn't let go of his filmmaking dreams. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Or if he went back to Spain - he loved it out there.". @Matthew_Reilly. It was quickly picked up by publishers in the US, UK and Germany. Elsa is just perfect as our lead: a strong, independent and determined woman who, in the face of . 1,038 talking about this. At 48 years old, Matthew Reilly height not available right now. Reilly is already developing a sequel to Interceptor with Beattie, as well as an adaptation of his debut novel Contest, which would represent a remarkable full-circle moment for the writer. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Supplied: Instagram @elsapatakyconfidential, With Russian forces closing, Svyat rolled the dice in the last days before Bakhmut fell, Anna called police to report an assault, but it backfired and she lost her home, Home ownership remains in fantasy territory for many. In early December 2011, while Reilly was in South Australia on a book tour promoting Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves, Natalie, who had suffered from anorexia and depression, committed suicide. Several screenplays were written, but the film was not made. In 2015 Reilly alongside Benjamin Maio Mackay's Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage premiered an audio drama adaptation of Reilly's best-selling novel Ice Station. If you or a loved one need to talk to someone, please consider calling Lifeline on13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on1300 22 4636. And suddenly Id have days where Id look at the clock and itd be quarter past one in the afternoon and Id think Ive got ten hours til Im going to go to bed. Movies which were escapist, which took people away from the real world.". She trackedMatthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. I dont think Ill ever recover fully from it. And you have a special relationship with your audience when it's just you and your reader. [12][13][14] Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves was the biggest-selling fiction title in Australia in 2011. She said, I dont want you to be gone, and so I didnt go. He grew up in Willoughby and graduated from the University of New South Wales with a degree in law. April Coleman Partner. "He took it for about four days, and it came back 20 per cent better," Reilly says. Reilly subsequently cancelled his remaining book tours and announced his intention to take a break from online communications. "At at least three points in the journey, the powers-that-be said we'd have more chance of making this if you didn't direct it. They include: Contest, Ice Station, Temple, Area 7, Scarecrow, Hover Car Racer, Hell Island, Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves, The Tournament, The Great Zoo of China, Troll Mountain, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, The Three Secret Citiesand The Secret Runners of New York. His original pilot, "Literary Superstars", was bought by Sony Pictures and the ABC network . Reilly showed his script to LA-based Australian screenwriter Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean, Collateral), who he became friends with not long after arriving in LA. [18], In 2015, Reilly, in association with Benjamin Maio Mackay's Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage, premiered an audio drama adaptation of Reilly's best-selling novel Ice Station. It was there thatit caught the eye of Cate Patterson, then a commissioning editor at Pan Macmillan Australia, which had previously rejected the novel. His novels Ice Station, Scarecrow, The Great Zoo of China and Hover Car Racer were all optioned by Hollywood but stalled in various stages ofdevelopment. Texas Secretary of State Data last . Matthew Reilly was born on 2 July, 1974 in Sydney, Australia, is a Novelist. Lukes, Phoebe Putney/Palmyra, Inova/Prince William, and Whole Foods/Wild Oats. The occurrence of a 4000-ha wildfire in the Linville Gorge Wilderness . Matthew J. Reilly, Steven P. Norman, Joseph J. O'Brien, E. Louise. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors items. He came up with Interceptor, about a female army captain on a US missile interceptor facility who has to stop 16 nuclear missiles aimed at 16 American cities. collaborating with business partners around the world. Being in those shows taught me adult responsibility and gave me confidence.". The producer is the powerhouse Mark Gordon (SPEED, GREYSANATOMY) and the writer is Michael Seitzman (NORTH COUNTRY). Watch Australian Story' California Dreaming, 8:00pm AEDT, on ABCTV, iview and Youtube. Free with Kindle Unlimited membership Join Now. Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew famously self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. :D I wanted to thank you also; your novels helped me A LOT when my sister was very, very bad with anorexia nervosa and depression, threatening suicide and the likes. No matter how depressing it maybe, time still continues to run and the next thing you know, everything around you have changed, leaving you with an empty and hollow feeling. With the Lightspeed commerce platform, merchants in retail and hospitality can build . That triggers riots as the poor rise against the rich. His mother, Jacqui, got up from her chair in their Barnstaple house and tried to say goodbye. "We don't know who it was, but it could have been Matthew," he said. Im going to keep getting up in the morning and sitting down at that keyboard and hopefully, you know, being Matthew Reilly again. That would cost $100 millionand they don't let a first-time director have that sort of budget.". 14. Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 . . Read More Related Articles Tomorrow marks two decades since his disappearance. The Client Reviews provides a qualitative rating based on Partners' Clients feedback assessment. There have been many false starts in Reilly's efforts to forge a film career. Itll be with me for the rest of my life but how fortunate was I to have eighteen years with the most remarkable woman and its one of the biggest clichs of all but its true that you get to a point where you stop thinking about what youve lost and you start thinking about what you had and I have. Reilly on his wife Natalie's suicide. Filming took place in Sydney earlier this year, with the movie set for release in early 2022. The script was picked up by Darren Star (Sex and the City) and bought by Sony Pictures for the ABC Network. She was 36 years old. 15 Greens Clf San Antonio, TX 78216. Matthew has now found love with a woman named Kate Freeman. $0.00 $ 0. Mr. Reilly was a Director at EnCap Investments L.P . Matthew Reilly. "I developed something in high school which follows me to this day where I just don't care what other people think of me," Reilly says. Matthew Reilly: "As those people who have read my novels know, I love telling big action stories that are told at a frenetic pace. To my (very patient) UK readersCOBALT BLUE is c, I dont often comment on current events but this, Bring on 2023. Bristow Group Inc. on its all-stock business combination with Era Group Inc. AbbVie in its pending $63 billion acquisition of Allergan. Matthew Reilly was born in Sydney, Australia on July 2, 1974. Matthew Reilly can help you achieve your financial goals. I figured that when you make a movie, you are limited by your budget. In early December, while he was gone, his beloved wife Natalie died, leaving him a widower at the age of 37. This week, the 47-year-old author releases his 19th novel and the last in the popular Jack West Jr series. He was discovered when Cate Paterson, a commissioning editor from Pan Macmillan, found a self-published copy of Contest in a bookstore. I'll just tell them this is the story I'm telling, and you help me tell it. In Los Angeles, if you've got a good idea for an action movie, there's somebody who might be ready to make it.".