The Lakeland Ledger Posts a Blurb for "Monster Laughs"

http://www.theledger.com/article/20111029/NEWS/111029206/-1/ZNYT01?Title=Polk-Prose-Monster-Laughs-By-Dean-Burkey-of-Lakeland

Following a suggestion from Jan W, another ImprovAddicts member, and using the contact info she provided, I emailed the woman in charge of the Polk Prose section of the Lakeland Ledger on October 14; and a snippet of that info made the paper. I'd never seen that section before, so I didn't know how much information to send. As in writing, it's always best to have too much, than not enough, so I sent an edited version of the substantial text I wrote for the Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Laughs-Secret-Mystery-Hunter/dp/1466344431

My plan now is to tag the book after the Look Inside feature becomes activated. I learned that lesson from my last book "Holy Laughter!" I tagged the book right away, which got it mentioned on several websites that track those tags, but the Look Inside feature wasn't available for a week or so after that. So anyone visiting from those other websites wouldn't have been able to see samples. Tagging after the Look Inside feature's activated is one of the many tips I provide in "How to Write All Kinds of Comedy Jokes" which should be availble soon.

"How to Write All Kinds of Comedy Jokes"

Thank God for His Generosity and Providential Care.
May you always find something to make you smile.

Blessings & Joy,

Dean Burkey

How-To Cover

Cover photo © 2009 by Scott Nelson. When I played the Jester in the Boar’s Head Festival.

Top back cover photo © 2011 by John D. Burkey. My first book-signing at Mitchell’s Coffee House, one of the places where the ImprovAddicts perform improv comedy.

Bottom back cover photo © 2011 by James Madison Thomas. Me performing improv at Seven Days.

Cover text and the Holy Laughter! and Monster Laughs book covers © 2011 by Dean Burkey.

Thank you Scott, Dad, and James for letting me use the pictures you took.

I think the cover's looking great. The only other thing, which I may try, probably when I feel better, (I feel sick after the cruise), is to add fingers to the hand on the right side. I'll draw them in, if they look good.

I hope and pray you succeed at whatever you endeavor.

Blessings & Joy,
Dean Burkey

PS Congratulations to my niece Laura and future nephew-in-law Kevin on your recent engagement. (They got engaged on the cruise, but I couldn't post that in the last post, until after they told everyone around them.)

Cruising ...

For our family reunion this year, we took a cruise on the Disney Dream ship.

Lots of fun. More fun seeing Disney through the eyes of my nieces.

I enjoyed Disney's private island Castaway Key. Especially the water slides. Saw some freaky fish too. Possibly a purple grouper. And some fish that would remain still and blend in so well, you'd convince yourself that it wasn't a fish, but merely an illusion. But as soon as you'd think that, it would move!

You can eat as much as you want on a cruise. Even more! And such tasty varieties too. Buffets, menus.

The best part is being with family. The next best part is meeting people. Whether it's fellow passengers as you wait to ride the Aqua Duck (the onboard water slide) or wait for a show to start. Or meeting the many friendly staff who work hard to create a fun experience for one and all.

Several staff members made the cruise so much fun that I had to request more comment cards, because the one they gave us didn't have enough room. Even then, there are several others I should've mentioned too. I even asked for another card to add the two people who gave me the card before that.

I love name tags. I agree with Cosmo Kramer on "Seinfeld" that everyone should wear name tags.

Wouldn't people act friendlier and commit less crimes if everyone else knew their names?

I enjoyed being with family, meeting new people, eating lots of food, watching the live shows, listening to the duo TanJobi, riding the Aqua Duck onboard, and the two water slides at Castaway Key.

My favorite time might have been when I made my two youngest nieces laugh a lot as I played keep away (more like bull-fighter) with a towel with my sister's oldest daughter and then her youngest daughter started charging at me too, laughing.

Another favorite moment is seeing the engagement ring on my oldest niece's left hand and hearing as she and her new fiancé recounted how he proposed. Congratulations you two!

I also enjoyed meeting people: Rini from Indonesia, Jess from Canada, Kelly from England, her friend Sara(h?) from England, Antje from Germany, Maria from Brazil, Sara(h?) from the United Kingdom, Hayley from England, TanJobi (Jenny from Southern California and Tony from England; the name TanJobi means Celebration in Japanese), and Tony from the Philippines who performed magic tricks at dinner. And many, many others. Including Brigita from Serbia. Ria from ?. Also passengers without name tags whose names I can't recall.

Lessons Learned:

+ Sleep in the afternoon if you want to stay up late.

+ Take a longer cruise, so you feel less rushed and have time to relax, but still enjoy many of the amazing amenities the cruise offers.

+ Cherish your family members and friends Call them today. Talk to them. Don't text. Don't email. Don't wait. Tomorrow may be too late.

+ Connect with people. Call them by their names. They love it. (Except people named Beauregard and Skippy. Especially women named Beauregard and Skippy.)

Blessings & Joy,
Dean Burkey

Sports Scores, Portfolio Profits, Trophies, Awards, Business Deals, Hot Dates, Funny Jokes, ...

What will you remember when you're on your deathbed? 
What will you think about? 
What will you look back on? 

Sports Scores, Portfolio Profits, Trophies, Awards, Business Deals, Hot Dates, Funny Jokes, ...

Will you rejoice in your accomplishments?
Will you regret your mistakes?
Will you recall tender moments with family and friends?
Will you thank God for His many blessings?
Will you plead for mercy?

Or will you just lie there until you gag a final "Argh!"
and then meet your Maker unprepared?

Whether you're on your deathbed,
or you have a century or so left to live,
please keep this in mind,
and in your heart:
Whether it's laminin ...

Or the x-core of the M51 Whirlpool Galaxy ...

From the molecular level to the cosmic level,

Jesus holds the universe together,

the invisible force,

the space between the molecules,

the all-encompassing power of love!

Love so amazing, so divine,

that He would suffer and die for your sins and mine.

We've all failed God, each other, and ourselves,

so let's acknowledge our need for forgiveness,

for mercy, for grace, for love,

our need for a Savior.

John 3:16-17 (New King James Version):

^"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,

but that the world through Him might be saved."

Jesus offers you love, forgiveness, reconciliation.

So let's do as He commanded in John 13:34:

John 13:34 (NKJV):
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;

as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

Yes, let us love one another.

And not just the loveable people.

Let us love all people of all faiths of all persuasions.

If we can all learn to love and forgive and help one another,

not only will the world become a much better place,

so will our hearts.

Blessings & Joy,

Dean Burkey

Monster Laughs Disclaimer ...

Obviously, I don't want to dissuade sales, but your satisfaction and our relationship is worth more than your money, so I want you to know that "Monster Laughs" is NOT "Holy Laughter!" This book isn't sacrilegious, but it is a Let’s-Laugh-And-Have-Fun book, not a Let’s-Pray-And-Sing-Hymns book. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. As Seinfeld would say.

The following paragraph is my official Monsters Laughs Disclaimer ...

“Monster Laughs” is funny fiction, so fear not; laugh a lot! Even if you’re a monster, this book should be taken in good fun. Nothing herein is intended to be malicious. Everything is meant to be enjoyed as amusing entertainment, even such bizarre situations as Ms. Hyde’s cutting way of helping men sing soprano; and much to the Mystery Hunter’s chagrin, the Creature’s got the hots for him. Rated PG. For teens and adults.

Now that the obligatory disclaimer’s out of the way, I must say: I read through this book several times while writing and rewriting it; and it always makes me laugh. Funny dialogue, action, and one-liners abound. Verbal gems. Sight gags. Lots of fun. Lots of Monster Laughs.

Just remember, I'm not the Mystery Hunter; I only play him on the cover.

Blessings & Joy,
Dean Burkey 

How to Write All Kinds of Comedy Jokes

Comedy isn’t easy, but it just got easier with:





How to Write All Kinds of Comedy Jokes

From Absurdity to Zeugma

(That’s Not to Say I Don’t Mention Aardvarks and ZZ-Top)

Includes Tips on How to Write Like

Mitch Hedberg, Brian Regan, Steve Martin, & Woody Allen

Must you be born funny to make people laugh? Groucho Marx wasn’t born with glasses, a mustache, and a cigar. Even Steve “Born Standing Up” Martin wasn’t born wearing an arrow through his head. Lucky for his mom, ‘cause that would have hurt! Although Woody Allen might have been born with frizzy red hair and glasses.

Learn joke construction, several types of jokes, and the humor techniques to write them. This book also features performance pointers, tips on how to write like popular comics, and handy-dandy tools to help you write 10, 20, 50 or more jokes on any topic.

Whether you’ve never written a joke before or you’re a professional, you can benefit from this book. Humor enhances almost everything, so improve your comic abilities with How to Write Comedy Jokes. Enjoy the many examples given, with many new jokes written by the author to prove these techniques work.

The section Other Avenues of Amusement offers insights for Cartoons, Improv, Screenwriting, Sketch Comedy, Sitcoms, and Written Comedy. Includes a tip or two for writing Ads, Animated TV Shows & Movies, Comics, Greeting Cards, Merchandising, and Plays. Learn how easily and inexpensively you can create your own books.

With a lifetime of studying comedy and an extensive career of well over an hour and a half in show business, Dean Burkey will help you achieve your fifteen minutes of fame. But not a second more. The rest is up to you!

“I think this is the most comprehensive yet concise, instructive yet entertaining, fun and funny book on the subject. This book helped make me who I am today. Everyone should buy everything by this author.” -- Dean Burkey, Author of “How to Write All Kinds of Comedy Jokes”, “Holy Laughter!”, and “Monster Laughs”.

Those Monsters You Fear ...

Those monsters you fear, may not be as scary as you think.

Or they could kill you.

With some monsters, you can never tell.

Fear not; laugh a lot!  With "Monster Laughs" From the Secret Files of the Mystery Hunter!

https://www.createspace.com/3614203