OUT WITH CUBBY

Miamigo Column Revisited

As a tribute to the glory days of South Beach, I'm going to reprint some of my old columns. I covered nightlife for nearly ten years in a variety of publications including: WIRE, SunPost, Miamigo, and FashionTimes. I'm also going through boxes of photographs, it was an era of film not digital, and will also reprint some of those great memorable shots as well. Let me know if you have stories to share. Cheers.

BACK IN THE DAY

Were You There? 

Many of you know that I was a nightlife writer for nearly 10 years in South Beach covering the waterfront so to speak. Out every night during the glory days of South Beach when the parties never ended. I'm pulling some of those old photos and columns from my archives and will begin posting them in between posts about my new book. Enjoy. (If you're a follower on my blog you will get notices for every new post.)

MOB TREASURE

A brief synopsis of my new book.

 

Billy Lasky, a novice writer receives a book of clues from his deceased Mob Boss grandfather, leading to a hidden fortune. He heads to Miami Beach where he falls in love, gets threatened and kidnapped by mobsters, and meets an unsavory crew that help him find a hidden treasure - more valuable than money. This adventure takes his crew through the beautiful Art Deco hotels and mansions of Miami Beach’s Historic District – led by an official tour guide - and they discover a world of danger, mobsters, hidden casinos, secret rooms, underworld drama, and a pirate.

NEW DAY, NEW NAME FOR BLOG

I've now changed the name of my blog from SOUTH BEACH STAR to JAMES CUBBY WRITER as I'm the brand and not the book, especially since I'll soon be promoting a new book which is not titled SOUTH BEACH STAR. While SOUTH BEACH STAR is still available (Amazon, etc.), my new book is titled MOB TREASURE. Keep reading for updates. If you're not a follower, please click on and join. Many thanks.

 

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Today in my writer's workshop I'm learning to cut, not edit but cut. When you're promoting a book it has to be described in one short sentence called a log line. Here is my new log line that describes my novel MOB TREASURE: 

Novice writer follows his mafia grandfather's book of clues to hidden fortune but despite the dangers, he finds treasure more valuable than money.

This was a week long process of writing a two-page synopsis, then a one-page synopsis, then a short synopsis, ant then a one-sentence log line. My first attempt at a log line was too long but like many writers, I wanted to include everything in that one sentence. 

First attempt: 

-->

An inexperienced young writer who happens to be Mob royalty, receives a book of clues to a hidden fortune from his deceased Mob Boss grandfather, so he heads to Miami Beach where he falls in love, gets threatened and kidnapped by mobsters, and meets an unsavory crew that help him find a hidden treasure - more valuable than money. 

Comments appreciated. Many thanks. 

I'M BACK. WITH A NEW BOOK.

Been chained to my computer but the result is another book called Mob Treasure. 

Billy, an inexperienced young writer who happens to be Mob royalty, receives a book of clues from his deceased Mob Boss grandfather, leading to a hidden fortune so he heads to Miami Beach where he falls in love, gets threatened and kidnapped by mobsters, and meets an unsavory crew that help him find a hidden treasure - more valuable than money. 

Stay tuned for details. 

I'm Writing As Fast As I Can, Just Not Here

South Beach Star is a modern day Valley of the Dolls set in South Beach. Life is sweet for Jamie Kidd, a thirty-something writer, till he wakes up one morning to discover that his lover has left town after cleaning out the bank account and leaving Jamie heartbroken, penniless, and somewhat suicidal. Jamie makes the entirely sensible, or so he believes, decision to escape to South Beach where he finds success and quasi-celebrity as a nightlife columnist for the SOUTH BEACH STAR, a weekly tabloid that covers the trendy South Beach scene and the celebrities that populate it. South Beach opens its arms to Jamie, who, like an actor taking on a new role, throws himself into his fabulous new lifestyle covering the notorious celebrity-studded party scene where nightly he mingles with beautiful shallow fashionistas, famous models, and wealthy jet-setters. His coveted lifestyle masks an out-of-control roller-coaster ride of late-night parties and photo-ops, fueled by a gradual addiction to crystal meth. Like many before him, Jamie loses control and falls victim to his fast lifestyle.
My novel is still available on Amazon. Cheers
http://www.amazon.com/South-Beach-Star-James-Cubby/dp/0983658668

Currently working on two new novels: KILLER SMILE, about a serial killer set in South Beach, and ISLAND OF BOSSY WOMEN, the story of a dysfunctional Southern family whose lives are turned upside down but emerge triumphant. With the continuing weekly deadlines of freelance writing projects, I've found it difficult to always find writing time for the two novels that I'm trying to finish so I'm taking a temporary break from this blog. For those new to the blog, please check out the archives, there's years of posts and hundreds of photos. Thanks for all the support.