I'm supposed to be writing a magazine article and the deadline is fast approaching. So why is it that I'm taking every possible opportunity to avoid the work?

I'm prepared to do everything but what I'm supposed to do. Writing every word of this article is like drawing blood. A simple one-page piece becomes a Herculean task in my head.

I guess this is why obnoxious bosses were invented - to quash procrastinators and get jobs done.

This week, the Spoleto Festival has descended on Charleston like a day-glo fog. I can see the signs already: Calhoun Street jammed with out-of-state vehicles, tents nestled on Marion Square like a Native American reservation, and Chinese acrobats shopping at the local Asian grocery store (what's wrong with Publix?).

Spoleto is a 17 day festival of music, theatre and dance. Visual art is non-existent, because it's harder to charge an entry fee for art shows. But fear not, all lovers of marsh paintings. There's also a Piccolo Spoleto - a fringe fest organized by the city's Office of Cultural Affairs. Piccolo is full of plays, musicians, comedy and -yay! - artists.

I'll be covering as much of the festival(s) as I can and contributing reviews, podcasts and videos to Charleston's local papers. If I ever get past all the traffic on Calhoun Street.

I’ll be at Waldenbooks, downtown Charleston tomorrow (Saturday May 3rd) signing copies of Undead on Arrival.

This is my first time at a Waldenbooks store, so I’d appreciate your support. Come and say hello if you can.

The signing will take place at 120 Market St. on May 3rd from 1 – 3 p..m.

For further information please call the store on (843) 853-1736 or visit the Nick Smith Books website.

I’ll be a guest on Lowcountry Live this Friday. The show starts at 10 a.m. on WCIV - ABC Channel 4, Charleston SC.

You can watch me being charming or foolish depending on what comes out of my mouth (this is LIVE TV, people!).

For more information, contact (843) 881-4444 or visit the Lowcountry Live website.

http://arts.ccpblogs.com/2007/12/19/journal-screen-printing-101-and-mr-nick/

Undead on Arrival has been named book of the Month by publishers Luath Press. It's currently being distributed in Britain - my mum just got a copy from Amazon - and should hit US stores in time for Halloween.


Here's what Luath had to say about the new novel:


Bestselling author Nick Smith's new book, Undead on Arrival, introduces us to the grave new world of zombie 'life'. In a brilliantly funny, incredibly original fantasy world, where zombies must fight for their constitutional rights as citizens of our world, our hero, Glen, is struggling to come to terms with the drawbacks of being a zombie - and desperately trying to find his killer.

My Folly Beach-based co-producers of All For Liberty watched the rough cut last weekend. They'll be heading down to Miami soon to meet composer Anthony Deritis while I continue to prep my next project.

They'll make notes on the rough cut then get it back to the editor in Florida, while the soundscaping takes place in New York. So the movie's gone from a strictly SC undertaking to one that's being completed all over the place.

New Classes!

Once a year I'm fortunate enough to be asked to teach at Creative Spark, a learning center for children and teens in Mount Pleasant, SC. Here are details of my latest class, which starts on Monday July 30:

How to Audition for Films, Television and Commercials

Hundreds of locals are cast each year in films, commercials and television shows.If you aspire to get paid jobs acting, even non-speaking roles require that you...

- know the terminology and etiquette
- learn how to recite a monologue
- improvise
- follow direction.

Learn from a pro, Nick Smith, who founded the Film School Scotland and has worked on dozens of film and TV productions, including "Gulliver's Travels" and "The Little Vampire."

July 30 to August 3

Tuition is $85.

Ages 8 to 12 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Ages 13 and up from 3:00 to 5:00 PM

Phone: 843-881-3780
Fax: 843-881-8487