Dennis Venter

, Male

South Africa

Profile Information:

Hometown:
Cape Town, South Africa
About Me:
Ex-attorney who hated law. Turned to writing with the naïveté of an ignorant. Wrote for five years on the great South African novel without earning a red penny. Worked at a large chain bookstore selling the books of others. Fell into TV writing through another bookseller and now have over 150 produced television credits in both drama and sitcom. Last year optioned a script to a Hollywood producer which lead to two writer-for-hire feature film jobs. Still dream of the novel. Hopefully one day will find the time (and strength of character) to go for it again.
I Am A:
Reader, Writer
Books And Authors I Like:
The Old: James Lee Burke, Robert Crais, Lee Child, John Stanford, Michael Connelly, Stephen King, John Irving, Tom Robbins, Nelson De Mille, Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen and many many more.

The New (for me): Victor Gischler, Duane Swierczynski, JD Rhoades, Laura Lippman, Meg Gardiner, Ken Bruen, Al Guthrie, and hopefully many more of the authors on this site.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
The Wire, Sopranos, Deadwood, Rome, Rescue Me, 24, Dexter, The Shield, Boston Legal, various CSIs (when they're not jumping the shark with ludicrous storylines), Prison Break, Bones, Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, Friday Night Lights, Weeds. (and then my guilty pleasures...Gilmore Girls, Everwood, Buffy, Angel).

Comment Wall:

Load Previous Comments

  • Douglas Quinn

    When you get a chance, check out my Crimespace Blog re the info and pics from my recent book signing event.

    Smiles,
    Douglas Quinn
    www.douglasquinn.com

    Sep 19, 2007

  • Morgan OReilly

    Thanks for the invite to be your friend.

    Oct 4, 2007

  • Harley L. Sachs

    Yes, the gatehouse of Borthwick Castle where we had our honeymoon did have a black and white TV. That was 1960=61 after all. Thanks to watching TV and translating Emil Zola my wife learned English. Living with a small coal fireplace is pretty primitive, especially when the water heater tank is built in above it and produces about five gallons of hot water. For a bath that means about two inches of water in the tub before the water stards to run cold again, like taking a bath in a puddle.

    As for characters in series books, Smiley in leCarre's books was terrific. One does get attached to the characters. The risk is they take over your own life as an author. For a fun analysis of that pitrfall, read my book "IS" about what is real and what is not. It's available as a cheap download or inexpensive paperback at www.lulu.com. I wrote it as a kind of self-therapy to rid myself of wondering what my characters were doing NOW when they, of course, do not exist.

    Feb 4, 2008