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:

  • LeAnnDraD

    Interesting that you have this photo posted. It is my favorite Gangster movie..

    Just dropped by to say hello.

    aaaaa forget ... about it !

    Apr 2, 2007

  • Dennis Venter

    Beyond the great movie, I'm a huge Joe Pesci fan. Being of a similar vertically challenged variety - though towering over his 5' 4" by a further whopping 2" - gotta love the guy. :)

    Apr 2, 2007

  • Angie

    Hi & welcome, Dennis! Think you're the first from S. Africa, but crimespace is getting pretty internationally suave. Plenty to see & do here- have fun!

    Thanks for the props on my hair color choice...and the skull is affectionately referred to as Skelo-writer. Actually more of a plushie grim reaper, but, y'know, whatever.

    Apr 2, 2007

  • Morgan Mandel

    Welcome aboard. It's truly amazing that a Chicago area author can network so easily with someone from South Africa.
    Morgan Mandel

    Apr 2, 2007

  • CT

    G'day from Melbourne, Australia, Dennis

    Apr 5, 2007

  • RJ

    Thank you for friending & your support of my idea. It means more than words can convey that there's an arena for an average, everyday, book lover to fulfill a dream!
    Thanks again & have a wonderful weekend!

    Apr 6, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Hi Dennis! I'm really rather harmless, not that scary at all. Pepsi Light - ew. I've been trying Coke Zero but so far it isn't getting me off the stuff. Main problem is I don't drink coffee, so pop is my caffeine.

    Of course, this might also explain some of the aggression...

    Apr 7, 2007

  • Laura Benedict

    Thanks, Dennis. So lovely to get to know you!

    Apr 8, 2007

  • Donna Moore

    Thanks for the invite Dennis. Love your list of authors and TV shows. And congrats and good luck on the smoking thing.

    Apr 9, 2007

  • J. Carson Black

    Thanks, Dennis, for inviting me. I notice you like a lot of the authors I do!

    Apr 9, 2007

  • Dennis Leppanen

    From one Dennis to another, Howdy. Thanks for the invite. I have been busy denying the siring of Anna Nicole's baby, but soon, I'm thinking before the kid's 18th birthday, the world will know.

    I used to be able to work with a tv on the news but there has not been any news in months---only these far-fetched mysteries...

    Apr 10, 2007

  • Patti McCoy Jacob

    Hi Dennis -

    You were right the second time - not a medal but medication when one has seven children.

    Actually, I'll tell you a little secret - it gets easier to more you have. I kid you not. When number seven was born, number one was just about to turn 14. And number six had just turned 12. Do you know how much easier it is when you have a bunch of older children to keep the younger children amused when I can't put off folding clothes another day? Or to fetch a diaper? I promise you with all my heart, the more you have, the easier it is.

    I love the Vegas CSI. Can't stand the Miami one. You're right about "jumping the sharks." Plus, what criminologist in real life is allowed to wear her hair in any manner other than pulled back, and with her cleavage spilling out? And Caruso's "one-liners" that pretty much make me want to gag. I don't say that lightly since he was a total heart throb for me in NYPD Blues.

    Also love Without a Trace and Boston Legal. Shatner and Spader are perfect together.

    Cheers,
    Patti

    Apr 10, 2007

  • Michael Koryta

    Thanks, Dennis! Let me know what you think. I'd offer to reimburse those who hate the books, but chances are my credit limit simply isn't that high...

    Apr 11, 2007

  • Harley L. Sachs

    Yes, we did have TV at Borthwick Castle. It was black and white and Scotland had only three stations, but thanks to watching TV and translating Emil Zola's "Sinful Priest" my wife learned English fluently in less than a year. I wrote about it in my memoir, "From Tent to Castle" but that's not for public distribution. My wife says that though the memoir is about our honeymoon, it's more Harley's honeymoon and Ulla went along. It's not romantic.

    Apr 20, 2007

  • Pari Noskin Taichert

    Dennis,
    Good to meet you.

    Love The Shield, Without a Trace, and Boston Legal --when I'm home.

    Love Life on Mars, Rome and The Closer -- when I'm on tour and can get decent cable.

    Apr 25, 2007

  • Amanda Stevens

    Thanks for the welcome, Dennis. I'm a big James Lee Burke fan, too. Nobody does southern the way he does.

    May 9, 2007

  • Tom Cain

    No offence, mate, but have you stolen my library and DVD collection? I only ask, because we are consuming eerily similar media! But I guess, 40something white guys with a taste for crime and edgy TV drama, it figures ... Tho' your New stuff is a lot newer than mine! By the weay, here's my tip for enjoying those 'guilty pleasure' TV shows: get a couple of teenage daughters. Then they watch that stuff all day long and you can just catch it 'by accident' ..

    May 25, 2007

  • Pat Mullan

    Hello Dennis,

    South Africa! One place I haven't been to yet - and I stress the word 'yet'. The home of Nelson Mandela, a man I'd sure like to spend an evening with ...

    Slan go foill,
    Pat.

    May 25, 2007