John August

John

Scriptnotes Live in May

Follow Up, Los Angeles, News

Our next live Scriptnotes will be Tuesday, May 22nd at the ArcLight in Hollywood. [Tickets are on sale now](https://scriptnotes.brownpapertickets.com), with special guests to be announced soon.

All of our live shows are benefits for great LA charities. This one is for [Hollywood HEART](http://www.hollywoodheart.org), which runs special programs and summer camps for at-risk youth.

When we were trying to figure a venue for the event, I asked on Twitter for recommendations. Friend-of-the-show Eric Webb went way beyond, compiling a list of most of the major auditoriums in LA. I’m including it here for anyone else who finds themselves needing a venue.

| Seats | Venue |
|——-|——————————————————————–|
| 3156 | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion |
| 2703 | Pantages |
| 2345 | Million Dollar Theater |
| 2252 | Walt Disney Concert Hall |
| 2103 | Ahmanson Theatre |
| 2000 | Los Angeles Theatre |
| 1976 | Orpheum Theater |
| 1897 | Saban Theatre |
| 1850 | Wiltern Theatre |
| 1800 | Fred Kavli Theatre (Thousand Oaks PAC) |
| 1800 | Royce Hall (UCLA) |
| 1700 | Mayan Theatre |
| 1600 | Valley Performing Arts Center Great Hall (CSUN) |
| 1600 | Theatre at Ace Hotel |
| 1152 | Grauman’s Chinese Theatre |
| 1413 | Alex Theatre |
| 1400 | Riverside Municipal Auditorium |
| 1341 | Regency Village Theatre |
| 1300 | The Rose |
| 1270 | Wilshire Ebell Theatre |
| 1235 | Bovard Auditorium (USC) |
| 1200 | Ricardo Montalbán Theatre |
| 906 | Tower Theatre |
| 900 | Forest Lawn Museum/Hall of The Crucifixion-Resurrection (Glendale) |
| 739 | Mark Taper Forum |
| 686 | Pasadena Playhouse |
| 618 | Egyptian Theatre |
| 610 | Geffen Playhouse |
| 600 | DGA Theatre 1 |
| 600 | Leo S. Bing Theatre (LACMA) |
| 538 | Eli and Edythe Broad Stage |
| 551 | Bing Theatre (USC) |
| 500 | Bram Goldsmith Theater |
| 496 | Tom Bradley Theater (LATC) |
| 473 | WGA Theatre † |
| 430 | Colburn School Grand Building Auditorium |
| 425 | Aero Theatre |
| 400 | Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre (Thousand Oaks PAC) |
| 400 | Vista Theatre |
| 390 | Campus Theatre (CSUN) |
| 360 | El Portal Theatre |
| 350 | Harmony Gold Theater |
| 341 | Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre Complex (USC) |
| 330 | LA Film School † |
| 303 | Nuart Theatre |
| 300 | Kirk Douglas Theatre |
| 300 | Landmark Theatre |
| 296 | Lupe Ontiveros Theatre (LATC) |
| 294 | The SilverScreen Theater (Pacific Design Center) |
| 280 | Alfred Newman Recital Hall (USC) |
| 278 | James Bridges Theatre |
| 270 | Roy and Edna Disney/Calarts Theater (REDCAT) |
| 222 | Downtown Independent Theatre |
| 220 | Annenberg Auditorium (USC) |
| 200 | Renberg Theatre (LA LGBT Center) |
| 155 | DGA Theater 2 |

† = previous Scriptnotes live show venue

Independent Bookstore Day

Arlo Finch, Books, Los Angeles, News, Projects

This Saturday, April 28th, I’ll be at Chevalier’s Books on Larchmont from 3 to 5pm as part of Indie Bookstore Day.

Come say hi and have me sign your copy of Arlo Finch. I can also recommend a few other great books for you to try.

Chevalier’s Books
126 N Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Check out the [other authors](https://www.chevaliersbooks.com/indie-bookstore-day-4-28) who’ll be joining me in LA, or find your local [bookstore event](http://www.indiebookstoreday.com).

Introducing AlphaBirds

Geek Alert, Projects, Store

In addition to making apps like [Highland](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland/) and [Weekend Read](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread/), my little company makes physical stuff, including [Writer Emergency Pack](https://writeremergency.com) and [One Hit Kill](http://www.onehitkillgame.com).

Today, we’re releasing a new game called [AlphaBirds](http://alphabirdsgame.com). It’s a word game like Scrabble® or Boggle®, but faster and more fun. ((As a fan of both Scrabble and Boggle, I stand by this statement. AlphaBirds is more fun than either of these games.))

AlphaBirds is ridiculously simple to learn.

1. On your turn, draw two cards.
2. Play one card in front of you, and one in front of any other player.
3. Make words if you can. Longer words are worth more points.

Yes: there are more rules. But that’s the gist. Most players pick it up in 30 seconds or less.

We’ve been playing AlphaBirds in the office every Friday afternoon for more than a year. It’s the perfect game for lunchtime or beer o’clock. You can carry on a conversation while playing, and don’t have to keep things in your hand. You draw; you play; you’re finished until it’s your turn again. Most games last about 10 minutes.

AlphaBirds isn’t a Kickstarter. It’s available today. [It’s $19 + shipping.](http://www.alphabirdsgame.com)

For now, AlphaBirds is only available through our own store. If you like word games, I think you’ll dig it.

Arlo Finch in the Bookstores of America (and Canada)

Arlo Finch, Books, Projects

My first novel, *Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire*, comes out today in stores throughout North America.

I’d love you to, well, buy it. People buying books makes future books possible.

It’s available at [massive online stores](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1626728143/?tag=johnaugustcom-20), [national chains](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arlo-finch-in-the-valley-of-fire-john-august/1126160967?ean=9781626728141) and your [local indie bookstore](https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781626728141).

Arlo Finch is middle-grade fantasy fiction. That’s the broad category that includes Harry Potter, Stranger Things and Star Wars. If that’s not your speed, you may have a son or daughter or nephew who would dig it.

How old does a kid need to be for Arlo? All kids are different, but eight seems a good general guideline. The audiobook might be a good option for younger sorts.

But if you’d like to help me out, there are a few other things you can do.

1. Review it on [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31180257-arlo-finch-in-the-valley-of-fire) and [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1626728143/?tag=johnaugustcom-20).
2. Recommend it to parents, teachers and librarians. They’re the ones who put books into kids’ hands.
3. Post about on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

And if you’re in a bookstore in the next few weeks, find it on the shelf and take a peek inside. During my visit to the printing plant, I put special stickers in five books. I’m eager to learn where they turn up, so if you find one, let me know!

If you’re not listening to the [Launch podcast](http://wondery.fm/launchhome), the first four episodes are now up. Today’s is my favorite so far.

I hope you dig the book. I’m really proud of it, and hope to be able to make more of them. Your help can make that dream possible. Thanks!