Angsten, David

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Angsten, David

PERSONAL:

Born in Chicago, IL. Education: Attended Grinnell College, and American University in Rome and Paris; studied screenwriting at the University of California at Los Angeles; University of Illinois, B.A.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Los Angeles, CA. Office— Atchity Entertainment, Inc., 1517 Fern St., New Orleans, LA 70118. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Michael Brown Productions, Chicago, IL, former writer and editor; former staff writer, producer, and director of documentary films for Rainbow Productions; former writer and director for Made-to-Order Productions; Atchity Entertainment International, New Orleans, LA, senior story analyst and editor. Freelance script consultant.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Has earned awards for animated films based on children's books by James Stevenson and Chris Van Allsburg.

WRITINGS:

Dark Gold (novel), Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2006.

Author of screenplays, including Square Moon, Notes from a Lady at a Dinner Party and Ticker, as well as for animated films.

SIDELIGHTS:

David Angsten's first novel, Dark Gold, is a fast-paced adventure tale involving modern-day pirates, a mysterious man-eating beast, and a lost fortune. The main character, Jack Duran, sets out with his friends Duff and Rock for a journey around the world in search of Jack's missing brother, Dan. One of their first stops while following Dan's trail is a biker bar in Mexico. Jack awakes after a drinking bout to find the words "Yanqui Go Home" carved into his back. Duff, Rock, and Jack soon join forces with Leopold Bellocheque, a high-living businessman from the Bahamas. They proceed down the coast on Leopold's high-tech yacht, which is crewed by two gorgeous women, Eva and Candy. Jack eventually finds his brother's journal in the possession of a deaf-mute priest who swears that Dan is dead. The notes in that journal lead Jack to make a connection between his brother and Bellocheque's fortune. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly called Dark Gold a "tall tale … for grown-up boys who lust for swashbuckling literary adventure," composed by a "stylish, intelligent" writer. A Kirkus Reviews critic found the prose occasionally overwritten, but added: "It's all part of the campy fun. … Sunken gold, black magic, sea monsters, a beautiful Brazilian in a bikini—what more could you want?"