The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 19

TV listings, movies -C2 CK Ann Landers C2 Music reviews C3 The Shook' calls Hunterdon County home Pa i I 11 I I 1 I rn il spired some changes in the surroundings that spawned it. In September, the owners of the Swan Hotel who are among the local people mentioned in "The Skook" dedicated a plaque that marks the seat occupied by Judge Walter Youngford, one of the novel's characters. The dedication fulfilled a promise made to the character in the final chapter of the book that a similar plaque, stolen by a souvenir hunter, would be replaced. Texas-born James Pinckney Miller is a larger-than-life personality who might have stepped out of the pages of any of his stories. He was a professional boxer, newspaper reporter and deep-sea diver before becoming a writer of heavy dramas.

He speaks of writing as an occupation that chose him, despite his checkered background. "Writing is not something you decide to do, it decides for you," he says. You wake up in the middle of the night and write it down." Miller's first success and perhaps his most celebrated work came with the publication of "The Days of Wine and Roses" in 1953. The work was produced on television in the 1950s, and was made into a film starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick in the 1960s. The Public Broadcasting System revived the work in 1982 in a program entitled, "The Golden Age of Television." When Miller talks about his new projects, it continues to figure prominently among them.

"Well, right now I am working on about five different projects, but I'm Author's new book plays on imagination By MURIEL FREEMAN Courier-News Writer The sights in author J.P. Miller's new novel, "The Skook," will be familiar to Hunterdon County residents. But local readers may have to look inside themselves to catch a glimpse of the mythical title character. "There's a 'Skook' in all of us," declares Miller, a Stockton resident. "It's that iota of extra-ordinariness which comes to the surface when we need that last ounce of courage that we all hope we have when we need it." Miller is best known for "The Days of Wine and Roses," and the television dramas, "Helter Skelter" and "The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case." His new book, which took five years to complete, is published by Warner Communications.

The novel is set in the familiar surroundings of the Lam-bertvilleNew area, not far from Miller's home. Local residents will recognize references to familiar persons and places, such as former Governor Brendan T. Bryne and Lambertville's Swan Hotel. The book is the first to use a hologram a three-dimensional image created by laser technology for its cover illustration. The image of the feisty little 'Skook' emblazoned on the cover moves and changes colors.

"The Skook," a tale rooted in imagination, is a change of pace for Miller, who usually tackles hard-hitting topics like murder, alcoholism and kidnapping. What brought him to imagine a "It is the mysterious alchemy that lies in writers' souls. It is the inexplicable," he says. "The hero Hi JZ Courier-News Photo By Ed Pagliarinl Author J.P. Miller has included many references to the area surrounding his Stockton home in his new book, 'The takes shelter in a cave, which he soon discovers is a mysterious world filled with bottomless pools and prehistoric beasts, from which he cannot escape.

Barrman had actually invented the creature in stories he told his children, Miller says. The author admits to a similarity between his hero and himself Miller based the 'Skook' character on the The author, a hearty man with a firm handshake and an easy, chatty manner, discloses this much: The mythical creature enables a very ordinary fellow to bring about extraordinary changes in his run-of-the-mill life. While Miller uses the sights and sounds of the Delaware Valley to add color to his novel, the book also in (Spanish Barrman) is an ordinary fellow, a real loser whose wife divorces him. He marries the woman with whom he has been having an affair, and then she cheats on him as she cheated with him prior to their marriage." Barrman first meets the 'Skook' when, after having been harassed by a motorcycle gang while fishing, he tales he told his own children in the late 1950s. "He knows the 'Skook' isn't real, but it hangs around.

The 'Skook' makes him feel gutless, yet it gives him strength to survive and escape from the cave. Twice the 'Skook' comes to his rescue and helps him, but you'll have to read the rest for yourself," chuckles Miller. not at liberty to discuss them. However, "The Days of Wine and Roses' is going to be done as a stage play in Brussels this winter," Miller says. "My wife, who is French, will be of great help in determining the accuracy of the dialogue.

Since I speak French too, we'll both fly to Europe to approve the translation. It should be an interesting experience." Pros tell novices of happy ending in children's books Following Danziger's speech, the conference broke up into one-on-one question-and-answer encounters between professionals and amateurs. The individual sessions later merged into groups of 10 for more discussion on the "how-to's" of children's book publishing. By BRUCE HARING Courier-News Writer NEW BRUNSWICK Despite a tight publishing market in children's literature, aspiring authors and illustrators attending a Rutgers conference Saturday were told by professionals to keep at it. Federal funding cutbacks for libraries, the major buyers of children's books, was one reason given for a decreased demand in such literature.

Still, the experts repeatedly said there is room in the field for beginners. "Credentials and magazine articles make no difference to me," said David Reuther, an editor at William Morrow and Co. "It (the manuscript) either works or it doesn't." "Please do send us stories," advised Bonni Price, fiction editor at Seventeen Magazine. "We never see enough good that out I want to see their books." Most of the sessions stressed preparation and familiarity with the styles of various publishing houses. "The Literary Marketplace" and "Writer's Market" were frequently mentioned as bibles of reference for amateurs seeking information on where and how to send material.

The conference concluded with a wine-and-cheese evaluation of the day's events. Joy Turner, an illustrator from Cherry Hill, said the conference was of value. "I got real good advice," she related. "I discovered that slides are preferred to photos because of color quality. I'm glad I came." stories.

We know there are good writers out there that we don't see. Even if it breaks all the rules, if it works, it's fine." Sponsored by the Rutgers Advisory Council on Children's Literature and the Graduate School of Education, the "One on One" program brought together on campus 51 novice writers and illustrators of children's books with established professionals. Informal talk sessions were combined with panel discussions aimed at answering questions and sharing information and experiences. "The best writing is being done in our field. I really believe that," said Paula Danziger, keynote speaker at the conference.

A graduate of Metuchen High School, Danziger has authored four best-selling children's books, including "The Cat Ate My Gym Suit." "We are all new writers every time we touch a piece of paper," she said. "Some of us are published, but we're all new every time we start a new project. It's really hard work, but I also want to say it's worth it." The conference crowd was mostly middle-aged and female, a fact addressed by Bob Lipsyte, a published children's author. "It's probably unpleasant to say this, but it's a devalued occupation, like nursing," he said. "Most editors are women, and it's obviously a serious problem.

It's the same minority that says girls read and boys don't. Actually, these books are more important to boys. Boys need to get the support through books that girls can get from their peers." "There are more men coming in," added Danziger, "but I think that's because the money's changing." Reuther, of William Morrow, suggested that beginning writers take a direct approach in their contacts with publishing houses. "Go to the library and check 25 books that appeal to you," said Reuther. "Find out who the editor is of the books that you've targeted.

Then call and say 'I've written a book similar to what you've Anyone who's bright enough to figure Stress test: Taking steps PBS' Wonderworks' worfa wonderfully toward living longer ii Tonight on TV A Close Look Bill Earls Courier- News Columnist By MIKE HUGHES Gannett News Service Quick now, what's the best new show on TV? Maybe the hilarious "Cosby Or the thoughtful "Call to Or the glittery "Paper Perhaps, but let's give a chance to a latecomer called "Wonderworks." Certainly, this anthology series has some disadvantages. It's on PBS, which means it's supposed to be good for us. It's a "family show," which means even more goodness. But judging from the first two episodes, "Wonderworks" really does work wonders. The debut (Channel 13, tonight at 8) is a moving drama about Booker T.

Washington's childhood. The second show is a lyrical little comedy called "How To Be a Perfect Person." The lineup that follows is promising. And all of this quality emerged from the sort of hectic process that PBS must contend with. "Wonderworks" was created by a combination of PBS stations in five places Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, South Carolina and Washington, D.C. Without a corporate bankroller "we've always had trouble getting funding for children's shows," PBS program chief Suzanne Weill said producers have had to lean heavily on other stations for money.

Even with that, the budgets are tight. "Wonderworks" spends about $350,000 for its fresh one-hour episodes, compared to about $900,000 There's nothing like having a cardiologist say there's something not quite right with your EKG to raise your hackles. But that's what happened. Although I run regularly, don't smoke, drink little and follow a low-fat diet, I do know that heart attacks are common to my family. Dad had one at age 49, and then a milder one a year ago at age 71.

Uncle Bill died at age 53. Aunt Eileen was 51 when her heart just stopped. And I know I'm a type A. Intense. Impatient.

A perfectionist. Worry a lot. That's not good. And to make matters worse, it's been a rough year, too, particularly at work. When I found myself having more chest pains than normal and when they didn't stop I called the Summit Medical Group right away.

I was seen by an internist, and the exam started the way an exam should with questions. First he listened to me, then he listened to my heart from about 10 different angles. After that, I was sent upstairs for an electrocardiogram. The internist said he didn't find anything out of the ordinary, and suggested that the stress I'd been under all summer, plus attendant stomach acid, was probably the cause of the pains. I breathed easier.

That was on a Friday. The doctors are good at Summit. As a matter of routine, my cardiogram went to cardiologists in the group, and I was called Monday afternoon and told that one of them had picked up a tiny aberration. It was suggested that already completed movies or TV shows for $50,000. The man in charge is Lee Polk, a 60-year-old TV veteran.

He was head of children's shows at ABC from 1972-76, and grants that the network's afternoon specials became rather predictable. "We began to call it There were a lot of problem things." 1 But for "Wonderworks," he set some admirable standards. "We want to have a series where not everyone knows what happens next," he said. Nothing will come in heavy-handed. We will not go into pttrtnics:" Indeed, the opener is a tower of restraint, letting the story stir its own emotions What "Wonderworks'1 Vas is a sense of variety.

Examples include: 'Tonight: "Booker" has a real-life story that packs a powerful impact. We meet an illiterate slave who will go on to be an educator and an advisor to presidents. The writing is spare and eloquent, the camerawork is superb. Guest stars like LeVar Burton and Shelley Duvall help out, but the real star is young Shavar Ross. By the end of the story, he's stirring goose-bump emotions.

Oct. 8: "How To Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days." The world's klutziest teen-ager suddenly spots an ad from Dr. Silver-fish, who will cure all his problems. The doctor is played by the delightful Wallace Shawn Dinner With Shavar Ross, left, plays a young Booker T. Washington in the premiere program in PBS' 'Wonderworks' series.

LeVar Burton, right, co-stars in the program. I take a stress test. I said "When," and was given an appointment for later that week. There's nothing like being told your EKG is funny to send the alarm bells off in your head. I called a friend, Dr.

Ralph Oriscello of Cranford, himself a cardiologist, to find out his opinion. "Chances are very good there's nothing wrong with you," he said. There could be many reasons why a tiny aberration might show up in a resting EKG, he explained. My potassium level might be off, for instance. He also explained that a stress test, in which the heart would have to work hard, was a more exact way of checking heart function.

Having a stress test, at my age, with the symptoms I had, was simply smart. So, I reported to the Cardiac Rehab building of the Summit Medical Center at 2:25 p.m. on the designated day, carrying running shorts and shoes in a gym bag. I brought with me Xerox copies of my earlier EKGs and blood Continued on Page C3 head troll; Susan Anton plays a mermaid who will stir memories of "Splash" and Darryl Hannah. Nov.

5, 12: "The House of Dies Drear," a mystery, is split over two weeks. Nov. 19: "The Hoboken Chicken Emergency." Now it's back to pure whimsy, with Peter Billingsley as a lad who inadvertantly buys a 266-pound chicken. When the creature escapes, the public-panics and Gabe Kaplan arrives as a mad chicken-hunter. This isn't your ordinary episode, Billingsley grants.

"It was the first time I'd ever acted with a chicken." The result is a low-key film with bounce and charm. Oct. 15, 22: "Who Has Seen the Wind?" This somber Canadian movie in a rural, Depressiontime setting will be spread over two nights. It will be followed the second night by "Boys and Girls," the current Academy Award-winner for best live-action short. Oct.

29: "The Boy Who Loved Trolls." It's back to fantasy, this time with a kid who wanders into a troll world. The PBS station in Pittsburgh made this one itself, bringing in outside help. Sam Waterston plavs the an hour at the commercial networks. Andre and the director is Joan Sometimes it economizes by buying Micklin Silver Street).