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Bio:
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Scott Baldyga
(International Thriller Writers)
Scott Baldyga is the co-author of FROZEN: My Journey into the World of Cryonics, Deception, and Death (Vanguard Press, 2009), a true crime whistle-blower story (www.frozenbook.com). Since its October 6 release, FROZEN has been featured on ABC Nightline, CBS Early Show, Inside Edition, Campbell Brown, Wolf Blitzer, and made the rounds from Howard Stern to Letterman to Leno. The book shot to #1 on Amazon.com in true crime and #292 on all of Amazon.
"My work editing Scott Baldyga's FROZEN showed me what a gifted and hard-working collaborator he is. He took the words and experiences of co-author Larry Johnson and melded them into a seamless and gripping story that is a model of a nonfiction thriller. Throughout, he maintained fidelity to Johnson's voice while keeping the narrative pace swift and full of surprises for the reader. I am happy to recommend him for collaborations and writing assignments eagerly and without hesitation."
--Philip Turner, Philip Turner Book Productions LLC
Tapping on a typewriter since he could spell, Scott honed his writing craft on academic scholarship to Boston College, where he wrote plays, dozens of short stories, and, as his Senior Honors Project, penned the only student novel published by BC University Press (1991, Summa Cum Laude, phi beta kappa, 3.9 English, 4.0 Philosophy).
Placing an offer for a Harvard PhD-free ride on hold, Scott joined the Peace Corps-type International Volunteer Program and was sent to Kingston, Jamaica, to teach university and high school literature and writing. He donated his time at a Salvation Army rubella unit and created youth programs in inner city communities (far from a beach resort, Kingston has the most dangerous and depressed ghettos in the Western hemisphere).
Just about the only young white guy in the Caribbean who could sing, Scott was quickly cast in lead roles in award-winning Jamaican musical theater, then began composing and musical directing shows that toured the West Indies and New York. A musician since the age of 5, Scott started playing keyboards and writing songs for Grammy-winning reggae acts including Third World, Shabba, Shaggy, and Bob Marley’s kids Julian and Damian Marley. In all, Scott spent four years in Kingston and never did make it back to Harvard.
“FROZEN, the book that’s been making headlines all across the country” – Campbell Brown, CNN
Moving to Los Angeles in 1996, Scott pursued film-making, first working as a script supervisor under the wing of legendary “King of the B Movies” Roger Corman. Scott then polished his storytelling techniques as a “scriptie” for network TV and over 40 feature films, eventually earning a living as a director. When Scott worked a TV pilot at MTV written and directed by Fran Drescher, the two became pals and Scott took a job in The Nanny’s casting office. Two years later, Scott was associate casting director on $100M Roland Emmerich and Mel Gibson movies, as well as TV series produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Scott Rudin. Scott peppered all this with several months at a time composing and musical directing professional theater (NY Off-Broadway and LA).
“The highlight of the evening, musical director Scott Baldyga, who helms one of the liveliest onstage musical ensembles you are likely to hear this season.” – Los Angeles Times “West Bank UK” review
Ever endeavoring to sharpen his storytelling skills, Scott moved into film editing (Montreal and Cleveland indie awards), composing (Spike Lee, MTV), worked as a game show writer, and then landed a job in film development under A-list producer Ed Saxon (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Adaptation, Beloved, etc). Scott was suddenly re-writing pages on $100M Disney films and soon began earning a living as a screenwriter.
Scott has been hired to write scripts ranging from a true Vietnam story (Weapon of Choice, produced by George Lucas attorney Andy Rigrod and Grateful Dead producer David Devore) to a children’s movie (The Rally Monkey Movie, produced by Larry Cano, executive producer, Silkwood).
While Scott was writing that children’s movie about a stuffed monkey who comes to life and teaches children to believe in themselves, he met Larry Johnson. Larry’s story was rather different. He had proof that workers at his ex-company were guilty of senseless animal experimentation, the illegal dumping of toxic waste and contaminated blood—and Larry had them on-tape admitting to hastening the deaths of some of their patients. Now they were chasing Larry across the country, threatening his life. Knowing this story needed to be told, Scott put his film-making career on hold, started working with Larry on FROZEN, and now Scott is pursuing a future authoring books, fiction and nonfiction—because it’s the one thing he’s come to love most.
“Amazing stuff … unbelievable” – Howard Stern (Sirius)
“Shocking” – Wolf Blitzer (The Situation Room, CNN)
“This book is a national sensation” – Salt & Demetri, WBBB (Raleigh-Durham)
“I couldn’t put this book down” – Casey & Shelley, KCLB (Palm Springs)
“What a page-turner … you have to read this book” – Drew & Mike, WRIF (Detroit)
“Great book. The characters? Amazing” – Loren Owens, WROR (Boston)
Visit www.Frozenbook.com. To see Scott speak about FROZEN, click the VIDEO tab. For Nightline and CBS Early Show interviews, and print articles including a two-page NY Daily News book excerpt, click the MEDIA tab.
To hear samples of Scott’s songwriting, visit www.Kokopelliband.com
ScottBaldyga@gmail.com
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