Rico E. Anderson, to be precise.
Rico is an award-winning actor who starred as Boras in Star Trek: Renegades, directed by Tim Russ. He appeared in Criminal Minds, Modern Family, Young & Hungry, and Bones, and will be on The Fosters in June.
He lit up the stage as Oedipus and Malcolm X. He got his first big break in the 2005 Academy Award Winning short film, “Mighty Times: The Children’s March.”
You medical types may recognize him fresh off Grey’s Anatomy.
However, Rico’s most thrilling appearance to date was at the 2016 Roswell Awards, when he read my short story, “Humans ’n’ Hot Dogs.”
I kid, I kid. Well, Rico did read my story. He was hilarious. He adopted various personae, including a Russian accent for the homeless man. People laughed the whole way through. Like, almost continuously. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to record audio or video, so that performance is now locked in the audience’s memories and otherwise lost in the ether.
After the ceremony, Rosalind Helfand, the Roswell director, told me that the judges were “absolutely gleeful” after reading my story. One judge, Steven Calcote, applauded when he met me and said, “Yay! ‘Humans ’n’ Hot Dogs.’” Later, he took my hand and said, “Promise me you’ll keep on writing.” Which felt good, since I’ve been casting about, trying to write the next Hope Sze medical mystery.
Later, I was having drinks with Rico, praising his performance, and I thought, Maybe I shouldn’t let this go. We weren’t allowed to record his performance at the Roswell Awards. But what if he recorded it later and we released it as an audio book?
This is a risky proposition. I’m not a big name, so sales are not guaranteed. You can’t charge buyers much for a recording of a short story. And Rico would have to be paid. The man is one of those rarities, a full-time Hollywood actor who doesn’t have a day job. (Whenever he says this, he starts knocking on wood, and on his head.)
But Rico wants to do this. He told me, “I’m in.” Still, I know this will take time for him, not only to record, but to discuss my “vision.” I said he could direct himself, but as a professional, he wants to make sure the final product is what I envisaged. Plus there’s sound editing and other things that take time and expertise.
This is where you, the reader, come in.
I’ve never done a real crowdfunding campaign, but I’m going to try it now and see if we can bring Humans ’n’ Hot Dogs to life.
Any donation: big thanks and a picture of Rico shirtless. Goal: unlocked! See below.
Wiener ($5): an advance e-book copy of Humans ’n’ Hot Dogs and enormous thanks from Rico and me.
Pepperoni ($10): an advance deluxe e-book copy of Humans ’n’ Hot Dogs, including cartoons, inside tips on how to how to network in Los Angeles, and behind-the-scenes stories from Sci-Fest LA, Caltech, and Buzzfeed.
Bangers ($20): deluxe e-book and you’ll be the first to hear the audio book, before it’s uploaded to Audible, iTunes, and other retailers. Humans ’n’ Hot Dogs all the way!
Chorizo ($25): now we’re cooking. Deluxe e-book, audio book, and line producer credit in the book.
Andouille ($30): now we’re sizzling. All the previous rewards, co-producer credit in the book, plus an audio copy of my most popular book, The Most Unfeeling Doctor in the World and Other True Tales From the Emergency Room
Bratwurst ($50): smells absolutely delicious in here. Must be your generosity. Includes all of the above, with associate producer credit in the book
Mortadella ($100): every single previous reward, with executive producer credit in the book, and a copy of the print book, shipped anywhere in the world for free. Yes, a real, live, print book that you can pass on to future generations, along with Rico’s stunning rendition of my oeuvre.

Yes! We have our first donation, which unlocks a behind-the-scenes photo from Grey’s Anatomy. Hello.
If you don’t want producer credit, that’s cool. No pressure.
Minimum Goal: $250. Stretch goal: $600.
For now, I’m staying away from Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sites, because it looks like 10 percent of the money will go to fees. PayPal alone eats a fair amount of the donation—up to 5 percent plus a flat rate fee—but seems the lesser of the evils, so please send PayPal donations to olobooks [at] gmail [dot] com. I accept cash and cheques (Canadian or U.S., since Rico is American and we’ve got Canadian “dollarettes” right now). Internet banking saves on fees and should also go to olobooks [at] gmail [dot] com. I should even be able to accept credit cards or Interac if you contact me privately through that address.
If you can’t donate, I also appreciate any likes and shares and sparkly comments. I’m not going to spam you. It’s just that, if you react to this post, it ranks higher in Facebook’s algorithm.
Thanks for reading this. I think it’s very cool that nowadays, with only a few dollars, we can make a difference and support the arts.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”―Aesop
“No one has the power to shatter your dreams unless you give it to them.”―Maeve Greyson
Yay! Thanks, Amanda and Matt!
Oh, Gordon Brogan. He’s the best. 😉
Thanks, Tracy! Long time since we’ve been to Africa together. Much appreciated.
Kristen Leroux liked this on Facebook.
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Gordon Brogan liked this on Facebook.
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Hot….
You mean me, Rico Anderson, or both? 😉
He’s hot, you’re sizzling
LOVE.
Pierre L’Allier liked this on Facebook.
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<3 (from Max)
I would just like to thank two friends who’ve contacted me off-list to offer their support. YES, I take cheques, and I’ll change the post ’cause I’d love some Internet banking (fewer fees than PayPal). Love you all.
Roxanne Glaude liked this on Facebook.
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Rico Anderson liked this on Facebook.
Donated and Shared. Looks like fun!
Thank you so much, Brenda Cooper. Much appreciated!
Brenda Cooper liked this on Facebook.
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Exciting developments! And I love the dress.
I’m glad you approve, Tanya. I was worried the brown wouldn’t show up well on film, but it seemed to work out all right. I love the drape and cut, and honestly, the microsuede fabric makes you want to roll around in it.
I also love the dress!
I knew you had good taste, Ruth!
Diana Deverell liked this on Facebook.
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Count me in. Which option is the most convenient and/or least expensive for you, paypal or credit card? (the other options are not possible or awfully expensive from abroad)
Aaaaaaaaahhh! That is so fantastic. I’d say PayPal. Thank you, Céline! I appreciate your generosity on all counts.
More updates: I believe I can accept any currency through PayPal, as long as I pay their currency conversion fee, so that’s not a barrier.
Credit card vs. PayPal: I think the fees are comparable (Square vs. PayPal), so I lean toward PayPal, but I want to make everything as easy for you as possible, so please, if you want to donate one yen, that’s one more yen for Rico.
Buzzfeed’s LIza and Neil inform me that shares are a big deal, so I’m very grateful for the likes and shares for a money post. My friends are the BEST.
Stephen Campbell liked this on Facebook.
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Michele Lang liked this on Facebook.
Tracy Van liked this on Facebook.
Donated – using paypal – so it comes in under Kevin’s name instead of mine I think…but it was me 🙂
Looking forward to hearing the audio book!
Yay! Thank you so much, Ruth! I’ll try and figure out how to add a donation thermometer to the website, but so far, the net is $91.18 U.S. and $48 Canadian. Thank you, my friends!
woohoo!
Edson K Gray liked this on Facebook.
Tracey Belanger liked this on Facebook.
Ruth Nahmiash Nix liked this on Facebook.
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Deb Duquette liked this on Facebook.
We’re at $148 Canadian and $91.18 U.S.! That’s only $10.18 off our minimum goal, if we treat Canadian dollars at par, in less than 24 hours! Big ups to my donors, including Ruth Nahmiash Nix, Brenda Cooper, Pierre L’Allier, Matt Innes, two people who are unaware that they donated (Margaret Darling and Dr. Ellen Power tipped me and I threw it in the pot), and two people who spoke to me off-list and may not want to be named. Thank you for all your likes and shares! Aliens and hot dogs all around!
I’m in. 🙂 I want this to happen.
Thank you sooooo much to everyone who has contributed and helped spread the word. This is going to be a really fun project and i’m grateful to each and every one of you for you time and generosity. #LLAP
Aaaaaand…we’ve hit $138.93 U.S. and $148 Canadian, thanks to donors in Canada, the U.S., and as far away as England and Switzerland! Yo! (Just had to look up #LLAP, though…they may take away my SF membership.) Thank you!
Woo hoo!!! Lol, I should have prepped you for the #LLAP hashtag. Dont worry. I’ll keep the Trek geeks at bay. You wont loose your ‘Geek Card’.
Melissa, I despair of you.
Laughing at Tanya, *but* I prefer Rico protecting me to despair from Worf’s biggest fan. P.S. We’re at $143.44 U.S./$148 Canadian!
Donna Trasuk liked this on Facebook.
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Did this right away by PayPal. Did you see it?
Cara Senyard, no, I didn’t. Did you send it to olobooks@gmail.com? Yikes! Can you cancel the payment and send another? Thanks! I’m sending acknowledgements to everyone off-list, so if you didn’t get one, I didn’t get it!
Severine Laplante liked this on Facebook.
Help bring @dr_sassy and rico anderson together for is hilarious reading of Human’s ‘n’ Hot Dogs. https://t.co/bHVuBqtD5a
Caroline Fréchette liked this on Facebook.