Thursday, November 30, 2006
Spawn of Thursday Thirteen #5
I had to point out that my friend Lauren added a fourteenth thing that ShapeShifter fans want for Christmas. Ready?
#14 - The author who wrote all about ShapeShifter to get a book deal and be published!
Amen, sister. From your fingertips to God's eyes.
Thanks for the support -- thanks to Lauren and all the rest of you who stop in once in awhile, or regularly. You guys keep me motivated and keep the creativity flowing. I need that -- and appreciate the hell out of you for it!
(Green Hair week starts in THREE DAYS. Can you stand it?)
#14 - The author who wrote all about ShapeShifter to get a book deal and be published!
Amen, sister. From your fingertips to God's eyes.
Thanks for the support -- thanks to Lauren and all the rest of you who stop in once in awhile, or regularly. You guys keep me motivated and keep the creativity flowing. I need that -- and appreciate the hell out of you for it!
(Green Hair week starts in THREE DAYS. Can you stand it?)
Labels: Thursday Thirteen
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Thursday Thirteen #5 -- Catching the Holiday Spirit
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1. A new album! 2. A tour to come to town, hopefully soon, and hopefully at a time when they've got the cash and time off from work to get floor seats. 3. To get to go for a ride with Trevor on his Vincent. 4. Backstage passes to finally meet the band, and permission to bring a camera inside for pictures to prove that it really happened. 5. To have their art picked for a ShapeShifter t-shirt. 6. To catch one of Daniel's drumsticks when he tosses them into the crowd before Eric's solo. 7. Guitar lessons from Eric. Years of guitar lessons, even though that'll only scratch the surface. And a gift of one of Eric's guitars, too. 8. Mitchell and Daniel to break up with Kerri and Val and hook up with them instead. 9. The collected videos to be released. Or a video of a show. Or any sort of video of the guys, especially if it includes candid stuff. 10. To run into the band during a visit to Riverview. Or, maybe even better, to run into a member or two when they are tooling around their own hometown, looking particularly cool. So cool that the band member flags them down and wants to be their friend. 11. A personal phone call from their favorite band member, asking what Santa brought. 12. A job as a ShapeShifter roadie. 13. To be the guys' new best friend. (thanks go to Rashembo for today's inspiration) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Labels: Thursday Thirteen
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Susan's Book Talk: Sad News
The world of contemporary fiction is mourning the loss of Bebe Moore Campbell, a fantastic writer and, like me, an alum of the University of Pittsburgh (although I don't think she was a writing major).
If you've never read any of Campbell's works, this would be a good time to pick some of them up. She even wrote a children's book, about mental illness. She was an important writer, with an eye for detail and an ear for dialogue, and her talent will be missed.
Condolences to her family and us fans around the world.
If you've never read any of Campbell's works, this would be a good time to pick some of them up. She even wrote a children's book, about mental illness. She was an important writer, with an eye for detail and an ear for dialogue, and her talent will be missed.
Condolences to her family and us fans around the world.
Labels: books, publishing
Monday, November 27, 2006
Public Service Announcement:
Green Hair Week will commence on Sunday, December 3, I believe. Expect a bunch of posts that tell the story of my poor, beloved Mitchell Voss and how he turned his hair green during a ... Oh, never mind. You'll get to read all about it.
Warning, though: there's rough language, as always with the ShapeShifter boys, and some references to sex. I'd rate this PG-13, myself, but then again, I'm pretty liberal. You've got to be when you've got THOSE people living in your head...
More ahead, including a new arrival on the scene -- well, she's been there awhile, but will be new to you guys. Stay tuned and rock on!
Warning, though: there's rough language, as always with the ShapeShifter boys, and some references to sex. I'd rate this PG-13, myself, but then again, I'm pretty liberal. You've got to be when you've got THOSE people living in your head...
More ahead, including a new arrival on the scene -- well, she's been there awhile, but will be new to you guys. Stay tuned and rock on!
Labels: Green Hair Week
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Susan's Book Talk: Rosemary Edghill (and India, too!)
A few years back, my book club read India Edghill's first novel, Queenmaker. We loved it, but we had questions about it. I contacted India via e-mail and we struck up a nice correspondance. So, when her second novel, Wisdom's Daughter came out, we had to read that one, too.
In fact, we had India call in to our book club meeting during our discussion of Wisdom's Daughter, although we mostly wound up talking about other books, especially the Biblical Historical genre, which both Queenmaker and Wisdom's Daughter fall into.
As we were talking, though, I mentioned that I had three novels here that her sister, Rosemary, had written. Gathered into one Omnibus, they are commonly referred to as The Bast Novels, after the main character.
Finally, over a year later, I'm reading them. And let me tell you, these books may be about ten years old, but they have stood up to the passage of time. The world that Rosemary creates is real, it's colorful, it's vibrant -- and it's alive. Separately, the three are Speak Daggers to Her, Book of Moons, and The Bowl of Night. Together, they are Bell, Book, and Murder.
(Mystery Lovers' Bookshop doesn't have a link to The Bowl of Night, but I bet if you call them, they can find it for you.)
Go get 'em. Heck, go get all five of them. You won't be disappointed.
***
Don't forget! Mitchell's Green Hair week is coming! Stay tuned!
In fact, we had India call in to our book club meeting during our discussion of Wisdom's Daughter, although we mostly wound up talking about other books, especially the Biblical Historical genre, which both Queenmaker and Wisdom's Daughter fall into.
As we were talking, though, I mentioned that I had three novels here that her sister, Rosemary, had written. Gathered into one Omnibus, they are commonly referred to as The Bast Novels, after the main character.
Finally, over a year later, I'm reading them. And let me tell you, these books may be about ten years old, but they have stood up to the passage of time. The world that Rosemary creates is real, it's colorful, it's vibrant -- and it's alive. Separately, the three are Speak Daggers to Her, Book of Moons, and The Bowl of Night. Together, they are Bell, Book, and Murder.
(Mystery Lovers' Bookshop doesn't have a link to The Bowl of Night, but I bet if you call them, they can find it for you.)
Go get 'em. Heck, go get all five of them. You won't be disappointed.
***
Don't forget! Mitchell's Green Hair week is coming! Stay tuned!
Labels: books
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Thanksgiving Thursday Thirteen (#4)
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1. Trevor's original vision that created the band 2. A savvy manager 3. The rabid fans who would sooner miss work than a show, the fans who follow the band on tour, the fans who buy the records but never come to shows, and everyone in between 4. The girls who take the time to make themselves look good so they'll please the band 5. Musical talent, even though Trevor's is a bit lacking at times 6. Kerri, who keeps Mitchell grounded and his head the proper size 7. Multi-platinum records 8. The journalists who cover the band, even when they don't do anything they think is particularly newsworthy 9. Val, who cooks for them 10. No more day jobs! 11. Mitchell's parents, who are the ultimate band parents: always supportive but brutally honest, and who love to send the band care packages while on the road 12. A creator with a great vision (that'd be me) 13. lots of readers for Susan's blog (that'd be you) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Labels: Thursday Thirteen
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Fiction Outtake: Dedication (the early days)
Patterson sent Sonya home with the car. "I'll wait for the boys."
"Will there be room?" she asked. She was tired, Patterson could tell; the night had drained her. If what he had to say to his son wasn't so important, he wouldn't be doing this, asking her to drive herself home without him. But catching Mitchell before he'd had a chance to sleep on the night's show was essential. It was entirely possible that he'd wake up in the morning, the entire disaster behind him and no replacement for the guitar forthcoming. It'd be as far behind him as baseball was. And while Patterson hadn't minded when baseball had gone away, privately he thought that his son had a future in music.
At the very least, the boy had invested enough into it: piano lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons, lessons in music theory and music composition. Some of it he'd taught himself, some he'd learned from books, some he'd mowed lawns to be able to afford. Mitchell had shown that sort of work ethic with the baseball thing, but he'd been ten and so shy, working hard had been the perfect way to hide that. Now, though, Patterson was watching this band bring his son out of that shell. What was emerging was quite the young man: smart, loyal, driven, a planner, a businessman, and just plain good to be around.
The show tonight had been a disaster, there was no sugar-coating it. From the lead singer who fell off the stage and broke his guitar to the drummer putting a stick through the head of his snare and not having a backup handy to the lighting and the sound, there was only one good thing that could be said: not many people had been there. Patterson had counted about twenty, including himself and Sonya.
Trevor was, of course, grinning like the night had gone perfectly. For all that boy had been through, Trevor never stopped seeking the joy in life; it was that quality that Patterson had noticed the first time Amy had brought him home. It was that unfailing optimism that had led Patterson to take custody rather than let him face jail time.
Mitchell, though, was the opposite. Head down, shoulders slumped. It wasn't unreasonable to think that there'd be no more band come morning. Maybe it wasn't unreasonable to think there was currently mo more band.
"Son," Patterson said, trying to be gentle and not startle the boy.
It didn't work. Mitchell's head shot up and his eyes widened. "Oh, hi, Dad," he said when he recovered. He grimaced. "You going to rub it in?"
"No," Patterson said slowly, tilting his head at the empty spot on the bumper of his Bronco. As Mitchell sat, Patterson noticed Trevor hovering, just within earshot.
Well, Patterson figured, this would be good for Trevor to hear, too. "Even if I could make it sound good, I wouldn't. You needed a night like this," he said. "You needed to know what it feels like to fall on your face."
"What?" Mitchell half-rose to his feet, then caught himself, as if he was suddenly aware of who he was speaking to.
"You can't succeed without tasting failure," Patterson said. "If you never fail, you never get to find out what you're made of. So. What are you made of, Mitchell?"
Mitchell shook his head, his hair shaking and dancing, somehow as dejected as the boy.
Trevor tossed his own hair over his shoulder and lit a cigarette as he watched.
"Are you tough enough to suck tonight up, learn what you can, and move forward? Or is the band over now that you broke your guitar?"
"What am I supposed to play? You can't be a guitar player without a guitar."
"True," Patterson said. "Is that the only problem?"
Mitchell cocked his head as he thought. Patterson waited him out. "Yeah," the boy finally said. "I think so." He grimaced. "I've been trying to save up for another one, but it's not doing so well. I had to dig into it to pay for the latest run of t-shirts."
"Not taking your investment back out?"
Mitchell shook his head. "I figured it was worth it. Didn't think this sort of thing would happen."
"But it did, so where do you go from here?"
The boy grimaced. "I figure out how to get a new guitar."
"We'll steal you one if we need to," Trevor said with a shrug. "Sorry, Dad. You didn't hear that."
"That's true. I didn't." Patterson paused, noticing that Trevor had started to fade into the shadows. He wondered if Trevor was smoking something more than a cigarette; it wouldn't be the first time he'd tempted fate -- and the local cops.
Mitchell turned to Patterson. "I want this."
"This?"
"The band. A new guitar. Hell, a better guitar."
"Fame, fortune, and all the rest?"
Mitchell grinned at his father. "You betcha."
"Then, son," Patterson said, turning to him. "You know what it's going to take to get there."
"Yeah," Mitchell said, wiping a hand over his face. "A shitload of work." He stood up and fumbled in his pocket. "I'd better get busy. Trev, you ready?"
"To do what?" Trevor eyed Mitchell and looked ready to bolt. Patterson bit back a smile. Getting that particular boy to do anything he didn't want to was impossible; Patterson knew this first-hand.
"Go home and get some sleep," Mitchell said, possibly the only thing that Trevor wouldn't rebel against just for the sake of rebelling. "We need to find me a new guitar."
Patterson held out his hand, palm up. "I'll drive. You two can start plotting."
With a grin that said it all, Mitchell handed over the keys.
A note from Susan: This is a particularly good outtake for the day, as it seems I've been nominated for A Top Ten Writer's Blog! Talk about a good time to post an outtake that makes a statement; believe me, it wasn't planned this way. Karma's funny sometimes.
Any support you guys can throw my way will be most appreciated!
"Will there be room?" she asked. She was tired, Patterson could tell; the night had drained her. If what he had to say to his son wasn't so important, he wouldn't be doing this, asking her to drive herself home without him. But catching Mitchell before he'd had a chance to sleep on the night's show was essential. It was entirely possible that he'd wake up in the morning, the entire disaster behind him and no replacement for the guitar forthcoming. It'd be as far behind him as baseball was. And while Patterson hadn't minded when baseball had gone away, privately he thought that his son had a future in music.
At the very least, the boy had invested enough into it: piano lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons, lessons in music theory and music composition. Some of it he'd taught himself, some he'd learned from books, some he'd mowed lawns to be able to afford. Mitchell had shown that sort of work ethic with the baseball thing, but he'd been ten and so shy, working hard had been the perfect way to hide that. Now, though, Patterson was watching this band bring his son out of that shell. What was emerging was quite the young man: smart, loyal, driven, a planner, a businessman, and just plain good to be around.
The show tonight had been a disaster, there was no sugar-coating it. From the lead singer who fell off the stage and broke his guitar to the drummer putting a stick through the head of his snare and not having a backup handy to the lighting and the sound, there was only one good thing that could be said: not many people had been there. Patterson had counted about twenty, including himself and Sonya.
Trevor was, of course, grinning like the night had gone perfectly. For all that boy had been through, Trevor never stopped seeking the joy in life; it was that quality that Patterson had noticed the first time Amy had brought him home. It was that unfailing optimism that had led Patterson to take custody rather than let him face jail time.
Mitchell, though, was the opposite. Head down, shoulders slumped. It wasn't unreasonable to think that there'd be no more band come morning. Maybe it wasn't unreasonable to think there was currently mo more band.
"Son," Patterson said, trying to be gentle and not startle the boy.
It didn't work. Mitchell's head shot up and his eyes widened. "Oh, hi, Dad," he said when he recovered. He grimaced. "You going to rub it in?"
"No," Patterson said slowly, tilting his head at the empty spot on the bumper of his Bronco. As Mitchell sat, Patterson noticed Trevor hovering, just within earshot.
Well, Patterson figured, this would be good for Trevor to hear, too. "Even if I could make it sound good, I wouldn't. You needed a night like this," he said. "You needed to know what it feels like to fall on your face."
"What?" Mitchell half-rose to his feet, then caught himself, as if he was suddenly aware of who he was speaking to.
"You can't succeed without tasting failure," Patterson said. "If you never fail, you never get to find out what you're made of. So. What are you made of, Mitchell?"
Mitchell shook his head, his hair shaking and dancing, somehow as dejected as the boy.
Trevor tossed his own hair over his shoulder and lit a cigarette as he watched.
"Are you tough enough to suck tonight up, learn what you can, and move forward? Or is the band over now that you broke your guitar?"
"What am I supposed to play? You can't be a guitar player without a guitar."
"True," Patterson said. "Is that the only problem?"
Mitchell cocked his head as he thought. Patterson waited him out. "Yeah," the boy finally said. "I think so." He grimaced. "I've been trying to save up for another one, but it's not doing so well. I had to dig into it to pay for the latest run of t-shirts."
"Not taking your investment back out?"
Mitchell shook his head. "I figured it was worth it. Didn't think this sort of thing would happen."
"But it did, so where do you go from here?"
The boy grimaced. "I figure out how to get a new guitar."
"We'll steal you one if we need to," Trevor said with a shrug. "Sorry, Dad. You didn't hear that."
"That's true. I didn't." Patterson paused, noticing that Trevor had started to fade into the shadows. He wondered if Trevor was smoking something more than a cigarette; it wouldn't be the first time he'd tempted fate -- and the local cops.
Mitchell turned to Patterson. "I want this."
"This?"
"The band. A new guitar. Hell, a better guitar."
"Fame, fortune, and all the rest?"
Mitchell grinned at his father. "You betcha."
"Then, son," Patterson said, turning to him. "You know what it's going to take to get there."
"Yeah," Mitchell said, wiping a hand over his face. "A shitload of work." He stood up and fumbled in his pocket. "I'd better get busy. Trev, you ready?"
"To do what?" Trevor eyed Mitchell and looked ready to bolt. Patterson bit back a smile. Getting that particular boy to do anything he didn't want to was impossible; Patterson knew this first-hand.
"Go home and get some sleep," Mitchell said, possibly the only thing that Trevor wouldn't rebel against just for the sake of rebelling. "We need to find me a new guitar."
Patterson held out his hand, palm up. "I'll drive. You two can start plotting."
With a grin that said it all, Mitchell handed over the keys.
A note from Susan: This is a particularly good outtake for the day, as it seems I've been nominated for A Top Ten Writer's Blog! Talk about a good time to post an outtake that makes a statement; believe me, it wasn't planned this way. Karma's funny sometimes.
Any support you guys can throw my way will be most appreciated!
Labels: creative writing, fiction, outtake, short story
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Thursday Thirteen #3
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1. Finding all four members (how Trevor did this without putting an ad in the paper, no one really knew. Daniel and Eric both said that one day, there was this total stranger named Trevor, offering them a spot in his band. Good thing they were smart enough to trust Trevor's charisma) 2. Surviving practicing in the Voss' basement, with Amy as the peanut gallery and Sonya as the band Mom. 3. Getting good. (Or, in some cases *coughTrevorcough*, learning how to play.) 4. Landing their first gig. (Trevor seduced a clueless waitress into putting in a good word with the club owner.) 5. Recording their first demo. (Daniel offered to play drums on the producer's little brother's country band to get better studio time, which was largely wasted by four largely clueless little boys.) 6. Making their first t-shirts -- after they had to tape one of the design choices back together and wipe the spit off it. 7. Getting gigs out of state before they had JR as their manager. (Accomplished by Daniel calling small holes-in-the-walls that Trevor found, or by Daniel calling bands they'd opened for in Riverview and, while Mitchell rolled on the floor with laughter in the background, begging to open for them again even though a lot of them sucked and weren’t heard of again.) 8. Touring in Mitchell's dad's Ford Bronco, with a trailer on back for their gear and one sleeping bag for the four of them to use in the cargo area. 9. Landing their manager, who previously had been a mail boy at a bigger management company, but who harbored dreams of being on his own and, like Mitchell, needed the push from Trevor to up and do it. 10. The celebration the night they signed their first record deal, when Daniel ran naked up and down the street in front of All Access, screaming that ShapeShifter was getting out of this shithole town and was never coming back. 11. Pam. 12. A blonde rhythm guitarist/singer who all the girls lusted for showing up at the end of a three-day-break sporting green hair that he hadn’t dyed and was desperate to get rid of. (remind me to tell you that one…) 13. Repeated Death by Cheese Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Labels: Thursday Thirteen
fiction outtake: Something new I'm playing with
I was inspired by the whole Death by Cheese thing, and I seem to be entranced by a new plot idea. For a new novel, folks, not another outtake.
This cracked me up. ShapeShifter's been in demand for TV appearances:
Apparently, one of the kids' cable networks had called and put out feelers, but had run when reminded of Mitchell's love for the words "pussies" and "fuckers."
"Funny," Mitchell had pointed out to JR, "I've never said those two particular words on any other broadcast we've done."
They'd both conveniently ignored Mitchell's talent for slipping them into songs and somehow past the censors who were supposed to be on guard for them.
***
Back tomorrow with a Thursday Thirteen
This cracked me up. ShapeShifter's been in demand for TV appearances:
Apparently, one of the kids' cable networks had called and put out feelers, but had run when reminded of Mitchell's love for the words "pussies" and "fuckers."
"Funny," Mitchell had pointed out to JR, "I've never said those two particular words on any other broadcast we've done."
They'd both conveniently ignored Mitchell's talent for slipping them into songs and somehow past the censors who were supposed to be on guard for them.
***
Back tomorrow with a Thursday Thirteen
Labels: creative writing, fiction, novel excerpt, outtake
Monday, November 13, 2006
Makes Sense to Me!
I just got a rejection letter for Trevor's Song that makes me wonder if this agent needs one of Miss Snark's Clue Guns.
I kid you not, but this was hand-written on the bottom of my query page:
"Thanks, but I represent commercial, category fiction."
Now, if you follow this link, you'll see only part of the query letter. What you're not seeing is the part where I go on to give the word count and clearly state that this will be my fiction debut. It mentions my degrees in creative writing. Nowhere does it infer that this is anything BUT a work of fiction.
And for crying out loud, the book is about a man named Trevor. If there's any doubt if this is non-fiction, that should be cleared up by noticing the fact -- that she must have, as she personalized this note -- that I am a woman named Susan.
I suppose I ought to be grateful that she thought this fictional world I've created is real. I suppose that ought to reinforce my belief that I've done good work and it's only a matter of finding the right person -- who she, clearly, is not.
But I can't help but wonder if instead of spilling coffee on the envelope, she would have been better off if she'd consumed that coffee, instead.
I kid you not, but this was hand-written on the bottom of my query page:
"Thanks, but I represent commercial, category fiction."
Now, if you follow this link, you'll see only part of the query letter. What you're not seeing is the part where I go on to give the word count and clearly state that this will be my fiction debut. It mentions my degrees in creative writing. Nowhere does it infer that this is anything BUT a work of fiction.
And for crying out loud, the book is about a man named Trevor. If there's any doubt if this is non-fiction, that should be cleared up by noticing the fact -- that she must have, as she personalized this note -- that I am a woman named Susan.
I suppose I ought to be grateful that she thought this fictional world I've created is real. I suppose that ought to reinforce my belief that I've done good work and it's only a matter of finding the right person -- who she, clearly, is not.
But I can't help but wonder if instead of spilling coffee on the envelope, she would have been better off if she'd consumed that coffee, instead.
Labels: agent hunting, publishing
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Susan's a Working Stiff!
Yes, folks, it's that time again. A glimpse into Susan, herself. Myself. Whoever. Whatever.
Enjoy, and don't forget to stop back to visit the Stiffs on a daily basis; they are one heck of a neat group of people.
While you're looking around, please check out the fact that I'm now a Blogging Chick -- see my sidebar for the details. I'm pretty psyched about this, but then, I love new places to explore.
(and if you haven't discovered Trevor's latest favorite thing, be sure to scroll down to the entry before this one! It's a MUST NOT MISS.)
Enjoy, and don't forget to stop back to visit the Stiffs on a daily basis; they are one heck of a neat group of people.
While you're looking around, please check out the fact that I'm now a Blogging Chick -- see my sidebar for the details. I'm pretty psyched about this, but then, I love new places to explore.
(and if you haven't discovered Trevor's latest favorite thing, be sure to scroll down to the entry before this one! It's a MUST NOT MISS.)
Labels: blogging, cool stuff, Working Stiffs
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Endorsed by Trevor Wolff
The Tour Manager found these at a craft show today. Perfect for Trevor, or just for when you're in a cranky mood.
Now, if those aren't perfect enough, as I was surfing the rest of the site, I realized that the woman behind Ella Studio used to work with the Tour Manager. So now I doubly endorse this woman's business -- when you place your order, be sure to tell her West of Mars sent you!
Now, if those aren't perfect enough, as I was surfing the rest of the site, I realized that the woman behind Ella Studio used to work with the Tour Manager. So now I doubly endorse this woman's business -- when you place your order, be sure to tell her West of Mars sent you!
Labels: cool stuff, Ella Studio, Trevor
Friday, November 10, 2006
Susan's Book Talk!
Congrats to author K L Going, whose book Saint Iggy was named one of Publisher's Weekly's Best Books of 2006 -- and Publisher Weekly's Best Children's Books, too.
I've linked the book to Powell's Books, but if you think of it, why not order from my friends Richard and Mary Alice at The Mystery Lovers Bookshop? They can get anything on the planet and having a strong holiday season is extra important for them this year. (You may have to call them to place an order for Saint Iggy, but they have a toll-free number and are wonderful people. Free shipping if you meet the order minimum, too, so why not look through this here blog for some book suggestions and order all those up, too? Feel free to tell them I sent you!)
Happy reading and here's to more kudos for my new friend KL.
I've linked the book to Powell's Books, but if you think of it, why not order from my friends Richard and Mary Alice at The Mystery Lovers Bookshop? They can get anything on the planet and having a strong holiday season is extra important for them this year. (You may have to call them to place an order for Saint Iggy, but they have a toll-free number and are wonderful people. Free shipping if you meet the order minimum, too, so why not look through this here blog for some book suggestions and order all those up, too? Feel free to tell them I sent you!)
Happy reading and here's to more kudos for my new friend KL.
Labels: books, publishing
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Thursday Thirteen #2 -- For the Tour Manager
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Mitchell has this cheap acoustic named Mabel for those times when it's not smart to whip out one of his good guitars just to fill his hands. Mabel's become a legend within ShapeShifter because, being a cheap acoustic guitar, no one takes particularly good care of her. And so, she meets her end in many, many ways, each one memorable. 1. Stepped on (Mabel the first) 2. Broke her neck when she got in the way of Daniel and some girl, both too drunk to realize they weren’t climbing into a top bunk on the tour bus (Mabel the thirteenth, who conveniently left … uhh… guitar-string burn on Daniel’s … uhh… rear) 3. Stolen (two, ten, and sixteen) -- although Mitchell wouldn’t put it past her to run off with someone. 4. Jumped out of a moving tour bus (Mabel the twelfth) 5. Decided to Stay in Omaha (Mabel the third, who visits the band every time they come through) 6. Lost her head during tuning (Mabel the sixth) 7. Given to a particularly grateful fan (Mabel the fourth and eleventh) 8. Jumped in the middle of a game of Naked Twister (Mabel the seventeenth) 9. Decided to take a soak in the hot tub (Mabel the ninth) 10. Took a dive down the stairwell from the hotel’s twelfth floor during a particularly boring party (Mabel the eighth) 11. Drowned her sorrows, and herself, in a bottle of JD (Mabel the fourteenth) 12. Got in the middle of a food fight (Mabel the seventh) 13. Tried to join a day off in the pool (Mabel the fifteenth) And, as an honorable mention because it hasn’t happened yet, broken over Mitchell’s head when Kerri gets angry with him. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Labels: Thursday Thirteen
Monday, November 06, 2006
Susan's Book Talk: Fat Kid Rules the World
I've been suffering under the delusion that Trevor's a true original. But then Karen! sent me a book that totally left me exhilarated at how good it is, and at the same time, left me deflated as to how close to Trevor the character of Curt was drawn. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Rather, I think it says a lot about the people who are drawn to music, and drawn to making it (although for Trevor, making music is by and large, a means to an end). And author KL Going's descriptions of the inside of The Dump, her fictional club, invoked both memories of CBGB's and other backstages I've been in. Totally real, totally vivid.
Anyway, the name of the book is Fat Kid Rules the World, and you can buy it, but it looks like only used. (Here's a link.) Scour your used bookshops for it.
This one's a keeper.
Look for me to be picking up lots of copies whenever I can, and maybe giving them as prizes down the road.
I wish award-winning books were more like this one (which won plenty of awards) and less snooty, but that's just me and I've always preferred more accesible literature.
Ya know, sort of like I write.
Rather, I think it says a lot about the people who are drawn to music, and drawn to making it (although for Trevor, making music is by and large, a means to an end). And author KL Going's descriptions of the inside of The Dump, her fictional club, invoked both memories of CBGB's and other backstages I've been in. Totally real, totally vivid.
Anyway, the name of the book is Fat Kid Rules the World, and you can buy it, but it looks like only used. (Here's a link.) Scour your used bookshops for it.
This one's a keeper.
Look for me to be picking up lots of copies whenever I can, and maybe giving them as prizes down the road.
I wish award-winning books were more like this one (which won plenty of awards) and less snooty, but that's just me and I've always preferred more accesible literature.
Ya know, sort of like I write.
Labels: books, KL Going, punk rock
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Fiction outtake: Death by Cheese (early days)
(with apologies to Cheesy)
Mitchell kicked the pizza box out of the way and, with a burp that shook the room, stretched out his legs on the coffee table. It bowed under his weight.
"M, man," Daniel said wonderingly. He picked up a drum stick and scratched his back with it. "You just ate the whole thing. I thought you weren't going to do that anymore."
"I wasn't," Mitchell slurred. He laid his head back on the grimy dressing-room couch. "But I wasn't gonna drink this much anymore, either." He burped again.
Trevor held up a hand, all five fingers splayed. Slowly, he dropped each finger in turn, starting with the index finger. Just as he tucked his thumb in, Mitchell sprinted for the bathroom.
"Death by cheese," Eric laughed.
"Should we save the box as a reminder for next time?" Daniel asked.
"Dumb fuck," Trevor said, shaking his head and, for a few minutes there, feeling in tune with Daniel and Eric.
Mitchell kicked the pizza box out of the way and, with a burp that shook the room, stretched out his legs on the coffee table. It bowed under his weight.
"M, man," Daniel said wonderingly. He picked up a drum stick and scratched his back with it. "You just ate the whole thing. I thought you weren't going to do that anymore."
"I wasn't," Mitchell slurred. He laid his head back on the grimy dressing-room couch. "But I wasn't gonna drink this much anymore, either." He burped again.
Trevor held up a hand, all five fingers splayed. Slowly, he dropped each finger in turn, starting with the index finger. Just as he tucked his thumb in, Mitchell sprinted for the bathroom.
"Death by cheese," Eric laughed.
"Should we save the box as a reminder for next time?" Daniel asked.
"Dumb fuck," Trevor said, shaking his head and, for a few minutes there, feeling in tune with Daniel and Eric.
Labels: creative writing, fiction, outtake, short story, Trevor
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Thursday Thirteen #1
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1. Caveman (Daniel; Green Bay, Wisconsin; In Your Face era. Daniel said wearing the loincloth onstage was nice and cool, but it sucked walking around in the unheated backstage area.) 2. Hair Band (entire band; Riverview; pre-album contract days; hair spray alone cost more than the band made.) 3. Angel (Trevor; Nashville; Massive era. The halo was, of course, crooked and didn't make it past the third song before he took it off and jumped on it.) 4. Vampire (Mitchell; Nashville; Massive era. Only Lestat should be a blonde vamp.) 5. Priest (Eric; Green Bay, Wisconsin; In Your Face era. Scary because it hit too close to home.) 6. Wolfman (Mitchell; Seattle; Hidden Fangs, Covered Claws era. Again, blondes shouldn't be wolfmen. And the glue on all that wolf hair made his entire body break out in hives.) 7. Astronaut (Eric; Nashville; Massive era. Warm in the unheated backstage but too hot onstage. And that big helmet wasn't good for getting girls.) 8. Geek (Trevor; Green Bay, Wisconsin; In Your Face era. Complete with taped-up glasses and pocket protector that some random girl made off with afterward.) 9. Cheerleader (Eric; Seattle; Hidden Fangs, Covered Claws era. He even shaved his legs for the occasion.) 10. Football player (Daniel; Nashville; Massive era. Man, those pads were heavy.) 11. Block of Cheese (Mitchell; Green Bay, Wisconsin; In Your Face era. Hey, it's Packers territory!) 12. Mitchell (Trevor; Seattle; Hidden Fangs, Covered Claws era. The blonde wig came from Lyric's shop.) 13. Bunch of Grapes (Daniel; Seattle; Hidden Fangs, Covered Claws era. Stupid balloons popped.) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (Leave me a comment with your link if you want to be here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Labels: Thursday Thirteen
Susan says: My friend Fred!
On November 1, 2006 (that's today!), Point Blank Press is bringing back Fred Zackel's first novel, 1978's Cocaine & Blue Eyes. The novel, which was made into a TV-movie in the early '80s, has received critical acclaim over the years for creating a resurgence in the American private-eye novel.
Part of the Time magazine review from November 28, 1978, said:
"Drugs and thugs, a missing person and a backchatting investigator also
dominate Cocaine and Blue Eyes. Fred Zackel's sprightly first novel, set
mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area, combines the story of a Pacific
Heights dynasty, corporate shenanigans, Chinatown gangs, a spectrum of sex,
aging flower children, Mafia money and the houseboat life in Sausalito. The
result is as nerve-rattling as a full-throttle auto chase from Grant Avenue
to Fisherman's Wharf."
Congrats, Fred!! May your sales be amazing!
(copied from the e-mail I got from the Bowling Green Creative Writing Department listserve notice)
Part of the Time magazine review from November 28, 1978, said:
"Drugs and thugs, a missing person and a backchatting investigator also
dominate Cocaine and Blue Eyes. Fred Zackel's sprightly first novel, set
mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area, combines the story of a Pacific
Heights dynasty, corporate shenanigans, Chinatown gangs, a spectrum of sex,
aging flower children, Mafia money and the houseboat life in Sausalito. The
result is as nerve-rattling as a full-throttle auto chase from Grant Avenue
to Fisherman's Wharf."
Congrats, Fred!! May your sales be amazing!
(copied from the e-mail I got from the Bowling Green Creative Writing Department listserve notice)
Labels: books, publishing
