Readers Matter

I will print out and frame a note from a special reader whose opinion matters to me. He read “Tears, Fears and Arrowheads..” and liked it well enough to lend it to an associate. There is nothing like having a discerning readership. I am the humble servant. Thanks so much.

Author! Author!

Author! Author! contact “Juli” reports as many as 15 author/writers gathered in Downers Grove IL last night for the monthly meeting of this support and marketing group. I had planned to go but was derailed by the swelter and private needs. Next month, for sure even though the meeting night conflicts with Writer’s Anonymous, a free write session at the local Borders for Fox Valley devotees. Yes, I am cheating on my regular group. In other news I ran into Len of the St. Charles Writer’s Group and he was proud to tell me he had come in third in a Sci fi novel competition. I invited him to send me a news release and I would post it here. This is a big deal in my circle, congrats Len.

The Left Coast Speaks

Watching the Cubs play in San Francisco I now believe my Left Coast correspondent, Elaine, who claimed she was wearing a leather jacket and that it is cold in the Bay area. Here is Chicago we sweat and swat, sweat and swat. By the end of our conversation I learned that Elaine has written a book and we pledged to swap books. In a fit of “if I do this I can stop and buy ice cream” I packaged up “Tears, Fears and Arrowheads” and ‘A Girl named Zippy” one of the best and funniest memoirs ever, and paid a lot to mail it to Elaine. I remembered that her book is about a girl growing up heavy. I still went for the ice cream, but bought the smallest box of an overly sweet Pralines and Cream flavor.

Writers on Left and Right Coasts

I am as balanced as a kid on a big bike with training wheels now that I have made the acquaintance of Rachelle, a writer relocating to Boston after an impressive job in Washington D.C. as a writer and editor. Welcome Rachelle and know that you have a counter weight in California in the other Bay area. Sooner or later, you two should get to know each other. Oh, and there are a couple of writers in fly-over country that I will finally get to meet next week in either a waterfall or an Indian cave in Arkansas. We will be basking in poetry as well with a mini course with Famous Poet Norma Gay Prewett of Madison WI. It is going to be a hot time I’m sure. Watch this space for a full report after August 22.

Back to Basics

It is my privilege to be able to talk to many interesting people every day all across the country. That is how I came to know MAZ JOBRANI, one of the funniest Los Angeles stand up comics I have ever seen. He was kind enough to send me two signed DVDs, AXIS OF EVIL and BROWN BUT FRIENDLY. Thanks Maz. You and lovely Pretha did a lot to cheer me after my loss of two friends in the same week. I have your signed copy of Tears, Fears and Arrowheads ready to go in the mail tomorrow. Everyone, watch for MAZ to go, go, go bigger.

SURGE!

After a long period of lassitude and many potholes I am back on the road. I attended a class reunion in Rochelle Illinois and was honored by requests for the book. I gae a few away as drawing prizes and was thrilled. My longest distance reader hails from Sturgis and of course he rode in on his Harley. Of course he did. Later he ordered Tears, Fears and Arrowheads using Paypal from the Website. Go Tom! Thanks so much.

Who are you reading this summer?

I am taken with the annual biking extravaganza in France. I find myself thinking about the peloton, meaning “the rest of the madmen,” I would guess, who travel the Tour in a streaming cluster behind the “breakaway” elite. I compare today’s group of colorful, ad labeled, earpiece wearing, chest monitored riders whose bikes have gears, to those of the nineteen twenties who rode in more grueling conditions, rode day and night, and encouraged each other to smoke even while riding to “improve the lungs.” Ah, those unfiltered cigarettes must have really helped during the grueling Alpine ascents. Craaazzy. I am reminded of what it takes to go the distance.

Speed Bump

Time has passed. My friends are having such troubles that I cannot name them and only want to say: hold your friends close. there is a reason you call them friends and when they hurt, you cry. Bear with me during a perfect storm of friends who are ill and know it. My book Medicine Man will have to wait. It will not be published this month as planned. But rest assured that when you read it, you will understand why. If you like the planned cover, please let me know.

Thankful for Bookstores

In this season of gratitude, I will add my thanks for bookstores everywhere and for those that are currently carrying my book. I am probably buying a lot more than I am selling but that is okay for now.  This month I’m concentrating on memoirs and have read Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt,  and The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. I always thought my childhood was impoverished, but in comparison to these stories I grew up in luxury. Everything is relative, for sure.  So if you are feeling low and unemployed, read these books, count your blessings, and bask in your central heating.

Mood Swing

I just read my last puling post and cringed. I should fall down on my knees for any reader willing to pay such close attention and give her time and energy to make me better. Now I ’m back to reading some truly great writing by Marx Prewett. Just Google his name and read his Internet stories. He was as funny as Dave Barry and as zany as Robin Williams. He even looked like him. Marx was my brother who died too young from being a writer (smoking too much, staying up late writing,  aversion to exercise and addiction to junk food).  He placed high in a Writer’s Digest contest for his short story “Consolation Prize” shortly before his death, and died happy and validated because he was a writer. I have also finally learned why Ray Bradbury was a big deal after reading a book of his short stories. These were new to me, and I am in awe.  Two great writers in just one day.