Showing posts with label go nuts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label go nuts. Show all posts
Friday, July 1, 2011
Happy Fourth of July!
Due to the Fourth of July weekend, mes auteurs, there'll be no round-up from Laura today and no new post on Monday, July 4th. Check back on Wednesday, and have fun blowing things up in the meantime!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Prithee, Inform Me: Summer Reading
A reminder: don't forget to submit your guest posts before midnight on Monday, May 23rd!
I know it seems like spring has only just begun, but the fact is, mes auteurs, that in a month it will officially be summer. And you know what that means: summer reading!
What are you planning to read this summer? What have you recently read that you loved? Favorite/least favorite books of 2011? Books we might have missed in 2010? Go nuts in the comments, and as the summer unfolds I'll be posting short reviews of my own summer reading selections.
Six books I'm definitely going to be reading this summer:
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. The hbo miniseries has me hooked. I've got to go back and read this.
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. I'm a sucker for a Pulitzer Prize winner, especially since hbo has the rights to this, as well!
The Cloud Corporation by Timothy Donnelly. My list wouldn't be complete without some poetry. Speaking of:
The Odyssey and The Iliad by Homer. I re-read these every summer. If you haven't read 'em, you should. The Fitzgerald translations are the best.
Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne. I've had my eye on this one for awhile, actually, and I think a science title will round out my summer really well.
This isn't going to be enough to fill twelve+ weeks of summer, however, so be on the lookout for additions over the next several weeks. And don't be shy about sharing your favorites in the comments!
I know it seems like spring has only just begun, but the fact is, mes auteurs, that in a month it will officially be summer. And you know what that means: summer reading!
What are you planning to read this summer? What have you recently read that you loved? Favorite/least favorite books of 2011? Books we might have missed in 2010? Go nuts in the comments, and as the summer unfolds I'll be posting short reviews of my own summer reading selections.
Six books I'm definitely going to be reading this summer:
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. The hbo miniseries has me hooked. I've got to go back and read this.
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. I'm a sucker for a Pulitzer Prize winner, especially since hbo has the rights to this, as well!
The Cloud Corporation by Timothy Donnelly. My list wouldn't be complete without some poetry. Speaking of:
The Odyssey and The Iliad by Homer. I re-read these every summer. If you haven't read 'em, you should. The Fitzgerald translations are the best.
Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne. I've had my eye on this one for awhile, actually, and I think a science title will round out my summer really well.
This isn't going to be enough to fill twelve+ weeks of summer, however, so be on the lookout for additions over the next several weeks. And don't be shy about sharing your favorites in the comments!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Call For Guest Posts!
gentle readers!
I will be taking vacation time the week of Memorial Day, so I'm going to need five—count 'em, five—guest posts to go up from Monday, May 30th to Friday, June 3rd. And one of them could be yours!
Who: You!
What: One (1) guest post per customer. Please try to keep them in the neighborhood of 300 to 1,000 words. Be creative! Feel free to include a brief bio (50 or so words) and a link to your blog/website, if you have one. Reposts of material from your own blog are 100% fine.
When: You have until 11:59 pm on Monday, May 23rd. I'll announce the five winning posts on Wednesday, May 25th, and they'll be posted Monday, May 30th through Friday, June 3rd.
Where: Right here, on pmn!
Why: I'll be out of town and 100% incommunicado. The show, however, must go on, and I need your help to ensure that happens.
How: Please paste your post into the body of an e-mail and send it along to pimpmynovel [åt] gmail [døt] com (see link at right).
On your mark—get set—go!
I will be taking vacation time the week of Memorial Day, so I'm going to need five—count 'em, five—guest posts to go up from Monday, May 30th to Friday, June 3rd. And one of them could be yours!
Who: You!
What: One (1) guest post per customer. Please try to keep them in the neighborhood of 300 to 1,000 words. Be creative! Feel free to include a brief bio (50 or so words) and a link to your blog/website, if you have one. Reposts of material from your own blog are 100% fine.
When: You have until 11:59 pm on Monday, May 23rd. I'll announce the five winning posts on Wednesday, May 25th, and they'll be posted Monday, May 30th through Friday, June 3rd.
Where: Right here, on pmn!
Why: I'll be out of town and 100% incommunicado. The show, however, must go on, and I need your help to ensure that happens.
How: Please paste your post into the body of an e-mail and send it along to pimpmynovel [åt] gmail [døt] com (see link at right).
On your mark—get set—go!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Three Cups of Baloney
That title actually grossed me out a little more than I expected. My apologies.
In case you haven't heard, mes auteurs, it's looking like Greg Mortenson may have made up a lot of stuff in his books, Three Cups of Tea and Stones Into Schools, and now Jon Krakauer is calling him out on it. (You can download Krakauer's .pdf book, Three Cups of Deceit, for free for a limited time.)
The problem of partially fabricated memoirs isn't new to the industry; you probably remember Margaret B. Jones' Love and Consequences, which was found to be totally fraudulent not long after it was published, as well as the much more infamous "memoir" by James Frey, A Million Little Pieces, which was also (much) less than honest (the Daily Beast mentions both here).
Now, the allegations of fiscal misappropriation against Mortenson aside—as I think that's a very different, and far more serious, question—do you think it matters if the/a story is true or not? Does "memoir" mean "fact," or does it mean "how I remember it, which may or may not be super true"?
If this seriously offends/bothers you (it seriously offends/bothers me), what do you think publishers can do to remedy the situation (besides the easy and vague answer of "do a better job of fact-checking")? What actions should be taken against house and author, and should/how can we differentiate between memoirs that are "mostly true," "somewhat true," "fraudulent," &c &c?
Theories, questions, and diatribes in the comments!
In case you haven't heard, mes auteurs, it's looking like Greg Mortenson may have made up a lot of stuff in his books, Three Cups of Tea and Stones Into Schools, and now Jon Krakauer is calling him out on it. (You can download Krakauer's .pdf book, Three Cups of Deceit, for free for a limited time.)
The problem of partially fabricated memoirs isn't new to the industry; you probably remember Margaret B. Jones' Love and Consequences, which was found to be totally fraudulent not long after it was published, as well as the much more infamous "memoir" by James Frey, A Million Little Pieces, which was also (much) less than honest (the Daily Beast mentions both here).
Now, the allegations of fiscal misappropriation against Mortenson aside—as I think that's a very different, and far more serious, question—do you think it matters if the/a story is true or not? Does "memoir" mean "fact," or does it mean "how I remember it, which may or may not be super true"?
If this seriously offends/bothers you (it seriously offends/bothers me), what do you think publishers can do to remedy the situation (besides the easy and vague answer of "do a better job of fact-checking")? What actions should be taken against house and author, and should/how can we differentiate between memoirs that are "mostly true," "somewhat true," "fraudulent," &c &c?
Theories, questions, and diatribes in the comments!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Prithee, Inform Me: Your Favorite Conventions and Conferences
I'd like to start a semi-regular segment next week, mes auteurs, tentatively titled "Better Know a Conference." To that end, I'd like to ask you: which writers'/authors' conferences/conventions are your favorites? Which do you attend regularly? Which would you like to learn more about? &c, &c.
Here I'm thinking more along the lines of genre conferences/conventions (e.g. Bouchercon, the Romance Writers of America annual conference), though more general events (e.g. ComicCon, Book Expo America) are also fair game.
To the comments!
Here I'm thinking more along the lines of genre conferences/conventions (e.g. Bouchercon, the Romance Writers of America annual conference), though more general events (e.g. ComicCon, Book Expo America) are also fair game.
To the comments!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Prithee, Inform Me: The Rules of Writing
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Kurt Vonnegut, and today I'd like to share with you, gentle readers/writers, his eight rules for writing fiction.
They are:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading charcters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
(These are from the above link, which in turn borrows them from Vonnegut's Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction.)
Now, many successful writers have broken some (or nearly all) of these rules on several occasions, and I don't completely agree with all of them (my biggest quarrel is with #8). I do, however, think they comprise one of the better succinct "how-to" (or "how-not-to") guides to writing fiction, and I think they go a long way toward explaining why even fiction that isn't written that well can sell like hotcakes.
Yes: hotcakes.
Now, it should also come as no surprise to you that I am decidedly not a fan of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books (to use a somewhat dated example). However! I think they sell for many reasons apart from this country's recent obsession with vampires and the perpetual attraction of teenage girls to mysterious, well-coiffed boys. Some of those reasons include: Meyer gives the reader someone to root for; every characer in her books wants something; terrible things happen to her protagonists; &c, &c.
Some of Vonnegut's rules are a bit vague (see #1), but I think they nonetheless provide good benchmarks for whether or not one's fiction is, at the very least, functional. What I like best about them is that they're reader-oriented, not craft-oriented, so the question "What does the reader want? What will engage him/her?" is always paramount.
So I ask you, mes auteurs: what are your favorite writing quote/unquote rules? Which do you follow and which do you break? Which authors/books have proved themselves most useful to you when writing your own fiction?
To the comments!
They are:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading charcters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
(These are from the above link, which in turn borrows them from Vonnegut's Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction.)
Now, many successful writers have broken some (or nearly all) of these rules on several occasions, and I don't completely agree with all of them (my biggest quarrel is with #8). I do, however, think they comprise one of the better succinct "how-to" (or "how-not-to") guides to writing fiction, and I think they go a long way toward explaining why even fiction that isn't written that well can sell like hotcakes.
Yes: hotcakes.
Now, it should also come as no surprise to you that I am decidedly not a fan of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books (to use a somewhat dated example). However! I think they sell for many reasons apart from this country's recent obsession with vampires and the perpetual attraction of teenage girls to mysterious, well-coiffed boys. Some of those reasons include: Meyer gives the reader someone to root for; every characer in her books wants something; terrible things happen to her protagonists; &c, &c.
Some of Vonnegut's rules are a bit vague (see #1), but I think they nonetheless provide good benchmarks for whether or not one's fiction is, at the very least, functional. What I like best about them is that they're reader-oriented, not craft-oriented, so the question "What does the reader want? What will engage him/her?" is always paramount.
So I ask you, mes auteurs: what are your favorite writing quote/unquote rules? Which do you follow and which do you break? Which authors/books have proved themselves most useful to you when writing your own fiction?
To the comments!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Open Thread!
'Tis the season, mes auteurs, and I've been swamped with meetings and required reading. Thus: open thread!
Ask questions, leave comments, make requests, &c &c. I'll try and pop in from time to time.
Ask questions, leave comments, make requests, &c &c. I'll try and pop in from time to time.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Prithee, Inform Me: What Would You Change About Publishing?
Today's query is a simple one, mes auteurs: If you could, what major change(s) would you make to the publishing industry? Everything from author advances to return rates is on the table. Go nuts!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
On A Lighter Note
Yesterday's post generated a lot of reactions and opinions (which I appreciate!), but I feel that one comment above all others requires a post-length response: Dan Krokos' question, "Who do you guys think will be the villain in the new Batman?" (As you might have read, the Batman is my very favorite hero.)
As much as I enjoyed the Michael Keaton Batman films and the mid-90s' super campy Batman Forever and Batman & Robin (1995 and 1997, respectively), I think the new dark, (more) realistic, gritty Batman reboot would benefit from revisiting some of the over-the-top villains from these films. So, mes auteurs, I offer you the following: my choices for the next set of Batman (wo)mantagonists, along with the actors I'd love to see play them.
· Mister Freeze. He's frosty, he's tortured, he's got a mega sweet freeze ray. I think he's got a ton of backstory/developmental potential that weren't fully explored via Arnold Schwarzenegger's relentless ice/snow puns, so I hope they bring him back and give him a fair shake. My pick for the actor: Adrien Brody.
· Poison Ivy. I don't think Uma Thurman did a bad job at all in Batman & Robin, but I'd like to see a new actress take on the role. I'd have to go with Gwyneth Paltrow, whom I loved in Iron Man. Who else could pull off a supervillainess who's also a scientist?
· The Riddler. Jim Carrey played the enigmatic Edward Nigma a little (read: very much) on the crazy/wacky side. I'd like to see a cooler, more controlled Riddler, one more interested in panache and execution than in simply driving Batman up the wall (sort of how Heath played The Joker). My pick is Neil Patrick Harris, hands down.
· Catwoman. I liked Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Batman Returns; the movie Catwoman (starring Halle Berry, whom I otherwise really like) was so dreadful that it ruined me on the character for years. Who can fix that? Another Aussie, Emilie de Ravin (Claire from lost).
· Two-Face. I'm not going to beat around the bush: Aaron Eckhart did a phenomenal job in the last movie, and yeah, while they sort of closed off Two-Face's potential role in any direct sequels, they didn't make it impossible for him to return. And I really hope he does.
· Clayface. This character hasn't seen a lot of action outside the comic books and animated TV shows, so I'd love to witness his silver screen début. It could just be an extension of my post-lost heartache, but I'd be beyond amped if they could get Terry O'Quinn (a.k.a. John Locke).
And those are my picks! Feel free to post yours in the comments.
As much as I enjoyed the Michael Keaton Batman films and the mid-90s' super campy Batman Forever and Batman & Robin (1995 and 1997, respectively), I think the new dark, (more) realistic, gritty Batman reboot would benefit from revisiting some of the over-the-top villains from these films. So, mes auteurs, I offer you the following: my choices for the next set of Batman (wo)mantagonists, along with the actors I'd love to see play them.
· Mister Freeze. He's frosty, he's tortured, he's got a mega sweet freeze ray. I think he's got a ton of backstory/developmental potential that weren't fully explored via Arnold Schwarzenegger's relentless ice/snow puns, so I hope they bring him back and give him a fair shake. My pick for the actor: Adrien Brody.
· Poison Ivy. I don't think Uma Thurman did a bad job at all in Batman & Robin, but I'd like to see a new actress take on the role. I'd have to go with Gwyneth Paltrow, whom I loved in Iron Man. Who else could pull off a supervillainess who's also a scientist?
· The Riddler. Jim Carrey played the enigmatic Edward Nigma a little (read: very much) on the crazy/wacky side. I'd like to see a cooler, more controlled Riddler, one more interested in panache and execution than in simply driving Batman up the wall (sort of how Heath played The Joker). My pick is Neil Patrick Harris, hands down.
· Catwoman. I liked Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Batman Returns; the movie Catwoman (starring Halle Berry, whom I otherwise really like) was so dreadful that it ruined me on the character for years. Who can fix that? Another Aussie, Emilie de Ravin (Claire from lost).
· Two-Face. I'm not going to beat around the bush: Aaron Eckhart did a phenomenal job in the last movie, and yeah, while they sort of closed off Two-Face's potential role in any direct sequels, they didn't make it impossible for him to return. And I really hope he does.
· Clayface. This character hasn't seen a lot of action outside the comic books and animated TV shows, so I'd love to witness his silver screen début. It could just be an extension of my post-lost heartache, but I'd be beyond amped if they could get Terry O'Quinn (a.k.a. John Locke).
And those are my picks! Feel free to post yours in the comments.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Prithee, Inform Me: Your Dream Agency
Finding an agent is arduous work, mes auteurs, complicated not only by the difficulty of writing something good, editing it to make it phenomenal, and casting it out into the electronic ether like a message in a bottle, but by the je ne sais quoi known as "fit": will any given agent feel like (s)he is the best advocate for your work?
Because of this, it may not be as meaningful a question to ask about dream agencies rather than dream agents. Regardless: what person, persons, or companies are at the top of your wish list?
To the comments!
Because of this, it may not be as meaningful a question to ask about dream agencies rather than dream agents. Regardless: what person, persons, or companies are at the top of your wish list?
To the comments!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Prithee, Inform Me: Where Are You in Your Career?
Every once in awhile, meine Autoren, I grow weary of hearing the sound of my own melodious voice (astonishing, but true), so I'd like to take a moment to ask you: where are you in your literary career?
Whether you're a fresh-faced college freshman writing your first novel or a seasoned author with a dozen novels under your belt, you know one thing: writing is hard work. Tell us what you're working on, whether you've got representation, how many years you've been writing, what genre you prefer, how and why you became a writer, &c, &c. No, really, let's talk about you.
Go nuts!
Whether you're a fresh-faced college freshman writing your first novel or a seasoned author with a dozen novels under your belt, you know one thing: writing is hard work. Tell us what you're working on, whether you've got representation, how many years you've been writing, what genre you prefer, how and why you became a writer, &c, &c. No, really, let's talk about you.
Go nuts!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Prithee, Inform Me: Your WIP
It recently occurred to me, mes auteurs, that you are amazingly patient people. You work on your novels for months or years, then query agents for months or years, and then wait months after that for a deal with a publishing house, only to wait a year (or more!) for your book to be released to the hungry hungry public. And, of course, you read this blog day in and day out, which means you have a strong stomach (the publishing industry is a scary place) and a high tolerance for cheerful nonsense. So: thanks!
But I digress. Today, bros and she-bros, I invite you to tell me and other loyal readers like yourselves about your current work(s)-in-progress. What genre do you write? How long have you been writing? What's your protagonist (dare I say... brotagonist) like? How far along are you in your manuscript? The questions, like your patience, is endless.
Without any further ado: to the comments!
But I digress. Today, bros and she-bros, I invite you to tell me and other loyal readers like yourselves about your current work(s)-in-progress. What genre do you write? How long have you been writing? What's your protagonist (dare I say... brotagonist) like? How far along are you in your manuscript? The questions, like your patience, is endless.
Without any further ado: to the comments!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Season's Meetings
Required reading and meetings abound, mes auteurs, so I'm going to once again borrow a page from the Bransford playbook and offer you your very own open thread! Anything and everything are fair game (within reason), and I'll try to stop by a few times during the day to answer any questions that may crop up.
Go nuts!
Go nuts!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Kindle Me This, Kindle Me That
It's time for more book recommendations, mes auteurs!
At Jason Black's request, I'll share the Twitter recommendations I've received so far (and be sure to tweet me your own, or leave them in the comments here). I'll throw in a few of my own as well!
Dan Krokos recommends Josh Bazell's Beat the Reaper;
Jason Black recommends Natalie Standiford's How to Say Goodbye in Robot, Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me, and D.M. Cornish's Monster Blood Tattoo series (books one and two, respectively);
Terry Odell mentions (jokingly, I'm sure, but I'm happy to spread the word) her own list of romantic suspense/mystery titles (I'm sure they're fantastic, but have yet to read);
Alexis Lampley recommends The Harvard Lampoon's Nightlight (a parody of Twilight);
and Joseph L. Selby is amped for Lois McMaster Bujold's Cryoburn to come out in November.
As for me, I'm recommending Hans Fallada's Every Man Dies Alone, Rae Armantrout's Versed (the paperback is due out in August), and Best American Short Stories 2009 (edited by Alice Sebold and Heidi Pitlor).
You can also check out this recent interview I did with The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog... Period for some titles on my to-read list.
At Jason Black's request, I'll share the Twitter recommendations I've received so far (and be sure to tweet me your own, or leave them in the comments here). I'll throw in a few of my own as well!
Dan Krokos recommends Josh Bazell's Beat the Reaper;
Jason Black recommends Natalie Standiford's How to Say Goodbye in Robot, Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me, and D.M. Cornish's Monster Blood Tattoo series (books one and two, respectively);
Terry Odell mentions (jokingly, I'm sure, but I'm happy to spread the word) her own list of romantic suspense/mystery titles (I'm sure they're fantastic, but have yet to read);
Alexis Lampley recommends The Harvard Lampoon's Nightlight (a parody of Twilight);
and Joseph L. Selby is amped for Lois McMaster Bujold's Cryoburn to come out in November.
As for me, I'm recommending Hans Fallada's Every Man Dies Alone, Rae Armantrout's Versed (the paperback is due out in August), and Best American Short Stories 2009 (edited by Alice Sebold and Heidi Pitlor).
You can also check out this recent interview I did with The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog... Period for some titles on my to-read list.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Call for Guest Posts
You read that right, mes auteurs: I'll be on vacation the last week of June, so I'm going to need five—count 'em, five—guest posts to put up while I'm away. And one of them could be yours!
Who: You!
What: One (1) guest post per customer. Please try to keep them in the neighborhood of 300 to 1,000 words. Be creative! Feel free to include a brief bio (50 or so words) and a link to your blog/website, if you have one.
When: You have until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, June 16th. I'll announce the five winning posts on Wednesday, June 23rd, and they'll be posted Monday, June 28th through Friday, July 2nd.
Where: Right here, on PMN!
Why: I'll be on vacation, Dr. Leo Marvin style. Do not come looking for me with an air (bus) sickness bag and a goldfish in a jar around your neck.
How: Please paste your post into the body of an e-mail and send it along to pimpmynovel [åt] gmail [døt] com (see link at right).
Let the games begin!
Who: You!
What: One (1) guest post per customer. Please try to keep them in the neighborhood of 300 to 1,000 words. Be creative! Feel free to include a brief bio (50 or so words) and a link to your blog/website, if you have one.
When: You have until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, June 16th. I'll announce the five winning posts on Wednesday, June 23rd, and they'll be posted Monday, June 28th through Friday, July 2nd.
Where: Right here, on PMN!
Why: I'll be on vacation, Dr. Leo Marvin style. Do not come looking for me with an air (bus) sickness bag and a goldfish in a jar around your neck.
How: Please paste your post into the body of an e-mail and send it along to pimpmynovel [åt] gmail [døt] com (see link at right).
Let the games begin!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Empire Expands
A few months ago, I mentioned the possibility of expanding PMN to Facebook and Twitter. Well, meine Freunde, that day has come! You are now free to follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, and whatever else it is we kids are supposed to be doing on the Internet these days.
The blog will still be updating five days a week, and while some of that content will be duplicated on Twitter and Facebook, there will also be a fair amount of unique content on both (particularly Twitter, where I will probably rant in a much less coherent fashion than is the norm here). Not everything on the blog will be on Twitter/Facebook, and vice versa. There's also a distinct possibility that Twitter or FB content will appear on weekends, though I can guarantee that weekend posts won't be showing up on PMN proper (unless I get an intern or a butler or something).
Without further ado: the link to my Twitter account is here, and the Facebook page is here. Both are very much works in progress, so expect them to be streamlined and aesthetically improved with various widgets, &c over the coming days and weeks. Of course, all recommendations and advice are welcome in the comments.
To the Blogotwitterbookosphere!
The blog will still be updating five days a week, and while some of that content will be duplicated on Twitter and Facebook, there will also be a fair amount of unique content on both (particularly Twitter, where I will probably rant in a much less coherent fashion than is the norm here). Not everything on the blog will be on Twitter/Facebook, and vice versa. There's also a distinct possibility that Twitter or FB content will appear on weekends, though I can guarantee that weekend posts won't be showing up on PMN proper (unless I get an intern or a butler or something).
Without further ado: the link to my Twitter account is here, and the Facebook page is here. Both are very much works in progress, so expect them to be streamlined and aesthetically improved with various widgets, &c over the coming days and weeks. Of course, all recommendations and advice are welcome in the comments.
To the Blogotwitterbookosphere!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Prithee, Inform Me: Fall 2010 Wish Lists
As we somehow near the middle of 2010 (how did that happen?), I've begun to wonder: what upcoming books are you most excited about?
I generally only think a season or so ahead when it comes to my own book-buying, so I've mostly been looking at fall 2010 (though if you're the plan-ahead type, Roger Ebert's memoir is due out in fall 2011). Personally, I'm most interested in the new Stephen King, the upcoming lost encyclopedia, former President Bush's memoir, and the paperback edition of Jack Spicer's My Vocabulary Did This to Me (which is, incidentally, one of my favorite titles of all time).
To a lesser extent, I'm also kind of curious about Sarah Palin's new book, but since I haven't yet bought or read the last one, I figure it'll be awhile before I get around to it.
What about you, gentle readers?
I generally only think a season or so ahead when it comes to my own book-buying, so I've mostly been looking at fall 2010 (though if you're the plan-ahead type, Roger Ebert's memoir is due out in fall 2011). Personally, I'm most interested in the new Stephen King, the upcoming lost encyclopedia, former President Bush's memoir, and the paperback edition of Jack Spicer's My Vocabulary Did This to Me (which is, incidentally, one of my favorite titles of all time).
To a lesser extent, I'm also kind of curious about Sarah Palin's new book, but since I haven't yet bought or read the last one, I figure it'll be awhile before I get around to it.
What about you, gentle readers?
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Open Thread!
This week is replete with meetings and various other forms of doom, mes auteurs, so I'll once again be borrowing from the Noble and Most Ancient Playbook of Bransford. That is to say: open thread!
Ask me a question, ask each other questions, rant about the industry, post a list of your favorite existential philosophers, tell us about your cat, tell us about the cat you wish you had, make a whole bunch of really cool ASCII art. You know, the usual.
Have at it!
Ask me a question, ask each other questions, rant about the industry, post a list of your favorite existential philosophers, tell us about your cat, tell us about the cat you wish you had, make a whole bunch of really cool ASCII art. You know, the usual.
Have at it!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Prithee, Inform Me: Kindle or iPad?
Spurred by this New Yorker article detailing the ongoing battle between Amazon and Apple (read: the Kindle and the iPad, the status quo and the agency model), this week's Prithee, Inform Me focuses on the two most high-profile e-reading devices on the U.S. market.
Prithee, inform me, dear readers: do you own a Kindle or an iPad? If so, why one and not the other (or, if both, why)? If not, why not? Do you see the Kindle and the iPad as catering to different markets, or do you think they're both vying for the same readership and only one can emerge victorious?
Have at it!
Prithee, inform me, dear readers: do you own a Kindle or an iPad? If so, why one and not the other (or, if both, why)? If not, why not? Do you see the Kindle and the iPad as catering to different markets, or do you think they're both vying for the same readership and only one can emerge victorious?
Have at it!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Magic of Author Photos
I'm feeling somewhat fanciful today, reader-types, so I invite you to tell me: what would/do you want your author photo to look like? What author photos have inspired/terrified you? What cool stories do you have regarding author photos?
I don't have much (which is why I ask), but I can offer this: I once saw an author photo of Danielle Steel that looked like it had been taken in the back of a mini-van.
True story.
I don't have much (which is why I ask), but I can offer this: I once saw an author photo of Danielle Steel that looked like it had been taken in the back of a mini-van.
True story.
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