Elliot: I thought I said discreet. Gwen: What, do you see nipple?

'Just Rewards (2)'


Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.

There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."


sj - Feb 13, 2008 1:33:52 pm PST #5054 of 28343
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

Anyone whose interested and can actually get the site to load, can download a free copy of Suze Orman's book, Women and Money, at Oprah.com today.


Tom Scola - Feb 18, 2008 11:12:46 am PST #5055 of 28343
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.

Oxford American Staffer Arrested for Embezzling $30K


Sue - Feb 19, 2008 3:44:26 am PST #5056 of 28343
hip deep in pie

Oxford American Staffer Arrested for Embezzling $30K

People, man.


DavidS - Feb 19, 2008 8:11:13 am PST #5057 of 28343
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

I've got to check in with Marc about that. Sheesh. As if Oxford American hasn't already had enough drama for any ten magazines.

A request from my writer's group:

A friend of mine, Kate Bernheimer, runs a small press, Fairy Tale Review Press, out of the U of Alabama that is reprinting Joy Williams's great and underappreciated classic novel from 30 years ago, The Changeling. She has almost no budget for marketing or anything publicity-wise, but is passionate about the book and secured a lovely foreword from Rick Moody. Is anyone out there a fan of Joy's? Does anyone have any advice, counsel, pointers, connections that would help us take this book to a large audience? Immensely grateful for anything you have to offer...


Hayden - Feb 19, 2008 9:05:50 am PST #5058 of 28343
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

I have no advice, but I'm glad to see that the U of AL's creative writing program is still so robust.


Sue - Feb 19, 2008 2:18:52 pm PST #5059 of 28343
hip deep in pie

I don't know if writing the literary blogs would help, like Maud Newton, book slut, and Book Ninja. (I can't think of any other off the top of my head.) And there's also communities like Readerville. But I'm sure they've thought of those venues.


Snacky - Feb 19, 2008 3:01:43 pm PST #5060 of 28343
Like I need a hole in my head

Also, press releases to Booksense, and perhaps to the independent booksellers around the US. A directory is on their website: bookweb.org. Usually there's a buyer or marketing person to contact, and if there are ARCs to send, that helps too.

If there are no ARCs, the press release could be accompanied by a personal letter to all the booksellers/buyers/marketing people, explaining the history of the book, and why this is special, and maybe some kind of hook to help sell it. Like, "people who loved... will love this book!" Something that gives the person who is going to sell it a personal connection to it, and a reason to give it space in their store.

Sorry, former marketing person for an independent here. I will not babble on too much!


Jon B. - Feb 19, 2008 3:21:27 pm PST #5061 of 28343
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!

New Glarkware: Dewey the Decimal


§ ita § - Feb 19, 2008 11:37:09 pm PST #5062 of 28343
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

I ended up staying home Tuesday because of a sick day due to a suspected missed dosage of medicine. All my own damned fault, but inexorable nonetheless.

What book's up on my list to be read once I'm actually well enough to be reading? Libba Bray's Rebel Angels. Not exactly the right book to read after a day spent experiencing the pain brought on by a missed dose of morphine. Still, strong narrative, and even though I really want to slap all the girls for ignoring EVERY SINGLE CLUE, a compelling story.

I don't suppose the library system will be handing me the third for a while now.


Jesse - Feb 20, 2008 9:01:06 am PST #5063 of 28343
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

I just finished The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (I think that's it), by Junot Diaz, and I definitely recommend it, but only if you speak at least some spanish and at least some geek. There's a lot of each, and you can kind of slide by assuming what he means by things, but it goes a lot easier if you actually know what he's talking about.

It's a book nominally about this one guy, but really about the last 50 years of history of the Domincan Republic (a LOT about Trujillo) and the Dominican diaspora.