I'll get you all caught up on my life--primarily devoted to yoga at this time--in a bit. For now, I need to devote my full attention to the man whom I have loved for so long: Mr. Stephen King. Though I Am Who I Am's address is devoted to him, I've noticed a surprising lack of King-ness on my blog. This must change. So, for my first official act of on-line Kingdom, I'm going to strongly recommend you visit
The Stephen King Store, located on CafePress. Kids, I pert-near lost my stars when I saw all of the 'Constant Reader' regalia I can get. If you're looking for gift ideas for me, I'm a medium. And I love everything on that page. Except I probably don't need the bib or the infant bodysuit. Actually, the bib might not be a bad idea, considering I'm sitting her salivating all over the place....
There are shirts and journals and notebooks (oh my!), messenger bags, mouse pads, and pillows and a BBQ APRON! There's no end to the joy!
And the best part is that King is not receiving any profit from the sale of this merchandise. All profits go to The Haven Foundation, an organization that focuses singularly on freelance artists. This organization is near and dear to King's heart since the accident on June 19, 1999 that nearly killed him.
So, go shopping already!!
Showing posts with label author crushes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author crushes. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tonight I shall watch 'The Witches of Eastwick'
John Updike died today. While I'm not a cult-follower of his work, you've gotta respect a guy who won two Pulitzers. Plus, like, a billion other writing awards. And he still died relatively young. RIP, Mr. Updike.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Why I love that man of mine...
Last night whilst hanging out at Champps with JennScheit, I saw my most awesome Stephen King on tv. The Red Sox are, of course, playing toward the World Series, and King is the number one fan of the Sox. So, I was completely tickled to see the camera pan to him sitting in one of the most spectacular seats in the place, since I wasn't expecting to see my man on the tele.
Then, my heart filled to overflowing when they panned to his lap...to the book that lay open there. See, in King's amazing book On Writing
, he says that writers need to read ALL THE TIME. He says a writer should always have a book with her. In lines, in cars, at the dinner table...and a writer needs to learn to read in "small sips" as well as "big gulps." And to see him practicing what he directed in his book--caught on camera doing exactly what his advice to all of us writers was, well.... what can I say? The man rules.
Then, my heart filled to overflowing when they panned to his lap...to the book that lay open there. See, in King's amazing book On Writing
, he says that writers need to read ALL THE TIME. He says a writer should always have a book with her. In lines, in cars, at the dinner table...and a writer needs to learn to read in "small sips" as well as "big gulps." And to see him practicing what he directed in his book--caught on camera doing exactly what his advice to all of us writers was, well.... what can I say? The man rules.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Fingerless gloves
Alison McGhee loves my gloves.
I wear fingerless gloves from October until, oh, April. Mostly because my hands freeze wherever I am, especially at work. The other reason I wear them is because I like them. A lot. And when I'm at work, there are two responses: students love them, and adults are troubled by them. Adults mock my gloves, tease me about them, and shake their heads at me when I walk by. For example, a few days ago, the following conversation took place:
Him: Why don't you just wear a long sleeved shirt?
Me: It's 50 degrees. I wanted to wear short sleeves.
Him: Are your wrists cold?
Me: No, because I've got my gloves on.
Him: Well, it looks funny.
Me: You look funny.
You'll forgive my junior high comment at the end, but it's been (I think) since junior high since someone told me I looked funny without me asking "Hey, do I look funny in this?"
People will walk by me in the hallway "Hey, are your hands cold?" In my mind "No, fuckers, because I've got THESE GLOVES ON." Out loud I say "Yep."
I'll continue to wear my gloves not only because they work, but because I love wearing them. They make me happy. And yes, I wash them regularly (and I have about four pairs). They also set me apart from other people and when I get compliments from the likes of Alison McGhee, one of my favorite writers of all time, on them, that tends to eclipse all of the naysayers.
I wear fingerless gloves from October until, oh, April. Mostly because my hands freeze wherever I am, especially at work. The other reason I wear them is because I like them. A lot. And when I'm at work, there are two responses: students love them, and adults are troubled by them. Adults mock my gloves, tease me about them, and shake their heads at me when I walk by. For example, a few days ago, the following conversation took place:
Him: Why don't you just wear a long sleeved shirt?
Me: It's 50 degrees. I wanted to wear short sleeves.
Him: Are your wrists cold?
Me: No, because I've got my gloves on.
Him: Well, it looks funny.
Me: You look funny.
You'll forgive my junior high comment at the end, but it's been (I think) since junior high since someone told me I looked funny without me asking "Hey, do I look funny in this?"
People will walk by me in the hallway "Hey, are your hands cold?" In my mind "No, fuckers, because I've got THESE GLOVES ON." Out loud I say "Yep."
I'll continue to wear my gloves not only because they work, but because I love wearing them. They make me happy. And yes, I wash them regularly (and I have about four pairs). They also set me apart from other people and when I get compliments from the likes of Alison McGhee, one of my favorite writers of all time, on them, that tends to eclipse all of the naysayers.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Short Stoy #2: "20th Century Ghost" by Joe Hill
I'm continuing with the short story collection 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill, and the second story ("20th Century Ghost") was as brilliant as the first story, "Best New Horror."
In "20th Century Ghost," Alec is the elderly owner of an old-school movie house. The movie house is, of course, haunted. The ghost is a young woman who died of an anurysm in the theater during the last few minutes of The Wizard of Oz during its inaugural showing. Alec has seen the ghost and knows when others are telling the truth about whether or not they've seen her. The story is being told at the current moment because Alec is on his last working legs and the fate of his movie house is in the balance.
Typical ghost story, right? Yeah, pretty much. Except, like with "Best New Horror," Hill adds his special touch to the traditional stories we've all grown up with and managed to turn "20th Century Ghost" into a beautiful, sensitive, original story. Certain passages in his work simply take my breath away.
Then in one shot he has turned sideways to face the seat to his left. He has been joined by a woman in blue. He is leaning over her. They are unmistakably kissing. No one around them pays them any mind. The Wizard of Oz is ending. We know this because we can hear Judy Garland, reciting the same five words over and over in a soft, yearning voice, saying--well, you know what she is saying. They are only the loveliest five words ever said in all of film.
I mean, are you kidding me? A collection that has me shaking and, literally, throwing the book in the freezer in one story has me sighing wistfully with tears in my eyes in the next...Joe Hill, if you're not careful the address for I Am What I Am may change to joehillsgirl.
In "20th Century Ghost," Alec is the elderly owner of an old-school movie house. The movie house is, of course, haunted. The ghost is a young woman who died of an anurysm in the theater during the last few minutes of The Wizard of Oz during its inaugural showing. Alec has seen the ghost and knows when others are telling the truth about whether or not they've seen her. The story is being told at the current moment because Alec is on his last working legs and the fate of his movie house is in the balance.
Typical ghost story, right? Yeah, pretty much. Except, like with "Best New Horror," Hill adds his special touch to the traditional stories we've all grown up with and managed to turn "20th Century Ghost" into a beautiful, sensitive, original story. Certain passages in his work simply take my breath away.
Then in one shot he has turned sideways to face the seat to his left. He has been joined by a woman in blue. He is leaning over her. They are unmistakably kissing. No one around them pays them any mind. The Wizard of Oz is ending. We know this because we can hear Judy Garland, reciting the same five words over and over in a soft, yearning voice, saying--well, you know what she is saying. They are only the loveliest five words ever said in all of film.
I mean, are you kidding me? A collection that has me shaking and, literally, throwing the book in the freezer in one story has me sighing wistfully with tears in my eyes in the next...Joe Hill, if you're not careful the address for I Am What I Am may change to joehillsgirl.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Book #52: The Braindead Megaphone by George Saunders
Book 52 is the conclusion to book plan 2007....and in the nick of time. I am excited to close out the year with Saunders's words, as I believe him to be one of the most prolific writers of our time (plus he's a hell of a nice guy). His essay collection, The Braindead Megaphone, focuses on two ideas: writing and war. Not really in that order. He talks about war in Iraq, war of borders, war of people, and war of man against himself as an individual. He meditates while freezing his ass off in Nepal and contemplates the fragility of humanity as well as its remarkable strength.
The Braindead Megaphone is also a writing handbook. In various essays he focuses directly on writing, on craft elements that are danced around in the best of workshops, and explains what's what in the writing world and how writers can best achieve their own success. He extends the handbook further into the "non-writing" essays by showing (rather than telling, yes?) how important it is to not only report events but to contemplate them. To look for and apply human experience on levels deeper than the surface, and to treat them both seriously and humorously.
George Saunders is a man who is unafraid and unapologetic about his views, yet so unassuming and modest about those views that they almost sneak up on a reader as given fact rather than one man's opinion. It is his strength of voice and conviction, an attitude of "here it is. It's mine, take it or leave it", that endeared me to him when I met him and endears me to him every time I read his work. I will read this collection of essays again, some more than others, and all for different reasons than I read them the first time.
The Braindead Megaphone is also a writing handbook. In various essays he focuses directly on writing, on craft elements that are danced around in the best of workshops, and explains what's what in the writing world and how writers can best achieve their own success. He extends the handbook further into the "non-writing" essays by showing (rather than telling, yes?) how important it is to not only report events but to contemplate them. To look for and apply human experience on levels deeper than the surface, and to treat them both seriously and humorously.
George Saunders is a man who is unafraid and unapologetic about his views, yet so unassuming and modest about those views that they almost sneak up on a reader as given fact rather than one man's opinion. It is his strength of voice and conviction, an attitude of "here it is. It's mine, take it or leave it", that endeared me to him when I met him and endears me to him every time I read his work. I will read this collection of essays again, some more than others, and all for different reasons than I read them the first time.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
The amazing Michael Perry
You'll have to wait just a bit longer for the commentary and pictures (yeah, I actually hauled out the camera for this one!) on my meeting Michael Perry at his reading tonight. I'm going to enjoy the floating-on-air-pure-satisfaction of meeting someone who is exactly as you thought he was for just awhile longer.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Quite a month for my two favorite men, and a few lessons for me.
Stephen King has finally gotten his "literary due" in the form of being asked to be the guest editor for The Best American Short Stories 2007
. King has been working his way into the literary clique for about the last twenty years, and hopefully his choice of stories will shut up some of the critics that think that King couldn't identify a good story if it snuck up behind him with a knife.
King's preface is noteworthy. I read it last night as I prepared to delve into the treasured book, and I found myself nodding, laughing, grimacing, and, finally, nodding again. Considering I had done one of the exact same things King described (it involves one's butt in the air and nose in the carpet, although I had cold tile rather than carpet) earlier in the day, it was accurate. Additionally, it helped me during this time of utter writerly confusion by reminding me what it is I should truly be trying to do with my writing.
I put down the BASS today to watch the Packers throttle the Vikings here in "Viking territory." Brett Favre became the record holder for most passing touchdowns at 421 with about five minutes plus some change left in the first quarter. He still meant business in the second half of the game when he threw pass #422.
I think about the last two years when Favre's name was always uttered in conjunction with the word 'retirement.' And I think about how, if he had, he would not have had today. Favre is obviously a model football player, a role model to his players and to players across the NFL, even to players in college and high school, but he's also a role model to those of us who simply watch the game. He is strong, hardworking, and determined. He sets goals and he achieves them. When things get rough for him, he fights harder rather than curling up and whining "It's too HARD!".
Though Favre is not a writer, he taught me a lot about writing today. He and Mr. King...who'd of thunk it. Professionals who love what they do work their asses off regardless of talent, of publicity, and of popularity. They work out of a continued desire to be the best. Favre didn't sit out the rest of the game today after he achieved the record in the first quarter. He kept working, as he always does.
. King has been working his way into the literary clique for about the last twenty years, and hopefully his choice of stories will shut up some of the critics that think that King couldn't identify a good story if it snuck up behind him with a knife. King's preface is noteworthy. I read it last night as I prepared to delve into the treasured book, and I found myself nodding, laughing, grimacing, and, finally, nodding again. Considering I had done one of the exact same things King described (it involves one's butt in the air and nose in the carpet, although I had cold tile rather than carpet) earlier in the day, it was accurate. Additionally, it helped me during this time of utter writerly confusion by reminding me what it is I should truly be trying to do with my writing.
I put down the BASS today to watch the Packers throttle the Vikings here in "Viking territory." Brett Favre became the record holder for most passing touchdowns at 421 with about five minutes plus some change left in the first quarter. He still meant business in the second half of the game when he threw pass #422.
I think about the last two years when Favre's name was always uttered in conjunction with the word 'retirement.' And I think about how, if he had, he would not have had today. Favre is obviously a model football player, a role model to his players and to players across the NFL, even to players in college and high school, but he's also a role model to those of us who simply watch the game. He is strong, hardworking, and determined. He sets goals and he achieves them. When things get rough for him, he fights harder rather than curling up and whining "It's too HARD!".
Though Favre is not a writer, he taught me a lot about writing today. He and Mr. King...who'd of thunk it. Professionals who love what they do work their asses off regardless of talent, of publicity, and of popularity. They work out of a continued desire to be the best. Favre didn't sit out the rest of the game today after he achieved the record in the first quarter. He kept working, as he always does.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Okay, just a few more things about Michael Perry...
Off Main Street is my current Michael Perry read. I know...I can't stop myself. Though I've already talked about his humor and his reflectiveness, I need to talk about location.
Michael Perry lives in the environment I would love to live in, but I'd never be able to pull it off. Every time he talks about his community and the people who live in it, I want to pick up and move there. The trouble is, you can't just pick up and move to a small town. The type of community he describes is one that gets earned over decades of being around. Loyalty to your spot. Plus, no matter how much I want to be, I am not a small town girl. I taught in a small town for a year, and it was so damn hard, everything was difficult.
And I'm sure it's not all fun and simple enjoyment, but when Michael starts talking about his garden, and working on his truck, and the annual Firefighter's eating event (chicken? spaghetti? can't remember...all I remember is that he said that some people call in an order and pick up their food to go, which cracked me up.), it makes me want to shut down my suburban life and head for the hills. The fact that he lives in Packer country doesn't hurt anything either.
Michael is going to be speaking in Minneapolis coming up in the next few weeks. He'll be at the University of MN bookstore and Magers and Quinn on Oct. 3, and the Roseville Barnes and Noble on Oct. 4. I'll be at one of the three--probably Magers and Quinn. Wait--scratch that. I have class that night. Nevermind, I'll be at BN on Oct. 4.
is my current Michael Perry read. I know...I can't stop myself. Though I've already talked about his humor and his reflectiveness, I need to talk about location.Michael Perry lives in the environment I would love to live in, but I'd never be able to pull it off. Every time he talks about his community and the people who live in it, I want to pick up and move there. The trouble is, you can't just pick up and move to a small town. The type of community he describes is one that gets earned over decades of being around. Loyalty to your spot. Plus, no matter how much I want to be, I am not a small town girl. I taught in a small town for a year, and it was so damn hard, everything was difficult.
And I'm sure it's not all fun and simple enjoyment, but when Michael starts talking about his garden, and working on his truck, and the annual Firefighter's eating event (chicken? spaghetti? can't remember...all I remember is that he said that some people call in an order and pick up their food to go, which cracked me up.), it makes me want to shut down my suburban life and head for the hills. The fact that he lives in Packer country doesn't hurt anything either.
Michael is going to be speaking in Minneapolis coming up in the next few weeks. He'll be at the University of MN bookstore and Magers and Quinn on Oct. 3, and the Roseville Barnes and Noble on Oct. 4. I'll be at one of the three--probably Magers and Quinn. Wait--scratch that. I have class that night. Nevermind, I'll be at BN on Oct. 4.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
This summer's "must read"
I just picked up the Tin House Summer Reading edition and it is FANTASTIC. The first story is "Memory" by Stephen King and it is the most heartwrenching, fabulously layered story I've read in months. I cried for a good ten minutes after I finished it, beamed with pride at the talent of my favorite author in the world, and have been thinking about it at least in part for the last eight hours.
You should be reading Tin House anyway but in case you don't, still do yourself the favor of picking up this issue. There's a ton of other good stories/poems/interviews in there that I haven't gotten to yet because the King story wiped me out, but I'll get to them soon.
You should be reading Tin House anyway but in case you don't, still do yourself the favor of picking up this issue. There's a ton of other good stories/poems/interviews in there that I haven't gotten to yet because the King story wiped me out, but I'll get to them soon.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Under pressure
My last writing class was Thursday night and it also happened to be the night my story was reviewed. The review was the best I'd ever had. People were so complimentary and of those who have read my work several times said that it was my best work. My instructor Rob (whose opinion in regard to writing I hold somewhere close to oh...like...hmmm... God, maybe) said that it was the best work he's seen from me, and then he brought down the hammer. He said that I should show it to Charles D'Ambrosio because he would really like it.
Gulp.
So I email Michael Ray, the editor of Zoetrope: All Story, who I've been emailing with for a few weeks with various Belize things, and he says of course I can submit that story for review rather than the one I applied with. He needs it before Monday.
Gulp again.
Because while everyone in class loved it, Rob loved it, they all suggested some changes that will require some pretty significant restructuring/revision.
And now I'm wondering how much I want to rush through revisions, literally today (because yes, I wasted Friday and most of Saturday) to get this to him and I'm frankly afraid I'm going to ruin it. This has led to a mild form of writers block, which I really don't believe in anyway. There are about four things that I want to change, and I'm truly afraid to approach them because I can see it spirling into a crazy massive overhaul and then the story won't be fresh and new and creative and Charles D'Ambrosio will look at it and say, "Ew" as he holds it out with two fingers by one corner like it smells like cheese.
And this entry, folks, is just more procrastination. So I shall be off to try, TRY, to make sense of this beautiful thing I 've written, that i don't really nderstand, and try to create more beauty without taking out the old beauty when I don't know where the beauty is to begin with. Grrr.
Gulp.
So I email Michael Ray, the editor of Zoetrope: All Story, who I've been emailing with for a few weeks with various Belize things, and he says of course I can submit that story for review rather than the one I applied with. He needs it before Monday.
Gulp again.
Because while everyone in class loved it, Rob loved it, they all suggested some changes that will require some pretty significant restructuring/revision.
And now I'm wondering how much I want to rush through revisions, literally today (because yes, I wasted Friday and most of Saturday) to get this to him and I'm frankly afraid I'm going to ruin it. This has led to a mild form of writers block, which I really don't believe in anyway. There are about four things that I want to change, and I'm truly afraid to approach them because I can see it spirling into a crazy massive overhaul and then the story won't be fresh and new and creative and Charles D'Ambrosio will look at it and say, "Ew" as he holds it out with two fingers by one corner like it smells like cheese.
And this entry, folks, is just more procrastination. So I shall be off to try, TRY, to make sense of this beautiful thing I 've written, that i don't really nderstand, and try to create more beauty without taking out the old beauty when I don't know where the beauty is to begin with. Grrr.
Monday, August 01, 2005
A man with a plan
Girl, actually. Chick even.
Now that it is August 1st, officially, I need to establish a plan for utalizing my last few weeks of vacation to the fullest extent.
I need to do the following:
1. Read 12th Night
2. Finish my summer cleaning list
3. Organize and plan fall curriculum
4. Read everything I can get my hands on by Charles D'Ambrosio and George Saunders
5. Read everything I can get my hands on period
6. Write a story to bring to class on the 18th.
I know there are other things I need to do.
I always wonder about lists to do, how effective they are, how much time I waste making them, etc. But I'm really not very good at managing my time, it all seems to slip away when I'm not looking. So, the lists will stay and it'll be all good.
Now that it is August 1st, officially, I need to establish a plan for utalizing my last few weeks of vacation to the fullest extent.
I need to do the following:
1. Read 12th Night
2. Finish my summer cleaning list
3. Organize and plan fall curriculum
4. Read everything I can get my hands on by Charles D'Ambrosio and George Saunders
5. Read everything I can get my hands on period
6. Write a story to bring to class on the 18th.
I know there are other things I need to do.
I always wonder about lists to do, how effective they are, how much time I waste making them, etc. But I'm really not very good at managing my time, it all seems to slip away when I'm not looking. So, the lists will stay and it'll be all good.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
I read and I read and I read some more
Yeah, so I know I haven't written in like a week. I was in the Bahamas. It was pretty fuckin' sweet. Mom took me on a mother/daughter vacation. We laid on the beach almost the whole four days (with the exception of taking an hour out of the day to get massages). I've never been to the Bahamas before; I'm a pretty big fan.
I finished the Brain book in a flourish after one day of beach reading. Then, having already watched The Ninth Gate with Johnny Depp, maybe the most kick ass movie ever, I began the short story reading marathon.
I read:
1. "Beverly Home" Denis Johnson
2. "Epstein" Philip Roth
3. "Open House" Charles D'Ambrosio
4. "The Hoaxer" Walter Kirn
5. "The Story of My Life" Kim Edwards
6. "A Record as Long as Your Arm" George Garrett
7. "China" Charles Johnson
8. "Smorgasbord" Tobias Wolff
9. "Rich" Ellen Gilchrist
My favorites were....well I pretty much liked them all. Very different stories. I liked the Edwards story because I think it matches my style of writing the most. This surprised me, but some of the lines as I read them I was like "hey, that's how I would write that." Gave me hope. I obviously loved D'Ambrosio's "Open House." I also really loved "Rich" and "A Recored as Long as Your Arm." Yeah, good short story reading session.
Now I need to bury myself in George Saunders. I also got D'Ambrosio's new collection of essays, Orphens. I hope I live to be a thousand years old so I can read everything I have on my list.
I finished the Brain book in a flourish after one day of beach reading. Then, having already watched The Ninth Gate with Johnny Depp, maybe the most kick ass movie ever, I began the short story reading marathon.
I read:
1. "Beverly Home" Denis Johnson
2. "Epstein" Philip Roth
3. "Open House" Charles D'Ambrosio
4. "The Hoaxer" Walter Kirn
5. "The Story of My Life" Kim Edwards
6. "A Record as Long as Your Arm" George Garrett
7. "China" Charles Johnson
8. "Smorgasbord" Tobias Wolff
9. "Rich" Ellen Gilchrist
My favorites were....well I pretty much liked them all. Very different stories. I liked the Edwards story because I think it matches my style of writing the most. This surprised me, but some of the lines as I read them I was like "hey, that's how I would write that." Gave me hope. I obviously loved D'Ambrosio's "Open House." I also really loved "Rich" and "A Recored as Long as Your Arm." Yeah, good short story reading session.
Now I need to bury myself in George Saunders. I also got D'Ambrosio's new collection of essays, Orphens. I hope I live to be a thousand years old so I can read everything I have on my list.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Belize
Well, I'll be going to Belize September 16-26th for the Zoetrope All-Story short story workshop. I'm blown away that I got in. Even though I have no idea how many people that applied and I'm sure they're more than happy to take my money. I'll get to workshop with Charles D'Ambrosio and that just kicks ass.
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