Writer reading.
It is winter and a time of introspection and reflection.
I am in the midst of a badly needed reading spree.

On the list?

*Just finished: Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story
by Wally Lamb (Christmas gift from my girls. It was hysterical)

*Next: Raymond Carver: 'A Writer's Life'
by Carol Sklenicka (this years birthday gift from Pamela. I love Carver. Always have.)

*Next: (finishing)  The Hour I First Believed
by Wally Lamb (should have finished this long ago)

*Next: A Confederacy of Dunces
by John Kennedy Toole
(a used book from Hyannis, Cape Cod, July 2009, remember, Moe?)

*Next: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
by Junot Diaz
(always wanted to read this)

Is this a wish list?
Nope.
I have every book on the list (except for the Diaz which I plan on getting sometime tomorrow)

There's more after that but I'm thinking that's a pretty good start. Yes?
Might be a bit quieter than usual around here but hey, it's winter.
Time to chill out.
And definitely time to read . . .

 

I made it through the holiday, y'all. Christmas Eve found me a bit crazy though (as my wife will attest) What can I say, Maker's Mark bourbon makes me silly. Go figure. But, I had fun, 'kissing-my-brother-in-law on the cheek' fun. Yeah, I don't think he liked it though. My sister did give me the holiday hat of my dreams though. We had all kinds of wonderful food to eat, music playing, inspired conversation, barrels of laughter, Rum Swizzles on ice, wine, beer and we were comfortably surrounded by family; everything one needs to make the season bright. You can probably tell from the picture at the top of the post which book I'm currently reading (a present from my 3 wonderful girls) I love Wally Lamb but his books do take some perseverance to get through. Not that I'm complaining. As a Patriots fan, after yesterday, I have lots of time to get my nose stuck in a book anyway. I have realized that I've been seriously slacking in the reading department, something that changes today, not on January 1st. To write, you have to read. And today, it started with no conceivable end in sight. As far as writing goes, reading helps me and pushes me in a forward direction. I have no doubt that 2009 will be a great writing year for me. As far as the blog goes, I won't be very far away but I've made some serious creative promises to myself and will try like hell to keep them. (or Laho will kick my arse) Damn these New Year resolutions. Will I give up Guinness? Yeah, right. Will I give up blogging? Don't think so. Will I cook less Risotto? Not if my daughters have anything to do with it. Will I stop smoking cigars? Puuuhleeese. It's a new year and a fresh chance to chase my dreams. Many will come true this year. I just have to keep on believing and praying. Catch all of you in '09. I wish all of you the very best that this life has to offer. The candles are lit and the prayers waiting to be whispered. Please let me know if you need one. Happy New Year, folks. And go easy on the MSG, okay? My pen is ready. It's time to rock, folks . . . :mrgreen:

Weekends seem to yearn for a video. Not many people visit but those that do have a bit of time on their hands. Found this 'writing' video and just had to share it. Too damn funny. Have a serene weekend everybody!

It was a beautiful night as I rode the Red Line into Cambridge. From my window, the Longfellow Bridge offered up a brilliant panoramic view of Boston's Back Bay settling into 'night mode'. I made my way to the Harvard Bookstore wondering what the evening would hold. If you like bookstores, you would fall in love with this antique of a shop (est.1932). I wandered around Harvard Square until 6:30 before going in and purchasing The Ghost in Love. It was a very intimate setting with @20 chairs set-up. I grabbed the closest seat to the podium that I could get. God, I was excited. The reading started promptly at 7 as Carroll read the first chapter of 'Ghost' in its entirety. A brief Q&A session followed. I asked him about his advice for 'Writer's Block'. He laughed and said he never had a problem with it. He answered honestly and to paraphrase said

"Always leave the windows and doors (of the mind) open . . . if they should shut, put the pen down and go cook a meal, take a walk, see a movie, have sex . . . anything but think about writing. Eventually the doors will open."

He spoke of his craft in a way that was easy to relate to but unique in its approach. Personally, he could have talked until midnight and I would have stayed. After being gently prodded to begin the book signing, yours truly was 1st in line. I did tell him how much he's inspired me over the years to which he responded with a smile and a genuine 'thank you'. He asked my name and we talked a bit as he signed "Ghost" (~a ghost for Michael . . .) I pulled The Panic Hand from my bag. He smiled again. As he thumbed through the first few pages he said, "Ah, First Edition, US. Very nice." I told him about the email I'd sent him years ago after winning the book on Ebay as well as my love of his story The Sadness of Detail. He mentioned how many people really liked that story as he signed my 'Panic Hand' book . . . I shook his hand and thanked him saying I would definitely see him on his next US book tour. I wondered what it must be like to meet so many people that truly idolize you as an artist. Carroll takes it in stride and is one of the most down to earth and personable writers you will ever meet. He will be in California in a few days for anyone on the West Coast that wants a chance to see and hear this brilliant man. I floated back (a few feet off the ground) to the Red Line and made my way across the Charles to Backbay, opening the two books every five minutes thinking the magical script would suddenly disappear. This morning I realized just how wonderful last night really was. It's always nice when a dream comes to fruition. And Vienna waits . . . Click on the book for a little surprise!

ps. saw Stephen King again yesterday as well. What a day for authors . . .

This post is approximately 5 years in the making . . . I've been an avid fan of writer Jonathan Carroll for the better part of ten years and have read almost everything the man has written. Although he's relatively unknown in some literary circles he possesses an almost cult following for many readers, like me. It was January 10, 2004 (my birthday) that I happened to find a rare book by Carroll floating about on Ebay. It was called ‘The Panic Hand', a collection of short fiction. The item on Ebay was listed as ‘first edition, hardback, excellent condition'. For whatever the reason, I had to have this book. If you're a reader, you understand the desire and obsession. I began bidding and got into a war with someone that wanted the book almost as much as I did. As I said, almost. I was working that night and gave my wife instructions to place a bid of $60.00 about 30 seconds before the auction ended. If the book was destined to be mine, then so be it. I ended up winning the auction and the book was mine. I'm looking at it as I type this. ‘The Panic Hand' has some of the best short fiction I think I've ever read especially a story called, ‘The Sadness of Detail', my personal favorite. Seeing that it was a first edition book, I wanted to have it signed and began looking for the next time Carroll would be in the states. Sadly, I came up empty-handed and sent him an email inquiring about his schedule (and the fact that I had just purchased a first edition of said book and would love to have it signed). To my surprise, I received a reply back from him that same afternoon. He thanked me for writing and said that he didn't get over to ‘this side of the pond' too often seeing that he lives in Austria but suggested I keep an eye on his website for future visits. In my email, I also mentioned how much I loved his story, ‘The Sadness of Detail' asking where the inspiration came from. He wrote that the story was a ‘very old friend' and one of his favorites but the inspiration for it escaped him at that time . . . but that he would be happy to sign the book should we ever meet. Well, folks, next Tuesday night I'll be going to Cambridge to the incredible Harvard Bookstore to listen to Carroll read from his new book, ‘The Ghost in Love'. He's doing a short Q&A session and a signing after that. And yes, I plan on asking him about how he deals with ‘Writer's Block'. I will happily buy a copy of his new book and have it signed and hopefully be able to tell him just how much he's inspired me in my own writing, although I write in a very different genre. Then I will plead with him ask him to sign 'The Panic Hand' and hope he smiles. Judging from the tone in his email, I should be one damn happy writer this time next Tuesday night. Look for a follow up post. If you haven't read anything by this brilliant man, at least visit your local library and take something out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Don't sound too excited, do I?

Currently in the midst of a juggling act between work and writing. Posts may be a bit scarce over the next few weeks but then again who knows? I'm keeping the details close to the vest for now as far as why I'm busy. Know that it's all good. I'll continue visiting my favorite blogs but posting will be less. Don't be upset. btw . . . Got a very nice linkback tonight. Thanks, DF, much appreciated. If a post of mine can make someone write one, how cool is that? All for now folks. The writer in me has now left the building . . . kinda like Elvis. For now . . . uh-huh . . . ~m

Most of the time I'm able to let the daily bullshit and banter sift through the cranial grates inside my cue ball noggin but on occasion I get a difficult clinker that won't pass through. I have to take it out and look at it and figure out why I can't mentally digest it. Case in point: the other night I was surfing the net for the latest in the way of books on Alzheimer's disease; a simple and innocent task, right? Imagine my surprise (and horror) to find a book titled "Alzheimer's for Dummies". Needless to say, my searching was over for the night. I'd found a seriously incongruous clinker that fueled my rage against the literary machine. I was livid. This was a subject much too close to home for me and to see it reduced to a ‘manual for dummies' format personally devastated me. "Dummies" manuals cover a range of topics: Chess, Poker, MSWord, Windows Vista and Grammar, to name but a few. But Alzheimer's disease? Personally, it was unthinkable. Why not "Breast Cancer for Dummies"? How would that go over? Believe me, I know. I've lost too many friends to the disease and I would be outraged at the total lack of compassion and sensitivity used in publishing such a book. Never mind. What the hell is going on here? I must be losing my mind. I've checked out the contents of the AFD book and I've no doubt the author's intentions were good. But . . . So this is what's it's come to? Christ in a sidecar, I'm almost speechless here. File this one under "roll up that manual and insert forcefully into your keester, sideways". But maybe there's a "Dummies" guide for that as well. Hey, if ICHC can get a book deal, why the hell not these buttmonkeys? IMHO, those suffering from this disease deserve an apology from these inconsiderate 'Dummie' assholes. Do I know what I'm talking about here? Yes, I think I do. All too well . . . ~m

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write." ~Stephen King I'll be posting sporadically until sometime after Christmas. Retail kicks your ass and to be honest, I need to do some serious reading. I've dusted off the King book for another go through. At this time of the year, I just can't do it all and reading is much needed sanctuary. I will be visiting my favorite blogs though. For some new blog reading be sure to visit Grimm, NurseMyra, Other Side & Sulz, several new blogs that I'm currently enjoying the hell out of. Until next time, I wish you all peace. ~m

I turned around and there he was at the register. It was all too brief an encounter. "I read "The Shining" in 1977 when I was a freshman at Berklee College of Music. I've been a fan ever since," I said. {shake hands} (my hands were already shaking) "Thank you," he says (and eyes some cigars), "Cohiba! I just love saying that word!" "I assume you'll be at Fenway watching the asskicking tonight?" "Yes, sir!" He says, smiling. He paid for his smokes and walked to the door with nary a clue of how much I used to really love his stuff. I could almost hear myself saying, "Hey, I write, too!" He turned and raised his hand and once again yelled, "Cohiba!" Holy Crap, I thought, I just met Stephen King. Truth . . . ~m [youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=2DTwOY-8R9A] ps. I've received several emails regarding me "losing my mind" after my last post. Everyone can rest now. I found it this morning sleeping peacefully underneath the computer stand. I hate when that happens. :0) Thanks, folks . . . . (Mwwwuuuuuahhhhhhhahhahahahaha!)