the nook

Popular Mechanics rates B&N’s e-reader, the Nook (no one seems to like the name) Now I’m going to go curl up with my Kindle.

 

SPPC

I had the privilege of meeting the legendary Martin Levin at Book Expo a few years back. He’s been teaching at Stanford’s Publishing Courses for Professionals for years. They have been hit by the dramatic budget cuts. He writes about the situation and how they’re trying to keep going on his blog. Scroll down and you’ll learn a lot about the book biz as well as tangential legal issues. You can stay connected and find out what’s going to happen plus a lot of information on publishing here. I hope they ca

 

new again

Writing is fun again! Yesterday something shifted when I was working on the novel, filling in thin places – things clicked back into place. Helped even more when I took a long walk through Fryman.

Solved a few problems – I tend to write through a draft and leave sections to fill in later, hence the thin parts. The humor has returned  and it’s a lot a fun right now.

In the meantime, if you need a laugh, go read Richard Russo’s Straight Man; don’t make me tell you again because I’ll keep at it until you read it. It’s that good

 

the e-reader

From old to new…

First pictures of Barnes and Noble’s new e-reader. 

What’s that, Kindle? You hear footsteps? The light at the top is a nice touch. I like my Kindle, but I’ll go have a look when the e-reader arrives in stores. It debuts October 20 in New York.

National Book Award finalists have been announced. Which fiction finalist do you favor? Haven’t read them (yet), so no comment. I do have a couple of them on my Kindle, but first I need to finish my own novel. Back to work.

 

in love

The typewriter that I learned to type on (no, I am not that old. I just love this typewriter and electrics and computers don’t come close).

Here it is:

Isn’t it beautiful?

Yes, yes it is. You can find them on eBay for about $25 and pay a LOT more for perfectly restored ones at MyTypewriter.

When I tried typing after years on computers, it was harder than I remembered! Not sure how much I will use it, but I love, love, love it.

 

catching up

Yes, I’m late to the party, but will still note that the Booker Prize was announced yesterday. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel will be released October 13. You can preorder here. At 560 pages, it’s good for chilly nights ahead. I still need to catch up on the last 2 or 3 Bookers. I do tend to prefer them to other prize winning books.

Nonsense sharpens the intellect. Ha! I knew it.

 

Chateau Hotel Domaine de la Tortinière

Attention, Patrons of the Arts! I could write a very good novel if you put me up here for a few months! hee

I stayed here years ago and still remember the carpet of flowers in the woods and oh, the food! The concierge at a hotel in Paris recommended it as his favorite vacation spot, blessed man.

Yes, I could write here…

 

returning to earth

My mom passed away September 28th. I went down the week before and she went peacefully, holding my hand. Will be getting back to posting soon. Thank you for all the good wishes and prayers.