November is NaNoWriMo month, when aspiring writers are encouraged to embark upon the quest to write a novel in one month. I’ve talked about my own attempts to sneak past the internal censor, using contests and challenges like NaNoWriMo, which I think are fun and useful. Arlitia Jones takes part in a similar — and […]
Getting out of your own way: Interview with poet & playwright Arlitia Jones Read More »
Just when I suggested that selling a breakout book in our lukewarm (ice cold?) economy will be no easy task comes word that Amazon and Penguin will be accepting up to 10,000 first-novel submissions between February 2 and February 8, 2009, for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. The prize is a contract from Penguin, including
HOPE FOR THE BREAKOUT Read More »
“Ellen, whose damaged head has been grafted onto the body of an infant…” That’s not a line you read too often, but it’s straight from a starred review in Publishers Weekly (scroll to the SF/Fantasy/Horror section) for David Marusek’s forthcoming sci-fi novel, MIND OVER SHIP. PW’s review was totally positive. Congrats David! We look forward
Alaska author gets starred PW review including this wonderful line: Read More »
A recent analysis showed Alaska is, for the moment, the only state in the union where the economy is expanding. Hopefully that means Alaskan books will also continue to sell, especially if our state’s recent notoriety results in an uptick in tourist travel. It’s no secret that the bigger picture for publishing is not so
MORE DOOM AND GLOOM Read More »
She’s Nancy Lord, and already at the helm. She’ll also be writing a monthly guest-post for this blog, beginning next month. But before then: I’d like her featured here, and I’d also like some help coming up with creative, interesting questions. Here’s your chance to play the reporter. Make a question-suggestion this week by leaving
Help me interview our new Alaska State Writer… Read More »
One of my hopes for this blog is to introduce the occasional poem into our blog mix, as well as features of poets. Later this week, I’ll be running an interview with poet Arlitia Jones. Today, I’m happy to share this poem by John Straley, printed with his permission. THE ENTHUSIASTSby John Straley From: THE
The Enthusiasts — a poem by John Straley Read More »
Reading John Staley’s Death and the Language of Happiness also got me thinking about common “rules” for writers that can and often should be broken. One is that every character and every scene must move the plot forward. Straley’s hero Cecil Younger travels to Washington with roommate Todd to piece together the ties between two
Are writers’ rights being eroded by Google? Fairbanks author Michael Engelhard, who has seen his own books Googlescanned, sent this timely message in the hopes of stirring up conversation: The Perfect Publisher……does not make me feel violated and cheated by allowing Google to scan my books or part of my books and post them online
Are you ready to be Googlescanned? Read More »
You Alaskans will be happy to know that the weather has cooled a bit in San Diego, down to a respectable 65 degrees or so. Yesterday I went sailing in blustery conditions that reminded me of Alaska’s seas, a way toned-down version of the stuff you see on The Deadliest Catch. My adrenaline surged with
THE LANGUAGE OF HAPPINESS Read More »
Sunny, eighty degrees, not a single cloud marring a stunning blue sky, walking the boardwalk along the ocean, watching a seal bob up in the water, sipping my mango-green tea smoothie. That’s right – I’m not in Anchorage anymore. Not for the next few days anyhow. Taking off for San Diego, the woman seated next
ALASKAN AUTHORS WEEKLY ROUND-UP Read More »
