Books I’m Excited About: “Bloodangel” By Justine Musk

Smokler on November 17, 2005

Bloodangel


Title: Bloodangel


Author: Justine Musk


Relationship: Justine was a student of mine in the Book Promotion 101 workshop last January in Los Angeles. We’ve since become friends and, although I missed the launch of her book because I was wrapped up in the waning weeks of Bookmark Now touring, I’m still eager to give it a look. And to recommend it to you. I’m not much of a horror reader myself but knowing Justine, she seems to have a foot in several worlds, which is what I’d be looking for in a book like this.


Synopsis: Charismatic rock n roll singer’s voice is summoning disciples from across the land. Just in time for the end of the world.


Acquired: Haven’t yet. Will soon. This weekend is the 30th anniversary book sale at A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books.

Addendums:

*Justine Musk’s Blog

*Musk’s letter to readers at Author Buzz

DIY Book Touring:

Smokler on November 16, 2005

Huuzah K.L Cook! The author of Last Call has written a fantastic article in this month’s Poets and Writers about how he book together a book tour for himself, 60 events in several states and dragged his wife and four kids along. Reading at universities, elementary schools and backyard BBQs, he managed to serve his book with both dignity and sweat and not abandon his familial responisbilities or go bankrupt.

In my consulting pratice, the single most common question I get from pre-pub authors is “how do I promote my book and not desert my family/lose my job/have to sell a vital organ? From now on, I’m going to to give the best advice I can and assign this essay as required reading.

P.S. Works equally well for touring musicians/filmmakers or other on-the-road artists.

Questions of ‘Lost’:

Smokler on November 15, 2005

So I just finished watching the first season of “Lost” and have three questions for both you and I to ponder…

1) Why does nearly every episode begin with a close up on someone’s eye?

2) How much of the show’s appeal can we attribute to the hyper-connectedness of our world, to the idea that, in 2005 thanks to cell phones the GPS and the Internet, it’s nearly impossible to be physically “lost” and that the nightmare of the 21st century is to be cut loose from that web of connection (question via Dave)?

3) How much of the show’s appeal is a post 9/11 fantasy of a unified society, of a “country” bonded across race, class and gender lines around a common purpose, instead of the red state/blue state mess we find ourselves in now?

Your thoughts are welcome, neigh encouraged.

Collective Intelligence:

Smokler on November 13, 2005

Now I know this street corner very well. It’s only a few blocks from my house and I’ve caught the train and had brunch their several hundred times. But I can’t say I’ve ever seen this happen, although I’d pay good money for a repeat performance (via Torrez).

Folding a Fitted Sheet:

Smokler on November 13, 2005

Much as I and my bedding need this, I have my doubts that it’s so easy. Doesn’t mean I won’t try (via Dansays).

UPDATE: These instructions suck. I’ve tried it 4 times now and still end up with a lump of excess sheet at one end of the folding. Suzan took me through it. Seems on corners 3 and 4, you need to straighten the seams to keep the sheet from bunching inside the folds. But the instructions leave out that part.

Poductivity Redefined:

Smokler on November 10, 2005

I’ll be thinking some about personal productivity in the month of December, which I plan to take off before beginning 2006 and a whole new slate of post-Bookmark Now projects. During this time, I’ll be consulting the following data and panel of experts.

*A fantastic post at 43 Folders by my friend Scott Andrew called “Productivity for the Practcising Musician.” I couldn’t carry a tune in a pail but these tips apply to anyone who has both a day job and a second career as a creative professional.

*This dead on summary of productivity systems at Lifehacker. And sorry, there are no Top 10 lists, no thumbs up for magic tool sets that are perfect, just for you. No, the message is this (and I paraphrase): Find the system that works pretty well for you and is fun to use. And then work it. No system will work it for you.

*Keith Robinson’s excellent site To-Done contains essays on personal productivity that feel written by a human being rather than an organizational development coach. Probably helps that I know Keith, but To-Done always makes me feel like I’m learning with it instead of being lectured at by it.