PARDON THE DUST…

We’re renovating the blog… Everything still works the same, but the sidebars aren’t done yet.

The Islands of Hawaii through April Williams’ Eyes

One our new members, April Williams, takes on envious writing assignments. Poor April  must vacation in Hawaii to write for a travel podcast insider’s guide to the islands called 808 Talk.

Check out a few of her writing clips; I’ve just added them under our blog roll (scroll down, right hand side).

Congrats to April! Nice work!

(Posted by Amy Gail Hansen)

Reading anything lately?

Good or bad, I mean.

I just finished Alan Paton’s ‘Cry, the Beloved Country,’ a classic set in S. Africa. And oh was it gorgeous:

“Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much.”

Now I’m reading ‘The Case for Books: Past, Present and Future’ by Robert Darnton. It’s fascinating stuff, especially for a librarian. It concerns the digital age, and what it will mean for the “old fashioned” book. The kind made of paper and glue. Darnton sees both sides, but is in love with the book.

I’m also reading through my library’s fiction section, one letter at a time. I read as much as I could stand of the first book in our A section. Now I’m working on the first book in B. Because I don’t have enough to do, or to read!

LG

This week’s writing prompt

Let’s try something a little easier this week.

This week’s jump start is from a book. Give it a try, then I’ll give you the title and author of the book, plus a few lines showing where the author took it from here:

“In the silence a blackbird started singing …”

LG

Weekly wrap up

Looks like there’s no real interest in the two local author events. That’s fine. Neither one completely thrills me, either. Though I may take my business cards and go to the Read Between the Lynes event next Saturday. If anyone has a sudden urge to go just let me know.

For the volunteering, there’s a little bit of an interest so far. For my schedule, I have only one Saturday open, Dec. 5. Things filled up very quickly. Maybe early next year would be a better time? Let me know what you think.

I’m enjoying the writing prompts, and I’ll have a new one next week. Maybe something easier and less controversial this time!

Hope you’re all making stellar progress on your writing. As for me, grad school sucks up what little free time I’ve had. I’m most interested in nonfiction, for the info of the newbies. Specifically essay writing. That was the idea behind creating a blog, practicing creative nonfiction. But then I degenerated into talking about my dog vomiting all over the carpet, and other fascinating topics. I talk about books, too, sometimes, and write in my handwritten journal religiously. I just don’t know where I fit, I guess! But I do love to write.

I’ll keep searching out events, and if anyone else sees one just let us know. Oh, and if there’s a good film out you’d like to see (an art/serious film, I mean) that’s an option, too. It can be tough getting out of the house if you have little ones, which some of you do. So letting your spouse babysit is a good thing.

I’d also like to add another dimension to this blog, a regular “What Are You Reading?” post. You must read in order to write, preferably reading in your own particular genre, but that’s not completely necessary. I’ll start dropping that one in next week.

Talk soon!

LG

This week’s writing prompt

Great job on that last one!  And remember, you don’t have to participate in all of these, or even any if you’d rather not.

A bit of nonfiction for this next one. Write about a place you feel safe, whether it be at home or away. Tell us how you feel when you’re there, what you do, what qualities the place has. It can even be a mental state, such as during meditation.

Set a timer to, oh, twenty minutes or so and have at it!

Can’t wait to read your responses. I’ll work on mine later today.

LG

And another author event…

Mystery lovers and fans of J.A. Jance will want to know about the author’s upcoming visit to Chicago on Saturday, December 5. The bestselling author will be making two appearances in the Chicago area to promote her latest book, Trial by Fire. Trial by Fire comes out Dec. 1; it is the latest in the Ali Reynolds series.

Make your reservations now – or sign up your book group for a field trip – for the author’s afternoon appearance at the Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Avenue, beginning at 2 pm. Border’s of Wilmette will handle book sales. Seating is limited; registration is required. Call 847-929-5101, sign up online at <calendar.webrary.org> or stop by to register in person.

Ms. Jance will also be signing books at the Border’s in Oak Brook, at 7 pm the evening of December 5.

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I’m free that evening (so far), but I’ve read nothing by this author. Anyone else?

LG

Local author event – Woodstock

Read Between the Lynes, your hometown bookstore, located at

129 Van Buren Street on the historic downtown Square in Woodstock, is proud to celebrate our local authors!

Saturday November 21, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. we invite you to help support local writing as we invite several Local Independent authors into our store. Not only is this a great event to help keep local authors writing, but it is also a fantastic way for aspiring authors who are interested in self-publishing to ask questions and receive information about independent publishing.

On Hand for the event will be five authors who will sign copies of their books and discuss writing with those who attend. Our guest list includes:

-Juliette Miranda, author of Morning Neurosis -Dawn Scala, author of Someone to Love -Kenneth Rogers jr., author of Writing in the Margins -Michael Black, author of Hostile Takeovers -Thomas Price, author of Last Hand: A Suburban Memoir of Cards and the Cold War Era

 

Josh K. Stevens

Read Between the Lynes

129 Van Buren Street

Woodstock, IL 60098

(815) 206-5967

 

www.readbetweenthelynes.com

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I’m planning to go to this one, and to give these authors my card for our own author event and to let them know about the group.  We could go to the Starbuck’s next door, too, if anyone would like to.

I’ll have to drive myself, as I have a doctor appt. right before that.

LG

Next day …

I locked my keys in my car, and had to pay $ 45 to get them out.

Day after, took my car in to be fixed, because the back door of the van kept falling on my head (which explains a LOT). They fixed that. But it still won’t stay latched without going to elaborate means involving a screwdriver and a lot of swearing. And they want another $ 300 to fix that. The latch, not the swearing.

Can’t wait to see what’s next.

LG – keeping you well informed, in the event of my emergencies

 

Anyone think I’m kidding…

… when I say I have a new disaster every day?

Yesterday’s, the hatchback van door decided it didn’t want to latch anymore. So I drove from here to NIU and back with the damn thing popping open – ever so slightly – all the way. I wonder what blew out when I didn’t notice. Probably nothing much – just money and credit cards.

Tune in tomorrow for today’s disaster.

LG