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Week 2 of Reading Harry Potter for Babies

Every year I raise money for March of Dimes, which is a foundation established to study the causes and develop cures for premature birth. This year, rather than simply beg friends and family for donations, I’m taking donations to read Harry Potter. More about this strange donation tactic at the full into video here or scroll down further to watch.

In this video, I discuss my thoughts on the first 223 pages of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone.

If you think Harry Potter is a great series, and feel that I should read it, please consider donating to March of Dimes by visiting https://calebjross.com/potterbaby. This link takes you directly to the donation page.

Also, be sure to leave your YouTube channel name, as I will be making a Thank You video and will be sure to mention your channel.

April 5, 2013
My Advice for Graduates and Job Seekers
For all the upcoming and recent graduates out there, this video is for you.

I graduated from college about 5 years ago, and given that temporal distance I feel confident in helping you find out exactly what you want to be when you “grow up”, professionally speaking. If you interpret the word “be” as some metaphysical, transcendental state this video isn’t for you. Pot is for you.

Determining possible career options is easier than you think. Just consider these 3 aspects:
1. A career must involve something you enjoy.
2. A career should involve something you are good at.
3. A career should involve something you can do over and over and over again
Watch the embedded video for some much needed extrapolation.
April 4, 2013
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” comes to The Colbert Report

(part of my ongoing Unexpected Literary References series)

On Monday April 1, 2013, The Colbert Report managed to squeeze in a subtle reference to Shirley Jackson’s famous short story “The Lottery” at the very end of the clip below (titled “Health Care Lottery”). What’s especially impressive is that he doesn’t draw attention to the source material. This is ballsy considering that many people probably wouldn’t get the reference (unless of course there was a recent film adaptation or something that I don’t know about).

Click the image above to watch the clip

This isn’t the first time “The Lottery” has made it’s way into popular media. Both South Park and The Simpsons have made references in the past.

April 2, 2013

The Perfect Edge Trifecta tour begins today!

The Perfect Edge Books blog tour has officially started! What is it? A tour in which blog posts about 3 Perfect Edge Books releases will be posted on various super-duper blogs over the next few weeks.

I’m telling you, Perfect Edge Books is going places. Big places. I’ve genuinely enjoyed and/or loved every book they’ve published so far in their short few months of existence. If you like my books, or like insightful, rough-around-the-edges, intelligent novels, then definitely check out Perfect Edge Books!

See the tour schedule below. I’ll be updating the dedicated The Perfect Edge Trifecta tour page as new posts are published. Be sure to check back often for updated links.

While you’re at it, head over to the blogs listed below and subscribe, why don’t ya? You’ll like them. They have good stuff to offer.

Perfect Edge Books was founded in late 2011 to unite authors whose books weren’t “obviously” commercial. Our books tend to sit in various genres all at once: literary fiction, satire, neo-noir, sci-fi, experimental prose. We believe that literary doesn’t have to mean difficult, and that difficult doesn’t just mean pointless. We prefer to cultivate a word-of-mouth approach to marketing, and keep production as simple as we can. Learn more at www.PerfectEdgeBooks.com.

Blog Tour Schedule:

Stranger Will

1-Apr	Bigger, Fuller Glass
1-Apr	Bookworm Castle
1-Apr	Naimeless
2-Apr	Deal Sharing Aunt
2-Apr	Growing Up Little
3-Apr	Free Book Reviews
3-Apr	The Reviewing Shelf
4-Apr	Candle Beam Books
4-Apr	Challenging Reads
5-Apr	Lissette E. Manning’s Blog
6-Apr	Cabin Goddess
7-Apr	Tread Softly
7-Apr	Words in Sync

Angel Falls

8-Apr	Sycho Faerie’s Book Obesession
8-Apr	Bookworm Castle
8-Apr	Naimeless
9-Apr	Book Broads
9-Apr	Growing Up Little
9-Apr	Deal Sharing Aunt
10-Apr	Free Book Reviews
10-Apr	Charlotte Babb’s Blog
10-Apr	Bless Their Hearts ~ Mom
11-Apr	Black Heart Magazine
11-Apr	Challenging Reads
12-Apr	The Story Factory Reading Zone
12-Apr	Lissette E. Manning’s Blog
13-Apr	A Bit of Everything
13-Apr	Cabin Goddess
14-Apr	Shelley’s Book Case

The Sound of Loneliness

15-Apr	Bigger, Fuller Glass
15-Apr	Naimeless
16-Apr	The Reviewing Shelf
16-Apr	Growing Up Little
16-Apr	Deal Sharing Aunt
17-Apr	My Life with Books & Boys
17-Apr	Free Book Reviews
17-Apr	Charlotte Babb’s Blog
18-Apr	Lissette E. Manning’s Blog
18-Apr	Candle Beam Books
18-Apr	Black Heart Magazine
19-Apr	Nancy Hendrickson’s Blog
20-Apr	Bookworm Castle
20-Apr	Cabin Goddess
21-Apr	Words in Sync

April 1, 2013

Pixar’s Rules for Storytelling 4 – Once upon a time there was ____. Every day, ____. Finally ____.

Click the image above to view the lesson

Yes, I am going to make a video for each of the Pixar’s 22 Rules for Storytelling (the full list can be found here). Be sure to subscribe to this channel to not miss any of the forthcoming videos. I plan to release one/week.

Rule #4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.

This “rule” isn’t so much a rule as it is a template for storytelling. A simple and very effective template, I might add.

The most important element of this formula, I feel, is the repetition of the “Because of that” which speaks to the importance of constantly elevating stakes. Nothing is ever stagnant in an engaging story. Even if two characters are alone in a room, or if poo can’t fart, there should always be something imminent to further complicate matters, to stress every potential for conflict.

My immaturity is on full display with this writing lesson. Buckle in and prepare to hate me even more.

April 1, 2013
Week 1 of Reading Harry Potter for Babies

Every year I raise money for March of Dimes, which is a foundation established to study the causes and develop cures for premature birth. This year, rather than simply beg friends and family for donations, I’m taking donations to read Harry Potter. More about this strange donation tactic at the full into video here or scroll down further to watch.

In this video, I discuss my thoughts on the first 193 pages of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone.

If you think Harry Potter is a great series, and feel that I should read it, please consider donating to March of Dimes by visiting https://calebjross.com/potterbaby. This link takes you directly to the donation page.

Also, be sure to leave your YouTube channel name, as I will be making a Thank You video and will be sure to mention your channel.

March 29, 2013
The Sound of Loneliness by Craig Wallwork video book review

Click the image above to watch the video book review

Craig Wallwork’s The Sound of Loneliness (Perfect Edge Books) takes the concept of a tired, alcoholic, depressed writer and recesses it a generation or so, using a 22 year old protagonist with 52 year old problems.

Much of the story’s tension lies between this 22 year old Daniel Crabtree and his teenage infatuation Emma, a tension that similar to Lolita, is meant to rouse conflict, but unlike Lolita, the age and maturity difference between the two characters is such that the reader can imagine the two characters actually working out, given another decade.

Also, I manage to work in a Roseanne reference which makes me happier than you can even imagine.

Buy The Sound of Loneliness by clicking here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Sound-Loneliness-Craig-Wallwork/dp/1780996012

March 24, 2013