Caleb J. Ross, author of novels and surfer of internets

I’m not boring anymore, I swear. Wanna play Dominoes? (Video Blog Ep 019)

July 17, 2012

I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube videos lately. A lot. Too many. I think I’m falling in love. YouTube personalities (the ones I watch, mainly video blogs, or “vlogs” as those cooler than me can say) aren’t too concerned with polish and appearance (though again, qualifier, many appear quite polished). The personalities, generally, aren’t the focus and purpose of the videos. It’s the passion these people have for their subject matter that’s on display. I admit, my watching began more as a study to learn how to bring people to my own author YouTube channel. It was a selfish endeavor. But something happened. Something amazing. I suddenly “got” what so many others have understood for a long, long time: YouTube (specifically the vlog aspect) is a grand, grand thing. I actually appreciate and truly enjoy everyday, non-famous people talking about books. I’ve long loved talking with my friends in…

Interviewed at Slit Your Wrists Magazine, bar tabs, story origins, and suicide – yours, not mine

July 16, 2012

The amazing Laurance Kitts interviews me for his Slit Your Wrists Magazine website, a site that frequent visitors may recognize; my story "Sebaceous" appeared there back in April. Laurance knows how to ask questions without bowing to a person's ego, so you can read this Q&A without anticipating a pretentious me basking in the warmth of praise. I mean, sure, Laurance does feed me some softballs, but...those are easier to chew.

Wordless Book Reviews – Chuck Palahniuk, Don DeLillo, J.M. Coetzee, Gordon Highland (Video Blog Ep 018)

July 12, 2012

Another Wordless Book Reviews episode. Here I review four books using only sound effects and facial expressions. The books: Invisible Monsters: Remix by Chuck Palahniuk, Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo, Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee, and Flashover by Gordon Highland.

More Perverted Book Covers (Video Blog Ep 017)

July 9, 2012

A few episodes back I presented some book covers that, through the twisted lens of perversion (is that redundant?), were made to appear more depraved than perhaps they were meant to be. Here, I present three more perverted covers that you won’t be able to unsee. Hey, I didn’t make these book covers to be easily perverted; don’t blame me. Here I manipulate the intentions of Gordon Highland's Flashover, Rob Roberge's Working Backwards from the Worst Moment of My Life, and Paul Bowels' The Sheltering Sky.

Lowercase envelope art, now shipping

July 6, 2012

The last few book orders that came direct from me included quick doodles on the envelopes. Why? Mainly because I was packaging them while watching TV and then got fidgety after sealing them. Fidgety lead to grabbing a Sharpie (luckily within reaching distance) which lead to doodling. Why the name lowercase art? From my lowercase art Flickr album: I feel that Art (with a capital ‘A’) is given the distinction of proper noun-dom because of the artistic intent backing its creation. In other words, true Art has to have some sort of meaning, otherwise it is merely decoration. And that’s just what these pieces are. Aesthetic only; no treatise or manifesto necessary. If you see a message in these pieces, put down the pot. For as long as I remain bored, orders from my website should remain doodled. If you feel so moved, simply click on a PayPal button on…

“OK, crow, prepare to be scared.” Another Futurama Literary Reference

July 5, 2012

(part of my ongoing Unexpected Literary References series) Stephen King work makes as many cartoon appearances it seems as Stephen King books do bookshelves. This reference, from the Wizard of Oz spoof segment of the Futurama episode Anthology of Interest II (Season 3, episode 21) occurs when Fry, portraying the Scarecrow, attempts to scare a crow by reading a section from Stephen King's novel, Christine. Fry: OK, crow, prepare to be scared.

The Versatile Blogger Award nominee

July 4, 2012

A quick thanks to Jennifer over at Donnie Dark Girl for nominating this blog for the Versatile Blogger Award. It means a lot when I learn that people actually read this blog.