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

Currently writing Phil Jourdan and Pablo D’Stair

June 22, 2012

I don’t speak enough to my readers. I’ve learned this recently. Much of the content on this blog speaks to other writers (which are generally readers, for sure), but I need to change my game a bit, I think. With that in mind, I want to start writing a bit more about my in-progress projects. I know, I know, writing about work that isn’t finished comes across as a bit masturbatory. I’ve often been annoyed by such posts. My goal here isn’t to be annoying, though. Rather, I want to give those who are interested a peek into my projects. The primary goal is to get people excited about my work. The secondary goal is to keep my current projects top-of-mind for me so that I keep my fingers to the keyboard as much as possible. Simply put, I’ve been feeling a bit unproductive lately and am looking for a…

Wordless Book Reviews – Mark Dunn, Adam Johnson, Steven Levy, Richard Grossman (Video Blog Ep 015)

June 21, 2012

First off, please forgive the video quality here. I was trying a new recording method, which obviously didn't work that well. Here is another Wordless Book Reviews episode. Here I review four books using only sound effects and facial expressions. The books: Ella Minnow Pea: a Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn, Emporium: Stories by Adam Johnson, In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives by Steven Levy, and The Book of Lazarus by Richard Grossman.

Are you a pervert for seeing abstract and implied vaginas on book covers?

June 20, 2012

Sex sells. We know this. Implied sex also sells, and perhaps even more-so considering the audience for discreet sex is much wider (puritans can't hate what they can't define, right?). But sometimes I'm not sure if I'm recognizing the marketing money-shot, or if I'm just perverted. Take a look at these possible vaginas and let me know in the comments. Do Me: Tales of Sex & Love from Tin House No need to question the intent with this one. Bibliophiliacs rejoice. Before they Were Giants: First Works from Science Fiction Greats It's generally accepted that science fiction fans, at least traditionally, are sex-starved. If Dungeons & Dragons/Star Wars stereotypes have any root in truth, most sci-fi fans aren't motivated by sex...unless that sex comes by way of a giant octopus vagina space monster. Granta: The Magazine of New Writing. issue #110: Sex Another obvious one (what is it with literary magazines…

Wordless Book Reviews – Paul Tremblay, Chuck Palahniuk, Jose Saramago, Sam Harris (Video Blog Ep 014)

June 19, 2012

First off, please forgive the video quality here. I was trying a new recording method, which obviously didn't work that well. With this episode, I've opted for brevity. Here I review four books using only sound effects and facial expressions. The books: The Little Sleep by Paul Tremblay, Damned by Chuck Palahniuk, Seeing by Jose Saramago, and The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris.

Episode 013 Podcast: “Defend Your Work” with the Devil’s Worker, Ben Tanzer

June 18, 2012

A while ago I got together with Ben Tanzer via Skype to try out a new concept in author book discussions, one that rather than avoid tension and conflict actually confronts it head on. I call this a "Defend Your Work" episode, and I hope you like it enough for me to continue. Though this episode is actually part of Tanzer's (and CCLaP's) New York Stories virtual blog tour, I recorded it originally as part of the 99 Problems book relase tour a year or so ago. Unfortunately, my participation in that tour never materialized. I don't remember why, but it was probably my fault. Also, please pardon the technical issues with this episode. My recording software malfunctioned at the last minute, forcing a less than optimal work-around. Also, the buffering audio may give the impression that I am either interrupting Mr. Ben Tanzer or reacting inappropriately to his comments. Simply put,…

The Simpsons re-writes The Little Prince

June 17, 2012

(part of my ongoing Unexpected Literary References series) This one from the episode titled "A Totally Fun Thing That Bart Will Never Do Again" which is the nineteenth episode of season 23. It aired on April 29, 2012. Thank you to Alex C (in the comments below) for informing me that "the title is a spoof on David Foster Wallace’s article, “A Supposedly Fun Thing I Will Never Do Again”, in which he was sent on a 7-day cruise ship and hated every minute of it." After Bart fakes a world-wide pandemic, he and a group of fellow cruise boat travelers make due with what's available to them in order to start a brand new society. One micro-group of super intelligent children--lead by Lisa, of course--set out to recreate all of the world's great books in order to ensure their presence in the reborn society. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novella, "The Little Prince" is one such book.

The Simpsons and the closing of Borders Bookstores (again)

June 16, 2012

(part of my ongoing Unexpected Literary References series) At this point, I should probably change the name of this series to Expected Literary References. Seems when I keep my eyes peeled for book references in cartoons, I see them quite often. "The Spy Who Learned Me" is the twentieth episode of season 23, and contains yet another reference to the closing of all Borders Bookstores. It originally aired on May 6, 2012. Here, we have a quick zoom-out from a bird to a wide shot of a dilapidated Borders Bookstore building.