Tag: newsletter

  • Interviewed at the Books and Booze podcast. I think I validate 50 Shades of Grey as culturally relevant…

    Interviewed at the Books and Booze podcast. I think I validate 50 Shades of Grey as culturally relevant…

    A couple of nights ago I was invited to be the interviewee on an episode of the burgeoning and fun Books and Booze podcast. This, episode 4, has me chatting books with Renee Pickup and Dakota Taylor, sans books or booze in my hands, unfortunately.

    We talk a lot about my books, of course, but we get larger issues such as the implied cultural relevance of books that we (Renee, Dakota, and myself) don’t necessarily assume are good (ahem…50 Shades of Grey…) but must strike a unique chord if they are selling so well. We don’t always have to agree with cultural shifts, I suppose. But we’re all interested, it would seem, in the idea that mass consumption of a product must mean that product has some relevance beyond the aesthetic (but if now, doesn’t wide aesthetic appeal still say something about a culture).

    Anyway, it was tremendous fun. Thanks to both of them for killing an hour with me. Click over this is amazing podcast episode to listen (or use the player above). Better get over there quick, too; Books and Booze only keeps the latest 2 hours of its programming live, meaning in 2 more interviews, my interview will no longer be available!

  • Video book review of The Fifty Year Sword by Mark Z. Danielewski (Video Blog ep 021)

    Video book review of The Fifty Year Sword by Mark Z. Danielewski (Video Blog ep 021)

    Click the image above to watch the video on YouTube

    I anticipate some reactions to this video book review will be negative. Of those negative reviews, I anticipate 3 response types:

    1. Hatred from those that haven’t read the book, but simply want to defend Mark Z. Danielewski (I understand this feeling, believe me; and despite how I feel about The Fifty Year Sword, I will continue to defend Danielewski, even if only for his potential; House of Leaves remains one of my favorite novels of all time)
    2. Hatred from those who have read the book, and claim that I’m simply too dumb to “get it” (again, I understand this feeling and am willing to embrace this possibility)
    3. Hatred from those who have read it and claim to like it. It’s this last group that I’m most interested in.

    Those of you in this last group, please, please, please help me understand what I must have missed. I want to like this book. I really do. I want to believe that Danielewski’s verse writing is just an awkward trend (I didn’t like Only Revolutions, either, if you must know).

    The Fifty Year Sword will be re-issued in October 2012 should any of you decided to read this book.

  • Video review of Room by Emma Donoghue (Video Blog Ep 020)

    For some reason I tend to shy away from the BIG books, those being the books that rountinely make best of lists, fill the limited space in book review columns, and can generally be purchased at Wal-Mart (not that I have something against shopping at Wal-Mart…I went there just today, as a matter of fact…though, I only do so when hurting for money; see, I can’t agree with the business ethics of the company, and oh crap, I’m rambling). I don’t know if my aversion to widely-praised books can be simply diagnosed as hipsterism, or if there’s something more sinister at play. But none of that matters, as I recently read one such department store paperback, Room by Emma Donoghue, and I really, really liked it.

    Click the image below to watch the video review (links to YouTube).

    Click image to watch video

    What did I buy during my Wal-Mart trip today? The Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman. Will my success rate be two for two?

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

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

    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 person or chatting on forums about books, but when video comes into the picture (literally…ha!) I take on a new appreciation. I suddenly don’t mind listening to people harp on about Twilight or Harry Potter. I’ll never read those books, but the passion these people have (and their general articulateness) makes it somehow okay.

    I’ve created a video that explains how I plan to use this new love to hopefully spread the word about the books I enjoy (yes, the books I’ve authored, but plenty of other books as well; just see my previous videos for proof).

    Click the image to view the video

    Oh, and before I go, a quick shout out to a few of the YouTube channels that have brought me ‘roud to the dark side (a Star Wars reference from me, a guy who has never seen the Star Wars movies; wow this YouTube thing is changing me).

    About Ophelia Dagger

    From YouTube: I have a Master’s degree in Film. Never going to use it. I can also name all 50 states in alphabetical order. I’ve used that a couple of times – mostly in pub quizzes and whilst wooing rudeboys.

    Note: Definitely one of my new favorite things online. She’s quite intelligent, reads great books, and damn funny. Plus, the accent.

    About Unleash This Book Reviews

    From YouTube: 24-year-old English grad who couldn’t find a job after reading books for four years. Now I do this, for free.

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

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

    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.

  • More Perverted Book Covers (Video Blog Ep 017)

    More Perverted Book Covers (Video Blog Ep 017)

    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.

  • The Versatile Blogger Award nominee

    The Versatile Blogger Award nominee

    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.