Showing posts with label Susan Henderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Susan Henderson. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

The Awesome Writer Post



The beautiful Hyatt Hotel, where I'll be attending a book convention and signing in three weeks

So since there is a rare lull in music news in the Slick household and it's suddenly occurred to me that I'll be traveling across the country in a few weeks to party, network, sell and sign books with authors and fans from literally all over the world for five crazy, fun-filled days here, I thought I would point out a few authors who are really, really special and talented and make my soul rise. But before I do that, oh god, I just realized that because we are assigned alphabeticallly to "signing tables" at the book fair, I will be sitting next to the infamous Christina Skye. She's a most interesting woman with thousands and thousands of fans so while people snake in long lines for her autograph, I can only hope I pick up her overflow. Note to self: Buy lots of chocolate to hand out. I'm serious. Christina is terrific and it's kind of humbling to watch her fans approach her one by one, some unable to speak because they're so choked up over the profound effect her books have had on them. Cool, huh?

Anyway, back to some friends of mine.

First of all, I make no secret that I'm a big Theresa Boyer fan and I was thrilled to nominate her brilliant story, Waxing Razal for the Million Writers Award. Seriously. Read that story and learn from a master. Or mistress. Ha. Whatever.

Also, had she not already been nominated, I would have also put in a vote for Kat Denza and her incredible piece, Snake Dreams. Another must read and I see it was the lst runner up in the Storyglossia Fiction Prize, 2006.

Another amazing story comes courtesy of Richard Grayson entitled La Difficulte d'Etre. After you read Richard's short story, click on the link to his bio where I guarantee you will be completely spellbound.

Some of my pals have been interviewed lately as well.

Author Kelly Spitzer interviews Dave Clapper.

Dave is the editor/founder of Smokelong Quarterly, which, as I've said on many occasions, is probably one of the finest 'zines out there, along with Juked. Both Dave and John Wang, editor of Juked, have an incredible eye for literature and can tell the difference between talent and "unstructured, ungrammatical, airheaded shit". (I'm quoting a friend who shall remain nameless because he threatened to kill me if I mention him in my blog. Just kidding...but he knows I love his lines and steal them whenever I can)

While you are on Kelly's website, please also read her sparkling conversations with four of my other favorite writers -- here are the links:

Interview with Ellen Meister;

Interview with Alicia Gifford;

Interview with Kathy Fish;

Interview with Mary Akers.

These are not only brilliant women but extremely classy ones -- people who neither flaunt their talent nor whine about themselves or the publishing world -- they are graceful, lovely people and it's a joy to know them and read their work.

Also interviewed this month is my usual favorite suspect, Susan Henderson, who gives us yet more insight into her incredible mind over at Insolent Rudder, and while I was lifting that link, I saw that the insanely fabulous Jeff Landon is the author spotlight this quarter and let me tell you, that is one funny man and one hell of a terrific writer. I strongly suggest you google him, as well as the others mentioned like Alicia Gifford, Kathy Fish et al and read a lot of their work. You'll not only have a wonderful read but again, you may even learn something.

I know I've left some people out -- take a look at my reading recommendations on the right hand side, for one thing -- but it's early and I've got to fly for now -- so there will definitely be "The Awesome Writer Post - Part II" coming your way in the very near future. Count on it!

Later,
xo

Monday, March 26, 2007

Goosebump Time


Crescent Moon, featuring Dave Dreiwitz on bass and Eric Slick on drums, performing Saturday night at Luna Lounge in New York

Eric and Dave got a nice review of their show in the Jersey Beat:

"...Crescent Moon turned out to be my old buddy Dave Dreiwitz, one of the most talented and innovative bassists in the history of NJ indie rock; his credits include Tiny Lights, his own two/man bass/drums nerdcore band Instant Death (who were HUGE in New Brunswick for many years,) and of course a long stint in Ween. Like Instant Death, Crescent Moon is a drums/bass duo, but more sincere indie-rock, not that goofy arch pseudo-metal stuff. Dave told me that his 19-year old drummer was a prodigy who also plays in the Adrian Belew Trio, but when the kid started clanging the cowbell for a particularly funky tune, Crescent Moon just sounded like great rock n' roll. Dave's bass is so dynamic and versatile that he can mimic guitar leads and power chords as well as providing a grooving funky bottom. This is definitely an act you have to check out."

And there were some nice blurbs on the Ween forum board:

"Eric Slick will be the featured drummer with Crescent Moon

That kid is a motherfucking great drummer.

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This show ruled.

Crescent Moon Rules. Dave rocked monsterously hard. Eric Slick ate 3 Marshmellow Pies before the show and played fast fills on request. Greg D was badass. Some of his songs I thought should never end. Props to ryan for keeping the bouncy beat throughout the whole Greg D set. Great night out!

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I expected Crescent Moon to be really good when I saw them about a year ago. I was wrong. They were really really really fucking good. I mean I know Dave is great and all, but holy shit. That man packs quite a bit of rock
."

*****

So that was cool, and then I wandered over to Adrian's blog and saw this:

"Yesterday was a good day.
Saul Zonana* and his wife Nicole are visiting.

He and I spent 5 hours digging through the hard drive containing the Power Trio performances earmarked to be Side 4.

By five o'clock we were listening to rough mixes of Dayton and Newport. The rough mixes were unadorned, raw as sushi, but they sounded powerful, charged with energy.

Wow! Eric and Julie are just awesome!

Finally I can hear them without being preoccupied dancing on a pedalboard while singing in one time signature and playing in another. We have a beautiful trio portrait done by Mark Colman and I've begun designing the artwork, so now I can rest assured we have a Live Side 4 on the burner.

*some of you may remember Saul Zonana as our opening act or you might just have his record I was part of 42 days (a good idea). Saul has been listening since the inception of the mike and mike trio and throughout the growth of this awesome trio with Eric and Julie. I can't think of a better person to partner with for the mixing of this, my first live solo record."

*****
I'm sorry...every time I read that I get the chills. I mean, I knew they recorded Side 4 Live but between the band going on a short hiatus this spring so that Julie can graduate college and the flurry of excitement associated with The Bears new release, it sort of became a dream where you ask yourself Did this really happen? And naturally Gary was just thinking about Saul and was going to call him -- they really had a blast together during the two week west coast tour in November.

So yeah, all is fabulous in this household right now. Eric is still flying from Saturday night's gig and is really, really looking forward to his jazz show this Friday night with sax great Elliott Levin...I'll post show info and links again toward the end of this week.
******
Writing news:

So Sue Henderson fills us in with the details of her book deal today, but here's the announcement as it appeared over at Publishers Marketplace:

"23 March, 2007
Children's:Young Adult
Susan Henderson's TAP ROOT, a coming-of-age novel set in the 1970s about a young girl who believes her mother has gone missing and, after finding her living in a secret room in their basement, must come to terms with their irrevocably changed relationship, to Regina Scarpa at St. Martin's for publication as a Griffin trade paperback original.
regina.scarpa@hbpub.com"


That is so freaking cool!

And hey, I got some pretty good news myself. More and more mainstream and independent bookstores are carrying Three Days in New York City, and I received a snail mail letter on Saturday which says:

"Dear Robin: We have reviewed Three Days in New York City and would like you to join us in displaying your book in our bookstore cafe. We are delighted to have you as one of our great authors.

...At this time, we request that you send ten newly printed copies of Three Days in New York City available for display and purchase in our bookstore cafe, which will open for business summer of 2007."


Anyway, this is a new indie store located in Chicago and I'm really, really excited. Now let's hope they schedule a reading! But getting that letter made me realize something: I miss snail mail! As much as I love the excitement of a good email, there's nothing like reading good news in print...which is the same way I feel about my books.

Speaking of which...is Daddy Left Me Alone with God actually finished? Have all of the revisions and rewrites at last turned it into the book I've waited my entire life to write? Ha ha - finally, Agent Kate. Stay tuned...

Later,
xo

Friday, February 23, 2007

Odds and Sods for Friday, February 23


Eric Slick, warming up for the Adrian Belew Power Trio show last Saturday

(Photo taken by either Julie or Gary Slick...no one is home for me to ask but I found it in my iPhoto folder this morning so it's one of them. Good job, J or G!)

So tonight Eric heads to New Haven, Connecticut, where he will perform at Cafe Nine with the fabulous Doctor Dark, a Captain Beefheart cover band Eric has been a part of since October, 2005. Yes, I know. I believe that makes at least six bands in which Eric is currently involved - seven if you count what he's doing tomorrow night - a private house party jam with master shredder Brian Davis. Ha ha - I just listened to Brian's MySpace song and to say my son is all over the map musically is putting it mildly. Oh...have I mentioned he's also playing bongos on a side stage at Bonnaroo with a bunch of belly dancers? A lot more on that to follow, as well as some veddy interesting jazz gigs my son has lined up with someone quite well known.

Writing news. If you want to be totally blown away, you must read this story by my good pal, Myfanwy Collins. It's over at one of my favorite 'zines, Juked, and, well, let me make it even easier for you -- here's a direct link to Myf's brilliant flash, entitled Celestial.

Oh my god, that story is so good I'm still smiling an hour after I first read it.

And, I see other friends have been more than a little busy. Ellen Meister has a great interview up at Trashionista - haha - love the name -- and Ellen has also entered the dreaded world of MySpace where, unlike me who has been faltering around that place and has still not been able to master it, she's very, very clever and has created a very cool site and sob...I'm jealous. Nah, just kidding...this blog alone is already eating up enough of my social life and writing time like you would not believe but I figure it's saved me thousands of dollars in psychotherapy so it's been worth it. Just kidding again. Where else can I kvetch about Republicans, tout my brilliant friends' works, and most importantly, have total control/bragging rights/unofficial publicist duties for my kiddies?

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Later,
xo