M.K. Bayne

As I've mentioned on a few occasions, for the past four years I've been a member of an international on line writing group 65,000 members strong. I've met incredible people from all over the world and have had the pleasure of meeting many in the real world as well.

A few days ago, in a private office I'm in on the site which is limited to discussions about agents and publishers, I met a man named Martin Bayne. Here's his biography:

Martin Bayne took a leave of absence as a 19-year-old journalist and began training as a novitiate in a Soto Zen Buddhist monastery. Within five years, he received the Dharma Transmission from his teacher, the Very Reverend Jiyu-Kennet, Roshi and returned to the secular world.

There, he would begin his "traditional" studies, including completion of post-graduate work in at MIT, under the guidance of, among others, Nobel Laureates David Baltimore and Philip Sharp.

In the late 1980's, he brought the crisis of eldercare into the light of day by publishing what would become the Internet's largest web site on long-term care, 10 years running. His interviews included President Jimmy Carter, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Clint Eastwood, Ram Dass, Dr. Andrew Weil and baseball legend Harmon Kilibrew.

He was also co- founder (with Kevin J Johnson) and CEO of New York Long-Term Care Brokers, the state's premiere long-term care insurance firm.

Today, at 54, courtesy of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease, he is confined to his bed in an assisted living facility in Albany, NY, where he continues to induldge in his greatest love - writing short stories.

"You have what so few writers do: real passion. When you write, the keyboard is on fire." - Mike Vitez, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Philadelphia Inquirer

"I want to thank Martin for his commitment to improving long-term care and to educating the public about the great need for affordable quality care in this country." - Hillary Rodham Clinton

Dear Martin, I have tears streaming down my face. Your story did for me exactly what a short story is supposed to do - it hit me down deep where I really want to live and so rarely get to. It’s why I read them. It gave me entertainment, hope, joy, sadness, and pleasure. In a few minutes, in a few hundred words, my life has improved, my day made, just because you decided to tell me a story. - Mark Whalen
"Everything we write brings us closer to drafting the first chapter of that most precious of all books, our autobiography." -Martin K. Bayne.

******************

Anyway, Martin posted a request in said private office that because he is unable to do so himself, he was wondering if there were any services who would submit his wonderful stories to publishers/magazines for him. Some authors on the site responded by saying that there were a few companies that might provide these services, but basically, I thought the hell with Martin having to pay someone, I could easily submit his stuff for him so I dropped him an email accordingly.

He responded today by sending me this link to a new story he'd written, and to say I'm teary eyed at the moment is putting it mildly. Please click on the link, and while you're there, stay for a while and savor his other amazing work.

Zen For Tough Guys

Fictionwise

I interrupt my usual broadcast to annouce:

My novel is now available at Fictionwise.

I'm not that far away from reaching print benchmark, meaning, Three Days in New York will soon be an actual paperback sold in actual stores with a little help from my friends.

I'm not above begging, bribing, you name it.

Thanks.

Back to your regular programming.

Super Bowl Part IV - (oh well)

I really thought today's post was going to deal with the big party and parade we'd be having here in Philadelphia in celebration of the Eagles' Super Bowl win yesterday.

Oh well.

Instead I will post a picture of what Julie fed us during the meal - Indonesian chicken - skewers of boneless chicken breast which we dipped in the most incredible sauce I've ever eaten - a Julie Slick invention - coconut, peanuts, ginger, garlic, onion, and other interesting spices.

For dessert we had sliced fruit - these beautiful perfect ruby raspberries, banannas, apples, red pears - that we dipped in another Julie Slick creation - creme fraiche with cinnamon and vanilla.

And then we watched the game and got nauseous.

Well, the one good thing is, I have absolutely no appetite at all today.

Oh, in closing, let me add that much to my surprise, Sir Paul McCartney was awesome at the half time show - probably the best half time concert ever. And this is coming from a woman who has considered Paul and Ringo her least favorite Beatles...I'm the big Lennon and Harrison fan who thinks Paul was never even close to ever being in their league. But last night, his choice of songs, other than Live and Let Die (feh, feh, feh) were amazing and he executed them really well. I don't think he did any lip syncs but my daughter the bassist said no way was he playing that bass while he sang. I'm pretty sure he did really play the piano on Hey Jude and having the audience sing along with the chorus was a nice touch although at one point the camera panned in on this African American kid who looked like "What the fuck? I ain't singing along with this shit."

Hahahaha - I don't like sing-a-longs, either. I always hated, even when I was a teenager attending rock concerts, when bands tried to make the audience participate. Screw that. I just wanted to sit in my seat and enjoy the music, not fucking sing (and trust me, no one wants to hear me sing anyway) or even clap along. I needed my hands free for that beer, smoke, etc. etc.

Super Bowl Part III - more pre-game

Gina Randazzo

Gretchen Wilson

The Fox pre-game show continues to freak me out -- it's been non-stop on T.V. like the last 48 hours -- but c'mon, give me a break, I live in Philadelphia and we haven't had a team in the Superbowl in 24 years so I gotta watch it.

I just saw a pre-game performance by a Grammy nominated singer, Gretchen Wilson, and giggled because she looked like a less attractive and sounded like a less talented version of Rock School's former All-Star (now graduated) Gina Randazzo. Gretchen wore tight jeans and even stood like Gina and made Gina gestures. But oh my god, if this chick is nominated for a Grammy, wait until the world gets a load of Gina.

Man, she's gonna be such a star.

In less appetizing news, I also got to see Sir Paul McCartney do a duet with former Pittsburgh Steeler now loud obnoxious fuckwit Fox Announcer Terry Bradshaw. Oh my god, they butchered She Loves You. But worse, and even more embarrasing, was when they showed footage of Paul and Terry doing a duet the last time Paul played the Superbowl - they did A Hard Days Night, and Terry got all dyslexic and sang (loudly:

It's been a hard days night
and I've been working like a log
It's been a hard days night
I should be sleeping like a dog.

Oy.

Painful.

Okay, now Clinton and former President Bush and doing some kind of right before the game speech. Oh wait, it's for tsunami relief. Okay. I can deal with that.

Anyway, Julie's about to bring out our next course. All I know is, it's "Indonesian".

Super Bowl Part II , or my tribute to John Fogerty

Oh man, John Fogerty rules! He just played two songs live on the Fox Pre-pre-pre game show for the Super Bowl in front of trillions of people worldwide and what does he come out singing? Fortunate Son and Bad Moon Rising - a big fuck to you every Republican and Bush supporter everywhere.

For those of you unenlightened, here are the lyrics to each:

FORTUNATE SON

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they’re red, white and blue.
And when the band plays hail to the chief,
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord,

It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son, son.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, no,

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don’t they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no millionaire’s son, no.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,
And when you ask them, how much should we give?
Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh,

It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no military son, son.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, one.

It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate son, no no no!

**************

BAD MOON RISING

I see a bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin'.
I see bad times today.

CHORUS:
Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricanes ablowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

Hope you got your things together.
Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we're in for nasty weather.
One eye is taken for an eye.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.



Now, it may be me, but I swear, instead of saying "there's a bad moon on the rise, he deliberately said "there's a bad moon on the RIGHT". (No, not bathroom on the right, ha ha, but just the word RIGHT)

But Fortunate Son, man, that was blatant. Long live John Fogerty!

Super Bowl Sunday

Julie is in charge of the Super Bowl menu today. We're having "small plates" all day long and here's the first batch. Homemade blackbean salsa with cilantro, lime, chopped tomatoes; really sick homemade guacamole; little balls of fresh mozzarella that sit in basil boats drizzled with imported olive oil and topped with a grape tomato; thinly grilled salami chips, and cubes of another mild Italian cheese with walnuts.

Green and red grapes to clear the palate.

Oh god, and this is just round one.

Latest gossip...

So, today's news:

(1) If anyone is around the Philadelphia area tonight, try and make it to Indre Studios at 8th and Reed Streets for an awesome Steely Dan tribute. My son on drums; my daughter's boyfriend Matt on bass and for both of them, it's wind down time and their second or third to the last Rock School shows since they are of course both in college now.

(2) The Flash Fiction project which recently accepted my stories Last Supper and Dreaming of Flying for publication is looking better and better. Here's the latest on that:

FlashFiction.net Cafe will feature two styles of coffee mugs : an 11 ounce white and an 11 ounce morph mug. The morph mug is either blue or black when cool, and turns white when hot to reveal the flash fiction story. Writers will receive a $1.00 royalty for each white mug sold and $2.00 royalty for each morph mug sold. The sale prices will be $10.00 and $15.00 (USD) respectively. Customers will be able to pay using Paypal, Visa or by check or money order. The Cafe is in progress, and should open this month. Thank you to everyone who submitted stories. A list of accepted stories will follow here soon.

(You know I'll be posting that link when it's up ha ha and also hawking coffee cups)

(3) A few more very well respected agents have expressed serious interest in my book, The Tour, via e-mail over the last few days. I'm going to be low key about that news for the moment because I don't want to jinx myself.

(4) Go Eagles! I can't believe Philadelphia has a team in the Super Bowl. We're having a party at our house - anyone who wants to come, just let Julie and Eric know because we'll be cooking insane goodies all day (Julie is in charge of the menu and that girl can really come up with some incredible food) and shooting off fireworks afterwards when they win!

But here's how oblivious I am -- I'm riding home in a cab yesterday past LOVE park (a small pretty former skate boarding park in downtown Philly, home of the famous LOVE statue) and I notice that all of the street lights in the park are lit up green with tiny white lights around the posts. I think to myself "Hmm..they're decorating really early for St. Patrick's Day this year, aren't they?"

Oy. I'm not even Irish. And I watch the Eagles every Sunday. (If you don't know from sports, the Eagles wear green). I'm even wearing that stupid Go Green Lance Armstrong rubber band around my wrist for the past couple of weeks for good luck.

So why I didn't put two and two together can only mean one thing: I am focused on my writing! Yay!

(though it's more likely because I still have a horrible head cold...)

I didn't know these photos existed...

Man, I love Google. I just found all these pics of the kids in concert, two of which are my daughter at her Rock School graduation...the final show she played at the TLA. All graduating kids get a portrait done by Tom Lessner, the incredible artist who does all the Rock School posters, and the portrait then hangs on the Wall of Fame at the school. Of course you can see Paul in that first one, about to make the presentations.

Actually, I had to really shrink these down to fit here and there's a whole slew of really great photos of all the other kids as well. So here's the link. Enjoy!

Today's news

Another great Rock School performance photo - Keyboard wizard Allie Hauptman on vocals performing at the TLA in Philadelphia.

Sorry about the lag in posting - this has been the winter from hell for me. Another freaking head cold. What am I doing wrong? Oh yeah. Right. Not exercising and pigging out on "illegal" food.

Anyway, here's the latest.

I got an email from an agent today, asking for the first 100 pages of The Tour, so I'm pretty psyched about that.

And along those lines, here's the most recent news article published on the upcoming soundtrack. I'm not sure where this comes from - it's a Sonic something or other website:

The Paul Green School Rock was founded in 1998, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. There are currently 9 branches of The Paul Green School of Rock: Philadelphia, Downingtown, and Bucks County, PA; Sommers Point, Cherry Hill, and Bergen County, NJ; New York City; San Francisco; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Another round of rollouts is planned for September 2005, and will include Austin Texas, Portland Oregon, Los Angeles CA, and Las Vegas, NV.

The Paul Green School of Rock was the apparent inspiration for the hugely successful Jack Black film ‘The School of Rock’, as it’s existence preceded the movie by 5 years and had already been the subject of a VH-1 pilot filmed in 2003. VH-1 is owned by Viacom, which in turn owns Paramount, who produced 'School of Rock’.

Green’s school is now the subject of the upcoming feature documentary 'Rock School.' which top indy distributor NewMarket Films has acquired for worldwide distribution rights. There will be a wide domestic release in March 2005 right after its premier at the famed Sundance Film Festival. ‘Rock School’ has 6 screenings scheduled for Sundance, as well as a live performance by the School of Rock All-Stars, featuring a guest appearance by Alice Cooper.

Following the theatrical and DVD run, A&E has purchased the Television rights to the film. Negotiations are also currently under way for a television series to follow, as well as with Warner/Chapel for a line of School of Rock Instructional DVD's.

The finishing touches are currently being put on the Rock School Soundtrack, to be released on Jive/Zomba, a division of Universal Records. The album is being produced by Paul Green and famed Philadelphia producer Phil Nicolo (The Fugees, Cypress Hill), and will feature the School of Rock All-Stars performing with various rock icons including Jon Anderson (Yes) Alice Cooper, Dave Mustane (Megadeath), Ann Wilson (Heart), and Billy Idol.

To Date, The Paul Green School of Rock has played over 350 concerts. Some of our highlights include: The Wildflower Festival, The Zappanale Festival, The LA Film Festival, and performances at The Knitting Factory (LA+NY), BB Kings (NYC), The Big Easy (Spokane and Boise), the Trocadero and TLA (Philly), and Slims and Cafe DuNord (SF).

The Paul Green School of Rock has been featured in/on: CNN, The NY Times, SPIN Magazine, Tracks Magazine, MTV's TRL, The London Obsever, and Reuters, as well as dozens of local articles and TV segments across the country. During a recent run of concerts featuring the music of Frank Zappa, the School Of Rock All Stars were joined on stage by such touring pros as Ike Willis, Jimmy Carl Black, Don Preston, Napoleon Murphy Brock, and Mike Keneally, all members of his various nationally known touring bands.

For more info on The School of Rock All-Stars, the film and soundtrack, plus the schools and their extensive programs visit www.schoolofrock.com

Some writing stuff

So, I came downstairs at dawn this morning to two great surprises. First, there's an awesome review of Three Days in New York City appearing in today's Blue Iris Journal which has me really thrilled.

Second, and I'm pretty stoked about this, my short story "Dreaming of Flying" has been accepted at Flash Fiction, where it will end up, in the words of its publisher as follows: "If your flash is published here it will also embark upon a journey unlike any your words have before...once permanently imprinted to ceramic coffee mugs your story will be bubble-wrapped and boxed for a trip to perhaps Australia or China, or simply to a cafe on 52nd street in New York. In its new home your flash will bond with a homo sapien - that's right, with a homo, sapien, who will not only read the story on numerous occasions, but will mindfully wash and polish your story so it continues to shine for future drinking's and readings. There will be no tattered pages or dusty bookshelves for your story, although in the environs of some it may sit abandoned in a clumsy sink or dishwasher, awaiting human intervention. And I might as well tell you now, in the hands of some your story may be introduced to a shot of Kuluah in the coffee or perhaps in Russia a toss of vodka and cream with the above. In any case, your flash will maintain its integrity, remain intact for inspiration or entertainment, for the pure joy of reading to experience anthers' take on these journeys we call life. So the call for submissions comes to a conclusion this weekend. The deadline January 31, 2005 looms in the very near distance, like a ring of tawdry Mardi Gras beads in the hands of an overzealous masquerader."

So, that works for me. My story on a coffee cup distributed internationally. I dig that concept, especially as I drink eight cups of the stuff a day. Even better, I get paid for this. It occurs to me that I really can call myself a writer now - I earned enough money in 2004 via my addiction (yep, won some contests, got paid for some short stories, etc.) to have to declare it on my tax return.

Finally, Monkeybicycle lit mag will be running a series of one sentence stories which will be published any day and they took one of mine, only they haven't told me which one, because I sent two, and the editor told me he hadn't decided because he liked them both. Of course I was dying to bug him and say Why not take them both ha ha but I stayed quiet for once so as soon as I find out and it is published, I'll post a link. Or you could keep checking every five minutes via the link above like I do. (yes, yes, it's already been established I'm pathetic)

Anyway, that's the writing news for today. I'm so busy being obnoxious proud Mom I forget sometimes I have an identity of my own. (heh...just kidding. I'm so into being proud obnoxious Mom I may have a t-shirt printed up)