Publishing Insider

Clapton and Cale

A mellow pleasure: The new cd by Clapton and JJ Cale called Escondido. Check it out.

Chuck Prophet

Sometimes I stretch the book/music thing, but this one is perfect and for real and I am so happy. When I last saw Chuck Prophet in concert, I thought that he might have a book in him. Just stories from the road, about some of the same things as in his songs. And sure enough, Frank Sanchez of Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, a long-time Chuck fan, tells me that Chronicle Books has signed him up. Brilliant.

other publisher pick

Could Melville House's Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog, by Kitty Burns Florey, be the next Eats, Shoots and Leaves? Subtitle: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences.

more this weekend in NYC!

If you can't make it to Williamsburg - but we hope you can - this weekend is Nat'l Indie Press this weekend, featuring Michael Cunningham, Amiri Baraka, Katha Pollitt and many others. See more about Small Press Center.

cookie!!!

Mouse Cookies & More: A Treasury By Laura Numeroff; Illustrated by Felicia Bond

This one volume, special treasury edition features four complete books from the If You Give…Book™ series, an original CD with jazzy songs and celebrity readings, tasty recipes, games, activities and more  I love these books and you can check out more about Mouse, Moose, Pig and friends.

cool soiree in B'klyn Sat.

The Legion Returns! Nine literary magazines team up to showcase the latest issues of their magazines, raffle off prizes, and offer an opportunity to meet and talk with influential literary journal editors in a celebratory evening filled with readings and entertainment. The Legion of Lit Mags includes: Ballyhoo Stories, BOMB, Opium, Pindeldyboz, Post Road, Quick Fiction, Small Spiral Notebook, Swink, and Tin House. On December 2, the Legion of Lit Mags hosts author readings and a meet-and-greet with editors at Galapagos Art Space from 5 to 10 pm. Snag free and discounted magazine subscriptions; enter to win fabulous raffle prizes, which include theater tickets, spa giveaways, and dining in a variety of New York City's exclusive eateries. Readers at the event include: Noria Jablonski, Irina Reyn, Elizabeth Searle, Salar Abdoh, Anthony Tognazzini, and others. Musical Performances courtesy of Pindeldyboz. The Legion of Lit Mags Weekend December 2, 2006 at Galapagos Art Space, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (5 to 10 pm) FREE. OPEN TO ALL. For directions, visit Galapagos Art Space.

coffee, anyone?

From Shelf Awareness: "Amusingly, Eric Garneau, co-owner of Stand-Up Comics in Calumet City, Ind., tried to explain why relatively few people were taking advantage of the store's 25% sale from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday. "I have a feeling that's because of the nature of our customers," he told the local paper. "They are not morning people."

Christmas music survival kit

If you are already sick of Jingle Bells et al, I can help!! I have made it through a dozen plus holidays now thanks to Jorma Kakounen and John Fahey! Get their Xmas albums. Jorma, yes that Jorma, of Hot Tuna, has a wonderfully soulful album and John Fahey's guitar is sublime. Really. These will help. (As will, on the humorous side, The Ventures hysterical holiday CD.) Anyone else have any favorites?

Life is a Highway

Just back from family road trip and finally saw Cars...which featured the Rascal Flatts' version of Life is a Highway. Wracked by brains to think of who wrote it/did the original...and I knew he also did Lunatic Fringe. Tom Cochrane!! Going to put his cd's on my La La cd sharing list!

I had the pleasure of speaking to a writer's class at SUNY Oswego (I'm a SUNY boy myself) and it was good to talk books and biz. Many thanks to taecher and author Ira Sukrungruang for inviting me. Here's the scoop on his anthology: From David Sedaris's hilarious assessment of his father's fat prejudices in "A Shiner Like A Diamond" to Anne Lamott's self-prescribed cathartic weight loss remedies in "Hunger", Pam Houston's rich literary panorama in "Out of Habit I Start Apologizing," and psychiatrist Irving Yalom's deeply moving confrontation of his own biases in "Fat Lady," each piece in its unique way deals with fat as a matter of fact.