goodreads
Today I joined goodreads, which is like an online bookshelf for all your books — those you’ve read, those you want to read, and those you’re currently reading. I discovered it a while back but put off taking the plunge, I’m not sure why. I wish I hadn’t waited so long, though. Now that I’ve signed up, I’m excited about all the organizational and recommendation features. But then again, I’m kind of weird like that. Read more
Young Adult Writing Conference
At the beginning of this month, I mentioned the Indie Author Publishing Conference & Pitchapalooza, and here’s another conference you might be interested in.
It’s not too late to register for this upcoming Saturday’s Young Adult Writing Conference, taking place at Burton Barr Central Library.
Presented by Phoenix Public Library and Changing Hands Bookstore, the Jan. 28 event is scheduled to be held between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will include writing classes, a box lunch, and a writing panel of standout authors of YA fiction, including several New York Times bestsellers. Registration is $85. Read on for more details, including which authors will be present and which classes are on offer. Read more
Indie Author Publishing Conference
On Saturday, Feb. 25, Changing Hands Bookstore and the Phoenix Public Library present the Indie Author Publishing Conference and Pitchapalooza.
The event’s goal is to give participants the tools they need to jumpstart their endeavors in publishing. One lucky individual will even win an introduction to a literary agent during Pitchapalooza. Continue reading for more info regarding the various conference sessions. Read more
Author Alice Hoffman at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore
Have you ever heard of the movie “Practical Magic,” starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman? It was based on a book of the same name, written by Alice Hoffman.
On Saturday, Nov. 12, Hoffman was in Phoenix for a speaking engagement, as well as a book signing later that evening at The Poisoned Pen independent bookstore in downtown Scottsdale. At the signing she discussed her latest book, “The Dovekeepers,” as well as answered some questions about her previous works — including what she thought of Sandra Bullock and the film “Practical Magic.” Read more
5 Books That Changed My Life
I used to read a lot. Well, I still read a lot, it’s just that what I used to read were a whole lot of novels, and now I read more magazines and blogs and text files for work.
In an effort to remedy that, I recently went through my bookshelf to sort all the “Books I Bought And Still Haven’t Read But Definitely Plan To Read” from all the “Books I’ve Already Read Or Will Likely Never Read” in the hope that seeing just what’s on my shelf might encourage me to start turning pages again. (Or at least remind me of what I already own so that I don’t buy any more until I can clear some space …)
You know how music albums and songs can sometimes jolt you back to what your life looked like in the past? I think books can do that, too. A number of novels over the years have influenced me as a writer, as a reader, and as a person — but I’ll spare you the master list and present just five of them here.
“The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern
Erin Morgenstern is incredibly cool. Not only is she witty and interesting, and not only does she have great taste in music, but she also had the tenacity to not give up on her manuscript for “The Night Circus” — which was picked up by Doubleday (U.S.) last year, and is coming out in less than two weeks on Sept. 13!
About the book:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
Click through to read more. Read more
Kate Spade Book Clutches
Have you seen Kate Spade’s book clutches? Fashion and literature collide in these fun accessories, for which the brand has re-imagined the covers of such beloved classics as Pride & Prejudice, Romeo and Juliet, Great Expectations, Emma, The Importance of Being Earnest and others.
Each clutch comes with some sparkly 14-karat gold-plated hardware, plenty of pockets (for very thin things), and of course, lots of quirky charm. Read more
Book Country Writing Community
Media Bistro’s eBookNewser page published a write-up yesterday discussing the writer community Book Country by Penguin Group USA.
The site looks promising, and the system it uses reminds me of The Next Big Writer. Users can upload their completed fiction manuscripts or works in progress and get feedback from other writers in the community, plus maybe even get a book deal out of the whole thing. Read more
“My Year with Eleanor” by Noelle Hancock
Author Noelle Hancock turned a less-than-ideal situation into something awesome and inspiring. After losing her job in the media industry in 2008, she decided to write a book. (Check out the “book trailer” at the end of this post.)
From HarperCollins:
After losing her high-octane job as an entertainment blogger, Noelle Hancock was lost. About to turn twenty-nine, she’d spent her career writing about celebrities’ lives and had forgotten how to live her own. Unemployed and full of self-doubt, she had no idea what she wanted out of life. She feared change—in fact, she feared almost everything. Once confident and ambitious, she had become crippled by anxiety, lacking the courage required even to attend a dinner party—until inspiration struck one day in the form of a quote on a chalkboard in a coffee shop:
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” —Eleanor Roosevelt Read more
“The Tao of Travel” by Paul Theroux
American travel writer Paul Theroux’s latest nonfiction book is called “The Tao of Travel.” Read more
