A Dirty Little Book

I got an email from a friend late last week. She’s an older lady and she’ll always be my friend, but I wish she had never purchased my latest book and first novel, “The Hurricane Café.”

I’m not going to copy her whole email here, but this is the part that got my attention:

“If I had known you had written a dirty little book, I never would have bought it and I was shocked at some of the language you used.”

Again, she’ll always be my friend and I don’t feel bad writing about this here, because she doesn’t read this blog and never goes to Facebook where this piece will be posted too. Besides, what I’m writing here is what I’ve already told her.

First of all, my “dirty little book,” isn’t little. Its 380 pages. Second of all, as far as the language goes, she’s read my column in CityBeat for years and I’ve used “bad words” there when I thought it was necessary. Why she’s suddenly “shocked” at some of my word choices is beyond me.

If I said her email didn’t bug me, I’d be lying. This book has never been advertised as a children’s book. It’s adult literature and if you’re a fan of that, more times than not, there’s going to be some sex involved and a few bad words.

Her remarks got me thinking about the sex scenes in the book. There’s really only one and it’s pretty brief. There are a few “scenes” where people aren’t wearing any clothes, but it’s a book—not an ‘R” rated movie or an adult cable television show.

If “The Hurricane Café” were to ever be made into a movie, it would probably be rated ‘PG-13.’ Giving it anything more adult than that would be pushing it.

In answering my friend’s email, I asked her if she finished the book. The answer was no and this made me feel a little better. If a person can’t take the time to finish a book they’ve started, then I can’t take their being a critic too seriously. I want you to not like my work through completion.

If she had read all 380 pages and still thought it was “a dirty little book,” then she missed the story completely. I would be disappointed about it, but I wouldn’t feel all bugged out about it.

Whatever. My friend and I will remain friends—you know, to each his or her own. She asked me what I was currently working on. I’m writing another novel. This one has a sex scene that’s a little more detailed than my last book and there are a few dirty words included too.

I think I’m going to pay her not to buy it.

(Image from Amazon)

Book Stuff

I want to thank all of you who have purchased “The Hurricane Cafe.” In case you haven’t heard about the book, you can click here to find out more about it.

Interesting, at least to me, most people are purchasing the book as an ebook. Friends have been telling me that this how most books are read now. Apparently, they’re right. As for me, I’m still turning the pages, but no matter how one reads, the reading is the most important thing.

And people are asking me if this cafe/bar, where so much of the book is centered, is real. Just do a Google search. Look up the one in Seattle, Washington, not the “copycat” in Florida.

Just a few days ago, I talked with David Chamaty. He’s the real manager of the Hurricane Cafe in Seattle, Washington. Word has gotten out up there about the book and there’s an interest and, of course, I’m happy about that. David said if my “book tour” (if there is one, it will probably be pretty local), makes it to Seattle, I’m welcome to do a book signing at the Hurricane Cafe. This would be a real kick in the pants for me. I’d love to do it. We’ll see.

It still feels odd to no longer be involved with the writing of those characters in my novel, but I’m starting to get over it. I’m working on my next novel, a shorter one, and those characters are now starting to take over my writing mind.

Again, thanks to everybody who has purchased the book. If you want it signed, just contact me. My email address is over there at the right somewhere. After you get it signed, you can always sell the book on Ebay. I’m kidding. I think.

(Photo from flickr.com)

Writers and Money

I found myself on that Walgreens bus bench again on Wednesday afternoon. I needed to get away from my desk, needed to get away from that massive freelance assignment I’ve been working on.

A friend walked by me – this time a true friend or at least I think so. He wanted to know what I was up to, so I told him about that freelance assignment.

“Must be nice to be doing what you like and living large,” he said. “Mr. Money Bags.”

He was in a hurry, so we didn’t talk long. That was fine by me.

Writers and money. Mr. Money Bags. Hardly. I don’t know one “rich” writer, don’t know one who releases books and doesn’t hope they sell well enough so they can relax a little and not have to hustle damn hard to get freelance assignments. If I said it was a dog eat dog world out there when it comes to making money on writing, I think I’d be right.

But I am doing what I like to do. On that point, my friend is write. You take the good with the bad. Hell, when it comes to making a buck, I think we all have to do that.

I’ll be back sometime over the weekend. Because of that freelance project, I’m not sure when.

(Photo from WordPress)

The Comfort of a Low Page Count

Back in 2008, I was teaching a writing class over in Cincinnati. If I remember correctly, the class lasted for ten weeks.

On the first day, I made an assignment to the class. Over the course of ten weeks, they needed to each read a novel and write a review of it—whatever word count they wanted. Each student would read their review to the rest of the students on the last day of class. There was an outpouring of concern.

“We have to read an entire novel?”

“I don’t know what to read.”

“We have to read a long book?”

I think you get the idea and maybe you’re thinking this class of 20 students was kids. Nope. They were all adults, adults that had signed up for the class. Frankly, I was shocked.

I suggested if this was truly their concern, they could read a short novel—something like “The Comfort of Strangers” by Ian McEwan. I consider it a very good read, only 10 chapters and a page count of 127. A novella really.

Come the last day of the class, it was time for the students to read their reviews. Out of the 20 students, half of them picked “The Comfort of Strangers” to read and write about.

As I listened to each student read their reviews, I kept my mouth shut but I was thinking plenty.

If you’re reading a good novel, the page count shouldn’t matter. If you sign up for a writing class, you should be a person who wants to read also. Reading makes you a better writer. If you’re a writer who’s aware that you need to also read, you shouldn’t need someone like me to tell you what book to pick out. You shouldn’t be a sheep.

I should have said those words to those students. If I was teaching that class today, I would.

(Image from dolcebellezza.net)

Shameless Self Promotion: “The Hurricane Café”

I’m adding a new category here to the type of posts that I write. I’m adding “Shameless Self Promotion.” I don’t like this type of thing, but with a new book out, sometimes you do what you have to do.

My first novel, “The Hurricane Café,” has just been released and, of course, I want people to know about it, so I’m going to be writing about the book from time to time. I promise I won’t beat you over the head with it too often.

This story came about after a trip to Seattle, Washington in the fall of 2004. I was staying at a Days Inn close to Downtown Seattle. The Hurricane Café was right across the street from the motel and I ventured over one night.

After more than a few drinks and getting interested in the “unique” bartender, I went back to my motel room and starting taking notes. In November of that year, I decided to turn those notes into a CityBeat, Living Out Loud column.

As I was writing it, friend and writing Professor Jeffrey Hillard and I were emailing back and forth. I forget the reason why, but I sent Jeff a copy of what I was working on—that story based on that bar and bartender in Seattle, Washington. He made some good suggestions for the story and I ended up with a column called “Sex, Lies and 12 Egg Omelets.” It was published in CityBeat in December of 2004 and also was part of my book of short stories released in 2005.

After the story was written, I heard from Jeff again who thought it was good and also thought there could be more to the story. I started thinking about it and over the next few years, made more notes and made a little bit of an outline as to what the story could be about. The more I thought about it and the more notes I took, I started to realize that this could be a novel.

On Thanksgiving Day, 2008, I sat down and started writing “The Hurricane Café.” It’s been a part of my life ever since.

And now it’s not. Well, that’s not entirely true, but after four plus years of writing this book, it feels strange to turn it loose, feels odd not to be working on it anymore. I’m getting over it as I’m now working on another book—another novel.

So now “The Hurricane Café” is out in the world. Here’s a brief synopsis of what the story is about.

If it sounds like a book you might be interested in reading, you can click here to order an old fashioned copy of it—a book. If you’re not old fashioned, you can order a Kindle edition by clicking here. Hey, give me some credit. At least I know what a “Kindle” is.

That’s enough shameless self promotion for one day. I thank you for putting up with it.

(Image from Amazon.com)

Synopsis

When friends and readers (a lot of readers are friends and a lot of friends are readers) find out I have a novel coming out in the spring—and now that release is only a few weeks away—I get asked, “What’s it about?” Off the top of my head, I struggle to explain the story. I guess it’s easier for me to write than talk.

A synopsis is always good to have handy. Here’s one for “The Hurricane Café.”

50-year-old Tommy James is a writer for an alternative newspaper in Cincinnati, Ohio. He’s preparing for a return trip to Seattle, Washington. This will be his first trip back since his twin brother died there nearly five years ago. Tommy’s feeling nothingness. With an ex-wife, an ex-girlfriend, another soon to be ex-girlfriend and with most of his other relationships, Tommy’s struggling to find meaning in the choices he’s making. He feels like he’s going through the motions in his life but not experiencing any kind of real happiness.

Jessica Burns is a pretty young woman in her early 20’s.  It’s been eight years since she ran away from her parents’ home in Portland, Maine after they forced her to have an abortion. She hasn’t seen them since. Living on the streets in Portland, Oregon, a vicious sexual assault makes her run again, this time to Seattle, Washington where she finds a bartending and waitressing job at The Hurricane Café. Now, circumstances there are leading her to believe she may have to yet again find another city to run to.

On Tommy’s first night in Seattle, he has a chance encounter with Jessica at the bar located inside The Hurricane Café—an encounter that sheds light on the nothingness in his life and one that will enable Jessica to start facing her demons and to finally stop running.  

It’s hard to explain a 380 page book in three paragraphs, but at least I gave it a shot.

(Photo from flickr.com)

Mark Flanigan, Tomfoolery, Richard Ford and Me

First of all, in the photo, that is Richard Ford but it wasn’t taking at Joseph-Beth Booksellers this past Wednesday night. Joseph-Beth hasn’t posted any photos from that event or at least I can’t find any. The photo posted here is when Mr. Ford did a reading and book signing at a bookstore in Corte Madera, California.

Probably at that book signing, there wasn’t any snow outside. That wasn’t the case in Cincinnati Wednesday night. It had snowed that morning, had stopped that morning too, but there was still snow on the ground. That didn’t keep Mark Flanigan and me from attending this special event.

Mark’s a good friend and also a good writer. He, along with Nick Barrows, has a new book of poetry out called “Versus.” Really, it’s two books in one. Nick wrote the first half of the book and Mark wrote the second half—“The Journeyman’s Lament.” Mark’s second half is really wonderful. Nick’s first half may be too, but I haven’t read it yet.

Mark picked me up at my place around six and it didn’t take us long to get to Norwood and Joseph-Beth. We had a little time to kill and Longhorn Steakhouse was right around the corner. We didn’t have time for a steak, but we did have time for a drink.

We sat at the bar. I was relieved that Longhorn has changed their décor, doing away with all those horrible, stuffed, dead animals that used to be everywhere. There was a cow’s head over the bar but it didn’t appear to be stuffed. In fact, it didn’t even look real.

We both had vodka. The bartender, a young, blond woman, was nice and put up with all my joking around—just something I do. When Mark and I get together, it usually involves drinking and smoking at my apartment. This was the first time we’ve ever gone to a bar together—Longhorn’s of all places—and maybe Mark wasn’t aware of all my tomfoolery when I’m out and about. He is now.

We headed back to the bookstore and a little after seven o’clock, Mr. Ford was introduced. Dressed in blue jeans, a green shirt and a black sports jacket, he seemed happy to be there even if there were some empty seats.

Most of the seats were taken, but not all of them. Before the reading and signing, I talked to one of the people at Joseph-Beth who was in charge of the event. He said because of the snow on that Wednesday morning, it would probably lower the attendance. Turns out he was right. I was a little amazed by this. We didn’t get a foot of snow that morning, only a few inches, but still some people stayed away. Hell, I walk with a quad cane. If I could “brave the elements,” why couldn’t more able bodied people do the same?

Mr. Ford thanked those for coming out in the snow and then said, “You know, I live in Maine.” Then he paused for a few seconds and then, with a smile on his face, said, “Bring it on.”

He read the first few pages of his most recent novel, “Canada,” (you already know I think it’s a wonderful book) and then took questions from the audience. Mark and I were enjoying ourselves and it seemed to end much too quickly.

People got in line to get their books signed as did me and Mark. I couldn’t help but notice that Mr. Ford took his time signing each book and talked to those wanting his signature. He didn’t make anybody feel rushed. I think he was grateful for those who came out in the “bad weather.”

I got to talk to Mr. Ford for a few minutes—hadn’t seen him since May of 2005. He wasn’t aware of my cataract surgery last year and we talked about it for a bit. I told him “Canada” was the first really good book I had read since the surgery. He seemed pleased about that. Mark got to talk to Mr. Ford too and I’m proud to say I’m the one who introduced him to Mr. Ford’s work. Readers need to let other readers know about great writers they’re missing out on.

All in all, the evening was a lot of fun. I got to see Mr. Ford again, Mark put up with my tomfoolery, and I may even go back to Longhorn Steakhouse again sometime, may even eat there. Getting rid of those dead animals that were all over the place has increased my appetite for their food.

(Photo from bookpassage.com)

Seeing Those Real People Again

At my age (no, I’m not saying I’m old, but I’m no spring chicken either), it takes a lot to get me excited. Even more so, it takes a lot to get me out of my living quarters at night. Yes, that’s what I’ve become, but on March 6, I’ll be at Joseph-Beth Booksellers over in Norwood, Ohio at seven o’clock.  Yes. It will be after dark.

Why you’re asking? Writer Richard Ford will be at Joseph-Beth for a book signing and to discuss his latest novel, “Canada.” You all already know how I feel about this book—one of the best I’ve ever read.

I hope Mr. Ford’s wife, Kristina, makes the trip with him. The last time I saw them both was in early May, 2005. I got lucky and got invited to their home in East Boothbay Harbor, Maine. After the visit, I wrote about it in a CityBeat column called Real People.

March 6^th is going to be a real treat for me. Yes. I’m going out after dark. I must remember to take a flashlight.

The next post here will be on Sunday.

(Image found on Google)

Cathedral

The view from my living room window is of St. Mary’s Cathedral here in Covington, Kentucky. It’s a great view and it was all dumb luck. I had no idea this would be the apartment I’d be getting. I was on a waiting list for almost a year to get into this building. It was worth the wait.

I said in a Facebook post that I have never been inside a cathedral. After posting it and thinking about it, I realized that was a dumb thing to say. That wasn’t dumb luck—that’s just being dumb. No, I’m not Catholic but my ex-wife was and probably still is, so I’ve been in cathedrals, just none as grand as the view from my window.

When I look out that window and see that cathedral, I sometimes think of Raymond Carver’s short story. “Cathedral” was the title of this third book of short stories and it’s a blind man’s story and probably my favorite of all he wrote.

I understand they give tours over at St. Mary’s. I’m going to do that probably this spring. With it being so beautiful form the outside, it has to be the same inside too.

(Photo from wlwt.com)

Reading a Wonderful Novel like “Canada,” Then Reading Not Such a Wonderful Novel

For Christmas, my daughter got me Richard Ford’s latest novel “Canada.” I’m lucky enough to know Mr. Ford a little bit and when the book came out in May of last year, I was recovering from cataract surgery and actually couldn’t read the book or review it or interview him about his latest work. I felt bad about that.

In January as I was preparing to move to a new apartment here in Covington, Kentucky, I took “Canada” breaks. I didn’t want to read the novel quickly as I wanted to savor every word. In a way, I’m glad I didn’t have to review the book or take notes or think of questions I would ask Mr. Ford. I simply got to enjoy it. “Canada” is one of the best novels I’ve ever read. If you want to learn more about the book and its story, you can click here.

I finished the book shortly before the move. As I was starting to unpack boxes in my new apartment, I had another novel I was going to read. Its description sounded promising and I was anxious to start reading.

After the first 50 pages, I wasn’t so anxious to read anymore. I usually try to read any book from beginning to end and I did with this one, but when I was finished with it, I didn’t feel like I’d been anyplace at all. I didn’t feel moved like I did with Mr. Ford’s book.

That’s the problem with reading a really wonderful novel like “Canada.”  Sometimes the next book you read is also just as good but most of the time it isn’t.

Sometimes if I read two or three books in a row that don’t do much for me, I’ll go back and reread a book that I know will do something for me. “Canada” will be one of those books I’ll be going back to.

My next post here will be on Sunday.

(Image from CBS News)