Archive for February, 2007

It's very strange…

Monday, February 26th, 2007

It's very strange – just when I start making headway on the new novel, I seem to get detoured by a new short story that cries out to be written.  And to be written NOW!  If I were further into the book, I'd be worried that it was a type of block — my subconscious providing me with novelty to try to distract me from the dreaded mid-book horse latitudes.  As it stands now, though, I think it's a function of shifting into the fictional mindset, of moving the simmering pot of ideas from the back burner to the front…  Once I start thinking consciously in that way, everything is fair game.

Which is a long way of saying that I'm working on another short story.  I'm not going to say too much about it, but at the moment it appears that its soundtrack consists of Roseanne Cash's Black Cadillac and Pearl Jam's Ten.

We'll see what happens with it as the week goes on…

 

 

Posted in Music, Writing | No Comments »

More news

Wednesday, February 21st, 2007

I'm ankle deep in the new book (which might not seem deep, but picture trying to navigate a swamp when you're ankle-deep in mud at every step and you'll have an inkling of how…. hmm.  I'm not sure I should pursue that analogy much further.), so my apologies for not posting.  I'll try to do better.  I really will.

In the meantime, a couple of pieces of good news:

First off, Before I Wake has been selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs in the US as a featured alternate selection for their late spring cycle.

And, secondly, the book has received its first US review, and it's a good one!  In the pages of Kirkus, no less, a trade magazine not known for their generosity in reviewing…  

Here's to a good start!  And blogging more regularly. 

Posted in Before I Wake, Before I Wake - responses | 2 Comments »

The local record store

Tuesday, February 6th, 2007

Things change.  Tempus fugit.  Things that we take for granted change, or disappear…

None of this is news, of course.  It's one of the first things you learn about life as a child.  Yet somehow it still manages to surprise.

Take my local record store.  For a long time, it was one of the best record stores in the world: very affordable, with a deep selection, a knowledgeable staff… everything you could look for.  When I worked downtown, I would go over every day.  See what was new, what was on sale, what tickled my fancy.  Often as not, I'd end up leaving with something. They'd have huge sales every couple of months, and I'd end up spending well beyond my means.  And their Boxing Day sale was… well, legendary.  I would be there before dawn, stumbling home fully laden with packages hours later.

Over the last few years, they've had some problems.  Poor management, dropping sales.  They went into receivership, and were bought out…  At the time I was pleased, because it meant the store would continue.  Now, though, I find myself wishing they had gone under.

It's painful to go in there these days.  Their selection is laughable, their prices ridiculously high (when you can get better deals at HMV in the mall, you know the prices are too high).  I spent no money there on Boxing Day.  I haven't bought a cd there in months…

Sad.  It's not cutting into my spending — my Amazon volume is certainly up — but it depresses me to watch the decline.  It's silly to say, but it's a part of my life, slipping away…

Posted in Music, Pop culture detritus | 1 Comment »