Category: My Rise to Fame

Hey, I’m all back from BEA, tired but fulfilled. We worked our asses off, but differently than last year. Last year, Booktour was just born and we had to introduce the whole dagbone publishing industry to our new baby. This year, they all know about us. So our time in Los Angeles, at this Mardi Gras for books, was more about reminders. Hey, we’re still here. Hey, we provide a valuable service. Hey, remember us, cuz you don’t at your peril, son.

Second agenda: I wanted to meet up with some editors (magazine and book) and assure myself that I’m still a writer even if my last two book proposals didn’t sell. Because, dangit, I haven’t felt like much of one lately.

Who knows when I’ll have another idea that will morph into a book? Till then, I gotta up the magazine work, see if the half dozen minnow-sized story ideas can swim. All an effort to place writing back at the center of my professional existence where it belongs.

It’s the first salvo in a larger career reassessment I’m doing right now. I’m not fully ready to talk about yet so let’s just say that the focus of my professional life up until now is no longer satisfying. I’m going to be thinking, over the next few months, about what I’d like my work to be and where I see it taking me. I’ll be seeing a counselor, doing research on my own wants and desires and interviews those who have careers I admire. And although I feel scared to wade in, I also feel that this wading is long overdue.

If you’re reading this (or are connected with me via Linkedin or Facebook), it means I know and trust you. Also means I may be calling on you for wisdom/encouragement/ledes/cheap drugs/shoulders to cry on. I hope this is ok as I’d do the same for you.

Like Senor Anderson, I too would love this set up if I were stinking rich. But only if it came with a highspeed bullet train to the arcade.

This is my panel from this year’s SXSW being interviewed by Austincast afterward. I can’t seen to sit still and am dressed like a dime store televangelist but whatever. Listen for about 30 seconds and you’ll get what we were up to.

My esteemed fellow panelists were Dave Thomas (handsome black guy), CC Chapman (handsome white guy) and Carla Borsoi (smokin’ woman of the group).

An essay I wrote for SXSW’s magazine SXSWorld found its way to Louis Black, publisher of The Austin Chronicle and co-founder of the festival, who has run it on page two of this week’s issue.

As an Austin resident (1997-200), I read the Chronicle religiously. It’s an honor to be published there.

I will speaking all weekend (starting today) at the San Francisco Writer’s Conference. Posting may be light and I will undoubtedly be hoarse.

Is done. Handed in to agent on Monday. Let all due celebrating commence.

I finished a huge chunk of my new book proposal today. I have no idea how good it is but I don’t care. For the first time in weeks, I can feel I will finish this thing. And that feels great.

That is all.

The Salt Lake City Tribune wrote up my speech at Pub West.

It’s the best of times for
readers whose access to books has never been easier. But with book
sales looking flat for the foreseeable future, it may be the worst of
times to be a publisher, said Internet entrepreneur and writer Kevin
Smokler.

    "Those millions and millions of cultural consumers who are out
there, they are in charge now. Not us, not the producers of what they
consume," said Smokler, who spoke to the Publishers Association of the
West, which is meeting at The Canyons Resort through today.

Side Note: The Trib mistakenly called Soft Skull Press an "online publisher." They publish regular ole’ paper books. I brought them up as examples of innovators marketers in the publishing space.

Someday I will do something notable that will earn me admission into the Heeb 100. Until then, I will have to be content with congratulating friend and fellow Ann Arborite Davy Rothbart (second row, second from left) for his accomplishments.

Well done, old chum.