Literally Blogging

I was twelve years old when I first fell in love, the quick-burning, star-dazzled kind that hits you suddenly and leaves you dizzy.
It was with a boy I saw after school, a boy who leaned against the railing with its peeling brown paint, unaware of the after-school shrieks and grinding gears of school buses all around him, his eyes never leaving the book he held. I couldn’t see what book it was, but it was a thick book, the long kind with no pictures that only real readers would read.

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Well, friends, I’ve done it. I’ve uncovered another clue in our latest literary mystery. I saw the man reading on his porch again: same spot in the book, naturally. So I went home to get my digital camera, hoping to snap his picture and post it here, in case any of our FBI agent readers may recognize him.
Perhaps that would be unethical or even illegal, but really, what do laws matter in the pursuit of truth and justice? Alas, he wasn’t there when I returned. But his book was. Knowing that the identity of the tome could provide crucial evidence, …read more

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For my inaugural post (hi, I’m Rob), I thought I would roll up my sleeves and share a real nuts and bolts sort of link for those of you who, like myself, might be starting on the road to publication. If you’re already a published author, swell. We’re very proud of you. Now go away and leave us to our desperation.
Last summer, after beginning work on a memoir about my experiences raising an amazing and strange little girl with a rare neurological disorder that keeps her from speaking, I began my search for an agent. I’d …read more

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One of my biggest regrets in childhood was that I did not have a governess. Yes, I read too many Victorian novels. But really, could I be blamed for turning out such a mess without that faithful role model to guide me with a firm yet kind hand? How could I ever be expected to learn to act like a lady?
If there’s one archetype that rules 19th century literature, it is the governess. She of the tight bun, grim dresses, and unadorned face. The woman so plain, and poor, and alone, that she should’ve been completely overlooked… yet she always …read more

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This is one of my favorite categories here, because if literature is filled with one thing, it’s whackjobs. Writers and readers are totally nutters, and we love them for it.
We have a Literally Wacky mystery on our hands, my friends. One we are going to solve. For three days now, as I’ve roamed around my apartment complex for some errand or another, I’ve passed a guy sitting on his porch, reading a book. Not so unusual, except that he’s always staring at the exact same spot in the book. In three days, he hasn’t progressed at all. Well, okay, I …read more

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So what about this whole thing on foreign novels? I mean, aren’t most of the classics written in a language other than English? No one, bar no one, is more grateful for translations than I am. Without them, we wouldn’t have much of the greatest literature available to us. But wouldn’t it be fun to read a book in the original tongue?
I once spoke Russian. I learned in high school and of course since that was a million years ago and I have since lost all of my stone tablets the lessons were chiseled into, …read more

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It may not be if the “Million Author Project” has its way. Their goal is to create various manuscripts contributed to by as many people as possible. Hence, “million authors.” It isn’t difficult; the rules are simple and you can contribute as little as a sentence.
From the site: “The Million Authors Project is an experiment to test the collective minds of several thousand people, all working together to create a written work. The goal of the project is to end up with a written novel, novella or short story for everyone to enjoy, written one page, …read more

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Barnes Noble has a neat idea for a book club.  They have, within their University online, a selection of books that are being read and discussed each month.  May is approaching quickly.  It is a perfect time to select a book and get involved in discussing it with others.  There is quite a variety to chose from and it won’t cost you anything (except the cost of the book of course, but there is always the library!)
Barnes Noble Book Clubs

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When I realized it was Earth Day (April 22, 2006), my thoughts immediately went to Henry David Thoreau who, “… went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
Thoreau understood all about Earth Day before we had to have a “holiday” claimed for it. He understood about simplicity and living deliberately. And now we read about how to do just that which, at one …read more

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Book clubs are all over the place right now. They are sponsored by private individuals, bookstores, schools, churches, and are even online. If you love to read, you have probably considered joining a book club.
But what if you live somewhere where there isn’t an existing club? Don’t despair. You can still belong to a book club. You will just have to start it yourself. And don’t panic and run the opposite direction.
This easy guide will get you going so you can start your own book club. The two books below will …read more

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