Literary Upheaval

My agent sent me a note that my publisher Carroll and Graf dissolved in a merger with Perseus Books and my editor Don Weise was let go. I don't know what to do with this information. Happy Tuesday.

Literary Little Tokyo

The first Asian Pacific American Bookfest had been in planning for over a year. This past Saturday, it finally happened.

And what a marvelous success it was.

Booksellers, booklovers, and authors assembled in Little Tokyo for a day of literary panels and discussions.

I was happy that there were patrons who were familiar with my work and wanted me to sing their books. I was thrown when a teenage girl came up to me and said, "My mother LOVES your work!" I never thought of mothers liking anything I would do. But when the girl presented me copies of obviously well worn copies of "Letters to Montgomery Clift" and "Talking to the Moon," I was truly humbled.

The bookfest took a full year of planning. I was involved, but the two people who put their back into the event were Audrey Lee Sung from our sponsoring organization the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and mystery writer Naomi Hirahara.

The only place to go is up!

Literary Fire

The plan was to come home and work on my novel. However, the fires in Griffith Park has caused me to stop. Smoke from the hills is floating down to Silverlake, filling the air with ashes and dread. My apartment smells like burning wood. John Marshall High School three blocks away is being used as the Evacuation Center. The sound of helicopters and traffic is filling the night.

I don't have a television, so I've been going over to my neighbor's apartment to check the latest on the fire. I'm pretty far from the fire; I think I'm safe. But the air quaility has certainly been affected. I'm thinking of going to elsewhere to sleep...and write.

Literary Filipinos

I met with members of a Filipino American Fiction class at UC Irvine and read at the Filipino American Library, where I was filmed for a section on the Filipino Channel. My question is: Where were these literary Filipinos when I was growing up?

I searched high and low in the stack of the Central Library--the biggest one we've got--for Filipino/a stuff. I think I found a play written in the 1920's buried somewhere in the stacks.

I hope this trend continues. There's a part of me that likes to think that my work is needed somehow. I feel that I'm part of a new group of writers creating a strong sense of community.

(And, yes, the photo is an actual product. Filipinos are cookies sold by that colonial force known as Spain. They may come up with mints called The Jews and chips called the Blacks.)

Literary Community Library

I'll be doing a reading at the Filipino American Library in Historic Filipinotown, my 'hood. I'm truly excited about reading here, considering that the characters in my book live in this area!

All of the proceeds will go to the Joseph Ileto Anti-Hate Crime Fellowship at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center.

It'll be on Sunday, May 6 at 3pm. Check out the link--it's a really cool website.

www.filipinoamericanlibrary.org

Filipino American Library
135 N. Park View St.
Historic Filipinotown
Los Angeles, CA 90026-5215

--- Free Admission ---
--- Food and Drinks Provided ---

Literary Boothing

I spent some time this weekend sitting at a booth at the LA Times Book Fair. I sat at a table with my two novels prominently displayed, ready to sign a copy for one of the thousands of people who attended the fair over the weekend.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to a man holding a book that wasn't mine.

He asked, "How much is this book?"

"Oh, I don't know. I'm an author. I wrote these novels," I said, waving my arm to the small display in front of me.

"So, you don't know how much this book is?"

"Maybe you should ask that woman over there. She runs the booth."

A few moments later, a woman presents me with a stack of books--none of them mine--and hands me a credit card. She said, "I'd like to pay for these."

"Actually, the cashier is over there. I'm an author signing my novels."

The woman joins the line to the cashier.

A student approached my table and picks up one of my novels. Before I could say anything, he flops the book down and walks away.

So it went like that for half an hour. Then I decided to take charge. I do work for the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team. I was a guy who spent a good part of the 1990's and the early 2000's in booths at community fairs coaxing people to talk about anal sex, vaginal secretions, and condon use. If I could talk to complete strangers about how to properly shoot up without getting HIV infected, I could certainly talk to someone about my novels.

I took the offensive and began chatting people up in the booth. You know, I sold a good amount of copies and made some pretty good contacts. I felt my time at the festival was well spent and the money for parking was put to good use. Of course, I loved hanging out with fellow writers Brian Ascalon Roley and Mae Respicio also selling their books.

Sitting in a booth waiting for someone to buy your book can be excrutiating, but when you have fun and just talk to people it becomes less painful.

Literary Radio

Just listen to this if you want to write a novel:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9620861&sc=emaf

Literary Shambhala

I regularly pick up Shambhala Sun magazine because it provides insightful articles on the history and practice of Buddhism. It's had fine writers like Charles Johnson, bell hooks, and Pico Iyer write the most amazing essays.

This particular issue was quite literary. It has pulitzer prize winning novelist Alice Walker being interviewed on meditation, along with a published talk that she gave at the "first-ever African American Buddhis retreat" and how she "describes the great toll, both personal and societal, of racism in America, and how Buddhism has helped her heal its wounds."

AND it has an interview with Booker Prize winner Yann Martel (The Life of Pi) on his yoga practice, stating that he followed "too many gurus."

I always suspected that Eastern thought can somehow lead to interesting creative behavior.

Literary Disturbance

My heart goes out to the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings. I've been depressed about it. What goes on in the heart of an individual that causes this type of grief? I'm disturbed for another reason. People are looking at the gunman's writing as a sign that something was going terribly wrong in his head. This worries me. My immediate reaction was that writers might feel stifled, worried that an ounce of darkness developed in stories would be seen as psychotic. Or teachers might become mind police if a student submits work that might be seen as gruesome.

Hell, I've written about people getting shot, mutilated, raped, and tortured. Indeed, writing these things freed me as an artist, forcing me to confront some of humankind's most horrific qualities. Going to that bleak place is where the good stories are.

Where would Stephen King, Paula Woods, James Ellroy, and Alice Sebold be if they didn't write about murder and other forms of mayhem.

Literary Conversation: Liu and Min

I went to the Aloud Series at the Central Public Library. Aloud is a wonderful series where writers converse. Aimee Liu (bottom)interviewed Anchee Min...and the evening was wonderful. The women talked China like it was nobody's bizness. It was interesting seeing the two on stage. Liu, a Chinese American woman, talking with Min, born then raised in China's Cultural Revolution.

It was amazing listening to Min discuss life under Mao. This includes learning how to attack three people at once with rifle and bayonet. And pulling tapeworms from her ass (she got tapeworms from eating out of trashcans when she was hungry).

What was also illuminating was when Min thought that the best writer of China and her peopole was Pearl S. Buck, the subject of a future book of Min.

Literary Encounter: Jonathan Lethem

Mr. Lethem (pronounced Lee-thum) dropped by Skylight for his new novel "You Don't Love Me Yet." He was talking to the audience about what it's like writing a novel, comparing it to a "sucking chest wound." He said no matter how much you can plan out a novel, it always turns out into something else. You sort of end up writing as "structured improvisation."

I told him how my agent wants me to write a book a year. He was not dismayed. He said that that's not a bad way to start. For him, he had several unpublished novels already before getting published. So, when his publisher wanted a book from him, he easily gave them one.

www.jonathanlethem.com

Literary Death: Kurt Vonnegut

There are certain writers that are imprinted at certain times in my life. In my teenage years, Kurt Vonnegut's novels "Slapstick" and "Bluebeard" left an impression. I loved how he left a page break after several paragraphs. He did it for no particular reason. I read an article written by John Irving who asked him why he did that. Vonnegut simply acknowledged that a reader needs to rest every once and awhile, maybe go to the bathroom.

I heard the news while working at Skylight. We turned off the music and asked patrons to observe a moment of silence. Thank you, Mr. Vonnegut, for all of the words.

Literary Canoe

I feel like this guy in this boat. My agent is a wise man. I respect his opinion. He's guided the careers of some people that I truly respect. Coming down from the high of making the LA Times Bestsellers List, he e-mailed me with some sage advice. It's advice he's given me before: If I want a career, I need to put myself on a schedule where I produce a book a year.

I promised him a book last year and tried my best. I didn't deliver. I tried, but things like earning money to pay rent and bills kept getting in the way. I know this is no excuse, but it does limit the amount of time I get to write, right? Or, you, in internet land, feel free to call me on my crap. Regardless, I've made a resolve: I may not write a book a year, but I'm going to get a book to him THIS year!

Literary Long Beach

I used to visit Long Beach when I was a boy. I remember thinking: I don't ever want to come to Long Beach if I don't have to. Well, times have changed! Long Beach has become one of those hip, happening parts of the county. The nightlife, the shopping, the restaurants have picked up since the 70's. Now, when people ask me if I wanna go to Long Beach, I say, heck yeah!

I said, Heck yeah when asked to read in the area. I'll be doing a reading of "Talking to the Moon" at Cal-State Long Beach on Thursday, April 19 at 3pm. It'll be at the USU Ballroom C. Ur, I'm not sure what USU means, but if you ask someone at the entrance they'll probably know.

Literary Closure

Blithe House Quarterly, a literary online journal, announced its closing. I had the good fortune of editing an issue with co-pilot Cheryl Klein. Writer Aldo Alvararez, who started the journal and held up its standard, is moving on. Good luck, Aldo!

Literary Date: May 12. 2007

The first ever Asian Pacific American Book Festival is happening on May 12. Go. Go. Go. Check out the link:

http://www.apalc.org/bookfestival.htm

They also need volunteers. Should be mucho fun!

Literary Baldwin

“When you’re writing, you’re trying to find out something which you don’t know.”

James Baldwin

Literary Direction

After writing a hundred pages of my third novel, I fear that I'd been going the wrong way. This story is about a boy with a rare blood disorder. Thus far, I'd been developing his world, plotting his life. This process has not been easy going. I'd been feeling like I'd been forcing, forcing, FORCING.

Lately, another boy has been haunting my thoughts. I began to hyperventilate discovering that this novel may not be about one boy, but two.

I feel the need to start over.

Literary Bestseller

Do you see that smile on my face? Maybe because I found out that "Talking to the Moon" made the LA Times Bestseller List (Sunday, March 18, 2007 issue). It's number four in paperback fiction. It feels good.

Literary Lounge

Not too long ago, I went to the relaunching of Buddha Lounge in West Hollywood. It was the first Weho nightspot that catered primarily to gay Asian men and their friends. It was quite a big deal considering that most clubs in the area were targeted toward (though not said overtly) a gay white crowd. I went to the opening of Buddha Lounge back in the nineties. Buddha Lounge and other clubs like it inspired my first successful literary venture: the writing of my first solo show, The Rice Room: Scenes from a Bar. (Postcard of the show above, taken by Shane Sato.)

The show was about exploring the lives of gay Asian men through the guise of a bar. Writing that show, which was all of 30 pages, gave me the confidence to try longer work, say a novel with 300 pages.

So, going to the relaunching of Buddha Lounge, an event that will happen on the first Saturday of each month at Ultra Suede in Weho, brought me back to a much more youthful time in my life when I wondered if I had what it took to be a writer.

I ran into some people that I hadn't seen in years. We're older and wider now. But that night, we laughed and hugged and pretended that turning 30 wouldn't happen for another 100 years.

Literary Crowds

I have to admit that I was nervous about my readings. I was fortunate enough to get signings at three of LA's most literariest book stores: Skylight, Vroman's, and Book Soup. I knew I could get a good crowd at Skylight--I'd been hosting events there for 7 years. I was worried about the other two. I wanted to have a good showing. The last thing I wanted was to get there and have two people at the reading--which happens more times than people know. There's egg on my face and the bookstore ends up shrugging their shoulders, losing money on the event. I mean, they do pay for having the books sent and to have a staff person set up the reading and deal with the author.

I know that Vroman's and Book Soup were taking a chance on a relatively new author still buildling a readership. I did every marketing trick I could muster. I e-mailed, sent out invitations, made announcements on list-serves. I personally talked to dozens of people making them commit to one of the three signings.

Fortunately, press worked out where interviews were published that also announced the readings. The LA Weekly "Pick" also put me on the radar.

All of it led to three packed readings! I was pleased. The book stores were pleased. Whew!

Crowd at Skylight Books in Los Feliz.

Crowd at Vroman's in Pasadena.

Crowd at Book Soup in West Hollywood.

Literary Window

There's nothing more satisfying than seeing your book prominently displayed in a window. In this case, Book Soup did a great job!

Literary Chronicle

The San Francisco Chronicle reviewed "Talking to the Moon." It was terrific. It made quite some mention of the marketing of my book: it's unfortunate that it's been labeled "gay fiction."

Read up (it's the second article, so scroll down):

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/04/RVGITO8HEN1.DTL&type=books

Literary Pick

Whoa! I'm flattered that I was named "LA Weekly Pick," considering that there are some pretty awesome writers in town talking up their books.

Some writers that are making a splace in town include: Aimee Liu, Tara Ison, Daniel Alarcon, and Charles Phoenix.

http://www.laweekly.com/art+books/readings-pick/noel-alumit/15781/

Literary Lift Off

On Saturday, February 24th, my second novel Talking to the Moon was officially launched. Whew! It was a wonderful experience! Thanks to everyone for showing up and giving support. Here's some pics.

Literary Podcast

I did my first ever podcast. It was with playwright Prince Gomolvilas (left). I dig the artist always known as Prince, but he's like an annoying little brother who knows how to get on your nerves. Did I sound defensive in the interview?

Anyway you can download the podcast through itunes or simply click: http://bamboonation.mypodcast.com/

Literary Book Tour

Book tours are a funny thing. Some authors will be put on a huge tour, taking them to cities on both coasts and parts in between. Others will be lucky to do an interview with their company newsletter. I proudly sent in my photo to be considered for the "Employee News" section of my company newsletter, thank you very much. Among announcements of employee birthdays and newly born babies, I'll get a mention that my second novel is published!

However, I'll also be having a spectacular tour of...Los Angeles. Cities that I'll be flying into include Los Feliz (Skylight Books on 2/24), East Los Angeles (Cal-state LA on 2/28), Pasadena (Vroman's on 3/2), and West Hollwyood (Booksoup on 3/3).

Yippee!

Literary Encounter: Amiri Baraka

When I was a freshman in college, there were two plays that I'd studied that left on indelible impression on me. The first was Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee and the second was Dutchman by Amiri Baraka (aka Leroi Jones). Tonight I had the pleasure of introducing the influential and controversial Amiri Baraka at an event at Skylight. He was amazing. He talked about being a "Revoluntionary Optimist." He encouraged people to read, read, read. He said that when we read, we learn to protect ourselves from people who may want to hurt us. If someone says, you can't do that. I can point to a book and say, Yes, I can--it says so right here in this chapter.

Literary Pub. Date

The "Pub. Date" is the date when a book is officially out. Even though my novel has been available for the past six weeks or so (it needs those weeks to wind its way into bookstores across the country), today is when I can say my novel is actually published. I'm not an author with a second book coming out. Today, I'm an author with two books out.

I think my baby looks pretty good!

Literary Satisfaction

I FINALLY saw a live production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? It's one of my favorite plays and I'd been waiting for almost twenty years! It was pretty fantastic. Kathleen Turner (right) could "bray" with the best of them. (I didn't care too much for the movie with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.)

I went with my friend Joseph and we talked about the myth of Woolfe. The big one is the idea that the leads George and Martha were originally written as a vulgar gay couple. I'd read an article with Edward Albee who said that was untrue. He claimed the myth was created by heterosexuals who refused to believe that a straight couple can destroy each other like that. (Uh, with fifty percent of of marriages ending in divorce, I think destruction is conceivable)

Literary Out

Whevever I read someone's age in a magazine, I generally add five more years to it. In some cases, I knew the person in the article and thought: I know he's not THAT young. Then I go on to wonder: what's wrong with the age he's in now?

I've also written profiles about people and was researching a woman who'd been the same age in three different articles in three different years. I silently laughed about it.

Well, karma has a way of biting me in the ass.

In the March issue of Out magazines, there's a cool article on me. Through no fault of my own, they got my age wrong. They made me five years younger! There it was in black and white: Noel Alumit, 34. And you know what? I LOVED it. I'm not going to rush to the editor and tell him to print a retraction.

I know people who know me will roll their eyes when they read the article and wonder why I lied. I would never lie, but if someone else wants to do it for me, why quibble?

Literary Filming

I've seen two movies based on novels: Children of Men by PD James and Notes of a Scandal by Zoe Heller. I thoroughly enjoyed both, which actually surprised me. I guess I'm used to thinking that movies based on books usually stink. Then I realised that these two movies were made by the British. I wondered: do the British have better respect for the novel and carefully translate it better to the screen?