Literary Counting

An AP-Ipsos poll about reading habits has spawned an assortment of news stories. In one angle, among those who read books last year, seven was the average number of books read. But 25 percent of adults surveyed said they didn't read any books last year. (It's not clear if the poll waslimited to literate adults or not--an important factor since we onlyhave a 70 to 75 percent literacy rate to begin with.)

The Guardian notes, "of those who did read, women and retirees were the most avid readers, and religious works and popular fiction were the top choices. The median figure for books read - with half reading more, half fewer - was nine books for women and five for men.... People from the West and Midwest are more likely to have read at least one book in the past year. Southerners who do read, however, tend to read more books -mostly religious books and romance novels - than people from other regions."One in five people read romance novels, and women read more of every category of book than men except for history and biography.

The survey also found that fewer liberals and moderates are non-readers (22percent) than conservatives (34 percent). Which led AAP president PatSchroeder to shoot her mouth off in rather unfortunate fashion: "TheKarl Roves of the world have built a generation that just wants a couple slogans: 'No, don't raise my taxes, no new taxes,'" Schroeder is quoted."It's pretty hard to write a book saying, 'No new taxes, no new taxes, no new taxes' on every page."Actually, though, the survey found moderates read the least (liberals average nine books, conservatives eight, moderates five). Which may say something about the books available as much as the political inclinations. Threshold founder Mary Matalin remarked, "As head of abook publishing association, she probably shouldn't malign any readers.

http://click.email-publisher.com/maahx7mabAKeJa576BhbaeQxXH/

Literary Continuation

My heart skipped a beat when I heard that part of a West Hollywood block was on fire. This block included A Different Light Bookstore. Thankfully, there was minimal damage and they're still open. Whew!

Here is information on the series that I'm curating at A Different Light:

The Promising Series is the only reading series in Los Angeles that exclusively features Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender writers. A goal for the series is to celebrate established writers and introduce the next generation of writers that will explore the GLBT experience. The second reading will be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 7:30pm.

“The first reading in July was packed with people,” said series coordinator Noel Alumit. “It really showed me that there was an incredible literary need out there that had to be met. I hope the second reading is just as wonderful!”

The September 12th reading will feature:

Eloise Klein Healy, the Founding Chair of the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Antioch University Los Angeles and Distinguished Professor of Creating Writing Emerita, is a Guest Poet at the Idyllwild Summer Poetry Festival. Healy is co-founder of ECO-ARTS, an eco-tourism/arts venture and founding editor of ARKTOI BOOKS, an imprint of Red Hen Press. Her collections Passing and Artemis In Echo Park were both finalists for the Lambda Book Award. Her newest title, The Islands Project: Poems For Sappho, is from Red Hen Press. www.eloisekleinhealy.com

Gabrielle Calvocoressi is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, a Jones Lectureship in Poetry at Stanford University and a Rona Jaffe Woman Writers' Award. Her first collection, The Last Time I Saw Amelia Earhart (Persea Books, 2005), was shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award and won the 2006 Connecticut Book Award in Poetry. She lives in Los Angeles and currently teaches in the MFA program at California College of Arts in San Francisco and in the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Warren Wilson College.

Steven Reign’s debut collection of poetry and short-short fiction, Your Dead Body is My Welcome Mat, was published in 2001 and has been followed-up with two chapbooks, Ignited and Cartography. Reigns served as Literary Director of The Center in Tampa for two years before recently relocating to Los Angeles. He has been selected as a 2008 recipient of the Los Angeles County Artist In Residency Grant, a project to teach free poetry workshops to GLBTQ seniors. www.stevenreigns.com

Sheila Traviss has been published in the anthology Bedroom Eyes, the Sun magazine and the collection Love Knots. Her screenplay, The Price Is Hope, and her one hour drama, The Block, have been optioned for development. She has written for the comedy show, Out There; was a writer/performer with the Groundlings Theatre and her one-woman show, Tribes, was produced in Los Angeles and off-off-Broadway. Sheila’s novel, Dreamwriter: Madison Mavis is making the rounds of publishers and giving her an ulcer. She is currently working on her second novel and pursuing a master’s degree in psychology at Antioch University.

Noel Alumit wrote the novels Letters to Montgomery Clift and Talking to the Moon. He wrote and performed the solos shows The Rice Room: Scenes from a Bar and Master of the (Miss) Universe. www.thelastnoel.blogspot.com

The Promising Series will take place on Wednesday, September 12 at 7:30pm. A Different Light Bookstore, 8853 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069, (310) 854-6601.

Literary Skylight

Most of you know that I host events at Skylight Bookstore. Well, they just started their own blog:

http://skylightbooks.blogspot.com/

And I'll be contributing. Oh, and that's our famous cat Lucy sleeping in the display window.

Literary Nudge

My agent called me this week. I've said this before: I think he's just great. He wanted to know how my third novel is coming along.

I told him that I printed out a draft and I'm reviewing it. He'd like to see something soon. He gave me some advice. He thinks I should settle down, find a nice guy. I'm too social when I'm single. If I'm married, I'll buckle down...and write.

I really do respect his advice. I guess I have to go out more and find a dude to call my own.

Literary Cities

A librarian friend of mine e-mailed me this link listing the most literate cities in America. It's interesting that the East Coast did not dominate the top ten. Ur, my city of Los Angeles made number 57...out of 70 cities.

http://www.ccsu.edu/amlc06/

The Top Ten

1. Seattle, WA

2. Minneapolis, MN

3.5. Atlanta, GA

3.5. Washington, DC

5. St. Paul, MN

6. Pittsburgh, PA

7. Cincinnati, OH

8. Denver, CO

9. San Francisco, CA

10. Portland, OR

Literary Macarthur Park

A week ago, I did a workshop for Smartgals. It was held in Macarthur Park. I wrote a piece on the area not too long ago, discussing the park and its relationship to the Filipino community. Mucho festivals celebrating Filipino culture was held at the park and General Macarthur made his famous "I shall return" speech regarding his vow to help free the Philippines from the Japanese in World War II.

The famous Donna Summer song "Macarthur Park" with the famous line "Someone left the cake out in the rain" was written by Jimmy Webb about an apparent break-up in the park in the 1960's.

Somewhere in the late 1970's and 1980's Macarthur Park began to turn from a family environment to one most associated with drug deals, murder, and other mayhem. Without getting into details, I feel I contributed to the mayhem in my reckless youth. If I could ever say sorry to a neighborhood, I would. And that's what's happened when I did the writing workshop there. When I lent my creativity to the environment and the people in my workshop, I felt like I was apologizing for my reckless days. The amends will certainly continue, but it felt good that I was adding to the healing of the area somehow.

Literary Gore

During a late night You-Tubing fit, I came across this video interview with Gore Vidal, a brilliant writer. It's about his contempt for TV journalists and an inside take on what the rich and powerful feel about us. He says he's been around the "ruling class" and he knows their contempt for ordinary Americans.

Take a gander:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWODMla3IWk

Literary Smartgals

Come and check out a free writing workshop that I'm doing on August 7th. It's being done by Smartgals and it's inspired by Suzan-Lori Parks goal to write a play a day for a year. There are other workshops on different nights. It should be the happening place.

http://www.smartgals.org/365/index.html

Literary 136

If you take a look at earlier posts of this blog, beginning in August 2005, you'll see that I started blogging about writing my third novel. Here we are two years later and I think I have something of a draft. 136 pages of mish mosh vomit.

I know its nowhere near done, but it was nice to feel the pages in my hands. It stopped being this shapeless being in my computer. It might actually be something.

I promise to you, dear reader, that I'll have a second draft by August 31st. Maybe by the end of the year, I'll have something worth sharing with others.

Literary Tabloid

I could care less about reading about Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Britney Spears. Jennifer, Brad, Angelina? I don't give a crap. But the secret, juicy lives of writers? Baby, I'm there!

It was recently revealed that Pulitzer Prize winning author Robert Olen Butler was dumped by his wife. She left him for...media mogul Ted Turner.

"Elizabeth is Butler's wife of 12 years, Elizabeth Dewberry, 44, an author in her own right, who might be attracted to Turner, 68, because the media mogul resembles the grandfather who molested her as a child, Butler writes in the shocking e-mail."

Read about it:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08012007/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm

Literary Ray

As a boy, I used to sit on my front porch and read. One summer I read "The Illustrated Man" by Ray Bradbury (right). One of my favorite books of all time is "Dandelion Wine" by Ray Bradbury. I have a picture of me and Ray Bradbury on my shelf (I went to a reading he did and waited in line to have him sign my Bradbury collection, books that he wrote that I treasure).

The Southern California Independent Booksellers Association recently announced their fiction finalists for their annual awards dinner. The books include:

1. "Farewell Summer" by Ray Bradbury

2. "Peony In Love" by Lisa See

3. "Talk Talk" by TC Boyle

4. "Talking to the Moon" by Noel Alumit

5. "The People of Paper" by Salvador Plascencia

I am overcome that I am in the same category.

Take a look at other categories: http://www.scbabooks.org/scbabookaward.html

Literary Material

Okey-dokey. I write about The Philippines. I try to capture the darkness and light of my people. I write about the 1980's alot--my decade! Well. This video incorporates alot of that. It's been making the rounds of alot of Asian American blogs and sites, because it's incredible. In The Philippines, one of the ways that they get prison inmates in the city of Cebu to exercise is by choreographing classic dance numbers. Like this one, where the inmates dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller. There are over a thousand of them.

There's alot of literary material there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o

Literary Mystery Presentation

Writer Naomi Hirahara (who recently won the pretigous Edgar award for her mystery writing; check her out, http://www.naomihirahara.com/) asked me to do a presentation for Mystery Writers of America. The presentation would be tips on doing a good reading. I host a few literary things, so I guess I made a good candidate present. I thought it might help some of you out there to see my notes.

My Presentation

Thank Naomi, for asking me to do this. I took this opportunity to do something that I’d been wanting do for a very long time: take a poll of other people who host or run readings in town and ask what they think.

I e-mailed seven colleagues some questions and asked that, if they have the time, please e-mail me back. Of the seven, five got back to me. They were Benjamin Weissman who conducts the reading series at the Hammer Museum in Westwood, Diane Leslie who has been hosting events at Dutton’s Brentwood for over twenty years, and Jawanza Dumisani who runs the reading series at the World Stage in Leimert Park. I also offered anonymity to the respondents, and two asked to remain anonymous.

Three do’s:
Your reading begins before your reading.

--Some of us are very protective of the readings. Who reads at our stores also represents our tastes. The coordinators like it when you’ve been to the reading series BEFORE you ask to do a reading. Peak your head in, see what it’s all about. Later you can say something like: Hey, I was here when Walter Mosley read and you guys did a great job. Develop those relationships with bookstores now.

--Ben Weissman said that he works very hard to keep his readings “ghoul free.”

--The coordinators have different ways about how to be contacted for a reading. Some would prefer an e-mail, others want to work directly with your publisher. Ask a store how they prefer to be contacted.

--Make sure the store has all your pertinent information: bio, photo, book description, etc.

--Do your own marketing.

Be there early, Be relaxed, Be kind, Be prepared.

--I asked my colleagues to describe a nightmare reading. Tardiness was a recurring theme. Get there early.

--One coordinator said, “I always appreciate when an author is respectful to all the staff involved, from the security to the custodian to the staff who assists with the booksigning to the curator. We really don’t appreciate diva behavior.”

--A well planned reading should be seamless,” said Jawanza Dumasani. “The reader should know what there reading and the order. They should engage the audience with eye contact as they move through the reading. They might share short comments relative to whats being read. I go through my readings in the mirror several days.”

--Don’t want to work with nervous authors who need to be comforted.

Remember Time

Some responses:

-The reading should last about 20-25 minutes with Q&A lasting another 20 or so.

--Diane Leslie alluded to the people, particularly elderly people standing. We use collapsible chair, so even when sitting it can get uncomfortable.

--Another good recipe: Solo reading 40 minutes, duos 25 each, cinco 10 min each, like that. How long should an entire event last, including Q and A? 80 sounds good, more or less.

--Many years ago, writer John Rechy gave me some good advice: tell the audience how long you’ll be reading for. The worst thing to hear at a reading: “My next poem is...”

--Last tip: Several of the coordinator said, WRITE WELL. Your work will be the foundation of your reading so, make sure your work is amazing.

Literary Potter

I just left the madness at Skylight Books where they'll be releasing the "last" of the Harry Potter novels. The store was swamped with kids awaiting the big reveal. I got into the spirit and wore a cape (appearing as a Dementor). I've never been a Potter reader, but I got a kick out of young people dying to read.

We had an event earlier in the evening. Jerry Stahl (Permanent Midnight) read from his new book, a collection of short stories. He said he's had to do a lot in his carreer. Reading before the JK Rowling novel was new to him though. He said, "I can't believe I'm being a fluffer to Harry Potter."

That was the highlight for me!

Literary Jury Duty; Part 2

It became poigantly clear to me--again--why I write. I'd been bothered with events from yesterday's jury service. It sat with me and I didn't know how to discuss it. I was lying in bed and I was pulled from bed by some unknown force to write this post.

Alot of us were assembled to possibly serve on a jury. The judge said he will excuse people who will suffer from SEVERE financial hardship by taking time to serve as a juror. He won't excuse people just because they were needed elsewhere. Working class joe behind me raises his hand and says he must help his father, a holocaust survivor, run the small family business. Joe says he is the only caretaker of his father and without him, his father can't run the shop. If he can't run the shop, there is no income. The judge decided that is not sufficient enough to warrant dismissal from jury duty due to severe financial hardship.

People he dismissed:

1. A woman who had vacation plans and already paid for the trip.

2. An independent casting director who needed to find work.

3. An attorney who has several cases pending and without his cases he has no income.

They are considered people who would suffer severe financial hardships, while a little enterprise, run by an old guy who can only do the job with the help of his caregiving son, Joe, is not. Hmmmmm. I wonder if the judge let 1,2, and 3 go because he can identiy with their plight.

We got back for more Jury selection on Tuesday.

Literary Jury Duty

Oh, what seven days can do! Last week at this time, I was stressing over putting on a really good event at A Different Light Bookstore--which turned out to be a blast. Thanks to all of you for coming and making it a success. Today, I start jury duty. I have to be at the courthouse by 7:30am. I'm not complaining, mind you. I'm actually looking forward to sitting there for a while, giving me the excuse to read or write for several hours.

Literary Restlessnessessess

I'd been dealing with restless nights, waking at 4am. I have a lot on my mind, including work and deadlines.

I have also been tossing and turning over my novels. Oh, I need to promote the published ones, oh, I've got to work on the new one.

My third book has been keeping me wondering. I think one of the reasons I kept starting it over is because I don't know what I am trying to say.

I went running this morning and I think the themes came to me. This book is about faith and disease. When plague comes, one's resolve eithers strengthens or weakens. I think of AIDS and how many people were put to the test, to become better Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Moslems. Many failed (and are still failing). There were those few, however, who gave hope.

This, I think, is what my third novel is about to explore.

Literary Hard and Soft

The soft, soft deadline for getting a draft done of my third novel was June 30th. Uh, I missed that one. The soft, hard deadline is July 30th. Hmmmm. I'm only on page 20.

Literary Radio

I'm going to be on KPFK on Monday, July 2 at 7pm. I'll be talking about "Talking to the Moon," The Promising Series, and a myriad of other things.

The show is called IMRU. Check it out:

www.imru.org

Literary Date: July 12, 2007

Earlier this year, I was part of the first Asian Bookfest. Now, I'm engaging in a new literary project. This one is for gay people. (I know, I know. Some of you are thinking that Noel is biting off more than he can chew...again! Well, get ready to put me away!)

Introducing the Promising Series at A Different Light Bookstore...

A brand, spankin' new reading program will debut at A Different Light bookstore in West Hollywood on July 12th. It’s called the Promising Series with the goal of exclusively featuring established and emerging gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender writers.

“I think that it’s important that writers at varying points in their literary careers meet to share work and ideas,” said series coordinator Noel Alumit. “New GLBT writers in particular need a space where they can express themselves. More established writers can inspire hope for those just beginning a career.”

The Promising Series first reading will feature writer Prince Gomolvilas. His plays include BIG HUNK O' BURNIN' LOVE, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, BEE, and the stage adaptation of MYSTERIOUS SKIN. He received the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild/Julie Harris Playwright Award, International Herald Tribune/SRT Playwriting Award, PEN Center USA West Literary Award for Drama, East West Players' Made in America Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement for the Asian Pacific Islander Community, and a screenwriting fellowship with The Chesterfield Writer's Film Project, sponsored by Paramount Pictures.

Up and coming writers who will be showcased are Giovanni Ortega, a performer and poet with a MFA from UCLA, and Serena Lin, an attorney, who recently left the practice of criminal law to pursue the equally difficult path of a free spirit.

The Promising Series will take place on Thursday, July 12 at 7:30pm. A Different Light Bookstore: 8853 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069,(310) 854-6601