From the Inkwell, From the Vein.....

Working in a bookstore, I've seen a lot of strange things and a lot of stranger customers--- some things I've mentioned on this blog, most things I haven't (though I probably should have, just for the sheer entertainment). But, once in a while, I'll hear/come across something that gives me pause... like a customer I had a few days ago who was looking for a copy of Mein Kampf . Customer : I'm looking for a copy of Mein Kampf . Me : We usually have a copy or two in...      (walk over to the Biography section, where the book normally is, but we're sold out) Me : Looks like we're out, I could order you one, though... Customer : Does it have a black cover? Me : Yes, it does. Customer : I don't want that one. Me : Okay, we can go back to the computer and look up other editions, see which one you might want. Customer : I don't trust most translations--- there's too much taken out... Me : Yeah, I can understand that... some might be ...

Just a note for any reader's here to check out Sandra Tyler's lovely little brainchild--- Woven Tale Press --- a newly emerging tribute to those drifting through the blogosphere. It's intended as a gathering place of little blog posts from authors across the spectrum, an "eclectic culling of the blogging web" to use their own description. I'll admit, I had never heard of Woven Tale Press  until Ms Tyler came knocking at my comment box, soliciting for a submission to her A-Z special edition. I was intrigued, and more than a little flattered--- I did the A-Z writing challenge for myself, not really  expecting anyone to read it (even though I brazenly posted and cross-posted, every letter... everyday). Sometimes, nay, most times, writing feels like a solitary trek through an uncharted jungle...blogging, more like a tumble off a jungle cliff, as we haphazardly toss our hearts out into the ether, not knowing who or what might be watching. It can be unsett...

Writers are strange creatures... we know this, we are this, we don't mind this---- I actually think writers have the only socially acceptable form of mental disorder. I mean, who else can get away with having multiple personalities and murderous intent.... if the FBI ever researched our browser histories, we'd all be on the watch list (though, who's to say we aren't already). And, because we are such strange creatures, there are a few traits, er... habits, some of us have picked up along the way. Even famous writers still cling to rituals that run the gamut from the eyebrow-quirking unusual to the absolutely bizarre. Like Capote, who only wrote while lying down and smoking/drinking. Or, Nabokov, who wrote his novels on small index cards that he kept paper-clipped together. Then there's Cheever who purportedly wrote in his underwear. And, lastly, there's Eliot, who would, occasionally, only respond to "Captain" while sitting with his face tinted g...

Local 501st members All of Nerd-dom will heed the cry, all of Geek-dom will don their attire.... May 4th, 2013--- only the 3rd (?) annual event for every Star Wars fan---- the one day every fan flaunts their lisp collectively and proudly--- "May the Fourth be with You!" Of course, I may have intentionally emphasized the "th" just for that explicit purpose.... Though I enjoyed the 3 original movies, which, I guess are really, movies 4,5 and 6.... I have always been a Trekkie at heart. Not that there's anything wrong with Star Wars, I just cut my teeth on re-runs of the original Star Trek series growing up, and that's where my heart lies. Even Sand People like posing However... let me say that again... HOWEVER, I am a huge sucker for puns and an even 'huger' sucker for a good cause--- so, when you bring out the Star Wars costumes to promote literacy on a day that twists the original line from the series, I can't help but get excited. ...

Another A to Z challenge comes to an end--- another collection of posts and poetry have been written, another deep breath of relief is released. For my fellow bloggers that survived as well, it's another 'challenge-completed' notch carved into the writing desk. I've come to enjoy my yearly foray into the world of all things alphabetical. This was my third year, though it was only the second year I had a workable theme (which made the challenge substantially easier than the first year I attempted this challenge.) And, though my first year was difficult because my focus was so scattered, I found this year was more  difficult because I lost the enthusiasm that came with the first year excitement----excitement which helped me plug along until the end of the challenge. Year 3 was a success in the sense that I completed the challenge, though, this was the year that almost wasn't---- Somewhere about a third of the way through the challenge, I seriously considered...