Week 48

Not much to report. I earned $1.56 this week from my writing. That brings my total for the year to: $974.05.

I still think a signed book could make a unique Christmas gift. Drop me an email: jcvandez@delta.edu

Tipping my hat to my friend, Josh Maday, I started reading William Faulkner's Intruder in the Dust. Much of what I've been reading lately feels light weight compared to W.F. What a writer. He's like a bold merlot.

Also, while reading the Spring '08 issue of Controlled Burn, I came across the following poem by C.P. Stewart.

Autumn

Another summer slips away.
I feed my fire a cherry bough.
The endless days are ended now,
and the wasps are drunk on the fallen plums.


I don't know . . . I just like it. Bravo, Controlled Burn, on picking that one!

New Book from a Fine Press

Bottom Dog press recently released a new book of poems about peace and harmony. Looks like a great collection! And, what a positive book, considering the times we are living in. (Just look what it did for my dog and cat!)

Go here to find out more . . . and to purchase: http://smithdocs.net/foodpoems.htm

While you're there, surf around a bit. Bottom Dog has many fine books . . . and some great anthologies for classrooms. Books make great Christmas gifts.

Week 47

Not a bad week. I sold a few books, and I was paid for a screenwriting workshop I gave. Two people attended, which explains the meager pay.

Anyway, I made $16.00 this week.

That brings my total for the year to: $972.49.

A Poem: Angel's Night

Here's a poem my daughter Emmy (6 years old) wrote:

Angel's Night

You may feel a spirit
in the air. And feel
the breeze of night.
And feel the spirits
in the light of the moon.
And the love of angels
in the breeze. And
all the angels love
you with heart. And
the angels watch over
where ever you are.
They sing upon you
every night.

Milestone

Well, it happened today; I reached another goal. I have sold 450 copies of my novel, Into the Desperate Country to date. My goal of 500 by next June seems like a possibility. You can help. Email me and ask about a discounted copy: jcvandez@delta.edu. Books make great Christmas gifts.

Amazon has a couple copies left, too.

Week 46 . . . at least I think it's Week 46

Okay, I earned a dollar this week . . . bringing my total to $956.49. I'm aiming for $1000.00.

You know, signed books make great Christmas presents. Send me an email, and I'll cut you a deal. jcvandez@delta.edu

Since it was the only thing in the bathroom, I started rereading J.D. Salinger's Raise High the Roof Beam Carpenter and Seymour, an Introduction. (it's all one book). Now, I can't put the thing down. Most people know Salinger through Catcher in the Rye, but I always find myself more drawn to his other books, like the one just mentioned and Franny and Zooey. Salinger's talent is undeniable. What a writer. If you haven't read these books, think about it.

Al Hellus' Passing

Saginaw poet and arts activist Al Hellus passed away today. In his time, he was good for Saginaw's poetry scene, and he will be missed.

I didn't know Al incredibly well, but when I moved to the tri-cities, he promptly offered me a reading at the Red Eye. It didn't work out, but I eventually had the chance to read with him at the Andersen Enrichment Center. It was a great reading, made better by Al's irreverent sense of humor. Though I didn't see him much, I always got the sense that he was out there, in Saginaw, doing things for poetry and the arts. The sense that he's not out there anymore creates a real void.


a vision of corrected history with breakfast

--Al Hellus

the days' casting call
includes newsbites on the radio
that could have happened
anywhere between the last fifty years
and breakfast, which is
a plate of poached headlines
& a cup of printer's ink.

surely the second coming is at hand.

I stare out the window where, suddenly,
the Watergate hearings are once again in session
-- a bearded Richard Nixon
is seated on the stand admitting,
finally, that he always was a crook, and

Joe McCarthy breaks down on television,
blubbers to the packed Senate chamber
about his obsession with
young communist boys
who spurned him in his youth.

on a warm Tuesday in Vienna, Hitler
is accepted into the academy of art.
he becomes a mediocre painter
most noted for having dropped dead
at the Cedars Tavern next to Jackson Pollack
who kept right on talking to the
poor old bastard for half an hour.

his last painting,a nude self-portrait
sells for thousands of dollars
who claims to really like it.

Week 45 . . . and one more time

Well, this was a good week profit-wise. I went up to Traverse City to give a short fiction and poetry presentation to the local Mensa organization. What a nice group. From them, I received an unexpected honorarium . . . plus I sold a few books. My profits this week totaled: $57.95.

That brings my yearly total to: $955.49. Maybe a one thousand dollar year is in the realm of possibility.

You could help. Email me, and I'll gladly give you a discount on signed copies of books. I'll even personally inscribe them to whomever you'd like. They'd make pretty unique Christmas gifts!

Also, don't forget that this coming Wednesday, John Guzlowski and Larry Levy will be reading poetry at the United Church of Christ on Chestnut Hill Dr. in Midland at 6:30 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Good News

Just got an acceptance letter yesterday from Rattle magazine. They want to publish a poem of mine.

They are one of the finest poetry mags out there.

Check them out . . . and think about subscribing.

www.rattle.com

We Need Obama and the Democrats

and it’s kind of sad that we do. It’s sad when what I see suggests that we need them because we can’t find the strength or commitment within ourselves. Or, some of us can’t. We have belief without conviction . . . which in some ways isn’t even belief. We want to be governed and yet show very little self governance. Lacking the strength to make our own changes, we rest our hopes on one man, one administration, one party.

What does Obama mean to some?

To some people, Obama means more compassion, more diplomacy, more care for our fellow man. Yet, how many times have I been cut off in the past three months by cars with Obama bumper stickers on the back? How often have I seen similar cars cruising down the highway at eighty, eighty-five, or even ninety miles an hour? That seems to lack compassion, diplomacy, and care. What are their excuses? They’re in a hurry? They have something important to do? Seems like those excuses could be used to rationalize almost any infraction of the rules.

We look to Obama to enforce the values that we don’t have the self discipline to bring out of ourselves.

Some of us look to this new administration to find a “green means” for us to free ourselves from oil dependency. Hmm . . . how many Obama/Biden signs have I seen in front yards and parked in the adjacent driveway, a gas-guzzling SUV? How do they justify the ownership of such a vehicle? It might well be used as the definition of irony.

Obama, make up for our sins because we are incapable of doing it ourselves.

Many looked to Obama to come up with some kind of universal health care coverage. Why? I don’t see very much individual health care coverage. So many of us eat the most rotten food in sickening quantities. We guzzle sugar-heavy pops. Too many of us never exercise. We are fat and out of shape. We do little to govern our own behavior. I’m all for universal health care coverage, but my hope is that fewer and fewer people need to take advantage of it due to late-onset diabetes and heart disease. In general, unhealthy people get sick more often. So, get healthy. Turning around your health is probably a bigger service to your country than turning out to vote.

Obama, I must have this fifth piece of pizza and this Mountain Dew to wash it down. And, I must watch this show in lieu of walking. You got my back?

We look to Obama to improve education in America. How many of us are improving education at home? I’m guilty on this one. I could read to my kids more. I could do math with my kids more . . . or involve them when I’m paying the bills. I could read more in front of my kids. Shut off the television. Bring my kids to museums. I recognize that it isn’t the job of schools, and schools alone, to educate my children. In this season of change, I’m going to try to change my relationship with my kids.

Sure, there are changes Obama can bring about that we can’t do on our own. He can change our stance in Iraq. He can create more goodwill towards America in the world.

But, there’s so much we can do . . . and don’t. Exercise. Eat better. Give time to charities. Give money to charities. Donate to Public Radio (especially if you listen all the time!). Pick up litter on your sidewalk. Pick up litter on someone else’s sidewalk. Slow down. Think in terms of Martin Buber’s I and Thou.

Read Martin Buber’s I and Thou (or at least a really good interpretation of the book)

If in this season of change you think that your biggest effort was in getting to the polls, well then maybe your vote was wasted. You voted for change, and the change should start from within and grow out into action. If it doesn’t, we’re going to go on needing Democrats and their mothering (Jung’s Terrible Mother?) for a long time.

Some Reviews

Check out my review (it's been awhile since I've written a formal book review) of Tales from the Tinker's Dam at http://www.newpages.com/bookreviews/default.htm

Check out the other reviews, too.

If one of the books sounds good, buy it!

I'll Say It Again

I don't have any profits to report for this week, but that's fine because I have more important news to share (or re-share).

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet John Guzlowski will give two readings in the Tri-City area.

First, at 1:00 p.m. he will read in room F010 at Delta College. The reading is free and open to the public.

That evening, he will also read at 6:30 p.m. at The United Church of Christ in Midland. He will be joined by local poet, Larry Levy. The UCC is on Chestnut Hill Dr. This reading is also free and open to the public.

Books will be for sale at both events.

Please feel free to copy and post the above information.

Hope to see you at one of these events.