Final Money Report

Well, it arrived. The final monetary report for the year. I ended on a good week. . .meaning I made a little money. I pulled in a wopping $2.65, which brings my year total to: $986.57.

Technically, I made a thousand dollars. Over the years, I've kept all of my writing profits separate from our other funds. When I have enough, I put those profits into cds. So, with interest from writing-related cds, I did make over $1000.00 this year.

But . . . who cares.

Next year is a new year. I got a novel coming out, quite a few appearances scheduled already, and maybe another surprise or two.

Right now, I'm reading God's Little Acre by Erskine Caldwell. Apparently, some people tried to keep it out of the public for reasons of pornography. I can see it, but I wonder more if people weren't trying to suppress it because of its blatant moments of communist ideology.

Communism? Pornography? How can you go wrong. Get this book!

Week 50

Made $6.87 this week.

Year total: $983.92

Close, folks, close.

No Book Signing Today

I will not be at Ward Studio today to sign books. Too much snow!

Of course, send me an email if you want to order a book directly from me: jcvandez@delta.edu

Books

I just finished reading Intruder in the Dust by William Faulkner. Great book with one of the most complex African American characters -- Lucas Beauchamp -- that I've ever seen. If you've always wanted to read some Faulkner, this might be the one to start with. 246 pages, interesting plot (including night scenes in graveyards), accessible stream-of-conscious style. Plus, it's interesting to see the connections between IitD and To Kill a Mocking Bird.





I also started reading a new anthology from Bottom Dog Press entitled Bar Stories. I'm not very far into it, but the first story is by Lee K. Abbot, and it's really good.

Various and Extraneous

Okay . . . um, yeah. First, I made a buck this week. Total for the year: $977.05.

In an effort to raise the total for the year, I am doing a book signing this Saturday, December 2oth at Jeff Ward Studio on Water Street in Bay City. I'll be there from noon until about five-ish. If you're looking for a last minute stocking stuffer, I recommend one of my books. They are especially flammable too if you happen to be looking for a yule log.

Other news . . . did I mention that Bottom Dog Press is going to publish my novel, Landscape with Fragmented Figures? Be prepared because I'll probably be mentioning it a lot.

See the mockup of the cover below.

In 2009 . . . from Bottom Dog Press

Oh, it's a novel.

Bottom Dog Press

Looking for last minute Christmas gifts? Also hoping that you can buy an American-made product . . . and support a small press?

Check out all the books available from Bottom Dog Press. And, check out their new website.

http://smithdocs.net/

I just ordered their anthology Bar Stories. Bottom Dog does some really cool anthologies. Spend some time on their site purusing and, for God's sake, buy something.

Week 49

Well, the week wasn't a bust. I made $2.00 from my writing life.

New total for the year: $976.05.

Here's a link to a great book that I really enjoyed:

Al Hellus

This year saw the passing of Saginaw poet, Al Hellus. Also, this year saw the publication of Al's most recent book of poetry, How Much of Your Heart is Left? (Ridgeway Press). I've only just recently had a chance to look at some of the poems in the book, and I've been very impressed by their ability, like a koan, to take me somewhere unexpected and fruitful. I offer this by way of example:

Father's Day -- 2001

Last year, Paw,
I was walking down
Main Street,
South San Francisco
looking for you,
looking for me,
and found Marion
the bartender
& Old Crow
& Rolling Rock.

I stepped out
the back door and there,
far away,
was San Bruno Mountain
about the same distance
as you were. As you
still are.
But it was there --
rock & earth
& green.

I didn't need
to touch it,
didn't need to feel it
under my feet.


I'm not finding a web presence for Ridgeway Press, but it looks like you can order Al's book by sending a $12.00 check (payable to Ridgeway Press) to:

Ridgeway Press
P.O. Box 120
Roseville, MI 48066

Stay Tuned

fragmented news

of a writing nature

on the horizon

on the landscape

ahead

figures

good news

Pushcart Nomination

The editor of an online magazine that almost got started this year nominated a story of mine that I was going to write. The magazine was going to specialize in two-word "flicker" stories, and the story I had in mind was so good that this editor/friend nominated it just based on the knowledge that it, like his online 'zine, will someday exist and it, like his online 'zine, will be really, really good.

Fantaculious, even.