By: Dianna Dilworth,
on 1/21/2016
Bestselling author David Sedaris earns $2 million a year.
The author of Me Talk Pretty One Day revealed his approximate annual salary on comedian Michael Ian Black‘s podcast.
The money comes through book tours, speaking gigs, book sales and advances. “So, I feel like I’m on tour, I don’t know, six months out of the year, and then I have royalties,” he said. “I get royalty checks. And then if I have a book, they pay you in installments.”(Via Death & Taxes).
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 9/29/2015
By: Maryann Yin,
on 9/3/2015
By: admin,
on 10/1/2014
Guest post written by Kelsey Manning (@kelseyMmanning)
Before Thurber Prize winner John Kenney settled in to read a selection from his novel Truth in Advertising, he had a few words for his fellow finalist:
“Dear David Letterman, Please let me win this award. Just this one. We need the money.”
It was one of many hilarious moments during last night’s presentation of the 2013 Thurber Prize for American Humor. David Letterman attended alongside co-writer Bruce McCall on behalf of their book This Land Was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me). In the absence of third finalist Liza Donnelly (Women on Men), her husband Michael Maslin spoke about how much James Thurber means to them, especially as New Yorker cartoonists themselves. The pair’s first date was to see a James Thurber drawing at the Armory on the East Side.
In the true spirit of the night, Truth in Advertising author John Kenney joked, “My first flight wasn’t to the Thurber House or my first date, but I was conceived there.” It was easy to see why the Thurber Prize judges—Meg Wolitzer, John Searles, and Henry Alford—were so taken by the wit in Kenney’s debut. (more…)
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 9/4/2014
The Washington Post has launched the new “On Leadership” podcast series featuring humorist David Sedaris. The animated video embedded above features an excerpt from the conversation with Sedaris where he shares the story of a “humbling plane ride.” What do you think?
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
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By: Dianna Dilworth,
on 8/25/2014
Author David Sedaris has been writing about his partner Hugh Hamrick for years. In a recent column penned for The Guardian, Sedaris has published a photo of Hamrick, alongside a new story about his partner of 23 years.
In the story The One that Got Away, Sedaris decides to ask Hamrick for the first time, how many people he’d slept with before they became a couple.
Here is an excerpt from the piece:
Every man ticked off on his fingers was someone I’d been compared to at one point or another, not overtly – he’s anything but cruel – but surely it happened. Someone kissed better than me. Someone had more stamina, a more seductive voice. I’m confident enough to compete against a dozen of his exes, but he was moving on to the population of a small town.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
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By: Olga Garcia Echeverria,
on 4/20/2014
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| GGM on his 1st Birthday |
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| Doris Pilkington Garimara and her mother Molly |
By: [email protected],
on 3/13/2013
There are two authors in my reading life whose work is best read after having heard them read it themselves. They are also two authors whose restrained, understated, off-the-wall approach to observation and storytelling continues to blow my mind.
Both of those authors also happen to contribute to one of my—if not the—favourite podcasts of all time, This American Life. One of those authors (Jon Ronson) is the feature of this blog (the other, David Sedaris, will no doubt be profiled when he next, eminently brilliantly titled book, Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls, is released in a few months’ time).
I wasn’t, despite being an insatiable Ronson reader, aware that he had released a new book until my brother returned from five weeks in Europe. I knew my brother had spent five weeks in Europe primarily because his opening words to me upon his return were: ‘I carried this book through Europe for five weeks for you.’
The book in question was a clearly heavy hardcover copy of Ronson’s Lost At Sea. Its rather ragged dustcover hinted at the multi-country, tumble-drier-effect travel it had endured on its way to me. No matter. I was so excited and touched that my brother had gone to the trouble, I nearly sat down on the floor and commenced reading then and there.
I definitely didn’t have the heart to burst my brotherly love bubble to tell my sibling that I really appreciated the effort but the book had been released here—in paperback, no less—while he’d been away. Besides, as I wrote before, I hadn’t been aware of the book’s forthcoming nature, much less its release.
Lost At Sea is unlike Ronson’s breakout book, Them, which follows conspiracy theorists, including those who believe the world’s leaders are in fact giant, shape-shifting lizards, and is instead more like his What I Do book of columns.
Lost At Sea is a compilation of a diverse and arguably disparate series of articles published by such places as The Guardian. The articles are linked, of course, through Ronson’s peculiar talent for seeking out the quirky in that which at first appears entirely normal or mundane. They’re characterised by his uncanny knack for helping us readers see the story in an entirely fresh, perspective-changing way.
I’ll not deny that I was a little disappointed to discover that this was piecemeal book—I loved Them and The Men Who Stare At Goats far more than What I Do. Indeed, as you’d expect, some stories in this latest release are undeniably stronger than others. But for the most part Lost At Sea was like a Ronson version of a caffeine hit first thing in the morning—something you’ve been craving and that leaves you sated and able to cope with the daily, grinding, life and work hurdles.
In the first, hooking story, Ronson goes behind the scenes on the UK’s Deal or No Deal game show to learn about the contestants, the host, and the various game play methods and conspiracy theories. What he uncovers, in his distinct, distilled, restrained way will ensure you never look at Deal or No Deal in the same way. His other stories include:
The articles are peppered with such pared-back exchanges as the following (best read assuming Ronson’s voice in your mind):
The flight attendant was there to meet us as their airstrip.
‘Welcome to your plane,’ she said to us. ‘I just want to tell you that Snooop Dogg uses this plane a lot. What I’m saying is,’ she added in a lower voice. ‘You can do anything.’ We all looked at each other. We’re middle-aged now. None of us could really imagine what ‘anything’ might mean anymore.
‘Are we allowed to stand up as the plane lands?’ asked Brandon.
I’m not sure when Ronson’s next book is coming out (or what he’s even working on), but I’m hoping I’ll know its on its way and be able to save my brother some back-breaking trans-continent carrying. In the interim, Sedaris’ forthcoming Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls , which is coincidentally going to be released as a less-favoured-by-me hardcover, should tide me over for a few days.
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David Sedaris
I am officially obsessed with the New York Times new column, BY THE BOOK. It appears in the Sunday Book Review as well as a longer version that runs on the paper’s online site. By the Book interviews literary celebrities about their reading habits, what they are currently reading, what books remain favorites and my personal favorite, whether or not they take notes in their books.
Here is David Sedaris’ answer to the question, do you take notes when you read?
What are your reading habits? Paper or electronic? Do you take notes? Do you snack while you read?
I sometimes read books on my iPad. It’s great for traveling, but paper versions are easier to mark up, and I like the feeling of accomplishment I get when measuring the number of pages I’ve just finished — “Three-quarters of an inch!” I like listening to books as well, as that way you can iron at the same time. Notewise, whenever I read a passage that moves me, I transcribe it in my diary, hoping my fingers might learn what excellence feels like.
I find myself now eagerly anticipating who the next By the Book profile will be. Can’t wait until next Sunday to find out!
David Sedaris is the first subject of a new feature asking prominent people about their reading habits and recommendations.
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By: Betsy Bird,
on 12/7/2011
Actually, that little icon here is a touch misleading, but I took it since it talks about our first news item of the day. This l’il here ole blog got itself nominated for an Edublog Award, which is mighty nice. SLJ wrote an article about me and my fellow nominees, Joyce Valenza’s NeverEndingSearch, Karyn Silverman and Sarah Couri’s Some Day My Printz Will Come, and Angela Carstensen’s Adult Books 4 Teens. I’m in the Best Individual Blog category along with Joyce. Let’s face it, though. Joyce actually does discuss education on a regular basis (far more than I do), which is the point of the award as I see it. Therefore, if you’d stop over and vote for her along with my other nominees (preferably before the 13th), I’d appreciate it.
Let’s chalk this next one up to Books for Adults That Look Like They’re For Kids. I am speaking, naturally, about Honey Badger Don’t Care by Randall. Oh, it may look like children’s fare, but if you’re familiar with the YouTube sensation (I only recently learned about it myself, so don’t feel bad if you haven’t seen it) then you’ve got the gist of the book. Long story short, it has nothing to do with James Odone’s far sweeter picture book Honey Badgers.
By: Maryann Yin,
on 2/8/2011
According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, eight out of the top ten titles on college campuses are nonfiction books. Decision Points by George W. Bush topped the list.
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson were the only fiction books on the list. Life by Keith Richards and The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1 by Mark Twain joined Bush’s memoir on the list. Humor titles by Jon Stewart and Tucker Max also made the cut.
What titles did you read while you were in college? The magazine surveyed university bookstores across the country for the list. Follow this link for the complete list of participating bookstores.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 10/12/2010
Our Should Authors Dance? feature attracted a ton of enthusiasm. Next week, we will launch a Facebook campaign to get one literary luminary to appear on Dancing with the Stars.
Our readers suggested 10 different authors last week, and the votes have poured in on Facebook. Here are the vote counts for the lead contenders:
Claire Cook = 47
Kathy L. Patrick = 17
David Sedaris = 2
Claire Cook has already posted about the contest on her blog. She wrote: “Would I do it? Absolutely! Not just for me, but for all the other non-celebrity midlife women out there – because we’ve got a lot of living left to do!”
Voting closes on Friday, and we will publish the winning author’s Facebook petition next week. Please submit your votes in either the comments section or on our Facebook wall. Tell your friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, and verifiable-friendly strangers to participate–we’ll need all your enthusiasm to land a spot on the show.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 10/7/2010
Looking at the comments section for our Should Authors Dance? post, it seemed like plenty of GalleyCat readers want to see their favorite writer appear on Dancing with the Stars. Now it’s time to do something about it.
Reader Michelle Gilstrap suggested Lotus Eaters author Tatjana Soli and proposed: “[Soli] is coming to Los Angeles for a special event on October 16th, I will ask her if she would like to do it. We should start a Facebook page for her, if she says yes. This is how they got Betty White on [Saturday Night Live].”
It’s a great idea. We’ll start by letting our readers pick the best writer to appear on Dancing with the Stars–we’ve collected ten suggestions from GalleyCat readers below. Go to this Facebook link to vote for your favorite author. We’ll count the votes and build a special Facebook page to advocate for the winning author. The ten suggestions follow below…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
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By: Maryann Yin,
on 10/5/2010
Last night, Steve Hely (pictured with Keith Olbermann) was pronounced this year’s winner of the Thurber Prize. His win includes $5,000 and a crystal plaque. Magazine journalist Jancee Dunn and memoir writer Rhoda Janzen were the other finalists; they each received a Thurber print.
Hely’s resume boasts an extensive career in comedy television writing. He has writing credits from his work on 30 Rock, The Office, The Late Show With David Letterman, and American Dad. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University where he served as president of The Harvard Lampoon. The Thurber Prize honored his debut novel, How I Became a Famous Novelist.
The event was held in New York City’s Algonquin Hotel. MSNBC personality Keith Olbermann made a quick appearance to read from a Thurber volume of fables. Judges for this year’s Thurber Prize include two 2009 finalists, Laurie Notaro and Sloane Crosley. Joining the finalists as a judge is writer-editor Bruce Tracy, who in the past served as editorial director for at Doubleday and Random House. Past winners of the Thurber Prize include David Sedaris, Christopher Buckley, Jon Stewart, and 2-time honoree Ian Frazier.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
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By: Katie B.,
on 12/4/2009
No Country for Old Typewriters: A Well-Used One Heads to Auction
Christie’s will auction Cormac McCarthy’s Olivetti typewriter that he used to type every book he has written, including three not published.
First look: Harry Potter enters real world in ‘Deathly Hallows’
USA Today offers a first look into Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh, and last, book in J.K. Rowling’s series which is being broken into two films, the first part coming out in November 2010.
DailyLit Announces Move to All Free
DailyLit, a site that offers books in installments via email or RSS, is now offering its service free of charge!
Neil Gaiman Asks: Heard Any Good Books Lately?
In this NPR piece, Gaiman ponders the future of audiobooks and talks to David Sedaris and Martin Jarvis about what makes a great audiobook — and a great reader.
And it wouldn’t be the end of the year without lots of booklists! Take a look at these:
100 Notable Books of 2009
The New York Times features a number of booklists to help you with your holiday shopping. Take a look at this list of the 100 notable books of 2009.
Books of the year: what kept you turning the pages?
The Guardian asks novelist, actors, critics and other notables what books kept them reading throughout 2009.
By: Neil Gaiman,
on 11/30/2009
Maddy's friend Claire, at San Diego airport...
By: TS Rogers,
on 11/29/2009
By: Mark G. Mitchell,
on 6/8/2009
“Graphic novels” for little bitty kids?
Comics for children age four and up?
"Just Pretend"
Not such a preposterous idea. The intuitive narrative form of comics is a whole another kind of reading.
Searching words, pictures and panels for clues to events big and small in a story is a more active experience than watching video on a screen.
My “great books” education came from Classics Illustrated comics, which I loved. Did they ruin my appetite for dinner?
Heck no, I read plenty of real classics later. My readings of the actual Men Against the Sea, The Dark Frigate, King Solomon’s Mines, Frankenstein, David Copperfield, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and so many more were only enhanced by my first reading their comic book counterparts.
(In many cases the comics reading was a richer experience than plowing through the actual classic texts. Maybe that says more about me than any literary works. However that’s a story for another post.)
Thank you, Albert Kanter for the great contribution you made to kid culture with the Classic Illustrated series that ran for 30 years beginning in 1941.
On that note, Toon Books, produced by Raw Junior, LLC , endeavors to make comics readers of toddlers and tots.
"Just Pretend"
And who better to tease little ones with artful pictures and graphics into an early habit of reading than, well, another comic book publisher.
And, in this case, someone who is also a New Yorker magazine art director.
Françoise Mouly is a veteran of more than 800 New Yorker covers, a mom, and the co-founder and co-editor, with her husband cartoonist Art Spiegelman, of the avant garde comics anthology Raw Graphics. That’s where Spiegelman’s family account of the Holocaust, Maus, A Survivor’s Tale, that later won the Pulitzer Prize, first appeared. It was the first comic book to call itself a graphic novel .
Mouly also designed and edited books for Pantheon and Penguin in the late 1980’s and early 1990s. She was helping her first grade son with his reading. she discovered — to her dismay — “beginner reader” texts.
She substituted for their home reading sessions her giant collection of French comic books, and that worked like a charm. It got her thinking, and in 2000 she launched the RAW Junior division to publish “literary comics” for kids of all ages.
She enlisted star writers, artists and cartoonists such as Maurice Sendak, David Sedaris, Jules Feiffer and Gahan Wilson.
In 2008 she started the Toon Books imprint. These were 6″ by 9″ hard cover “comics” that very young children could read on their own.
“Comics have always had a unique ability to draw young readers into a story through the drawings,” Mouly told an interviewer. “Visual narrative helps kids crack the code that allows literacy to flourish, teaching them how to read from left to right, from top to bottom.”
“Comics use a broad range of sophisticated devices for communication,” the Toon Books website quotes Barbara Tversky, professor of Psychology at Stanford University and a Toon Books advisor.
“They are similar to face-to-face interactions, in which meaning is derived not solely from words, but also from gestures, intonation, facial expressions and props,” Tversky says. “Comics are more than just illustrated books, but rather make use of a multi-modal language that blends words, pictures, facial expressions, panel-to-panel progression, color, sound effects and more to engage readers in a compelling narrative.”
"The Big No-No"
I like the Benny and Penny series by author illustrator Geoffrey Hayes, about sibling mice — a big brother and his little sister and do they ever ring true! In the latest title, The Big No-No, released this Spring, Benny and Penny confront the “new kid” next door.
In Just Pretend, Penny threatens to disrupt Benny’s make believe pirate game (because she needs a hug). But they somehow manage to play together. When Penny momentarily disappears in a game of hide and seek, Benny decides that pretending is better with his sister around than not.
Hayes has written and illustrated about 40 books, including early readers and a Margaret Wise Brown title, When the Wind Blew.
"The Big No-No!"
The Big No-No and Just Pretend are gently rendered in colored pencil and beautifully orchestrated and paced. The pages are a joy to experience. The little dialogue balloons are so natural and unobtrusive. The books give you the feeling that you’re eavesdropping on the real conversations of real children.
You can read a fascinating interview with Hayes on the Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast blog.
I haven’t yet seen Stinky about a polka-dotted swamp monster whose turf gets invaded by a little boy. It’s creator is a 25 year old rising comics star Eleanor Davis, a recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design. The American Library Association named Stinky its Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book for this year.
"Stinky"
* * * * *
Mark Mitchell hosts “How To Be A Children’s Book Illustrator.” To sample some free lessons from his online course on children’s book illustration, go here.
By: Mark G. Mitchell,
on 6/3/2009
“Graphic novels” for little bitty kids?
Comics for children age four and up?
"Just Pretend" by Geoffrey Hayes
Not such a preposterous idea. The intuitive narrative form of comics is a whole another kind of reading: Searching panels and pictures along with words for clues to events big and small in the story is an immersion narrative experience. It’s more active than watching video on a screen.
My “great books” education came from Classics Illustrated comics, which I loved. Did they ruin my appetite for dinner?
Heck no, I read plenty of real classics later. My readings of the actual Men Against the Sea, The Dark Frigate, King Solomon’s Mines, Frankenstein, David Copperfield, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and so many more were only enhanced by my first reading their comic book counterparts.
(In many cases the comics reading was a richer experience than plowing through the actual classic texts. Maybe that says more about me than any literary works. However that’s a story for another post.)
Thank you, Albert Kanter for the great contribution you made to kid culture with the Classic Illustrated series that ran for 30 years beginning in 1941.
On that note, Toon Books, produced by Raw Junior, LLC , endeavors to make comics readers of toddlers and tots.
And who better to tease little ones with artful pictures and graphics into an early habit of reading than, well, another comic book publisher.
Or more precisely a comics publisher/New Yorker magazine art director.
Françoise Mouly is a veteran of more than 800 New Yorker covers, a mom, and the co-founder and co-editor, with her husband cartoonist Art Spiegelman, of the avant garde comics anthology Raw Graphics. That’s where Spiegelman’s family account of the Holocaust, Maus, A Survivor’s Tale, that later won the Pulitzer Prize, first appeared. It was the first comic book to call itself a graphic novel .
Mouly also designed and edited books for Pantheon and Penguin in the late 1980’s and early 1990s. She was helping her first grade son with his reading. she discovered — to her dismay — “beginner reader” texts.
She substituted for their home reading sessions her giant collection of French comic books, and that worked like a charm. It got her thinking, and in 2000 she launched the RAW Junior division to publish “literary comics” for kids of all ages.
She enlisted star writers, artists and cartoonists such as Maurice Sendak, David Sedaris, Jules Feiffer and Gahan Wilson.
In 2008 she started the Toon Books imprint. These were 6″ by 9″ hard cover “comics” that very young children could read on their own.
“Comics have always had a unique ability to draw young readers into a story through the drawings,” Mouly told an interviewer. “Visual narrative helps kids crack the code that allows literacy to flourish, teaching them how to read from left to right, from top to bottom.”
“Comics use a broad range of sophisticated devices for communication,” the Toon Books website quotes Barbara Tversky, professor of Psychology at Stanford University and a Toon Books advisor.
“They are similar to face-to-face interactions, in which meaning is derived not solely from words, but also from gestures, intonation, facial expressions and props,” Tversky says. “Comics are more than just illustrated books, but rather make use of a multi-modal language that blends words, pictures, facial expressions, panel-to-panel progression, color, sound effects and more to engage readers in a compelling narrative.”
I like the Benny and Penny series by author illustrator Geoffrey Hayes, about sibling mice — a big brother and his little sister and do they ever ring true! In the latest title, The Big No-No, released this Spring, Benny and Penny confront the “new kid” next door.
In Just Pretend, Penny threatens to disrupt Benny’s make believe pirate game (because she needs a hug). But they somehow manage to play together. When Penny momentarily disappears in a game of hide and seek, Benny decides that pretending is better with his sister around than not.
Hayes has written and illustrated about 40 books, including early readers and a Margaret Wise Brown title, When the Wind Blew. The Big No-No and Just Pretend are gently rendered in colored pencil and beautifully orchestrated and paced. The pages are a joy to experience. The little dialogue balloons are so natural and unobtrusive. The books give you the feeling that you’re eavesdropping on the real conversations of real children.
You can read a fascinating interview with Hayes on the Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast blog.
I haven’t yet seen Stinky about a polka-dotted swamp monster whose turf gets invaded by a little boy. It’s creator is a 25 year old rising comics star Eleanor Davis, a recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design. The American Library Association named Stinky its Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book for this year.
The big No-No! by Geoffrey Hayes
"Luke on the Loose" by Harry Bliss
* * * * *
Mark Mitchell hosts “How To Be A Children’s Book Illustrator.” To sample some free lessons from his online course on children’s book illustration, go here.
By: Michelle,
on 4/3/2009
Below is another reflection on the life of a publicist from Michelle Rafferty. Rafferty has been a Publicity Assistant at Oxford University Press since September 2008. Prior to Oxford she interned at Norton Publishing for a summer and taught 9th & 10th grade Literature. She is chronicling her adventures in publishing every Friday so be sure to visit again next week.
When it comes to authors and actors I love, I can admit that what often begins as a routine Google search, sometimes develops into minor celebrity obsession. When I get the chance to meet some of these people, my perfectly planned speeches about how they changed my life go awry, and I usually just stand, silently gawking as they sign my book or theater bill, and then run away. I don’t forget what I plan on saying, rather I am terrified that anything I do or say will make me look like I an idiot; in this case I decide that the great American adage “the greatest risks are those not taken” simply doesn’t apply. If I make a fool out of myself, I’ll never live it down, reminded of it every time I see their face on a magazine cover. What if my favorite author hated me? I never could read their work again.
So when my friend invited me to a David Sedaris reading I became excited, not only because he is one of my favorite writers, but also because I thought I had a real shot of not looking like an idiot in front of him. I happened to read a piece of his in The New Yorker that week, in which he describes how (unlike a lot of authors) he loves his book tours, and puts in great effort to come up with a special question and gift for each person who approaches his signing table. This was good news. I didn’t have to start the conversation or come up with some meaningful anecdote. As far as I was concerned, when I marched up to that table, the ball was in his court.
In our seats at the Paramount Center for the Arts, in Peekskill, New York, my friend turned to me and said, “I bet he thinks we are all kind of dumb, spending $60 on tickets to hear him read stuff that we could just read ourselves.” I never thought about it this way, and my celebrity anxiety began to resurface. What if he was right—what if David Sedaris does see his blindly adoring fans as idiots? I could see his next essay saying something along the lines of: “How do you make money in these economic times? Simply open up a book, read and call it a tour, charging $60-$80 a pop.” As the evening progressed, I found that my friend was wrong on two fronts: 1) David Sedaris read all new material, so we couldn’t have read the stuff on our own 2) He didn’t think we (the fans) were dumb at all.
His new material was fresh and innovative, and in David Sedaris style: funny, empathetic, and perceptive when recalling his symbiotic relationships with loved ones and perfect strangers alike. After he read his first two essays and his diary entries, covering significant topics like the inauguration, gay marriage, and making nachos out of the consecrated Body of Christ, he played a clip from his favorite audio book Talking Heads (which he recommended “before anything I’ve written”) and closed with an open Q&A. The questions weren’t especially cerebral, sometimes not questions at all, for example, “Will you sing?”, “When did you start writing in your diary?”, and “Your dad seems like a great guy!” He responded kindly and at length, clearly having a great time. He even shared his diary entries over the past few days (which he keeps in a little notepad in his front pocket).
I also learned that our opinions mattered. One audience member asked why he was circling words with his pen when he read, and he explained that he was editing, making syntactical adjustments and gauging our reactions. He said, “When the audience coughs, it’s like they are throwing skulls at you,” and noted that after several readings his second story became much shorter.
At the end of the evening I waited in line with When You are Engulfed in Flames clutched in my hands, while people around me filled out their “Write your name as you would like it to appear” cards. Because I was keeping my copy for myself, I simply wrote “Michelle.” While others wrote careful messages for their loved ones, my anxiety soared once more as I realized David Sedaris would surely hate me for my pure selfishness. Anxiety still growing, I chatted with my friend, trying to hear what the author was saying to his fans. I noticed that he had a special power over couples; when they left his table it seemed like they were falling in love all over again, embracing, holding hands, and looking into one another’s eyes with wide grins. I even saw one guy dip his girlfriend into the proverbial Hollywood kiss.
When we stepped up to David Sedaris’ table, we found ourselves in the presence of a warm, smiling man with a rather remarkable tan. Somehow I found myself able to answer his questions (Where are you from? What do you do?) with coherent sentences. He offered me a present from his bag (I chose a piece of bubble gum, which has since been chewed and saved). He told us a little anecdote about a mentally unstable fan, which had my friend and I cracking up. At this moment I felt so relaxed that I leaned over, looked in his eyes and asked something I had been wondering since I read his last New Yorker piece: “Did you really give out condoms to fans?” “Oh yes!” he responded, “Last night I had a bus load of 8th graders come, and they completely wiped me out of all my soaps, shampoos, and condoms.” (To clarify, these were shampoos and soaps that he picked up in his hotels during his tour.) We broke down into laughter once more, thanked him, and kindly stepped aside to let someone else enjoy the aura of David Sedaris.
As my friend and I walked down to the Peekskill train station, it smelled like rain and the streetlights seemed to twinkle. My friend knew just what to say: “He loved you!” And you know what, I think he did. But I’m not special. I think David Sedaris genuinely loves every one of his fans (even the mentally unstable ones). Sure, we make great fodder for his stories, but I also think he holds a discernible reverence for us. We indulge in his stories and his life, and he wants to learn as much about ours, which he does in as little time as he can.
Of course we’re not the only folks writing about books and bookselling. Here are a few other tidbits for you.
Have a great weekend!
When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
… ‘David Sedaris’s ability to transform the mortification of everyday life into wildly entertaining art,’ (The Christian Science Monitor) is elevated to wilder and more entertaining heights than ever in this remarkable new book. …
[we just can’t get enough of Mr. Sedaris’ books. His stuff sells as fast as we can find it]
Top 10 Best Selling Books of 1952
You will find these titles easily in any good used book store, garage sales, flea markets, auctions, and internet book shops. This list of the top 10 bestsellers for 1952 was compiled by Publishers Weekly magazine. …
It’s one of my favorite discussions. I love to sell books. Some might even say I have a mutant power of sorts; this uncanny ability to match a person to the perfect book, which they didn’t even know they wanted. …
Can Somebody Make Money Selling E-Books Online?
Naturally the big challenge with selling e-books is to attract traffic in high enough volumes to successfully get a steady stream of enough prospects to be able to register sales regularly. One of the ways of doing this is through …
Your books ain’t gonna sell themselves!
One of my favorite methods for marketing and selling books is with live events. This used to be my primary method before I got immersed in the power of Internet Marketing. Channel: Books Tags: selling books authors writers marketing …
Effective Strategies For Selling Books Online
The first thing that you will need to do prior to selling books online is decide which genre you would like to specialize in. Many online entrepreneurs have found that by selling books that are informative, and nonfiction in basis, …
We will be sending out these link lists a little more often, perhaps at least once a week. If you have a blog related to books and want us to include it here please drop me a line. Hope you enjoy these ones.
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By: Alice,
on 6/10/2008
Sent by the long-suffering Val, this new article from Scientific American reveals the truth we in the blogosphere have known all along--blogging is good for you. It boosts dopamine, helps people make connections with other like-minded people, and yes, even fosters a sense of placebo catharsis that someone else is listening to my troubles.
If you're feeling blue, then it's time to blog. Would THAT be cool? Your doctor writes out a prescription: 3 tablets, 2 walks in the sunshine and 1 blog post and call me in the morning.
***
DID anyone else hear David Sedaris on Fresh Air last night? That guy cracks me up. Here's on a book tour for his new book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames and was talking about Hugh, his long-suffering but always heroic boyfriend who can do anything. And random association time. Sedaris's being on a book tour reminds me of Patricia Martin's inspiration for Ren Gen--David Sedaris reading to a sell out crowd.
All of this is probably, as my friend and colleague Kate says, "fascinating, but irrelevant..."
Happy Tuesday.
By: Needlesville, N.Y.,
on 5/7/2007
(I went to see him speak recently, he's even funnier in person!)
By: Alan D.,
on 2/26/2007
0 Comments on Amazing Audio Things, and Pictures. No Blood Anywhere. as of 1/1/1900
Ha! Great illustration. I loved that story. :)
Thank you Mike. It's a great story, so honest. Children can be so evil and selfish.
this is great, the cigarette is a nice touch