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Yeterday Jen, Kristi and I went to the CSU campus to see Garth Stein, Fort Collins Reads featured author for 2010. Stein wrote The Art of Racing in the Rain, a story narrated by a dog which is perfect for Fort Collins the Dog-Loving City. Both Dan and I had read this book back in California after a friend died of cancer, and after we had to put our dog to sleep, so you can imagine it was a tear-jerker for us. I have since passed the book on, but I do recommend it for both men and women. Stein knows how to push everyone's buttons. And if you're into race car driving, there are some great scenes and similes.

My favorite story Garth told at his presentation was about firing his agent two days before Thanksgiving, for not believing he could sell a story narrated by a dog. Well, he showed him!

What happens when 36 authors collaboratively write a novel in six days?

The Novel: Live co-founder Garth Stein explained the writing marathon’s fundraising success this week: “We set a goal of 60,000 words in six days … and were thrilled when we ended up with 72,000 words. But more importantly, we raised over $10,000 in donations for literacy.”

Besides the sales from the novel (due for release in spring 2011), funds were raised at an online auction. One New York woman paid $450 to include a specific character name in the novel, for example. These funds will help programs like Writers in the Schools, 826 Seattle, and the Richard Hugo House. People all over the world watched the writers work live through online video. Overall, the viewers spent more than 165,000 minutes on the site’s chat room.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Since Monday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. PST 36 Northwest authors have been writing a novel that will be completed in just six days. They are calling it a "stunning, never-before-attempted marathon of literary wonder."

Every author brings something special to the project, which is a fundraiser for Writers in the Schools and 826 Seattle, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center dedicated to helping kids ages six to 18 improve their writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. David Lasky draws his section. Kevin O'Brien is killing off a character, whose name Nancy Pearl auctioned off at the Sunday kick-off party at Elliott Bay Books. Susan Wiggs is writing the ending, which seems like the hardest task of all.

You'll recognize many of the names behind the event, including Garth Stein, Jamie Ford, Elizabeth George, and Erik Larson.

The first day kicked off with my friend Jennie Shortridge (When She Flew). As Shelf Awareness says, "The authors have a story map and an individual goal, but it was up to Jennie to set it all in motion. And while she typed, the audience called out suggestions. Early on, she asked the audience for help with teenage Alexis's skin tone.

"Cocoa?"

"Latte?"

She decided on "latte creamy."

The she wanted to set the tone for a mortuary visit:

"If it's any time except August or September, it's pretty much rain."

"Yeah, we must have rain."
 
At 10:40, she wondered why she ever threw in a pirate named Ursula.

"If Alexis is wearing a black wool sweater, does she go to a Catholic School?"

"She might."

.... A bit after 11, Jennie needed a lifeline, so she called author Marisa de los Santos for help: "I introduced a crow--do I keep it?" Yes. "I need a name for the mother." Edith.

Authors Denise Banker and Joyce Yarrow synopsized Jennie's story for the next writer, Teri Hein, who took over at noon.

Check it out yourself at The Novel Live!. You can watch the novel progress as it streams live.

By Nikita & Redford

Translated by Jen Quigley, Sales Associate, and Betsy DeJesu, Publicity Manager

Though the 2010 World Cup has drawn to a close, there is a very important lesson we can glean from that spectacular, month-long, global soccer match. And not just that vuvuzelas are very ear-splittingly loud. Instead, the World Cup has shown us that despite our many differences—of geography, culture, languages, time zones, and beers of choice—there are still certain things that can bring together even the most opposite of peoples.

In that spirit of unity, then, we wanted to foster a partnership between two of the world’s most, shall we say, unfriendly beings. We’re not talking about Team Jacob vs. Team Edward or the Yankees vs. Red Sox vendetta. We’re talking about the real deal. That’s right. Dogs and cats.

Though typically considered enemies and many times relegated to different parts of the yard, we are here today to take the first steps to bridge the gap between our species. Representing for canines will be Redford, and weighing in for the feline perspective will be Nikita. Redford and Nikita have agreed to meet on neutral territory to open up a dialogue and see if they can find some common ground for their people to run around on.

Nikita: Hello, Redford. Thank you for agreeing to this meeting. Please disregard the copious amounts of catnip I have sprinkled on the floor. It keeps me grounded during situations like this.

Redford: (Silence…Redford looks up from eating catnip off the floor). Bone. Cat. Squirrel. (more chewing).

Nikita: Let’s start. I figured that since we are both big readers, we could discuss our love of the written word.

Redford: I like book. Smells good. Tastes even better. Squirrel!!! (Redford takes off and returns several moments later out of breathe.) I like book. (Panting….)

Nikita: Great. First question: What recent book, in your opinion, deserves two paws up and a tail wag?

Redford: Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain. Paws down. Stein took it to another level with this one. Intellectual pups, race cars, rain puddles and a bunch of tail wagging moments between person and dog. Truly an empowering moment for any young canine after reading this book. I mean, it’s our job to take care of our people and any person, cat or dog that thinks otherwise can duke it out with Mr. Stein.

Nikita: Who is your favorite character in literary fiction and why? It’s okay if it is a human. Or a cat. No one will judge.

Redford: Does the squirrel sitting outside that window count….

Nikita: What was your favorite book when you were a puppy?

Redford: That monkey, George. I like him. Yellow Hat. Hugs. Monkey.

Nikita: Blog vs. print?

Redford: Bone. Wait, what? Oh sorry. My little legs prevent me from reaching the computer screen. Print. Read it. Eat it. Pee on it. Enjoy it.

Nikita: Steampunk or YA fiction?

Redford: When I grow up I’m going to be an astronaut. (Redford lies down to lick his paws and scrounges for catnip crumbs,)

Nikita: Thank you for your time, Redford. I hope thi

Life lessons abound in any great book, and Garth Stein --- author of THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN --- shares a poignant one his young son learned through the pages of a collection of sports photography.It's been a crazy December for us. My son, who plays on a U-11 soccer team (there's some terminology that will separate the soccer folks from the non-soccer folks), was on a juggernaut with his

Simply stated, I loved this book. And no, it's not just because it happens to be narrated by a dog. I know what you all are thinking, I'm dog obsessed (yes, I am), but this book is worth reading even if you aren't a dog fan. It's unique, addictive, and wonderfully sad. I wish Enzo could meet my Shae, I think they would be friends.

Enzo is the family dog of Denny, a professional race car drive, his wife Eve, and little daughter Zoe, and is the narrator of Garth Stein's lovely new book. The first paragraph indicates that Enzo is telling his story of growing up with this family on the eve of his death, setting in motion a plot that is sad, yet so beautiful. Through Enzo's eyes, we are able to see Denny meet his soulmate in Eve, marry her and have Zoe. We see Eve become ill and eventually pass away, leaving Denny to deal with more than he ever bargained for. Depression, a court trial, and heartbreak are all shown through Enzo.

I loved the manner in which Enzo took care of his family, yet was still able to be just a dog at the same time. The writing is wonderful, not to mention incredibly unique. This is one title everyone should read. I've said that about very few books, but The Art of Racing in the Rain is most certainly one that should make the list. I believe that the way Enzo views his family is the way that all dogs view their families...as something to love and protect, have fun with and mourn with. Dogs are so much more intelligent than we give them credit for. They really are our best friends and Enzo gives us that needed glimpse into a dog's perspective. Read this!

There is a great video preview of the book at Amazon. Watch it! The dog is the perfect Enzo!

Kevin Kelly, who a couple of years ago wrote this provocative article on the future of books, is at it again, this time asking how it is possible to charge for something in a digital world where the cost of duplication and redistribution is almost exactly zero. While books are not the focus of his latest blog post, he could be talking about the publishing industry when he says 'Our wealth sits upon a very large device that copies promiscuously and constantly.'

The problem for content producers and owners, as he describes it, is that 'Once anything that can be copied [eg ebooks] is brought into contact with [the] internet, it will be copied, and those copies never leave. Even a dog knows you can't erase something once it's flowed on the internet.' For book publishers, struggling with issues of ebook pricing, or looking askance at the record business where copy protection is on the way out and the price of recorded music slides inexorably towards free, working out how to create value and encourage people to pay for digital products is becoming an important issue.

But happily Kelly has a possible balm;

'When copies are free, you need to sell things which cannot be copied.'

He suggests 8 'values', including authority, personalization and immediacy which increase value for the user and potentially could encourage payment for a something which might otherwise have a tangible value close to zero. I'm not going to copy his entire article here (though I could simply reproduce a digital copy at no cost to myself at all) - but I do suggest checking it out, it is a most worthwhile read. Perhaps most usefully (and something that really should be obvious) is his suggestion that business models are considered from the point of view not of the content creator, owner or distributor, but from the users perspective; What, he asks, can encourage us to pay for something we can get for free?

Meanwhile, the O'Reilly publishing conference is today starting in New York. At last years' conference Chris Anderson scandalized attending publishers when he said that he was trying to get his new book, Free, priced as close to, er, free, as possible since for him books were an advertisement for his speaking and consultancy business. As every single publisher said, 'that's great for him, but what about us?'. Kevin Kelly, thankfully, provides ample food for thought.

Jeremy Ettinghausen, Digital Publisher

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