I’ve recently finished Pablo D’Stair’s slim novel, Kaspar Traulhaine, Approximate.
First, I want to say that the whole thing – in many ways – is confusing: The title doesn’t fit any standard expectation; D’Stair is giving the book away for free; he uses a non-standard method of indicating quotes*; the publishing company is Brownpaperpublishing but [...]

Maryann Thomas, who “runs The Ginger Press in the heart of Owen Sound” in Ontario has just started a new blog called From My Corner.
I don’t know Maryann, and have never spoken with her. She is only 3 posts in as I write this. But I like what she’s done so far and [...]

I could not be happier to be included among the writers and supporters of IndieBookMan. Brad and I have indeed been talking up a storm of late and late at night so much so that I do not quite calm down enough to get to sleep. But writers and small business owners suffer similar fates, [...]

Robert Gray has a great piece in Shelf Awareness this morning about the quirkiness of bookstores. He reminisces about some of his favorites – including a couple of long-gone gems here in Baltimore.
“beer took precedence over books, which became more motif than merchandise, and the stube itself became a cluttered caricature of its humble [...]

So, I just got word from… someone… somewhere… that they just registered a book at AuthorsBookshop.com for a person that is close to them… as a Christmas present!
I’m not saying who did this, or where they are from, or in what way they are related to the recipient to protect the surprise.
But I just had [...]

Here’s another chapter in the saga of Vox Pop — our attempts to expand our bookstore/cafe/publishing empire. Enjoy! — Andy Laties

Chapter 4
When he released me from his embrace, Shelly Drobny reached into the air, strained upwards with his fingers, grasped something invisible, and shouted, “You’ve got the brass ring!”
The plan was a million dollars to [...]

Here’s something that showed up in my inbox that looks like a fun and important read:

COMING IN DECEMBERSelf-Defense for Radicals: A to Z Guide for Subversive StruggleBy Mickey ZRadicals, feminists, environmentalists. Activists for animal rights, human rights, civil rights. There are plenty of rebels and dissidents putting their asses on the line. Conversely, there’s [...]

Vox Pop, Sander, and Me — Chapter 2
Mid-sentence the photographer across the street entered my awareness. How long had he been standing there? Sunglasses, khaki jacket, muscular, bulky camera, snapping photos of me? Me and Holley, rather, chatting about our big plans.
The Vox Pop lease had been signed. It was September 2004 and [...]

Well, the book is out to advanced press. And some left-leaning bloggers and websites are combing through Palin’s claims. If you aren’t a fan of Palin, you probably aren’t surprised to hear that they are finding some statements in the books that… stretch the truth a bit. Salon has a good shakedown [...]

Here’s another installment from my forthcoming book. (I won’t post every chapter, only occassional ones.)
VoxPop, Sander and Me — Chapter 3
“Fifty thousand in cash! Fifty thousand in cash to launch your new indie bookstore! Get your free fifty thousand!” I was passing out translucent envelopes containing banknotes, stickers and silver coins to attendees strolling the [...]