Commentary on various aspects of publishing and marketing, primarily focused on books, magazines, and social media.
Took another one of those online polls today, "What Pisses You Off?" I got "Stupid People Piss You Off." Well, duh! That's not worth posting. On a lighter note, Sunday's Pietri benefit was a great success. Kudos to Fish for pulling it off lovely. I got there about an hour-and-a-half in, Isaac on one arm, his diaper bag NOT on the other! Realized it when I offered him his juice. Thankfully, he held the bodily functions in check the whole time and we made it home afterwards without incident. He's a funny kid - painfully shy in unfamiliar company but…
Had the pleasure of doing a reading/Q&A at the Riverdale Neighborhood House last night for a group of teens from a workshop run by Corie Feiner (fka Corie Herman) as part of a residency she's had since 2000, thanks to Poets & Writers. One of the coolest gigs I could imagine, teaching kids writing in the Bronx. The RNH is a great setup, too, offering various after-school opportunities for local kids, many of whom aren't from Riverdale but from Marble Hill and Kingsbridge. Hope something like that is available when Isaac and India get older. Got a jar of teen-made…
From the "No wonder people don't bother" file: Went to vote this morning and realized that it's the first time I'm voting IN New York City. I've voted absentee while in the Army, in New Jersey while living there, and even in Virginia last year, where I was impressed by their hi-tech setup. My polling place for today was a beat-up warehouse of a church manned primarily by what appeared to be beneficiaries of their Meals On Wheels program. Seriously. Other than the three college-age kids helping out, there wasn't a volunteer there under the age of 70. I'm just…
David Wells is going down tonight like a fat drunk in a bar fight with a midget. Oh, wait. That WAS David Wells! Let's go Marlins!!!!!!!!! In other news, Bard was a bust so I'm looking for something else to read. Got about 10 pages in and just couldn't get into Llywelyn's style of writing. Too bad, as I was hoping for something along the lines of an Irish version of Aztec. Grabbed Edwidge Danticat's Breath, Eyes, Memory off our bookshelf this morning and got through the first chapter on the train before giving in to a nap. Nothing to…
Because I'm avoiding work... A - Act your age: 34 (shh!) B - Best friend: Salomé, Eric C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathroom D - Dad's name: Francisco E - Essential make-up item: Hair Gel F - Favorite actress: Salma Hayek G - Gold or silver: Silver H - Hometown: Bronx, NY I - Instruments you play: Pens, computers, heartstrings... J - Job title: Marketing Coordinator K - Kids: Yes; Isaac & India L - Living arrangements: My wife & kids M - Mom's Name: Debra N - Number of people you've slept with: More than one, less…
First of all, what marketing genius thought that the marginally-talented, off-Broadway-bound RUNNER-UP Clay Aiken was an appropriate choice for singing the National Anthem of the first game of the World Series?!?! That was as classless as the bonehead Yankee fans booing the Marlins during the introductions. Speaking of booing during introductions - in a funny way, though - that's exactly how I was greeted at Amherst last night after the host read the bio I provided him: "Guy LeCharles Gonzalez is from the Bronx, but he is not a Yankee fan." I didn't expect to run into so many Yankee…
Mr. Lawnge's remix of Queen's Flash Gordon Theme is playing on my Launch station as I start writing this. :-) A busy week ahead as I'm taking two days off work to head up to SUNY-Oneonta for a feature on Wednesday night. Robb Thibault - Fargo, 1998 - runs the Student Union and invited me to open their slam season. Have a full 30-40 minutes so I'm looking forward to stretching my legs and doing some pieces I haven't done in awhile. Getting paid nicely, too, which is always a good thing! Hung out with Phil West on Friday night,…
