Personal

Guy stuff.

An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Thrillerfest 2008

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez and Kathleen AntrimThrillerfest kicked off yesterday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel here in New York and I had the pleasure of attending the full day — I’ll be back tonight and most of Saturday — meeting some great people, picking up some interesting books, and taking in some insightful information on the publishing game from the perspective of successful authors in the thriller genre. Prior to attending, I considered myself a fan of thrillers but quickly realized the genre I tend to enjoy most is classified more as mystery than thriller — marketing semantics that, according to several authors, means more money for the thriller genre — the difference being the former’s focus on figuring out what happened while the latter emphasizes something that’s going to happen and the clock is ticking.

Lawrence Block’s Scudder series, my hands-down genre favorite, definitely falls under crime mystery, while Charlie Huston’s Thompson and Greg Rucka’s Kodiak series are thrillers, though neither author is in attendance at the show nor represented in the Barnes & Noble bookstore on-site, presumably because neither is a member of the sponsoring organization, International Thriller Writers. Inspired by the energy of the conference, I picked up four novels by authors I’ve never read before, including Kathleen Antrim (pictured, right), Steve Berry, Andrew Gross and David Liss, all but the latter I saw or met yesterday. I’ve started reading Antrim’s Capital Offense, which she describes as “What if the First Lady was plotting to kill the President?” and so far, it’s a brisk read that hits all the right notes expected from the genre.

The first session of the day, Learn How to Pitch Your Book (conducted by Antrim & Bob Mayer), was particularly fascinating for its breakdown of the process of developing a 25-word summary of your book that serves not just as your pitch to agents and editors — the only two influential people who will have actually read your entire book before it hits the bookshelves — but when done well, will represent it all the way through the sales process, internally and externally.

(more…)

Continue ReadingThrillerfest 2008
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Bloomfield Station

This is the Bloomfield station where I catch the train into the City every day. It's a shame that this part of it is in such a state of disrepair -- especially considering the other side just got a nice facelift -- but politics have apparently gotten in the way of its restoration and the surrounding area's revitalization. It would be nice to see a development plan that balances local flavor with notable franchises, a small movie theater and a good selection of restaurants because I'd rather not drive up to Montclair whenever we want to find something new and…

Continue ReadingBloomfield Station
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Breaking Ground

Bloomfieldguy

There are 8 million stories in the naked city, plus another 2-3 million, give or take, if you count the transplants who still commute in for work from the surrounding cities and towns in Long Island, Connecticut and, yes, New Jersey.

From Bloomberg to Bloomfield is my story, a native New Yorker on his third go-round living in the Garden State, now as a first-time homeowner in the town of Bloomfield, which is in Essex County, due West of the Lincoln Tunnel and just north of Newark and East Orange, which are effectively the Bronx to Bloomfield’s Mt. Vernon, the former being where I’m from originally, the latter where I lived for most of my high school years.

(more…)

Continue ReadingBreaking Ground
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Spindle Update: Scheduling Delays

If you’re one of Spindle‘s obsessive readers who’s figured out our update schedule and checks in every second Tuesday for new content, you’ve probably noticed our schedule has been slipping a bit the past couple of months.  Thankfully, it’s not for lack of content, as the submissions continue to come in at a steady pace and many of them are pretty good!*

Truth is, I started a new job about two months ago and it has completely swallowed up the little bit of free time I used to have to keep Spindle on its intended monthly schedule.  Plus, I’m coaching my son’s Little League team AND Salomé just wrapped up her Master’s Degree AND we just bought our first house, so Spindle-time has been virtually non-existent since the beginning of March.

No worries about the fun coming to a premature end, though, as I expect to be back on a regular schedule shortly, and will post mini-updates sporadically whenever I’m able to until I do get back on schedule. I’m particularly excited about the upcoming debut of our newest column, “GSNY”, by Gabrielle Sierra, who has a great voice and some very interesting stories to tell.

(more…)

Continue ReadingSpindle Update: Scheduling Delays
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Goodbye Potter’s Field

Home ownership is a key theme in one of my favorite movies, It’s a Wonderful Life, and as I called our current landlord this morning to officially let them know we won’t be renewing our lease, I couldn’t help but recall the scene where Mr. Martini is moving his family into their new home courtesy of a loan from the old Bailey Bros. Building & Loan Association:

“No more we live like pigs in this Potter’s Field!”

While our apartment is far from a slum, we’ve definitely outgrown it, both physically and psychologically, and more than any other step we’ve taken in the home buying process so far, making that phone call felt like the most concrete affirmation yet that we’re really doing it. There was also a bit of the bittersweet there with the realization that, after a combined 17 years, I will likely never live in the Bronx again.

Of course, It’s A Wonderful Life has an answer for that, too:

(more…)

Continue ReadingGoodbye Potter’s Field
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

I’m Not Dead

…but I certainly feel like I’ve been buried alive lately!

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdnljEV7MP4]

Speaking, tangentially, of being careful what you wish for*, I’d totally understand if Obama was really close to just saying “screw y’all” and handing the nomination to Clinton. Hunter S. Thompson’s sentiment — paraprashing someone else, I believe — “In a democracy, people usually get the kind of government they deserve, and they deserve what they get.” has never felt truer than the past month or so. Thanks to the new job, I’ve successfully taken a break from the Democratic primary and avoided last night’s debate, but Andrew Sullivan’s on-the-fly take and IllDoctrine’s parody (above) confirmed that it was even worse than I expected it to be. Say what you want about Clinton’s “right” to continue her campaign, when your only hope is to carpet bomb your opponent and hope he doesn’t survive the assault, I’d say that’s akin to one’s First Amendment rights stopping at yelling “Fire!” in a movie theater.

(more…)

Continue ReadingI’m Not Dead
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Walk Now for Autism, 2008

India and Daddy in Inwood ParkDid you know that every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism?

Three years ago, our daughter India was diagnosed with PDD-NOS – an Autism Spectrum Disorder. After three years of intense therapy and lots of support from organizations dedicated to families of children with Autism, India has come a long way and while she still has some trouble with communicating and overstimulation, she no longer presents with the symptoms typically associated with Autism.

Please help me give other children the same opportunity by supporting me as I walk with Team 352X again in this year’s Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism fund-raising event.

This is my 3rd year walking — 2nd year with Team 352X — and I consider it one of the most important things I do each year. Your financial support is most appreciated, not just on behalf of my daughter India and the great kids my wife Salomé teaches at 352X, but for all the kids and their families who benefit from an increased awareness of autism and the additional resources that are becoming available due to that increased awareness.

(more…)

Continue ReadingWalk Now for Autism, 2008
Newer Posts
Older Posts