There have been countless songs, poems and stories written about people that come into our lives and then move on like smoke in a breeze. I think about that often. Do you?
In each of our lives, from the moment of self-awareness as a young child, infant maybe, people begin passing through and leaving impressions beginning early and then afterwards for a lifetime. The person that leaves that indelible print on our psyche may never personally reappear in our lives but, that individual shares responsibility for who we were, become, are, and will be. We are undeniably products of that presence, no matter how brief.
Of course there are parents, siblings, first loves, classmates and friends but that’s not necessarily who I’m referring to. It’s all those others; doctors, neighbors, teachers, friends of friends, people met in passing at dances, restaurants, church and other public functions—people on the periphery that touch us and move on.
How many events, situations, faces, or verbal exchanges have you had, good or bad, that is burned so deeply that you’ll never forget them? Interestingly, I’ll wager there are many you can think of, that, to this very day, affect your opinions, how you feel about certain things, or maybe just a cozy feeling you want to hang on to for a lifetime?
There are many I claim as Facebook friends that my personal association with can literally be measured in mere seconds over four decades ago, yet, are crystal in my memory and have left their mark on my mind and in my heart. I would even go as far as to say that some do not remember me at all ... doesn’t matter, because they effected me profoundly in some way.
Of course, we should never forget our friends and family, but what about all the others?
Allow me to set a scenario, a true example of what I say here: It is 1986, Carnival Cruise ship, port of call-San Juan, Puerto Rico; passengers and crew with shore leave are disembarking. I find myself in a slow moving line and a young man with cottony blond hair turns to me with a smile and says, “Hi, I’m Afrikaaner. Are you American?”
I loved his accent and was touched that he took the initiative to strike up a conversation. “Yeah,” I replied, “I am. Are you on vacation?”
“Oh, no, I’m your cabin steward.”
Of course I was immediately embarrassed I didn’t recognize him out of his white uniform. In fact he had on a plain white t-shirt, beltless Levis and flipflops with a rolled-up Playboy magazine in his hip pocket. I’m sure I flushed red; my face was hot. “I’m sorry I didn’t—“
“Oh no, don’t apologize. You have no reason to remember me but I’ll always remember you.”
“Huh?”
“You’re the only person in my section that shook my hand when I showed you your cabin. I’ll always remember that small kindness. Some bad things have happened to me lately and I wasn’t having a great day. But your smile and handshake changed that. I hope our paths cross again after this cruise.”
This was the first time in my life that it penetrated my thick skull that what we say and do, even the smallest things, can have a profound impact at times.
Now, I think of all the mental snapshots I carry from a lifetime of similar encounters and realize that not a single one can be discounted as unimportant.
This is my way of saying thanks for strolling into and then out of my life because you left your mark, and it is good.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press 2010/ ebook available
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX
“Dancing Away”/short story/Untreed Reads
COMING IN 2012
“Defining Family”
“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”
Novelist
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright, Author
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth
You know, it’s not supposed to be the geek that shall inherit the earth.
Something I think about often, and worry about a little, too, is that our entire functioning world hinges on those things that can be plugged in to a power source. As tech toys flood world markets at an alarming rate, we as humans, and supposedly sentient beings, are actually losing our humanity at the same speed. We are but a collection of numbers and symbols in a database somewhere and, therefore, living and existing at the pleasure of people who know how to manipulate those numbers and symbols.
I think, though, I want to take this discussion in a slightly different direction. Let me set a hypothetical scenario for you. Let’s say it’s the year 2012 and Osama bin Laden’s replacement is much savvier about technology than his predecessor—not how to use it, but what ceases to happen without it. Politicians and power moguls can argue all they like that we have too many redundancies in our grid system to worry much about terrorism on electricity production. I’ll only buy into that premise to a point. For the most part, I choose to believe that such talk is self-serving to maintain central control even as many different companies distribute power. The reason is simple, distributors distribute, they don’t produce.
How many remember the northeastern power outage of 1965; how about the one in 2003? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_2003 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965
It’s not worth boring you with technical jargon or excuses for the outages. I’m not intelligent enough for that anyhow. But, what is fascinating to note, is how little it took to take down a huge chunk of the northeastern United States in an instant. And both times it stayed down for a frighteningly long period. Now, multiply that by two or three other central power producing locations.
I think you know where I’m going with this; the U-S, with the possible exception of the military, would be blind, deaf and dumb. How long do you think it would take for panic and mayhem to set in, sides chosen and warring tribes to emerge battling over scraps of food?
I challenge each one reading this to look around and count the number of young people you personally know that have no clue how a loaf of bread is made or what from, where ham comes from or how to make it, how to make cheese or butter, have never gathered eggs from a coop, have no idea how to spin yarn, sew, weave, build a chair from tree branches, or even something as simple as walking into an open pasture and knowing what is edible and what is poison. This list could go on and on. Unfortunately, these are the people that now rule the world and are currently breeding offspring that think their futures hinge on new products from Apple and Microsoft or how well the stock of one investment company does versus another, or what political party will best serve them.
I think I’ll get to work writing a novel of catastrophe and call it, “The Geek That Inherited The Earth” or maybe, “The United States Unplugged”. Of course neither have much hope of a happy ending if I insist on too many truisms. I would have to go whole hog and create a fantasy world because, really, who’d believe society could collapse just because someone pulled the power plug. Absurd. Right?
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press 2010/ ebook available
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX
“Dancing Away”/short story/Untreed Reads
COMING IN 2012
“Defining Family”
“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”
Something I think about often, and worry about a little, too, is that our entire functioning world hinges on those things that can be plugged in to a power source. As tech toys flood world markets at an alarming rate, we as humans, and supposedly sentient beings, are actually losing our humanity at the same speed. We are but a collection of numbers and symbols in a database somewhere and, therefore, living and existing at the pleasure of people who know how to manipulate those numbers and symbols.
I think, though, I want to take this discussion in a slightly different direction. Let me set a hypothetical scenario for you. Let’s say it’s the year 2012 and Osama bin Laden’s replacement is much savvier about technology than his predecessor—not how to use it, but what ceases to happen without it. Politicians and power moguls can argue all they like that we have too many redundancies in our grid system to worry much about terrorism on electricity production. I’ll only buy into that premise to a point. For the most part, I choose to believe that such talk is self-serving to maintain central control even as many different companies distribute power. The reason is simple, distributors distribute, they don’t produce.
How many remember the northeastern power outage of 1965; how about the one in 2003? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_2003 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965
It’s not worth boring you with technical jargon or excuses for the outages. I’m not intelligent enough for that anyhow. But, what is fascinating to note, is how little it took to take down a huge chunk of the northeastern United States in an instant. And both times it stayed down for a frighteningly long period. Now, multiply that by two or three other central power producing locations.
I think you know where I’m going with this; the U-S, with the possible exception of the military, would be blind, deaf and dumb. How long do you think it would take for panic and mayhem to set in, sides chosen and warring tribes to emerge battling over scraps of food?
I challenge each one reading this to look around and count the number of young people you personally know that have no clue how a loaf of bread is made or what from, where ham comes from or how to make it, how to make cheese or butter, have never gathered eggs from a coop, have no idea how to spin yarn, sew, weave, build a chair from tree branches, or even something as simple as walking into an open pasture and knowing what is edible and what is poison. This list could go on and on. Unfortunately, these are the people that now rule the world and are currently breeding offspring that think their futures hinge on new products from Apple and Microsoft or how well the stock of one investment company does versus another, or what political party will best serve them.
I think I’ll get to work writing a novel of catastrophe and call it, “The Geek That Inherited The Earth” or maybe, “The United States Unplugged”. Of course neither have much hope of a happy ending if I insist on too many truisms. I would have to go whole hog and create a fantasy world because, really, who’d believe society could collapse just because someone pulled the power plug. Absurd. Right?
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press 2010/ ebook available
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX
“Dancing Away”/short story/Untreed Reads
COMING IN 2012
“Defining Family”
“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”
Friday, May 20, 2011
Are Print Books in Danger Of Extinction?
The following is a partial reprint from the May 19th edition of Business Wire. It is a fascinating sign of the times in the publishing industry. I wonder where it will go next. -dlw
(NASDAQ:AMZN)--Amazon began selling hardcover and paperback books in July 1995. Twelve years later in November 2007, Amazon introduced the revolutionary Kindle and began selling Kindle books. By July 2010, Kindle book sales had surpassed hardcover book sales, and six months later, Kindle books overtook paperback books to become the most popular format on Amazon.com. Today, less than four years after introducing Kindle books, Amazon.com customers are now purchasing more Kindle books than all print books - hardcover and paperback - combined.
"Customers are now choosing Kindle books more often than print books. We had high hopes that this would happen eventually, but we never imagined it would happen this quickly - we've been selling print books for 15 years and Kindle books for less than four years," said Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO, Amazon.com. "In addition, we're excited by the response to Kindle with Special Offers for only $114, which has quickly become the bestselling member of the Kindle family. We continue to receive positive comments from customers on the low $114 price and the money-saving special offers. We're grateful to our customers for continuing to make Kindle the bestselling e-reader in the world and the Kindle Store the most popular e-bookstore in the world."
Recent milestones for Kindle include:
Since April 1, for every 100 print books Amazon.com has sold, it has sold 105 Kindle books. This includes sales of hardcover and paperback books by Amazon where there is no Kindle edition. Free Kindle books are excluded and if included would make the number even higher.
So far in 2011, the tremendous growth of Kindle book sales, combined with the continued growth in Amazon's print book sales, have resulted in the fastest year-over-year growth rate for Amazon's U.S. books business, in both units and dollars, in over 10 years. This includes books in all formats, print and digital. Free books are excluded in the calculation of growth rates.
In the five weeks since its introduction, Kindle with Special Offers for only $114 is already the bestselling member of the Kindle family in the U.S.
Amazon sold more than 3x as many Kindle books so far in 2011 as it did during the same period in 2010.
Less than one year after introducing the UK Kindle Store, Amazon.co.uk is now selling more Kindle books than hardcover books, even as hardcover sales continue to grow. Since April 1, Amazon.co.uk customers are purchasing Kindle books over hardcover books at a rate of more than 2 to 1.
(NASDAQ:AMZN)--Amazon began selling hardcover and paperback books in July 1995. Twelve years later in November 2007, Amazon introduced the revolutionary Kindle and began selling Kindle books. By July 2010, Kindle book sales had surpassed hardcover book sales, and six months later, Kindle books overtook paperback books to become the most popular format on Amazon.com. Today, less than four years after introducing Kindle books, Amazon.com customers are now purchasing more Kindle books than all print books - hardcover and paperback - combined.
"Customers are now choosing Kindle books more often than print books. We had high hopes that this would happen eventually, but we never imagined it would happen this quickly - we've been selling print books for 15 years and Kindle books for less than four years," said Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO, Amazon.com. "In addition, we're excited by the response to Kindle with Special Offers for only $114, which has quickly become the bestselling member of the Kindle family. We continue to receive positive comments from customers on the low $114 price and the money-saving special offers. We're grateful to our customers for continuing to make Kindle the bestselling e-reader in the world and the Kindle Store the most popular e-bookstore in the world."
Recent milestones for Kindle include:
Since April 1, for every 100 print books Amazon.com has sold, it has sold 105 Kindle books. This includes sales of hardcover and paperback books by Amazon where there is no Kindle edition. Free Kindle books are excluded and if included would make the number even higher.
So far in 2011, the tremendous growth of Kindle book sales, combined with the continued growth in Amazon's print book sales, have resulted in the fastest year-over-year growth rate for Amazon's U.S. books business, in both units and dollars, in over 10 years. This includes books in all formats, print and digital. Free books are excluded in the calculation of growth rates.
In the five weeks since its introduction, Kindle with Special Offers for only $114 is already the bestselling member of the Kindle family in the U.S.
Amazon sold more than 3x as many Kindle books so far in 2011 as it did during the same period in 2010.
Less than one year after introducing the UK Kindle Store, Amazon.co.uk is now selling more Kindle books than hardcover books, even as hardcover sales continue to grow. Since April 1, Amazon.co.uk customers are purchasing Kindle books over hardcover books at a rate of more than 2 to 1.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Politics and Religion
It is said that if one wants to keep a party light and happy then avoid the topics of politics and religion, and rightfully so I believe. It shouldn’t take a genius to realize that every war ever fought since the beginning of time had one or the other as root justification for mayhem and death.
One possible argument against this notion might be disputes over real estate. Maybe. But, even then, I think if one backtracks from the geographic boundary disagreements a contentious argument over politics and/or religion will be discovered that set the territorial dispute in motion.
I am of the mind that no one on this planet can change my beliefs when it comes to either of these topics. So, when a friend or acquaintance broaches the subject of either, I don’t just avoid it, I run. If I know they can’t change my mind; what would make me believe I could alter their opinion? These are not things that can be discussed when stands differ. It will quickly escalate into a debate, then into an argument and then, voila, the seeds of another war have just been planted.
Consider this: When a friendly discussion of politics or religion begins, the first to speak will open by saying, “In my opinion...” But, what the discussion partner really means is, “And, now, listen to my undeniable, indisputable fact...”
Yep, if I find myself in that scenario, I smile, listen to the, so-called, opinion and usually say something tremendously clever like, “Really?” I’ll quickly wrap with, “Nice talking to you”, and then walk away—no harm no foul and that person remains a friend.
Now, if you take this micro example and apply it to the macro, respect for other nation’s views on politics and religions would be a giant step toward elusive world peace. Everyone says they want it. Do they really? Or, do people just want a planet filled with clones of themselves? The clone thing makes sense to me. And, as far as world peace goes, I'll quote my daddy. “Ain’t gonna happen ... just ain’t.”
So, reeling back this world view to a personal one, my wife will just have to suffer through my political and religious rants whenever I feel the need to give opinions a voice. I guess this means there’ll be no peace in my world either.
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press 2010/ ebook available
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX
“Dancing Away”/short story/Untreed Reads
COMING IN 2012
“Defining Family”
“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”
One possible argument against this notion might be disputes over real estate. Maybe. But, even then, I think if one backtracks from the geographic boundary disagreements a contentious argument over politics and/or religion will be discovered that set the territorial dispute in motion.
I am of the mind that no one on this planet can change my beliefs when it comes to either of these topics. So, when a friend or acquaintance broaches the subject of either, I don’t just avoid it, I run. If I know they can’t change my mind; what would make me believe I could alter their opinion? These are not things that can be discussed when stands differ. It will quickly escalate into a debate, then into an argument and then, voila, the seeds of another war have just been planted.
Consider this: When a friendly discussion of politics or religion begins, the first to speak will open by saying, “In my opinion...” But, what the discussion partner really means is, “And, now, listen to my undeniable, indisputable fact...”
Yep, if I find myself in that scenario, I smile, listen to the, so-called, opinion and usually say something tremendously clever like, “Really?” I’ll quickly wrap with, “Nice talking to you”, and then walk away—no harm no foul and that person remains a friend.
Now, if you take this micro example and apply it to the macro, respect for other nation’s views on politics and religions would be a giant step toward elusive world peace. Everyone says they want it. Do they really? Or, do people just want a planet filled with clones of themselves? The clone thing makes sense to me. And, as far as world peace goes, I'll quote my daddy. “Ain’t gonna happen ... just ain’t.”
So, reeling back this world view to a personal one, my wife will just have to suffer through my political and religious rants whenever I feel the need to give opinions a voice. I guess this means there’ll be no peace in my world either.
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press 2010/ ebook available
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX
“Dancing Away”/short story/Untreed Reads
COMING IN 2012
“Defining Family”
“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”
Friday, April 22, 2011
Wandering Mojo
It seems as though I must reinforce my mojo with increasing frequency. The mojo I speak of is my work as a novelist.
Prior to beginning this blog post, I found myself looking at a blinking cursor on my computer monitor while glancing to chapter notes of the current manuscript I’m working on. Yet, fingers lay idle upon the keyboard. At one point during these few minutes the irony of what I was in the midst of occurred to me: I had no intention of typing a single word, just blankly attempting to fulfill some vague commitment to the cosmos to write some everyday which isn’t happening. For most of a month, I’ve engaged in this inane ritual repeatedly. Why?
It’s tantamount to a sprinter donning running clothes, putting on spikes, hammering in the starting blocks, getting into them and setting up for the big race, posing in a start posture, waiting for the crack of the gun, but it never goes off. Like this hapless track star, I don’t seem to have control of the starter pistol, yet desperately need to be in the running.
At some point near the end of March, I joyfully finished a draft on chapter seven. Since then, chapter eight only has that title centered across the top of the page, nothing else, nary a single word. Every morning, I open MS Word, find that page and stare at it for a time, eventually moving on to something else.
I know what you must be thinking: “Writer’s block, huh?”
In my humble opinion, it can be safely said this is not the case, not in the strictest definition anyhow. Writer’s block, to me, indicates a writer’s sudden inability to determine the direction a story should take. This is definitely not my problem. I know exactly where I want the story to go over the next twenty chapters (plus or minus). I even have chapter eight mentally mapped. I just can’t convince myself (or, should I say, I can’t kick myself in the butt hard enough) to make it happen.
If anyone should see my wandering mojo, please send him home. He’s lost, cold, under-nourished and can’t seem to find his own way back—poor little guy.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press 2010/ ebook available
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX
COMING IN 2011
“Dancing Away”/short story/Untreed Reads
"Prank" and "Tornado: Wichita Falls 1979"/Canis Latran Anthology
COMING IN 2012
“Defining Family”
“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”
Prior to beginning this blog post, I found myself looking at a blinking cursor on my computer monitor while glancing to chapter notes of the current manuscript I’m working on. Yet, fingers lay idle upon the keyboard. At one point during these few minutes the irony of what I was in the midst of occurred to me: I had no intention of typing a single word, just blankly attempting to fulfill some vague commitment to the cosmos to write some everyday which isn’t happening. For most of a month, I’ve engaged in this inane ritual repeatedly. Why?
It’s tantamount to a sprinter donning running clothes, putting on spikes, hammering in the starting blocks, getting into them and setting up for the big race, posing in a start posture, waiting for the crack of the gun, but it never goes off. Like this hapless track star, I don’t seem to have control of the starter pistol, yet desperately need to be in the running.
At some point near the end of March, I joyfully finished a draft on chapter seven. Since then, chapter eight only has that title centered across the top of the page, nothing else, nary a single word. Every morning, I open MS Word, find that page and stare at it for a time, eventually moving on to something else.
I know what you must be thinking: “Writer’s block, huh?”
In my humble opinion, it can be safely said this is not the case, not in the strictest definition anyhow. Writer’s block, to me, indicates a writer’s sudden inability to determine the direction a story should take. This is definitely not my problem. I know exactly where I want the story to go over the next twenty chapters (plus or minus). I even have chapter eight mentally mapped. I just can’t convince myself (or, should I say, I can’t kick myself in the butt hard enough) to make it happen.
If anyone should see my wandering mojo, please send him home. He’s lost, cold, under-nourished and can’t seem to find his own way back—poor little guy.
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press 2010/ ebook available
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX
COMING IN 2011
“Dancing Away”/short story/Untreed Reads
"Prank" and "Tornado: Wichita Falls 1979"/Canis Latran Anthology
COMING IN 2012
“Defining Family”
“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Books 'n' Authors 'n' All That Jazz
It was a nice surprise that I discovered in the mailbox today; notification by Weatherford College in Weatherford, Texas that I’d won two literary awards in the Sixth Annual Canis Latran Writing Contest. It’s held annually in conjunction with a major literary and musical arts affair called “Books ‘n’ Authors ‘n’ All That Jazz”. The event draws authors from all over this big state of Texas. It was designed, and continues to be, a spotlight on Texas authors.
I won the fiction short story category and also creative non-fiction in Canis Latran. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 2:15, Saturday, April 30th in the Alkek Fine Arts Center on the campus of Weatherford College.
The umbrella event, “Books ‘n’ Authors ‘n’ All That Jazz”, is a daylong affair from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m.
It’s my greatest desire that everyone, new friends and old, will drop by for a handshake or a hug and a book. See you there!
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press 2010/ ebook available
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX
COMING IN 2011
“Dancing Away”/short story/Untreed Reads
COMING IN 2012
“Defining Family”
“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”
I won the fiction short story category and also creative non-fiction in Canis Latran. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 2:15, Saturday, April 30th in the Alkek Fine Arts Center on the campus of Weatherford College.
The umbrella event, “Books ‘n’ Authors ‘n’ All That Jazz”, is a daylong affair from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m.
It’s my greatest desire that everyone, new friends and old, will drop by for a handshake or a hug and a book. See you there!
Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press 2010/ ebook available
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX
COMING IN 2011
“Dancing Away”/short story/Untreed Reads
COMING IN 2012
“Defining Family”
“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Books Authors 'N' All That Jazz
Once again, I'll be participating in an event in Weatherford, Texas and Weatherford College that's developing strong legs called Books Authors 'N' All That Jazz. I'd like to invite all reading this blog to drop by for a hug, handshake, and a few signed books of your choosing from a large contingent of authors. The event is fun and festive.
For all Texas authors I've posted the entire announcement, just in case there are some who aren't aware. There's still time.
Books 'n Authors 'n All that Jazz IX
Authors: Five weeks and counting, and we’ll all be gathered at the Alkek Fine Arts Center, ready for the 9th edition of Books ‘n Authors ‘n All That Jazz. It’s amazing that this is our 9th year, and I, personally, am so pleased to be a part of an event that has become a much-anticipated cultural event on our Weatherford campus. We have YOU to thank for that. BAJ is all about you, our Texas authors, and we will work hard to make this a great day for you.
I have attached the overall agenda for the day, including the schedule of workshops that will be presented throughout the day. Also, below, I’ve outlined information that will be helpful to you who have not participated before.
Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of Saturday, April 30th:
· Doors will open by 7:30 a.m. for you to come in and set up. Directions can be found on our College Web site (www.wc.edu - "About WC" link on the left). Texas Hall, inside the Alkek Center, is a very nice venue for our event - easy in and out, and handicapped accessible, of course. Restrooms are at each end of the building. Classrooms, where we will hold the workshops, and the theatre are within a few feet walking distance. Anyone who comes into the Center for one activity or the other will have easy access to you Authors in Texas Hall.
· Some of you have asked about near-by motels since you are not within a short driving distance. There are many to choose from, but two most convenient would be the Super 8, 817-598-0852, or the La Quinta Inn,817- 594-4481. Two other choices nearby are the Hampton Inn, 817-599-4800, or the Holiday Inn Express, 817-599-3700. Rates are reasonable. There are other hotels, as well, and a couple of B&Bs. Check out our Chamber of Commerce website for more information about our little town. We have a lot of to offer – antique shops, good restaurants, the beautiful parks - especially Chandor Gardens – all kinds of things for you to check out while you’re here in Weatherford, Texas!
· When you arrive at the Alkek Fine Arts Center, please check in at the Registration Table. A volunteer will greet you, hand you your name badge, and will show you where you are to be seated. You have been assigned a table space with one other author. Some of you have requested seating next to or near a particular colleague, and we have accommodated those requests. Student volunteers from our Phi Theta Kappa (honor society) will be on-hand to help you fetch and tote your books, if you'd like assistance.
· This will be a good time for you to turn in your “fee” for participating: the two books – one for our College library and one for the door-prize drawing. This year, in order for the attendees to be eligible for the door-prize drawing, which will be a basket of all your books, they must get at least 10 autographs from you authors. The autograph sheet will be on the back of the program, so please remind the attendees about that if they forget to ask you for your autograph.
· You should have approximately 4 feet of space for your books display. Tables will be covered with a white tablecloth, though, you may, of course, bring a covering or "accent" of your own to best display your work. One chair per author will be provided, and those of you bringing a second person to assist with sales need to let me or Evelyn know that, so we'll be sure to have plenty of chairs. Please know that space is limited, and while we certainly welcome your guests and space usually can be arranged, I cannot guarantee their seating at the table with you. The Author is the featured participant at each table.
· If you need or would like to request special arrangements for seating, please let us know that.
· You will need to bring whatever else you need to conduct your sales. We are not set up for electronic charge cards, sorry; however, many of you, I know, have those small, "sliders" for credit cards.
· Also, for your comfort, small portable fans will be plugged in behind the tables. Even on a cool day or with the best of air conditioning on a warm day, it can get a little stuffy with all those tables arranged in one area and, we hope, hundreds of people coming in and out!
· The Authors' Hospitality Room will be located in the service kitchen, just down the hallway from Texas Hall. We'll point the way. Coffee, tea, juice and water, along with breakfast pastries, will be available from about 7:30 a.m. - 10 ish. Then additional snacks and fruit will be set out, until lunch time at Noon, when fresh hot pizza of various kinds will be delivered for you. This is complimentary. If you have special dietary needs, you will need to bring your own food, but everything in the Hospitality Room is free for you.
· The attendees will have the opportunity to have a free lunch as well, sponsored by the editor and publisher of our local popular magazine, Parker County Today. Their sack lunch picnic area will be on the west side of the building, outside. Most of them will be coming from the workshops on the east side of the building and will walk right through Texas Hall where you will be. So be prepared to see a lot of people around 11:45 or so. We’ll hold off on serving YOUR lunch until all the attendees who have reserved a sack lunch have a chance to talk with you.
· We have advertised that Authors will be present in Texas Hall from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. It is impossible to tell you how many books you will need to bring with you. Last year, some authors sold out and left early; some sold few or none, but MOST authors, on average, sold at least 8-12 books, some as many as 20 or 25, and one sold 42, nearly all he brought. There is just no way for me to advise you on this. Most authors told me last year that our event was their best-selling event yet, but I had one author vow never to come back because he didn't sell one book.( He was the one sitting there with his arms folded and looking down at a book in his lap most of the day – NOT engaging the attendees in any way…’nuff said…)
· There's no way to predict what the public is buying on any given day, but we are doing everything we can to GET people there for you! Last year's attendance was over 350. (Check out our Web site at www.wc.edu/calendar click on the BAJ link on the right and you'll see the kind of info that our public is seeing. I have placed ads in several papers (all of the ones in our five-county service area) - scheduled right up to the day of the event; radio spots, and, of course, I talk about it on my radio show all the time (Books 'n Authors on Saturday mornings, 10 a.m., KYQX-FM, 89.5). Posters are going up all over town, as well as event info on electronic marquees. Fliers will be distributed at numerous club meetings in the next weeks.)
· If you'd like some of the posters or fliers, then let me know, and Evelyn and I can arrange to get them to you. You might have a writing group, or a library nearby or a restaurant that would allow a poster in their window, especially if you live within our area...
· You’ll notice on the agenda that at 2 p.m., we have scheduled the annual Canis Latran ("The Coyote,") Writing Contest awards program. This is when we will present the winners of the contest and allow them to read a portion of their work to the audience. You are welcome to join us at that, if you’d like. The program begins with the "....'n All That Jazz" performance by our Jazz combo, and they’re good!
· And, of course, we have several workshops going on throughout the day. You may want to attend one of those. Attending the workshops and/or theatre activities is strictly up to you; we realize, of course, that you are attending Books 'n Authors 'n All That Jazz to sell your books and meet 'n greet your readers! If you choose to leave your tables, we will have volunteers in Texas Hall to ensure your belongings' safe-keeping. Last year, volunteers even finalized a few sales for our Authors while they were in the theatre!
I have had the privilege of meeting most of you at our event or at another book festival. I want to make sure I talk with each and every one of you sometime during the day. Please find me during the day if we should miss connections early on. I will have a few details to attend to through the day, especially early in the day and may be seen scurrying about a bit, but I'll be easy to find. Just look for the lady whose gray hair is going grayer by the minute, right before your eyes! :-) Also, my assistant, Evelyn Payne (a lot less grayer than I...) will be available, as well. We'll both have on great big name tags. You can't miss us!
Seriously, we will do everything we can to make this a wonderful day for you. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you need anything or if you have suggestion on how we can do anything better for you next year. There will be an evaluation form in your Author's Welcome Packet that will be at your table.
I think this covers several details of the day. I am very excited about Books 'n Authors 'n All That Jazz IX; in fact, it is my favorite event of the year! We want it to be the very best we can make it and make it a great day for you! If you have additional questions or know of something I have left out in this informational e-mail, please let me know.
See you on April 30th!
Linda Brooks Bagwell
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Weatherford College
225 College Park Ave.
Weatherford, Texas 76086
817-598-6274, office
For all Texas authors I've posted the entire announcement, just in case there are some who aren't aware. There's still time.
Books 'n Authors 'n All that Jazz IX
Authors: Five weeks and counting, and we’ll all be gathered at the Alkek Fine Arts Center, ready for the 9th edition of Books ‘n Authors ‘n All That Jazz. It’s amazing that this is our 9th year, and I, personally, am so pleased to be a part of an event that has become a much-anticipated cultural event on our Weatherford campus. We have YOU to thank for that. BAJ is all about you, our Texas authors, and we will work hard to make this a great day for you.
I have attached the overall agenda for the day, including the schedule of workshops that will be presented throughout the day. Also, below, I’ve outlined information that will be helpful to you who have not participated before.
Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of Saturday, April 30th:
· Doors will open by 7:30 a.m. for you to come in and set up. Directions can be found on our College Web site (www.wc.edu - "About WC" link on the left). Texas Hall, inside the Alkek Center, is a very nice venue for our event - easy in and out, and handicapped accessible, of course. Restrooms are at each end of the building. Classrooms, where we will hold the workshops, and the theatre are within a few feet walking distance. Anyone who comes into the Center for one activity or the other will have easy access to you Authors in Texas Hall.
· Some of you have asked about near-by motels since you are not within a short driving distance. There are many to choose from, but two most convenient would be the Super 8, 817-598-0852, or the La Quinta Inn,817- 594-4481. Two other choices nearby are the Hampton Inn, 817-599-4800, or the Holiday Inn Express, 817-599-3700. Rates are reasonable. There are other hotels, as well, and a couple of B&Bs. Check out our Chamber of Commerce website for more information about our little town. We have a lot of to offer – antique shops, good restaurants, the beautiful parks - especially Chandor Gardens – all kinds of things for you to check out while you’re here in Weatherford, Texas!
· When you arrive at the Alkek Fine Arts Center, please check in at the Registration Table. A volunteer will greet you, hand you your name badge, and will show you where you are to be seated. You have been assigned a table space with one other author. Some of you have requested seating next to or near a particular colleague, and we have accommodated those requests. Student volunteers from our Phi Theta Kappa (honor society) will be on-hand to help you fetch and tote your books, if you'd like assistance.
· This will be a good time for you to turn in your “fee” for participating: the two books – one for our College library and one for the door-prize drawing. This year, in order for the attendees to be eligible for the door-prize drawing, which will be a basket of all your books, they must get at least 10 autographs from you authors. The autograph sheet will be on the back of the program, so please remind the attendees about that if they forget to ask you for your autograph.
· You should have approximately 4 feet of space for your books display. Tables will be covered with a white tablecloth, though, you may, of course, bring a covering or "accent" of your own to best display your work. One chair per author will be provided, and those of you bringing a second person to assist with sales need to let me or Evelyn know that, so we'll be sure to have plenty of chairs. Please know that space is limited, and while we certainly welcome your guests and space usually can be arranged, I cannot guarantee their seating at the table with you. The Author is the featured participant at each table.
· If you need or would like to request special arrangements for seating, please let us know that.
· You will need to bring whatever else you need to conduct your sales. We are not set up for electronic charge cards, sorry; however, many of you, I know, have those small, "sliders" for credit cards.
· Also, for your comfort, small portable fans will be plugged in behind the tables. Even on a cool day or with the best of air conditioning on a warm day, it can get a little stuffy with all those tables arranged in one area and, we hope, hundreds of people coming in and out!
· The Authors' Hospitality Room will be located in the service kitchen, just down the hallway from Texas Hall. We'll point the way. Coffee, tea, juice and water, along with breakfast pastries, will be available from about 7:30 a.m. - 10 ish. Then additional snacks and fruit will be set out, until lunch time at Noon, when fresh hot pizza of various kinds will be delivered for you. This is complimentary. If you have special dietary needs, you will need to bring your own food, but everything in the Hospitality Room is free for you.
· The attendees will have the opportunity to have a free lunch as well, sponsored by the editor and publisher of our local popular magazine, Parker County Today. Their sack lunch picnic area will be on the west side of the building, outside. Most of them will be coming from the workshops on the east side of the building and will walk right through Texas Hall where you will be. So be prepared to see a lot of people around 11:45 or so. We’ll hold off on serving YOUR lunch until all the attendees who have reserved a sack lunch have a chance to talk with you.
· We have advertised that Authors will be present in Texas Hall from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. It is impossible to tell you how many books you will need to bring with you. Last year, some authors sold out and left early; some sold few or none, but MOST authors, on average, sold at least 8-12 books, some as many as 20 or 25, and one sold 42, nearly all he brought. There is just no way for me to advise you on this. Most authors told me last year that our event was their best-selling event yet, but I had one author vow never to come back because he didn't sell one book.( He was the one sitting there with his arms folded and looking down at a book in his lap most of the day – NOT engaging the attendees in any way…’nuff said…)
· There's no way to predict what the public is buying on any given day, but we are doing everything we can to GET people there for you! Last year's attendance was over 350. (Check out our Web site at www.wc.edu/calendar click on the BAJ link on the right and you'll see the kind of info that our public is seeing. I have placed ads in several papers (all of the ones in our five-county service area) - scheduled right up to the day of the event; radio spots, and, of course, I talk about it on my radio show all the time (Books 'n Authors on Saturday mornings, 10 a.m., KYQX-FM, 89.5). Posters are going up all over town, as well as event info on electronic marquees. Fliers will be distributed at numerous club meetings in the next weeks.)
· If you'd like some of the posters or fliers, then let me know, and Evelyn and I can arrange to get them to you. You might have a writing group, or a library nearby or a restaurant that would allow a poster in their window, especially if you live within our area...
· You’ll notice on the agenda that at 2 p.m., we have scheduled the annual Canis Latran ("The Coyote,") Writing Contest awards program. This is when we will present the winners of the contest and allow them to read a portion of their work to the audience. You are welcome to join us at that, if you’d like. The program begins with the "....'n All That Jazz" performance by our Jazz combo, and they’re good!
· And, of course, we have several workshops going on throughout the day. You may want to attend one of those. Attending the workshops and/or theatre activities is strictly up to you; we realize, of course, that you are attending Books 'n Authors 'n All That Jazz to sell your books and meet 'n greet your readers! If you choose to leave your tables, we will have volunteers in Texas Hall to ensure your belongings' safe-keeping. Last year, volunteers even finalized a few sales for our Authors while they were in the theatre!
I have had the privilege of meeting most of you at our event or at another book festival. I want to make sure I talk with each and every one of you sometime during the day. Please find me during the day if we should miss connections early on. I will have a few details to attend to through the day, especially early in the day and may be seen scurrying about a bit, but I'll be easy to find. Just look for the lady whose gray hair is going grayer by the minute, right before your eyes! :-) Also, my assistant, Evelyn Payne (a lot less grayer than I...) will be available, as well. We'll both have on great big name tags. You can't miss us!
Seriously, we will do everything we can to make this a wonderful day for you. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you need anything or if you have suggestion on how we can do anything better for you next year. There will be an evaluation form in your Author's Welcome Packet that will be at your table.
I think this covers several details of the day. I am very excited about Books 'n Authors 'n All That Jazz IX; in fact, it is my favorite event of the year! We want it to be the very best we can make it and make it a great day for you! If you have additional questions or know of something I have left out in this informational e-mail, please let me know.
See you on April 30th!
Linda Brooks Bagwell
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Weatherford College
225 College Park Ave.
Weatherford, Texas 76086
817-598-6274, office
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