Blog is a Mix Tape

books: i put a spell on you

2008-03-01T23:18:03Z

I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina Simone by Nina Simone with Stephen Cleary (1993, Da Capo). In the very first paragraph of the prologue, Nina Simone reflects on a statement James Baldwin – Jimmy, to her – had directed to her, “This...

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books: be our guest - perfecting the art of customer service

2008-02-22T05:59:27Z

Be Our Guest - Perfecting the art of customer service by Disney Institute (Disney Editions, 2001). As Carrie noted on our trip to Disneyland a couple weekends ago, I've moved from just drinking the Kool-Aid to making it. It's true. I make few apo...

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literary meme

2008-01-14T04:27:18Z

RPM, I'm calling your name-check of me in the post a tag, so here we go: Instructions: 1. Grab the nearest book. 2. Open the book to page 123. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these ins...

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Speakeasy: The Future of Publishing?

2007-12-31T19:22:47Z

A few years ago, my first novel was published. It did pretty well, won an award, was translated and sold around the world; the movie rights were even optioned. Now I want to put it online — no charge, no hook, no catch. My motivation is simple: gr...

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2007 Wrap-Up

2007-12-27T23:50:00Z

I had grand plans to do a post a day about my favorite 2007 things starting about 2 weeks ago but life got in the way. It's hard to write when grandma's in town and a Felicia returns and you're stuffing your face all the daggone time. So, here's ...

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one line: reading was once bad for your health

2007-12-26T17:38:53Z

Advice about when and where not to read was once a medical specialty.

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Books: 300

2007-11-05T04:41:57Z

300 by Frank Miller (1998, Dark Horse). I didn't like the movie. It occurs to me that I might simply have a problem with media based around Greek and Roman history as I also don't like Gladiator and couldn't get with the Rome HBO series (althoug...

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Books: Mouse Guard - Fall 1152

2007-10-28T08:38:19Z

Mouse Guard Volume 1: Fall 1152 by David Petersen (2007, Archaia Studios Press). Halfway through Special Topics in Calamity Physics, I lost interest. I was reading a line here, a paragraph there, a chapter during an ambitious afternoon and then t...

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Books: The Bell Jar

2007-08-06T02:39:50Z

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1971, Harper). I sat outside the Beehive next to two women kanoodling over coffee and an unopened copy of Potter. I was reading Sylvia Plath with Sleater-Kinney blaring through my ear buds. I am Jack's riot grrrl les...

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Books: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007-08-06T02:16:19Z

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (2007, Scholastic). What the hell do you care what I think? By the number of people I see on a daily basis with the 700+ page tome under their arms, you've either already read it, in the midst ...

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