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A theater critic pal took me to see “One Arm”, an adaptation of several Tennessee Williams attempts at a film script adapted and staged by Moisέs Kaufman on Theater Row. I was delighted to see a friend of mine – Stephen Hauck - in the excellent cast of actors playing multiple roles. I enjoyed the performances and had no quarrel with the narrator, although my critic friend felt the narration an unnecessary device.
Saw Lydia Johnson Dance at Alvin Ailey. The only piece of the four which spoke to me was LAMENT which I found visually stunning and emotionally touching. All Johnson’s dancers had great fluidity of motion, and there were some exciting and remarkable lifts in some of the other dances on the program. In SUMMER HOUSE I marveled at the flexibility of the dancers stepping off the bench and flowing back on. My own legs ached just watching the movements!
George Zarr’s “The First And Last Musical on Mars” closed in Chicago this week. There was a taping made of this great popular hit. Paul Dexter, another of the playwrights I featured in Short Plays to Long Remember, our 2010 Indie Awards finalist, will be having another New York production of his “The Importance Of Being Doug,” one of his plays from that anthology, staged soon. Meanwhile, David Hopes, who has two of his plays in “Short Plays…” has been sending poems back from his travels in Italy, and I expect he will eventually find a new play in all this as well.
One of my pals wondered when I was going to get around to expanding “Spirit of the House,” the one act play of mine which had a staged reading this past winter at the Dramatists Guild. I had said then it would be a year before I would get back to work on it, and it appears I was right. The fantasy story books for bedtime reading to kids have taken over my writing life. Haven’t even time to work on my memoir about growing up during the depression.
Did reading from the bedtime story book Saturday, June 25 at Oasis, 52nd St and 10th Ave, as part of the Hells Kitchen Arts Event.
That night, saw the much raved about 4,000 MILES. Marvelous performances in this hour and 45 minute no intermission theatrical piece. Mostly absorbing, though not terribly theatrical, however. More of a character study of a man devastated by the loss of his best friend but still unable to get beyond his own self-centeredness, though making a stab at it. Looooong scene breaks and slow timing made play appear even longer than it was. The audience, having read the reviews, was ready to laugh and guffawed even at moments that deserved a mere chuckle. I felt I was sitting in the midst of a live soundtrack. It also felt like déjà vu, remembering a man of prejudice and plebian taste, who roared with laughter at the father in TV’s All in the Family – as if thrilled there was someone dumber than himself.
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Just finishing Tracy Kidder’s book about Paul Farmer and the work of Partners in Health. Fascinating and compellingly told story.-Incidentally, my PCP just returned from Haiti and finds it mind blowing still!
Have been selected to judge several categories in the Global ebook Awards – poetry definitely, possibly writing and publishing
Also read three novels and a novella by William Dean Howells – who lived a century ago and whose books go deeply into the psychology of the people of his time. Mores have changed so drastically that their social consciences seem almost pre-historic. The books are absorbing and truly create their time of horse drawn carriages, candle lit rooms, and church bound thinking. Got a kick out of the tissue thin pages and the long silk ribbon for keeping one’s place in the book. Recalled the lovingly produced books I used to borrow from the library in my youth.
Am reading several play scripts – my favorite form of reading – the imagination can create the stage and people the characters from one’s own cast
Pixie Tales is now officially for sale as a paper book and is showing up on line at various venues. Elfin Tales will be delivered this week but not set for release until August 2. Fairy Tales Too is coming along slowly in formatting for both ebooks and paper bound books. Illustrations are slowly filling in the allotted pages.
Have asked several people for blurbs for the book – from themselves and in some cases, from little kids. It’s taking longer than expected to get responses on this, so the cover design is being held up as well. Ah, the joys of publishing.
And - off topic - though I am not personally a fan or marriage, hooray for my native New York State in its giant step towards equality - the gay marriage act. I expect many of the people I have worked with and been friends with over the last 35 years to legalize their long lasting unions. Bet they lower the divorce statistics in the years ahead.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Ides and Ideas of June
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Thoroughly enjoyed Amy Marshall Dancers at Alvin Ailey Theater. Their new piece, Dvija, costumed by Norma Kamali was breathtaking. This handsome troupe, all decked out in golden costumes and gilded skin were mesmerizing as they performed Amy Marshalls' demanding choreography with style, precision and gusto.
The combination of classic dance and athletic movement makes a distinctive signature for Ms, Marshall - and a wonderful showcase for Chad Levy and the other dancers. What a troupe and what a treat. Catch them later this summer at other venues.
A few days later, a complete change of pace as I was part of an enthusiastic audience watching a staged reading of "The Shomer" by Bill Barnett. I thrilled t see Tovah Feldshuh at the top of her game. Having watched her develop from her earliest work at Stage West in Springfield, Ma, through her many incarnations on Broadway and off, I was so pleased with her steady progress and her age defying energy. Others in the cast all played well.
The play itself has tremendous potential but needs a firm hand to cut all the repetition and polish it into a stellar theatrical experience. The basis is there, the humor is there, the humanity is there, but it is buried in too much of the same blather. Someone smart can make this play zing its arrows at tradition and our outdated concepts of good and evil and guilt.
Following day - "Cradle And All" at Manhattan Theater Club where two actors played two different couples in Act one and Act two, and except for speaking too softly too often, did a fantastic job on both. Any parent or parentless couple will easily relate to the situations and if they don't laugh with sympathetic glee in act two they are lacking a funny bone. .
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Attended the CLMP 100th anniversary of magazines reading at the 5th Avenue at 42nd St. Public library at which editors rather than authors read from their various publications. As a fellow writer and actor remarked, the editors did not always do the works they read justice. Still, it was interesting to see what the current literary presses consider the best poetry and stories and articles they have published. Almost all their poems were prose poems and read as pure prose by the editors. Sorry, I am a classicist in terms of verse. No meter, no poem.
I read War Horse. The original teen book - very creative and fascinating. Read What Alice Knew - in which the James family (Henry, William and bedridden sister Alice) were depicted as detectives in the Jack the Ripper debacle. Intriguing but not totally satisfying in the end.
Never having been a fan of the circus, I was not as enchanted with Water for Elephants as so many of my friends claimed to be. I enjoyed the spunky old man and many of the characters in the well written story but wan't fully engrossed until the denoument.
My Pixie Tales has garnered quite a few votes and over a dozen fabulous quotes on its global ebook awards page. Just hope it makes it to the finals! It was great joy last year winning a finalist INDIE award for the play anthology Short Plays to Long Remember.
Will be reading a story from Pixie Tales and from Elfin Tales, second book in the series at the Hell's Kitchen Arts Event on Saturday, June 25 at noon at Oasis, 52nd and 10th Ave. Intend to have a couple of audience kids come up with me to read along. Those I select will get to keep Pixie Tales copies. Unfortunately, Elfin Tales is not yet in print, although it is available to all readers through Smashwords.com.
Artist Maggie Cousins and I are working on Fairy Tales Too, the third in the series.
I have an entry that was accepted in the Dragon Naturally Speaking contest along with about 150 other entries. You can find it on line on the Dragon contest entry site.
Thoroughly enjoyed Amy Marshall Dancers at Alvin Ailey Theater. Their new piece, Dvija, costumed by Norma Kamali was breathtaking. This handsome troupe, all decked out in golden costumes and gilded skin were mesmerizing as they performed Amy Marshalls' demanding choreography with style, precision and gusto.
The combination of classic dance and athletic movement makes a distinctive signature for Ms, Marshall - and a wonderful showcase for Chad Levy and the other dancers. What a troupe and what a treat. Catch them later this summer at other venues.
A few days later, a complete change of pace as I was part of an enthusiastic audience watching a staged reading of "The Shomer" by Bill Barnett. I thrilled t see Tovah Feldshuh at the top of her game. Having watched her develop from her earliest work at Stage West in Springfield, Ma, through her many incarnations on Broadway and off, I was so pleased with her steady progress and her age defying energy. Others in the cast all played well.
The play itself has tremendous potential but needs a firm hand to cut all the repetition and polish it into a stellar theatrical experience. The basis is there, the humor is there, the humanity is there, but it is buried in too much of the same blather. Someone smart can make this play zing its arrows at tradition and our outdated concepts of good and evil and guilt.
Following day - "Cradle And All" at Manhattan Theater Club where two actors played two different couples in Act one and Act two, and except for speaking too softly too often, did a fantastic job on both. Any parent or parentless couple will easily relate to the situations and if they don't laugh with sympathetic glee in act two they are lacking a funny bone. .
PAGES
Attended the CLMP 100th anniversary of magazines reading at the 5th Avenue at 42nd St. Public library at which editors rather than authors read from their various publications. As a fellow writer and actor remarked, the editors did not always do the works they read justice. Still, it was interesting to see what the current literary presses consider the best poetry and stories and articles they have published. Almost all their poems were prose poems and read as pure prose by the editors. Sorry, I am a classicist in terms of verse. No meter, no poem.
I read War Horse. The original teen book - very creative and fascinating. Read What Alice Knew - in which the James family (Henry, William and bedridden sister Alice) were depicted as detectives in the Jack the Ripper debacle. Intriguing but not totally satisfying in the end.
Never having been a fan of the circus, I was not as enchanted with Water for Elephants as so many of my friends claimed to be. I enjoyed the spunky old man and many of the characters in the well written story but wan't fully engrossed until the denoument.
My Pixie Tales has garnered quite a few votes and over a dozen fabulous quotes on its global ebook awards page. Just hope it makes it to the finals! It was great joy last year winning a finalist INDIE award for the play anthology Short Plays to Long Remember.
Will be reading a story from Pixie Tales and from Elfin Tales, second book in the series at the Hell's Kitchen Arts Event on Saturday, June 25 at noon at Oasis, 52nd and 10th Ave. Intend to have a couple of audience kids come up with me to read along. Those I select will get to keep Pixie Tales copies. Unfortunately, Elfin Tales is not yet in print, although it is available to all readers through Smashwords.com.
Artist Maggie Cousins and I are working on Fairy Tales Too, the third in the series.
I have an entry that was accepted in the Dragon Naturally Speaking contest along with about 150 other entries. You can find it on line on the Dragon contest entry site.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
It's June, June, June
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Friday night attended City Visions Film Fest to see actor I directed in several stage productions on film... a take off on film noir and nicely done. Brandon DeSpain did a great job playing a killer's goon in "Rocky Must Die." I was especially taken with the film "Folkswagon" in which cinematography, script acting and diretion were all stellar. I felt "Alix" could be expanded into a full length film with what happens next. Films in this MFA program were most impressive. Don't know who won, but all were well worth seeing.
Returned this year to the Drama Desk Awards after a few years' absence. When finally allowed to go to our tables (those who could find them, no body knew where they were suppposed to sit) - tables designed to seat 10 were crammed with 12. We were lucky to be wkth congenial people, some old friends, some hopefully new ones. Since the two appetizers I had during crowded, noisy crush of a cocktail party that far overran its time were less than tasty, I didn't expect much from the meal. I was not disappointed when salads - a few leaves of green and one slice of tomato -arrived - an hour late. Bread was eaten, despite its not tasting fresh. Half an hour or so later, mere moments before the awards event was scheduled to start, the so-called entree came: Two tablespoons of pasta with meat sauce and 4 ravioli.
Wine and champagne and booze flowed liberally, perhaps so we would not notice we were all very, very hungry. It was noticed, and noted by one man at the microphone during the ceremony. His remark got the biggest round of applause of the night. There was no coffee or tea or dessert - we ate the 4 packs of godiva chocolate at each place setting. Harvey Fierstein, with whom I worked on "Torch Song Trilogy" from its inception until it landed on Broadway, was in bad voice. In fact, his voice was bad enough to desert him part way through the ceremonies. Because everyone was packed tight, there was no easy access to the stage for many of the nominees who won.
There were two big laughs of the evening - the remark about the non-meal, and a young man who must remain nameless announcing an actor had appeared in "The Mechanic of Venice."
At the disco after party upstairs there were tiny gluten free cupcakes, lots more booze and some coffee - no tea. After mingling with some critic friends went home to have supper at 1 AM.
A few days later at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, held as usual in the Eugenia Room at Sardi's. Everyone gibed and jested about the Drama Desk disaster. Here were salads bigger than our entrees at DDA, and dinnere of normal proportions, plus dessert and fresh rolls, and a convivial atmosphere. Hardly a speech did not refer to the DDA event negatively. OCC ended EARLY and we went on to the Irish Rep to see Charlotte Moore's beautifully directed THE SHAUGHRAUN By Dion Boucicault
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Pixie Tales paper book with its gold sticker announcing its nomination in first Global ebook Awards. Paperback version will be released in two weeks. Elfin Tales, second book in the set is now an ebook as well.
These deightful LITTLE books about WEE folk to read to SMALL fry each have 5 fantasy stories illustrated by Maggie Cousins. Great presents for kindergarden graduations and special summer events for youngsters. Bring back the bedtime story with these and other childrens' books. Fight illiteracy by helping kids love books!
Talking of loving books. two I loved this week were
WHAT ALICE KNEW - involving the James family Alice, Henry and William - in Jzck the Ripper murder investigation and The War Horse - original book for tweens and teens which became the blockbuster Broadway stage hit.
Friday night attended City Visions Film Fest to see actor I directed in several stage productions on film... a take off on film noir and nicely done. Brandon DeSpain did a great job playing a killer's goon in "Rocky Must Die." I was especially taken with the film "Folkswagon" in which cinematography, script acting and diretion were all stellar. I felt "Alix" could be expanded into a full length film with what happens next. Films in this MFA program were most impressive. Don't know who won, but all were well worth seeing.
Returned this year to the Drama Desk Awards after a few years' absence. When finally allowed to go to our tables (those who could find them, no body knew where they were suppposed to sit) - tables designed to seat 10 were crammed with 12. We were lucky to be wkth congenial people, some old friends, some hopefully new ones. Since the two appetizers I had during crowded, noisy crush of a cocktail party that far overran its time were less than tasty, I didn't expect much from the meal. I was not disappointed when salads - a few leaves of green and one slice of tomato -arrived - an hour late. Bread was eaten, despite its not tasting fresh. Half an hour or so later, mere moments before the awards event was scheduled to start, the so-called entree came: Two tablespoons of pasta with meat sauce and 4 ravioli.
Wine and champagne and booze flowed liberally, perhaps so we would not notice we were all very, very hungry. It was noticed, and noted by one man at the microphone during the ceremony. His remark got the biggest round of applause of the night. There was no coffee or tea or dessert - we ate the 4 packs of godiva chocolate at each place setting. Harvey Fierstein, with whom I worked on "Torch Song Trilogy" from its inception until it landed on Broadway, was in bad voice. In fact, his voice was bad enough to desert him part way through the ceremonies. Because everyone was packed tight, there was no easy access to the stage for many of the nominees who won.
There were two big laughs of the evening - the remark about the non-meal, and a young man who must remain nameless announcing an actor had appeared in "The Mechanic of Venice."
At the disco after party upstairs there were tiny gluten free cupcakes, lots more booze and some coffee - no tea. After mingling with some critic friends went home to have supper at 1 AM.
A few days later at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, held as usual in the Eugenia Room at Sardi's. Everyone gibed and jested about the Drama Desk disaster. Here were salads bigger than our entrees at DDA, and dinnere of normal proportions, plus dessert and fresh rolls, and a convivial atmosphere. Hardly a speech did not refer to the DDA event negatively. OCC ended EARLY and we went on to the Irish Rep to see Charlotte Moore's beautifully directed THE SHAUGHRAUN By Dion Boucicault
PAGES
These deightful LITTLE books about WEE folk to read to SMALL fry each have 5 fantasy stories illustrated by Maggie Cousins. Great presents for kindergarden graduations and special summer events for youngsters. Bring back the bedtime story with these and other childrens' books. Fight illiteracy by helping kids love books!
Talking of loving books. two I loved this week were
WHAT ALICE KNEW - involving the James family Alice, Henry and William - in Jzck the Ripper murder investigation and The War Horse - original book for tweens and teens which became the blockbuster Broadway stage hit.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Belated info
The world was too much with me these last 6 weeks with a major health scare - Finally getting back in the groove - Elfin Tales on ebooks along with Pixie Tales. Finishing up paper book version of Elfin Tales, working with illustrator Maggie Cousins on Fairy Tales Too so finally got back to
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In the past month or so I attended a dance evening presented by a troupe fromSan Francisco
Saw Victor Gluck's new scene from FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH at the annual playwrights showcase…but missed it at the Ryan Rep fund raising performance, even tho I enjoyed directing it, could not get to
Stonewall Uprising, a documentary by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner featuring our recently deceased author and friend Doric Wilson, aired on PBS as part of the American Experience,
STAGES
In the past month or so I attended a dance evening presented by a troupe from
Attended Tap 25 gala evening - Tony Waag and co deserve kudos for great work.
Saw Victor Gluck's new scene from FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH at the annual playwrights showcase…but missed it at the Ryan Rep fund raising performance, even tho I enjoyed directing it, could not get to Brooklyn . I really don't travel well.
Have some interesting news from various playwrights included in my volume SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER so will share it here
Stonewall Uprising, a documentary by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner featuring our recently deceased author and friend Doric Wilson, aired on PBS as part of the American Experience, April 25, 2011 . Doric received a special award from the Fresh Fruit Festival the same evening artist Maggie Cousins, who is illustrating my children's fantasy set of books won her award. (I did not attend this event) Doric died in his sleep just three days later. Much as we all shall miss him, it is a solace to know he died at the top of his career and peacefully in sleep. Is there any better way to go? It is we who must suffer his loss.
Perry Brass’ new novel to be published in the spring of 2012; will be his 16th published book. His book "The Manly Art of Seduction" is still on Amazon's Gay & Lesbian Nonfiction bestseller list, and he is actively looking for more productions of “Bar None", based on historic Mattachine Society "Sip-In" several years before Stonewall.
About Jane Chambers along with productions in the US Israel
David J. Mauriello Portsmouth NH will see two Mauriello plays; his farcical SPIRITS WILLING, produced by ACT ONE NH at the West End Studio Theatre weekend of August 21st and his drama BODY being produced by Players' Ring three weekends beginning January 27, 2012 . BODY, first original play done at the RING is being reprised to celebrate their 20th anniversary season.
Daniel P Quinn premiered BEFORE THE CRASH (2011) @ the Morris Museum/Bickford Theatre in Morristown , NJ 5/15/11 . The Word Press in W. Virginia published a set of his poems, while The Star-Ledger printed a trio of his letters on their Opinion Page. His NYTimes Arts Blog continues to grow w/several dozen-on line published comments as well.
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Have much enjoyed the advance reading copy of René Blum and The Ballets Russes - In search of a lost life by Judith Chazin-Bennahum. I was well aware of the Ballets Russes as a teenage balletomane, but knew nothing of René Blum who saved Diaghilev’s dance contributions from extinction not only with vast financial contributions but also by dedicating his life and extraordinary talents to keeping the company alive, and keeping Balanchine, Fokine and Massine creatively active. Yes, he was Leon Blum’s brother. The book is very informative, impressing one with the amount of research it took to bring to the fore a man who often stayed in the background. His treatment and slaughter at the hands of the Nazi’s, and his extraordinary courage in the face of it all is awe inspiring. The dance community and all humanity should thank the author for this work.
Anyone who liked the film "The Lincoln Lawyer" should check out the books by this author - I''ve read several of his terrific page turners!
Talking of authors. Time for updating news about me -
Delighted that Pixie Tales has been nominated for first Hlobal ebook award. Wish more people would comment on it at the global ebooka ward site!
Story of how TnT Classic Books got its name and logo is part of an article on
check it out in section on two people in one biz.
Please visit http://www.TheChildrenAuthorsShow.com which aired April 25 on line to hear how and why Pixie Tales got written, and a bit about my other books, including SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER.
You can read my interview about self publishing vs. commercial publishing at
http://consciousdiscussions.blogspot/2011_03_01
They give me this great intro -Francine L. Trevens was co-founder of the Greater New York Independent Publishers Association and served as chairperson for most of the first fifteen years. Her publishing company, TnT Classic Books publishes many prize winning authors. In the last 6 years, she has also published some of her own work. The anthology of plays she compiled and edited, SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER, (27 plays by 14 authors) won a 2010 Next Generation INDIE finalist award. She also writes regular features on dance for Art Times Journal, and has had 6 books published, 4 from TnT Classic Books
Was interviewed Online with Andrea, mostly about poetry but also about writing and other books May 24 from Eastern, and subsequently archived. One pal listened to the entire show love - I was faltered and amazed. Find show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onlinewithandrea.2011/05/24/author-francine-trevens
So now you see what kept me so busy these last few weeks.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
this and that
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Attended a dance evening presented by a troupe from San Francisco
Also attended Marie and Bruce on Theater Row. Felt the production completely misfired and that it was an evening ill spent. Though it actually ran an hour and a half, it felt more like 5 hours.
Have some interesting news from various playwrights included in my volume SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER
Stonewall Uprising, a documentary by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner featuring Doric Wilson, will be aired by PBS as part of the American Experience, Monday, April 25, 2011 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. (Check your local listings) http://video.pbs.org/video/1541031928/
Perry Brass’ new novel to be published spring, 2012; will be his 16th published book. His book "The Manly Art of Seduction" is still on Amazon's Gay & Lesbian Nonfiction bestseller list, and he is actively looking for more productions of “Bar None", based on historic Mattachine Society "Sip-In" several years before Stonewall.
Jane Chambers along with productions in the US Israel
David J. Mauriello Portsmouth NH will see two Mauriello plays; his farcical SPIRITS WILLING, produced by ACT ONE NH at the West End Studio Theatre weekend of August 21st and his drama BODY being produced by Players' Ring three weekends beginning January 27, 2012 . BODY, first original play done at the RING is being reprised to celebrate their 20th anniversary season.
Daniel P Quinn premiered BEFORE THE CRASH (2011) @ the Morris Museum/Bickford Theatre in Morristown , NJ 5/15/11 . The Word Press in W. Virginia published a set of his poems, while The Star-Ledger printed a trio of his letters on their Opinion Page. His NYTimes Arts Blog continues to grow w/several dozen-on line published comments as well.
PAGES
Have much enjoyed the advance reading copy of René Blum and The Ballets Russes - In search of a lost life by Judith Chazin-Bennahum. I was well aware of the Ballets Russes as a teenage balletomane, but knew nothing of René Blum who saved Diaghilev’s dance contributions from extinction not only with vast financial contributions but also by dedicating his life and extraordinary talents to keeping the company alive, and keeping Balanchine, Fokine and Massine creatively active. Yes, he was Leon Blum’s brother. The book is very informative, impressing one with the amount of research it took to bring to the fore a man who often stayed in the background. His treatment and slaughter at the hands of the Nazi’s, and his extraordinary courage in the face of it all is awe inspiring. The dance community and all humanity should thank the author for this work.
Talking of authors. Time for updating news about me -
Delighted that Pixie Tales has been nominated fopr a eboook award from the Global evookAwards. Am offering 25% off cosst of book to celebrate - at check out on smashwords, enter code NU66Q - good through May 27
Story of how TnT Classic Books got its name and logo is part of an article on
check it out in section on two people in one biz.
Please visit http://www.TheChildrenAuthorsShow.com April 25 and 26 or soon thereafter on line to hear how and why Pixie Tales got written, and a bit about my other books, including SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER.
You can read my interview about self publishing vs. commercial publishing at
http://consciousdiscussions.blogspot/2011_03_01 They give me this great intro -Francine L. Trevens was co-founder of the Greater New York Independent Publishers Association and served as chairperson for most of the first fifteen years. Her publishing company, TnT Classic Books publishes many prize winning authors. In the last 6 years, she has also published some of her own work. The anthology of plays she compiled and edited, SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER, (27 plays by 14 authors) won a 2010 Next Generation INDIE finalist award. She also writes regular features on dance for Art Times Journal, and has had 6 books published, 4 from TnT Classic Books.
Will be interviewed Online with Andrea, mostly about poetry but also about writing and other books on May 24 from Eastern, and subsequently archive. Find show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onlinewithandrea.2011/05/24/author-francine-trevens
Not bragging, just keeping you posted on what’s happening
Monday, March 28, 2011
Opinions a gogo
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Had great interview with Tony Waag. Creator of the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame, Executive Producer of Tap City and Executive Artistic Director of the American Tap Dance Foundation. Working on article about him for Art Times Journal May June issue.
Read one of stories from Pixie Tales at Rainbow Book Fair yesterday. Very receptive, mostly adult audience. Sold several of the e-book copies today. Figure people without kids who will be with family over upcoming holidays might want to have access to these enchanting read-to-me stories to help them bond with young relatives. If you are interested, Email me for 50% off coupon code on e-book.
Saw The Lincoln
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Have another radio interview, about Pixie Tales and writing for kids, early in April.
April 2 is National Children’s Book Day and the coupon for 50% off on e-book copy ends then. Maggie Cousins and I are busy readying Elfin Tales for e-book and paper editions.
Finished a slew of books in last few weeks - reading, that is. Anyone who loves theatre should be enthralled by Antony Sher’s The Year of the King, a fascinating insiders view of an actor’s preparation for a great classic role. Fictionalized life of Herman Melville, The Passages of H.M., was especially significant to me because much of his behavior was similar to that of the Captain in my play in progress, Spirit of the House. Still feel some smart movie mogul should get hold of Arnold Bennett’s The Grand Babylon Hotel and make a costume mystery romantic movie out of it. True test of a good book is how long it stays with you, I believe. And this one is one to long remember for its sheer delight.
Never even knew there was a National Children’s book day and glad I learned of it before April 2, which is the date. It is also date by which you can get the 50% off copies of Pixie Tails from Smashwords. Contact me for the discount code.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Donkey Machine
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Looking forward to an upcoming interview with Tony Waag. Creator of the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame, Executive Producer of Tap City and Executive Artistic Director of the American Tap Dance Foundation.
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My computer acted like a donkey this week and refused to move at all. Refused to forward my finished book to the printer, refused to open Internet explorer, refused to move faster than sludge. It was obviously going through a bad stage! As a result, I missed several deadlines and had to cancel some events and in all felt like a total failure.
I escaped into some books I had not read before. One which really was an escape, was Norman Beim’s second novel ZYGIELBAUM'S JOURNEY. This fascinating story, based on facts, and narrated in the first person literally had me at the edge of my seat when I was reading it on a bus. We all have heard of the Warsaw Ghetto and how those interred therein fought to the last gasp. I had never however, known that the ghetto had sent a spokesman out, to try to awaken the conscience of the world. That was Zygielbaum. His adventures are fascinating, and the writing style make you believe he is actually telling his own story. Well; worth reading.
I did a blog talk radio interview on Tuesday. I had been told the discussion would be on publishing, and had all my notes about the trials and travails of doing SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER and the challenge of my first e-book, PIXIE TALES.
But the interviewer kept asking me about writing and writing tips and I was rather thrown for a loop. Never really delivered the “commercial pitch” I had planned on, but enjoyed the call in woman who wanted advice about writing poetry and writing plays. I certainly have had a lifetime of doing both.
REMINDER - tomorrow, Saturday, the 25% off on PIXIE TALES to celebrate Read an e-book week ends. Get it now at http://smashwords.com/b/40507 or you’ll be paying full price after that.
Also, if interested, remember Living life of my dreams sales info is at:
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