Video
Writers on Sleds: Not a Metaphor
Resident prankster Dick Cummins sent this video to add to your holiday smiles. It features appropriately-attired golden girl Sandra Cisneros (see our review of her new book) doing an awesome loop-de-loop; shred head/playwright Sherry Kramer (in a sunshine yellow snow suit) coming from behind to nail a series of great snowboard moves—on a sled!; and [...]
Joy Harjo’s Poetry on the Table
Word lovers are a generous and appreciative lot. Witness this by Doug Borsom, reporting on the Thanksgiving segment on NPR’s “Morning Edition” about a new poetry anthology, The Hungry Ear. “The poems in the collection are about food and its role in our social connections,” he explains. “Snippets of some of the poems were read [...]
Just for Fun
Ever irreverent prankster and frequent contributor to this blog Dick Cummins sent this All Hallows howl because we could all use a good laugh. It stars, in order of appearance: Dick himself, in long blond tresses and a deep-cut, troubling top; Jane Smiley in a French maid’s uniform and big red hair; Cheryl Olsen in sequined [...]
Fred Setterberg Video
Fred Setterberg’s “true-life novel” Lunch Bucket Paradise was shortlisted for the 2012 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. There’s a reason for that. Actually, a whole slew of them. Here’s Fred on how reading saved his narrator’s father’s life. <<>> What does reading mean to you?
Cisneros Book Trailer
In this trailer for Sandra‘s new book Have You Seen Marie?, she relates the inspiration for what she calls a fable for adults: ”I realized I was living the story I should be writing.” The hardback will be out next month, and is gorgeously illustrated by Sandra’s friend Ester Hernández.
At Home with John Irving
No doubt there will be miles of video footage of John Irving now that his 13th novel is out, but this intimate look at a writer in his lair will surely be among the best. Photographer and videographer Shaul Schwarz knows how to wield a cam.
Holiday Cheer
In the spirit of the season—with equal irreverence for Christmas, Channukah, Kwanzaa and any other legitimate celebrations you can think of—resident prankster Dick Cummins sent this festive compilation of a JibJab e-card, asserting “all writers are children.” Plus a super-nice wish: “May your book sales lift Amazon stock 10 points!” Band members: D.C. himself (tortoise [...]
Gifts from Down Under
The multi-talented Bill Manhire, author of the kickass intro to We Wanted to Be Writers, and director of the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (among myriad other thriving pursuits) has a new book out next month. Co-authored with several fellow faculty members, The Exercise Book: Creative Writing Exercises [...]
Michelle Huneven Video
Anyone who’s been to a reading at Book Soup in West Hollywood knows what a terrific indie bookstore it is and what a tiny space is allotted for readings. So too, such a person will understand how tiny Michelle would appear to be framed between columnar Glenn and Eric. While drawing an audience whose numbers [...]
Prairie Lights Reading Video
Gotta love Iowa City audiences. Where else can you get an SRO crowd on a blustery Monday night?
Recent Comments & Links