Warren the 13th

Warren is the 13 member of his family to own the Warren Hotel.  However, Warren 12 died when 13 was only seven and so the care of the business went to Uncle Rupert and his new wife, Annaconda.  Rupert is lazy; Annaconda is sneaky and in true Cinderella fashion, 12 acts as the lone bellhop, waiter, groundskeeper and errand boy. Annacondo says that real food is no good for a growing boy and so 12 lives on a diet of slop and whatever scraps Chef can sneak to him.

It comes as no surprise that the hotel has been empty since Rupert took control, but, as part one of the promising series opens. a tall, silent stranger  dressed in black approaches, his oddly narrow head wrapped in white bandages.  Annacondo is certain he is connected in some way to the fabled "All Seeing Eye."

You would think I'd  be reading furiously to discover what that Eye business is all about and whether or not 12 knows more than he lets on.  Of course the Boo Radley-esq guest piqued my curiosity, but not nearly as much as the little note from the author that was slipped inside of my advance reader copy (ARC)

ARCs burst with marketing information including a summary, bits about the author, on-line tools for promo used, that sort of thing.  The "Warren"packet included a poster, bookmarks and other goodies sure to entice readers.  Also included was a short note from the publisher ending with this challenge - " If you happen to spy a ten-word secret message in the margins of the story, could you email me at ......" and then he gives his address which I don't think was intended to share.  So, you guessed it, instead of finishing to book, I have been tearing through it, studying the margins trying to find that dang ten-word message.  You know how many I have found so far?  0.  I'm not going to tell you how long and hard I have searched, but I am so angry with Jason Rekulak that I am tempted to reveal his email address so you can all send him evil words on my behalf.  I am betting there is no hidden message and Jason is sitting in an office spinning in his bign fancy-pants desk chair  giggling about all the booksellers he has certainly duped into a ridiculous snipe hunt.  Book two is scheduled for release in 2016. I can't wait!

Last Friday I had the opportunity to meet Helen Frost and hear her speak about her young readers' novel Diamond Willow.  the signing took place at the Spirit of the Rivers studio (far Franklin Street end of the former Kresgee building).  If you haven't seen these sculptures yet, check out the website to see when the studio will be open again.  In the meantime, we still have a couple signed copied of Helen's book for you.

What's next?  Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler

Thanks for stopping by.

Halloween Reading Scares!

With Halloween approaching,  it seemed appropriate to once again attempt to read the one book I find more frightening than any other - A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.  Definitely a cult book and movie, the story centers on a gang of thugs who....well, that's about as far as I get.  I always stop at the disturbing scene where Alex tap dances accenting the dance with kicks to the stomach and head of an elderly man....all the while croaking out a hideous rendition of "Singing" in the Rain."

Look like Warren the 13th, a silly-scary tween novel is more my speed.  My advance copy came with this warning:

This Advance Reader copy contains 

Witches!

 Secret Codes!

Monsters!

 Mazes!

 And other sinister material!

Instead of troubling you further about my fear of the Burgess book - which, by the way is told using largely a made-up language - I will post these recently found fun facts for you.  Enjoy.

Trade Show Weekend

Tired.  Even though I spent the weekend surrounded by writers, publishers, vendors and books, I read nothing - nothing except trade information.  You see, I forced myself to travel.  Yup.  I went to our regional trade show and came home with boxes of books to be inventoried, and catalogues to be filed.

This trade show is for book sellers in Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois Ohio,Wisconsin and maybe a few more.   Over 600 vendors were on hand to showcase what will be new in 2016.  Seminars and break-out sessions covered a wealth of topics including making diversity a priority on our stores, customer service and maintaining sanity in an industry filled with surprises and quick changes.  

Of course, everyone wants to rub shoulders with the writers in attendance.  Truth?  These writers are rock stars but not like the rock stars who disguise themselves in order to slip into a waiting limo after a show. These are not elitist rock stars who walk the gauntlet of waiting fans stopping to indulge one or two for a selfie or an illegible autograph.  Writers deal with words and they eagerly share those words in books, on FB, through tweets and in face to face chatter.  In fact, at times I found myself dodging a couple  writers who wanted to talk,  so that I could sit, gather my thoughts and map out a plan for the next couple hours.

This is how it works.  There is an event called "A Movable Feast" attended by over 50 authors.  Booksellers find a table, grab a beverage and meet with writers who  circulate around the room.  Sure, they tell us about the current book they are promoting, but they also pick our brains on what is selling, what we would like to see more or less of, and they drop hints about their next project.   What surprised me most was the number of writers who looked at my badge and pronounced "Manitowoc" correctly.  What surprised me even more was how many had connections to our city - some through relatives, friends, and one even had a college roommate from here.  And, it turns out, the roommate is a customer of ours.  Small world file!  

All of that is tons of fun, of course.  When the trade show floor opens we meet with the 600+ vendors hoping we will find just what we need for the holidays.  Many writers hang around for that day as well, visiting in their publisher's booths for long periods of time, wandering the sales floor and hanging out near the coffee having a few laughs with other writers and booksellers.

On Saturday night I stopped by to watch a highly competitive game of literary trivia and got pulled onto a team that was one person short.  Teams were made up of a random collection of writers, publishers, vendors and booksellers.  The winning team was gifted the responsibility of planning the trivia contest for next year's trade show.  My team didn't win - but we came darn close.  I still think we should have won.  The question that did us in referred to F. Scott Fitzgerald's story of the Jazz Age.  To me that could only mean The Great Gatsby.  Apparently, the second half of the question alluded to Tender is the Night. Most teams thought as we did, but we were the only team  whose incorrect answer to that question made the difference between first and second place.   When the contest ended writers began dashing up to the stage, grabbing the mic and telling crafty word-centric jokes.  Some were right down blue (the jokes, not the writers). This unscheduled event  proved so popular that surely next year's program will include a line that reads "Dirty Joke Open Mic at 10:00".

So, had you been there, who might you have had coffee with?  David Baldacci, Jacque Mitchard, Mike Perry, Ethan Canin (The Doubter's Almanac), Mary Doria Russells (Epitaph), Loren Long (Otis books series for kids), Rick Bass, Kathleen Ernst, Jacqueline Kelly (Clapurnia Tate books for middle readers) Rick March (Wisconin books featured on public television), B.A. Shapiro (The Muralist), Faith Sullivan (Goodnight Mr. Wodehouse), David Maraniss (When Pride Still Mattered, Once in a Great city:ADetroit Story), Rob Blagojevich's brother (sales of his book will go his bro's defense)...  on and on.

So no...enough.. I have boxes of books to attend to...and to read...and to love.  

Thanks for stopping by.

What will I read next?  Who know?  

Books to Film

A customer convinced me to read this book several months ago, before all the buzz about it started. Sci-fi...not my thing, but I picked it up took a trip I never dreamed of. I went to Mars with brave, engaging, inventive, irascible Mark Watney.  Last weekend I saw the movie adaptation and despite the almost three hour showing including way too many pre-show commercials and trailers, this movie more that surpassed my expectations.  $34 for two tickets to the 3D screening, two small drinks and a medium popcorn.  $34!  And that was at the old fart afternoon showing.  Good Grief.

The 3D was worth it at points, especially on the panoramic views of the Mars landscape.  If you're on a tight budget, the standard version will be just fine. Of course the movie differed from the book, but not enough to change the course of events.  My prediction....this film will win Emmys for cinematography, screen adaptation,  and directing.  Ben Affleck will be nominated as best actor, but he may have a uphill battle against Johnny Depp in "Black Mass".  Chiwetel Ejifor could get a supporting actor nomination.  I didn't always understand the science of he situation, but even more than that, I didn't understand Kristin Wiig's character or Kristin Wiig's presence in this film.  Her ineptitude distracted. Couldn't stand her flat, bullying characters on SNL... sophomoric in bridesmaids... and clearly out of place in this movie.

If you're in the mood for a bit of silly - try "Paddington".  The only similarities the movie shares with the book is the the bear's name, and the fact that he is naked.  Doesn't matter.  The slapstick business in this movie stands up to the best scenes in any screwball comedy I have ever seen.  Don't bypass this one thinking it's just for kids.  "Paddington" will entertain just about anyone.  And...don't forget to read the books about this charming British bear.

This is my traditional week to worry about travelling to my trade show.  If you know me, you know that getting me to go just about anywhere is challenge, let along going to another state.  This year the show is in Chicago instead of the usual Minneapolis.  The stress and anxiety are the same no matter where I have to point my car.  So, if I actually go to the show this weekend, I'll let you know what there is to know.

Thanks for stopping by.