Late-breaking news on the One Book, One City program here in Indianapolis (and by late-breaking, I mean, um, that I’m breaking it really late. Like two weeks after it actually broke. But it’s not too late, because apparently November is the official month for this program.)

Earlier this month, Mayor Ballard announced that this year’s book will be SOME BURIED CAESAR by Rex Stout. For more information about this book, and about some programs surrounding 1B1C, see this page on the Indianapolis Library site (not to be confused with local information about H1N1, which can be found here).

I guess if I want to really keep up to date on literary happenings in this city, I’ll have to start following Mayor Ballard on Twitter (Twitter ID: MayorBallard). Here’s how he made this particular announcement:

MayorBallard: Proud to support lifelong learning and literacy through the One Book One City initiative. I encourage everyone to participate. www.imcpl.org

The fact that he forget to name the book may have been a simple mistake, or it may perfectly encapsulate his dismissive attitude toward the arts. You make the call. Anyway, a few minutes and a few tweets later came this update:

MayorBallard: @BgKahuna Some Buried Caesar, a Nero Wolfe mystery by Rex Stout chosen in honor of the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in Indy Oct 15-18

Just thinking of our mayor having to thumb-type BgKahuna tickles me for some reason. I’m not sure why.

“I hate the guts of English grammar.”

You'll never guess who said that.

And while we're playing the guessing game . . . can you name the literary badass wrote letters in which he describes his "stormy affair with a servant girl, attacks Christianity and dismisses his rival poet as William 'Turdsworth'"?


And keeping with the mystery theme (for which I blame the influence of Halloween), here's yet another teaser: What are the top ten books of 2009? Don't worry about the fact that 1/6 of the year remains. Just guess, you pansy! GUESS!

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An Open Letter to the Authors of Superfreakonomics

Dear authors of Superfreakonomics:

Can you help me out? I have a problem. A story problem. Which is kind of a pun, because it's a problem ABOUT books. Ha! Get it?

A pun is—

Never mind. Anyway, like this blogger at the Guardian, I've been thinking about celebrity memoirs. I'm not going to argue about whether they're crappy or not, because, yes, they are. But what we were wondering—me and that other blogger—is whether these crapfests ultimately benefit or hurt new novelists and mid-listers.

On one hand:

I can't help but think, though, that safe in their positions with long-standing publishers and at the top of bestseller charts, these aren't the authors whom celebrity novelists are really affecting. It's the unpublished writers who are missing out on book deals because the money is being spent elsewhere, or the midlist authors who aren't getting the publicity or marketing spend because it's all going on the glamorous names, who'll really be hit.

La Plante and North do acknowledge this. "I've seen great young writers struggle to get a deal," La Plante told the Mail. "I don't know how much Martine got for that book, but I do know a new young writer will get about £5,000. That's hardly enough to live on." And North wrote: "Tell me that her fine UK publisher won't now reject and forfeit fine unpublished novelists because they'd prefer to spend a vulgar amount on Ms Cole's advance?"

But on the other hand:

The more these celebrity novels sell, the more money publishers will have to fund debut literary fiction writers, poets, biographers; the kinds of books that might not sell hundreds of thousands of copies, which in fact might barely sell 1,000 copies, but which make it all worthwhile.

So which is it, Superfreakeconomists? Write back soon with your undoubtedly kooky answer. But please don't do that superkooky thing where you tell me that celebrity memoirs actually benefit, like, cocaine mules in Ecuador, because then I'll know you've become parodies of yourselves, which isn't supposed to happen until your fifth book: Ponchonomics: How the Cast of CHIP's Steers the American Economy.

Sincerely,

Randall Yardsnake

I like starting off my day with a good downer. This morning, I got a good one with my first cup of coffee, when I read about Philip Roth predicting the rapid demise of the novel. This, apparently, by way of "promoting" his book.

Roth has long been pessimistic about the survival of the novel in a gaudy, short-attention-span culture, but his latest prophesy is one of his bleakest yet, predicting that the form will dwindle to a "cultic" minority enthusiasm within 25 years.

"I think it's going to be cultic. I think always people will be reading them but it will be a small group of people. Maybe more people than now read Latin poetry, but somewhere in that range," Roth told Tina Brown, editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast.

I get the sense that this piece tells us more about Roth than about the book market. Maybe he sees the end of his career coming, and, like the obsessive ex-boyfriend, who, if HE can't have the girl anymore, wants NOBODY to have her, and also for her to whither away with lupus. Or maybe he's just a cranky sumbitch.

Talking to the Observer's Robert McCrum in 2001, he said that "I'm not good at finding 'encouraging' features in American culture. I doubt that aesthetic literacy has much of a future here."

Yep. Cranky sumbitch. Well, here's my counterprediction: in 25 years, people will still be predicting the death of the novel. And it will still be covered as "news."

Couple of heads-up's to give you today. The first is for Michelle Huneven's upcoming reading at Butler. She's the author of Blame (2009), the fabulous Jamesland (2004) and Round Rock (1998).

Michelle Huneven, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall

Second heads-up is for the upcoming launch party for Booth, Butler's lit mag. It will have -- no joke -- beer and handsaws. Oh, and a couple of cool readers. Otherwise, it would be a lumberjack convention, not a lit mag launch party. Come for the beer, stay for the saws.

Price Wars

Big box stores are slashing prices on bestsellers in time for the holidays, to make sure that NO ONE makes a profit this year.

A check online Monday afternoon of several (bestseller) titles revealed that Target.com, Amazon and Walmart.com have similar prices. Walmart.com and Target.com are selling "Under the Dome" and "Breathless" at $8.99, a penny less than Amazon.com.

And here are some reactions from independent booksellers (from Publishers Lunch):

"I'm tickled pink (that Wal-Mart and Amazon.com are fighting), and I'm hoping that they lose a lot of money."

Jane Kessler, owner of Appletree Books

Cleveland Heights, OH

"I sighed a deep sigh. There's no way I can pay my rent and buy my inventory and compete with that."

Terry Lucas, owner of The Open Book

Westhampton Beach, NY

"Readers will suffer the most . . . If the general public learns to expect cheap books, publishers won't be able to afford to take a chance on new writers, so quality, story, research and expertise will slowly disappear from new books, and we'll only have those most commercial and bland books to choose from. Again, you get what you pay for."

Nikki Furrer of Pudd'nhead Books

Webster Groves, MO

Indy Reads Holiday Chocolate Sale – through November 16^th!

Looking for a unique holiday gift this year? Give them “The Best Chocolate in Town” and support Indy Reads’ adult literacy program at the same time! Indy Reads provides free tutoring to illiterate and semi-literate adults.

This holiday season Indy Reads and The Best Chocolate in Town are working together to “Make Indianapolis 100% Literate.” When you order hand-made chocolate gifts using this order form, the proceeds will go directly to Indy Reads. What could be better? You get to give a great gift while supporting your favorite charity! It’s also a great idea for corporate gifts!

Here’s how it works:

• All the chocolates made for this order are the same high-quality chocolates sold at The Best Chocolate in Town.

• Gift boxes for this special purchase will be decorated with “Indy Reads yellow & purple” ribbon and an Indy Reads logo sticker.

• Inserted in all gift boxes will be a note from Indy Reads letting the gift recipient know that not only are they getting The Best Chocolate in Town, but that this gift also supports Indy Reads’ adult literacy programs.

• Using the attached PDF order form you can order as much chocolate as you want for the holidays. OR, you can go online to:

https://indyreads.ejoinme.org/MyPages/IndyReadsChocolate/tabid/172814/Default.aspx

• You can also “take orders” of chocolate gifts for friends, co-workers, and family. In fact, this is a great way to help Indy Reads even more! If you choose to “take orders” for other people you will need to keep track on the form who the orders are for, collect the money, and deliver the orders. Sort of like with those cookies the girls in green sell!

• All orders MUST be received (not postmarked) by the Indy Reads office on Monday, November 16th. Orders can be mailed or dropped off, or submitted through our website. We can not guarantee orders not received by November 16th. Drop off or mail orders to: Indy Reads – 2450 N. Meridian St. – Indianapolis, IN 46208.

• Payment must accompany all orders when placed – not at pick up.

• Payment can be in cash or check – made payable to Indy Reads. Credit cards can only be processed through the website.

• All orders will be available for pick up at the Indy Reads office starting on Thursday, December 3rd, from 8am-8pm. Orders can also be picked up during regular Indy Reads office hours, 9am-5pm on weekdays starting December 4th. Orders must be picked up. They can not be shipped.

• Indy Reads office is located in the Library Services Center Building at 2450 N. Meridian St. The entrance to the building's parking lot is located off of 24th between Meridian and Illinois. Indy Reads is on the first floor, to the right, when you come in the main doors.

• This offer does not apply at the Best Chocolate in Town’s retail locations (880 Mass Ave., and now in the Chase Tower), or for other sales not made through Indy Reads.

• Please note: chocolate is made in a facility that uses peanuts and tree nuts.

Mmmm, tree nuts.

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New mini-interviews up at Andrew's Book Club. Here's a taste* or two:

Patricia Henley: The most difficult period—except for being nervous sometimes in Guatemala—happened during the two years between finishing the book and having it accepted. It was pretty much rejected everywhere in New York. I felt like a fraud as a teacher. I was wounded and grieved over what I thought of as the book’s failure. I felt fairly certain I wouldn’t write another novel since that one had taken so much out of me. MacMurray & Beck accepted the manuscript two years after I’d finished it. Their belief in the book and its subsequent success charged me up to write another novel. I like solving the problems inherent in writing novels.

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Andrew: This fall you’re making many appearances in bookstores and other venues to promote Normal People Don’t Live Like This. Do you enjoy this part of the process? Some authors just want to crawl back in their caves.

Dylan Landis: There’s a cave?

*Please note: interviews take place in a facility chock-full of tree nuts.

Slate Contest: Can a great story give a worthless item monetary value?

Hoosiers are a sentimental lot. Look at the movies we produce: Breaking Away, Hoosiers, Rudy, A Girl Named Sooner. The world expects it of us.

And, as a general rule, we Indiana folk tend to adore inanimate objects. Craft fairs and flea markets abound year-round, and we devote entire weekends to the exultation of a single thing (often food) – coal, strawberries, blueberries, antique trucks, fiber, maple syrup, bridges. We even have a three-day festival to celebrate lemons: Midwest Zest Fest, check it out.

Not only does Indiana boast(?) the Midwest’s largest flea market, but you know those ads with the lovable nerd doing yoga atop a Goodwill truck? An Indianapolis ad firm created those, as if the big wigs at Hand-me-downs R Us are aware that Indiana has its finger on the pulse of lovers of repurposed junk, er, “another man’s treasure.”

Yes, we Hoosiers are saps; and we like our stuff. Which makes Indiana writers uniquely qualified to enter AND WIN Slate’s 500-word challenge to write a story that imparts meaning to a miniature barbecue sauce vessel:

Can a writer imbue a worthless object with meaning and value? The answer would seem to be yes. A Santa Claus nutcracker, which Glenn and Walker purchased for $2, sold on eBay for $15.50 when accompanied by the story author and NPR host Kurt Andersen wrote about it. A change tray Significant Objects paid $3 for sold for $71 after novelist Stewart O'Nan gave it a fictional history.

You'll write a short story (500 words or fewer) and email it to Slate by October 16 at 5 p.m. Contest details here. You only have 48 hours, so sharpen your pencils, tap into your inner, literary pack rat, and write!

Tonight, at the Central Library, the Writers' Center of Indiana presents mystery writer S.J. Rozan. Here are the other deets:

Every Story Is a Mystery

7 p.m.
FREE

Made possible by a grant form the Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation, Inc.
Co-sponsored by the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library

Toastmistress for the 40th annual World Mystery Convention in Indianapolis known as Bouchercon, S.J. Rozan, is the author of the Lydia Chin and Bill Smith mystery series, as well as two stand-alone novels. Her book, Winter and Night, won the Edgar, Nero and Macavity Awards for Best Novel. Her short stories have appeared multiple times in Houghton Mifflin’s Annual Best American Mystery Stories, as well as other “best of the year” volumes. She is the editor of the short story anthology, Bronx Noir. A former architect in a practice that focuses on police stations, firehouses, and zoos, SJ Rozan lives in lower Manhattan.

Pinckney Benedict, On the Brink

I saw this on MySpace a while back, and has probably been circulating around different forums. I think Benedict himself has posted it a few places. It originated as an email to a prospective student, but evolved into something both more universal and, I think, more personal. Reading it again on the Red Room blogs, I can't help feeling that same little thrill I did reading it the first time, and so wanted to link to it here. For anyone writing (or thinking about writing) a novel, here are a couple excerpts of Benedict's take:

"The thing to do with the novel: Let it teach you how to write it. Because it will. It will be your best teacher, and is in fact the only entity in the universe that can teach you to do what it needs, specifically..."

"You can love the novel to excess, which means you will sacrifice yourself to it; or you can make it love you, which means it won't be hard on you, it will do what you want - but it won't ever become much of anything in the process. You can love it unreservedly, or it can love you unreservedly. There is no fair exchange in play here. Most writers are unable to choose to sublimate their desires and egos to the desires and ego of the work. They'd rather make it submit to them - which it can certainly be made to do - than the other way around..."

To read the whole thing (and it's well worth it, I think) visit his blog here.

Bouchercon 2009

From The Mystery Company Bookstore:

We certainly hope that you'll join us at Bouchercon, -- and it's not too late for you to decide to join us for the whole conference or just a day; visit www.bouchercon2009.com for details.

But even if you aren't attending the convention itself, there are a number of opportunities for you to participate and catch a glimpse of the excitement, even without attending the convention itself.

IMCPL is hosting a number of concurrent activities, including:

• Six writers discuss mysteries at IMCPL's Glendale Branch tomorrow, Tuesday, at 7 pm. Meet Judy Clemens, Naomi Hirahara, Beverle Graves Myers, Michael Koryta, Leighton Gage and Mary Saums.
• S.J. Rozan offers a talk entitled "Every Story Is a Mystery" on Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Central Library
• Two authors of Paranormal Mysteries, Dakota Banks and Patrick Lee visit the Irvington Branch on Thursday at 6:30 pm.
• Finally, there will be a big celebration of Indiana mystery writers on Friday, 5:30 - 7:00 pm at the Central Library. Mayor Ballard will be on hand to welcome Bouchercon to Indianapolis, and to announce the city's "One Book, One City" title, copies of which will be given free to the first 500 people.

All IMCPL programs are free and open to all. Visit www.imcpl.org for more information.

Also, if you're a devotee of the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, you can catch five terrific mystery writers there on Friday at 4:00 pm. Craig Johnson, C.J. Box, Ann Parker, Steve Hockensmith and Blake Crouch will talk about mysteries set in the American West. This program is included in museum admission. Visit the Eiteljorg's website for more info.

At noon on Friday, JoAnna Carl will visit The Best Chocolate in Town's new second location in the Chase tower on Monument Circle. She'll autograph copies of her Chocoholic mysteries; visit www.joannacarl.com for more info about this series.

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Here's a cut from the blog of Beth B, one of Butler's MFA students.

Last Tuesday I had the honor of (practicing my rusty public speaking skills and) introducing the lovely and talented CJ Hribal before his reading at the Butler University Visiting Writers Series.

It was a pleasure spending time with this affable writer’s writer. Mentored by the great Raymond (”Ray”) Carver and Tobias Wolff, CJ was delightful company — witty, lighthearted and unaffected — a regular guy, addicted to baseball, and just generally fun to hang out with over dinner and beers. I particularly enjoyed his sudden, quick bursts of laughter. His manner was tender; he was generous in imparting writing wisdom and gracious enough to lie and thank me for my “wonderful introduction” that was, in reality, anxious and addled.

I have no idea what sounds actually escaped from my mouth, but here are the words I wrote to present:

When CJ Hribal’s “The Company Car” was assigned in my visiting writers class, I was eager to read it knowing I’d have the privilege of meeting the author.

Okay, but really, since I’m hopelessly competitive with my older sister, the memoir-devouring English major, I couldn’t wait to call and brag to her that a perk of being in the MFA program is the occasional opportunity to meet visiting writers.

On my drive home from class that evening, I planned our conversation. I’d tell her about the book and that I’d be hanging out with the author of this crazy memoir about a big, wacky family whose father dragged his wife and seven children first from the city to the Chicago suburbs, and then to live on a farm out in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin. “Kind of like The Glass Castle,” I’d tell her. “Only written by a man. In the Midwest, instead of Appalachia. And the parents get married on a 1950’s TV show.”

The rest can be found here.

Blockbuster books aren't buoying sales.

According to BookScan, book sales were down about 4 percent compared with the same week last year, suggesting that neither of those titles or any of the other big fall books from heavyweights like Mitch Albom, Pat Conroy, E. L. Doctorow and Audrey Niffenegger were helping booksellers to overcome the sludgy economy.

“They are all great books, but they are all hardcover books,” said Ellen Archer, publisher of Hyperion, a unit of Disney that just released Mr. Albom’s “Have a Little Faith.” “How many hardcover purchases can one person make given these difficult times? Are they going to choose one of their nonfiction reads and one great novel and stop and wait for the paperbacks? Probably.”

I'm not so sure I can agree with Ms. Archer's assessment. That is, I don't think the problem is contained within the fact that these books are hardcovers. It's kind of like saying, "That elm seems to have a bit of fungus," when the entire forest is on fire.

Ms. Archer, you could package these books like Kraft Singles and sales would still be down. The industry's problem is bigger than package & price point. The whole system is broken.

Straight? Bi? Multi-media curious? Check out this personals ad:

Visual Artist Seeks Poetry Selections for New Book of Words and Images

Amy Kindred, a 2005 Arts Council of Indianapolis Creative Renewal Fellowship
Recipient, painter, and former arts administrator, is seeking poetry written by
Indiana writers. Selections will be published alongside her colorful images in a new
book to be released by year's end. Each participant whose work is selected for print
will receive a free copy of the final publication with the option to sell copies for
the writer's personal gain. The editor of this art and poetry project will match a poem to each work of art.
Listed below are titles of paintings that imply themes for compositional
consideration:

From Kindred's 2008 Winter series: Bright Future, Lean on Me, Around the Bend, and
Breeze.

From Kindred's Cairn series: Epiphany, Behold the Breathing Rock, Her High Holiness,
Encountering Buddha, Grace Called, and Cherry on Top.

From Kindred's Dwelling series: The Embrace, Slippery Slope, Uptown I and II, Old
House in Madison, and La Casa Condo.

Additional titles include: Honey and Jam Stand, The Meadow, Like A Rock: Best
Friends, Rainbow Falls and the Red House, Charlie Chaplain Was Here, Our Tree, Her
House, Leaning Toward Pink, The Way I Saw Her, Red Umbrellas and She Did It.

Writers may view some of Kindred's work at www.akindredart.com.
Instructions for submissions via EMAIL:
Attach no more than 3 original poetry entries per person and include your name,
address, phone number, and email. Place "editor" in the subject heading and identify
which title(s) you've chosen to go along with your poem(s). Send to
amy@akindredart.com.

OR via SNAIL MAIL:
Send poetry selections and info. via snail mail to: Dharma Peace Center, PO Box
30047, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46230-3047.

Deadline for submissions is Friday, October 23, 2009.
All submissions will be considered. Poetry selected for publication will be chosen
based on style and appropriateness to the project. Writers will be notified by
Friday, November 6, 2009.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Join Us for Drop-In Writing Help for Kids

After School Mondays in Fountain Square

Second Story is hosting a unique and free after-school program on Mondays this fall for students in the grades 3-6 located at the Wheeler Arts Community at 1035 Sanders St. in Fountain Square. Programming starts October 12 and runs through December 10, for a total of ten Mondays from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

The first half of each session will be dedicated help with writing or reading related homework. The second half will be set aside for creative writing games and writing prompts that are meant to be both accessible and fun for the students. Some of the work produced during this time will be published online and in a semester anthology. All young people in grades 3-6 from anywhere in the city are welcome to attend this free program. Parents will need to arrange for transportation for children participating in the program.

We are currently seeking 20-plus volunteers to help with this program. You don't have to be a professional writer or teacher to help (though writers and teachers are more than welcome!). We're looking for volunteers who are interested in creative expression and helping kids succeed. We'd also like volunteers to make a regular commitment to being there each week, but we could also use others who can fill in on occasion. You will receive training and support as a volunteer instructor.

Volunteer on Thursdays at MLK Center

Our second fall after-school program happens at the Martin Luther King Multi Service Center at 40 W. 40th Street by Tarkington Park. This program starts on October 29 and runs for seven weeks this fall. It is linked with existing programs at the center for kids from the neighborhood, so we are mainly seeking volunteers. Our programming will happen on Thursdays from 5-6:30 p.m. and will work in pretty much the same way described above. Please let us know if you'd like to participate.

For more information, reply to this email, visit http://www.secondstoryindy.org or contact Jim Walker (317) 408-1366.

CJ Hribal is in; let the party begin.

"Hribal's latest novel is The Company Car, a comedy about fifty years in the life of a single family and fifty years of American social history. Hribal won the AWP Award in Short Fiction for his collection of short fiction, The Clouds in Memphis (2000). On Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Krannert Room of Clowes Hall, Hribal will offer a reading as part of the Visiting Writers Series."

Full disclosure here: CJ was my last teacher in my M.F.A. program, so I know him pretty well. I've seen him give readings, teach, listen thoughtfully, drop knowledge, blow minds, spray beer from his nose when I told him my story about biking naked down Third Street*.

So while you may not be surprised that I'm giving you my STRONGEST recommendation to go out and see this guy, neither will you be disappointed if you do go. He's bright and funny and engaging and all that good stuff you hope for when you go to see a writer.


Oh, and if you do go? Think up a question to ask during the little Q&A they usually do after the reading. Not only is CJ sharp, but he actually talks in a way that people can understand, which I understand is a rare quality among writers.

*Story has been archived. No longer available upon request.

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New selections up at Andrew's Book Club, including an ABC Rewind.

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Big doings at Second Story, including a new partnership with IPS School #2, a call for more volunteers, and an update on what is apparently their tribute to oxymorons: Corporate Rock-Off.

FUNNY WOMEN #3: Q: “What Will You Do with an MFA in Poetry?”

I’ve been lucky: my father has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams. My mother counterbalanced this advice with a bit of her own: “Sheera, you need to be able to support yourself and not rely on a man for money.” Do not worry, mom–I will not let strange men give me money; but if a man, any man (seriously, call me) wanted to get me health benefits, I would be OK with that. Perhaps I can rely on you for a flu shot this winter season?