Hosho McCreesh's Blog, page 14
August 2, 2020
Tell Your Local Bookstore I'm a Fool...
Okay, as a guy out here in small press world mostly doing my own thing my with self-published books and books from a few (great) small presses, finding wider traction is rough business. And while it seems writers and publishers and bookstores all want the same thing — people reading books — the truth, as usual, is that the true dynamics of the thing are a lot more nuanced. Now, I could be wrong, but it seems that:
Writers want their books available on bookshelves forever, to be discovered by new readers over and over.
Publishers want to get all their copies sold quick…and then new printings to be stocked and sold too.
Bookstores want all the copies they’ve bought ANYWHERE EXCEPT sitting on shelves — they want them quickly bought up and sold out.
So for folks like me, out here in the barren steppes of publishing, there’s no cover. It’s unwieldy to manage consignment deals, even as I understand that shelf space is a bookstore’s prime real estate — one they can’t waste on expensive inventory that sits collecting dust, hoping it’ll someday turn a small profit.
And there’s the crux.
We haven’t figured out a better way to do things. Even before the plague hit, there seemed no way for everyone to get what they want. And since the pandemic began…things are even more dire. So, how can I help? What can I do?
How about this: I’ll send free books (a few, I ain’t rich!) to any bookstore that’s interested.
Then they can sell the books for whatever they can get for them, and keep the scratch as a way to support all they do to Keep Books Dangerous. Maybe I even find a new reader or two in the process, which is always a treat for me.
The cost? I’m out a little dough…which, honestly, I wish I was off spending in bookstores anyway. This way we can accomplish most of the goals, for most of the folks involved — and that feels like a good thing to me.
So tell your local bookshop they can now stock one of your favorite writers at absolutely no risk to them. Have them get in touch with me here if they’re interested:
Yes, We're Interested!
July 23, 2020
Totes McGotes!
No real news to report…though I was reminded of this fine motto/graphic this week, and thought I’d throw out a quick reminder that you can get yourself one of these bad boys (and some other fun bits) over at Society6 — on the off chance that happens to float your boat.
It’s a thing I made on my typewriter a while back that I sometimes see bouncing around the interwebs — which is always a fun surprise. Anyhow, my wife loves a good tote so I threw this together…but if you wanted one too, I wouldn’t be mad.
July 13, 2020
Yep, I'm Ridiculous...
Kurt Baumeister asked me SIX RIDICULOUS QUESTIONS over at Vol. 1 Brooklyn…and it was great fun trying to figure out how to answer them! The series makes for some great reading — as the questions are unlike any you’ll typically hear, and end up showcasing a completely different side of some of your favorite writer-types.
Many thanks to Kurt — whose book Pax Americana has a really cool New Mexico connection via Stalking Horse Press.
read the Ridiculousness
July 9, 2020
BAGAZINE #8
All hail the might X-Ray Book Co. and their long-running, absolutely amazing, never-know-what-badass-piece-of-handmade-goodness-you’ll-see-this-time assemblage, bagism, and happening, Bagazine. The most recent iteration, Bagazine #8, landed recently, and once again I feel damn lucky to be a little part of the whole enchilada. Like a cube of avocado, maybe — maybe a diced onion or that sprig of parsley...
This thing packs in some serious art, by vastly talented creators of every stripe, across all manner of printing, dreaming, stamping, sticking, coloring, sketching, and line-making! Collecting might not be your bag (pun intended), but there’s nothing to stop you from checking out not only the galleries of previous editions, but all the other things Johnny & Giselle get up to…so if you have a few minutes to spare, go marvel at the gospel according to Bagazine!
Go to bagazine!
July 7, 2020
Goodreads
Goodreads?! More like GREATREADS!
Just a friendly notice that the A DEEP & GORGEOUS THIRST - UNABRIDGED AUDIO project has a page on Goodreads, and I, for one, would love it if you’d go give it a rating/review! The handy button below will take you right there! In fact, feel free to rate/review all my books if you’d like — I wouldn’t mind a bit!
Go To Goodreads!
That’s the LETTERED EDITION pictured above…and if you like the cut of it’s jib, I think there are 5 or 6 copies left.
In other news, this is in the works…
June 21, 2020
Ragged Lion Journal Numbers 1 - 3
These beauties landed this week…magazine-sized and brimming with small press goodness! I’m jazzed to have a short story, “It Seemed Like the Perfect Music” leading off Vol. 2. — the only place you can find the story as of now. Edwin Sellors has truly hit the ground running, with tremendous energy and ambition for his press. I admire the hell out of that. GIVE THEM A LOOK, and you’ll see what I mean!
June 16, 2020
June 10, 2020
Aloha!
Go Read it!
Hawaii Pacific Review was kind enough to feature one of the drunk poems from A DEEP & GORGEOUS THIRST, one about living my best life in my friend’s family chalet in the Alps. I’ve long thought of that time on my life as an early glimpse at what retirement might looks like, and the memory of it has kept me going through many a weary day since. I can only hope that those artistically minded working folks among you will find something in it to help you through those long, hard days punching a clock. If so, pop on over to HPR and let them know so!
May 28, 2020
Down the Hatch: Barstool Chats with Hosho McCreesh
Knock back a quick few with Ross and me!
read here
Ross Nervig, a writer from the Canadian wilds of Nova Scotia, had a few questions about A DEEP & GORGEOUS THIRST - UNABRIDGED AUDIO, the choices made during the writing of it, and also how to best manage a hangover. It’s a quick read, if you’ve got time…and Southwest Review is a pretty terrific lit mag all the way around. Many thanks to Ross, to Robert Rea, and to William Boyle who put us all in touch.
If you’re after a cheap cheap CHEAP digital download, CHIRP BOOKS is running a limited-time promo…$5 gets you all 3.5 drunken hours!
chirp promo
The only thing cheaper than that is free…and, if you follow me on the various social medias, I’m occasionally sending out free download codes…so try to grab one up there!
May 22, 2020
More Bad Decisions with Joshua Mohr and Hosho McCreesh
Joshua Mohr, author, editor, teacher, and champion of writers everywhere, was kind enough to sit down for a chat. You’ll find that my first BAD DECISION was the settings used to record what was otherwise a heartfelt and breezy chat about, among other things, bad decisions, The Unifying Theory of Everything (that connects our work), what’s at stake for the artist, “beige against the machine,” the redemptive power of fucking up, being white-boy wasted, crashing the saddest birthday party in the world, The Wisdom of the Kansas City Casino, and the future of AMC TV Shows.
SIRENS, his most recent book from Two Dollar Radio knows a little something about all of the above, and It’s also something A DEEP & GORGEOUS THIRST - UNABRIDGED AUDIO is no stranger to.
You can find Josh and his books HERE. He also runs DECANT EDITORIAL, and can absolutely help you make whatever you’re working on better.
BUY THIRST 3-CD BOX SET
buy digital
