David Lubar's Blog, page 35

Dead kid talking

Dead Guy Spy, hits the shelves tomorrow. I'm not sure how much jumping and screaming one is supposed to do for the second book in a series. But I'm pleased with the way it came out.

Gbuy Gbemi's Gbook

Sorry. Couldn't resist. Eight Grade Superzero, a debut novel by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich came out yesterday. I had the pleasure of reading an early version of the first chapter a while ago, and I'm thrilled that the book is now available. It already got one awesome review.

Back to talking about myself tomorrow. Guess I should mention I have a book coming out on Monday.

Quote of the year

2009 in review, part 1 of 365.

It was a very good year, but one thing trumps all else so powerfully that I am giving it this whole post. I'll save the writing recap and travel tales for later. First, a bit of background. My daughter taught for two years in one of Philadelphia's worst high schools. Last summer, she was offered a job at a school outside the city. Several weeks after she started, I asked her how she liked it. Her response: "It's weird being happy." That, my friends, says s...

I'm glad that's resolved

I generally post my New Year's resolutions in April or May, right after I answer my fan mail from the previous year. In 2008, for some reason, I posted my resolutions on December 31st. There were three of them, including this:

2. Destroy Kirkus Reviews. I'm not quite sure how, and I may need help, but it is about time that someone put that cowardly, badly-written, low-circulation piece of smug, pretentious garbage out of its (and our)misery. Volunteers?

As some of you may have heard, Kirkus...

Tune in tomorrow

It's very quiet. Everyone is frantically trying to finish that novel so the year can't be written off as a total loss. Time has flown. 2009 is a whisker away from being history. But, amazingly, I have finally discovered my super power. I have an awesome (though as yet untamed) skill. I will reveal it tomorrow. Fear me.

Snow hound

The Blogiverse (which I think is also the name of that Chicago politician who recently got in trouble) is awash with photos of dogs romping in the snow. Since the snow here has melted, and since I have cats, I am feeling left out. I guess I could toss one of my cats into some powdered sugar, but that would probably get me in trouble with the animal rights folks.

Out of the box

Apparently, yesterday was Boxing Day, and I missed it. I'll try to make up for it by punching two people today.

Thanks to the latest terror attempt, travelers might not be able to get up during the last hour of the flight, or use a lap blanket. That's a bad combination. If I can't leave my seat, I'd at least like to have a blanket to piss into.

I realize that was a bit crude, but given that nobody reads blogs on the weekend, and ever noerbodies read them on holiday weekends, I think it's saf...

x post factoid

In deference to the day, I won't post the idea that hit me when I realized that Xmas could be punned with x-mistress. (You're safe for today, Tiger.)

But while I've got your attention, Merry Christmas. May all the presents you give bring even more joy than you expected.

Fowler than ever

If there's one thing I've learned during my writing career, it's that the majority of copy editors don't seem to realize that the typical 5th-grade narrator hasn't spent much time studying Strunk and White.

The Seven-Year Glitch

December, 2009, after Al Franken denied Joe Lieberman's request for additional time,
John McCain said, "I've been around here twenty-some years, first time I've seen a member denied a minute or two to finish his remarks."

October, 2002, after Mark Dayton requested additional time, John McCain said, "I object."

So McCain is either lying or he has a very bad memory. (He also has a bad attendance record, since an earlier request for additional time was denied in that same 2009 session.) But I ...