Lisa Napoli's Blog, page 4

What it’s like to a be a seriously famous author (Or, my night with Neil Gaiman)

I’ve just had a glimpse of the most incredible rock star writer: Neil Gaiman signing probably 2000 books in the hands of some 1400 people till 2:40am.  After talking on stage to the assembled crowd for an hour and a half before that.

Perhaps more incredibly, many of those 1400 people patiently (for the most part) waited for hours in a hot theater.  Most of them immersed in the pages of Gaiman’s new book, the reason he’s on the road, The Ocean at the End of the Lane (which just debuted on the NY Times bestseller list at #1.  Of course.)

I’ve been in the orbit of Stephen King when people chase him down the street.  Seen the mobs form around Matt Groening, while he kindly signed every last book or piece of paper put in front of him, without evident fear of being squished.  A couple years ago, I helped 6500 people file through a line that snaked through several levels of the Nokia Theater to get two seconds in front of, and a signature from, Tina Fey.

Just a few weeks ago, 1400 people jammed the same theater to see Phil Jackson.  They were into it, Lakers gear and all, but it didn’t feel….religious.  Sacred.

Row by row, they approached the stage.

“You don’t think we’re all here just cause this guy wrote a couple books that got made into movies and TV shows, do you?” explained one fan as I helped her flap the books to the correct pages in order to keep the assembly line going.  (There were at least 8 other people involved in this carefully orchestrated operation, including someone whose job it was to hand Gaiman the correct pen for the item at hand.  Collection of Sandman comics?  The silver sharpie.  The new book?  A fountain pen.  And so on.)

Me, I had absolutely no idea who Neil Gaiman was until my boyfriend told me he was going to be doing this event for his speaker series, Live Talks LA.  (“You’re not the demographic,” one goth staffer at the theater sniffed at me, but, while there was a detectable geek-goth look evident, I was impressed by the diverse age and racial makeup of the crowd.)

“The most famous writer you’ve never heard of,” he told me.

Not anymore.  I studied up on Gaiman’s backstory, guiltily read a precious signed galley of this coveted book before the fans, and proceeded to wear exactly the wrong shoes to stand in for 10-plus hours–even though Ted warned me we’d be there late.

The fact that rock star writer Gaiman is married to an actual rock star, Amanda Palmer, adds to the mystique.  The two live on Twitter, where any schmo can read along as they correspond with each other, Neil’s grown kids and an assorted cast of characters as well as fans.

Right now, Amanda’s on tour herself, and she sent along several hundred CDs of a band she just produced, to be handed out as freebies.

“Amanda sent these for you,” I told people, as we gave handed them out to the crowds, as if Amanda had personally phoned me up and shipped em to me.

Pre-show book-signing in the green room. People waited in line to get the signature face to face, rather than trading in for one of these so they could leave early.

What makes someone so famous that people are willing to drive for hours, sit in the baking heat outdoors to get inside a venue, sit for hours waiting to have a chance to drop off home-baked cookies, show off their Gaiman-inspired tattoos, and get a signature or two? Clearly, attentiveness to one’s fans is a factor.  He’s so hot, he doesn’t have to minister to his fans.

Perhaps the even more interesting and unanswerable question is: How do you get to be that famous in the first place?  It doesn’t hurt to write stuff that’s good, time and again.  And surely it helps to look as many of them in the eye, let them wax poetic, and respond, “Thanks.”

Playlist for LiveTalksLA event with Colum McCann and his new book, Transatlantic

For Live Talks LA, the speaker series my boyfriend produces, I’ve taken to compiling playlists of music to fill the venue before the event.  

For tonight’s author, whose latest book spans not just continents but eras, this was a fun challenge–one made easier by references to various songs throughout the book.

Here’s what you’ll hear if you come to the William Turner gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica tonight…before you hear red-hot author Colum McCann being quizzed by the LA Times’ literary goddess Carolyn Kellogg.

Harlem Rag by Donna Coleman

We Shall Overcome by The Boys Choir of Harlem

Ireland by Bela Fleck

Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick

Frederick Douglass by Flo, El Guapo and Big Mello

John Harmann/Rule Brittania by Metropolitan Wind Symphony

Let the Great World Spin by Joe Hurley

Lorena by Blaine Sprouse

Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin

Transatlantic by Bleu Screen

Transatlantic by Quantic

“What to read before visiting Asia”

Nice surprise to see Radio Shangri-La mentioned kindly in this story by writer Allison Gee on the website of travel guru PeterGreenberg.com (also mentions a niceLonely Planet line about the book that I’d never seen.) 

Watch this space or better yet write to me if you’re interested in coming to Bhutan with us next March.  A trip is in the works…..

Upcoming talk about female Buddhist spiritual leaders with the author of Dakini Power

On Saturday, June 22nd at Insight LA in Santa Monica, writer Michaela Haas and I are going to have a conversation about her new book, Dakini Power, which is all about women spiritual leaders in Buddhism.  Join us?

As I’ve written here before, this book is a fascinating read and Michaela’s personal story is intriguing, too.  (She was on a fast-track journalism career when she had a spiritual awakening in Bhutan, and changed course.)

Come hear us and see some pictures of these important spiritual leaders, too.

Details:

http://www.insightla.org/1242/michaela-haas-and-lisa-napoli-discuss-dakini-power

Finding peace in the noise: Urban Dharma in Science of Mind

It was when my swimming pool went out of commission for repairs for a few months, 5 years ago, that I realized my daily exercise was meditative as well as good for my physical body.  

Suddenly, I felt addled, and I went online in search of meditation podcasts.  I found Urban Dharma–a series of talks and meditations by Rev. Kusala Bhikshu at the International Buddhist Meditation Center.

Which happened to be located in Koreatown, just a few miles from where I live.  So, after devouring a dozen or so of the podcasts, I went to pay my respects.  

And I’ve been going back ever since to talk to and study with Rev. Kusala.  He’s become a good friend, and I’ve seen him speak in a number of venues–often in churches, where he’s asked to explain Buddhism.  Often he punctuates his talks with his harmonica or ukulele.

So when Science of Mind magazine asked me to write about him, I was delighted to share a bit of this monk’s story.

The only trouble is…it’s not published online.  Email me if you’d like to see the article.

The zen, true secret of writing: Just do it

Back when I was a young aspiring writer with nothing to write about, someone who loved and believed in me gave me a book about writing called Writing Down the Bones.

I can’t remember why, exactly, but I remember that it moved me.  Gave me confidence.  Planted the seed of a commitment:  Don’t be someone who talks about writing.  Or someone who makes excuses about not writing.  Write.

Now, 25 years later and the author has a follow-up, The True Secret of Writing, based on the writing retreats she’s lead ever since.

The theme continues: Don’t talk about writing.  Don’t talk about anything.  The secret is, simply: “Shut up, and write.”

It may seem an odd mantra for a Zen-infused woman to chant, but, as I retreat into my world for the evening to heed the call, I can say it works.

Oh irony: you can hear Natalie speak about this philosophy in this brief conversation I had with her for KCRW this week in advance of her appearance tomorrow night at Insight LA.

 

Women, power, and Buddhism

There’s a new book out from Snow Lion/Shambhala called Dakini Power: Twelve Extraordinary Women Shaping the Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the West.  The author is Michaela Haas, a journalist who earned a phD in Buddhist studies after a transformative trip to Bhutan; she lives in both Malibu and her native Germany.

The book offers biographical sketches of influential women in Buddhism, from nuns immersed in service work, to women who are wives of spiritual masters, to show that it is not a man’s world only.

It’s a riveting read.  People who dedicate their lives to any religion fascinate me, and there’s something otherworldly about westerners who immerse themselves in Buddhism, particularly the storied and sometimes fantastic traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

To some of the stories in the book, I found myself wondering: Is it feminist (and/or religious) to marry your spiritual master, and then, as he ages, bring another man into the home?  Is a solitary retreat a solitary retreat when one interrupts to tend to their family?

The whole “spiritual master” thing, as I’ve written here before, makes me uncomfortable, but Haas introduces these stories with an even hand that made me think, more than I usually do, about it–as well as the nature of devotion and spirituality and feminism.

The book also made me wonder: Is there something to this idea of a person being an “emanation’ or “reincarnation” or able to transmit or receive teachings–versus simply practicing the basic precepts of Buddhism and living kindly and peacefully, mindful of your impact on the earth?  Can one person be more holy than another, really?

If you’re reading this un-review (I’d rather talk about it with you in person than try to play book reviewer, which I am not!) all I’m saying is: Dakini Power might make you ask some questions, too.  At the very least it’ll introduce you to some interesting and indeed powerful women who have made some very interesting life choices in the name of their spiritual path.

A humble request from the author

Thanks to the good folks at fefifolios, I’ve got a spiffed up website.  

Since I’m in spring makeover mode and as I immerse myself in a new book project, I have a request.

If you’re a fan of Radio Shangri-La, would you consider writing a brief review on Amazon?  I’ve never asked before, but with the Bhutanese elections fast approaching on April 23d, it seems like time to freshen up the reviews, too.

Thanks,

Lisa

 

How to follow the upcoming elections in Bhutan from afar

Part of the vast educational campaign to teach Bhutanese about democracy. USA could learn a thing or two…

Coverage of Bhutan’s second-ever Parliamentary elections is far more sophisticated than it was five years ago, when I was lucky enough to be in Thimphu for the first phase of the first-ever elections.

The go-to spot for coverage on the upcoming elections (slated for April 23rd) is the newspaper Kuensel.  

From 2008

Two great stories today: One about a candidate who is walking door-to-door to greet “the people.”  And an editorial about how few women are running for office this time around.

You can also follow along on the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, which even has posted the National Council Debates.  However, for that and some of the other coverage, you’ve got to speak Dzongkha.

There are other good newspapers, too: Bhutan Observer and The Bhutanese.  But for the most radical take on the elections and everything Bhutan that people inside the country can’t see, check out the blocked-in-Bhutan site, Bhutanomics.

Wanted: Exchange students to study in Bhutan

Here’s a semester abroad your momma or best friend hasn’t done:  Bhutan’s first private college, Royal Thimphu College, wants you.

There’s an active exchange program with Wheaton College in Mass., which the King of Bhutan attended.  But they’re looking for more good people.

To find out more, go to the school’s website, http://www.rtc.bt

It’s a lovely campus, new, just outside the capital city of Thimphu.  Sure to be a life-changing experience.