Ed Davis's Blog, page 5

Literary News & Events for Readers & Writers

Katrina Kittle’s New Online Workshops

My good friend and fellow novelist Katrina Kittle is teaching online fiction-writing classes for OnLiten. She is the author of four books for adults: Traveling Light, Two Truths and a Lie, The Kindness of Strangers and The Blessings of the Animals as well as one published novel for tweens, Reasons to Be Happy, with another in the works. Katrina has an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University in Louisville and teaches regularly for Word’s Worth Writing Connections and offers manuscript consultations through Write Sisters Consulting. Check out her current and upcoming offerings at: http://www.onliten.com/workshops.htm. I could not imagine a more compassionate writing instructor who regularly earns rave reviews.

The Abundant Bohemian

Another good friend, Joe Downing, attorney and fiction writer from Dayton, has just published his nonfiction book The Abundant Bohemian. The subtitle says it all: “How to Live the Unconventional Life Without Starving.” It’s extremely well-written and personal—and very inspiring. He interviewed all sorts of people, from sculptors to entrepreneurs and writers (even yours truly). A great holiday gift! Check out Joe, his blog and book at www.abundantbohemian.com. Consider asking him to come speak to your group.

Columbus Creative Collective

This upbeat organization offers writing workshops, publishes fine anthologies and maintains a lively presence on the literary scene in Columbus and online. Memberships are available at several levels, the first of which, Peer Level, is free! Having been a Writer Member (only $15) for a year, I’m enjoying many benefits: my story “Cracked Blacktop,” adapted from my novel The Psalms of Israel Jones, will be included in the soon-to-be-published “For the Road” anthology; my poetry collection Time of the Light is displayed at festivals and other retail venues along with other CCC authors; and I’m regularly invited to peer-editing workshops and free seminars about publishing. I have yet to attend myself, but Joe Downing said the one on publishing he heard was extremely informative. Check out CCC at www.columbuscoop.org.

New (to me) Bookstore

I just discovered Joseph Beth Booksellers, a great indie bookstore in Cincinnati. It’s vast, containing a cozy restaurant, quickie café, terrific kids’ section and zillions of great book, from classics to latest releases. The staff points you toward items you’ll enjoy with personalized descriptions displayed on cards attached to the shelves at eye level. You need not have any idea what you’re looking for in order to find the perfect thing (they sell a lot more than books). In addition, Jo-Beth offers a full calendar of events, ranging from better-known to local authors. Their on-line vetting process, first I’ve seen, aims to treat locals fairly and respectfully. The store is located in Norwood, right off I-71, inside an upscale shopping center with a super candy store.

Book Nook

I had the honor of being interviewed by the kind and astute Vick Mickunas on WYSO’s popular radio show “Book Nook.” Because he had read thoroughly The Psalms of Israel Jones, Vick’s questions and comments were deep and wise. It was a friendly chat, not an interrogation (though I’ve heard Vick is capable of that, with the right author and book). I’m pretty sure it will air this Sunday, November 16, from 10:30-11:00 at 91.3 FM.

Got News?

Please let me know your late-breaking literary news which will benefit us all, and I’ll definitely try to get it out there. In the meantime, keep reading and writing!

 

Blog image by Qtea and used by permission under Attribution 2.0 Generic license

 

 

The Fries Meet Israel Jones

A Reading That Will Rock

 This is the lit-event I’ve been waiting for:  On Sunday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m., Israel Jones, mythic rocker from my novel The Psalms of Israel Jones, will share the stage with Dayton’s own legend, The Fries Band, at the beautiful Hayner Cultural Center at 301 W. Main Street in downtown Troy, Ohio.

It will be the trio, not the entire band with bass and drums—we want to leave a few of the Hayner’s walls standing. But there will be plenty of their trademark tight harmonies and acoustic guitars. (*Note:  The bookmark I’ve been passing out incorrectly stated the program starting at 7:00—but if you do arrive early, tour the Hayner!).

Fries History 101

To paraphrase their Reverbnation bio, The Fries started out in 1989 as an acoustic trio called “The French Fries” which consisted of 3 acoustic guitars and 3 vocals. Over the years the trio has evolved into the full band they are today. They blend major intricate, complex harmonies to create distinctive musical arrangements specializing in the sounds of Crosby Stills Nash & Young, America, The Beatles, Eagles, Jimmy Buffett, and more. (See videos and keep track of their busy schedule at www.thefriesband.com.)

Current members are: Gary Knight, Pete Price, Jeff Tutt, Matt Scholp, Mark Fraze and Gary King (sound & trombone). Past members include: Pat McKeown (original member) Jim Taylor (original member) Jimmy Thompson, Ward Walker, Sal Salaz, Rich Kruzell, Don Corbet, Tom Davis, Bruce Meyer, Gary Smith, Rich Palmer and Steve Speelman.

My Generous Friends  

The Fries’ original songs are top drawer (request Pete Price’s “Willow” sometime), and their arrangements of others’ songs always have the Fries’ indelible stamp: like turning a lush Motown hit into intimate a capella, like medleys that are inevitable yet surprising. Finally, they are generous friends; this will be the third book they’ve helped me launch, working for a free copy and my undying gratitude.

Please join us at the atmospheric, historic Hayner this coming Sunday. You won’t be sorry!

The Tour Continues…

The Second Half  

The first half of the Israel Jones Tour of 2014 is now history. A huge thank you to all who came, listened raptly and asked challenging questions at Epic Bookshop and Antioch College’s Coretta Scott King Center in Yellow Springs; and Blue Jacket Books in Xenia. The tour continues with another stop in Yellow Springs and one in lovely, historic Troy, Ohio.

Workshop on 10-26

 On Sunday, October 26, I’m facilitating a workshop on Turning Your Life Into Fiction:  Writing Autobiographical Fiction (ABF) at Epic Bookshop (map), 229 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, Ohio, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Discussion will focus on what ABF is; which genre, Memoir or ABF, is best for you as a writer; as well as significant differences between the two. A writing exercise will help writers apply what they’ve learned and begin a new fiction or memoir writing project. No experience necessary! There is a registration fee of $20.  Sign up by stopping into the store during open hours, calling Epic (767-2091) or e-mailing owner Gail Lichtenfels at gail.lichtenfels@wright.edu.

  Words & Music Merge in Troy, 11-9

 Acoustic harmonies of the trio version of The Fries Band, “Side of Fries,” will interweave with my words from The Psalms of Israel at the atmospheric Troy Hayner Cultural Center at 301 W. Main Street, Troy, Ohio. The part-concert, part-reading will take place on Sunday, November 9, 7:00-9:00 p.m. An author reception and book-signing, including refreshments, will immediately follow.

Stay Tuned for New Developments

 That’s it for now, but new dates could be added. If so, I’ll list them under Events on this page and on my Facebook page. If you’d like to suggest a venue, shoot me an e-mail. I’d be glad to visit your readers’ or writers’ group if it’s not too far away from Yellow Springs and you can assure a reasonable turnout.

Breaking News:  The Beavercreek Barnes & Noble has agreed to give me a reading sometime during the winter or spring of 2015. Stay tuned for date and time!

 

Blog image by Sue Nichols and used by permission under a Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license

Israel’s Tour Stops in Greene County

Live at the Epic in Yellow Springs

Please come and help me celebrate a book that took me three years to write and another three to find a home with West Virginia University Press and about which Susan Carpenter writes in this week’s Yellow Springs News, “Ed Davis has written his best novel yet, pulling up his love/hate for music and church by their Appalachian roots and spinning a story of adversaries that scrape their rough edges together and generate flares of agony, beauty, and hard-won truths on the other side.”

I’ll be debuting my new novel, The Psalms of Israel Jones, at Epic Bookshop on Friday evening, September 26, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Why don’t you have a drink at the Emporium during their weekly wine-tasting, then come right next door to 229 Xenia Avenue in lovely downtown Yellow Springs, Ohio. After an informal introduction, I’ll read a brief excerpt then gladly take your questions—and of course sign your books.

South on Route 68 . . .

The very next weekend, on Saturday, October 4, Israel’s bus pulls up to 30 South Detroit Street in lovely downtown Xenia, Ohio, for a reading/signing at Blue Jacket Books from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Since moving a few storefronts south of its former location, Blue Jacket has grown in both size and services; soon, owner Lawrence Hammar assures me, even food and drink will be served.

Then back north . . .  

Next, on Wednesday, October 15, from 7:00-7:45 p.m., Israel and I are pleased to be part of Antioch College’s Local Writers Program at the Coretta Scott King Center on Livermore Street in Yellow Springs, across the street from the main buildings (Antioch campus map). In this airy yet cozy room on the newly-revived Antioch campus, I’ll read a longer excerpt and hope for good audience interaction!

Looking Ahead  

Finally, don’t forget that on Sunday, November 9, from 7:30-9:00 p.m., I’ll be joined by The Fries, a three-part-harmony trio, at the Hayner Cultural Center. Stay tuned for what comes next by checking “Events” for the complete calendar.

Israel Jones Live!

The Official Launch  

Just as the leaves begin to softly fall, ageless rocker Israel Jones’ “Eternal Tour” rolls into the Miami Valley on September 1. I’m referring to my latest novel, The Psalms of Israel Jones, a father-son redemptive tale set in the world of professional rock. The novel took three years to write, another three to find the perfect publisher, and nine months to edit and turn into a handsome book.

Where to Get It

For now, the book is available from the publisher, West Virginia University Press, at Amazon, and locally at Epic Bookshop in Yellow Springs and Blue Jacket Books in Xenia, Ohio. I’ll add locations once the book receives wider distribution.

Where to Sample It  

You can read Chapter One of Israel Jones right here under “Resources for Readers.”  Also, Columbus Creative Coop will publish my short story, “Cracked Blacktop” (based on Chapter Four of the novel), in their For the Road anthology to be released in November, 2014. (See my blog of November 11, 2013 and check them out at www.ColumbusCoop.org)

Where to Hear It

Epic Bookshop will host the book’s debut on Friday, September 26, 6:30-8:00 p.m.  Also, on Sunday, November 9, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at the Hayner Cultural Center in Troy, Ohio, I’ll be joined by the three-part-harmony trio version of The Fries, a Dayton-based band, who’ll evoke Israel’s spirit with their takes on Neil Young, America, CS & N, Buffett, Beatles and many others. See the Events page for other upcoming readings.

Kudos to All

I’m grateful to so many who’ve contributed to this book; I can’t say enough good things about West Virginia University Press:  professional, respectful, friendly and committed to the author’s, not their own, vision. And while I’ve mentioned many friends, fellow writers and supporters of literature in the book’s acknowledgements, doubtless I’ve left some of you out. So let me say right here, from the heart:  Thank you, friends, one and all.

Finally, hugs and handshakes to all of you, strangers as well as loved ones, who will expend your precious time and energy to complete my writing through your careful reading. I pray you might find some small reward for your effort.