Matthew O'Brien's Blog, page 10

A French-language review

My books are apparently about to be published in French or, perhaps, already have been. And this reviewer seems (it's in French) to like the translations.

This is the first I've seen of the book covers, which are different from the English-language covers. Less warm, but perhaps more artistic. Still trying to decide if I like them.

As you can probably sense, my experience with the French publisher has been strange. More on this later, I'm sure.

http://laccoudoir.com/essais-documents/blue-angel-motel-sous-les-neons-matthew-obrien-2651/

The Browser interview

The literary website the Browser asked me to pick my five favorite Las Vegas books, focusing mostly on nonfiction titles. Here are my choices:

http://thebrowser.com/interviews/matthew-o'brien-on-las-vegas

Grad school update

So, I applied to six MFA creative writing programs: Iowa, Texas, UC Irvine, UNLV, Washington and Arizona. In the spring, I'll know where I got in and what funding is available, and I'll go from there. Very excited about the prospects!

I'll keep you updated, of course.

Fade Sag Crumble makes top-10 list

A month after The Guardian included Fade Sag Crumble on its Ten of the Best Books Set in Las Vegas list, Chuck Twardy of the Las Vegas Weekly named it one of the top-ten books of 2011. Yeah, it's number 10, but still …

http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2011/dec/29/2011-year-review-books-strip-and-sports/

Quick Christmas follow-up

Spent a few hours in the underground flood channels on Christmas Day, giving out bottled water, clothes, gift cards, toiletries and other items, with the help of a former tunnel resident. The people we encountered were, as usual, polite and appreciative. Thanks to Ted at Lynn's World consignment store, my sister Cathy, my friends David and Molly and my Facebook friend Karine Projean for their generous donations!

Christmas in the tunnels

I'm going to be in Vegas for the holidays and am planning a Christmas Day trip into the underground flood channels. Want to give out knit caps, socks, books, flashlights, AA and AAA batteries, blankets, canned goods, gift cards (Target, McDonald's, Walmart), etc. If you'd like to contribute new or gently used items, please let me know.

Thanks and happy holidays!

Free shipping and no taxes!

If you'd like a copy of my books Beneath the Neon or My Week at the Blue Angel (www.beneaththeneon.com) or Fade Sag Crumble (www.fadesagcrumble.com), a new collection I contributed to, for yourself or to give as a gift, message me or send me an e-mail. I can sign or personalize the books and ship them for the list price: $20 for Beneath the Neon and $15 for My Week at the Blue Angel and Fade Sag Crumble.

Thanks!

KNPR interview

I was on KNPR this morning, with attorney/writer Dayvid Figler and CityLife Editor Scott Dickensheets, talking about the 40th anniversary of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

http://www.knpr.org/son/archive/detail2.cfm?SegmentID=8391&ProgramID=2378

HP's holiday catalog

My publisher's 2011 holiday catalog:

http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/catalog2011.pdf

Fade Sag Crumble in The Guardian

Malcolm Burgess, writing for The Guardian, included Fade Sag Crumble in his Ten of the Best Books Set in Las Vegas list. True, he left out some worthy titles (e.g., How I Got Cultured and Lay the Favorite). And I disagree with some of his selections (The Desert Rose and The Cold Six Thousand). But it's a nice acknowledgement, nonetheless, for the collection.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/nov/16/top-10-books-las-vegas