Jan Notzon's Blog, page 24
February 5, 2020
Road block
I've come to a bit of a road block on my present novel. Back around the start of it I went into a pretty sever depression: lost my sister and sold our ancestral home that my maternal grandmother built in 1915. Funny that I didn't realize what that house meant to me. Fortunately, I got out of that, finding a community here in Charlotte.
Now, I've written the fictional account of my father's family's emigration from Poland--at least up the part where they're on the train to Bremen, Germany. But I've found I need to go back to Poland to see what that trip might have looked like. Pictures on the internet just don't do the trick.
The complication at first was trying to navigate Rail Europe (they kept saying "that route not available.") So, I contacted a tour company called Kensington tours and told them what I was looking for. They said they'd get back to me with a package, but I've yet to hear from them.
Boy, writing something you know nothing about is a PAIN. I just hope when I finish it, it will have been worth it.
Now, I've written the fictional account of my father's family's emigration from Poland--at least up the part where they're on the train to Bremen, Germany. But I've found I need to go back to Poland to see what that trip might have looked like. Pictures on the internet just don't do the trick.
The complication at first was trying to navigate Rail Europe (they kept saying "that route not available.") So, I contacted a tour company called Kensington tours and told them what I was looking for. They said they'd get back to me with a package, but I've yet to hear from them.
Boy, writing something you know nothing about is a PAIN. I just hope when I finish it, it will have been worth it.
February 1, 2020
Promotion
I just heard from Damian Jaccobs of New Reader Magazine. He said he pitched my novel "And Ye Shall Be As Gods", to his Board of Directors and they want to do a 12-month partnership with me to promote the novel.
I'm not sure what all it will entail, but I'm particularly gratified as NRM discovered my book on their own and contacted me to feature it in their January issue. I'm dying to know how they came upon it.
Here is a link: https://www.newreadermagazine.com/
I'm not sure what all it will entail, but I'm particularly gratified as NRM discovered my book on their own and contacted me to feature it in their January issue. I'm dying to know how they came upon it.
Here is a link: https://www.newreadermagazine.com/
January 18, 2020
Signing
Well, I found that my actor's voice came in handy on Friday. I did a reading and book signing at a (very loud) coffee shop.
After an hour and a half of yelling at the top of my larynx, I came home exhausted.
But, three friends came and brought two other friends with them and I made a few sales. (I actually learned how to use "square" to register the sales!) Pretty amazing given my neanderthal tech skills.
But I do recommend Queens City Grounds (the venue). They're great people (I met two of the owners and Keenan, the manager, was most helpful). And a barista made a decaf Americano for me and it was some of the best coffee I've ever tasted.
The most hopeful thing is that people say they find my readings very entertaining. And boy, do I enjoy doing them! (Always the actor)
After an hour and a half of yelling at the top of my larynx, I came home exhausted.
But, three friends came and brought two other friends with them and I made a few sales. (I actually learned how to use "square" to register the sales!) Pretty amazing given my neanderthal tech skills.
But I do recommend Queens City Grounds (the venue). They're great people (I met two of the owners and Keenan, the manager, was most helpful). And a barista made a decaf Americano for me and it was some of the best coffee I've ever tasted.
The most hopeful thing is that people say they find my readings very entertaining. And boy, do I enjoy doing them! (Always the actor)
January 7, 2020
Book Signing 2
On Friday, January 17 at 12noon, I'll be doing another book signing at Queens City Grounds, a coffee shop in Uptown.
I wish I could upload the wonderful flyer my publicist made for me. I'll contact Goodreads support to see if that's possible and do it on my next post.
Wish me luck!
I wish I could upload the wonderful flyer my publicist made for me. I'll contact Goodreads support to see if that's possible and do it on my next post.
Wish me luck!
January 6, 2020
David Hume's "An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
I imagine the problem may be mine, but I found David Hume's writing virtually impenetrable. I wish someone would just fix the punctuation. I'm aware that punctuation styles vary over time but it strikes me that Hume never pondered a phrase that didn't merit a comma--or a thought that didn't require a semicolon. To wit:
"In later times, philosophy of all kinds, especially ethics, have been more closely united with theology than ever they were observed to be among the Heathens; and as this latter science admits of no terms of composition, but bends every branch of knowledge to its own purpose, without much regard to the phaenomena of nature, or to the unbiassed (sic) sentiments of the mind, hence reasoning, and even language, have been warped from their natural course, and distinctions have been endeavoured to be established, where the difference of the objects was, in a manner, imperceptible."
OK.
In addition to this, 106 pages to explain that morals are based on what's good for society (utilitarianism) seems a bit of overkill to me.
But again, perhaps the problem is mine.
"In later times, philosophy of all kinds, especially ethics, have been more closely united with theology than ever they were observed to be among the Heathens; and as this latter science admits of no terms of composition, but bends every branch of knowledge to its own purpose, without much regard to the phaenomena of nature, or to the unbiassed (sic) sentiments of the mind, hence reasoning, and even language, have been warped from their natural course, and distinctions have been endeavoured to be established, where the difference of the objects was, in a manner, imperceptible."
OK.
In addition to this, 106 pages to explain that morals are based on what's good for society (utilitarianism) seems a bit of overkill to me.
But again, perhaps the problem is mine.
December 26, 2019
Always the Actor
Here in Charlotte, NC, there is a wonderful group called the Charlotte Writers' Club. They have interesting speakers and social events I have truly cherished.
However, the one monthly event that I covet and have never missed since I started with the group is called "Open Mic Night". Usually the third Friday of each month the group sponsors an opportunity for members to get up and read before a crowd of fellow writers. It's held at a wonderfully welcoming coffee shop appropriately named "Mugs". (I'm not wild about their coffee but hey, you can't have everything.)
You may not be aware that I was an actor in a former life, and it seems you just can't take the "ham" out of the boy. I can't describe how much I enjoy reading my work before my fellow authors.
Strange as it may seem, I most enjoy reading dialogue but have fun with the straight narrative parts as well.
I recently did a presentation/book signing at a local independent bookstore called Park Road Books and I've got to say that that's the most fun I've had in a long time. The manager said that I was one of the few readers she could hear (that stage training came in handy) and she asked for 6 more copies of "The Id Paradox".
I have another reading/signing scheduled at a different coffee shop in Charlotte in January and one at another coffee shop in my hometown of Laredo, TX in April. I have to say I'm a bit concerned about those. Who goes to a coffee shop to hear writers read from their works? Well, you gotta start somewhere.
But what a treat it is to be able to combine my love of writing and acting! I'm forever grateful!
However, the one monthly event that I covet and have never missed since I started with the group is called "Open Mic Night". Usually the third Friday of each month the group sponsors an opportunity for members to get up and read before a crowd of fellow writers. It's held at a wonderfully welcoming coffee shop appropriately named "Mugs". (I'm not wild about their coffee but hey, you can't have everything.)
You may not be aware that I was an actor in a former life, and it seems you just can't take the "ham" out of the boy. I can't describe how much I enjoy reading my work before my fellow authors.
Strange as it may seem, I most enjoy reading dialogue but have fun with the straight narrative parts as well.
I recently did a presentation/book signing at a local independent bookstore called Park Road Books and I've got to say that that's the most fun I've had in a long time. The manager said that I was one of the few readers she could hear (that stage training came in handy) and she asked for 6 more copies of "The Id Paradox".
I have another reading/signing scheduled at a different coffee shop in Charlotte in January and one at another coffee shop in my hometown of Laredo, TX in April. I have to say I'm a bit concerned about those. Who goes to a coffee shop to hear writers read from their works? Well, you gotta start somewhere.
But what a treat it is to be able to combine my love of writing and acting! I'm forever grateful!
December 18, 2019
A little propaganda
My novel "And Ye Shall Be As Gods" is featured this quarter in New Reader Magazine.
https://www.newreadermagazine.com/
I think it's a very elegant journal with some beautiful artwork (despite the grammatical error on the homepage). It also has some fine poetry by an African poet (Asanh Ben? maybe).
At present, it's only available online, but they hope to have a print version sometime in 2020.
They are all very talented and devoted people to boot. And they're located in NYC!
Enjoy!
https://www.newreadermagazine.com/
I think it's a very elegant journal with some beautiful artwork (despite the grammatical error on the homepage). It also has some fine poetry by an African poet (Asanh Ben? maybe).
At present, it's only available online, but they hope to have a print version sometime in 2020.
They are all very talented and devoted people to boot. And they're located in NYC!
Enjoy!
December 17, 2019
Philosophy
Having just finished reading a book on the Enlightenment philosophers, it seems they all come up short of the deepest mysteries of our existence. Immanuel Kant resorts to "noumena", something outside of space and time and consequently things that we can never truly know: (the spiritual?; the divine?). Although the author states that they are nothing like Plato's forms, they sound suspiciously alike to me. (But what the heck do I know!)
Plato himself had the rather (to me) amorphous, "the good", which strikes me as rather numinous.
Hume says that there is no way we can prove cause and effect and seems to me to basically say that we just have to believe it--which sounds like faith (that much-maligned virtue these days) to me.
I think that Kant's moral maxim that we should only act in such a way that we can will the rule by which we act to be a universal law is very apt. But he sets such store by a priori knowledge and I fail to see how one gets there by that process.
In contrast, Hume is completely utilitarian, basing morality on what creates (I suppose) the greatest good for the greatest number.
But it strikes me that they and Locke and Descartes and all the rest finally have to resort to faith and the spiritual in the end.
But then again, what do I know?
Plato himself had the rather (to me) amorphous, "the good", which strikes me as rather numinous.
Hume says that there is no way we can prove cause and effect and seems to me to basically say that we just have to believe it--which sounds like faith (that much-maligned virtue these days) to me.
I think that Kant's moral maxim that we should only act in such a way that we can will the rule by which we act to be a universal law is very apt. But he sets such store by a priori knowledge and I fail to see how one gets there by that process.
In contrast, Hume is completely utilitarian, basing morality on what creates (I suppose) the greatest good for the greatest number.
But it strikes me that they and Locke and Descartes and all the rest finally have to resort to faith and the spiritual in the end.
But then again, what do I know?
November 22, 2019
Book Signing
Last night, I had a presentation and book signing for my novel The Id Paradox at Park Road Books in Charlotte, NC.
It went quite well, with people staying to hear me read from it and from my other novels until the owners shooed us out.
The Id Paradox was sold out and the manager asked me for several more copies. Plus, I sold copies of some of my other novels.
It was a good showing. Not quite as many people in the audience as I had hoped, but a goodly amount and wonderfully responsive.
I have another couple of signings in the works as well. One in December and one in April in my hometown of Laredo, TX. It'll be great to see old friends.
It went quite well, with people staying to hear me read from it and from my other novels until the owners shooed us out.
The Id Paradox was sold out and the manager asked me for several more copies. Plus, I sold copies of some of my other novels.
It was a good showing. Not quite as many people in the audience as I had hoped, but a goodly amount and wonderfully responsive.
I have another couple of signings in the works as well. One in December and one in April in my hometown of Laredo, TX. It'll be great to see old friends.
November 16, 2019
Always an Actor
Well, I guess you can take the boy off the stage but you can't take the ham out of the boy.
Last night I took part in Charlotte Readers' Club Open Mic Night at Mug's Coffee Shop here in Charlotte, NC. It is an opportunity for writers to read their wares before other writers.
I can't express how wonderful an opportunity it is to read bits of my work to an audience. I've now retired from the stage and acting in general, but I had forgotten how much I just love performing--and to perform my own ouvre Is the height of fun!
I'm getting another chance on Thursday as I will have a presentation and book signing at Park Road Books. I love the fact that I will also be introducing many people to the best independent book store in the city. I do love to support small independent bookstores.
I can't wait!
Last night I took part in Charlotte Readers' Club Open Mic Night at Mug's Coffee Shop here in Charlotte, NC. It is an opportunity for writers to read their wares before other writers.
I can't express how wonderful an opportunity it is to read bits of my work to an audience. I've now retired from the stage and acting in general, but I had forgotten how much I just love performing--and to perform my own ouvre Is the height of fun!
I'm getting another chance on Thursday as I will have a presentation and book signing at Park Road Books. I love the fact that I will also be introducing many people to the best independent book store in the city. I do love to support small independent bookstores.
I can't wait!
