Matthew Pearl's Blog, page 6

Something a little light

This is actually from some months ago. I participated in an online column called "Talk Show" where four writers all answer the same question on the lighthearted side of things. In this case, the question was to name something you think is overrated. What would you have said?

here's the link

Why Dante?

Readers of The Dante Club might be interested in reading my post on this topic, and the perennial question I get, "Why Dante?", over at my Red Room blog:

http://www.redroom.com/blog/matthew-p...

While you're there, check out Red Room. I've only been on a little while, but it's a nicely designed site meant to connect readers and writers (similar to GoodReads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, all of which I'm registered at, too). If you decide to register (free, of course) there, or already have, please add your name as a "fan" to my profile.

Search and Research

New post on researching with your feet for a book, in this case The Poe Shadow, at my Facebook author blog:

here.

While there, if you're a Facebook member, please join my page as a fan.

Between the lines

See images depicting different scenes from my novels posted at an album on my MySpace author page, here.

Do we have a cover?

Writing is a process of change, drafts that develop gradually and sometimes imperceptibly until it is a finished text. Then comes the time to ask "Do we have a cover?"

The cover art is just as much a proces of trial and error.

Above is the original draft of The Dante Club by the wonderful Random House designers. You always have to start somewhere, just like with writing, knowing that it will evolve. There are five main elements here. The font of the title and author: we all loved. The general color, yellowish-sepia. The "burned" corner. The bloodspots. Finally, the backdrop image. This comes from an image by Gustav Dore of Dante. But as striking as it is, we were concerned. We didn't want to alienate any readers who weren't familiar with Dante, and we wanted to make sure the book presented itself as a thriller in the 19th century, not the 14th.

I suggested showing 19th century Boston instead, and the team at Random House found this great image above. There's nothing specifically creepy or ominous going on in it, and yet...




So they took a slice of that larger image of Boston, and put it with the sepia overlay... One other thing, we felt there might be too many bloodspots. I remember a conference call we had--my agent, my editor and myself--counting the bloodspots and which ones we liked best.




We trimmed them down and came out with...




Now we were cooking! We were very happy. The spine, which had been designed with an antique feel from the beginning, was a hit. The only thing was, we weren't sold on the burn in the corner. What exactly was burning? So

There we had it. Our cover.

And the other image didn't go to waste. You see, we were also publishing a "companion edition" with the novel. Re-publishing, actually. A new edition of Longfellow's translation of Inferno that had been out of print for almost 80 years.

Recommendation

The latest book that I'm happy to have a blurb on is The Last Ember, the debut novel by Daniel Levin. Check more out at Daniel's website, www.daniellevin.com

Here's my praise: “In his fast-paced, erudite and original debut, Daniel Levin reveals a vivid world where archaeological, legal and religious secrets swirl together into a thrilling nexus. Its rich texture and global cast of characters ignite genuine suspense and intrigue. Readers will savor this novel and await more blockbuster Daniel Levin adventures.”

book:The Last Ember|6416800]

A little Holmes

Make sure to get a hold of Sherlock Holmes in America. My story called "Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Boston Dromio" is one of the many short story contributions. It's a great collection!

One of the stories is by Lyndsay Faye. She also wrote a terrific novel about Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper, called Dust and Shadow, which I had the privilege to read and blurb. Don't miss it!

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Something a little different

When I'm not writing, or pretending to write, or pretending not to write, I'm often at the animal shelter... writing. Check out some photos, and if you've been thinking of adopting a cat, go to your local shelter! Remember, the adult cats are most in need, and in many ways the most satisfying pets.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/pets/...

Book tour March-April 2009

This is my book tour schedule for The Last Dickens. More may be added, but if I'm not coming near you, I hope I will for the paperback tour or for a book festival or other event.

Events sometimes change, so we always recommend calling ahead to a location to confirm details. All events listed below are free and open to the public (unlesss otherwise noted)! Everyone's welcome!

Check out the info on the earlier blog post about receiving a manuscript page...


NEW YORK, NY
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS
Tuesday March 17, 2009, 6:30pm
Barnes & Noble booksellers Greenwich Village
396 Ave of the Americas (at 8th street)
New York, NY 10011
contact: 212-674-8780



NEWTON, MA
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS at a "Books & Brews" event with Jayne Anne Phillips, author of LARK & TERMITE
Thursday March 19, 2009, 7:00pm
Newtonville Books
296 Walnut St.
Newtonville, MA 02460
contact: 617-244-6619



ATLANTA, GA
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS
Monday March 23, 2009, 6:00pm (reception) 7:00pm (program)
The Margaret Mitchell House & Museum
990 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309 (a block from the Midtown 10th Street MARTA Station)
Please note, $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers.
contact: 404-249-7015



MIAMI, FL
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS
Tuesday March 24, 2009, 8:00pm
Books & Books
265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33134
contact: 305-442-4408



IOWA CITY, IA
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS
Thursday March 26, 2009, 7:00pm
Prairie Lights Bookstore
15 S. Dubuque St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
contact: 319-337-2681



SEATTLE, WA
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS
Monday March 30, 2009, 7:00pm
University Book Store (University District Store)
4326 University Way N.E.
Seattle, WA 98105
contact: 800-335-7323



SAN FRANCISCO, CA
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS
Tuesday March 31, 2009, 7:00pm
Books Inc. (Opera Plaza location)
601 Van Ness
San Francisco, CA 94102
contact: 415-776-1111



CHICAGO, IL
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS
Thursday April 2, 2009, 7:00pm
Bookstall
811 Elm Street
Chicago, IL 60093
contact: 847-446-8880


BROOKLINE, MA
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS
Thursday April 9, 2009, 7:00pm
Brookline Booksmith
279 Harvard St.
Brookline MA 02446
contact: 617-566-6660


CAMBRIDGE, MA
A reading & signing
Matthew Pearl will discuss & sign THE LAST DICKENS
Thursday April 22, 2009, 7:00pm
Harvard Coop (3rd floor)
1400 Massachusetts Avenue/18 Palmer Street
Cambridge, MA 02238
contact: 617-499-2000

Win a Manuscript Page!

I'm excited to see lots of friendly faces on my book tour. I have a selection of manuscript pages from The Last Dickens, and might grab some from the other books to bring along. Of course, I don't have enough to give to everyone. So what I've thought of is this: the first 2 attendees in line at each event who have all three novels (TDC, TPS, TLD, as I call them) for me to sign will each get 1 manuscript page. Or, to make it fair if you've already had copies of the others, if you're getting three copies of The Last Dickens (give two as gifts!) this would count, too.

I'll be posting a reminder of the tour dates and locales. The first event will be in New York City this Tuesday.