Michael Kitchen's Blog, page 25

Book trailer

I created a book trailer for “The Y in Life.”�� Enjoy!

Goals? Chasing the ghosts of attaining life satisfaction

New Year’s Eve.

I considered writing about my thoughts on New Year’s resolutions and goals, but after reading my earlier posts of Goals for 2013? None! and No Goals for 2014, I really have little to add to them.

I’m not one who is about chasing goals in order to feel accomplished or wealthy or happy.�� GOALS to me are Ghosts Of Attaining Life Satisfaction; ethereal and imaginary states that declare that I won’t be happy or whatever state I think I lack unless I accomplish these things.�� The problem is that once a goal is achieved (or another New Year’s Eve arrives) it is imperative to set another goal, in order to achieve happiness or achieve whatever state that you think that you are not.�� It’s a never-ending cycle of lack seeking fulfillment.�� A haunting of the hungry ghosts of Tibetan Buddhism, whose mouths are button-hole small and stomachs the size of the largest elephant.

For me, 2014 was probably a year much like everyone else; there were highs and lows, fun and challenges.�� We bought a house, I had a client removed from the sex offender registry, we vacationed in New York City.�� My mother-in-law passed and I was in my first car accident.�� Your highlights and low-lights will be different.�� In my opinion, setting goals remove happiness and instead create a sense of anxiety that I need to achieve this or that otherwise I will be a failure and unhappy.

Do I want to finish the novel I’m working on in 2015?�� Do I want my bowling average to improve?�� Of course.�� But I’m not willing to sacrifice the present moment for them.

Is life perfect?�� Do I know my future?�� No.�� But am I happy despite it all?�� Yes. ��Happiness is not an achievement; it’s the process.

May your 2015 be happy.

The memory of the moment

I like photography.�� Capturing the memory of the moment.�� It could be amusing sights around the house…

or the treasures from a vacation…

It could be from the quiet awareness of a Zen photo walk….

or the loud enthusiasm of friends.

Detroit City FC Supporters march to the stadium. Photo by Michael Kitchen.

There is one category that, in 2014, I took a hiatus from.�� Events.�� At special events I would take my camera, particularly if there were authors or other artists around.

In 2014, I attended these events and left the camera at home:

-Michigan Sports Hall of Fame induction of Alexi Lalas

-Bill Ayers at Source Books in Detroit

-Brigid Pasulka at Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor

-Voices of the Midwest event in Ann Arbor

-Zell Distinguished Visiting Writer – Jane Smiley in Ann Arbor

-Motor City Comic Con

-Detroit Working Writers conference

-Ann Arbor Antiquarian Book Fair

-Metro Detroit Book and Author Luncheon, May, 2014

-Lolita Hernandez book launch in Detroit

-Marie Mason Prison Work Art Exhibit in Detroit

-Ann Arbor Book Festival

-US vs Belgium Watch Party in Campus Martius, Detroit

-Ann Arbor Art Fair

-Author readings hosted by Kelly Fordon

-Northern Guard Supporters’ Books & Breakfast gathering at John King Books in Detroit

-Kathleen Ripley Leo book signing in Northville

-Books on the Banks book festival in Cincinnati, OH

-Metro Detroit Book and Author Luncheon, October, 2014

-National Writers Series featuring Rita Mae Brown in Traverse City, MI

-Tom Daldin book signing at Paperback Writer Books in Mount Clemens, MI

-Emily Rose book signing at Paperback Writer Books in Mount Clemens, MI

Was it worth leaving the camera home?

Without the camera, I was more present at these events.�� There were no concerns about seating and whether the lighting in the building would be good enough to shoot without a flash.�� My mind was not divided between the content of the event and the image on the digital camera screen.�� There wasn’t the awkwardness of holding the camera while awaiting its use and of asking the person who was the center of attention to pose.�� I found it liberating.

However, those moments are now committed only to images in my memory; that limited space where decades of moments have been forever lost, unable to recover even when reminded by others who were there.�� Photos give life to those favorable memories.�� If a photo is worth a thousand words, then in 2014 I left behind a four-hundred page epic of images.

I’ve found that even though I was released of the burden of carrying the camera, the loss of captured images – the memories of the moment – is far too great.

The King retires

When it came to following sports, soccer, for a long period of time, was not my favorite.�� Hockey, especially living in Metro Detroit and our proximity to Canada, with Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night, was my original spectator sport.�� Then the summer would dry out the champagne that had showered the Stanley Cup with a drought of the dull games of baseball and golf, until the North American Soccer League granted a franchise to Detroit.�� The Detroit Express played at the Silverdome, and the magical skills of the man dubbed, “The Wizard” – Trevor Francis – lured me into an appreciation of the beautiful game.�� No sooner was I attached to soccer it disappeared for almost as long as it took me to discover it.�� If you’re a younger person reading this, we didn’t have the internet back then, or multi-channel cable or dish services.

In 1999, while on a family vacation to our nation’s capital, the spark was lit.�� A friend living there took my son and I to a DC United match.�� It took about five minutes for the gene that lie dormant within me to activate.�� Soon, I was following Major League Soccer and discovered the Fox Soccer Channel and its coverage of the English Premiere League.

I couldn’t tell you exactly when it was, but there was a point in the early part of this century when the Arsenal Gunners became my English Premiere League team.�� And it was because of Thierry Henry.

Henry was a scoring machine.�� It reminded me of the way Trevor Francis had come over to America and dominated the Silverdome turf.�� But Henry owned Highbury, and the rest of the teams’ pitches in one of the top leagues in the world.�� He had pace, he controlled the ball well, and had a sense of where his teammates were to deliver quality passes, setting up goals as well.�� There was a quiet flair about him that would burst forth with amazing plays and goals.�� Then came The Invincibles.�� In the 2003-04 season, Henry scored 30 goals as the Gunners went the full English Premiere League season undefeated, with a 26 win, 12 draw, 0 loss record, the only team to do so since Preston North End’s 18-4-0 invincible season of 1888-89.

After eight seasons and 226 goals in all competitions with the Gunners, Henry went to Spain to play three seasons with Barcelona, from 2007-2010.�� Then, in the summer of 2010, he arrived on America’s shore, as a member of the New York Red Bulls.�� Past his prime, but still a master of the art of football, Henry tallied 51 goals in 122 games with the Red Bulls.

April 7, 2012 was my first opportunity to see Henry live.�� The Red Bulls were in Columbus to play the Crew – my Major League Soccer team.�� My loyalties were divided.�� I wanted Columbus to win by a score of 4-3 so that I could enjoy a Thierry Henry hat trick.�� Giddiness hid behind my mature veneer as�� I shot photos during the warm-ups.�� I couldn’t help sharing the excitement with others who were taking photos, and having their friends/family take photos of them with Henry in the background, excited about the presence of the man with the world class talent.

The game started, and I shot even more photos.�� My seat was a just a couple rows back from the touch line between the center stripe and the top of the six yard box of the goal defended by the Red Bulls in the first half. ���� It only took three minutes for the magic to begin.�� Henry had the ball down the right side, just inside the center stripe.�� It was like looking over his shoulder as he lofted�� the ball toward goal where Kenny Cooper had made his run, heading the ball past the Crew’s keeper, Andy Gruenebaum, to put the Red�� Bulls ahead 1-0.�� It was a moment of “wow.”�� Just writing that flashes the image once again in my mind, sending shivers through me.�� Henry scored twice in the game as well, as the Red Bulls defeated Columbus 4-1.

I saw him play again the following summer in Columbus, where the Crew were able to keep Henry off the scoreboard, but not Tim Cahill, giving the Red Bulls a 1-0 win.�� Since 2002, I have been to 12 games at Crew Stadium, and the only games Columbus lost were those two against Henry & New York.

With him announcing his retirement today, I am especially grateful for having had the opportunity to attend a friendly at Red Bull Arena this summer between the New York Red Bulls and Arsenal.�� Though the game ended as a 1-0 win by New York on a goal by Bradley Wright-Phillips (son of former Arsenal great, Ian Wright), to be in the place where my favorite English Premiere League team and my favorite soccer player displayed the beautiful game was priceless.

Henry’s skill combined with an inspiring level of confidence is what I have admired about this man and his talent.�� There are many American soccer fans who will be adjusting to Major League Soccer without Landon Donovan, who also hung up his boots at the close of this season.�� For me, I will have to adjust to soccer without Thierry Henry’s mastery of the beautiful game.�� He brought me back to soccer, the sport upon which the sun never sets.�� Hockey?�� What’s that?

Visiting the Indies Chapter Seven: Chesterfield Township Library

The evening of Thursday, December 4, 2014, I participated in a gathering of local authors, hosted by the Chesterfield Township Library.  The event was organized by Alan Dean Naldrett, author of the Arcadia Press’ Images of America Series “Chesterfield Township” and co-author of “New Baltimore.”  He also penned “Forgotten Tales of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.”  Other authors present included Anchor Bay Fifth Grader Garett Derenge with his book, “The Adventures of Iggy the Iguana;”  Roseville High School senior, Nathan Richendollar and his “Sic Semper Res Publica:  The Political Ramblings of a Disgruntled Midwestern Teenager;” Bob Prevost and historical novel, “Mallast;”  Craig Maki and his historical book, “Detroit Country Music;” Bob and Sherrie Allen and their four books on Macomb County history; Nancy Erlich, Linda Champion, and Jim Champlin with their Arcadia Press Images of America Series book, “Fraser;” and Ellen Marie Blend and her works on psychic phenomenon.

It was a great night meeting members of my new hometown writing and reading community.  Having moved to Chesterfield Township in April, I’ve now had the pleasure of doing book signings at the library in the city where I grew up (Plymouth) and the library in the place I now call home.

Visiting the Indies Chapter Six: Paperback Writer Books in Mount Clemens, MI

Back in Chapter Three, I participated in Small Business Saturday by supporting independent book seller Used on New Books & More in Mount Clemens.  In 2013, author Sherman Alexie encouraged writers to go out and support the independent book sellers.  Used on New Books & More was my closest, hometown book store, a block over from my law office.

This year, I spent a couple of hours at Paperback Writer Books in Mount Clemens.  The owner, Lisa Taylor, and her husband Davey with his partner business, Weirdsville Records, outgrew the little space on New Street and in August moved a block over to the larger 61 Macomb Street storefront in downtown Mount Clemens.  The move also places the store on the same block as my law office.  Too convenient for this book addict.

It was another enjoyable afternoon, which sounds redundant because time in a book store is synonymous with enjoyment.

(The guy below had my back the entire time)

A couple of book events coming up in Macomb County

I’ll be signing books at Paperback Writer Books in Mount Clemens on Small Business Saturday – November 29, 2014 – from Noon to 2PM.  Come on out and support small business!

Paperback Writer is located at:

61 Macomb

Mount Clemens, MI  48043

Then, on Thursday, December 4th, I’ll be at the Chesterfield Library for the Local History Book Sale, from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM.

The Chesterfield Library is located at:

50560 Patricia Ave.

Chesterfield, MI  48047

Borders Memorial Library and “The Y in Life” as art

I’ve recently written about my favorite book stores – those that carry the latest titles as well as used, rare and old book stores.  But one book store was missing from that lot, because it has been missing from the bookish landscape since 2011 – Borders.

With its demise, I’ve discovered all these wonderful book stores I might not have otherwise.  Borders was my oasis.  My bookish paradise.  Since the early 1990′s, when the Novi store opened, before it became a massive franchise that was big but not too big to fail, it was the place that fostered my reading and writing hungers.

When they closed, I took advantage of it.  If there would be no Borders for me to retreat to any more, to peruse and feel at home in, then I was going to create the space in my home.  I picked up Borders shelves, Borders signs, Borders accessories.  And I was going to turn a room in my house into my Borders Memorial Library.

First, I needed the walls painted the right Borders color.  This red did the trick.

I thought I was set, but upon learning about a treasure trove of old Borders store and office fixtures, I completed the room – or at least as it is now.

Upon entry is the noticeable Borders rug, with a Borders shopping basket.  The shelves – all from Borders’ stores – holding my library.  Straight ahead on the tall shelf is my collection of Borders Classics.  Leather bound editions, hard cover editions, and soft cover, all published by Borders’ State Street Press in Ann Arbor.

The shelf with the glass doors holds my collection of works by writer W. Somerset Maugham and the writings of A. Edward Newton, a legendary book collector from the early part of the 20th Century.

And yes, the framed poster is the promotion for the release of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows at Borders.

The tall shelf in the corner of the above photo now houses my signed editions.

The chair, from the cafe area of the Novi store.

This is my Borders escape.  My retreat.  And with the electric typewriter there, a place to bang out some thoughts when I have them.

Borders, the business, the book store, may be gone.  But its memory and essence remains a part of my existence.

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At the Ann Arbor Art Fair this summer, I came upon the booth of Sarah Bean.  Her artistic talent was in book carving.  She would take your favorite book and turn it into a piece of art.

I know.  At first, a part of me cringed.  How could one take a knife to a book and carve it?  But looking at the display of her work, I was intrigued.  I went back to Ann Arbor the next day, a copy of “The Y in Life” in hand.  I turned it over for her to perform her magic.

Today in the mail the carving arrived.  Framed and beautifully done, it now hangs on the wall outside my office, where I can see it constantly.  “The Y in Life” is now both a literary work of art, and a graphic work of art.

You can see more of Sarah’s work at her website, “The Art And Poems Of Sarah Bean.”

Ten favorite used, rare, and old book stores

Recently, I wrote about Ten favorite book stores, with the caveat that their main revenue source is the sales of new books.  This entry is for my favorite used, rare, and old book stores.  These stores provide the service of recycling books that have been read and enjoyed with others – some being works where rarity and historical relevance make them valuable.

As in the independent book store list, this list is in alphabetical order.

Argosy Books – New York, NY

In New York, there are many rare and old booksellers.  Some occupy a studio, which you have to know what you’re looking for because there is no browsing like one would in a conventional book store.

Others lease a larger retail space.  Bauman Books was spectacular, however when I pulled a random novel off the shelf and saw the $4,500 price tag, I knew the place was way outside my budget.

Argosy was different.  Yes, they have valuable books beyond my financial reach.  But they also have a basement where old and rare books were within my budget.  This balance made Argosy my favorite old and rare book store in New York City.

Aunt Agatha’s -Ann Arbor, MI

Aunt Agatha’s New & Used Mystery, Detection, and True Crime Books is a store specializing in the genre of crime.  Though they carry new mystery titles, the store houses a large inventory of used mystery novels.  It is also a stop for mystery writers on their book tours.

The Bookie Joint – Traverse City, MI

Downtown Traverse City has two excellent book stores within a couple blocks of each other on Front Street.  On Union Street is a delightful used book store called The Bookie Joint.  Good selection, heavy with romance and mystery, I can usually find something I haven’t found anywhere else.

Dawn Treader Book Shop – Ann Arbor, MI

No stroll through downtown Ann Arbor is complete without wandering the rows of shelves at the Dawn Treader Book Shop.  Peruse the abundance of used old books in every category imaginable.  Admire the rare and collectible books locked in the showcases.  A book lover leaving here empty-handed is a sin.

Half Price Books – Florence, KY (and other locations)

I can only comment on the Florence, KY location, as I understand there a quite a number of these franchises around the US.  Good selection of used books, coupled with some rare and old tomes.  They also sell used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, and comic books. I list this with some trepidation.  The thought of franchising the sales of used books sends a shudder through me as I think about the used book, small business owner potentially displaced by this franchising.  It is a place to visit when I’m visiting my sister and her family in the Cincinnati area.

Housing Works – New York, NY

I loved this place in New York.  Stocked through donations, staffed by volunteers, the proceeds from the sales of the books and cafe go to the Housing Works nonprofit organization which works towards the end of homelessness and AIDS through advocacy and providing healing services.  The cafe even stocks beer and wine.  A very cool place for books and hanging out.

John King Books – Detroit, MI & Ferndale, MI

We are blessed here in the Metro Detroit area with the legendary and most awesome used book store in the world – John King Books.  The four-floor former glove factory is a world of books from the recent present to the past.  A separate rare book room is available by appointment only (one day, I’m going to make an appointment).  If that’s not enough, there is a second location just north of the Wayne State University campus, and a third location on Woodward just south of Nine Mile Road in funky Ferndale.  This is a must-stop destination for any bibliophile and plan on spending hours there.

Landmark Books – Traverse City, MI

Located in the historic Traverse City State Hospital, Landmark Books is home to a fine collection of old and rare books.

Paperback Writer – Mount Clemens, MI

Weirdsville Records – Mount Clemens, MI

Used books and vinyl records, and a whoooole lot of weird stuff!  This is one of my favorite places.  Full disclosure – I’m biased.  It used to be called Used on New Books over on New Street a block away from my office.  Now it is on Macomb Street, less than a block from my office!  Featured on the Emmy Award winning Under the Radar Michigan, Dave and Lisa Taylor run a cool shop in the heart of the Clem.  Lisa was a Borders Book Store manager for years, so you know the book selection is going to be awesome.  Media savvy Dave is a member of The Amino Acids band, and hosts The Sir Graveson Show.  Here are a couple samples of commercials for their shop (back when they were Used on New)

Under the Radar Michigan piece:

They even carry “The Y in Life.”

This is my hometown book store.

The Strand – New York, NY

I’m cheating with this one.  Eighteen miles of books, and probably the majority of them are new titles.  However I’ve included this store here because the basement level of this establishment is stocked with a massive number of used books, and the top floor is host to a vast collection of old and rare volumes.  This is the ultimate all-in-one book store for the reader, writer, and collector.  The only downside?  No seating.  You can spend hours within browsing, and every minute it will be on your feet.

Books.  Yes, I love them.  New, used, old, rare, each contain a world that has been diligently toiled over by a writer in seclusion, and sold by a seller who appreciates the art form who also dives into the pages along with his/her customers/readers to journey into the hearts and minds of characters that go through the metaphorical heartaches and challenges of the world we live in, giving us a sense that we are not alone.  It is quite powerful what a bound collection of pages with words printed on them can do.

Visiting the Indies Chapter Five: 16th Annual Writers on the River, Monroe, MI

On November 9, 2014, I was one of 38 authors at the 16th Annual Writers on the River event held at the Ellis Library and Reference Center in Monroe, MI.

It was a nice event.  Set-up began at 10:30, and authors and members of the library were treated to light lunch prior to opening the doors to the public.  I enjoyed a number of conversations held with other authors and readers, and from my table I also had a nice view of the small river behind the library.  It was also nice spending time with one of my mentors, Kathleen Ripley Leo, who was selling her first novel,  a YA fantasy titled “The Seamless Universe.”

It is a pleasant experience to meet readers who have an interest in local authors, and visit the library that hosted the event for the community.  It was my first visit to this part of Michigan, having only driven through it en route to somewhere south.  Thank you, Monroe County Library System.