Tim Weed's Blog, page 4

Kirkus Reviews’ verdict on The Afterlife Project

A real shot in the arm in the form of this highly favorable review by Kirkus!

This is something every novelist hopes for (you really never know with Kirkus) and to have it happen this early in the process feels like a good omen.

The novel comes out on June 3, 2025, but allow me to suggest (for various reasons, most having to do with the vicissitudes of publishing algorithms) that you preorder it NOW at your local independent bookstore or via Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or (for audiobook) Audible

Kirkus Reviews’ take on The Afterlife Project

A real shot in the arm in the form of this highly favorable review by Kirkus!

This is something every novelist hopes for (you really never know with Kirkus) and to have it happen this early in the process feels like a good omen.

The novel comes out on June 3, 2025, but allow me to suggest (for various reasons, most having to do with the vicissitudes of publishing algorithms) that you preorder it NOW at your local independent bookstore or via Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or (for audiobook) Audible

New profile in UCSD/GPS alumni magazine

My thanks to reporter and editor Douglas Girardot for this article from the School of Global Policy & Strategy (GPS) at the University of California, San Diego. I got a master’s degree in international environmental policy here way back when and have never lived to regret it. Honored that they chose to feature an alum who has pursued, shall we say, a slightly ‘unconventional’ career path for a graduate from this distinguished program.

New profile in alumni magazine

My thanks to reporter and editor Douglas Girardot for this article from the School of Global Policy & Strategy (GPS) at the University of California, San Diego. I got a master’s degree in international environmental policy here way back when and have never lived to regret it. Honored that they chose to feature an alum who has pursued, shall we say, a slightly ‘unconventional’ career path for a graduate from this distinguished program.

12 great novels with wilderness settings (+ one)

Was happy to have been asked recently to provide a novel recommendation list for Booklisti, a new site to help readers discover new books through the creation and sharing of lists. I love sites like this because they’re great tools for fostering literary community and for spreading the word on good literature, so I was happy to create not one but two lists! This is the second of two.

Six great literary post-apocalypse novels (+ one bonus rec)

Was happy to have been asked recently to provide a novel recommendation list for Booklisti, a new site to help readers discover new books through the creation and sharing of lists. I love sites like this because they’re great tools for fostering literary community and for spreading the word on good literature, so I was happy to create not one but two lists! This is the first of two.

3 top fiction reads of 2024

Last year I put together a list of three of the books I most enjoyed reading for this interesting emerging literary organization called Shepherd, which has been conceived as a competitor to Goodreads. This year’s selection was harder to narrow down, but here it is, my list of my three top reads for 2024! (Note that these are books I read in 2024, not necessarily ones that were published in 2024. I tend to read new books a year or two after they come out.)

I think it’s important for writers and readers to support organizations that are trying to get the word out about good books. For one thing, it’s a way to circumvent the powerful media channels dominated by conglomerate publishing; instead of the books they say we should be reading, why not listen to each other? Word of mouth, not well-funded marketing campaigns, after all, is a much more reliable way to find good books.

Of course anyone who loves to read is going to be relying to a major extent on the conglomerates; it’s just baked into the system. I try to buy books from small and independent presses whenever possible, but many of my favorites were put out by the Big 5 corporate imprints. And while it’s true that Goodreads is owned by the Amazon corporate empire, Goodreads and Amazon offer some of the best (and often the only) ways for relatively unknown writers to make their books discoverable to the world at large. This is why I’m pretty assiduous about rating and briefly reviewing the books I’ve read and enjoyed on these sites—and if you care about books and authors, you should too!

Still, Shepherd is a refreshing upstart, and I love what they’re doing for books and authors, so I tend to respond when they approach me to make this kind of list. Some time ago I compiled my list of the best historical novels of early colonial New England; and here are my three top fiction reads of 2023. Enjoy!

Upcoming travel programs

Cuba Writers Program (with Alden Jones): March 7 – 15, 2025

Join me and my old friend Alden Jones, distinguished fellow novelist and creative writing professor, for the 5th edition of the Cuba Writers Program: a fun, informal, dynamic, off-the-beaten track nine-day literary adventure in Havana and on the island’s southern coast.

Alden and I have been traveling to Cuba together and separately since the early 2000s; we’ve developed a formidable network of very special in-country contacts and if you’ve been thinking about a trip I can tell you without caveats that this is simply the best way to do it—especially if you’re a writer, though the program is also open to aspiring writers, significant others, friends, and family members. Generative writing workshops combined with amazing encounters and interactions with real Cubans make this an unparalleled and unforgettable opportunity to experience the unique richness and joy of Cuba. More info and an application form here. 

Friends trip to Spain: Madrid and points north, April 23 – May 2, 2025

Join a small group of fellow travelers for a ten-day insider’s journey to a country I’ve known and loved since I first lived in Madrid as an undergraduate Spanish major. Later I spent a year directing college semester abroad programs in Spain and have returned countless times since, both on my own and as a guide and featured expert for National Geographic.

This informal, creative, light-hearted educational small-group trip will get you off the tourist circuit and out into the hidden corners of Madrid and points north. Our focus will be art, architecture, history, wine, cuisine (in particular the quintessentially Spanish art of tapas or pintxos), and generally taking the time to enjoy Spanish life! The itinerary has not yet been formalized but is likely to include Madrid, León, Bilbao, and the Basque Country. Throughout the trip we’ll have the chance to interact with carefully selected local guides and experts, and I’ll be hosting several cocktail hours with a special illustrated lecture series on Iberian history, the artist Francisco de Goya, and Ernest Hemingway’s long love affair with Spain. If this trip is of interest to you, send me a message and I’ll put you on the list of potential traveling friends. 

Custom small-group trips to Cuba

As many of you know, the island of Cuba—its art, landscape, music, history, and especially its people—has been an enduring fascination for me since 1999. I try to visit at least once a year, and as a result of the knowledge and the contacts I’ve developed over the years I’ve been able to help quite a few friends and their families put together some amazing trips.

“I find that words are insufficient in conveying the depth of my gratitude for our extraordinary adventure in Cuba. Your deep relationships with Cubans allowed us to glimpse a Cuba hidden to most tourists.”

With the help of my excellent, highly experienced Havana ground crew I can set up spectacular, informal, very affordable, and legally compliant custom trips for small groups of family and friends (preferably a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12).  To explore your own custom small-group travel program send me a note and we can set up a no-obligation informational call. Note that it’s good to have at least a 2-3 months advance notice to plan these trips. 

And in the slightly longer term . . . 

June ‘25: Book launch & tour! Bookmark the “Upcoming” page on my website or follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Threads, for updates on readings, signings, and a limited national speaking tour. 

Fall 2025 . . . Peru! I’m so excited about doing an adventurous off-the-beaten track expedition to Peru with my good friend and former college classmate, the talented Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Amy Bucher. If you’re up for an adventure, and are interested in archaeology and ancient cultures, this is going to be an amazing trip! There will be more about it in a future newsletter, but meanwhile if you want to put your name on an early interest list, send me a message here. 

The Fiction Chronicles: a series of short videos for writers and close readers

Hello all,

I’m pleased to announce “The Fiction Chronicles,” a series of short videos for fiction writers and avid readers exploring such topics as why humanity needs fiction, what fiction can do that film cannot, the virtues of escapist fiction, and highlights from great classic and contemporary novels and stories that showcase the power and reach of this very special narrative art. This is something I’m having fun putting together, and the plan is to keep adding videos in the months leading up to the release of my new novel, THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT. So if this kind of thing is up your alley, stay tuned!

If you do watch and enjoy any of these videos, please feel very free to embed any of them in your own blogs, emails, social media posts, etc. I’ve made them with the hope that they be shared widely, and with anyone who might find them useful or interesting. For the same reason it’s helpful to me if you “like” the videos and subscribe to my YouTube page if you want to see more. Visit my YouTube page here.

With great appreciation!

Tim

The Fiction Chronicles: a series of short videos

Hello all,

I’m pleased to announce “The Fiction Chronicles,” a series of short videos for fiction writers and avid readers exploring such topics as why humanity needs fiction, what fiction can do that film cannot, the virtues of escapist fiction, and highlights from great classic and contemporary novels and stories that showcase the power and reach of this very special narrative art. This is something I’m having fun putting together, and the plan is to keep adding videos in the months leading up to the release of my new novel, THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT. So if this kind of thing is up your alley, stay tuned!

If you do watch and enjoy any of these videos, please feel very free to embed any of them in your own blogs, emails, social media posts, etc. I’ve made them with the hope that they be shared widely, and with anyone who might find them useful or interesting. For the same reason it’s helpful to me if you “like” the videos and subscribe to my YouTube page if you want to see more. Visit my YouTube page here.

With great appreciation!

Tim