Mark Sarvas's Blog, page 39
June 24, 2009
KULTURAs CLOSES
Santa Monica's KULTURAs Books is closing and heading back to Washington, D.C.
Husband-and-wife team Andrew MacDonald and Irene Coray decided to take a risk — pack up their highly successful 17-year-old bookstore in the middle of bustling Dupont Circle and take their chances in Santa Monica where the people are well-read but the weather is more inviting.
They figured that even at a 50 percent loss in sales from the Washington D.C. store, the change in atmosphere would be well worth the move.
Three
GALASSI INTERVIEWED
The legendary Jonathan Galassi, president and publisher of FSG, is interviewed in Poets & Writers.
But what if you have some ambition, as all writers do, and really want a readership and think that you deserve one?
If they deserve one, they'll get one. I believe that. I believe that eventually they will get their readership. Now, I also think there are way more people writing books than are going to get a readership. But I think that the books that really make a difference are going to have a read
June 22, 2009
SHE SAID "POETASTER" ...
"Thanks from a grateful poetaster for your assistance, encouragement & criticism." Edith Wharton's letters come up for auction.
CIRCLE OF LIT
There's something pleasantly circular about the fact that the signer/guitarist of the literarily named Airbone Toxic Event is writing his own novel. Or trying to, anyway, between tours.
The attention still feels surreal to Jollett, who began his twenties as a budding novelist and freelancer. His writing credits include NPR, the Los Angeles Times and Filter magazine. In fact, Jollett was offered a column by NPR before Airborne formed.
SOME OF OUR BEST FRIENDS ARE OBSESSIVES
A U2 obsessive considers top 5 literary moments in the band's history. Salman Rushdie figures prominently in one of them.
Rushdie later repaid the show of loyalty by writing the lyrics to 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' (a track which appeared on the Japanese and British versions of 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind), drawn from the author's novel of the same name. He continues to be an outspoken supporter of the band.
June 21, 2009
FIRST FATHER'S DAY
My wife asked me how I wanted to mark my first Father's Day. I normally love going out - brunch is a favorite - but I'm not quite ready to take Clara out into the world, so I opted for a simple, homebound request. A pizza and a James Bond movie. That seemed appropriately dad-like. The pizza came from Lamonica's, which I recently stumbled into and found surprisingly good. The Bond, this time, was Thunderball. I knew it had to be a Connery film, preferably one I hadn't watched in a while. (
June 19, 2009
ONE MORE WEEK ...
... until regular Friday giveaways return. We've just about got the hang of this whole baby/blogging balance. Until then, have a lovely weekend, and Happy Father's Day to all you TEV-reading dads ...
June 18, 2009
GO!
Kate Christensen will be here in L.A. later this month (see left sidebar) but for our New York readers, you have the chance to catch her tonight in conversation with Maud Newton. We'd be there if we could; you can be, so go and enjoy.
June 17, 2009
L.A. EVENT: MARK SARVAS & DAMION SEARLS
If you're in the Los Angeles area, I hope you will consider coming out Saturday night for my only appearance in support of the paperback edition of Harry, Revised. I will be sharing the stage with Damion Searls, a talented author and translator whose Dalkey collection,What We Were Doing and Where We Were Going, is witty and inventive, so even if you're heard my schtick before, you still have a reason to come by.
The appearance will be held at Book Soup (details after the jump), and I would love
