Dirty Laundry

Book Hiccups, Palmistry & The New York Times Book Review

Had a major hiccup on the new book which has knocked me off the proverbial writing horse.  I’m not going to go into what it was exactly that knocked me off said horse, but suffice it to say I have to rip major pages from the text.  I nearly cried.  At least, I cried inside.

I am now busy struggling to pick up the pieces and assemble those pieces into some kind of order.  My brain is tired. 

Writing is often like a puzzle.  I used to do jigsaw puzzles with my dad when I was a kid and he would buy some real doozies (“hay in a needle stack” was one I can remember very clearly, another was called “jelly beans”)  They would take us weeks and weeks to complete.  But there was something oddly satisfying in finishing one and I hold onto that hope with the current puzzle my novel is in.  If I wasn’t on a deadline, it would all be so much to laugh at.  But I’m not laughing.  Just crying.  Inside.  Though not so much anymore.  I’m hoping this is less a “hay in a needle stack” and more of a “jelly beans” - difficult to figure out but a bit more to cling to.

I went to a palm reader today at the behest of my wife.  She thought it would be fun.  I was terrified.  My life line is broken and I was afraid she would tell me I was going to die soon.  I am always thinking that I will die soon.  Or at least, in the next ten years or so.  Chalk it up to some wonky genes in my family gene pool.  There’s longevity on one side, and a lot of disease and heart attacks on the other.  But the palm reader didn’t say that I was going to die.  She said that it just means a change in life paths.  She also said I would be a good military leader, so I’m not sure how much stock to place in her abilities.  I would not make a good military leader, I will tell you that right now.  Though, to be fair, there were a good number of hits in her reading as well.  But my wife was right (as usual) and it was fun.

Finally, some super cool news.  Swim the Fly was reviewed in The New York Times (or will be, tomorrow - though it’s available online right now).  Take a look here: New York Times Book Review

I was pretty stoked when I saw it. 

And now, it’s back to the puzzle… um… I mean… book.

Posted by Don Calame on 8.15.09 at 04:43 pm in Prattlings. (3) Comments

People Magazine

Very excited to have Swim the Fly featured in People Magazine this week (August 17th issue).  If you get a chance, pick up a copy.  It’s the one with Farrah Fawcett on the cover.  There’s something about a new Pat Conroy novel in the book section but the real story is in the section below. 

I know I should be blogging about all the fabulous things I’ve been doing, but really, all I’ve been doing is writing.  Which I guess is fabulous in its own way.  Screenplay and new book, new book and screenplay. 

Was incredibly saddened to hear about the death of Blake Snyder last week - a fellow screenwriter and writing guru.  I did not know him personally but I often recommend his writing books to budding screenwriters.  I will miss reading his blog - he has some wonderful advice to writers.  He will certainly be missed by his legion of followers.  My heart goes out to his family and friends. 

Posted by Don Calame on 8.11.09 at 06:57 pm in Prattlings. (1) Comments

Heat Waves, Richard Russo, and Wonderful Librarians

Just back from another sunset bike ride.  If you’ve never done it, I highly recommend it.  Watching the light seep from the sky, the sun staining the clouds pink and orange.  Gotta love it.

It’s very hot here on the West Coast of Canada.  Hotter than I think it’s ever been in the eight years I lived here.  It’s San Fernando Valley hot.  Which is the kind of thick, drag you down, smack you across the face, feels-like-your-wearing-wet-wool, sweat-running-down-the-back-of-your-T-shirt kind of heat that I simply don’t miss anymore.  Apparently, though, its come for a visit.  All the fans and air conditioning units in all the hardware stores are gone.  Everyone’s swimming in the ocean and though I live near the ocean there doesn’t seem to be that friendly sea breeze everyone’s always talking about.  Well, not everyone.  And not always.  If that’s what everyone was always talking about I think you’d get pretty sick and tired of hearing about sea breezes.  Especially when there doesn’t seem to be one.  What was I talking about again?

Anyway, so I’m 3/4 of the way through the new Richard Russo book.  For those of you who do not know, Richard Russo is my all-time-favorite author (of all time).  Yup, he’s that good.  I love the characters he creates, their backstories, how real they seem.  How familiar.  And although he breaks the cardinal rule of writing (show don’t tell) all the time, I still love him.  He can get away with it.  Because what he’s telling you is so damn interesting.  So, as I was saying, I’m 3/4 of the way through his new book “That Old Cape Magic” which I got as a signed galley at Book Expo this year (one of the highlights, though there were many).  The book is fantastic.  I am always wary when I start one of his books because I worry that it won’t live up to his previous efforts.  But this one does (at least so far).  I’m planning on finishing it later tonight.  I highly recommend you buy it when it’s released (some time in August).  It’s shorter than his previous books which I like because he usually takes five or six years to release a new book and this one, which is maybe 1/3 the size of his other books came out only two years after “Bridge of Sighs” (also excellent).  You can do the math.  1/3 the size, 1/3 the amount of time between books.

Also, I want to thank everyone who has written to me about Swim the Fly.  I just got another email from a librarian today and it made my day (it did, honest).  I have been hearing a lot from librarians about the book.  Many, many of them have been championing it, which I am incredibly appreciative for.  I met so many wonderful librarians at Book Expo.  They truly are the keepers of the light.  So passionate about books.  I am ever grateful for all their support and for everyone who supports libraries around the world.  They are vital to the community.  I know mine was to me (The Hicksville Public Library).  I have wonderful memories of scouring the shelves for my favorite authors as a child.  The enveloping smell of all those loved books.  I specifically remember how excited I was when I found a copies of “Harry Cat’s Pet Puppy” and “Tucker’s Countryside,” two sequels to one of my favorite books “The Cricket in Times Square” (by George Selden, not Richard Russo). 

Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your emails.  Don’t ever hesitate to write.

And now, I’m off to finish “That Old Cape Magic.”

Posted by Don Calame on 7.30.09 at 08:53 pm in Prattlings. (0) Comments

Bike Riding and Lightning Storms in the Distance

I started riding a bike again.  Actually, I started riding a bike again… again.  My wife and I dipped our toes in the bike riding world a few months ago when we were living in downtown Vancouver.  To give the dogs a nice bout of exercise.  It’s been quite some time since I actually rode a bike.  It’s odd the things you take for granted.  Like riding a bike for example.  Or that saying “it’s like riding a bike.”  Well, I’m here to tell you it’s totally true.  You don’t forget.  I’d have to say it’s been a good ten years (and maybe more) since I hopped on a ten speed (now a 27 speed???).

I used to work at a bike store when I was a teenager.  My brother got me the job.  I had to learn how to put together a bike from many many pieces.  I needed to learn how to true wheels and adjust brakes and change inner tubes.  It was a real education.  It served me quite well, actually.  When I first moved out to Los Angeles I needed to get a job quick and the only real skill I had (besides writing, and it wasn’t exactly a honed skill at the time) was building and repairing bikes.  And so I got a job at this place called Palms Cycle.  I don’t even know if it still exists.  But it paid the bills for an entire summer. 

Anyway, I’ve taken a detour.  I was going to talk about how I just bought a new bike because we have moved to a peaceful little community that begs for you to ride a bike around the streets.  I want to say that they are flat and well paved but since I’ve ridden around them the past few days I can attest to the fact that there are portions of the streets that are quite hilly and not so well paved.  I don’t know why I think you’d even care about this.  It’s just riding a bike, for Christ’s sake.  But I find it interesting, rediscovering old interests. 

Speaking of which, I nearly went mildly insane at a street fair today.  I almost broke down and purchased all the old LPs I gave away twenty years ago.  (I was just about to explain what LPs are because I realize there are several generations now who have never listened to music on a record player, but I’m not going to go there.  If you don’t know, Google it.)  Anyway, I was getting all nostalgic about these records.  Mostly because of the record sleeves and the album art and the lyrics.  It used to be such a part of buying an album.  Something that doesn’t exist anymore.  My friend Ron said he just bought a turntable and has been buying records again.  So maybe that had something to do with it, as well.  I gave myself an internal slap to the face before I succumbed, though.  I don’t need any albums.  I don’t need to buy a turntable.  I’m trying to remove things from my life, not add weight to it.

Finally, my stepson and I had a really nice day together.  We went to a street fair (see above) and we played fetch with our dogs and later in the evening we watched Robert DeNiro on Inside the Actor’s Studio and then spent a good chunk of time outside watching a lightning storm in the distance.  It was like free fireworks.  I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.  Lightning bolts criss-crossing the sky.  Creating all sorts of patterns,  Lighting up the clouds.  It went on and on.  We watched as the storm swept off out of sight.  On our left was an amazingly orange and red sunset and to our right this dark, brooding, and incredibly beautiful lightning storm.  I know I’m supposed to be a writer and all, but there is simply no way to describe it that would do it justice.

And so, I’ll stop…

Posted by Don Calame on 7.25.09 at 11:47 pm in Prattlings. (0) Comments