Book freeze...or no?

An article in today's New York Times puts things a bit more in perspective, especially after yesterday's report in the Wall Street Journal that my publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is putting a freeze on acquiring new manuscripts, for at least six months.

More on Annie Proulx

In an Oct. 18 post, I linked to an article Susan Salter Reynolds wrote about Annie Proulx. I don't know whether you read it, but even if you did, this bears repeating:

"Proulx believes the computer is 'the enemy of careful writing.' She prefers to write by hand, using the computer as 'a joinery device.'

"'There's something about the rhythm of writing on the page with a pen,' she says, 'that is richly fulfilling--like drawing a picture.'"

Yes. I love my fountain pen, which now contains a cartridge with purple ink. My favorite ink is turquoise, though. Makes the writing process more colorful, all those turquoise lines and curls falling upon the page, page after page.

Here she is, interviewed by Charlie Rose, in 1999.

Tomorrow's radio show

On Weds., my guest will be ASJA friend Sam Greengard, author of Finding the Work You Love: The Essential Guide to Reinventing Your Life (AARP). Click here. 9 a.m. Pacific, 88.9 FM or listen via iTunes at KUCI-FM, or online at www.kuci.org.

Podcasts of previous shows can be found here.

The Paris Review

Thanks to ASJA compadre Pat McNees for pointing out this site. Read interviews online from the notable Paris Review. I have a few of the Paris Review Interviews (I like paper, and don't like to bring the laptop to bed), but you may like reading them online. And saving dinero.

Maureen Dowd in the NYT

I love this.

Wednesday's "Writers on Writing" KUCI-FM

Tomorrow, my co-host Marrie Stone moderates a post-election day poetry panel, including poets Lisa Williams, author of Woman Reading to the Sea: Poems, Linda Pastan, author of Queen of a Rainy Country: Poems and Martha Serpas, author of The Dirty Side of the Storm: Poems.

Tune in Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. PT at 88.9 FM, KUCI, or go to iTunes and listen via public radio.

Past shows can be heard here.

Thanks for listening!

Barbara

On losing well

Interesting piece in the Washington Post that can certainly be applied to writing. (Thanks to my student, Patricia.)

I can't resist

The election is almost over--thank goodness, some of you are saying. You just want me to return to writing. I know, I know. Well, this is writing-related. Some levity, in the face of these oh-so-serious political days. Thanks to Deb, for forwarding it to me.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

I've wanted to build a Day of the Dead altar for some time, but never have--until the other day. The more I learn about this celebration, the more I like it. Celebrating the dead and making light of death rather than fearing it, rather than it being a deep, dark, scary matter. In Catholicism, we know of this day as All Soul's Day. Google "Day of the Dead" and you'll find a ton of links. Here's a recent food-related article in the Los Angeles Times about the day. Here's our altar--a converted mantel.