Still away, but....

....Travis is sick. Something he ate? Too much fun? Not sure. But I must give props to the resort, and to Connie Orsak, in particular, who is the guest experience manager here. When she heard of Travis being up all night retching, she asked if she could help. I said all that works for him is yogurt, the plainer the better, and 7-up. Not a half hour later there was a knock on the door and there was the yogurt and the 7-up. When I was in the thick of travel writing, it was treatment like this I looked for because that was what set a place apart from the rest. Connie is one reason we continue to return to Rancho las Palmas, year after year.

More photos, from last night, pre-sick stomach....




And from earlier in the day and the night before....

Desert getaway

We're on our annual after-school desert getaway--a family tradition--at Rancho las Palmas in Palm Desert. So here's what I saw last night as I stood on our balcony. The turquoise against the darkness is what gets me, turquoise being one of my favorite colors. Trying to have a true vacation--no writing (except for a few words/ideas jotted in a journal), only a bit of work with my online writing class (I actually do wish my students would post more), and lots of floating around the Lazy River, which you see here, dinners, walking early early before the sun heats the day to 111 degrees or more, knitting, and reading (John Irving's Last Night in Twisted River; he's on the show next week).

Speaking of which, I should post a podcast. I will--right now.

Tomorrow's Show

Join Marrie Stone as she interviews Richard Wirick, author of the collection Kicking In, and Ben Greenman, author of the collection, What He's Poised to Do.

Tune in tomorrow morning, June 23rd, at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on 88.9FM in Irvine or www.kuci.org. Podcasts of the show are always available, right here, so be sure and check back!

Thanks for listening!

Emily White and Anne Lamott

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Emily White, author of Lonely: A Memoir, and Anne Lamott, author of Imperfect Birds.

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(Broadcast date: May 5, 2010)

Melissa Febos and Bonnie Jo Campbell

Marrie Stone interviews Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart: A Memoir, and Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of American Salvage.

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(Broadcast date: May 26, 2010)

Yann Martel and Tatjana Soli

Marrie Stone interviews Yann Martel, author of Beatrice and Virgil, and Tatjana Soli, author of The Lotus Eaters.

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(Broadcast date: Jun 9, 2010)

Aimee Bender & Micheal Jaime-Becerra at the Pen on Fire Salon

Another great night, last night, at Scape Gallery, to celebrate the publication of Aimee Bender and Michael Jaime-Becerra's new novel. They both gave great talks and readings, books were sold and signed, there was snacks and wine and lemon cake. And the house was filled with writers. See for yourself.

Thanks to C.J. Bahnsen and Travis Barrett for helping with the photos when I wasn't able. And check out our last event of the season on July 13. An Evening with Agents. More here. The event is sure to sell out so don't wait too long to register. More details to come, very very soon.

Scott Turow

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Scott Turow, author of Innocent.

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(Broadcast date: June 2, 2010)

Another Top Writing Books List

I love lists. I recommend making lists to my students to use as topic lists. And I'm always curious what's on top book lists. My top writing books list changes with the seasons, though some of them remain. As if you need one more list, here is a list with three perpetual writing book loves, right now, this minute:

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke. I read it when I was in college and writing poetry, but even if you have no intention of writing poetry or becoming a poet, so much here applies to writer of all genres. One passage: You ask whether your verses are any good. You ask me. You have asked others before this ... I beg you to stop doing that sort of thing. You are looking outside, and that is what you should most avoid right now....." In other words, get your butt back in the chair and write.

The Evasion English Dictionary by Maggie Balistreri. As the back cover says, "...it's a merciless translation of the banalities of contemporary speech..." I love it and always get a giggle from any page I open it up to.

Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See. I love Carolyn See. Who doesn't love Carolyn See? And I love her writing book. It's informative, funny and charming, just like her. (And here's a link to two podcasts of when she was on my radio show....)

An Evening with Aimee Bender and Michael Jaime-Becerra

Join us on Tuesday, June 8, for an evening with novelists Aimee Bender and Michael Jaime-Becerra.

Aimee Bender is the author of four books: The Girl in the Flammable Skirt, a New York Times Notable Book of 1998; An Invisible Sign of My Own, a Los Angeles Times pick of 2000; Willful Creatures, which the Believer selected as a best book of 2005; and a new one: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. Her short fiction has been published in Granta, GQ, The Paris Review, Tin House, and more, and has been heard on "This American Life" and "Selected Shorts." She's a graduate of the UCI MFA program and lives in L.A., where she teaches creative writing at USC.

Michael Jaime-Becerra is a native of El Monte, California, a working-class suburb of Los Angeles. In 2004, his debut collection of inter-related short stories, Every Night Is Ladies' Night, was published by Rayo, the Latino imprint of HarperCollins. Ladies' Night garnered glowing reviews from critics nationwide and was also named to lists of the year's best books by The Washington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle. It was also awarded a California Book Award for a First Work of Fiction. In 2005, The California Report, a statewide radio program, named Jaime-Becerra one of ten Californians to watch in the next decade, a distinction that recognizes the unique nature of his literary voice, as well as his broad vision for California literature. His first novel, This Time Tomorrow, was published in 2010 by Thomas Dunne Books. He teaches creative writing at the University of California, Riverside.

To sign up for this event, click here.

Photo credit: Aimee Bender (photo by Max S. Gerber)

No disclaimers

If you've taken a class with me, this will be familiar. Or if you've read my book, you will know why during at least once a class, I berate my students to stop offering disclaimers for their work. And I've probably even written about this here.

A little backstory: We always do freewriting at the beginning of class and, inevitably, one or more students preface reading their freewriting with something to the effect of, This isn't very good, but here goes.

Now, while we all think at one point or another that what we're writing stinks, I'm anti-verbalizing this negativity aloud. I even like to get at the thought; when you think what you're writing isn't very good, quiet the thought by writing some more, not moving away from your computer or tablet.

It's nothing new: Negative thoughts influence you, well, negatively. We need to be our own biggest advocate, most enthusiastic supporter. And when you put yourself down, it's like dousing your biggest supporter with a bucket of cold water.

I usually write on the board: NO DISCLAIMERS. In my private group, I penalize students a quarter for giving a disclaimer. I'm out to eradicate disclaimers, don't you know.

Susannah Charleson and Sarah Moss

Marrie Stone interviews Susannah Charleson, author of Scent of the Missing: Love and Partnership with a Search-and-Rescue Dog and Sarah Moss, author of Cold Earth.

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(Broadcast date: May 12, 2010)

Today's show: Robert Sabbag and Ander Monson

Today, at 9 a.m. PT, tune in to Writers on Writing for guests Robert Sabbag, author of "Down Around Midnight" (Penguin) and Ander Monson, author of "Vanishing Point: Not a Memoir" (Graywolf). A New York Times review of Monson's book is here.

The show airs on 88.9 FM KUCI, at www.kuci.org and at iTunes: Radio>talk/news.

Orange County Noir last night

Another great evening for the Pen on Fire Speakers Series. C.J. Bahnsen moderated the panel, with editor of the anthology, Gary Phillips; Marty Smith, Mary Castillo, Patricia McFall and me. Soon I'll post the podcast but for the time being, here are some photos of our night. Hopefully some of you can join us next time when Aimee Bender and Michael Jaime-Becerra will be our guests.

Rebecca Miller and Victoria Chang

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Rebecca Miller, author of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee and poet Victoria Chang, author of Salvinia Molesta: Poems.

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(Broadcast date: March 10, 2010)

Pen on Fire Speakers Series

Nice, huh? Designer Dave Mosso at Spacious Mind Web & Graphic Design did a fabulous job with the first official poster for the Pen on Fire Speakers Series. He's also great to work with and affordable. He did my website, too. A big shout out to Dave.
***

My mother in law and I were emailing about the Evening with the Writers of Orange County Noir that's taking place next Saturday. She reads mysteries and so I invited her, as my guest, thinking she'll enjoy it. Not being familiar with the genre, she asked me about noir.

It's not like mysteries, I said. Everything does not turn out gloriously in the end.

You mean it is like real life??? she said.

I had to laugh. Exactly, I said.

And got to thinking: Noir is probably the fictional form that is closest to real life because it's about your stupid side taking over, isn't it? And instead of wising up, you get more and more stupid, at the mercy of your lower nature. Think of Double Indemnity (one of my favorite movies) or The Postman Always Rings Twice. Things start out okay, even wistful, but they go downhill fast.

An Evening with Short Story Writers

If you're able, I hope you'll join us for the Pen on Fire Speakers Series on Sat., May 15, when other contributors to Orange County Noir will join me at Scape Gallery. We'll be talking about writing short stories, and about noir, and it should be a generally raucous time. There will be wine, nibbles, and cake--yes, cake! with the book cover embedded in the icing. Yum. You can meet Gary Phillips, the editor; Martin Smith, editor of Orange Coast magazine; writers Mary Castillo, Patricia McFall, and C.J. Bahnsen (moderating), and this time I'll be a panelist. Fun!

We'll talk about writing short stories, writing dark fiction, setting in short stories and in noir, and more.

Laguna Beach Books will be on hand to sell books.

Seats are $20, but for students, $15. What a deal. The event would be free if I didn't rent the gallery, chairs, buy food and drink, etc., etc.

I hope to see many of you there! And if anyone's going through hard times and wants to bring someone, both of you can come for $15 each. (Go directly to PayPal and send the payment to penonfire@earthlink.net.)

More info here.

Orange County Noir

Marrie Stone interviews Gary Phillips (editor and contributor), Patricia McFall and Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, contributors to Orange County Noir.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: April 14, 2010)

Tomorrow's show: Orange County Noir--what else?

Barbara in flight, because the book is doing well....

Sweet, brilliant, witty Patricia...


Gary, who doesn't look like he'd have the most booming laugh in the entire Southern California area, but he does...
And the articulate, funny and oh-so-svelt Marrie Stone ...


Tune in tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Pacific time for Writers on Writing, featuring Marrie Stone as host, and Orange County Noir contributors Gary Phillips (editor as well as writer), Patricia McFall, and Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, who will discuss the short story, noir fiction, and their stories included in Orange County Noir, which made the SCIBA bestseller list last week, its first week out.

Listen at 88.9 FM in Orange Co., CA, or listen online at www.kuci.org or at iTunes>radio>Talk/News.

Danielle Trussoni and Lois Lowry

Marrie Stone interviews Danielle Trussoni, author of Angelology, and Lois Lowry, author of The Birthday Ball.

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(Broadcast date: Apr 7, 2010)