The Sky is Crying

Eighteen years ago today, blues guitarist great Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter accident while on tour with Eric Clapton.

Quote of the Week

“I’m not even supposed to be here today.”

— Dante Hicks in the movie Clerks.

Employee of the Month Award

I’m sure we’ve all encountered them when shopping before. The employee who acts as if you’re wasting their time. The snooty individual who takes one look at you and assumes you can’t afford that necklace. The clerk who won’t be happy until you open a store charge. And one of my personal favorites, the one who just has to finish that last paragraph. But I have to tell you folks, compared to this guy, everyone else, no matter how rude or unhelpful you think they are, is a perfect model of customer service excellence.

Quote of the Week

“If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude.”

— Amy Tan

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen….

It was on this day in 1899 that Master of Suspense, and director of such films as Strangers on a Train, Psycho, and Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock was born.

Quote of the Week

“So you think that money is the root of all evil. Have you ever asked what is the root of all money?“

— Ayn Rand

Perhaps one of the best (and biggest) Book on All Things Publishing

With all the books on writing and publishing, how do you decide which one to pick? There so many factors to consider here: Cost, Who Wrote it, What aspects are covered. Well, to help you navigate though it, let me throw in this suggestion. J.A. Konrath, author of the Jack Daniel’s Mystery Series, has recently released Newbie’s Guide to Publishing. It may be the name of his blog, but now it’s in book form. Covering everything from writing, to querying, to self-promotion (I can’t think of another author who does so much in the way of self promotion), it’s your one-stop shopping guide to questions you may have about publishing. And the best part? This book is ABSOLUTELY, 100% FREE. Just hop on over to J.A.’s website and download it for free.

Inked

I love books just as much as the next person. My shelves are starting to bow under the weight of the many tomes I’ve collected over the years. However, I don’t think I’m quite as dedicated as some of these people. Talk about wearing your emotions on your sleeve.

Quote of the Week

“Dream as if you’ll live forever; live as if you’ll die tomorrow.“

— James Dean

Odds and Ends

Stark’s Parker gets ‘drawn’ out

Richard Stark’s (aka Donald Westlake), character Parker is set to be adapted into comic form. Darwyn Cook told fans at this year’s Comic-Con that he will be adapting Stark’s first four novels (The Hunter (aka Point Blank), The Man with the Getaway Face, The Outfit, and The Mourner) into graphic novels, the first of which is scheduled to be released late in 2009.

Potter’s Fairytales
J.K. Rowling announced this past Thursday that she will publish a book of wizarding fairytales. Rowling originally produced only seven copies of “The Tales of Beedle the Bard.” Each were bound in Moroccan leather and decorated with silver moonstones. Six were given to people involved with the Potter books while the seventh copy was bought at auction for roughly $4 million.

Saved By the Bell
Joining the ranks of celebrity tell-all books is Dustin “Screech” Diamond. You have to read this one for yourselves, ’cause I really have nothing to say, except yikes.