The Wednesday Web Browser

For my fellow Francophiles: a lovely essay by Anthony Daniels on Flaubert's most famous conte, which is translated as A Simple Heart. "Of course, no summary can do justice to the subtlety, acuity, or beauty of Flaubert's story. The only real way of doing it justice would be to repeat it word for word. Let me, however, point to just a few instances, not by any means exhaustive."
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In The New York Times, Abigail Zuger wonders: "Should memoirs of illness be held to the same standards as other writing?"
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Just in case you didn't catch this essay about author Tim O'Brien's visit to a community college when I posted it (twice) on Twitter last week, I'm sharing it again.
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Tuesday is Poetry Day on Twitter. Follow poetry-oriented tweets at #poettues.
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Debbie Ridpath Ohi took the words right out of my mouth (or head). I was asked to promote the same writing contest here on Practicing Writing, and I declined the request for the very same reasons that made her wary. Be careful, my friends!

Quotation of the Week: John Grisham

“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t care if it’s a hardback, paperback, e-book or library book. Read.”
--John Grisham

Source: Grisham's Commencement speech at the University of North Carolina, quoted by The Book Blog.

Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

Our July newsletter is just about ready to go. As usual, it's packed with info on no-fee competitions and submission alerts. Plus, this month we feature an interview with poet and professor Kimiko Hahn, who has a new book, Toxic Flora, out from Norton. Not yet a subscriber? It's never too late to join us! (The newsletter is free, and we do not share our subscribers' e-mail addresses.)
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In case you missed the announcement last week, you can now download (for free) our guides to paying markets for essayists and book reviewers. Enjoy!
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The SEVEN-CIFA Essay Competition asks writers "to submit a first-person narrative describing enterprise solutions to poverty that are faith-based, faith-inspired, or interfaith efforts. Illustrations may come from any domain, including healthcare, education, consumer products, human rights, and others; examples must represent innovative private solutions to public problems." The competition will award two prizes of US $5,000 each." No entry fee indicated. Deadline: October 15, 2010.
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From Bucknell University (Pa.): Tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of English (Creative Writing), entry-level (no more than four years of full-time post-doctoral teaching experience at the time of appointment), beginning August 2011. Minimum Requirements: MFA or Ph.D. and teaching experience required. Preferred Qualifications: Record of publication in fiction strongly preferred.
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From the University of North Carolina-Pembroke: Assistant Professor of English/Interim Editor of Pembroke Magazine, a "full-time two-year interim position, beginning August 2010. Teach classes in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and other creative writing courses--3/2 teaching load--and also edit a well-established magazine with a distinguished history whose previous editors have been award-winning authors. Applicant should have an MFA or equivalent from a recognized program, teaching experience, publication in reputable literary magazines, and, preferably, experience editing a creative writing magazine. Rank and salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
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College of the Canyons (Calif.) seeks a Public Information Writer/Photographer, DePaul University (Ill.) is looking for a Senior Writer, and St. John's University (N.Y.) seeks a Writer.

Friday Find: Free Guides to Paying Markets

As some of you may remember, in my former (freelancing) life, I offered a slew of writing-related e-books for sale. As the years passed--and as I transitioned into a full-time staff job--I didn't have sufficient time to update each e-book as frequently as I wanted. Other reasons prompted me to bid farewell to those guides: The guides to paying fiction and poetry markets, for instance, seemed less relevant once Duotrope became such an established and vital (and free) site. So, over time, I retired several of the guides, making each of them available at no charge for a period of time before sending them to the great virtual beyond.

Ultimately, I was maintaining (and updating, twice each year) two guides. One provides a directory of paying markets for book reviewers, and the other one lists dozens of paying markets for essayists. The most recent updates for both guides were completed last December.

The time is coming to say good-bye to updating--and selling--these two guides, too. But before they disappear from view (which will happen on August 1, 2010), I want to give you all the opportunity to access them (free of charge). They're still available on the site that has handled the sales from the start: I warn you that you may need to jump through some hoops to access them (you may need a free account on that site, for instance). If you have any trouble, please contact the help staff at the site. I simply have no ability to fix any technical problems you may encounter there.

But let's be optimistic! Let's hope that you can access whichever book you want (or both, if that's the case), and that the markets I've researched and updated over the years bring you--and your writing practice--much success!

Thursday's Pre-Publication Post: On Attending (and Arranging) Readings

Living in New York City, one could easily attend a literary reading (make that multiple readings) every day. The city presents a true embarrassment of riches in that respect.

If you have the time and energy, that is.

Alas, time and energy are precious commodities for this practicing writer. Between a full-time office job, family life and friends, a revitalized commitment to visiting the gym at least a few days each week, and, lest we forget, a bit of writing (and reading, and blogging) here and there, boarding a subway or bus to attend a reading too often falls off my to-do list. Especially when it's really hot outside. Or really cold.

This week, however, I persevered. After an especially intense workday and facing the oppressive heat and humidity that is also oh-so-characteristic of this lovely city (this time of year, anyway), I rallied. I was determined to attend what Ron Hogan had billed as "An Evening of All-American Fiction" midtown at the Center for Fiction, featuring the following authors and new books:

• Pearl Abraham, American Taliban
• David Goodwillie, American Subversive
• Jane Mendelsohn, American Music
• Hilary Thayer Hamann, Anthropology of an American Girl

American fiction. Get it?

Well, how could anyone with a forthcoming story collection titled Quiet Americans resist?

I sure couldn't. And I'm very glad I went, not only because it is always good for me to get out and go to these events, see authors and hear new work read. But the event also got me thinking about readings in another respect.

Right now, I shouldn't simply be attending readings. I should be arranging them, too.

I've already explained that Last Light Books, the publisher of Quiet Americans, is a small, new press. There is no money for me to go "touring" around the country, although a virtual book tour is definitely on the agenda.

So here I am, trying to figure out how to arrange readings in the New York area, Boston, and D.C. (I expect to be in D.C. in early February for the 2011 AWP conference, and I'm planning to get to Boston a few months later.)

And here are some of the questions I have:

• Which reading series/venues do you go to? For my current purposes, the NYC-Washington corridor is most relevant, but why don't we hear recommendations for other locations, so everyone can benefit from the comments? If there are links available for your favorite venues/series, please share those, too!
• For those of you who have arranged your own readings (or for any publicists who have arranged readings for others), what's the magic formula? How far in advance do you try to arrange a reading? What are the basic how-tos to arrange a reading? It strikes me as something a bit like inviting yourself to someone else's house. Not exactly comfortable or intuitive. How does this whole thing work?
• What else should I be thinking about (readings-wise) at this time, a little more than six months before Quiet Americans: Stories meets the world?

As always, thank you in advance for your comments and advice!

The Wednesday Web Browser

Philip Graham shares writing lessons learned from his cab-driving days.
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Over on my other blog, My Machberet ("machberet" is the Hebrew word for "notebook"), Barbara Krasner provides a generous guest post/conference dispatch re: writing Jewish-themed children's books.
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Here's a peek into the archives of John Updike (made me nostalgic for doing research in Houghton Library).
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According to the editor whom Lisa Romeo cites, I must be an "old writer," indeed. What about you?

Quotation of the Week: Rick Moody

"I'm against schedules. Write when you feel excited by the prospect. Otherwise, don't bother."
--Rick Moody

Source: The Paris Review

What do you think of this one, practicing writers? Kind of goes against a lot of what we've been taught, doesn't it? On the other hand, it does sound wonderfully liberating!

Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

Hurry up if you want to try for the 2010 Frieze Writer's Prize. Aimed to promote and encourage new art critics, the competition invites writers "to submit an unpublished 700-word review in English of a recent contemporary art exhibition. Applicants must be over 18 years old and must not have had more than three pieces of writing on art published in a newspaper or magazine." There is no entry fee. Deadline: June 25, 2010. "The winner will be awarded £2,000 and commissioned to write a review for the October issue of frieze."
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Glamour magazine's "My Real-Life Story Essay Contest": "If you have an inspiring story about a life changing event, an obstacle overcome, a relationship of passion that's defined you - then we want to read it! You may see your essay appear in an upcoming issue of Glamour...and you could win $5000 and a meeting with a top literary agent." For legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia. No entry fee. Deadline: September 15, 2010.
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Last week's WritersWeekly.com featured an article on breaking into environmental markets, complete with sample market listings.
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New from Poets & Writers: an online Literary Agents Database.
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Arts blogger(s?) sought: "KQED Arts is an online arts magazine serving and reflecting the thriving arts scene of the San Francisco Bay Area. The site provides daily local and national arts coverage; brings together all of KQED's on-air arts programming; and is incubator to the station's online originals. KQED’s daily arts blog covers music, film, performance, multimedia and visual arts in the Bay Area. KQED, located right in the heart of the Mission in San Francisco, is aiming to take our Arts coverage to the next level and is looking for smart, talented, versatile writers to help us achieve that. Writers are expected to specialize in a particular medium or community, but are free to follow their own interests, pitching ideas once a month. Each writer contributes roughly twice a month. Generous bylines, dedicated author biography pages and a modest stipend are just some of the rewards."
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Texas State University-San Marcos seeks a Publications Writer, James Madison University (Va.) is looking for a Magazine Editor and Writer, and Arapahoe Community College (Colo.) seeks a College Communications Coordinator.

Friday Find: The Poetry Foundation's iPhone App

Yesterday afternoon I left work early for the semiannual fun-filled dental checkup. The bad news (this time) is that I have the beginnings of a cavity that "we'll watch" for the next several months. Oh, and I should give some serious thought to adult braces for my lower teeth (I thought all of that was taken care of with six years of orthodontia way back when).

But the good news is that while I was in the waiting room I finally downloaded the new (and free) Poetry Foundation poetry app. I have to say that it is a vast improvement over the "Poem Flow" app I paid for awhile back. "Poem Flow" ended up giving me a single poem each day—usually the same poem I was already receiving for free from the Academy of American Poets. The Poetry Foundation app, on the other hand, gives you access to so many poems, neatly organized by topic (or to suit your mood). Thumbs up for the Poetry Foundation's app!

Wishing you all a great weekend. See you back here on Monday!

Thursday's Pre-Publication Post: Come On Get Happy!

Earlier this week, the Fiction Writers Review blog spotlighted an essay by author Aryn Kyle. Titled "'This Book Made Me Want To Die' And Other Thoughts From Readers," the essay engages with comments/reviews Kyle has received with a decided point of view: that maybe, she should try to write something a little "happier":

"Mostly," Kyle writes, "what I learned about my book is that it’s depressing. Not just depressing, but 'pointlessly depressing'; 'brutal'; 'disturbing'; 'unrelentingly bleak'; and 'appalling'—just to touch on the tip of the critical iceberg. One reader claimed to be so disturbed by [Kyle's novel] The God of Animals that, upon finishing it, she had to medicate herself with sleeping pills."

But when people tell Kyle to write something "happy," she can't quite understand. "Happy like Anna Karenina? Happy like The Grapes of Wrath? Happy like Lolita or Catch-22 or Revolutionary Road? Happy like Hamlet?"

You get the idea.

Because the publication of my story collection, Quiet Americans, is still several months away, I don't yet have access to a comparable trove of reader reaction. But that doesn't mean that I can't already identify with the essay and the points Kyle has raised.

In fact, while I was reading, I couldn't help but recall one AWP conference, at which I finally met one of the TriQuarterly editors who had helped bring my story, "Matrilineal Descent," to the reading public. I'd gone over to the journal's Bookfair table to introduce myself. "Ah, yes," the editor said. "Your story. It was a laugh a minute." To which I responded—how else?—by laughing. (Attention, lucky readers! You, too, can enjoy the utter comedy that is "Matrilineal Descent" when the story reappears in Quiet Americans this winter.)

But Kyle's essay also sent me straight to the shelf where the Purple Binder (pictured) rests.

The Purple Binder, my friends, contains all the many rejection letters and e-mail messages that I received from agents and publishers who considered my collection, in one variant or another, over a five-year period. (It should not be confused with the far thicker Red Binder, which contains rejections received for individual short stories.)

I was certain that I'd find some echoes of the comments that have come Kyle's way within the Purple Binder's pages. And guess what? My memory was right.

Dear Erika Dreifus,

Thank you for giving us a look at four stories from your collection, Former Title, which [Big-Time Agent] asked me to review. I'm sorry about the delay in getting back to you, and I wish I had better news. I very much admire your writing and found all four stories very strong, but I'm afraid that this collection would be difficult to sell. The cumulative effect of your stories, with themes ranging from the Holocaust, to fetal defects to racism, is too downbeat for the editors we deal with.

Nonetheless, I think you are a talented writer. If you are not too put off by these remarks and you begin a novel, we'd love to see the first 50 pages.

Regretfully,
Associate at Big-Time Agent's Agency

P.S. Let me know if you'd like me to return your pages.

Now, a few comments:

• I've worked on the collection so long that it's really not surprising that not all of the stories that went out to this agency--supposedly my "best" stories at the time--have ended up in the final book. Among the now-excluded stories is one that was, for a long time, intended to be the title story. Hence, the need for a new title. So if you're thinking that you'll actually find the Holocaust, fetal defects, and racism prominently displayed throughout the book, well, don't get too excited, because not every happy theme I've ever dealt with in fiction has made the cut into the final collection.


• Similarly, I've been working on these stories so long that this particular correspondence dates from George W. Bush's first term, an era when it was still very common to send work via postal mail. Hence, the offer to return my pages. I guess I hadn't included a SASE.


• Here's what may be most interesting. I hadn't approached Big-Time Agent. Rather, Big-Time Agent had contacted me, based on a story that had appeared in a literary journal. And frankly, that story didn't exactly present a thousand points of light. Admittedly, it did not feature fetal defects or racism. But, in a mere 2500 words, it did manage to encompass parental death, post-9/11 anthrax attacks, incapacitating depression, divorce, and—I know you're waiting for this one—the Holocaust. Hence, my surprise that "downbeat" might present a problem for this particular agency.
  

(By the way, that part of the message about welcoming a novel didn't surprise you short-story writers, did it?)

In truth, I'm trying not to think too much just yet about what people will say about Quiet Americans once it has been published (assuming that it receives any attention at all). But if the book is faulted for not being "happy" enough, at least I'll be prepared. And in good company.

The Wednesday Web Browser

Some translation-related material to share with you this week. First: The literary journal Image recently asked contributing translators to address their craft; the resulting quotations are here. And from Hayden's Ferry Review: two poems by Yiddish writer Avrom Sutzkever, translated and introduced by Miri Koral.
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Looking for some writing exercises? This post on the Rutgers-Newark MFA blog will point you to several.
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To use the word "tweet" or not to use it? That is a question.
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I really wish someone had shown me something like I.J. Schecter's article, "How to Break Into Corporate Writing," before I launched a freelance writing practice. Said practice might have lasted longer had I sought to include corporate writing within it.
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I'm on Goodreads! Are you? Please "friend" me! And if you have any tips on how to make the most of the site (as a reader or as an author), please share!

Quotation of the Week: Francoise Sagan

"I shall live badly if I do not write, and I shall write badly if I do not live."
--Françoise Sagan

Source: Quotes4Writers (I imagine that a translator should be credited here, but I have to go with what I've found. As the French say, désolée!)

Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

Real Simple has announced its third annual Life Lessons Essay Contest. Entrants (who must be legal residents of the U.S. age 19 or older) should complete the sentence "I never thought I would...." Prize includes round-trip tickets for two to New York City, hotel accommodations for two nights, tickets to a Broadway play, lunch with Real Simple editors, $3,000, and publication in the magazine." Deadline: September 24, 2010. No entry fee.
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Oregon Humanities is "seeking submissions for the fall 2010 issue on the theme 'Ha!' which will explore humor, happiness, and joy, especially as they pertain to American history, culture, values, and identity. We are especially interested in submissions that consider what it means to pursue happiness in America and how this pursuit shapes our culture and identities. We welcome all forms of nonfiction writing, including scholarly essays, personal essays, and journalistic articles." Proposals/drafts should be submitted by July 12, 2010. For pay rates and additional guidelines, visit the site. (NB: "At this time, we almost exclusively publish work by Oregon artists and writers.")
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Bowling Green State University (Ohio) is looking for an Assistant Professor in Poetry Writing and Literature. "The successful candidate will teach graduate and undergraduate poetry workshops and literature courses, work with students on BFA and MFA theses, and advise BFA and MFA majors. He/she will be expected to engage in creative/scholarly writing and publishing, to serve on program and department committees, to serve as program director on a rotating basis with the other program faculty, and to participate actively in the life and governance of the program including its efforts to recruit, advise, and retain students. Qualifications: PhD in English or MFA in Creative Writing by start date of employment; Specialization in poetry writing; Strong record of publication of poetry, including at least one book of poetry; Strong commitment to excellence in both undergraduate and graduate teaching, including the teaching of literature. Desirable attributes: secondary specialization in creative nonfiction; experience editing a national literary journal; and interest in form/theory of poetry."
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National Public Radio (Washington, D.C.) is looking for a Books Producer to build up Books coverage on NPR.org.
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Harvard University's Nieman Journalism Lab (Mass.) is looking for an Assistant Editor: "The Nieman Journalism Lab (www.niemanlab.org) is dedicated to identifying and encouraging changes that can improve the production of quality journalism in America. We do so by identifying best practices, examining new business models, tracking innovation in journalistic craft, and trying to be a forward-looking voice in figuring out the future of journalism. The assistant editor of the Lab will work with existing staff to achieve this goal. Duties will include: original reporting and blogging on changes in the news industry, in both the mainstream media organizations and the new generation of startups and Internet companies; active use of social media platforms, especially Twitter; producing video and audio content; interacting with our readers; assisting in planning the future of the Lab; and working with partners around Harvard and around the journalism world. Think of us as a cross between a think tank and a newsroom, covering the beat of the future of journalism. The job may also entail other related duties within the Nieman Foundation for Journalism."
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From Seattle: "Writers in the Schools (WITS), a program of Seattle Arts & Lectures, is looking for creative writers who are passionate about teaching the power and pleasure of writing to young people and who are excited to collaborate with public school teachers. Employment is part-time. Residency contracts vary, but typically extend for nine months from October to June. A yearlong commitment is typically required." Application deadline: August 2, 2010.
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Normally, I limit residency announcements to programs that don't charge application fees, but I make an exception for the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, in Nebraska City, Neb., where I spent two wonderful weeks way back in 2003. (That's where I began working on "Matrilineal Descent," a story that ultimately appeared in TriQuarterly and will reappear in my forthcoming collection, Quiet Americans.) The KHN Center offers 2- to 8-week residencies year-round for writers, visual artists, and music composers. Housing, studio space, and $100/week stipend are provided. There are two deadlines each year: March 1 for the following July through mid-December, and September 1 for the following January through mid-June. There's a $25 application fee (sorry!).

Friday Find: The Library of America's Story of the Week

Want to download some free reading for the weekend? Consider "Business Deal," a fairly brief short story by Nathanael West (1903-40) set in a bygone era of screenwriting and movie-making, which the Library of America has made available from Nathanael West: Novels and Other Writings.

Or check out any of the other offerings in the Library of America's Story of the Week site/archive.

(For more background on the West story, check Carolyn Kellogg's Jacket Copy post, through which I discovered this find and the accompanying archive.)

Have a great weekend, everyone. See you back here on Monday.

Thursday's Pre-Publication Post: Permissions Phase Ends; New Focus Begins

Two weeks ago, I gave you an update on my permissions quest. I am delighted to report that that particular phase of the journey seems to have ended at last: The Big Publishing House charged half again (150%) of the original fee I was quoted to use an epigraph in the print edition of Quiet Americans so that I can include said seven-word excerpt in the e-version, too. Just in case you were wondering! The agreement has been signed, sealed, and mailed back. And I'm glad to check that particular task off the to-do list!

So we move on. As the summer progresses, I expect to be focusing much more time on the redesign/consolidation of my Web presence (something else I've mentioned before in these pre-publication posts). Many of you offered helpful comments when I first brought this up. Now, I'm going to ask for your advice once again.

I've noticed that some author websites feature Q&A material that might best be described as a "self-interview." Interestingly, "self-interviews" have shown up lately as topics on various book marketing sites/feeds I follow, too (for example, this one).

The self-interviews labeled as such tend to have at least a bit of humor attached. That is to say, they are very self-consciously self-interviews, and they tend to revel a bit in the inherent oddity/awkwardness of the form. On the other hand, an author can also create a Q&A that is completely serious and doesn't necessarily present itself as something s/he wrote on his own (and maybe it was, in fact, guided by a publicist or other PR professional). At this point, I'm still considering both approaches.

Here's what I'm hoping you'll tell me: What kinds of topics/questions do you think should appear in an author's self-interview? Are there any such interviews you've found especially interesting? What made them so engaging? What are you hoping to learn about authors—and, more importantly, their books—when you read these features?

What's your take on the more humorous approach (for an example, see a self-interview on Stephen King's website--look for the entry dated September 4, 2008) compared with something that may be more, well, somewhat more nuts-and-bolts-and-business-like (again, just for an example, see Mark H. Zanger's "Behind the Scenes" feature for The American Ethnic Cookbook for Students).

And if you're an author who has written one of these interviews yourself, what suggestions would you offer? Whether they're your own or others', please point me toward author website Q&As that you think I should be sure to see as I formulate something along similar lines to help introduce Quiet Americans and its author--moi!

Thanks very much in advance for your comments, you wonderful people!

The Wednesday Web Browser

Join the Madame Bovary read-a-long that is being planned for the fall, using the new translation by Lydia Davis to ground discussion! (Thanks to The Boston Bibliophile for the tip!)
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Over on The Writer magazine's staff blog, one of the wonderful editors I've had the good fortune to work with pretty frequently, Sarah Lange, talks about freelancing with Kelly James-Enger. I've admired James-Enger's work for a long time, so even if her words here brought forth a pang or two for my own former freelance/self-employed life, I was able to focus on and enjoy the Q&A nonetheless. (You'll find James-Enger's new blog, Dollars and Deadlines, linked on our sidebar now, too.)
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Another newcomer to our sidebar list: author Allegra Goodman's blog. I had the privilege of meeting Allegra my first semester in college, when I had a small role in a play she'd written. Twenty-something years later, I'm enjoying the updates preceding the early July publication of her next novel, The Cookbook Collector, which is receiving stellar pre-pub reviews. (I've already pre-ordered my copy.)
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On my "other" blog, My Machberet ("machberet" is the Hebrew word for "notebook"), I seem to be settling into a habit of rounding up links relating to Jewish authors and books on Jewish themes each Friday (just in time for the Sabbath/Shabbat). Last week's collection featured two of my favorite authors (Ludwig Lewisohn and Patrick Modiano), The Forward's summer books section, the transcript from the most recent Jewish Book Council Twitter Book Club, and more.

Quotation of the Week: Maya Angelou

"When the language lends itself to me, when it comes and submits, when it says 'I am yours darling,'—that's the best part."

- Maya Angelou, via The Paris Review (on Twitter)

Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

"Calling poets! Comment Magazine's second-annual "Making the Most of College" poetry contest runs until July 1st, 2010. The question: How does a 21st-century education lead you to respond to a 19th-century visionary? Write a sonnet which interacts in some way with Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" —a refutation? an update? a round of applause? Imagine the poem afresh for university students 2010-11. Email your submissions to comment(at)cardus(dot)ca by July 1st. First-place winner takes $100 CDN and the page 1 poem in our Fall 2010 print issue. Second- and third-place runners-up also get published later in the Fall Issue. Enter today!" No entry fee indicated. (via ImageUpdate)
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Want to explore freelance editing? You might enjoy this free teleclass.
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Meet new agent Chelsea Gilmore, who is looking for "women’s fiction, literary fiction, young adult, mysteries/thrillers, and pop culture."
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Bournemouth University (U.K.) seeks a Practitioner in Residence (Creative Writing & Journalism): "You are an accomplished creative writer with a good academic record and significant professional experience; ideally you will also have some experience of writing features and of the online environment. This post is available on a fixed term part time basis of either one day per week for a period of six months or two days per week for a period of three months."
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Two new job postings from the Poetry Foundation (Chicago): Media Director and Director of the Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute.
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Ramapo College (N.J.) is looking for a Development Writer/Publicist, George Mason University (Va.) seeks a part-time Writer, and Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design is looking for a Content Writer.

Friday Find: YOUR Reading Recommendations

As part of our Short Story Month Collection Giveaway Project, many of you were kind enough to share, in the main giveaway post's comments, the titles of collections you've loved and/or are looking forward to reading. Now, following the sage example of the folks at the Fiction Writers Review site, I've decided to compile those recommendations so that we can all appreciate them one more time, in one lovely list. I hope I haven't missed anyone or make any mistakes (please correct me if I have).

Thanks again. You practicing writers are awesome! What a resource this list is (especially for anyone seeking summer reading suggestions).

Kathi Appelt, Kissing Tennessee
Poe Ballantine, Things I Like About America (Erika's note: I'm not entirely certain this is a book of fiction, but I've enjoyed Ballantine's work in The Sun, so, we'll keep it!)
Kevin Barry, There Are Little Kingdoms
Charles Baxter, Through the Safety Net
Jorge Luis Borges, Fictions
T.C. Boyle, Wild Child and Other Stories
Kevin Brockmeier, Things That Fall from the Sky
Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities
Raymond Carver, Cathedral
Julio Cortazar, All Fires the Fire
Phillip F. Deaver, Silent Retreats
Charles D'Ambrosio, The Point
Edwidge Danticat, Krik? Krak!
Anthony Doerr, The Shell Collector
Howard Goldowsky (ed.), Masters of Technique: The Mongoose Anthology of Chess Fiction
Richard Ford, A Multitude of Sins
Richard Ford, Rock Springs
Ben Fountain, Brief Encounters with Che Guevara
Petina Gappah, An Elegy for Easterly: Stories
Lisa Glatt, The Apple's Bruise
Allegra Goodman, The Family Markowitz
R.W. Gray, Crisp
Amy Hempel, Collected Stories
Jhumpa Lahiri, Unaccustomed Earth
Kelly Link, Stranger Things Happen
Lydia Millet, Love in Infant Monkeys
Alice Munro, ("Anything")
Joyce Carol Oates, Faithless: Tales of Transgression
Flannery O'Connor, Everything That Rises Must Converge
Mary Otis, Yes, Yes, Cherries!
ZZ Packer, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
Lydia Peelle, Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing
Benjamin Percy, Refresh, Refresh
Laura Pritchett, Hell's Bottom, Colorado
Annie Proulx, Fine Just the Way It Is
Eric Puchner, Music Through the Floor
J.D. Salinger, Nine Stories
George Saunders, Pastoralia
Lore Segal, Shakespeare's Kitchen
Sam Shepard, Day Out of Days
Lara Vapnyar, Broccoli and Other Tales of Food and Love
Patricia Volk, All It Takes
Hannah Tinti, Animal Crackers
Wells Tower, Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
David Foster Wallace, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
Eudora Welty, The Golden Apples

Thursday's Pre-Publication Post: Torn Between Two Covers

This week's major pre-publication development is this: Over the Memorial Day holiday, I e-mailed the wonderful cover designer who has been drafting designs for the Quiet Americans cover, and I told him that I'd chosen a design to go with.

In the end, I'd narrowed the options to two designs. I can't show them to you (truly, I can't--I don't have them in a format I can upload to the blog without some serious interventions). But I can tell you that they present two very different images. Opposite images, in fact. So I was, indeed, "torn between two covers."

It's a real relief to have put an end to the indecision. (The cover designer congratulated me on this victory!) Now we just have some tweaking to do (I've asked for some additional options for the byline font, for instance). Then, at least, the front cover will be done. Not all the info is yet available to complete the spine and back.

Speaking of covers...Last Light Studio, my book's publisher, has recently launched a blog. And about two weeks ago, that blog featured a post about the cover design process behind the company's first release: Armand Inezian's Bringing Ararat (which is now available!). Check it out!

The Wednesday Web Browser

Congratulations to our friend John Griswold on all of the accolades he and his novel, A Democracy of Ghosts, have been accruing. Find out more about the author and his book by revisiting our September 2009 interview.
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Sometimes, it really doesn't take a whole lot to make me happy. Seeing online appreciations in recent days for two admired authors--Patrick Modiano, whose work I discovered my junior year in college, and Ludwig Lewisohn, whose 1928 novel The Island Within I've written about before--has really helped lift my spirits this week.
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It's that time of year again: The New York Writers Coalition (NYWC) is holding its annual Write-a-Thon on Saturday, June 12, in NYC. This year, the fundraising effort to benefit the NYWC's free writing programs for the formerly homeless, at-risk youth, seniors, and others, will offer a complementary (and complimentary) online component for people who wish to participate from afar. (I've participated in and written about the Write-a-Thon in the past.)

Quotation of the Week: H.L. Mencken

"There are no dull subjects. There are only dull writers."

Source: H.L. Mencken (1880 – 1956), via Quotes4Writers