Publication

My short story, "Pajamas for Mr. Kafka" will be published in the new issue of Shoefly, the KU literary magazine. It will be published towards the end of April, in Shoefly 2011. I should be reading the story at the April 20th launch event. The story is about a woman's obsession with Franz Kafka's life and works. More details to come soon. J.

That's the way to do it

Mark Twain and his post-departure publishing:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/10/books/10twain.html?ref=books

Be honest, the best thing about this is going to be the insults he couldn't get away with in life. Only in death does free speech exsist.

NPR yesterday had a talk about libel suits, saying that in this economy and with various other factors (including "THE INTERNET") libel suits are on the wain. No one's suing anyone anymore. Good or bad? Don't know quite yet.

JPC

New Projects

Working on a few new things which require my full attention and so I may be posting intermittently for a while. Having very little time what with running around, yet I shall have two new pieces in CommonSense2.com in the next issue and I am also planning four new pieces for the one after that, a double issue.

I'm looking into new things, new possibilities of publishing. I realize that I cannot keep publishing in just one place--I must expand my range as I writer.

As such, I may be coming and going. But, never fear, if I find something interesting, I'll let you know. I'll also keep posting links to new pieces when they appear.

JPC

A Message for Helen DeWitt

Hello, Ms. DeWitt,

I'm very sorry to hear of your troubles with publishers. I'm having trouble with publications too. It would appear, too, that almost every author is having trouble with publishers right now (except that bloody James Patterson with his "book-every-eight-minutes" schedule". I'm writing because your debut novel, "The Last Samurai" was one of the most interesting books I've come across in years. Finally! A book which doesn't offer easy cuts and simple solutions--something which was never made for the Nora Roberts crowd. And yet entirely readable; completely worth any effort you need to expand upon the book.

Have you considered going to an independent press? Or maybe seeing if you can get in contact with Grove (publishers of Henry Miller, William S. Burroughs among others) or New Directions (Roberto Bolano, Tennessee Williams, Anne Carson [who, it seems to me, shares your affinity for all things complex, though more linguisticly than statisticly]) or even Milkweed editions (David Rhodes, Susan Straight)?

Or why not take the Virginia Woolf route and publish through your own press? Or pull a Stephen King and publish a serial via the internet, with a 'suggested donation' price (though that didn't work for him in the long-run). Or try Lulu.com and sell through the internet, with no restrictions on your work. Maybe a great patron will come along and finance you. I'd do it but I'm strapped for cash myself.

But whatever you do, please know that your fans (including myself) will support you. We love your books. This is why I write.

Adoring fan, much love, hope things will get better, etc.,

JPC