Noble Pen Meeting

May 27th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

“How many languages do you speak, Nutt?”

“Three dead and twelve living, sir,” said Nutt.

“Really. Really,” said Ridcully, as though filing this away and trying not to think How many of them were alive before you murdered them?

–Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals

Victories

Dylan has another commission. Lucky bastard.

One of Cuin’s professors wants her to re-write her research paper so the U of I can publish it. But first she needs a document of archaic German legalese signed by Heinrich Himmler translated.

I attended Demicon, the Des Moines science fiction convention and enjoyed speaking to many authors and publishers and the open bar.

Lena got another letter into the Gazette. The Linn Newsletter has published her account of her Israel trip and they want her to write a letter about Poland. Unfortunately, we probably won’t be seeing her until after farmers market season. I have no jokes or silly videos about farmers markets–farmer’s daughters sure, but not farmers markets.

Special Event

The Noble Pen Welcomes Tyree Campbell, author and Managing Editor of Sam’s Dot Publishing. Based in Cedar Rapids, Sam’s Dot publishes novels, novellas, collections, and online and print magazines.

I believe Tyree will be joining us on June 10th.

News

Lynne Viehl has a nice article on the merits of being a self-taught author.

Barnes and Noble is launching a self-publishing service . I’m pretty sure they still won’t put your book in their store.

JA Konrath announced his next book in the Jack Daniels series, Shaken, will be released for the Kindle several months before the paper edition.

Upcoming Schedule

Noble Pen Meeting

May 20th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

My muffin hasn’t had a cherry since 1939.
–Betty White

Victories

Nick was a powerhouse this week. He sent three photos to a magazine and sent his western to an editor for critique. Tuesday, he will be juggling chainsaws in Ellis park.

Welcome Bob. Thanks for checking us out.

News

Borders will be selling an e-ink reader for $149. Commence lamenting for the 1000th time how far we have to go to find a Borders.

Toys!

Another infographic: The most Controversial Books in America. Oddly enough, they did not include Ecstasy and Me: My Live As a Woman, by Hedy Lamarr, which I keep on my nightstand.

Upcoming Schedule

Noble Pen Meeting

May 13th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

Sure I’ve been called a xenophobe, but the truth is I’m not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and all the other countries aren’t as good. That used to be called patriotism.
–Kenny Powers, Eastbound & Down

Victories

A small press editor got back to me on my “Panic No More” project. He said it showed promise but decided to pass. I thanked him for his input and then reported him to Homeland Security as a possible enemy combatant.

News

As they say in Bad Boys, shit just got real. Google has announced a new ebook service which will launch this summer. While not everything Google does is a game-changer–I’m looking at  you Orkut, they certainly are above the curve. (Actually, I hear Orkut is huge in Brazil.)

Upcoming Schedule

Noble Pen Meeting

May 6th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

Novels for me are how I find out what’s going on in my own head. And so that’s a really useful and indeed critical thing to do when you do as many of these other things as I do.
–Cory Doctorow

Victories

Dylan’s side projects continue to stay up  in the down economy. He just received a commission for a 15,000 word short story.

News

Behold the EPIC PUBLISHING INFOGRAPHIC.

Why agents pass on your queries. See, I said “pass.”

Upcoming Schedule