I Am a Magical Teenage Princess

Some more nice reviews from The Collagist and Rain Taxi. At least, I’m pretty sure they’re nice. I have this problem where my breath goes shallow when I read about myself and my eyes can barely focus, so I only skim them. My wife, however, assures me that they are positive, eloquent, insightful, and masterfully constructed reviews.

I’ve been tagged by my esteemed and handsome editor Quentin S. Crisp for this meme-thing where authors answer questions about their next book/project. I’m never one to turn down a meme-thing tag, but I’m also not so ready to say all that much, so please don’t mistake my reticence for anything but severe discomfort/anxiety about planning for the future; there’s a stack of unread books next to the computer as I write this that’s making me hate myself, so you can imagine how much self-induced pressure I feel about following up Teenage Princess.

1. What is the title of your next book?

I don’t know yet. Or maybe I do. I just don’t want to say it out loud or write it yet.

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

It came out of living in Wichita, KS for three years, a weird, ugly place I have strange, mixed feelings about. Also, my interest in antique malls and flea markets and old things and nostalgia.

3. What genre does your book fall under?

Bestseller, I hope. Or “overnight sensation beloved the world over for its incredible insight, humor, and pathos that garners its author millions of dollars.”

4. What actors would you choose to play the parts of your characters in a movie edition?

I like Quentin’s choice of Steve Buscemi and Lauren Ambrose, and luckily for me I think there are parts for them in my book, but it would be a pretty broad, Altman-esque cast. And I would have a cameo as “Angry Customer 3.”

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

It’s about people who collect things.

6. When will the book be published?

Don’t ask.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

Workin’ on it.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Winesburg, Ohio or Ice Haven by the cartoonist Daniel Clowes or a bunch of other books I wouldn’t mention because they’re so great it would be an insult for me to compare myself to their authors.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Right now I’m more concerned about all the things conspiring against me that keep me from working on/finishing it.

10. is to tag another author. Not to be a spoilsport, but I’m going to decline. I like to be surprised by the authors I follow. I never go to the movies because by the time they come I’ve already heard about/read/seen everything about them anyway.

Isn’t it pathetic when writers start a blog when their books come out and then quickly abandon them, leaving an embarrassing time capsule of their misguided and transparent attempt at self-promotion and “branding” for all the world to see?

Anyway, there’s some new reviewish stuff on the Press page, like this very nice nod bt the amazing Roxane Gay at The Rumpus and a nice review in Pank. At least I think it’s a nice nod and review. I can’t read that stuff without feeling physically ill, so I just let my eyes grazed it and I’m pretty sure I spotted a favorable word here and there.

I’m gonna be at a thing called Books by the Banks here in Cincinnati on Friday, with other, more famous, more physically attractive authors. The thought of it fills me with dread.

I will also be in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, next month for a thing, but I’m feeling too anxious about the above to explain it right now.

And while we’re at it, here’s some amazing vintage photos I snagged at one of my fave Wichita antique malls:

…but Wichita, KS is hot. Here’s a few pics from the Watermark reading:

Here’s a fake flyer I made for my reading in Wichita, KS using a 15-year-old image editing program. Here’s some more info. Check out the “Events” page for other reading-type things.

I decided I don’t already waste enough time every single day staring at pretty junk on my computer screen, so I’ve started a tumblr on which I post images and cool things I’ve scanned from my various vintage finds. Check it out!

Rather, Luke Geddes, through some really excellent – and at times exceptionally tender – writing has projected our favourites from cult to classics through a rather distorted lens of the trials and triumphs of teenagedom, rejects and misfits, hopes and dreams. The stories are therefore shown through a less than rose coloured lens, to great impact.

Full review here.

The official release date is still July 18th, but some vendors are shipping copies early, priced at about $10.50. That’s CHEAP!

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

If you’re into the indie thing, it’ll be on those other sites eventually, but do you really want to have to wait????

The evil book-dealing overlords at Amazon, et al. haven’t yet made my book available for pre-order, but you can pre-order it at The Book Depository for the discounted rate of $10.50 with free shipping. Seems like an amazing deal to me. (And there’s a chance you’ll get it earlier than the July 18th release date!)