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06.03.2008
3 May 2008
Who Dares Wins
Sent in the Introduction, first Area, first three Tools and conclusion of the first Area to the editor. In the next two weeks will be formatting the rest of the book. Send it to the tech writer who is cleaning it up and should have a manuscript by the end of the month.
Then I have to adjust my presentations to make them more in line with the book. Tomorrow night I’m teaching at the Mercer Island library—Original Idea and Conflict. On the 17th of this month I have a Who Dares Wins presentation for Vistage to some CEOs. Should be interesting.
One thing I find curious is often people want a presentation but don’t know what they want in it. It’s sort of the old joke—guy goes up to help desk in bookstore and asks for directions to the self-help section. Bookstore person tells him if he needs help getting there, he shouldn’t go.
Bob Land:
Spent time in Atlanta and Cincinnatti. Working on books. And I just spelled Cincinnati wrong. Again. That’s why we don’t set books there. Got the WDW format down. Jenn and I worked on Wild Ride until our eyes bled. It’s pretty solid, but that always unravels as you get into the writing. We realized we have to make up demon rules. Argh.
But we have a great cast of characters in a unique setting, so that’s always good.
My new one-bag-Bob worked out well.
It’s raining and gray here in the Pacific Northwest. Makes me consider a move to some place warmer and sunnier.
Movies and Books:
Watched There Will Be Blood. Reluctantly after hearing a lot of negative stuff about it. Turned out to be not bad. Not a ringing endorsement, but it had its moments.
Here’s an interesting movie: Shadowboxer with Helen Mirren and Cuba Gooding Jr. Their assassins and lovers. Yes, Helen Mirren still has it. Whatever it is. Quite sexy. An intriguing movie with a strong ending that makes sense.
There was an interesting survey that came out of BEA about readers. Why people buy books. #1 reason, of course, is it’s an author they know. Which makes it hard for new authors to break in, but that’s reality. Word of mouth is a strong factor. Which brings into question how fast they re-rack books now, especially in the larger retailers. By the time word of mouth goes, the book is gone.
BTW—Agnes comes out in paperback on 26 August. That should be very interesting.
Blog Special:
I went to my storage unit yesterday and stared at the boxes. Lots of books to clear out, especially if there’s a move coming in a few months. So let’s do hardcover, BODYGUARD OF LIES, introducing Hannah and Neeley, the housewife and female assassin. The precursor to LOST GIRLS.
So BODYGUARD OF LIES, hardcover, retail $24.95 for $10 plus s&h.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
Demons have rules?
Thought that’s why they were Demons.
Most of the new writers that I have read recently were through recommendations of the writers and commenter’s of the half dozen or so blogs that I follow.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I too read new books by favorite authors, and my “word of mouth” is through blogs also.
Somtimes I choose movies based on Bob’s comments. I just added this Helen Mirren one to my TBWatched list. (I’d sure like to be like her when I grow up.)
Moving again- that’s just nuts. Although, I don’t think I could handle all that damp gloominess either.
Bob, thanks for the Tuesday Blog.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Louis said: “Though that’s why they were demons.” Good one.
The first rule of demons is, there are no rules.
I read some books by author, but a lot of the time I get hooked by title and back cover copy. I’ve found some good books that way. In fact, that’s how I ended up reading by author. Big circle.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Except it’s June. If you’re going to be disciplined and post every Tuesday, you need to get credit for it, by not having it look like you haven’t posted in a month. So, you should change the date at the top.
I read by author, but only a little by recommendation (not everyone likes the same things I do - but I’ve taken quite a lot of CherryBomb recommendations!). And I like the reviews by Stop! You’re Killing Me! - most of the things I thought I’d like from their descriptions I have. But there’s a certain amount of “attracted by the cover” that happens, too.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Happy to hear you didn’t get trapped under a couch somewhere. Glad the writing is going well.
I think there have to be rules in all walks of life. Demon’s need to co-exist by demon law, vampires by vampire law, etc. otherwise we’d have chaos. All demons and vampires must read WDW before being let loose to wreak orderly havoc. Makes sense to me.
I adore Helen Mirren. Hadn’t heard about this movie. Is it old? I know Bob has said he doesn’t go to movie theaters much (something to do with being one of those pain-in-the-ass-movie-goers who talk to their partner AND the movie screen) so if anyone knows if this is available for rent, would love to know.
I’m having knee surgery on Thursday and see much writing and movie watching in my near future. Took the laptop and knocked off a chapter while waiting for the car to be serviced this morning. At the dealership they set me up at an empty desk in the back. I should do that more often. There were absolutely no interruptions and nothing else to do … so I wrote.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Adding “Shadowboxer” to my list, too. Helen Mirren is usually excellent.
As far as my reading list, I read books by favorite authors, by word-of-mouth recommendation–online & elsewhere–and by querying Amazon. They provide a list of books that are similar to those one has already purchased. Also go by reviews in newspapers & magazines, & by the blurbs in a book.
So you may be moving from the Pacific Northwest. Our loss. At least we have a variety of weather here–you never know what you’ll get. And it’s almost always a verdant, lush green here. Portland’s weather is milder, and in summer, usually not too hot for too long.
If you move, where will you hold your upcoming Novel Workshops?
Am reading “Agnes & the Hitman” now, and really love Agnes & Shane. Very sexy, and lots of complications/plot twists. Sooo great to hear that you and Jenn are writing a paranormal with Demons–can’t wait!! That should be a Wild Ride!
Oh, and if you need any readers for WDW, I’d volunteer.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Me said: “The first rule of demons is, there are no rules.”
Well, yeah. It’s like a perk. Although they might have limitations not of their own choosing.
Helen Mirren: yeah, I want to grow up to be her, too. Or anyone who still has *it*. Or ever had *it*.
Books: word of mouth works to some extent, but sometimes not. Many of my favorite authors were once chosen at random from a shelf in the library. It’s like a free test drive. How cool is that?
So, Bob. Wanna come to Portland later this month?
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Get to meet some Cherrybombs in Portland? Some you know; some you don’t.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Shadowboxer was a most excellent film.
Damp and gloomy, bleh. I love the weather in Utah. In the spring you can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon.
Except I don’t golf.
You seem to be an Island guy, and the only one here is Antelope Island. You don’t want to live there. The lake smells like moldy eggs and feet. But I understand the Kayaking is pretty good.
But the most important question: Did the couch get put together?
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
There seems to be a trend here. CB’s coming to the Northwest…Bob contemplates moving. And we aren’t even THERE yet! Sheesh!
Bob- Ohio is a wonderful state. It has lots of cities that start with “C” like Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati,Coshocton,and your new favorite I am sure– Chillicothe!
We won’t even to into Celina, Cairo, (Care-oh) Carthegena or Canton.
And please don’t make us wait until next Tuesday to find out about the Couch. Jenny must have taken a trip to the new IKEA. This from a mom who has helped offspring move and knows more about allen wrenches than I should!
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:52 pm
The Pacific Northwest can be dreary. I spent a summer in Pt. Roberts with less than two weeks of sunshine. Good thing, as my brother said, you don’t have to shovel rain.
The majority of the books I read are discovered by word of mouth, reading the back cover blurbs and the excerpts placed into Writer’s Digest or the Book Review section in The Globe and Mail. And once finding a particularly good read, I tend to stick with the author.
So, apart from putting a couch together, did Milton visit you upstairs?
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
He put the couch together. They’d labeled the parts backward and he had to take it apart and ignore the instructions to fix it, but it’s together. I handed him things.
I’d write more but I’m putting together a bookcase headboard that arrived after he left. I think he saw it coming.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Hang in through the summer. Most years it’s the most glorious summer and best weather on the continent. This year the winter’s been rough, so we better get a great summer to make up for it! So far it’s not looking good though, huh. My first year here it was 7 months gray and 5 months beautiful. If the next year hadn’t been incredible I’d have packed up. You get used to the rhythm I think. Go out in the wet anyway and spend every minute outside when it’s nice in summer and fall.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:08 am
WTF? You’re moving again? You’ve said you move your desk every time you start a new book but this seems a bit drastic. Hannah must be a saint to put up with you. Deb too.
Books. I read almost everything. Sure, books by favourite authors, as well as those written by friends, but also a heck of a lot by people I’ve never heard of. As for word of mouth — meh. As soon as someone tells me I “just really have to” read something, I pretty much decide I’m not going to read it. Yeah, I’m contrary.
One of the best books I read last year I picked up solely because of the author’s name: Per Petterson. You have to be curious about the writing of someone named Per. OUT STEALING HORSES is amazing, almost in spite of itself. The first person narrative is all over the place and none of the characters are likeable and you know it’s going to end badly, but the writing is pure and spare and gorgeous. The ending comes abruptly like a slap to the heart and is quite simply unforgettable. I couldn’t put it down. I’m glad no one recommended it to me or I would have missed it.
Well, that was tactful and courteous. Praising someone else’s book over here on Bob’s blog. My bad. I will say that LOST GIRLS and AGNES were among the top five books I read last year. BODYGUARD OF LIES was excellent as well. So good that I’ve almost forgiven you for that whole foot stomping thing, Bob. Kick ass heroines do not stomp their feet. Ever. Tsk.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:52 am
You all notice that Bob has not responded to our many inquiries if he plans on stopping by the CB meet. I’m beginning to wonder if he is practicing avoidance.
The majority of books I read are based on review and word-of-mouth. I hadn’t ever heard of Anne Bishop before OH mentioned her and I loved her books.
June 4th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
All you Portland-bound CBs need a different approach. Tell Bob you’re willing to help him clean out his storage unit by purchasing mass quantities of books and that if he’ll hand-deliver them to Portland you all will pitch in to help pay for gas (instead of S&H). You can have an informal book signing. I’ll bet he hasn’t signed stock at Powell’s yet either. He’s shy. You could offer to go with him and help track down his books.
Just be sure to ask nicely. And offer chocolate chip cookies.
What’s that, Bob? Oh, you’re quite welcome.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
And hot chocolate. Cause it’s dreary in the PNW.
If we sure we could organize a booksigning at Powells, will Bob come?
yeah, we can pitch in for gas
June 4th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Oh yea. We’re good at organizing. Surprised us, too. We’re not talking military precision here, but if there’s incentive it’s amazing how coordinated we can be. So Bob (and Jenny?) wanna do a signing at Powells for the summer solstice?
June 4th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I tried to warn Bob that the PNW was not the warmest, sunniest of climates. Did he listen? Apparently not. And unfortunately, this year has been drearier than most. However, a solstice trip to Portland can do wonders for a person’s mood. And a book signing. Really a pick-me-up. Her too.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Bob, you haven’t been keeping the CB’s up to date with your travel plans. What happened to dissemination of information? You have quality time at JH at the end of the month.
I’ll be there.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Bob, correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t you just move from a place that was sunny and warm? Just asking.
And the CBs can really plan things for you in Portland. Look at Dayton. The NYT Best Sellers list took a hit from that one.
I like to read books that my daughter recommends and I have found several new authors on my own. I look at the title and the back cover as well as read the inside cover if there is one. I have found some terrific authors that way.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Geez… this CB Portland invasion could get embarrassing… time to start practicing my denials…
CBs? What CBs? I know nothing, nothing…
June 5th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Uh, Merry, how do you plan to explain all the bodies on your floor?
June 5th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Now bodies on the floor just might get Bob’s notice. He is one for psychological movies and likes to have lots of bodies in his books. So Bob, how about bodies on Merry’s floor?
June 5th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I know NOTHing!!!
June 5th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
And you know what is really funny?
ok- it is to me. Merry really DOES know nothing as she has never even seen us. ( Can you just imagine the poor unsuspecting people we shepherd along from the airport?)
Yes, CB’s get together to harvest organs every so often, so we figured Merry’s was a great new place. Thus “Bodies On The Floor.” Could be the title of our next CB write a novel through blog posting.
Merry, COULD get embarrassing?- that is a given.
I buy books based first on authors I like…Then read gobs of reviews and go check others out. I don’t buy very many spur of the moment books…..Just wait very impatiently for my favorites to write more.
Books done yet?
.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
“Bodies on the Floor”–sounds like a crime novel, or a new (read another)reality show about dancing. Or an episode of CSI.
As for the blog special I already have “Bodyguard of Lies” but would be interested in “Lost Girls” if there are extra copies of it lying around anywhere. I’d love to own a copy.
Hey Bob, do you receive any copies of your books in the French translations? Or Italian? I would so love to buy some of those. I wonder what the French words are for “hitman” or “assassin.” Le hitman?
June 6th, 2008 at 6:08 am
I think the French word for assassin is assassin.
Slave Driver wrote: You have quality time at JH at the end of the month.
ThankyouSOverymuch, SD, you just know this has been bugging me. I’ve been racking my brain — which BTW is not a good thing to do to my poor tired acronym-challenged brain — and I have no idea what JH is. I figure probably it’s not Jenny’s House or Jane Haddam or Junior Hopscotch. C’mon, SD, give it up.
[Merry, I tried to warn you . . . ]
June 6th, 2008 at 7:12 am
BCB Says: I think the French word for assassin is assassin.
And what does it say about my poor brain that I’m finding that sentence so hysterically funny?
Actual thing I just heard:
How do you say “enjoy your meal”?
We say “bon appetit.”
Oh, really? We say the same thing in English!
June 6th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Je ne sais rien… rien!
June 6th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
JH?
Johns Hopkins?
Jackson Hole?
June 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
C’est vrai, Merry, tu es tres bete. Pauvre petite!
And since Slave Driver hasn’t answered me, I’ll just have to make something up. It’s okay, I’m good at this. It has to be something Bob would consider “quality” time, so the “J” word has to be jump. Oh, I know! Jump House. No, probably it’s a different kind of jump. Though I’d pay money to see Bob in a Jump House.
Hmmm. Maybe Jumpmaster. And not house . . . Headquarters. That’s it! JH is Jumpmaster Headquarters. Oh hell. The CBs are invading the PNW and Bob is going to throw himself out of a plane. No wait, the jumpmaster is the one who throws other people out of the plane.
Okay, pay attention you all. If you do meet up with Bob and he offers you a ride to the airport — maybe not such a good idea.
June 7th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Sorry @ BCB. I’ve been off slave driving, trying to make cash to fund my families entertainment while I’m sitting in workshops, shifting from cheek to cheek with R.A.S.
(Jackson Hole.Ding, ding, ding, Merry is the winner!)
But I get to go to camping at Yellowstone and Grand Tetons first, so I’ll be identifiable by my smell, I’m sure.
Bob needs to post an engagement calendar. They you all can pencil in the summer solstice thing.
And oddly enough, I pick books depending on their title (Intersting? or Bleh!) and cover. I find I shy away from certain ones, doesn’t matter what the content. And I have no idea why, except maybe chronic short attention span.
Oh, look over there, something shiny…
June 7th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Bcb-why is Merry a beast? Bete in French is beast although you didn’t have the accent over the e so maybe I’m wrong.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming? Can I come? I’ve never been there.
June 7th, 2008 at 6:24 am
No furries, Slave Driver, I always enjoy a chance to make stuff up. Though now you’ve used another mysterious set of letters and I’m wondering about R.A.S. and what all that shifting might entail. So to speak. [*snort* — hope your A is not feeling so R after a nice break camping.]
So Bob is going to throw people out of planes over Jackson Hole? Huh. Well, it should be a nice view on the way down. Do you suppose airlines charge extra if a passenger brings their own parachute?
I’m pretty sure one of the Rules of Bob Land is: Don’t Engage. I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for an engagement calendar.
Sorry, Scope, I couldn’t figure out how to make those accent things. I’ll try it here and see if it works. Merry keeps telling us she knows nothing so I was just being polite and agreeing with her that she is très bête — very stupid. It would have been different if I had said, elle est une grande bête laide — that would have been calling her a large ugly beast. Which she isn’t. But she does have a lovely pet wolf.
June 7th, 2008 at 9:59 am
R.A.S.= Restless A** Syndrome
June 7th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Bob - just read Lost Girls for first time and really enjoyed it. Hope to see more action out of the Cellar if that’s possible.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Enfin je crois que mon chien est un loup.
(I’m starting to believe my dog is a wolf)
June 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
LOL, SD. I got two out of three correct. My R word was, um, not that one.
Oui, Merry, je suis très persuasif.
(Let’s hope Bob doesn’t decide he’s the official Delta Airlines Jumpmaster.)
June 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Well, Bob, I tried to comment from work, but it went into spam as all my comments from work now do.
So, I may have mentioned that I’m puzzled that you didn’t know that the PNW was cold… and overcast… I believe it’s been alluded to.
So possibly moving again - to where? Don’t even think about Californa. I live here - trust me - don’t come here. I”m a third generation Californian and I’m even looking to move just can’t do it until I retire.
And all of you who are speaking French, habla Espanol? (I would do the tilda over the “n”, but don’t know how.)
“Jumpmaster” **SNORT**
June 9th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Does Bob “jump” at JH? If so, I think I’m going to be in line next year to go there. That’s something I haven’t tried, and maybe could talk my way into it. Somehow I doubt that would be possible. Anyway, it would certainly cure someone of any R.A.S–probably for an entire year! (Love these new Acronyms!!)
Anyone else jump?
Ditto with USMA92 about hoping to see more action out of the Cellar.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I’ve been following this blog for a while now and have posted just a couple of times over at Jenny’s (ever since I read both DLD and Agnes I was very enthusiastic about finding out infor about the authors and thanks to google here I am )but I just read that Lou didn’t know how to put the tilda over the N.
And since I am hispanic and have lived in the US for about 7 years I have learned some tricks for these kind of things.
To do this “ñ” you have to hold the ‘Ctrl’ key while punching the code 164 in the Num lock pad release and voila.
OH and if you want to use the capital ‘Ñ’ you have to punch 165 instead.
Sorry if I deviated from the subject but I just had to tell you.
Looking forward to the next book Bob and the collaboration.
Oh have they given you the Jennifer Aniston news yet?
June 10th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Isn’t today Bobday? Comes right after Monday, right? That’s what I thought.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
If you think Helen Mirren is hot in “Shadowboxer”, check out this YouTube clip from “The Passion of Ayn Rand” (DEFINITELY NSFW - unless you have headphones and your boss can’t see your computer!!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuzbW9unZYk.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
LOL: Sorry - here is the CORRECT YouTube address for that Ayn Rand clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuzbW9unZYk