Soon I Will Be Invincible

Translating one genre into another is difficult, and more often than not, you end up turning off the fans of genre one while failing to capture genre two. Instead of crossover appeal, you have lost an audience. This is especially true with cult genres like comic books. Comic fans are very protective, and wary of outsiders. Likewise, the general reading public gives little weight to the literary merit of the ‘Funny Papers.’
In the last few years however, comics have attracted the talents of established fiction writers like Brad Meltzer and Greg Rucka. The comic fans have found their way to sample fiction works by these authors and fiction fans have begun to pick up their comic work.
Austin Grossman has taken this a step further in Soon I Will Be Invincible, his debut novel. A work of fiction with no interior art, the story is none the less a perfect comic caper. Invincible is the story of Dr. Impossible, the world’s greatest villain, and the superhero team known as The Champions. Grossman employs a first person narrative, but from opposing sides; half the novel is told from Dr. Impossible’s perspective, while the other is told from the point of view of Fatale, the newest member of The Champions. Zigzagging back and forth between the two, the plot is tight, and fast paced, sucking the reader in from page one. The action sequences are superb and show Grossman’s command of language.
Grossman’s secret weapons, however, are his characterizations. People with ridiculous names like Damsel and Blackwolf (and crazy outfits to match) are revealed to be all too human, with inner conflict, socialization issues and occasionally a sense of humor. Damsel and Blackwolf come from the Fleetwood Mac School of Relationship Adjustments. They are divorced (from each other) and still fighting on the same team, while they try to adjust to working with someone you don’t want to be around anymore. While there aren’t any Top 40 hits penned by them, the duality of their situation does permeate the exchange they have, and create a more realistic portrait of both of them. These are the things that will appeal to the general reader, a great story told through a fast paced plot and excellent characterization.
Invincible does not abandon its comic roots though. Many comic fans will rejoice in the plot itself (the team is trying to thwart Impossible’s latest scheme to take over the world) and the wry wit comics are becoming known for. Without spoiling a major scene, there is a hilarious exchange between Impossible and his arch-nemesis CoreFire.
A tough balancing act is accomplished as the novel winds to its inevitable conclusion. The reader cannot help but marvel at how completely Grossman has created a new world. It’s kind of jarring to come back to reality when it is all over. That is the hallmark of a great writer. One hopes Soon I Will Be Invincible will usher in a slew of new books by Austin Grossman in the future.

Annie Wilkes, misunderstood fan

The first few times I saw 'Misery' Kathy Bates scared the living Hell out of me. This movie was scarier than any horror flick with monsters and goblins, because it was totally plausible in my mind. I would watch it over and over again, holding my breath while James Caan plotted his escape.

I recently watched it again just the other day, and my my my, how my feelings have changed. Some of the authors I have worked with have been so unpleasant, and condescending. I began to see Annie Wilkes in a new light.

About 4 months ago, I worked very hard on an author event here in town with a very famous author (We'll call him Paul Sheldon for continuity's sake). Paul was out promoting his new book which was due to debut on the New York Times Bestseller List at #5 that week. I got him interviewed by the local paper, and made sure the local literacy foundation would reap some benefit from his appearance. TV stations came to cover the story, and there were radio spots as well. I was also working on a handicap: The only time his schedule would allow the signing was on an afternoon in the middle of the week, when most people are at work.
The day of the signing came. He was gruff and not very personable. Showing up 45 minutes early, he got bored and left less than an hour into his signing scheduled time, as soon as there was a gap in the line. As you can imagine I was mortified. Almost as soon as he was out of the door, more people showed up with books in hand. I went right back to my office and called his publicist (who sounded like Lauren Bacall). I will say she was great, as was the head of publicity, who made a generous donation to the literacy foundation and sent a box of autographed books for them to use in fundraising.

It is now very easy for me to watch the 'hobbling' scene in 'Misery' because I can super-impose my own Paul Sheldon over James Caan's face...

The Write Stuff

There is someone out there I promised a post to last week and never got around to it. This is for you.

As bad as I am about updating, this seems to be a record and would indicate to you, my faithful reader(s) (I think there are two of you) that I have given up on writing. Quite the contrary. You see, in the past month, I have been offered some semi-professional assignments: professional, in that the pieces will end up in hard copy and web based publications, semi, in that there is little or no pay to any of them.

My first and most important assignment is for ForeWord magazine, a quarterly periodical aimed at bookselling and library professionals. I am very excited and nervous about this one. I have gone through several drafts and nothing seems right. I shall post the result after it is published.

I won't go into details on the next few assignments, but rest assured, I am writing. It just takes so much effort that by the time I get to the blog, I have run out of words.

That, and spending a weekend with Tommy Chong...more on that later

Welcome to Stepford

Well, it has finally happened. Tom and I are officially in debt. We moved into our new house a couple of weeks ago. It's in a very nice neighborhod. We picked this house for it's enourmous addition in the back, big enough to hold Tom's airplane and turn it into a workshop. I am happy because we will be converting the living room into a library for all of my books. We also got a lot of inspiration from a furniture shop here to do a very retro 60's style decor. I could not believe that Tom of all people went for it.
What is bizarre to me is how I have turned into a Stepford Wife. When the neighborhood came over to introduce themselves (all within a span of 30 minutes, It was either the Hummer, or the new Geigbors) I made sure to run inside and write down all the pertinent information that came up in conversation.
Kiwi and I go for a walk every night, and I always run into someone and chat for a bit. It's such a safe and inviting environment.
No matter what people say, it is nice to feel like you fit in, even if you have to become a suburban housewife to do it...

Wonder Woman gets a makeover

Wonder Woman was relaunched last week with a brand new issue #1, and a brand new character filling out the star spangled bathing suit and tiara.
Donna Troy, whom many comic fans knew as Wonder Girl, is taking over for the original Wonder Woman, Diana, who is MIA.
Most of the time, you are not supposed to mess with the original. I mean, do you ever see Superman as anyone but Clark Kent?
However, this turn of events has me a little excited. First of all, Allen Heinberg is writing the comic. For those of you who do not recognoze the name, Mr. Heinberg wrote for 'Sex and the City.' That is one of my favorite shows.
In the last few years, Donna has been a little more down to earth than Diana, and her occupation as a fashion photographer lends her to very SITC type writing. She is kind of the Carrie Bradshaw of the DCU. Can't you just imagine, Donna, Supergirl, Lightening Lass and Batgirl dishing men and penis envy over coffee?
There are many complaints about this turn of events, Diana being the only True Wonder Woman, and all that. I say as long as the story is good, why complain. DC Comics is not going to mess with an icon too much, and I am sure Diana will return as Wonder Woman in the not too distant future. Besides, Diana's mother Hippolyta, and another amazon by the name of Artemis have assumed the role at one time or another. (Not to mention Orana, the forgotten Pre-Crisis Redheaded Wonder Woman.)
It's about time she assumes the mantle of Wonder Woman, I hope she gets 'The Respect She Deserves.'

Diana and Drusilla

My sisters and I are very close, very close. Every childhood memory I have involves at least one of them. Sarah and I are almost the same age, although she would want me to let you know I am older. A lot of our time was spent together, playing at the house on Missouri street. It is funny, we moved around quite a bit as children, but Sarah and I always refer to this house as the one we lived in while growing up.
I was always just a tad bossy and hated having a tag along sister, so I would make her play the sidekicks or bad guys or leave us alone altogether. This made for some interesting confrontations with her...and my parents...and my grandparents. I actually was a very mean brother. However, I remember us having a lot of fun together. Maybe my brand of fun was not for everyone, but hey, we were together. We had such vivid imaginations, and loved to create things. Neither one of us is especially good at art, but we would color and paint and arrange like mad. I am surprised I am not an interior designer. Costumes were the greatest. Putting on plays and dressing up for people. I am surprised neither of us is a hooker.
So this is for Sarah, thanks for always being my Wonder Girl, even today...

Reach for the Stars

As a child, I wanted to grow up to be an astronaut. I read everything I could on space exporation, I had my own telescope, and used it so often. At Christmas, I would always get at least one book on astronomy. My room was decked out in models of Apollo spacecraft and one of each space shuttle.

On January 28, 1986, I was a student at Goddard Junior High in Midland, TX. I would spend my lunch hour in the library, like many other nerds. I walked into the library and the librarian, Mrs. Whitlaw, sat me down and told me the space shuttle had exploded during launch. The rest of the school day was a blur as I wanted to race home, which I did. I recorded and watched the news coverage over and over. This was my Kennedy Assasination. I was too upset to cry.
I had always enjoyed school, and even knew a teacher who had applied to the Teacher in Space program.
In my first real act of writing, I composed a poem for each of the astronauts. They were published in my hometown paper. In hindsight, they were atrocious, but what do you expect from an 8th grader?

As time went by, and I realized how much math I would have to take to even think about becoming an astronaut, I quietly gave up the quest. Instead, I began to look at my aunt Kathy, who was a teacher, for inspiration. Even though I got sidetracked, I have always felt a special affinity for teachers, and try to work with them whenever I can.

Every year, I would remember the Challenger Tragedy a little less, as life just kept on going. Yesterday, however, was the 20th anniversary of the launch and destruction of the shuttle, and you cannot turn on a tv without hearing something about it. As I write this, CNN is tunning a special on the life of Christa Mcauliffe.

All of the emotions of that 8th grader have come flooding back, and the sadness is palpable. I mourn for the loss of the astonauts, and feel for the families they have left behind.

Million Little Annoyances

Unless you live under a rock, you have been aware of the media storm surrounding James Frey and his 'memoir' A Million Little Pieces.
Thursday, Mr. Frey appeared on Oprah to discuss the fallout. I say discuss, however, a visibly upset Oprah did most of the talking. Oprah grilled him on every aspect of the book, while he squirmed under the scrutiny. Many times, she would have to ask the question more than once, and drag the answers out of him. And when she was done with Frey, Queen Oprah turned upon his publisher, Random House.

I watched this with the upmost interest, as the entire publishing industry would be affected by this. Like everyone else, I give props to Oprah for going live on national television and admitting she had been duped. (There are other public figures who could follow her example.)
I don't have much sympathy for Mr. Frey. I actually enjoyed watching him duck questions and get called on all the fabrications. Even after he got this hunk of fiction published as the truth, he had ample opportunity to come clean. When Oprah called to tell him his book was picked, when the Smoking Gun report appeared, On Larry King, or even on his own.

As a reader, I rely on the publishers and authors to tell me what is fact and what is not. I do not expect to go into the Biography section and get something fictional.

Look at Carrie Fisher. She writes autobiographical novels. We all know they are BASED on her life, but so much is expanded or embellished. However, we know that most of it is untrue, because they are placed in the fiction section. There were so many ways to avoid all of this.

You also have to take into account how many other writers will feel the consequence of these past few weeks. I am sure there will be great memoirs that will not get published, or authors that won't even get the time of day.

Which Stevie Nicks song are you?

Which Stevie Nicks song are you?

You're a fairly happy song. You're living life your way - and enjoying it.
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I'll let you know when I look like this

Thanks to some time on my hands, some guidance from a friend, and an invitation from some co workers, I started yoga tonight. Two of the girls from work go every Monday and they invited me to go along. I was very nervous about my first class, so naturally I hovered near the girls. Of course, they set up their yoga mats at the very front of the class.
Everyone always talks about how hard yoga is, and they are right. I was amazed at how well I did, but I know my limitations and didn't push myself too hard. There were times I had to just stop and go into fetal position to catch my breath. You may not move very fast, but you do get your heart rate up and work up a sweat. After the class, the instuctor and my two friends told me how well I did, which is a nice way to say they all realized I have a way to go...

In other news, John Grogan (Marley & Me) has agreed to do a signing in one of my stores in Kentucky next month. This is a major coup for me and my new position, as initially he was not booked. We were able to slide him in at the last moment. Anyone who is a dog person should read this book and meet him any time you can.

Gay Church

I have joined the Gay Church, or as most people call it, The Gym.

I joined on Saturday, but my first workout session with my trainer isn't until Wednesday, so I figured I could walk on the treadmill for the time being...you know, get my heart rate up and all that. So for the past three days I have donned my cute outfit, plugged in my MP3 player and done a brisk walk at a slight incline.
What I failed to realize was that the Gay Gene would kick in and I would start strutting in time to the new Madonna CD and wrap things up with the live version of the classic Nicks hit 'Standback' the Mother of All Treadmill Songs. I am sure the other patrons think I am doing a bad Naomi Campbell runway walk, but I tell you, it does get my heart racing.
I have also learned to keep my hands gripping the sides of the treadmill, lest I start gesturing like Lady Bunny after a few too many.
The gym is open very late, so I can go in at 8 or so, when it's not so crowded...I bet if I got in even later, I could actually sing along and no one would be there to notice!!

Go Fish

One thing you get used to with a birthday that falls between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the fact that it tends to get lost in the shuffle. If you recall from my Birthday Post, I had a great one this year, even though I was away from Tom. I had a cocktail party thrown in my honor as well as the rest of the stuff I won't bother recapping here.
So it was quite the surprise when I got to work today to find a tiara and wand on my desk, along with a card from all my coworkers. Several people were out of the office on my birthday and they wanted to make it up to me, along with Jackie and Sean, whose birthdays also fall into that nebulous Tween The Holidays area.
We each got a card and were treated to lunch at this fantastic little hole in the wall diner. On top of that, our boss, Ed let us take the afternoon off to go and see Brokeback Mountain, as it just opened here. I won't give my review here, suffice it to say I Loved It. I don't recommend seeing it with your entire office, but I am glad I was with a group of people.
After the picture, we went back to the office for cake, and I wore my tiara at my desk for the hour or two I stayed to work, which ended up being even more embarassing, as I forgot it was on when I went to the men's room. The wand must have been faulty, as
We felt very taken care of, and it came at a time when my ego needed stroking a little.

The night the Trojans failed

One of the drawbacks of being a Regional Book Buyer is the need to have some awareness of what's going on in Sports. I HATE sports. Yes, I know that is a stereotype, but it's true. Now, movies featuring scantily clad jocks, I am all over, but actual sports, nah.
So it was a mild surprise when I realized I had a professional stake in The Rose Bowl. You see, if The University of Texas won, I would be spending half my day buying 'instant' books on their win and sending them to our stores in Texas. Well, that was just too much work for me to handle. I had better things to do with my time, such as pester authors to do book signings and gossip.
Well, the USC Trojans put up a good fight, but were creamed by the Longhorns. Which was doubly upsetting when it dawned on me that the USC marching band figured prominently in the Fleetwood Mac video for 'Tusk.'

2006 Entertainment News

Instead of New Year's Resolutions, I thought I would share things I would like to see happen in the entertainment industry in 2006:

Olivia Newton John's boyfriend will be found. He has been secluded in an undisclosed location writing Zanna Don't, the sequel to Xanadu. (10 point for anyone who can relate this back to Queen Eye for the Straight Guy)

The Spice Girls will finally put aside their differences and do a reunion tour to benefit One.org. Tragically, Scary Spice, (the lone holdout on the abortive reunion for Live 8) is killed when her platform shoes break in mid jump, and she crashes into a speaker.

Bob, Ted, Carol and Alice will be remade with Brad, Vince, Angelina, and Jennifer, better known as Brangelina Vaugniston.

Patti LuPone and Betty Buckley will star in the stage musical 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane' for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Tempers will flare when they are replaced for the Broadway run by Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. (On a side note, the planned film version is scrapped when stars Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler clash over Barbra's desire to direct the film.)

Stevie will finally write her autobiography and go on a coast to coast booksigning tour. When she graces one of my stores with her presence, she is blown away by my abilities as an event coordinator. I am then hired as her personal assistant.

Christmas Post Mortem

Well, Christmas is officially over. I had a great time. Since high school, I have always held jobs requiring me to work the day before and after holidays. It was great to have a few days, especially since my entire family was congregating in Winters, TX (Home of the Blizzards, I kid you not)
My mother, her brother and sister were together for the first time in over 10 years, and it showed. They were happy and laughing most of the time. Being the only grandson and first born, I was basking in the glow of my grandmother's praise. So I was all good.
One thing about my family is how passive aggressive we all are. Every story, every accomplishment is always met with something better, all said with a smile. It is the weirdest situation, everyone is smiling, but you can almost tase the jealousy in the air.
Also, spouses never quite measure up. My grandmother is a hybrid of Doris Roberts a la Everybody Loves Raymond (with myself as Ray) and Shirley MacLaine in Postcards from the Edge. It makes for interesting times. When I wasn't playing with my niece and nephew, I was huddled with my sister, poking fun at everyone else and trying not to laugh during meals.
My grandmother means more to any of us than she will ever know, but she's way too sensetive to be teased, so we wait until she goes to bed and then it's a free for all with the Grandmother Impersonations. It doesn't translate to print, nor would anyone get the key phrases, so I will spare you. Needless to say it is a riot.

Happy Holidays

Before The Mitchum Sinclair Show goes on Christmas hiatus, I thought I would share a bit from the office Christmas party.

I love my coworkers, but we have a hard time committing to social events. Back in September we all talked about how great the office Halloween party was going to be and convinced Ryan to thow it at his house. Ryan went out of his way to decorate and supply the food and drink for the party.
The big night came and 5 of us showed up. Some of us were taken up by illness, some by emergency, but it was still upsetting.

This time around, Sylvia decided to throw a party at the very last minute. I mean, we got invited on Monday for a Wednesday night get together. This one went off great. Lots of people, food, and drink. I loved the frozen cosmos. I also cooked my mother's chicken enchilada casserole. Everyone brought something and it was all good.

We gathered around and played games fueled by the above mentioned cosmos, margaritas, wine and for some, tequila shots.

The best part was the White Elephant exchange, as we were told to bring the most horrible promotional item we were handed by a vendor. The winner was a roll of toilet paper covered with a glossy book cover. Really, what does that say about the hopes for your book?

Happy Holidays!

Just because I have not done anything blatantly Stevie related

Which Fleetwood Mac Song Are You?

I'm not telling...yet

John Spencer 1946-2005

John Spencer, who portrayed Leo McGarry on 'The West Wing' passed away early Saturday morning of a heart attack.
I could get on my high horse and talk about how great the West Wing is again and how sorely he will be missed, but other people have already done that, more eloquently than I could.
My heart goes out to Mr. Spencer's family and to the cast of the show. According to West Wing lore, they were all very close, even when not filming. I cannot express my condolances enough.

Leo and John were both incredible people who will be missed...

A Very Gay Day

Just when I thought I couldn't get any gayer...

One of my publishers sent me the nicest Christmas Gift Ever: Hardback copies of all 13 L. Frank Baum Oz books.

A very nice girl in on the Video Team is sending me The Judy Garland Show boxed set, with every episode of the show.

It's The Most Wonderful Time To Be Queer!!!!

Two posts in one day???!!!

I am sure Hell is freezing over. (Actually it is, it only got to 22 here today)

I have been home sick for the past two days, and I am getting cabin fever. But worse, I cannot get to sleep at a decent hour. I had decided to go back into the office tomorrow, so of course, I am sitting here wide awake at 2 am.

Why do these things happen?

This being sick has really put a damper on my Holiday Spirit.

(Yes, I said HOLIDAY. That is an inclusive word used to celebrate all winter holidays regardless of faith or lack thereof. Get over it Focus on the Family.)