Monthly Archives: January 2013

What It’s Like to Read at Powell’s

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

This essay is a more personal response to our Jan. 7 Brave on the Page event at Powell’s City of Books. I close my eyes. The lighting is that good golden light, the kind of evening glow that’s hard to photograph, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Community, Reading, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Interview: Author Chris Bournéa on Identity, Place and Dialogue

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

Chris Bournéa has written an epic feel-good novel. The Chloe Chronicles is a modern-day fairytale that spins story after story about the lovely Chloe Bareaux, daughter of a single, hard-working, style-conscious Parisian mom, and Chloe’s best friend, the boy-crazy Gigi … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fiction, Seven Questions | Tagged , , | 34 Comments

The Next Big Thing

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

Two dear blogging friends, Jo Eberhardt at The Happy Logophile and Anthony Lee Collins at U-town, tagged me for The Next Big Thing. I am excited to report that answering these questions shifted my brain back into novel-writing gear. (It has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Plot, Writing | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Powell’s Top Fives for 2012

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

I’ve always loved Powell’s Books in Portland. In fact, I moved here, sight unseen, in 2001, after reading about Powell’s and figuring a place with a giant independent bookstore surely would be a good place for a writer to live. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Community, Espresso Book Machine, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

What Makes a Good Rejection? (With Free Books for Prizes!)

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

One of the unexpected consequences of starting a micro press and opening for submissions is needing to create a form rejection letter. We’re getting really wonderful queries so far, but since we’re only planning to publish two or three books each year, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Community, Contest, Fiction, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Whee!

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

Thanks to everyone for your support and suggestions about handling my nerves yesterday! Once I got to Powell’s and saw friends and family, neighbors and fellow writers, I relaxed into the experience and had a marvelous time. I’ll post more … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Community, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Quick: How Do You Handle Nerves?

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

I’m getting surprisingly nervous today, as we approach this evening’s Powell’s reading. I’ve read in public before–not tons of times, but enough to know I can get up on stage, or behind the podium, look out at friends and family … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

Dream Come True

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

These days, when you hear authors talking about the dream-come-true scenario of getting an agent, or a publishing deal, the dream isn’t always what they expected. Times have changed significantly. Advances, for instance, I was told earlier this week by … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Reading, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments