Denniger Bolton, Wednesday 23rd guest on “Writing on the Air”

Tune in this Wednesday, 23rd of December on WRITING ON THE AIR, KOOP Radio 91.7 Austin, Texas, to meet local crime / mystery novelist, Denniger Bolton. So far, Denniger has written three novels in the the B.B. Rivers Mystery series, published by Javelina Books.

He has a fourth book coming out soon, and several new projects in development.

I’m very excited to have Denniger on the show, and I hope you will tune in to Koop Radio! You can also listen in from anywhere around the globe by going to Koop.org and clicking on the live stream. If you miss it, the show should be up on this website a few days after broadcast.

Among many other very interesting subjects, we will be talking with Denniger about his creative process. How he goes from a simple idea: two kids are murdered at Hippie Hollow, for example; to a full out romp of a mystery novel: Hippie Hollow, Murder on a Nude Beach which just happens to be his first novel in the B.B. Rivers Mystery Series.

We will also be discussing Mr. Bolton’s upcoming projects, a self-help book on how to self-publish & all the nitty gritty involved in the book business, and how Denniger goes about it.

That and so much more!

You should definitely tune in on Wednesday 23rd from 6 till 7 pm.

The hosts will be Mr. Dillon McKinsey, Dr. Dora Robinson, and myself, Francois Pointeau. Unfortunately, Lee K. Davis will not be present, as he will be traveling back home to visit his family for the holidays.

If you simply cannot wait till Wednesday to meet Denniger, you can meet him in person, as well as many other really cool authors such as Robert Stikmanz, Gary Kent, Gabrielle Faust, F.K. Needles, and many many more, at the Keep Austin Bizarre Christmas Bazaar. This starts today Friday 18th, and lasts till Monday 21th.

Francois Pointeau

PS: Don’t forget about New Belleville Press books: Beer Songs for the Lonely, by F.K. Needles, and Neurotica by Elva Maxine Beach. You can purchase them at one or more of these wonderful retailers: Alibris.com & Authorsbookshop.com & Book People & Oat Willies & Sonny’s Vintage, those last three in Austin, TX & Left Bank Books, in St. Louis, MO.

New Belleville Newsletter August 31th on Monday for once even though not two weeks ago I called this newsletter: Doing Thursday on Friday.

Guess I’m just irregular. That’s my nature, stick me with a schedule, and I screw it up. It’s been almost two weeks since I’ve published something here, and it’s definitely not that I have nothing to say, it’s just because I’ve been so darn busy.

For one, school is back in session. Nope, I’m not in school, though I’d like to be. It’s that  my day-job is directly tied to the university life. I manage a liquor / wine / beer store just a few blocks from the University of Texas campus, and boy oh boy, nobody told the kids we’re in a freaking recession! And like me, they like their beer! And thank goodness, because that means that for the time being, I have a job! Thank you kids!

We’re also right smack in the middle of fundraising at KOOP 91.7 radio. Monday morning, this morning, I answered pledge phones, stuffed envelopes with t-shirts, coffee mugs, and other gifts, and took a trip to the post office. Loved it! Every time I go to the radio station, I have a blast. What I love about volunteering / interning at KOOP 91.7 is that I’m taking part in something that is so cool: A community radio by volunteers for the whole community about the community we represent playing the most eclectic collection of music in Central Texas, interviewing local politicians, normal folks, writers, musicians, health experts, among so many others who are members of the community, and doing it both in English and in Spanish. And no commercials. It’s a great place, and I feel so lucky to be part of it!

For the last few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure to intern on the show Writing on the Air with Dillon Mckinsey, Lee K. Davis & Dr. Dora Robinson. Again, and I think I’ve said this a couple of time, I’ve been having a blast! Last week, I got to meet the 2010 Poet Laureate of Texas! Karla K. Morton is a great lady, a true Texan, and a very talented poet who writes not just for the sake of writing, but to say something, to make a difference, and to make people’s lives better by being honest and heartfelt talking about some very difficult subjects. She writes poems in a way we can understand. In her upcoming book, she talks about her experience with cancer. She talks about the experience candidly, never falling in easy cliches and pathos. She talks about herself and her body in a way that makes us all think about our human condition. And yes — here is my cliche — she makes us both laugh and cry, she’s not afraid of any emotion, and they’re all real. Her book is coming out very soon, and she will be touring Texas all of next year, reading from her work, and talking about poetry to students throughout Texas. Karla, if you’re reading this, it was an honor meeting you.

Writing on the Air is on every Wednesday from 6 to 7 pm Texas time. You can listen to it live on the radio if you’re in Austin, Texas, or you can go on KOOP 91.7 and stream it live. For the time being, we are not archiving our shows. We’re working on fixing that, and soon you will also be able to listen to us whenever you want.

If you listen to KOOP 91.7 radio, if you think community radio is important, if you believe in diversity, eclectic music, and again, diversity, diversity, and more diversity, then go on the website www.koop.org, or call us at the radio during your favorite show at  512-472-5667, and make a donation. Everything helps, no matter how small.

This coming Wednesday on Sept. 2, Lee K. Davis will be hosting Writing on the Air, and his guest will be Daniel Whittington. Daniel is a gifted singer and performer. You can check him out here for more information. Daniel will bring a guitar and perform in studio during the membership drive. 

Thanks! Have a great day, love life, be happy, and smile at your neighbor!

Francois Pointeau

PS: Don’t forget about New Belleville Press books: Beer Songs for the Lonely, by F.K. Needles, and Neurotica by Elva Maxine Beach. You can purchase them at one or more of these wonderful retailers: Alibris.com & Authorsbookshop.com & Book People & Oat Willies & Sonny’s Vintage, those last three in Austin, TX & Left Bank Books, in St. Louis, MO.

Thursday 6 August Newsletter

Well, it’s been one of those weeks. I’m one day late on this newsletter — and I’ll ad all the hyperlinks later today, I just want to get this out — It’s like doing Thursday on a Friday, it doesn’t quite fit. I’ve got a short story that’s coming along slowly but surely, so I’m happy about that. I did spill some beverage on my keyboard once again. The three Arrow keys and the right-handed Shift key are not working. Being that this is not the first time, I am now an expert, and am impatiently waiting for my brand new keyboard to arrive in the mail sooner than later.

The trip to St. Louis was unfortunately canceled – like I said, one of those weeks – Maxine is recovering from knee surgery. The good news is that she’s doing great, she’s off the crutches and is not even using a stick to walk. Up and down the stairs, is still a bit of a problem I hear. Elva Maxine Beach will be in tip-top form for her reading in Madison, Wisconsin on October 1st. Go say hello to Maxine on her facebook page or her website! I’m meeting with friends tonight, who happen to be driving to St. Louis this weekend, and they’ll be taking two boxes of books to Maxine. Thank You Wendy & Terry!

And I also missed “Writing on the Air” this last Wednesday! Dillon & Lee, I had to be at my day job, but I did tune in. Great show! Tune in next week on 91.7 between 6 and 7pm every Wednesday. This reminds me that KOOP is about to launch it’s biggest fundraiser of the year, so if you’re a listener, then don’t forget to donate! KOOP is also looking for gifts to give to it’s donors, such as cd’s et cetera. So if you’re a band and you want to get your music out, this is a good way to do it. You give a few of your cd’s to KOOP, and they donate them and talk about them, keep mentioning your name, live on radio! How cool is that?

On my bed-stand this week:

1) The Last Good Kiss, by James Crumley didn’t last much more than one day for me to completely devour! True pulp noir hardboil stuff. If that’s your game, then Crumley’s book will entertain you to no end. (I went to Half Price Books yesterday and bought two novels, the only two they had, by Crumley: The Final Country, and The Mexican Tree Duck, winner 1994 Dashiell Hammett Award.) Of course, being that I’m slightly obsessive, I am now going to have to read EVERY SINGLE book ever written by Crumley. This is one of the main reasons I never have any freaking money. You say: get a library card, dummy! Somehow, libraries and librarians have never done it for me. They give me the creeps. And all those books, it’s too overwhelming. When I’m in a library, the only thing I can think of is: How the hell am I ever going to read all those damn books! Plus, I always feel that the librarians are looking at me and judging me somehow, like they’re all a bunch of little church ladies, and they know damn well what I’m thinking about and yes, I will burn in hell forever – I grew up in a small West Texas town where every single book I wanted to read had been banished from said library, or so it seemed – I know all this is completely ridiculous. Knowledge of one’s personality disorders is a good thing, I guess … however, knowledge is not all it’s cracked up to be, if you don’t do anything about it. Maybe … just maybe if libraries had a beer counter, I’d frequent them more often.

2) Gosdhome, by Robert Sheckley … no disappointments there either. Satire. Kitsch. Good Cheese. SF that’s not a Space Opera, and that fits within the genre about as good as Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. does, or Jonathan Swift. I don’t know if it makes sense, but it has that 1950’s feel to it, yet he wrote it towards the end of his life in the 90’s. Some poor loser calls up some minor gods to get him out of a bad business deal he signed up on … and all hell breaks loose! Another one of those authors that I need to read ENTIRELY.

3) Vurt, by Jeff Noon, has been sitting on my desk for a couple of weeks now, and has finally made its way to my bed-stand. John, my roommate, gave me this book a few weeks ago, and said that I absolutely needed to read this book. My friend Dave told me the same thing a few months ago … so I guess that I shall plunge into Vurt this week … though it’s going to be hard to pull me away from Sheckley and Crumley. It looks like I’m into authors who’s name end in LEY these days.

That’s it for this week! Short and Sweet!

Be Happy, Love Life, Have a good cup of Java!

Peace,

Francois Pointeau

PS: And of course, don’t forget to check out New Belleville Press books, Beer Songs for the Lonely, by F.K. Needles, and Neurotica by Elva Maxine Beach. You can purchase them at one or more of these wonderful retailers: Alibris.com & Authorsbookshop.com & Book People & Oat Willies & Sonny’s Vintage, those last three in Austin, TX & Left Bank Books, in St. Louis, MO.

 

Thursday 30 July Newsletter

Last night on KOOP radio 91.7 FM Writing on the Air was plenty of fun. I was on, reading from my book Beer Songs for the Lonely published by New Belleville Press. Lee K. Davis & Dr. Dora Robinson interviewed me. Dillon McKinsey chipped in while working the board, and brought quite a few very interesting points up.

First of all, I started with Looking for a job as per Lee’s request. Then I followed through with Fast-order Chef. Third and lastly, I read “The man who snores.” Unfortunately, KOOP doesn’t have the capacity to archive their shows yet. So there is no recording of it. Hopefully, you tuned in! And if not, give me a call, and I’ll read whatever poem you want for you over the phone.

Dillon brought up the interesting point that when he writes a poem, he knows exactly where he’s going and what he’s trying to say. I’m the exact opposite. I have no clue. Lee was asking me what my writing process is, and it’s quite labor intensive, I have to admit. I have a tendency to write in my journal, go back through my journal and finding an idea that I like, then re-writing / playing with it, and coming up with a first draft. From then on, I write and rewrite way too much, often time putting the poem aside for months before coming back to it. The important thing, though, and I didn’t mention any of this on the air. I’m thinking about it because of what Dillon said. Basically, I have no clue what the poem is about throughout most of the writing process. If I try to write something about a particular subject, what comes out is usually trite. My main purpose is to put down emotions, particular instances in life, and what my feelings are about it all … trying to be as honest about it as possible … and that seems to come through when I don’t think about it too much, when I let it come out in totally un-related entries, days or months apart. This is the way I work. Mostly. Not only have most of my poems come about in this manner, my collection also did. It took seven years to write, and during every single one of those years, I had no clue that I was writing a collection of poems called Beer Songs for the Lonely. I thought I was trying to figure out what the hell I needed to do to write a collection of poems called: “From There Onwards.” It never happened. I never figured it out. I kept writing notes and notes and notes. I kept writing poems. I kept writing the wrong poems for that particular collection. I kept thinking of what I needed to complete this collection, and I could never get there. Finally, I gave up. Then … a friend of mine told me that I should put a collection together with what I had. I had never told her about “From There Onwards” and I came up with a title for the collection she was talking to me about, Beer Songs for the Lonely and that’s how it came together. And it’s perfect for what it is. Thanks to my friend Claire in Paris.

On my bed stand these days:

1) Well, I’ve read all three of the currently available books from the “Hidden Land of Nod” series by Austin author Robert Stikmanz … and I’m left wanting more.[Entry Update: Re-reading here, this sentence could be taken wrong ... "left wanting more" in a positive way, as in: I want another slice of that pie, please, because it's so darn good!] It’s as if, in the last few weeks that I’ve been reading Rob’s book, that I’ve developed a relationship with his characters … and I want this relationship to keep going on! Darn it! However, Rob tells me to be patient, so I will be. And when the fourth book comes out, you can bet your knickers that I’ll be the first person in line! I’m hooked and I want MORE!

2) My friends John & Deborah had me over for diner last week. We had some bad ass wine, some even more bad ass food – Deborah is an amazing cook and for that evening she prepared some Corn Chowder … yippee doodle dee! I want more of that too! It’s like, I like eating, and I like eating darn good food! And I want more freaking Corn Chowder – Deborah, if you’re reading this, know that I will bring more wine if you fix more food! Is that a deal? It was movie night. John, movie aficionado, picked “Apocalypse Now” and on his and Deborah’s new 46 inch flat screen tv, it was just AMAZING … anyway, John is very well aware of the fact that I am a big fan of Film Noir, of Polar, and of Hard-boil Fiction … so he lent me this book: The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley … I just started today. I was sold in the first few lines of the book. Listen to this:

“When I finally caught up with Abraham Trahearne, he was drinking beer with an alcoholic bulldog named Fireball Roberts in a ramshackle joint just outside of Sonoma, California, drinking the heart right out of a fine spring afternoon.

“Trahearne had been on this wandering binge for nearly three weeks, and the big man, dressed in rumpled khakis, looked like an old soldier after a long campaign, sipping slow beers to wash the taste of death out of his mouth. The dog slumped on the stool beside him like a tired little buddy, only raising his head occasionally for a taste of beer from a dirty ashtray set on the bar.”

… like … who wouldn’t want to read this book after those few lines … like, What The Fuck!!!! This is GOOOOOOOOOOD Shit! Lets hope he can keep it up for all 244 pages.

3) I will definitely get back to Robert Sheckley this week.

In other news, I’m driving to St. Louis this Friday. The main purpose of me driving there is to take several boxes worth of books to Elva Maxine Beach, my friend, and author of Neurotica, published by New Belleville Press in 2008. She’s run out of books. Knock on wood, my car will not only take me there, but will bring me back! I’ve spent a bit over 1700 bucks in the last 5 weeks, getting my beautiful junker fixed up. The mechanic promised me that it should arrive in St. Louis, and that I should be back in Austin no problem. Though it’s kind of scary. Since I brought it back yesterday morning, I’ve been hearing lots of noises that I don’t think were there before I dropped it off Monday morning.

Nathan Christ, friend, author & filmmaker, came into the liquor store yesterday – that’s my day job – and said hello! I’m still working on reading his manuscript. Nathan is working on a documentary film about the music scene in Austin, and how it’s evolved / devolved in the last few years of Austin’s huge expansion. Can’t wait to see the movie. He says he’s still knee deep in editing.

Don’t forget to check out New Belleville Press’s books, Beer Songs for the Lonely, by F.K. Needles, and Neurotica by Elva Maxine Beach. You can purchase them at one or more of these wonderful retailers: Alibris.com & Authorsbookshop.com & Book People & Oat Willies & Sonny’s Vintage, those last three in Austin, TX & Left Bank Books, in St. Louis, MO.

If you want our books but you’re not in either of those two cities, and/or you do not want to buy them online, or maybe you just want to see them on your independent bookseller’s shelves, then tell me about it: pointeau@newbellevillepress.com & tell your indi bookseller about us. Whatever their computers might say, we ARE NOT out of print. We just don’t have distribution yet.

Get a FREE New Belleville Press t-shirt & a FREE New Belleville Press koozie of your choice!

All you have to do is get our books on your favorite indi retailer’s shelves – doesn’t necessarily have to be a bookstore, and the retailer has to buy at least four copies altogether – and we send you a FREE t-shirt & koozie!

Come back next week, and read about my trip to St. Louis & my visit with Elva Maxine Beach! [Post update: the trip was unfortunately canceled. But we'll try again in September. Maxine: Get better quick!]

Peace and Love from Austin, Texas!

Francois Pointeau

 

Looking for a job

Tonight I’ll go search for work
at Galway’s on the quay
by the river
where maybe I’ll find a good song
to chant like a sailor on leave
by the harbor.

I got three dogs tattoed on my shoulder
eating each other’s tails
in a circle
that’s my life they humbly represent
the canine trinity going around
for eternity.

Tonight I’ll go search for peace
in a warm dark mug of beer
and pretzels
where maybe I’ll find that a dog’s life
isn’t such a sad song
after all.

 

copyright 2009 © F.K. Needles — all rights reserved

This is a selection from the book “Beer Songs for the Lonely” published by New Belleville Press, as featured on KOOP 91.7 radio show “Writing on the Air” and available in beautifully bound paper-back. You can buy it here; on this website, or you can go to Alibris.com, Authorsbookshop.com, Book People in Austin, Texas, or Sonny’s Vintage also in Austin, Texas.

Thursday 16 July Newsletter

Michael Gilmore, was the featured guest on Writing on the Air, KOOP radio 91.7 with Dillon McKinsey and Lee K. Davis, and myself as the apprentice / intern. Michael, world traveler and poet, in the tradition of Blaise Cendrars, is the author of Restless Astronomy, a collection of poems published in August 2008 by Dalton Publishing. As usual, we had a good time. Dillon put me on the spot a couple of times … that’s okay, gotta learn somehow … and I don’t think I blundered too badly, though there might have been a second or so of dead time. I should have read Michael’s book BEFORE the show. Though hearing, and being part of the show, and meeting Michael, I’m certain that I’ll get around to reading “Restless Astronomy” very soon indeed. Michael has a real tact for catching the moment in a just a few lines, and for making that moment musically pleasing to the hear … easier said than done. “Madame Pissarro Sewing,” one of the poems he read on the air, and available in the excerpts (PDF file) on page 6, is a perfect example of that.

Next week, please join us again, we will be talking with Brad Whittington!

And last night after the radio show, I got in the car and sped over to Book People for Gary Kent’s book release party! And somehow, even though I left before he did, Michael Gilmore beat me to it! Austin’s lit crowd was present for Gary’s party. I saw Robert Stikmanz, caught a glimpse of Ric Williams, saw Denniger Bolton for a second, ran into Gabrielle Faust … and there were countless of other fun people. There was music beforehand, and then Gary read three excerpts from his book. Afterwards, a line formed for Gary to sign books … a line that kept going and going and going. Great job, Gary! You can buy his book, Shadows and Light, Journeys With Outlaws In Revolutionary Hollywood at Book People as well as at your usual online booksellers. 

On my bed-stand … not much this week. It’s been a tough week for me. Car broke down on Saturday while driving on I35 to a friend’s house. Scared the living day lights out of me. My car wouldn’t go faster than 50 mph and I had to pull over on the shoulder, while other drivers where speeding past me at thundering speeds. I had to cancel a trip to my parents for Sunday, where I was to visit with my sister and her partner, in town for a few days. Finally got my car back from the mechanic this morning. If I am to look on the bright side of all this, I think I’ve just met an honest mechanic! I like him, and I like his staff, and I didn’t feel as if they were trying their hardest to suck every single penny I could muster. Long story short: I’ve had my head elsewhere the last few days.

1) Reading the “Hidden Land of Nod” series by Rob Stikmanz, and still loving it (Trying to stick to Rob’s request to only read one chapter at a time. He wrote the book to be published as a serial, though that didn’t happen, he feels it’s best enjoyed one little bit at a time. Being that he’s the author, he should know. Having a hard time not cheating.) Met up with Rob at Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy on Saturday where Rob was holding a book-signing. I purchased the third book in the series, and got to sit down and talk with Rob for a bit.

Talking about serials … I’ve been working on a story that I might start publishing on this site as a serial. I am writing it now … and I will not start publishing until I have a few entries written. The only rule that I’m sticking to is: Each entry is 1000 words or less. The working title is: “The Heads of Dr. Constantine or The Adventures of Mighty Bob.” 

We need writers! I cannot pay. It would be great if it were otherwise, but it’s not. Maybe I’ll win the lottery? If you feel you have something that is appropriate to publish on this site, send me an email: pointeau AT newbellevillepress DOT com. Looking for fiction, poetry, articles about writing, writers, publishing, publishers, bookstores, books, bookstore people … et cetera, anything related to writing … even if only remotely. 

That’s it for this week! See you next week!

Don’t forget to check out New Belleville Press’s books, Beer Songs for the Lonely, by F.K. Needles, and Neurotica by Elva Maxine Beach. You can purchase them at one or more of these wonderful retailers: Alibris.com & Authorsbookshop.com & Book People & Oat Willies & Sonny’s Vintage, those last three in Austin, TX & Left Bank Books, in St. Louis, MO.

Have a great day! Don’t forget to enjoy yourself!

Francois Pointeau

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