VintageGent’s Menswear Daily

Mark Twain…Zombie Link?

Tina Kubula sent me a post via Twitter from Bryan’s Book Blog where he reproduced the The 50 Best Author vs. Author Put-Downs of All Time from Examiner Michelle Kerns. Pouring down the list, I was someone edified to see so many authors raise an eyebrow to Pride and Prejudice. While the book was certainly a refreshing change to fair contemporary to the writing, being that Elizabeth doesn’t instantly fall into the arms of the charming Mr. Darcy by page ten, much of my senior English honors class noisily slammed our books down after the final page and said, “Um….so? Why couldn’t they just get on with it.”  Clearly, our raging hormones, despite our bookworm tendencies weren’t mature enough for the nuance.

At criticism #31, I stumbled past Mark Twain’s opinion of the said work.

31. Jane Austen, according to Mark Twain (1898): I haven’t any right to criticize books, and I don’t do it except when I hate them. I often want to criticize Jane Austen, but her books madden me so that I can’t conceal my frenzy from the reader; and therefore I have to stop every time I begin. Every time I read Pride and Prejudice, I want to dig her up and hit her over the skull with her own shin-bone.

I can’t help but think his comment inspired “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” to be written, had only I found this prior to mash-up author Seth Grahame-Smith did.

An Ode to Nikolas Tesla

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of JonasHyde.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

When the wind howls and the streeets are, well….slushy (not too romantic, huh? I mean “romantic” in the Mary Shelley sense, not in the Days of Our Lives sense), I like to sit in the chair with a good book. I fancy the creaky work of Poe, but occasionally when I am running this way and that, I will read Bible Verse or classical narrative poetry, as I can feel completely satisfied. There is a beginning, middle and an end for my soul to ponder that it does not receive from reading the short passages in Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader.

No offense to the great folks who compile the “UJBR.” There is a lot of interesting stuff in there, don’t get me wrong. However, the material in UJBR doesn’t lend towards philosophical pondering that extends through my daily walk or work.

Try this on for size:

Always it was light I yearned to provide,
radiance which would push back the darkened stillness,
and tear down the fear that lived within,
the scared child of perpetual illness,
who no longer wished to run and hide.

Recently, I discovered the work of Jonas Hyde. He is a real, live, breathing dude. In other words, if you read his stuff, you are giving support and encouragement to someone rather than just supporting the estate of someone who is no longer with us.  Granted, I think its great for children and great grandchildren to get feedback about their relative’s work, but most of the folks I read tragically died in a gutter with no heirs, or they had dozens of kids but that was eight generations back and they are now a trivia question rather than a memory in someone’s life.

The passage is from O’ this Life (The final words of Nikola Tesla), written by Mr. Hyde.  You can check out the thrilling conclusion at his eponymous website.  Get your brandy snifter, slippers and smoking jacket ready.  Oh, and your laptop.  Until a book comes out.

Father’s Day Gift Idea #2: Cobwebby Mysteries

S.S. Van Dine was quite a colorful character. Lore tells us that he fell gravely ill for two years, and wrote the Philo Vance mysteries while bedridden. His biography tells us that he was actually bedridden because of a cocaine addiction that he was under the grips of or needed to kick. At any rate, he was confined and read many crime stories, hence the novels were born smack dab in the art deco era!

This set of mystery novels was lovingly collected by a fan back in the day. It appears that they bought each Philo Vance novel as it was released. In the novels, author Van Dine appears as a Watson like character to the bon vivant Vance. Philo Vance was a fencer, archer, connoisseur of Chinese ceramics, polo, fine cuisine, and student of crime history.

This set is available on Etsy. They would be a great gift alone, or pair them with slippers or a robe, a magnifying glass, or Dad’s favorite kind of coffee. They would look very fashionable in a bookshelf or on a side table, just as well as they would do being actually read.  Imagine that…actually reading them!  The collection includes: The “Canary” Murder Case, The Greene Murder Case, The Bishop Murder Case, Gracie Allen Murder Mystery, The Garden Murder Case, The Kidnap Murder Case.

To get a closer gander at them, click HERE.

You Should Write a Book! Really.

Many of you have shared your hobbies and intersts with me. I am amazed and thrilled about the knowledge of many of my readers. The compliment, “You should write a book!” might be something you hear often.  The writing part may be intriguing to you, but then there is that whole mess of getting the darn thing published, much less read. One of the options has always been self-publishing, and then you make about fifty cents a book, if that.  Most times, you end up losing money and have a basement full of books that you cannot sell.

I just came across a press release about an architect that was rejected by publishing houses, and then turned around and had more success than he would have had with a large publisher:

Self Publishing Author Earns Over $100,000 in Just Six Months with Outskirts Press
May 12th, 2009. Denver, CO and Irvine, CA – Outskirts Press, the fastest-growing full-service self publishing and book marketing company, today announced that one of its authors has earned over $100,000 in author royalties in six short months.

Gang Chen, the self published author of Planting Design Illustrated and LEED AP Exam Guide, will receive a first-quarter royalty check in the amount of $77,611.88 for books sold between January-March 2009. This follows a previous royalty check of $33,679.56 that Chen recently received from Outskirts Press for books sold between October-December 2008.

“Earning $111,000 in six months is an amazing accomplishment for any author, self-published or otherwise,” Outskirts Press CEO Brent Sampson commented. “Of course, publishing with Outskirts Press certainly helps. We extend heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Chen, and also want to thank him for graciously granting us permission to publicize his success.”

Gang Chen, an expert in the field of architecture, with a master’s degree from USC and over 20 years of professional experience, was among the top-five performing Outskirts Press authors in the 4th quarter of 2008 and then went on to double his royalties for the first quarter of 2009. When notified of his earnings, Chen responded, “I’m in the process of publishing my next book in the LEED Exam Guide series through Outskirts Press, along with a book on architecture, so I hope to break this record soon.”

After contacting hundreds of traditional publishers for his first book Planting Design Illustrated, Chen finally landed a deal with one major publisher, only to discover that he was dissatisfied with the substantial revisions they were suggesting. He promptly cancelled the traditional publishing contract and decided to publish the book himself. He compared various publishing options and chose Outskirts Press. “Their services do not end after the book is published,” Chen stated. “They continue to provide excellent marketing advice, as well.”

Outskirts Press understands that marketing is a huge part of an author’s success and, unlike most self-publishing firms, offer promotional advice and marketing services extending for years after publication. States CEO Brent Sampson, “Successful authors have the potential to separate themselves from the pack by publishing with a full-service, custom publishing company that provides support before, during, and after publication.” For a partial view of the marketing services that are available for Outskirts Press authors, visit http://outskirtspress.com/marketing.php .

There has been a book that has rattled around in my head for some time. In fact, pen is to paper and I have most of it finished. This is motivating me to finish it and get it out there. Not sure if anyone will latch on to it, but this story gives me some hope that if I decided to release it, it won’t be a long and grueling process. In fact, what gives me writer’s block the most is the fear of rejection. As long as I edit it well and am willing to pay the fee, I won’t be. Many people wonder why one has to pay a fee. Well, even setting up a book costs money. Plus, if you were to be represented by a large publishing house, you would probably have to spend even more money just to get yourself in line for a meeting with them. Lunches, a new suit, and other materials all add up very quickly.

I tossed my email address in to receive more information, and I am reading the downloads now. Have you tried Outskirts Press or any other self-publishing service? If so, let me know what you think!

Most Requested Out of Print Books

BookFinder Journal published a list of the most clamored for out of print books of 2008.  It interests me much, as there are a few vintage and VERY vintage books on this list that are still being widely requested.  What is your favorite out of print book?  Here is America’s list:

1. Once a Runner: A Novel (1978) by John L. Parker, Jr.
I have never heard of this one, but I will have to see what makes it number one.

2. Sex (1992) by Madonna
Maybe Madge is reading this and will see how she can make another million by having it reissued, unless it is being requested by fifteen year old boys disguising their voices over the phone when calling the bookstore, and cannot really purchase it. Or maybe that’s a persona that she would like to leave behind. Probably. She never does “reruns.”

3. Promise Me Tomorrow (1984) by Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts does not want this reprinted because she thinks it is kind of “meh.” Like the Elmore Leonard film that has been shelved for 2 1/2 years but is being released because Mickey Rourke is suddenly hot again. Though maybe it SHOULD have been released at the time because Diane Lane is also in it and she was nominated a few years ago. Leonard was interviewed recently and he and his wife enjoyed it, but thought the guy who played Diane Lane’s husband was “meh.”

4. Murmurs of Earth: The Voyager Interstellar Record (1978) by Carl Sagan
Space! Millions and Millions of Stars! Crap. I used to have this book I think, a long long time ago. Or maybe not.

5. Carpentry for Beginners: How to use tools, basic joints, workshop practice, designs for things to make (1900) by Charles H. Hayward
If anyone has an extra copy I would love to have or borrow this. I am intrigued how an antique book like this is still considered one of the best.

6. A Lion Called Christian (1972) by Anthony “Ace” Bourke and John Rendall
Read more about this one HERE. Coming soon (again) to a bookstore near you.

7. Comanche Heart (1991) by Catherine Anderson
The reissue of the prequel went to the top of the best seller list.

8. Legally Sane (1972) by Jon K. Hahn with Harold C. McKenney
An international killing spree.  Must be a heartwarmer.

9. Woodworker’s Essential Shop Aids and Jigs; Original Devices You Can Make (1992) by Robert Wearing
Don’t buy tools…make em.

10. The Principles of Knitting: Methods and Techniques of Hand Knitting (1989) by June Hemmons Hiatt
With the kazillion knitting books out there, this one seems to be the “must have.”

So there you have it. How many of these books have you own, read or heard of…or want?

Life Magazine Returns!

Breaking news!   Life Magazine is making a comeback.  This time, it will be online as a joint effort between Time, Inc., and Getty Images. Users will have access to millions of photos from Life Magazine, many never seen by the public.  This news comes out of the MIXX Conference and Expo, the gathering of the Advertising Week 2008, running this week.

PaidContent’s David Kaplan reported, “Users will also be able to create a Life-branded coffee table book of their own photos. And, of course, an iPhone app is in the works.”

Right now, the Life.com website has a “Coming Soon” message:

Welcome to the future home of LIFE, the most amazing collection of professional photography on the Web: 10 million photos from the legendary archives of LIFE magazine and thousands more added every day. Whatever you want to look at, whether it happened an hour ago, a century ago, or any time in between, you’ll be able to find it here quickly, easily, and for free.

I don’t know about you, but I eagerly await the launch!  Stay tuned for more news.

Travel Book Giveaway!

Attention Wandering Gents (and Gent-ettes):

Wandering Educators is giving away a copy of Lonely Planet’s The Travel Book! Truthfully, they are actually giving away two, but if you win, you will get one and you will have to graciously clap when the other person wins the second copy. Don’t be greedy! This weighty, 400+ page Travel Guide Book claims to feature every country in the world. I fact, that is the subtitle.   It is sure to inspire spontaneous travel and conversation starters for cocktail parties for years to come.

To enter, comment on the book review’s page. After you do, names will randomly be drawn.  You may register for the site free of charge (just click on the upper right hand corner of the site. 

May the best (or most random) man (or woman) win!

Until next time,

Arthur C Clarke’s Last Novel

The Last Theorom, due on bookstore shelves August 6, is the final novel from Sci-fi giant Arther C. Clarke.    Clarke passed away in April at the age of 90.  With him, the golden age of science fiction is becoming a distant but fond memory to some.  Isaac Asimov, and many other prolific writers of the genre and the time are already gone.  Like the classic actors of the silver screen, few are left.

One man determined not to let the 100 pages Clarke started to fade away is Frederik Pohl, author of the Boy That Lived Forever and other titles.  As Asimov’s health and memory started to fade, Pohl, 89 years old himself, took on the task of deciphering Clarke’s penmanship.   He fashioned the writing into a complete novel, making it Clarke’s last novel and last collaboration.  

While still in relatively good health, we don’t know how many more times we will hear from Pohl in book form as well.  

I am looking forward to this book with great interest.  For fans of classic 50s and 60s science fiction, it will be a treat.

Bloggers: Do You Want to be a “Dummy”

Teresa, the nice gal over at ScribbleScratch.Com is throwing a party. Actually, since this will be occurring amongst people in various homes and buildings all over the world, its more of a “happening,” which of course transcends party on the hierarchy of cool. The “happening” is a contest and the winner will receive a copy of “Blogging for Dummies.”

The entry rules are very simple.

1) You must have a blog. If you scribble a note in your trapper keeper, no one else will be able to read it.

2) You write a blog entry on your blog letting others know about the contest. Contest page is HERE. Entry deadline is 11:59 PM EST. (Unlike the 11:59 AM that my brain had interpreted it as – therefore inspired by the contest I already had a “Dummy” moment.)

Then, of course, you need to let her know that you entered by commenting with a link to your blog on the contest page. Otherwise you won’t be entered. She is a smart cookie, but with all the reading she is doing of your fine entries, her psychic senses might be a little busy and she might not “pick up on” the fact that someone out there entered. So be direct and tell her!

And, as an added bonus, by posting news of your entry on her blog, you may just get entered twice!

So be a Dummy…enter today! Show her blog some love ! And this way that you can have bragging rights that you beat out the VintageGent-ette for the rest of the entire year, or I can brag until December 31st that I beat you out and that you clearly never had a chance.

(and P.S. -= be sure to bookmark ScribbleScratch or subscribe. Teresa is a very talented photographer and writer and her blog is worth many revisits)