To Read and Flop in LA

re: To Read and Flop in LA

deebee1222 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:58:40 GMT

Gee, scrolled down to the comments after reading this and saw there were none! Anyway I looked up your new book since you didn't mention the title. For the rest of us, it's a novel, More Than It Hurts You. I was impressed by the reviews. Looks like a winner. By the way, I do not know the author of this blog at all, but I do admire writers. Best of luck to you in your future readings.

re: To Read and Flop in LA

mageduley — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:08:39 GMT

I remember how heartbroken I was when my parents didn't even show up for my performances as the lead in my senior year high school musical.... Whaaa, whaaa, whaa.

I mean come on...I got over it.

You would have a legitimate gripe if you were a famous author and no one showed up (that would certainly stink - showing the beginning of the end) but this is not the case.

Your 2 famous friends aside, you are basically an unknown. Suck it up and do the circuit. Your appearances should be the same if there are only 2 people or a hundred in attendance. This is what professionals do. Quit complaining and put your confidence out there. This article did not help you do that. I hope you will refrain from the self pity in the future.

re: To Read and Flop in LA

kshortSD — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:55:15 GMT

I've been to a few book readings, and I am an avid reader. However, I must admit that it will take an author of epic notability to get me to brave the traffic and crowded parking lots at the end of a long day to go anyplace that's not directly on my route. Sigh, sorry...Life in the big sprawl...

re: To Read and Flop in LA

Darin Strauss — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:31:13 GMT

mageduley

1) the piece was gently ionic -- the self-pitying tone was a joke. I didn't think anyone would take me seriously when I wrote that Kafka was on tour in Lawrence Kansas, or that my experience was truly Kafkan.

2) This is my third book, and I've been translated into 14 languages.

3) Have you ever flown six hours to do a presentation and have no one show up?

4) Why are you so angry/mean?

-ds

re: To Read and Flop in LA

nimodahooligan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:33:45 GMT

got some issues? get some tissue...

re: To Read and Flop in LA

nimodahooligan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:39:51 GMT

ohhh and you think that maybe your book sucks? its ok to suck, as long as you own up to said sucking and move on. and i have famous friends too sir, and they arent going to be much help if you suck, because they dont want to be related to suckage. they do have an image to uphold. me, i do music, and to my "famous" muscician friends i probably suck, thats why im not "famous" too. or maybe you just need a better agent cuz they set you up on a bogus book tour apparently. unless you did it yourself, which really explains the sucking of it. anyway, hope your next volume of work doesnt suck...

ps: i do like your style of writing for the record, just lose the self pity and you might have something more than a shameless self promotional plug in the itty bitty corner of newsweek...

re: To Read and Flop in LA

Carl Owen — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:46:02 GMT

Look at the bright side. You got to meet two fans and spend some qaulity time with them. Something I'm sure they appreciated. Plus now you've introduced yourself to me (and others) and we'll take the time to read your work.

re: To Read and Flop in LA

sterniklov — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:53:26 GMT

Hey, jealous noodniks,

If you actually read anything, you would know that Strauss is quite well-known, and a superb writer. But the point isn't how famous he is. It's why any industry in its right mind would take someone away from his wife and his kids and his work, fly him all the way across the country, and then do nothing to make sure anyone actually came out to see him. This is a question that speaks to why publishing is floundering in this country. It's useful to have Strauss bring it up...rather than writing the kind of Pollyannish, oh-everything's-swell report that you modern-day commissars would seem to prefer.