Well, this is it! I'm busy working my behind off at getting this semester done so I can graduate. Only one class this term, plus I'm doing a thesis tutorial with a former professor of mine. I took her class a few years ago and loved it - gothic literature. Definitely right up my alley, plus she's just published an original fiction piece herself and is having a book signing in October, so definitely someone I want to have mentor me.
Before I mentioned there were changes coming. Some of them have already started. So much more to come. Lux Ex Tenebris (my thesis project and soon to be published novel) is going to be the key to a lot of that change, but personally I'm ready to take some bold steps into directions never before explored. Finishing school will be the start of it. Trust me!
More later.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Mission Accomplished (Partly)
I cannot believe it's actually happened, but I have completed the re-release of Falling Down and Mystery, Malevolence & Murder: Volume One. Both books have now successfully been released through my own press, as of yesterday. For some reason it continues to defy belief that I started this process a few years ago with a simple thought, a simple spark of inspiration. Now it's grown into this huge thing that I've been blessed to witness firsthand. God has really been very good to me on a number of levels and I'm glad that I was wise enough to slow down and accept his blessing.
This was one of a few things on my short list that I'm marking down. The next challenge will be to complete my thesis and graduate from CCNY this coming December. I'm so busy getting Lux ex Tenebris ready for evaluation and will be meeting with a faculty advisor, who will serve as a mentor to me through this process. It's not over by a long shot; there will be a lot of long nights ahead of me, but I can do it. If I can get my publishing company off the ground, and do so where it doesn't break the bank, I can do just about anything.
In the upcoming months I have a few other projects I'm working on. I have another short story collection that I'm putting together. Lux will be released through Another Shore Press, LLC sometime late next year or early 2013. MM&M Volume Two was completed a year ago and will enter the copy editing stage shortly. The Falling Down film project is moving forward. Lots of great things coming, so I'm looking forward to posting them here.
Stick with me. There's a lot more to come.
Special Thanks: Rolf Wolff, David P. Schafer.
This was one of a few things on my short list that I'm marking down. The next challenge will be to complete my thesis and graduate from CCNY this coming December. I'm so busy getting Lux ex Tenebris ready for evaluation and will be meeting with a faculty advisor, who will serve as a mentor to me through this process. It's not over by a long shot; there will be a lot of long nights ahead of me, but I can do it. If I can get my publishing company off the ground, and do so where it doesn't break the bank, I can do just about anything.
In the upcoming months I have a few other projects I'm working on. I have another short story collection that I'm putting together. Lux will be released through Another Shore Press, LLC sometime late next year or early 2013. MM&M Volume Two was completed a year ago and will enter the copy editing stage shortly. The Falling Down film project is moving forward. Lots of great things coming, so I'm looking forward to posting them here.
Stick with me. There's a lot more to come.
Special Thanks: Rolf Wolff, David P. Schafer.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Changes
This has been an interesting couple of months for me. My business has officially launched its first publications, I'm in the process of completing my master's degree and am making plans on my future. I have to admit, I'm both excited and nervous because I'm actually on the verge of really living my dream. I've always wanted to write while also being in full control of my destiny, which is really not an easy task. Every step I've taken over the last five and a half years has been carefully thought out, and to see it come so close to fruition is such a blessing. While I'm glad to be finishing at The City College of New York in December, I'm really going to miss it. A good portion of what I'm doing now originated from being in the MFA program and I really owe a lot to CCNY as well as my professors and classmates, some of whom I'm going to be working with professionally.
In terms of what happens after I graduate, I plan on hustling - getting out there and telling as many people as I can about me and the press and what I'm trying to accomplish with all of this. I also have this dream of making my hometown of Chicago proud by representing the city through my art. My inspiration, drive and determination all come from that "Windy City by the Lake", and so often Chicago is overlooked for being a hotbed of culture, art and music (which it has been for many years). I think with the innovations in technology and a growing movement of new and fresh independent artistry, the ability of writers to get their work published and in front of the reader is changing the entire publishing industry. Chicago has long had a thriving literary scene and the list of talented authors from the city is long, but now there's going to be an upswing because more people are able to more things on their own. That's going to be a wonderful thing to witness and I plan on being a part of it.
There are more changes coming, but I'll hold onto those for now. I don't want to give away too much too fast! :-)
Dave
In terms of what happens after I graduate, I plan on hustling - getting out there and telling as many people as I can about me and the press and what I'm trying to accomplish with all of this. I also have this dream of making my hometown of Chicago proud by representing the city through my art. My inspiration, drive and determination all come from that "Windy City by the Lake", and so often Chicago is overlooked for being a hotbed of culture, art and music (which it has been for many years). I think with the innovations in technology and a growing movement of new and fresh independent artistry, the ability of writers to get their work published and in front of the reader is changing the entire publishing industry. Chicago has long had a thriving literary scene and the list of talented authors from the city is long, but now there's going to be an upswing because more people are able to more things on their own. That's going to be a wonderful thing to witness and I plan on being a part of it.
There are more changes coming, but I'll hold onto those for now. I don't want to give away too much too fast! :-)
Dave
Saturday, May 14, 2011
EBooks outsell Print!
January 27, 2011 3:06 PM PST
Amazon: Kindle books outselling paperbacks
by David Carnoy
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20029839-1.html#ixzz1MMPzoeBy
Yes, it's finally happened. The digital book has overtaken the paper book on Amazon.com. And this time that isn't only true about hardcover books. Now we're talking paperbacks.
In reporting its latest earnings, Amazon said that it was selling more Kindle books than paperback books, though the score is still close. Since January 1, for every 100 paperback books Amazon sold, 115 Kindle books were sold. To top it off, the company says that since the beginning of the year it's sold three times as many Kindle books as hardcover books. Amazon noted that this data was from "across Amazon.com's entire U.S. book business and includes sales of books where there is no Kindle edition." It added that free Kindle books were excluded from the tally.
Yes, indeed, the sands are shifting.
While Amazon has said previously that Kindle e-book sales were outpacing hardcover sales, this is the first time it's said that Kindle books were outselling paperbacks, which typically cost significantly less than hardcovers. As usual, Amazon didn't report exact sales and would only say that it had sold "millions of third-generation Kindle devices."
Some reports suggest Amazon sold more than 8 million Kindles in 2010. Combine that with all the people buying the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, as well as millions of Android-powered devices, and you can see how Amazon's digital book sales got a huge boost. (Amazon, like Barnes & Noble, offers its e-reading Kindle app across multiple platforms).
As for total numbers, all Amazon would say was that it currently has 810,000 books in the Kindle Store and that doesn't include the millions of free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books that are also available as e-books.
What's this mean? Well, it's not good news for brick-and-mortar bookstores. At the recently held Digital Book World conference, James McQuivey of Forrester Research presented some research findings before a CEO panel on Tuesday. He included the estimate that consumers spent about $1 billion on e-books in 2010 and that sales should reach at least $1.3 billion in 2011. McQuivey said that the consensus among those surveyed was that e-books would constitute half of all trade book units by 2014, and 53 percent said they expected print sales to decrease this year.
At least one guy, Mike Shatzkin, a conference organizer and head of the Idea Logical Company, said that within 10 to 12 years brick-and-mortar bookstores would "more or less disappear." However, some believe that the "downsizing" of brick-and-mortar superstores might actually bode well for independent bookstores, which in some ways are better equipped to tackle what may indeed become more of a niche business in the years to come.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20029839-1.html#ixzz1MMPsC8fb
Amazon: Kindle books outselling paperbacks
by David Carnoy
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20029839-1.html#ixzz1MMPzoeBy
Yes, it's finally happened. The digital book has overtaken the paper book on Amazon.com. And this time that isn't only true about hardcover books. Now we're talking paperbacks.
In reporting its latest earnings, Amazon said that it was selling more Kindle books than paperback books, though the score is still close. Since January 1, for every 100 paperback books Amazon sold, 115 Kindle books were sold. To top it off, the company says that since the beginning of the year it's sold three times as many Kindle books as hardcover books. Amazon noted that this data was from "across Amazon.com's entire U.S. book business and includes sales of books where there is no Kindle edition." It added that free Kindle books were excluded from the tally.
Yes, indeed, the sands are shifting.
While Amazon has said previously that Kindle e-book sales were outpacing hardcover sales, this is the first time it's said that Kindle books were outselling paperbacks, which typically cost significantly less than hardcovers. As usual, Amazon didn't report exact sales and would only say that it had sold "millions of third-generation Kindle devices."
Some reports suggest Amazon sold more than 8 million Kindles in 2010. Combine that with all the people buying the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, as well as millions of Android-powered devices, and you can see how Amazon's digital book sales got a huge boost. (Amazon, like Barnes & Noble, offers its e-reading Kindle app across multiple platforms).
As for total numbers, all Amazon would say was that it currently has 810,000 books in the Kindle Store and that doesn't include the millions of free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books that are also available as e-books.
What's this mean? Well, it's not good news for brick-and-mortar bookstores. At the recently held Digital Book World conference, James McQuivey of Forrester Research presented some research findings before a CEO panel on Tuesday. He included the estimate that consumers spent about $1 billion on e-books in 2010 and that sales should reach at least $1.3 billion in 2011. McQuivey said that the consensus among those surveyed was that e-books would constitute half of all trade book units by 2014, and 53 percent said they expected print sales to decrease this year.
At least one guy, Mike Shatzkin, a conference organizer and head of the Idea Logical Company, said that within 10 to 12 years brick-and-mortar bookstores would "more or less disappear." However, some believe that the "downsizing" of brick-and-mortar superstores might actually bode well for independent bookstores, which in some ways are better equipped to tackle what may indeed become more of a niche business in the years to come.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20029839-1.html#ixzz1MMPsC8fb
May 19th
Saturday, March 26, 2011
What's going on?
Hey there! Sorry I've been off the radar for a while, but I've been so busy with school and working on my projects. Fear not! I'm still on the horizon, doing what I do best - hustle! I'm really excited about the possibilities that I see coming down the pike and I'm working toward a long future as a full time writer.
Very recently I attended a book signing event and discussion of Walter Mosley's new book, titled "When the Thrill is Gone." The book is the third installment by Mosley of the Leonid McGill series, and judging by the reviews and the reading he gave, it appears to be quite good. Mosley's ability to get inside the mind of his characters as they process what they see and feel makes reading his work such a delight. I've bought a lot of his books, most of which are still waiting for me to read (and I will, once I get through with this semester) so I look forward to learning all about McGill and what he's up to in this post-Obama society that we live in.
Another writer I love to read is Sara Paretsky. I love her V.I Warshawski books coupled with her rich descriptions of my hometown Chicago. In fact, Paretsky is SO good with her books that I've actually forgiven her for living on the South Side (White Sox Country) while being an unabashed Cubs fan. Sara! If you're reading this blog, I love your work, despite rooting for the North Side team!
I also attended the AWP Conference in Washington, DC this past February. I had a GREAT time and next year's event will be in Chicago. I will definitely be there hawking my books and talking to people, trying to get the word out.
It's my intention, as my new work gets ready for print, to push myself to become the very best I can be. I feel like my years here at The City College of New York have been so beneficial and have helped refine my work to the point where I've become a far better writer because of it. I think I can do anything I set my mind to, and I'm intent on making it on my own. I've chosen two incredible writers as mentors and have learned so much from their work and listening to them speak, but I'm well on my way to making a name and a style all my own. Someday I hope to be able to influence someone to do the same thing.
Who knows?
Very recently I attended a book signing event and discussion of Walter Mosley's new book, titled "When the Thrill is Gone." The book is the third installment by Mosley of the Leonid McGill series, and judging by the reviews and the reading he gave, it appears to be quite good. Mosley's ability to get inside the mind of his characters as they process what they see and feel makes reading his work such a delight. I've bought a lot of his books, most of which are still waiting for me to read (and I will, once I get through with this semester) so I look forward to learning all about McGill and what he's up to in this post-Obama society that we live in.
Another writer I love to read is Sara Paretsky. I love her V.I Warshawski books coupled with her rich descriptions of my hometown Chicago. In fact, Paretsky is SO good with her books that I've actually forgiven her for living on the South Side (White Sox Country) while being an unabashed Cubs fan. Sara! If you're reading this blog, I love your work, despite rooting for the North Side team!
I also attended the AWP Conference in Washington, DC this past February. I had a GREAT time and next year's event will be in Chicago. I will definitely be there hawking my books and talking to people, trying to get the word out.
It's my intention, as my new work gets ready for print, to push myself to become the very best I can be. I feel like my years here at The City College of New York have been so beneficial and have helped refine my work to the point where I've become a far better writer because of it. I think I can do anything I set my mind to, and I'm intent on making it on my own. I've chosen two incredible writers as mentors and have learned so much from their work and listening to them speak, but I'm well on my way to making a name and a style all my own. Someday I hope to be able to influence someone to do the same thing.
Who knows?
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Time is On My Side! (Yes it is)
Sorry I've been away for a while, but I've managed to complete my fifth semester at City College in grand style. Now that I've got more time I can return my focus to working on a few projects. As of today, the second edition of Falling Down is now complete. My copy editor has given the thumbs up on my last submission, with some edits here and there on his own. My graphic artist has completed a strikingly beautiful cover. As for Mystery, Malevolence & Murder - Vol One, I've nearly completed my edits and will send that to the copy editor once they're done. The cover should be done soon as well.
As for school, 2011 will be the year I finish my Master's degree. I'm starting this year with a bit of sadness. I've really enjoyed my time at City College. For someone who didn't have a bachelor's degree back in 2006 to be looking at an MFA by the end of 2011 is really something. I've had a lot of hustle in me for the last four, going on five, years and my MFA will be the crown jewel of all my hard work. If you would've told me years ago that I would be in this position I probably wouldn't have believed you. But through the support of so many wonderful people who believed I could do it, I doubt if any of this would be possible. City College is such an underrated place. It's recognized as a great school, but I don't think it quite gets the respect it does. I subscribe to Poets and Writers Magazine and for the last two years they've done a ranking on the top MFA schools. In last year's edition CCNY finished 94th or 95th in the top 100. The latest P&W only did the top 50 and we didn't place. These rankings have been criticized heavily by magazines like The Writer's Chronicle and members of writing faculties across the country because it appears biased and incomplete. That's why I feel City is underrated. Every class has been chock full of talented writers who bring real live perspectives to their work. Many of us have careers that we tend to everyday and we bring that gift into our school and breathe life into it with each stroke of the keys. I've seen a lot of good people in my classes, all of whom could be very successful, and I feel blessed to be in their presence - learning and listening to them share such wonderful works of art. My last class in particular had several talented writers and I hope and wish the absolute best for all of them. While I'm looking forward to graduating next year, I will miss seeing them, as well as the beautiful campus of CCNY, which has become almost a home away from home for me.
I'll make sure I enjoy the remaining time I have. Meanwhile, it's back to work - writing, designing and managing my time so I can make my own way. One day at a time.
db
As for school, 2011 will be the year I finish my Master's degree. I'm starting this year with a bit of sadness. I've really enjoyed my time at City College. For someone who didn't have a bachelor's degree back in 2006 to be looking at an MFA by the end of 2011 is really something. I've had a lot of hustle in me for the last four, going on five, years and my MFA will be the crown jewel of all my hard work. If you would've told me years ago that I would be in this position I probably wouldn't have believed you. But through the support of so many wonderful people who believed I could do it, I doubt if any of this would be possible. City College is such an underrated place. It's recognized as a great school, but I don't think it quite gets the respect it does. I subscribe to Poets and Writers Magazine and for the last two years they've done a ranking on the top MFA schools. In last year's edition CCNY finished 94th or 95th in the top 100. The latest P&W only did the top 50 and we didn't place. These rankings have been criticized heavily by magazines like The Writer's Chronicle and members of writing faculties across the country because it appears biased and incomplete. That's why I feel City is underrated. Every class has been chock full of talented writers who bring real live perspectives to their work. Many of us have careers that we tend to everyday and we bring that gift into our school and breathe life into it with each stroke of the keys. I've seen a lot of good people in my classes, all of whom could be very successful, and I feel blessed to be in their presence - learning and listening to them share such wonderful works of art. My last class in particular had several talented writers and I hope and wish the absolute best for all of them. While I'm looking forward to graduating next year, I will miss seeing them, as well as the beautiful campus of CCNY, which has become almost a home away from home for me.
I'll make sure I enjoy the remaining time I have. Meanwhile, it's back to work - writing, designing and managing my time so I can make my own way. One day at a time.
db
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