December Will Be Magic Again

Kate Bush performing "December Will Be Magic Again" from her 1979 holiday special on the BBC. This song always puts me in a more festive mood.

Holidaze 2009

I'm feeling a little disconnected from the holidays this season. Maybe it's because I'm not doing any shopping and I haven't been to any parties. Like last year, I didn't buy any gifts and told friends and family that their good wishes was all I required. I've been sending emails and making phone calls to my friends and loved ones. I'm serious about saving money. I think the disconnect also has to do with my hectic schedule lately, which has finally settled down and I'll finally be able to get back to work on the second novel. That's my Christmas present to myself -- time. I'm spending Christmas Day with my family and I hope to meet up with some friends for a movie or two over the long weekend. I really want to see Up in the Air with Mr. Clooney.

I've been stuck in the 200-page range on the Conquering Venus sequel for a few months now. I write, I revise, I move scenes around or delete them all together. My goal is to have 50 new pages by the time the long New Year's weekend is over. That would also be a good gift. What are you -- gentle readers -- doing for yourself over the holidays?

There will be more blog posts this week, as I also hope to get started on my resolution to be a better blogger. Expect some book reviews -- fiction and poetry -- and my annual video posting of holiday songs. That will help put me in a more festive mood. Maybe.

A new interview with Vanessa Daou

I have a new interview with the great Vanessa Daou at SoldOut. A new remix collection, Daouhaus, has just been released by Twisted Records, so we talk about that, her place in dance music history and more.

Two new profiles

Didi Menendez, creator of the fabulous MiPOesias, asked me to participate in a series of profiles for her blog Poetry: The First 10 Years of the New Millennium. You can read my Q&A and the reprise of "Why I Want To Be Pam Grier" at this link.

Neil de la Flor also did a profile with me at his Almost Dorothy blog as part of his Potty Mouth Interviews series. You can read it at this link. This one was really fun and irreverent. Team Jacob all the way!

Novel & Poetry Updates

There's been a flurry of events and reviews of Conquering Venus over the last few days. First up, the lovely video review by Erica Hensley from Bound to Be Read Books in Atlanta. You can watch it above.

There's also the great review by Jennifer Perry in the latest edition of New Southerner. You can read it online at this link.

Yesterday, I read at Bound to Be Read Books during the queer literary showcase, Homo for the Holidays. Franklin Abbott, Cleo Creech, Karen Head, Alice Teeter, Larry Corse and Yolo Akili all performed. That's a pic of me at left courtesy of Karen.

The reading in Nashville was a great experience. The audience was small but Jim and everyone at OutLoud Books and OutCentral cultural center for fantastic. There was some lively Q&A and thoughtful questions about the book and my experiences in Europe that inspired the story. I forgot my camera, so I have no photos but Lisa Allender was there and should have some soon. I'm looking forward to going back to Nashville. It's an easy drive from Atlanta and it's a very cool city (and quite cold, since it was 18 degrees when I woke up on Friday for the drive back).

Tonight, I'm talking to a local book club that has been reading the novel. Looking forward to hearing their thoughts and questions.

I've still got my finger in the poetry pie, too, with three new poems in the debut issue of Scythe Literary Journal, created by Joe and Chenelle Milford. The issue features guests who have appeared on the Joe Milford Poetry Show.

Homo for the Holidays

I'm packing for for my trip to Nashville tomorrow and looking forward to reading Conquering Venus out of town (see the post below for details). Unfortunately, that excitement has been slightly tempered by having to postpone some events in the new year. Readings in San Francisco, San Jose and LA are on hold for now because I simply can't afford to go. The press doesn't have any money to pick up the tab and I don't have any academic affiliation or sugardaddy to tap into for funds, so that means I'll be chillin' in the ATL working on the second book instead. There's also some changes happening at my day job, which will require me to be around more often. As a journalist, I'm thrilled to still have a job, so I plan to give it my full attention.

While that's disappointing, there are readings coming up in Savannah, Washington D.C., AWP in Denver and maybe New Orleans. I'll also be doing a few more events in Atlanta, including this Saturday's Homo for the Holidays extravaganza at Bound to Be Read Books in East Atlanta Village. The reading is from 3-6 p.m. and features Karen Head, Robin Kemp, Franklin Abbott, Alice Teeter, Cleo Creech, Larry Corse, Antron-Rechaud and Yolo Akili. We'll be reading from our work and books will be for sale. Check out the link on Bound to Be Read's website for more.

I'll post photos up tomorrow night of the reading at OutCentral in Nashville. I also want to have my photo taken at the Ryman Auditorium. I wonder if they'd let me read a poem on the stage or maybe hum a few bars of Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight." Maybe? Ya think? Yeah, probably not.

Notes & Notions: American Idol, Nashville, head colds

As I said in a previous post, I've dithered over recapping American Idol's new season, which begins on Jan. 12. It's a major time commitment and I generally start feeling recap fatigue in April. However, I now have renewed purpose, plus a new home for the recaps at Project Q Atlanta -- the online news and entertainment source for the city's LGBT community. It will give my snark-filled rants a much bigger audience and, hopefully, create some healthy debate and humor. The recaps will appear first on Project Q and then post here on the blog. Many thanks to Matt and Mike at Q for their support.

I'll be in Nashville on Thursday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. for a reading from Conquering Venus at OutCentral, the city's LGBT cultural center, followed by a book signing at OutLoud Books. OutCenteral is at 1709 Church St. and the bookstore just next door. If you're in Nashville, please stop by and say hello!

The future of book tours is pretty grim. Just read this article in The Indie Reader about why tours are becoming an endangered species. I'm having to take a good look at my budget for early 2010. I have a feeling that some of the readings/signings may have to be cancelled. The economy might be showing signs of improvement, but it hasn't made money magically appear in my bank account.

My cold -- which is finally dissipating -- was one of the worst ever. It's lingered on for a week, and now I just have a little cough. I'm taking mucinex to help clear up my chest. I think I'm going to get a flu shot when I return from Nashville. If this cold is any indication of the winter cold/flu season, then I need to get a booster.