13 June 2012
Chomping at the Bit to Depart!
At the risk of sounding ridiculous (not sure if there is ever not a risk of that) I must note that I am looking forward to my 5am departure tomorrow for Los Angeles. As I type up one last book review at my NYC desk, I am thinking about how nice it will be to not have to answer the phone or any emails while on a plane for six hours. What does that say about my week? Well I will just leave it at happy to be getting on a plane...which is something I never thought I would hear my un-sedated self say out loud. Good thing I'm typing!
Already having been up since the puppy yapped at 5:00 this morning, I think my sleep schedule will not only improve with jet lag but may actually be a non-issue since I am so used to having so little sleep these days that my eyeballs are burning. Literally, they hurt from being open too long by the time they get to close for way too short of a time.
As I travel to California, I am anticipating being really relaxed and really productive at the same time. Think that will actually work? I do. Because if I'm not at work physically, I can be online in pajamas and dial into my conference calls despite it being 6:00 in the morning my time and nobody will remember I am not present--that's quite a likely scenario. We are all looking forward to a break from the grind, and I grin at the thought of not having to teach again until July 2nd. Yeah I know, everyone else gets summers off. I am fully aware of this. I'll take the bigger paycheck though...thanks!
While in CA I plan on doing minimal activity besides swimming, sunning, savoring seafood by the sea and sipping cooling cocktails by the pool. Complementary to these lackadaisical acts, I just found out there is a gym in my hotel (for a small fee per day) which will provide the balance I need when I start missing my fanatical spinning tendencies that keep me in check. Last, and most fun for me, I get to check out a couple of indie bookstores while I'm there, so if anyone has recommendations let me know please! I have a few in mind that I will be writing about, but am open to adding one or two additional stops on the journey. So all of my needs are taken care of, now and the last thing I need to do is fold my clothes in my suitcase and be on the way before the sun comes up.
I did get an email from the airline today stating that the seat one of us was sitting in was malfunctioning (huh?) and we were moved around. Since we were moved to row 35, we fixed that by relocating again and achieved seating in the low 20s...whew! In addition, I lost my window seat, gained an aisle and am now going to be responsible for ripping the door off and rescuing everyone aboard through the escape hatch in my row if the plane goes down. Hmm. Not sure how I feel about that just yet.
Overall, I have traded stories with other faculty today to discover that I am in fact, thankfully not the only one who feels that there is an air of pure evil in the way that papers are being written shoddily as the semester comes to a close. I mean, I want to go on break too, but you don't see me coming to work with no pants on (analogy to an essay without a conclusion) do you? Sigh...almost there...breathing deep.
So as I caffeinate tomorrow and ascend to the clouds for six hours, I have a mob thriller, a dog related novel and Swamplandia, which I have been trying to dig into and keep getting distracted by this thing called work (the nerve of it!) Hopefully I will be able to emulate the crocodile that took a bite out of the cover and devour the title this week. In addition to all this bookish fun, I will be sending out various author interview questions this week, writing the jacket copy for two travel guides (NY and LA purely by happenstance. How's that for karma!) I will also have an upcoming interview (someone else asking me questions--woot woot!) posted on http://www.lkeditorial.com/ which I will link here for my awesome followers.
Basically this all comes down to yet another thank you for all the support and amazing feedback everyone has given me over the past months. I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and stay tuned as I will be blogging from the beach!
Peace & Pages,
Keri
Already having been up since the puppy yapped at 5:00 this morning, I think my sleep schedule will not only improve with jet lag but may actually be a non-issue since I am so used to having so little sleep these days that my eyeballs are burning. Literally, they hurt from being open too long by the time they get to close for way too short of a time.
As I travel to California, I am anticipating being really relaxed and really productive at the same time. Think that will actually work? I do. Because if I'm not at work physically, I can be online in pajamas and dial into my conference calls despite it being 6:00 in the morning my time and nobody will remember I am not present--that's quite a likely scenario. We are all looking forward to a break from the grind, and I grin at the thought of not having to teach again until July 2nd. Yeah I know, everyone else gets summers off. I am fully aware of this. I'll take the bigger paycheck though...thanks!
While in CA I plan on doing minimal activity besides swimming, sunning, savoring seafood by the sea and sipping cooling cocktails by the pool. Complementary to these lackadaisical acts, I just found out there is a gym in my hotel (for a small fee per day) which will provide the balance I need when I start missing my fanatical spinning tendencies that keep me in check. Last, and most fun for me, I get to check out a couple of indie bookstores while I'm there, so if anyone has recommendations let me know please! I have a few in mind that I will be writing about, but am open to adding one or two additional stops on the journey. So all of my needs are taken care of, now and the last thing I need to do is fold my clothes in my suitcase and be on the way before the sun comes up.
I did get an email from the airline today stating that the seat one of us was sitting in was malfunctioning (huh?) and we were moved around. Since we were moved to row 35, we fixed that by relocating again and achieved seating in the low 20s...whew! In addition, I lost my window seat, gained an aisle and am now going to be responsible for ripping the door off and rescuing everyone aboard through the escape hatch in my row if the plane goes down. Hmm. Not sure how I feel about that just yet.
Overall, I have traded stories with other faculty today to discover that I am in fact, thankfully not the only one who feels that there is an air of pure evil in the way that papers are being written shoddily as the semester comes to a close. I mean, I want to go on break too, but you don't see me coming to work with no pants on (analogy to an essay without a conclusion) do you? Sigh...almost there...breathing deep.
So as I caffeinate tomorrow and ascend to the clouds for six hours, I have a mob thriller, a dog related novel and Swamplandia, which I have been trying to dig into and keep getting distracted by this thing called work (the nerve of it!) Hopefully I will be able to emulate the crocodile that took a bite out of the cover and devour the title this week. In addition to all this bookish fun, I will be sending out various author interview questions this week, writing the jacket copy for two travel guides (NY and LA purely by happenstance. How's that for karma!) I will also have an upcoming interview (someone else asking me questions--woot woot!) posted on http://www.lkeditorial.com/ which I will link here for my awesome followers.
Basically this all comes down to yet another thank you for all the support and amazing feedback everyone has given me over the past months. I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and stay tuned as I will be blogging from the beach!
Peace & Pages,
Keri
10 June 2012
Books on a Plane
So this past week was New York Book Week and there were so many cool things going on in NYC. Along with appearances by authors in oodles of cool venues, there were book parties galore and of course, BEA. After this deluge of pages and publishing, I am off for a retreat to California...I KNOW! I'm so excited I am already packing and I leave on Thursday =D
That said, I am looking for bookish delights while on the west coast. I may or may not extend the trip, but am there for sure until Wednesday the 20th and will be based in LA and hope to spend time in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. If anyone has suggestions for bookstores, cool cafes, music or spoken word venues, bring em on! Share in comments or email away: kenglish32@gmail.com
I'll be blogging poolside and writing by the sea and can't wait to share it all with you. Thank you again to all the AWESOME bloggers, authors and everyone else I met at BEA this week. It was a pleasure spending days surrounded by books and book people and look forward to keeping in touch.
And let me know: what should I read (first) on the plane!??
Follow me, I'll be following you!
Peace and Pages,
Keri
That said, I am looking for bookish delights while on the west coast. I may or may not extend the trip, but am there for sure until Wednesday the 20th and will be based in LA and hope to spend time in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. If anyone has suggestions for bookstores, cool cafes, music or spoken word venues, bring em on! Share in comments or email away: kenglish32@gmail.com
I'll be blogging poolside and writing by the sea and can't wait to share it all with you. Thank you again to all the AWESOME bloggers, authors and everyone else I met at BEA this week. It was a pleasure spending days surrounded by books and book people and look forward to keeping in touch.
And let me know: what should I read (first) on the plane!??
Follow me, I'll be following you!
Peace and Pages,
Keri
09 June 2012
Live from BEA: Bookworm’s Wonderland Part 2 (6/5 & 6/6)
So I began my journey on Monday at BEA as a blogger, and remained as a writer. Let me know what you thought of it. Did you get swag? (Silly question) Meet authors? Love it as much as I did?
I hope so!
Peace and Pages,
Keri
Live from BEA: Bookworm’s Wonderland Part 2 (6/5 & 6/6)
I hope so!
Peace and Pages,
Keri
Live from BEA: Bookworm’s Wonderland Part 2 (6/5 & 6/6)
05 June 2012
Live from BEA: A Glimpse Down the Rabbit Hole (Part 1: Monday June 4)
Live from BEA: A Glimpse Down the Rabbit Hole (Part 1: Monday June 4)
So I went, I took notes, and here I blog! What a great start to BEA! My experience (Part 1) is posted on Indie Reader at the link above & I will be returning each day for more fun, so stay tuned. The Bloggers Conference was such a wonderful experience. Seeing The Bloggess in person was such a treat. And meeting people from around the world who are telling their stories on the web just like me...priceless.
I will have more updates soon. Writing my little fingers off as we speak. This week is gonna be a blast!
For all the cool bloggers that I met at the conference on Monday: follow me here and I'll follow you back!
Peace and Pages,
Keri
So I went, I took notes, and here I blog! What a great start to BEA! My experience (Part 1) is posted on Indie Reader at the link above & I will be returning each day for more fun, so stay tuned. The Bloggers Conference was such a wonderful experience. Seeing The Bloggess in person was such a treat. And meeting people from around the world who are telling their stories on the web just like me...priceless.
I will have more updates soon. Writing my little fingers off as we speak. This week is gonna be a blast!
For all the cool bloggers that I met at the conference on Monday: follow me here and I'll follow you back!
Peace and Pages,
Keri
04 June 2012
Indies Indies Everywhere
Check out this week's Paper Weights and tell me what YOU think about Indie bookstores. I love em!
Indies Indies Everywhere
Peace & Pages
Keri
Indies Indies Everywhere
Peace & Pages
Keri
03 June 2012
BEA Bloggers Conference
Hey All!
After some deliberation as to which conferences and author events to focus on, there is no way I was passing up Book Expo America's Blogger's Conference tomorrow. I will be exploring BEA this week and writing about the experience for www.indiereader.com where you can also see the results of the 2012 Indie Reader Discovery Awards which were announced today at BEA. Kudos to all the winners!
In addition to the Blogger's Conference, I will be checking out the rest of BEA and on the prowl for people to interview, so if you are there or will be there, let me know: kenglish32@gmail.com and we can plan to meet up. BTW, Indie Authors: Don't forget to get your book on Good Reads and give it a Facebook Page! I've seen so many good titles on both and believe me, people are looking ;-)
As my early followers know, this blog was started as a way to express the angst of my being stuck in a dead zone of stress, writer's congestion (though not a full block I suppose, or we wouldn't be here!) and all over yuckyness. That said, my work has developed while working with young writers in NYC, Brooklyn and in all parts of New Jersey. While teaching others to perfect the craft I have simultaneously been working on my own short story collection that now, at long last, has a title: Under The Overpass.
I look forward to sharing more about my upcoming book as it moves through all the proper channels and nears it's papery and of course, digital birth. In the meantime, I'd love to connect with you: www.facebook.com/undertheoverpass and welcome all suggestions and feedback throughout the process of pen to paper to press to people!
See you at BEA!
K
After some deliberation as to which conferences and author events to focus on, there is no way I was passing up Book Expo America's Blogger's Conference tomorrow. I will be exploring BEA this week and writing about the experience for www.indiereader.com where you can also see the results of the 2012 Indie Reader Discovery Awards which were announced today at BEA. Kudos to all the winners!
In addition to the Blogger's Conference, I will be checking out the rest of BEA and on the prowl for people to interview, so if you are there or will be there, let me know: kenglish32@gmail.com and we can plan to meet up. BTW, Indie Authors: Don't forget to get your book on Good Reads and give it a Facebook Page! I've seen so many good titles on both and believe me, people are looking ;-)
As my early followers know, this blog was started as a way to express the angst of my being stuck in a dead zone of stress, writer's congestion (though not a full block I suppose, or we wouldn't be here!) and all over yuckyness. That said, my work has developed while working with young writers in NYC, Brooklyn and in all parts of New Jersey. While teaching others to perfect the craft I have simultaneously been working on my own short story collection that now, at long last, has a title: Under The Overpass.
I look forward to sharing more about my upcoming book as it moves through all the proper channels and nears it's papery and of course, digital birth. In the meantime, I'd love to connect with you: www.facebook.com/undertheoverpass and welcome all suggestions and feedback throughout the process of pen to paper to press to people!
See you at BEA!
K
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